The Windwalker

The Windwalker

By Tracy Blough

Smashwords Edition

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Copywrite 2010 Tracy Blough

Revised 2014

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the author.

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Prologue

A vicious storm raged outside the tiny village hovel. The occupants of the house sensed that this was not a typical tempest. The air outside was charged with unnatural electricity and the walls shook with each crack of thunder. It was as if nature were trying to prevent the events inside from happening...

~~**~~

Inside the house, a woman screamed. It was not of anger or fear but the shriek of the most primal nature, that of pain. While the woman's frightened husband looked on, the midwife, Malina, snapped, Bring more warm water! The child is almost here!

If it were possible, the old woman would turn back the sun and stop this birth. Juna was young and took her health and pregnancy for granted. She'd not come to see her very often as she had felt no discomfort during the months preceding this day. Unfortunately, that meant that they'd missed one very important detail about Juna's pregnancy: Her baby was breech.

There would be no time now to turn the baby. He, as the pending parents had insisted, was coming and absolutely nothing could prevent that. Juna's long, unnaturally gray hair was soaked in sweat and water from the cool cloth that her husband kept wiping her brow with. Another woman from the village, one that helped her often, had prepared the baby's cradle but she was most definitely apprehensive. The looks she kept shooting Juna were furtive, as if she knew that the woman wasn't going to have a merciful birth.

The husband, Dillon, took only a moment to do her bidding; quickly, he was back to his wife's side. His hands stroked her hair, his face close to hers as if to take the pain away. Her features softening some, the midwife noticed how he, unlike most husbands she had seen, needed to be next to his wife, not at the drink house during the birth.

As the woman screamed once more, the midwife again attempted to try and turn the baby. She could tell by pressing on Juna's swollen midsection that the child's legs or buttocks would come first. She prayed to the Maker that it would be the legs. That would be much easier for all of them. However, should it be the buttocks, she'd try to get the baby born without too much tearing. Unfortunately, the odds of that were small, too small for her to really contemplate.

He's coming! Juna screamed in a hoarse voice. Sure enough, the opening of the birthing canal showed a bit of a bulge, the sign that birth was imminent and nothing could stop it.

Moving from the abdomen to between her legs, the midwife commanded Juna to push. Ellina stood by, waiting to assist with taking the baby immediately while Malina tried to save Juna.

Dillon wiped his wife's brow again but she gripped his arm instead, using him as leverage as she pushed. The midwife motioned for Ellina to take Juna's other side and hoped that if the two of them worked together, she could concentrate on Juna.

The child's buttocks crowned and Malina just about gave up hope. She attempted to turn the child one last time, trying to right this difficulty but she knew it was futile. Never had a baby turned this close to delivery that she was aware of.

Juna turned a deathly pale color before squeaking and losing consciousness. It was probably for the best but without the help of the mother to push the baby out, it would be that much harder.

Using her well skilled hands and with Ellina's assistance, she snapped at Dillon, Stay with yer wife. Ye don't need ta see this. With that, she reached in and literally pulled the babe free from the constraints of the womb, something she would never do if the mother were conscious.

The midwife took the silent infant and handed it to Ellina, who quickly wrapped the baby in a thin cloth and laid it in the cradle before returning to help Malina attend to Juna. It took them no time at all to realize that indeed, the birth had been too hard for the young, slender woman.

Looking at Dillon, she said softly, Pray for Juna, Dillon. She will not make it.

With a strangled cry and look of disbelief on his face, Dillon knelt at his wife's side and reached for her sweaty, still hands. At that moment, the woman shuddered and took her last breath. Dillon buried his head in his wife's prematurely gray hair.

Regaining her focus, the midwife remembered to check on the newborn. As she walked over to the child's cradle, a murky ray of light made its way through the still dark clouds and dusty window. She unwrapped the cloth around the child and gasped.

Wide silver eyes stared at the midwife and a little tuft of silver hair stuck up on top of the infant girl's head. On the girl's right thigh was a small, pink crescent shaped mark with the curve at the bottom and the points toward the child's face. The mark of the devil, shuddered the midwife. Terrified by the mark, she spun away from the baby, leaving it exposed.

