Chapter 1

                                                     Two Lost Souls

Alaster walked into the clearing, the tree line was very thick and shrouded the hollow in walls of tall brush. Ciara followed in the path Alaster had made; her golden eyes responding to the slightest movement in the grass. When she felt it was safe she promptly sat onto the ground with an exhausted thud.

Alaster remained standing “Do you have any food supplies on you?” Alaster asked.

She leered up at him “Yes, at the camp, Why?...” looking away from him as she finished her answer. “Were you not smart enough to bring anything?”

Alaster paused for a moment then reached for the back of his belt.

“Here” He tossed a leather bladder gently her way, which she aggressively caught with one hand. “It’s some water…and…” Alaster rummaged through his back pouch pulling out a rectangular object wrapped in white cloth. “Some dried meat that I have left.”

This time Ciara didn’t bother to catch as it flew towards her letting it land on her lap. “None for you?” she said sarcastically.

“I’ll head out for a bit and see what I can forage.” Alaster replied unshaken by her taunt, much to Ciara’s disappointment. “If you can, try to make a fire while I’m gone.”

She rolled her eyes in annoyance as Alaster walked at a casual pace to the brush and disappeared quickly into the woods. Ciara sat silently for a moment listening to Alaster’s fading footsteps. When she thought the coast was clear she drank frantically from the pouch. Her throat had been burning for an hour and the relief from the water almost brought tears to her eyes. She stopped drinking to catch her breath then drank again this time with more modesty. Her stomach growled in pained hunger, she unwrapped the cloth and ripped off bits of the dried meat with her teeth, drinking between each mouthful.

When she finished eating, she impulsively got up and started leaving in the opposite direction of Alaster. She stopped suddenly at the brush line as her hand started to push the grass aside; remembering what she was so quick to forget. She reluctantly turned back and started collecting dry sticks to build a fire. Using her dagger she carved a groove into a larger piece of wood; setting it in a ring of stone. She then placed some dry tree moss over the trench to ignite using the friction from a small but sturdy stick being rolled between her hands. After a bit, a wisp of smoke coiled from the moss, she gently fed it air, bringing the fire to life. After she fueled it with enough kindling, she sat back sighing in exhaustion and empty victory as she watched the flames dance and envelope the unburned wood. The darkness of night was encroaching around the fire, avidly sapping the warmth from Ciara’s back. She closed her eyes feeling the waves of heat cascade against her face. Crickets had started their nightly symphony and the stars emerged one by one to attend; the fire gently crackling in applause. Ciara’s ear twitched at the sound of a snapping twig in the short distance that brought the rhythm of the night to a crashing stop. Looking in the direction of the sound, Ciara tensed one dagger half drawn in anticipation of an attack as the rustling of grass grew louder. A large figure approached the glen and stepped into the light. It was Alaster, sporting the body of a boar over his shoulder.

Ciara relaxed, shoving the dagger back into its sheath with irritation. Alaster looked at her for a moment eyebrows raised in surprise.

“What?” she said “You startled me!”

He chuckled “Oh, it’s not that…” Alaster grunted as he threw the boar off his shoulder to the ground, it landing with a heavy thump. “I’m just surprised you’re still here.”

Is he really this naive? Ciara thought. She looked down at the boar; it had to weigh over two-hundred pounds. She nodded at it “How did you manage that?”

“Him? I just happened to walk into his territory and… he charged me.” The casual manner in Alaster’s delivery made Ciara let out a puff of air from a barely contained laugh. It didn’t stop the small smile she got though.

“Ah…” Alaster said in playful triumph “I knew there was a personality in there.”

Ciara was quick to stop smiling and looked away in heated embarrassment ears flat with irritation. Alaster shrugged as he knelt down near the boar drawing his knife and proceeding to dress it.

“Got a family?” Alaster asked. Ciara’s ears flattened even harder.

“No…”

“Loaner huh?... my apology’s.” Alaster gave a slight nod to her but was still focused on cutting the boar. “I was the same way; I have a family now, but no blood relatives.” Ciara showed little to no interest in small talk.

