AN: Hello, and thanks for choosing this story to read! Be nice and leave a review, or else I might just lose my motivation.... Erhem

If you can get past this first chapter, the rest of the story will be a breeze. Thanks!

Kristahl, Lirun. Year 491.

"Ed?"

"Yeah, Tern?"

"Do you see that, or am I just 'allucinating?"

Two men, both wearing identical armor, stood in front of the open iron gates of a city. The two stared out into the distance, glancing down a dark path that led into a neighboring forest. In the dead of night, nothing could be seen but shadow.

"Tern, there ain't nuthin there," the man named Ed said with a shake of his head. "All I see is shadows and that's it. There ain't nuthin you need to be worrying about."

"Fine, fine, if you say so...."

The men went silent, allowing the sound of a gentle breeze rustling tree branches to be the loudest sound in the area. It was a calm, cool night, just like every other night. A thin layer of melting snow lay on the ground at their feet, covering the worn path in front of them completely. Occasionally a snow flake or two would fall from the sky, landing on the ground with the rest of the snow or otherwise melting as soon as it fell near the lit torch in Ed's right hand.

"The stars are bright tonight, eh Ed?" said Tern in awe as he stared up at the sky.

"Just like last night, and the night before that, and so on. They're always the same, ain't they?"

"Nah, sometimes they seem dimmer to me."

"I'll tell you what's dim, you oaf. You're dim, that's for sure."

"You ain't gotta be mean like that, Ed! Take that back! I ain't dim!"

The man named Ed chuckled slightly. "Taking that back would be a lie, Tern, and I ain't a liar."

"Really, what makes you think I'm dim?"

"The fact that you were 'allucinating when there ain't nuthin there on the path. That's mighty dim, Tern."

Tern grumbled in annoyance before turning away from his friend, instead staring back down the path. His eyes traveled forward, back to where the trees were and the forest began. It was hard to see anything in the darkness, but upon squinting, he was just able to make out the faint outline of a man sitting in a tree. He was very far away, well out of hearing distance.

"Ed! I ain't 'allucinating! Look, there!" Tern whispered, pointing at the outline. "Look, look!"

"Tern, there's -- "

"Here, I'll show you!" He grabbed Ed's torch and pulled it out of his friend's hand. "Follow me!"

The two walked down the path, their boots crunching in the icy snow. The figure didn't seem to notice them, and remained motionless where he sat. As the two came closer, finally the man glanced their way. It was too dark to see him properly, but the two could easily see that he was quite thin. The light from the torch still had yet to shine upon him properly.

"Sir, it ain't safe out here when the sun's set," Tern said professionally as they came closer. "You should be inside the city, like everyone else."

The man in the tree remained silent, staring down at them from a high branch. He was swinging his legs in a bored fashion, and even when the torch was close to his feet he continued this action. Tern and Ed could see the man much better now, and the first thing they noticed was the odd clothing he wore. His shoes were no more than leather strips on the bottoms of his feet, and his pants were also of leather. He had two hatchets, one on each hip. His chest was bare but his arms were not, instead being decorated with many beaded bracelets, some with tufts of fur and feathers. His short dark hair was kept back by a thin strip of leather. Despite the odd clothing, and the lack of it on his chest, he didn't seem cold.

"Oh no," Tern muttered to Ed, "I think it's a barbarian! You know, one of them wild men that live out in the forest with the animals!"

"Good thing he don't know a civil language, eh?"

"Yeah...."

They stared up at the 'barbarian', who stared right back at them with unblinking dark eyes. He glanced at their armor, their swords, and the torch in Tern's hand, smiling all the while.

"I don't think he's right in the head," Tern muttered, backing away slightly. "Look at him, smiling stupidly and such...."

"Yeah, I think he's dimmer than you," Ed said with a nod. "Let's get back to the gates...."The two turned their back on the man, and began walking back down the path. Occasionally they would glance over their shoulders at the barbarian, who remained in the tree, still smiling.

"I can't believe the King is allowing them brutes on our land," Ed muttered. "If I were King, I'd kill the lot of 'em."

"I wouldn't kill 'em, I'd just chase them away from the city," Tern said. "After all, violence is -- "

He was cut off by the sound of an explosion in the distance. Both men stopped in their tracks and turned, staring off down the path. The barbarian glanced around in an alarmed manner, clinging to a branch tightly as if he had just almost fallen off.

