A/N: This is the prologue of 'Dendurr Legacies', the last installment of the trilogy. Before you read this story, you MUST read the first two. If you've already done that:
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***************** PROLOGUE *****************

The thunder growled like a hungry animal.

A lone figure in the rain blinked, his eyes just as stormy as the sky above.

Weary and chilled, the sodden traveler readjusted the hood of his cloak and trudged on towards his destination, knowing where it was even though he could not see through the heavy curtain of rain.

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Princess Amirilla Daith na Veirrda sat in the window seat, gazing out at the dark fall of rain, her red hair swept back behind her shoulders, blue eyes dreamy. A dusty white gown without sleeves hugged her body gently, the folds of the skirt delicately gathered around her legs, which were tucked beneath her. Feet shod in dainty black slippers peeked out from underneath the material of the dress.

Her black-haired guardian Kaida Silverwing silently and hesitantly walked into the room, not sure whether she should disturb her charge or not. Her loose green blouse and dark green ankle-length skirt made no sound as she walked in barefoot, allowing her time to think. Deciding in a second, she spoke in a soft, slightly deep voice.

"Ami?"

The teenage girl turned and looked at her best friend and elder by four years. Her voice was similar, but a little softer, somewhat immature, and lighter. "Yes, Kai?"

"There's someone in the entry hall who wants to see you." Kaida's green eyes sparkled mischievously.

Ami shrugged and clambered out of the niche. "Then let's go see 'em. Why not? There's nothing better to do."

Kaida and her younger charge walked to the entry hall together, with the elder girl, a young woman, really, in the lead and pointing out things that she could do.

"Well, Ami, you could always translate that ancient Kyrinian scroll, or the texts of old Bathlez'e..." she said, looking over her shoulder.

"Oh Kai, I could, but I wouldn't understand any of it. You know Sorlo's the one who's good with old magics. Besides, those texts are backwards. I'll take me weeks." The girl glanced at her elder reproachfully.

The young woman returned the look playfully. "That's rather the point. It gives you something to do."

"Oh, fine. I'll read the damned scroll," Ami muttered irritably.

"You're just annoyed because you know I'm right." An impish remark.

"Isn't that obvious?" The girl's melodious retort was half sullen, half happily annoyed. She quickly changed the direction of the conversation.

"So who's this person who wants to see me?" she asked curiously.

"You'll see." The mysterious twinkle in Kaida's eyes was back and her voice was humorous. They turned and entered the hall, where a damp-looking figure stood at the other end.

"Hey, kid," Kaida said, smirking.

The figure turned and lowered the hood of their dull brown cloak, revealing dusty brown hair, which was just as damp as his loose white shirt and leather trousers. Gray eyes met blue ones.

"Hello, Princess." The newcomer's voice was soft, light and somewhat immature, using a cheerful tone. The brown-haired youth pulled a tie from his hair, which came down to his shoulders, and shook his head roughly. "Wet outside, isn't it?"

He promptly stumbled, for the girl had run the length of the hall in incredible speed, especially for one in a dress, and collided with him, wrapping her arms around his neck and hugging him tightly, saying happily, "Sorlo!! You're here!!"

He appeared mildly surprised and, looking over Ami's head and spotting Kaida, mouthed, 'She's happy to see me, isn't she?'

Kaida nodded.

Sorlo smiled and attempted to wiggle out of the grasp of the maiden clamped onto him. "Get off me, Ami. I'm soaked."

"So?" Ami looked up and kissed him lightly on the cheek; he blinked, rather flustered. "I wasn't sure if you'd ever come back."

"You're wearing my promise, aren't you?"

"Yes." She finally let go of him and stepped back, surveying him. "So, why'd you come in such horrible weather? You like rainstorms or something?"

Sorlo grimaced and unclasped his cloak, taking it off and folding it over his arm.

"Hardly; I hate being wet in my clothes. And this isn't a casual visit. I got a letter from Nia, who's down in Nassau."

Ami nodded, remembering the playful, brown-haired girl from four or so months ago. "So what's she doing in Nassau?"