Abruptly, the house shook again. With no accompanying thunder, the three living adults in the house looked toward the now broken door. They saw a large, shadowed figure standing before them, surrounded by archers with bows cocked and arrows ready to fly.

Leaning backward, the midwife gasped, The Devil has come to claim his own! Limbs quaking as she crossed herself, she had no idea just how accurate her thinking was.

With a wave of his mighty hand, the stranger silently ordered the archers forward. In moments, Malina, Ellina and Dillon had joined the new mother in eternity. Their task completed, the archers stepped back and the man approached the newborn lying silently in the cradle.

It is about time you arrived, my son, he spoke into the now silent hovel. Then he took a good look at the baby and slightly frowned. The child was not a boy but a girl. Very peculiar given her heritage. He shifted his focus on the child's hair and as his eyes collided with that of the newborn, he smiled and said, A daughter? You are going to be very powerful, Child. You will serve me well. The man roughly picked up the newborn and carried her from the house. Throwing lit torches on the roof, the archers set the house aflame and they all disappeared into the woods. The single ray of sunlight faded, giving way to the unnatural storm.

From the shadows, a lone figure watched them leave, a tear making its way down his handsome face...

***

Chapter One

Above the gathered throng of prisoners that had just arrived, the princess watched the crowd. She was visually and mentally scanning for possible slaves for her father. It was a task that she dealt with almost daily and had for the last several years.

Overall, it was a fairly simple task, at least when it came to physically doing it. All she had to do was watch as her father's guards brought in new prisoners that had been taken from places both from within and outside their kingdom. The catch was that she had to mentally scan them, find out from their thoughts and memories if they would be useful for her father. If they were, she was to wipe their memories clean except the ones that were useful to him. If they were deemed unfit, she was to cut their lives short by mentally cutting off their minds. It was a task she hated more than she would ever let her father know.

It had been worse in the early days, before she could properly shield herself from all the hurt, anger, fear and other emotions that emanated from the prisoners her father had paraded before her. At least now she knew how to keep tight the shields around her mind to keep herself from spiraling into the madness that so many unwanted emotions could drag her into.

Turning her thoughts back to the task before her, Alanya watched as a young man, not much older than herself, straightened up suddenly as a guard purposefully approached his side of the crowd. It was an action that she shouldn't have been able to pick up on with so many people around but with her mental abilities, she could feel the change in his thoughts, feelings and even adrenaline.

Alanya quickly mind scanned the prisoner and, seeing his intent, she mind cast a warning to him. If the prisoner spat upon the guard as he was intending, he would be slain where he stood. She had seen far too much bloodshed in her young life to allow that to happen. It may have been cruel to cut a life short by cutting off the mind but at least it was much less messy than other ways.

It wasn't much of a warning, not enough to really give herself away, or so she thought. Stunned, the man turned and stared directly up at her. The guard followed the prisoner's gaze.

Do we have trouble, Your Highness? the guard asked, knowing of his princess's abilities.

Not able to hear him from this distance, Alanya had understood what he was saying based on how his mouth had twisted when he spoke to her. Reading lips had been one of her studies so that she wouldn't have to mingle with the prison guards. The more people her father kept her from, the more she would be isolated. Shaking her head and waving her hand as if it wasn't important, she more or less answered the guard.

A quick scan of the young man's mind revealed that he was a skilled farmer, having spent his whole life digging in the dirt and making plants grow with ease. That would definitely come in handy for her father. While he was most interested in locating people with power, he also needed skilled trade workers to make sure that his castle and all who resided therein were independent from the needs of any outside sources. Another skilled hand in the fields would prove valuable.

This information gleaned within seconds from the man's mind, she gestured over to the field slaves for the guards to send him there. The guard motioned to several other guards, beckoning them to approach. Princess Alanya has decided. Take this slave to the farming pens. The guards did as they were told but before he was pulled out of sight, the new slave turned and glared at Alanya. She once again reached into the prisoner's mind and wiped all memories, except those that would be useful to her father, clean. The new slave would never have a reason to rebel. She finished scanning the other prisoners before leaving the holding pens to give her report to her father.

