Excitement bubbled inside Tia but Eireaf sat awkwardly on her shoulder. Maybe she could ride the dragon! That had always been Tia’s greatest dream, to soar through the air on the back of a dragon.

She scrambled up the rope-ladder that lead to her home.

Tia, slow down. You don’t know who has come to visit she might be offended if we rudely burst in there. We should wait…

“Okay,” she said but realised that Eireaf was trying to hide something from her. She attacked his mind but he held it shut. His mind was like a thick wall guarding treasure within. Tia pushed with her mind but to no avail. Eireaf had never locked her out his mind before. She gave up grumpily and climbed the ladder ignoring his warning.

As the reached the top, Tia heard whispering voices in the main room. She pulled herself up and was surprised by what she found.

Her mother was sitting there with bloodshot eyes and tears dripping down her cheeks, she did not bother to wipe them away. Her father was staring solemnly at the table.

Opposite them sat her aunt Kanna wearing leather riding clothes, her hair was pulled tight back in a bun.

Kanna? Kanna rides a dragon??? Tia thought shocked.

Eireaf chirped happily and flew over to sit on Kanna’s shoulders. Tia looked at her family and felt alone.

“What is wrong? What’s happened?”

Her mother just gave another sob and wiped her eyes.

“I’m sorry Tia. We’re not your real parents,” Jan her father said bluntly.

Tia felt like she had been hit by a bombshell. She felt her world collapse around her. She wished that somehow she had misheard him but in her heart she knew he was right. She wasn’t and never would be truly part of this family.

Suddenly great anger exploded inside Tia. Why had no one told her?

“Why didn’t you tell me before? Thirteen years to tell me but you never did. Why?” she demanded as uncontrollable tears ran down her cheeks.

“We…I-I thought you would leave us if you knew. We thought you would go in search of your true-,”

“Of my true parents! You didn’t care about me just yourselves! You lied to me!” Tia choked feeling betrayed. She even felt betrayed by Eireaf, her best friend.

“So what of my real parents? Am I an orphan?”

No one answered.

Tia collapsed into a chair beside Kanna. In a few short minutes Tia’s life had been shattered like a pane of glass. She couldn’t take it.

“After ruining my life you could have the decency to tell me! What happened to my real parents? Why do you tell me this now?”

“Tia, I will tell you once you calm down. Here have this tissue,” Kanna replied.

Tia snatched it and wiped her face. She took a deep breath and looked into Kanna’s deep, brown eyes. Those eyes were full of pain and fear from the past but also full of wisdom. Tia put her trust in her.

“So you’re not really my aunt then,” Tia said calmly.

“No but I am your God mother,”

“Well that’s a start,” Tia managed a smile. Out of the blue Kanna said;

“Lady Tiarana you are a Peace-Maker,”

“A what?”

“It’s a long story,”

“As long as it takes,” Tia replied, glaring at her parents.

“Okay Lady Tiarana,”

“Don’t call me that! I’m not a ‘Lady’,”

“Actually….,”

“Get on with it,”

“ Er… Anyway millennia ago humans and dragons lived in Sapphashire leading separate lives. Humans thought dragons were dumb beasts because they didn’t speak with their tongues. Dragons thought humans were greedy and stupid so they lived their lives apart. Humans didn’t dare hunt dragons and dragons didn’t dare hunt them or their livestock so for a few thousand years Sapphashire survived this way,” Kanna took a deep breath, “Now you must know that for millennia the people of Kankor, over the border, absolutely hated Sapphashire and its dragons because they really knew the power of this magical race. When the evil king, Torras, succeeded the throne in Kankor he led the Kanans into war with Sapphashire. Kankor has never held much magic throughout its country and Torras was jealous of Sapphashire. He wanted this power for himself so he could rule and do whatever he desired. There was also another reason. Do you know where Sapphashire got its name?”

“No,” replied Tia.

“In the Oren Mountains there is a great supply of sapphires and they hold great power. These aren’t normal sapphires, oh no. If a great sorcerer could break one open then the seeker could gain eternal life. Immortality. Man’s greatest desire,”

“I still don’t understand what this has to do with me,” Tia asked.

“Listen child, listen. Anyway King Torras invaded the south of Sapphashire, dragon country, and seeked to destroy them. Normally the dragons could easily beat them but the Kanans had a deadly secret that no dragon could fight against,”

“What was it?”