Alaster had carved two large chunks of meat which he proceeded to season sparingly with salt from a pouch on his belt as he put them on a pair of sharpened sticks. Walking over to Ciara he held one out for her to take. She looked at it with distain

“I don’t want it.”

Alaster looked at her doubtfully “Come on, I know what I gave you earlier was not nearly enough.”

“I’m fine.” She snapped, again turning away looking at what forest she could see. Alaster shook his head.

“Ok, more for me I guess.” Alaster sat down a few feet from her and held the meat over the fire which soon sizzled from the heat. The smell was intoxicating. I don’t need to eat. Ciara thought to herself, I don’t need his charity- Her stomach growled loudly in protest. Without a word, Alaster held out the meat again with a grin. Ciara reluctantly took his offer and avoided looking at him while the meat roasted. He handed her one of his refilled water bags which she took without protest. They cooked and ate in silence. The orchestra of the night had returned now with the occasional owl hoot and croaking of frogs. The stars had fully emerged, painting the sky into a true work of art as a waning moon made its journey across the world.

With their appetites satiated, Alaster went about making a drying rack out of sticks and grass; placing thin strips of meat near the fire to dry overnight. Ciara had found her whet stone in her belt pack and was methodically honing her blades. The ring from the sharpening steel was always calming to her. She peeked a glance at Alaster who didn’t seem to mind the noise. An Inamian with a blade scares most of his race. Why is he so comfortable? Ciara thought; now more intrigued at Alaster’s behavior towards her.

When he finished hanging the meat, Alaster took hold of what remained of the boar and drug it out of the camp a ways off into the woods. He soon returned, letting out a sigh, crashing down next to the fire.

“So, now that we are settled in, let’s talk about what happened back in the mountain.” Alaster proclaimed. She stopped sharpening her blade mid stroke and sheathed it.

“What do you want to know?” Ciara responded defensively but with slightly less cynicism than usual.

“What were you and your group after?” Alaster asked with a serious stare.

Ciara looked at the fire for a moment “My colleagues and I are seekers of our true past.” Alaster remembered the ancient paintings on the wall.

Makes sense, knowledge of Inamians has only gone back about a thousand years it’s a mystery even to them.Alaster thought.

“If you’re just a band of seekers why did you defend yourselves so aggressively?” Alaster inquired.

Anger boiled over in Ciara as she spoke “OH! Forgive us for defending ourselves when a legion of human soldiers emerged from the morning mist!” Ciara had a point, one that Alaster could not refute. Ever since the war had started the relation between the two races had been rocky at best. That was as far as Alaster was going to push it.

“Why were you after the amulet in the chamber?”

Ciara locked eyes with Alaster “I was trying to protect all of the treasure that chamber held. It belongs to my people, not yours.”

“But, you have no problem with me having this sword?” Alaster pointed with a thumb to the greatsword that rested on the ground; its polished edge reflecting the flames of the fire like a mirror.

“You can consider it payment for saving my life. Besides, there is no one I know that could possibly wield it.” Alaster watched the light gleaming off of the sword and in some ways it appeared to be breathing. It made his spine tingle. After a long pause Alaster resumed his questioning

“What happened to me after I touched the amulet?”

“You started convulsing…” Ciara answered “…Why do you ask?”

“When I touched it, my mind was overloaded with images; of the past or future I’m not sure.”

Alaster described to her what else he could remember “…Then there was the vision of what I think was a human transforming into an Inamian.” Ciara’s body tensed at hearing this. So it was real! She thought. Panic gnawed at her, but she managed to keep her composure as she asked.

“Was there anything else you saw?”

“Yes the last thing I remember was of the human capital of Edonia and… a dragon…” Ciara let out a burst of laughter

“What?” Alaster asked.

Through gasping breath Ciara responded “A dragon? Ya right! Dragons have not existed in this world for centuries. The last known Dragon was slain over five-hundred years ago.”

“You think I don’t know that!?” Alaster shouted blushing from the ridicule.

Ciara smirked resting her head in one hand for support and her elbow against her knee “I don’t know Alaster, you continue to surprise me.” Alaster broke eye contact, his face redder than ever. Ciara’s smile soon faded

“We should get some sleep we have a long day ahead of us.” She said as she rose to find a spot to lie down.