"What was that, Ed?" Tern asked.

"There you go with acting dim! Do you really think I know?"

"Hey, do you smell that?"

The two sniffed the air, still staring down the path. The barbarian jumped down from his tree, landing softly in the snow, also sniffing the air.

"Is that smoke?" Tern asked.

"Aye, I think it is... though, it could just be from our torch."

"Nay, this new smell is stronger."

After that they went silent, debating to themselves if the smell was that of smoke or not. Occasionally they glanced down the path towards the odd barbarian, watching his movements carefully as if he were the one to blame for the strong smell of burning wood. The lanky man slunk around his tree, glancing through various bushes, searching.

Then, he brought two fingers to his lips and whistled sharply. The loud call was the only noise the man had made thus far. For several moments he waited after that in silence, continually searching the bushes and trees, holding the handles of the hatchets at his sides.

A loud howl suddenly came forth, causing Ed and Tern to jump where they stood. Coming forth from the trees was a white wolf, it's eyes a shining yellow hue. The animal wagged it's tail joyfully upon seeing the barbarian, then it nuzzled against him happily.

"He can talk to animals!" Tern exclaimed in wonder.

"He just whistled, Tern, that's it. I don't think he can -- "

Suddenly, a second explosion sounded off, this time much closer. Various birds squawked and took flight. The smell of smoke was strong in the air now. The barbarian, alarmed once more, unstrapped both of his hatchets and entered the forest, the wolf at his heels.

"Ed, maybe we should head to the city, and tell someone about the smoke...."

"Aye, maybe we should. And, tell 'em about that man and his wolf, too."

The two turned, about to start heading yet again to the gates, when Ed suddenly stopped.

"Ed, what's wrong?" Tern asked.

The guard didn't reply. Instead he merely stood there, shocked, eyes wide and mouth hanging open.

"Ed? ED!"

Tern suddenly dropped the torch as his friend fell forward on the path. A long arrow was sticking out of his back, wedged between two thick pieces of leather armor. Several more arrows came flying by, all of them missing Tern by inches. Glancing through the trees, he saw dozens of people locked in battle. Many of them looked exactly like the barbarian....

Then, the same exact man ran out of the trees, both hatchets covered in blood. His wolf ran behind him, white muzzle stained red. The two ran past Tern quickly and down the path towards the gates.

Several more arrows flew forward and two hit Tern in the chest. He fell forward next to Ed, motionless.

---

"Reila, can you please not touch that?"

"Sorry...."

A woman sighed before taking a small shot glass from a child. The child, a little girl of about four, looked up at the woman with large brown eyes.

"Mum, when can I see Prince Batair? You said I'd see him today."

"I know I did honey," the woman said to her daughter, putting the vase back where it belonged as she did so. "But you know Thalon, he's really busy most of the time."

The woman sighed again, a bit of anger flashing in her green eyes. She flicked a few strands of red hair behind her shoulder then smoothed some of the wrinkles out of her brown cotton dress. Behind her, the entire wall was dedicated to shelves of various liquors, and to her front was a bar. The entire room was empty save for her and Reila.

"Honey, get down from there!" the woman cried out as her daughter climbed on top of the bar, standing in the midst of glasses and spilled liquor.

"Mum, look! I'm balancing!" the girl said with a giggle as she stood there, the soles of her small shoes being the only thing that prevented her from slipping. The woman immediately grabbed her child and picked her up, breathing deeply to calm herself.

"Reila, don't do that again!" she cried out. "I've been upset lately, you know that! Your actions aren't helping!"

"Sorry...."

She put the girl down and began cleaning the bar, wiping a rag across the messes as she went along. There were many glasses left behind as there were every night, and she knew it would take a good while before everything was cleaned.

"Mum?"

"Yes?"

"Why don't you clean up the quick way? You know, the 'abnormal' way?"

For a moment the woman remained silent, staring down at her child with a small smile. "You know, I guess I will do that."

She narrowed her eyes and rose her hands in the air, just above the bar. Her lips formed silent words as her hands traced symbols in the air.

Suddenly, several of the glasses flew to a rag, which cleaned them, and then they went to their proper places under the bar. Another rag soaked up the spilt liquor quickly, and within less than a minute the place was spotless. Reila giggled, staring up at her mother with her large brown eyes.

"Teach me! Teach me!" she begged.