~~**~~

It was only in the privacy of her own chambers hours later that Alanya allowed her shields to drop. Here, in this room that was a sanctuary in a place filled with horrible deeds and actions, she could close her eyes and try to forget the faces of the prisoners she had seen that day. It was a minor reprieve but at least it was one that her father amazingly allowed her to have. There were shields that protected her mind and allowed her to drop all pretenses of being the dutiful daughter to the most powerful man in the seven known kingdoms. At least, that was how she saw her father.

Alanya wanted to forget the faces she had seen that day, especially of those whom she had just murdered. There were days when she could actually do it but this wasn't going to be one of them. Ironically, it wasn't the faces of the dead that haunted her right then, it was the face of the young farmer.

She had been surprised when he'd looked at her, as if he knew where the source of the mind manipulation was coming from. It was rare for that to happen and it usually indicated that the slave had some form of mental power. However, this time that wasn't the case. How he had figured her out was a mystery. Her father did his best to keep her isolated from everyone that only Gareth and a few of her father's top guards were allowed near her.

If given a choice, most of her father's slaves would likely prefer to die but she wasn't able to do that. He'd find out and while Alanya was sure she could take any punishment he doled out for her, it was Gareth she worried about.

It didn't take long for King Quinlan to realize that to make his daughter obey, he simply had to threaten her mentor's life. Never once had Alanya chanced that he wouldn't actually follow through on his threats. He'd abused her enough for her to not believe that he'd torture, kill or do both to Gareth.

As if he had heard her thoughts about him, Gareth knocked at her door. She mind called for her beloved mentor to enter. He opened the door and saw her sitting in the middle of the floor in her chamber, knees drawn up tightly under her chin. Silently, knowing what was tearing her soul apart, he gathered her in his arms like a small child and rocked her back and forth. How often had he soothed her this way over the past seventeen years? How often did he attempt to take away the pain only to fail? She had lost count years ago.

He'd created this room just for her, taking some of his own power and making this a safe area. When she was outside of these walls, she was stiff, cold and appeared uncaring. If she wasn't, her father would punish her for appearing weak to those around them. Alanya wasn't sure how Gareth talked her father into allowing her this little respite but she was grateful. It was here that she was able to be herself, no pretenses at all.

Hush, Child, Gareth soothed with his gentle voice, pouring his love for her into the words. You have to do this for now. I will find a way to get us both free of your father soon. Until then, my precious Yana, you must be strong.

Alanya lifted her head to look at Gareth, not even aware that the tears had been falling. She'd long ago ceased vomiting after every session in the holding pens and now just succumbed to tears when everything seemed so hopeless. I don't know how much more I can take, Gareth. The pretense is draining me. It seems that no matter how strong the shields are, fear and hate try to break through daily. I want to block it all out and feel nothing but that just makes me afraid that I will turn into my father, she admitted with a shiver to her mentor.

I will help to reinforce your shields when you are in the holding pens, he reassured her.

How can you do that? He doesn't trust you enough to allow you to enter the pens with me, she asked bitterly.

I will find a way, he simply said with enough conviction that she almost believed him.

Gareth continued to hold her for a while longer, the two of them not talking, just taking comfort in each other's company. He had been with Alanya since birth and he knew this wasn't what she wanted out of life. No matter how much her father had tried to mold her into his image, it just wasn't going to happen, at least as long as he was around to make sure of that. However, if they didn't leave soon, it may be too late. As powerful as Alanya was, she wasn't invulnerable. If Quinlan commanded it, any of his mages would invade Alanya's mind and take it over for him.

The thought made him frown but he wiped it away and returned the passive expression back to his weathered face. Now, why don't you go spend some time meditating in the sunshine? You know how much the darkness of this castle drains you of your energy, Gareth urged her.

Alanya sighed, not really wanting to leave the comfort of her room but she knew that he was right. If she was going to rid herself of the feelings that were haunting her, she needed to escape the darkness and enter the light.

