Okay another new story, after a break from anything creative. This chapter is only a taster, so I want reviews before I carry on with it. Thanks to Hollie for proof reading for me, you’re a star. Hope you all enjoy it. R/R.

Chapter 1.

As the pale winter sun rose over the Tal’calo Mountain Range, a lone hawk cried out. Her alarm echoed eerily over the rocky terrain as she glided effortlessly on the still air.

Far below the hawk, a lone figure picked her way through the rock-strewn landscape, nimble as a mountain cat.

Shrieking suddenly and wheeling in a swift arc, the agile bird swooped down behind the figure. The birds’ wings shimmered dark gold in the sunlight, the same gold as the eyes of the cloaked traveler, who paused in her journey to glance at her flying companion. She grimaced, tucking a loose ebony curl back into the shadowed depths of her hood.

They were gaining on her.

Hoisting herself over the large smooth bolder, Lilea crouched low to the stony ground. Turning her head slightly, she listened intently from her hiding place. Sweat beaded on her forehead and her legs trembled from exhaustion; several long, dark strands of hair lay plastered across her face, the rest pinned back in a braid. Her naturally bronzed skin was streaked with grime and dust; her worn brown tunic, breeches and boots were splattered with mud.

A long, drawn out cry sounded in the sky as the hawk suddenly dived towards the rocks. Following the hunting birds’ course, Lilea gave a dismayed moan.

She was still being followed.

Shifting her weight slightly to ease the cramping in her limbs, Lilea continued to watch the hawk. Following the birds lazy circles, she cursed under her breath, almost tempted to shout at it. Why hadn’t she gone? Lilea had given the bird its orders.

Lilea had hoped to lose her pursuers upon entering the mountains, but so far her anticipation had been misplaced. For three days the two men had tailed her. They’d been following her since coming across her tracks in the Southern Ligor’ni plains as she returned from a scouting trip in the Rinlara plains. It was one of the few regions left in the western fall of the Tal’calo Mountains not occupied by the invading Des’hina barbarians.

Lilea’s people, the Ligor’ni, had been the first to fall to the northern invaders as the barbarian raiders swept south across the central plains.

Watching the hawk swoop down amongst the rocks screeching loudly, Lilea gave a small nod to herself. Rising from her crouch she leapt over the next bolder and scurried high into the jagged rocks, with an agility that came from years of navigating the rocky heights.

Scrambling on all fours, like one of the mountain cats she often seen in the area, Lilea swiftly scaled the rock face, desperate to lose the two Des’hina scouts.

A soft whistle sang gently though the air, causing Lilea to momentarily falter in her climb. The wooden shaft of an arrow shattered against the rocks, narrowly missing her head and showering her in splinters. A second hit the rocks closest her left arm, several large slivers of wood grazing the back of her hand.

Lilea let go instinctively as the pain travelled up her fingers, causing her to give a cry of surprise as she slipped dangerously back towards the sharp rocks below. Scrambling frantically to regain her hold on the rocks, Lilea slipped a second time this time grazing her cheek against the rough rock face.

The hawk gave an ear piercing shriek, tearing across the sky towards the unyielding barrier that was Crone staff peak.

Lilea screamed at the burning in her shoulder and let go of the rocky ledge with both hands. Barely enough time for her mind to register that she was falling to her death or notice the arms reaching for her…

---

The heavy wooden gates groaned in protest as they were forced open admitting entrance to a small party of men clad in light leather armour and grey cloaks. At the centre of the returning group walked two blind-folded men. Both were clad in garments foreign to the region; dark brown tunics and breeches, with heavy fur cloaks.

“Quickly get those gates shut!” Someone snapped.

“Someone summon the healer!” A firm voice commanded.

A tall man with flawless pale skin and rich golden hair stood beside the group, the motionless body of a young woman cradled in his arms. The left sleeve of his tunic was dark with blood and his once gleaming leather armour was dull with dust and grime.