“To this day we still don’t know. The humans saw the battle outraged and our King, Cerval, finally saw what dragons truly are. He realised that they were just as intelligent as humans if not more so and they felt love, anger, sadness and happiness just as we do. He finally saw them as the magnificent race they are. He resolved to help them and he led his own armies into war against the Kanans. Men and dragon fought together and they defeated King Torras and his secret. After that the men and dragons signed a treaty of allegiance. They swore to always help each other in times of need. In thanks for what we did dragons have given us the honour of riding on their backs and we in return let them hunt our sheep and cattle,”

“I still don’t see what this has to do with me-,”

“Tia please let me finish!

“Sorry,” she mumbled, desperate to hear the end.

“When Cerval died he had no heir so he chose the four most powerful sorcerers in Sapphashire to rule and protect the land after him. These four sorcerers were named the Peace-Makers. One of the North, one of the South, one of the East and one of the West. The one of the North was the most powerful because he lived in the city of Cenos. Thousands of years passed and Sapphashire lived in complete peace. As the years passed the Peace-Makers of the South, East and West faded into nothing because no heirs were chosen. Only the Peace-Maker of the North stayed. Now there was only one he was seen almost as a King with magic so an heir was always chosen. Life carried on like this until 13 years ago when Peace-Maker Tancred ruled. In Kankor a new king was chosen, Tyraon. He wanted to live his great ancestor, Torras’ dream and strived to destroy the dragons once more. The Kanans invaded and in this great battle Tancred was killed. The Kanans retreated though because they could not defeat the dragons. The war of the Dragons had started and in light of this new time no one wanted to become the new Peace-Maker. There was only one hope. Tancred’s wife Lady Jadiana was heavy with child. This child would be the heir and it is the only one who can save Sapphashire from the Kanans. Tiarana this child is you,” Kanna said and looked deep into Tia’s eyes.

“No I-I can’t be. I can’t do any of that stuff. I’m no sorcerer,” Tia said completely shocked. She was a simple girl who harvested Eidew nuts every year. Not a sorcerer.

“Tia can you honestly tell me you have never accidentally used your magic?”

“Only this morning I used it on Merden. I couldn’t control it…it just…,” tears rolled down Tia’s cheeks. In less than a day her world had been turned upside down.

“You must have me confused with someone else. How do you know it’s me? How do you know any of this is true?”

“Tia I was there. I was your mother’s midwife. She made me promise to keep you safe and away from the city until you were older enough. I brought you here on Elodach, the dragon outside. If you don’t believe me ask Eireaf,”

Tia felt betrayed as he sat on Kanna’s shoulder like a pet parrot.

Kanna lifted her hand and brushed Tia’s hair from her eyes.

“You look just like your mother,”

“Shut up!” Tia yelled as more tears fell. She jumped up from the stool and ran out the tree and she scrambled down the ladder. Her mother called but she ignored her. She ran past Elodach and away from the village. She didn’t know where she was going but she just wanted to escape. To escape from her life.

Soon she found herself by the pond where she had attacked Merden and she sat down. She burst into another fit of sobs and she hugged her knees. She felt truly alone. She had nothing.

She cried until she could cry no more. She had no idea how long she’d been. She didn’t know if hours had passed or just a few minutes. The sunshine had gone and the sky was covered in dismal clouds. Tia went over to the pond and washed her face she then went back and laid in the grass to look back up at the sky.

The grey clouds rolled past like massive, formidable boulders. The wind began to rise and blow on the trees.

You always wanted to go on an adventure. Thought Tia. But I can’t be a Peace-Maker I can’t control my magic, I’m scared of my magic. I can’t rule a country, I’m only 13. I certainly can’t do it alone. Tia sighed, it was impossible.

You won’t be alone. The dragons will guide you, little one. Tia sat up and looked round.

There stood noble Elodach looking down on her. He looked at her with his kind, understanding amber eyes. He maybe only small but he was still as magnificent as any other dragon.

Tiarana you cannot run from what you were born to do. Kanna and I came to tell you that you must come to Cenos to begin your training. You will learn to control your magic and not hurt anyone with it. Surely there must be more to life than harvest?

“Yes, there is but this is all I have ever known. How can I just abandon my parents? I just have to I guess. Elodach I will go,” Tia said staring into those wonderful eyes.

Remember ‘Time is immortal unlike those who walk in its path’, you can only live once Tia.

And with that he leapt into the air with his golden wings outstretched and he soared high into the air and off into the distance.