Chapter One

The storm raged overhead as jagged forks of lightening came down to kiss the wild turbulent sea.  The girl lay clinging to the rugged cliff  staring into the storm.  Watching the red mist that hid the invading Manitors.

She watched the dark skies with growing excitement, because she knew the storm was a sign that the time gate was opening .  Her father and sister would soon be returning.

This was the reason her mom had dressed in her finest gown and combed her long dark hair until it picked up the reflection of the moon.

She could barely remember her fair-haired father as he’d held the tiny mirror image of herself, as he kissed his Wicca Priestess wife good-bye, all those years ago.

The time had come for the re-uniting of the twins. Then they together would defeat the threat that even now destroyed their homeland.

Pyra climbed down off the cliff to the beach, which wasn’t an easy task, being buffed by eighty-mile winds and rain that felt like liquid ice.

She made her way carefully towards the fortress, hearing things moving in the dark.  She could tell by their smell, all of them weren’t friendly.

When she reached the fortress wall, she spoke the spell of shadow and moved through the barriers of her mother’s protection spells and past the guards without being noticed.

She heard her mom talking in the study; she was surprised to find several guards and a stranger with her mom. Her mother was very angry, and it did not take her special magic to understand this.

The Moalkshare guards held the small man between them, and Pyra could smell his fear among other things she did not wish to identify.

Her mom was speaking, “My guards have not eaten and unless you tell me what you are doing sneaking about in my chambers, I will let them make a snack of you.”

Pyra felt the waves of fear radiating off the man, she reached out to tweak his mind, finding not much intelligence there but no evil either.

She stepped forwards, “Mother, he isn’t who you think, only a common thief.”  She tweaked a little harder, you had to be careful with these creatures, they broke so easily. “He has a sick father and only wanted to find some food and warm blankets for him.”

The man looked at the half woman with new fear as he heard his thoughts pouring out of her mouth and felt the gentle probing inside his mind.

Pyra felt some of her mother’s anger vanish but she still wasn’t pleased. “I’m I not kind to my people?” she questioned not expecting an answer. “Why do you feel you must steal from me?” She ask, of the quaking man.

He was almost to scared to speak, but when he did speak, his voice was like music. “One does many things when one is cold and hungry.”

The priestess was having none of it. “I have provided jobs, why aren’t you working in a mill or on a farm?”

“I was working at the village fishery, until my father became ill.” The man’s head was bowed. “Now I only take care of him.”

Pyra felt the last of her mothers anger disappear as her mom made motion for the Moalkshares to let the man go. She said, “My servant, Longssmite,”  her mother’s servant, stepped from the shadows. “Will see to it that you’re fed and clothed; I will send Marie with you to see to your father.”

The man nodded, “I am most pleased, my lady.” For even the far reaches had heard of Marie and her healing ways.

“My name is Jellenge, I am from Nayjawan.” Her mother nodded, “Yes, I recognized the speech and dress of the hill folk.”

Jellenge bowed deeply, “And the kindness of the lady, I have heard, and gladly will proclaim it to be the truth.”

The Priestess in her most regal style accepted his words but said, “The next time, young Jellenge, do not attempted to steal from me. Come and ask, I do not turn away the ill and hungry.”

Blushing from the tip of his nose to his pointed ears, he mumbled, “I know this now, my lady.”

Longsmite lead the uncomfortable elf out of the room. Leaving Pyra to face the full benefit of her mother’s gaze. Pyra looking down at her wet clothes realized she’d forgotten to do a simple drying spell.

She was relieved to see the twinkle in her mother’s eye. “Well?” She waited for Pyra’s answer. “The storm will soon be at its peak.” Pyra said, “The eye is almost over head.”

The Priestess motioned towards her chamber. “Then we must go greet them.”

The Priestess’ inner chamber was not unlike Pyra’s but her mom turned the knob on the bed and the whole wall swung inward.

The inner sanctum, Pyra thought of as a magic place, being allowed there only on very important occasions.

The odor of earth was strong, it was from this, her mother drew her power. The gate was beginning to reflect the power of the storm causing the hair to stand up on Pyra’s neck and arms.

The clouds boiled in the eye of the storm and blue lightening pelted the ocean. Staring into the churning eye within the gateway, Pyra could make out forms taking shape.

As the shadows became more solid, she could make out her fathers snow white hair so much like her own. Then they stepped into the room, and she was staring into a mirrored but stranger’s face.