With a sigh, she stood and smoothed out the wrinkles in her tunic and breeches. Wiping her face clear of the tears that had fallen, Alanya left her room and strode out of the castle. A few guards followed behind her as was their duty according to their king. She chose a large oak tree as her place of refuge. It was one of her favorites as the branches spread out for long distances as if it wanted to cover the entire castle in its beauty.

Turning to stare at the only home she'd ever known, she couldn't help the shiver that ran down her spine. It was foreboding to look at, even from here. Granted, she was technically still within the castle's grounds as it expanded quite a ways out but she was out of it's offensive shadow.

The castle itself had been built by Alanya's great-great grandfather and had been passed down from son to son. She wasn't sure if her father's siblings were still alive. She knew she had at least one distant cousin as she'd heard whispers about him. The only images she had of the past inhabitants were the few paintings of very old men on the walls in a western wing hallway.

The monstrous castle was huge, taking up two acres total. The very dark gray, almost black stone was polished on the outside so that it was smooth, making it nearly impossible to scale the walls. A huge, metal gate closed off the castle from outside access and only those with permission were allowed through the gate. Quinlan kept his subjects close to him. Very close.

The castle was square with rising towers at each corner, complete with area for archers at the top of each one. There were three stories to the entire castle and several windows embedded in each wall. Only four doors that led from the castle to the outside, one on each side of the castle.

Inside the castle, through another set of doors, was a courtyard of sorts where Quinlan's peasants worked. There were jobs of all sorts that the people did for their king, everything from blacksmithing to gardening.

The pens where the prisoners were kept were located just outside the southern wall of the castle. It was there that she oversaw them on a daily basis, watching and judging from on high. It should have made her feel powerful but instead it made her feel dirty and like a murderer.

Turning away from the castle and all it represented, she sat cross-legged under one of the larger branches of the tree and began to hover slightly above the ground. Meditating in the way that Gareth taught her to do, Alanya tried to purge her soul of the anguish it felt over the deaths of so many innocents. Knowing that she had been forced to send them to early graves gave her no solace. She could recall every single face that she had sentenced to death, either through the use of her powers or by telling the guards that they would be no use to her father.

Desperately, she tried to forget, tried to imagine what life would be like if she'd been born to a normal, sane father and mother. She tried to imagine herself as a child who celebrated the day of her birth and had best friends. A girl who looked forward to things such as courting a young man and love. These were things that she had seen in other people's minds, things that for them were so natural. Yet for Alanya, they were foreign, dreams, something made out of gossamer and designed to fade away as soon as they were touched.

Instead of her soul feeling purged as usually happened, she began to panic. She knew that she wanted the things she'd seen from women her age, knew that she wanted to be like them, however, her situation meant that she'd never have them. It wasn't likely that her father would ever let her court or marry and even if he did, it wouldn't be for something like love. It would likely be a horrible situation, one as bad or worse than what she was in now. If her father used her powers for his own gain, it made her sick to think what a husband would make her do with them.

She had to get out from under her father’s rule, had to find a way to leave but that was next to impossible. He kept his home securely guarded and her even more so. Alanya didn't have any illusions that it was because he loved her. No, she was useful to him and as long as she was, he'd hold her there no matter what. The minute she become useless, he'd kill both her and Gareth. It was certainly a hopeless situation and it made her feel like she couldn't catch her breath.

The sound of a twig snapping broke Alanya's melancholy. She uncurled her body, stood up and straightened her tan tunic. She swept dust off her brown pants as she looked around for the source of the sound. Behind where she'd been, a small, wild rabbit was caught in the brush. Very calmly, she approached the creature. Her father's soldiers moved to follow her until she turned and glared at them with clear, silver eyes. Seeing she was in no real danger, they stopped.

Alanya held out her hand and concentrated. The branches gave way, letting the rabbit free. Hesitantly, the animal looked at her. Alanya smiled and sent the creature off with a wave of her hand. This was not the first time the soldiers had seen their princess's powers but it never ceased to awe and frighten them. No human should have that kind of power and they all wondered if she even was human. It was a question that they had at the forefront of their minds and it was also a question that Alanya had asked herself many times.