He regarded the small woman in his arms with growing concern, she hadn’t regained consciousness and the wound in her shoulder refused to stop bleeding.

Turning to look at his men, he gave a nod, “Take the prisoners to the cells.”

As the men led the prisoners away, one of the older men with a scar running down right cheek, hung back. He regarded his commander curiously, “And the girl?” He questioned.

“We’ll let Malen treat her first before anything is decided,” the younger warrior replied, glancing down at the unconscious figure in his arms.

As they both regarded the wounded scout, an elderly woman hobbled into the courtyard. Her long silver hair hung loosely around her hunched shoulders and her bronzed skin was leathery with age.

“Ga’hain! Don’t just stand there, bring her this way. Hurry now!” She snapped before hobbling back towards a narrow street.

Ga’hain rolled his eyes and quickly followed the elderly woman, supporting the wounded girls head against his shoulders.

“She is Ligor’ni,” Malen muttered, noting the girls bronze skin and dark hair as Ga’hain entered the small hut. Ga’hain nodded as he placed his charge on the bed Malen indicated to. “She was trying to escape two Des’hina raiders in the Talons.”

The old healer looked at the young Ligor’ni woman with surprise. “In the Talons! She must have been either very naïve to the dangers of such a place or very experienced.”

Removing the heavy grey cloak, Malen beckoned to a younger woman to help her undress her patient.

Glancing at Ga’hain the old woman frowned, “Don’t stand there gawping boy! I have work to do. Now go and inform your father of what has happened. I have no doubt the girl will be of interest. Ligor’ni folk don’t normally stray this far south into the mountains. They prefer the safety of the Jes’lina fortress in northern reaches high in the clouds.”

“Except for you Malen,” Ga’hain pointed out before giving a bow and left the hut.

---

Lord Mer’rin listened silently as his youngest son recounted their discovery of the Des’hina raiders and the Ligor’ni scout.

“She knew the mountain passes as well as anyone here,” Ga’hain concluded, taking a sip of red wine.

Mer’rin nodded thoughtfully, his long grey hair shimmered as it caught the sunlight. He rose from his seat and walked slowly towards the balcony, his steps echoed in a slow, reassured rhythm around the large chamber.

Seated beside Ga’hain was another man, slightly older than himself, dressed in a simple grey tunic and black breeches. His long fair hair was pulled back from his face, accentuating his sharp features. He shifted in his seat to look at Ga’hain, his face pinched with suspicion.

“How can we be sure that this Ligor’ni woman was not leading the Des’hina through the Talons?” He asked.

“Hil’ca, she carries an arrow wound to her right shoulder. She fled into the Talons to try and escape them…” Ga’hain sighed running a weary hand over his eyes. “I am certain she’s not a Des’hina spy. My company and I watched her for over two days. Not once did she have any contact with those men, in fact she spent much of her time trying to put as much distance between them and herself as possible. She even navigated a large area of the southern Talons in the dark, with little sleep. Something many people, including myself pale at the mere thought of.”

Lord Mer’rin raised his hand, signalling for silence. “Hil’ca I know you’re wary of strangers in our mountain home, but surely you have to agree any suspicion of this woman being a threat to us is missed placed. Ga’hain has assured us that she is not our enemy. That is good enough, however the fact that she is Ligor’ni raises the question as to why she was so far south. Ligor’ni scouts rarely travel out of the northern reaches away from the protection of Jes’lina.

“Until we know more, I think it is safe to presume she is from the allied fortress in the north and more than likely on a scouting errand for Lord Cathasn.”

Ga’hain nodded as he rose to his feet, stretching his aching legs. “Malen is tending to her wounds as we speak.”

His father nodded, “Good, then we should have word of the girls condition soon enough. Until then Ga’hain go and get freshened up, you no doubt must be exhausted.”

Ga’hain smiled gratefully at his father and nodded, “A bath certainly wouldn’t go amiss.” He admitted as he bowed his leave and headed towards the doors, relieved to be able to shed his armour and relax.