Pain shot up her leg making her limp and emit an audible groan “We should treat that first.” Alaster said reaching for a small bottle of fluid from his bag.

“I’m fine, I don’t need it.” Ciara argued.

Alaster shook his head “Ok then, don’t blame me when you lose your leg or worse.” Ciara let out an irritated grunt. Alaster pointed at the ground next to him “sit.” Rolling her eyes she walked over and sat next to him; offering her leg to get it over with. Alaster was careful to remove the shin guard as gently as possible and slowly unraveled the bandage. When he got it completely off he placed it in a small cauldron from his bag, and filled it with water; putting it onto the fire to disinfect. The wound was stained and caked in dry blood.

“There’s no sign of infection.” Alaster reported.

“Oh really!?” Ciara said with a fake look of shock. Alaster smiled a bit, but it disappeared as he gingerly felt for the wounds temperature.

“This isn’t good, it’s a little warmer than it should be.”

Alaster grabbed the small bottle and popped the cork out the neck.

“So what is that, some sort of aloe?” Ciara asked as her tail thumped against the grass.

“…Vinegar...” he replied as the bottle tilted. A sharp cry rang out and a fist collided with Alaster’s jaw the very second after the liquid had made contact with the wound.

“YOU BASTARD! Give me a warning next time!” Alaster held his chin checking if it was broken.

“I’ll be sure to remember that.” He said calmly as he pulled the disinfected dressing out of the cauldron; wrung it out and started bandaging the wound. He remained quiet as he worked, Ciara’s temper soon subsided and she decided to break the silence.

“Alaster, I have a question for you.”

“Yes?” Alaster replied glad to hear her actually try to talk to him.

“Why are you treating me so kindly even though I’m considered your enemy?”

Alaster paused at his task for a moment the grin he had faded entirely, his lips tightened a little and he resumed wrapping.

“Let’s just say… I know what life can do to people; human or otherwise.” He started smiling again. “An old man once told me ‘Today we fight each other. Tomorrow, we may fight together.’ I’ve never forgotten it.”

Alaster finished wrapping the bandage and tied it off. He picked up Ciara’s shin guard and offered it back to her. She silently took it back and reequipped it. For the most part her leg hurt less now as she stood back up. Alaster rose as well, stretching  and walking over to an old oak stump near the fire. He sat down again and leaned back on the trunk closing his eyes to sleep.

“Thank you” Ciara said at almost a murmur. Alaster opened an eye to see Ciara walking away to the other side of the fire and lying down with her back to him. The acknowledgment made him grin; Alaster resumed going to sleep.

Deep into the night the fire had reduced to embers and darkness had claimed the camp. Alaster slept soundly against the stump. Ciara had not slept at all, her eyes were open and alert. She had been laying there for hours, listening to Alaster’s breathing patterns; she could tell he was out cold. It was time to make her move. She rolled onto her hands and feet and got up. Her movement was as silent as death. Gliding like a phantom across the camp, her golden eyes illuminated from the faint light of the moon leaving yellow streaks of light in the air as she moved. Within arm’s reach, she soundlessly drew a dagger from its sheath, placing it mere inches from Alaster’s neck; the polished blade shimmering like quicksilver in the moonlight. It never moved any further. A tremor started to go through Ciara’s arm; the blade started shaking like a leaf in the wind. Her breathing became ragged as her heart began pounding faster. Why am I so weak! She thought angrily. Ciara quietly sheathed her dagger and started to reach for the amulet, which still hung from Alaster’s neck. The moment she touched one of the golden wings she could feel some kind of power beginning to build. A bolt of energy erupted from the amulet slamming into Ciara’s chest and knocking her across the camp. She flipped in the air just barely catching her footing. She kneeled, holding her chest with one hand and bit down on a leather strap from her arm guard. The pain was unbearable it felt like she was kicked by a horse; still, she stopped herself from screaming out loud. Alaster did not stir. It must have been enchanted, but in what way? This was going to take longer than she thought. Ciara laid back down and tried to sleep the rest of the night.