Quietly, Alanya walked back towards the castle. The soldiers were right behind her, making sure she never left their sight. Never truly alone, Alanya thought. Just once, I would like to be left alone. Alone to explore these feelings I have inside. Why does the hate bother me so much? I am the princess, heir to my father's throne, so why don't I want it?

Feeling an overwhelming sense of hopelessness, Alanya entered the castle and her father's personal guards approached her. Never a good sign to be summoned to her father's throne room, Alanya's heart sank as she walked in and found Gareth there. Her eyes moved from Gareth to her father as she knelt in front of him.

On your feet, daughter, the king commanded.

Alanya stood up and looked directly at her father. Menacing and evil were the two words she thought of as she looked at the man who sired her. King Quinlan was a very large man who towered over everyone. Close to seven feet tall, it was no wonder that even his most advanced mages feared him.

He had short, white hair and piercing blue eyes, almost the color of a midday sky. Although he had only mild mind powers, he was still able to discern the thoughts of his subjects simply by looking at them. Quinlan had a very strong face, his jaw square and stubborn. His cheeks and chin were covered in a short, prickly gray beard that indicated he had not shaved in days. Slim yet muscular, Quinlan filled an entire room simply by being in it. Raw power emanated from him, making him a man to fear.

You wished to see me, your Highness? Alanya asked, trying to keep fear out of her voice.

Yes. My soldiers have just brought in some very interesting prisoners. I want you to see them now, he told her, a look of triumph on his face.

Seeing prisoners in her father's presence was highly unusual but seeing them in her father's throne room was unheard of. She wondered what could have transpired such an act. He stared at her, expecting her to question him. She simply replied, Very well, your Highness. Alanya risked a questioning glance to Gareth and he subtly shrugged his shoulders, not understanding what the king was doing.

Pleased with his daughter's obedience, he motioned for the guards to bring the prisoners in. The minute they walked in the room, Alanya grew sick to her stomach. The prisoners were children, some as young as five or six years old, all of them younger than herself, dressed alike in what appeared to be a school uniform. They were terrified, hands tied behind their backs, most of them looking at the floor although a few braver ones looked at first to the king and then to Alanya. Several mages flanked about them, their eyes sharp and vigilant as if they expected the children to attempt to escape.

Alanya looked at her father and for the first time in her life, openly questioned him. Father, what is the meaning of this? These are school children! she wanted to know, unable to keep the horror out of her voice. No prisoner was too young to capture his interest but to kidnap them from a school? This was certainly a day of firsts, ones that she was not comfortable with in the least.

Quinlan laughed harshly. My soldiers found their tiny group in Liminster. You are to find the strong children and get rid of the weak ones, just as you do with the other prisoners. I want you to make them mine, he commanded, his right hand forming into a fist with the word mine.

Father, they are young mages and their powers are still being developed. How am I to determine who it is you are looking for? Alanya asked, hoping to distract him and make him think that she wouldn't be able to discern their powers based on their age.

Mind scan them and see their powers, he commanded evenly, not falling for her little act.

No, I will not harm these children! Can't you see how terrified they are? Alanya pleaded.

Quinlan looked at her, rage in his eyes at her open defiance. You just crossed the line, Alanya, he told her in so soft a way that it sent shivers up her spine.

He stepped away from his throne and Alanya cringed, expected him to strike her. Instead, he walked past her and went to Gareth and Alanya suddenly realized why Gareth was there. Her father had expected her to disobey. Quinlan reached out and grabbed Gareth by the throat and the older man struggled to breathe. Do it, Alanya, or your precious mentor dies here and now.

Knowing her father was deadly serious and seeing the massive hand closing tighter around Gareth's throat, Alanya sighed and turned her attention to the small group of children. Huddled together, awaiting their fates, Alanya mentally asked for forgiveness as she searched the mind of each child.

Stunned at her findings, she opened her eyes and looked back at her father. He had loosened his grip on Gareth just enough so the mage could breathe. Seeing that Alanya had cooperated, Quinlan roughly threw Gareth against a wall. Alanya started towards her mentor but was stopped by Quinlan as he grabbed her shoulders and forced her to look at him.