He shrugged. "That's her business, not mine. I'll show you the contents of the letter later, once I'm dry and warm."

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*Sorlo, I hope this letter reaches you safely. I know that I could tell you all about what has happened while I was here, and I am still down here, but I do not want to, as you say, 'beat around the bush'. I met someone here in Nassoo. His name is Dymind and he wants to see you. If you can, bring Ami. -Nia*

"Nassoo? Dymind?"

Sorlo sighed. "Nia can write and spell rather well, but she doesn't know how to spell the names of people or places. She means Nassau, and I expect I know who 'Dymind' is."

The two teenagers were sitting in the library of the palace, at one of the tables closest to the fireplace, with the letter sitting between them. Ami glanced up from the letter, written in graceful, sloping handwriting, to her friend, who had his back to the fire and was looking particularly menacing.

"Who is he, then?"

"Daemynde Cyfaeris." He wrote it down so she could see how it was spelled, his handwriting somewhere between graceful and spiky. Something in the name sounded familiar. "He's currently what could be called 'The King of Thieves' and has lightning magic. I suspect I know why he wants to see me." Ami arched a brow delicately. Few people ever wanted to see an ex-assassin for a good reason.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

-Meanwhile, somewhere in the Grand Forest- (told from the POV of a new chara)

"EZELYYYYYNN!!!"

Mom's voice. Time to get up.

I thrashed my way out of the sheets laid on the floor that made up my bed, got dressed, and stumbled downstairs, white hair tousled. Some people might think living in a giant, hollow tree in the middle of a magic forest was odd, but after 16 years, I was pretty used to it.

I ran my fingers through my dusty white hair, making it stand on end. Seconds later, I smacked into the wall. As usual.

"Good Gods, Ezelyn, you have no grace," murmured Mother, her hair just as pale as mine. Mother had always fascinated me. Slightly tall, slender, and pale-skinned with waist-length white hair, she looked like a ghost, or one of the darcfaeris that resided in the Grand Forest just as we did. Currently wearing a loose, flowing garment of a pale yellow material, she looked like the spirit of a forest enchantress.

A bird peeped just outside the window, rousing others. Even though it was still moderately dark outside, I could see storm clouds through the trees; it was going to rain soon, and rain a lot. Springtime already. That meant I was off on my own, venturing on what I had so jokingly referred to in my younger years as 'The Clouds Travels'.

"I trust you are packed?" Mother's soft, slightly deep voice interrupted my thoughts, making me turn abruptly from the window to face her. I nodded, having prepared last night.

"Good. Come on to breakfast; this may very well be the last meal we have together."

Together. Just me and Mother. It had been that way for six years, ever since Father died. The two of us had become close over the years; I was reluctant to leave home.

Thunder growled menacingly as we finished breakfast in silence, and as we were cleaning up, a light shower began. It was nowhere near as heavy as what was going on over Cirrion, Mother said, but she gave me a heavy woolen cloak to ward off the chill and the wet.

After we had cleaned up and set everything in order, Mother and I stood outside in front of our tree-house, staring at each other sadly as the rain dripped down from the trees. Then Mother smiled ruefully and handed me a piece of paper. I glanced at it quickly, not really seeing the markings on it, before stuffing it in my pocket so it wouldn't get wet.

Mother embraced me tightly, and I inhaled her scent, pine and moist earth, before letting go and standing back. Tears shone in her eyes as she said, "My dear Ezelyn, I love you and I know we will see each other again. You see the markings on the paper?"

I nodded.

"Good. Don't return home until you know what they mean. Take my blessing, and fair fortune be yours-"

I finished the well-known Dendurran parting. "Until we once more meet." Then, impulsively, I kissed Mother on the cheek and whispered, "I love you too, Mother."

Sadly, I turned and walked into the Forest, my pack on my shoulders and the hood of the cloak up. I turned and waved farewell to Mother, to the house, to all my memories; Mother waved back. Trudging on a few more paces, heading deeper into the trees; I turned back for a last look and everything had disappeared, even the path.

That, more than anything else, scared me the most, because it showed that I was really off on my own.