What did you find? he asked, his eyes boring into hers.

Alanya mentally checked on Gareth and noted that he would be fine for the moment. Looking at her father, she replied, They are all potential mages. The power is there and they were being trained to tap into it and use it.

Quinlan's eyes lit up at the news his daughter had just given him. This was far better than he had expected. Mind wipe them all, Alanya. I want them clear to use their powers for me alone. he told her quietly, threateningly.

Looking at the children, she put her fingers on either side of her forehead and looked once more into their minds. Alanya erased all memory of who they were and where they came from. In an instant, these children believed they had been raised by Quinlan's mages and their only goal in life was to serve him.

Alanya left one last parting gift for the children, though. Deep in the very back of their thoughts, each child had a desire to defy their king.

Her work done, Alanya went over to Gareth to check on him. She was exhausted from using so much of her power but Gareth was more important than that. Her father was already instructing his own mage, Roak, and had forgotten her. Let's take you down to the infirmary and have you checked out, she said softly to Gareth.

Together they left the throne room, Alanya's arm around the man she considered more a father than her own.

~~**~~

Several days later, Alanya was training outside with Gareth. That's it, Alanya, keep pushing yourself. This is the only way to master it, she heard him encourage her.

Alanya used his voice to help give her more strength. Hovering above the ground as she did took a lot of her concentration and energy, yet when she was off the ground, she felt the freedom that her heart yearned for.

Feeling a gentle breeze on her face, she opened her eyes and saw she was more than hovering above the ground. She was more like a yard above the ground! Her concentration broken, she started to fall. Gareth concentrated, stretched out his hand and slowed Alanya's descent. She landed gently on her feet.

Thank you, my friend, Alanya told her mentor. Gareth, how did I get so high? I have never done that before. I almost feel like if I concentrate even harder, I could fly with the birds but that is crazy. No human flies, she said, amazed.

Ah, my young one, you are only just now realizing your own true potential. I know that the Maker must have been smiling on you the day you were born. You are so truly unique, he told her, his face in a proud grin.

Gareth, I don't think the Maker smiled on me. More like the devil, she replied, absently rubbing her finger across the crescent shaped birthmark on her leg. Why would the Maker give me these horrible powers? It must be a punishment. If I was truly destined for something greater than to be my father's hound, I have yet to discover it.

As Gareth saw the agony on Alanya's face, he did his best to soothe her troubled spirit but it was not enough. There were moments like this that Gareth wondered if Alanya would ever be at peace with herself. You are in such a hurry to grow up, Yana. We need to take your growth one day at a time. That last exercise took a lot out of you. Go and ready yourself for a hot meal. You have earned it.

Thank you, Gareth. I will see you after evening meal, then, Alanya said as she walked away, her mood still quite sullen.

Gareth looked up toward the Heavens and prayed to the Maker that he had the strength to teach Alanya all she needed to know and that the one who had entrusted her care to him would contact him again soon.

After dinner, Alanya went to her room. Darkness had fallen outside and she sat at her window, watching bugs fly around, glowing every so often. She half wanted to join them, to just float out her window and let the breeze take her where it wanted.

Closing her eyes, Alanya imagined herself doing just that when she realized that she was hovering above her chair without even trying. Giving a bit of a yelp in fright, she lost her concentration and fell to the floor, landing on her bottom. Groaning, she stood and rubbed the offended part of her body.

She was just getting ready to close her window covering when she heard something whisper her name. Glancing around, she said Gareth's name a few times but he never replied. Looking out the window, she heard the whisper again.

At first she was afraid, thinking the darkness was calling her name but soon she realized it was freedom that was beckoning her, not the darkness. Wanting to embrace that freedom, she set up her mental blocks so that her father would not know what she was about to do.

Quickly, she dressed in black skin tight pants, a tight black shirt and slipped black boots onto her feet. She pulled her hair back under a black cap before leaning out of her dark window. After a nervous glance around to make sure no one could see her, she held her breath and concentrated. Stepping out the window, she willed herself to hover slowly to the ground, which was several feet below her second story bedroom. Her heart was pounding and she was concentrating so hard to block herself from others thoughts while holding her position without falling.

Once her feet touched the ground, she paused for a moment to catch her breath. Her breathing finally slowed, she weaved through the shadows and arrived at the wall that separated her from the freedom of the forest on the other side. Alanya searched for a small section of wall that was left unguarded. She quickly half climbed, half hovered over the side of the wall and landed silently on the other side. Fleeing into the dark forest, she was free at last!

~~**~~

Watching from his study window, King Quinlan scowled. He was aware of the unrest in his daughter's soul yet was surprised she would so blatantly defy him. She valued her old mentor's life and that was the thin thread he held over her to keep her from rebelling. Now it seemed that thread had just been snapped in two.

He motioned for the two guards that were standing at attention in his doorway. Pointing to the quickly disappearing form of his daughter, he commanded, Bring her back to me. I want her to suffer for this show of arrogance. Use whatever means necessary, just keep her alive. The two guards parted, plans already forming in their minds for the princess.

Quinlan turned to Roak. Bring me Gareth. For this, Alanya will witness her mentor's demise. I have suffered that man long enough.

Roak left the chamber to obey his master. He smiled, thrilled that Gareth would finally get what Roak felt he deserved. After that, he would become the mentor to the princess and secure his place in Quinlan's kingdom.

~~**~~

Under the cloak of the forest, she used her mindpower to make her body float above the ground and Alanya felt the breeze flow through her hair. This must be what freedom feels like, she thought.

She floated for several minutes before stopping and laughing, landing softly on the forest floor. It was one of the few times she'd ever felt joy in her life and she was savoring it. Having no one around to tell her what to do and when to do it was liberating. There were no guards over her shoulder every time she glanced, no large hulking shadows to warn her that she needed to hide because her father was approaching. Even not having Gareth there wasn't so bad.

Suddenly, she felt the presence of others near her. Just as she turned to see who it was, two of her father's guards stepped out of the shadows. She turned to run but they were too fast, too well trained. The first one grabbed her arm and pulled her to his chest. Looking up into his face, she was filled with dread.

Look here, Taban, we have ourselves a little runaway! the guard gloated, his hot, sour breath on Alanya's face. He was a large man, much stronger than Alanya physically. Raven black hair held back in a ponytail, bright blue eyes and a strong face, Cael would be handsome if not for the sneer on his lips.

Ah, Cael, what should we do with her? Taban sarcastically asked. Taban was his friend's opposite. Mousy, short brown hair and brown eyes on a face that was pretty much nondescript. Taban had a way of blending in with the crowd. Not as tall as Cael, Taban made up for his lack of height with his strength and quickness.

Alanya struggled against Cael but it was no use. He was much stronger than she was. She caught a glimpse into the mind of Cael and was repulsed by what she saw.

Come on, Princess. Let's have ourselves a bit of fun before we return you to your father. There is no one else out here, Cael told his captive.

No, please, let me go and I will return willingly, Alanya pleaded, beginning to panic.

Too late, Princess. Your father gave us the go ahead to do what we wanted with you as long as we return you. Taban and I are going to have a little fun first, he informed her as panic began to swallow her.

With that, Cael grabbed a hold of her shirt and partially ripped it off her body. Pushed into a full panic now, Alanya reacted with instinct. She lashed out at the guards with her mindforce, shoving them away from her. They were too strong, though, and continued to come after her.

Dread building in her, Alanya realized she was losing control. The thought didn't bother her and that frightened her even more. She pushed Cael away with a force greater than she had ever felt and the big man grabbed her ankle as she tried to run.

As Alanya fell to the ground, she felt something inside her mind burst open and all of a sudden, she was glowing with red energy. She concentrated all her power on the ground before her and as her body connected with the mossy forest floor, all the energy she had built up exploded. Alanya couldn't scream but her mind was roaring.

She took several, heaving breaths before opening her eyes. Protected in a bubble of pure energy, she looked around at the destruction.