"Maybe someday, honey," the woman said with a small smile, picking her child up as she spoke. "Right now, however, you have to get to bed. You've been awake long enough, I dare say."

She began to make her way to the door when suddenly it opened before her. She stood in shock, holding Reila tightly, as a man wearing nothing but leather pants walked in, a white wolf at his heels.

"Gavin?!" The woman put her child down and ran over to the man, eyes wide. "Gavin! What happened to you? Is that... is that blood?!"

The barbarian named Gavin nodded, dropping his bloody hatchets to the ground to free his hands. He began to form signs in the air with his fingers while also mouthing words, mutely communicating to the woman. With every passing second her eyes widened.

"Mum! What's wrong with Gavin?" Reila asked, unable to comprehend the signals.

"Oh no, we have to inform Thalon!" the woman cried out. Gavin nodded, holding open the door for her as she brushed past him. The small child followed the two as they ran down the street, heading towards a tall gray castle in the distance. She held up the skirt of her dress with difficulty, trying not to trip as she kept up with her mother. "Oh no, oh no, oh no!"

"Mum, what's wrong?"

"Nothing honey," the woman lied, panic in her voice. Her eyes drifted over to the barbarian. "Gavin! You have to take Reila to a safer place!"

He motioned in the air several times, shaking his head, his brown hair whipping about his head wildly.

"What do you mean there's no safer place?! Don't say such things! Take her, now!"

He shook his head yet again, looking flustered. Reluctantly, however, he scooped the child up in his arms as he ran. Dark eyes determined, he glared at the woman, mouthing to her silently.

"Don't worry, I won't fail," she said as she continued running, watching as Gavin took a different street, taking her child with him.

---

"Wake up, you idiot! WAKE UP!"

"AGH!" a man cried, sitting up and flailing helplessly in the darkness. Several times his hands came in contact with flesh, and he continued to defend himself from his nighttime attacker.

"Ow!" the woman cried. "Thalon, stop this! Ow!"

"Huh what?" the man named Thalon muttered sleepily, rubbing his eyes quickly. "Silvana, is that you?"

"Yes, you oaf, it's me!" Silvana cried, about ready to pull out her hair. "Get up! It's important!"

Quickly she pulled the blankets off of the bed that the man was sleeping in, exposing his almost nude body to the cold night air. He shrieked, rolling off of the mattress and onto the floor with a thud. After several moments of loud mutterings he stood, covering himself up with part of the blanket.

"Silvana, this is not the time nor the place for us to talk!" he cried out in a harsh whisper. "And it doesn't help that I'm practically naked, woman!"

"Oh shut up, I've seen you before," she said, opening an armoire and throwing articles of clothing at him. "Not much to see, in all honesty...."

"Well that wasn't quite your reaction the first time we -- "

"Shut up and get dressed!" she scolded, throwing more clothing at him. "This is important, you fool!"

"If it's so damn important, just say it already!"

"Very well then, I will," she muttered with a glare. "The city's about to be under attack. Gavin came to me from the forest, having just fought with some of the invading men in there. His entire tribe is battling them, slowing them down, as we speak. No one in the city knows about this yet! I... I think it's the Serastis! They're the only ones close enough to invade so quickly and without warning."

Thalon's eyes widened. "Are you sure?"

"Gavin wouldn't lie about such matters, idiot! You have to tell the others, I can only do so much. If they knew I was near you or this castle, they'd execute me!"

"Calm down Silvana," he said soothingly, now fully dressed. He walked over to her and held her hands in his own. "They wouldn't dare execute you while I'm around."

"Your father has more power than you, Thalon," she whispered. "He almost had me killed before, remember? And Reila, too. He doesn't even know she's your daughter, but he would have killed her just because he knew she was my daughter."

"Speaking of Reila, how is she?"

"She's with Gavin, so she's fine. Well, she'd be better if she knew the truth about you, but...."

"You know we can't tell her, Silvana. The truth would endanger her. Just let her believe that I'm her friend, not her father, okay? She doesn't need to know she's royalty."

"Enough about Reila," the woman said suddenly. "You have a job to do, hurry!"

"I'm right on it, milady," he said with a lopsided grin before leaving the room.

---

By the time the proper people had been informed of the situation, the attackers were upon the gates of the city, finally having gotten past Gavin's tribe. At first no one thought about who the enemy was or how many there were, but only that they were attacking. This surprise attack called for a desperate defense, for the city under attack wasn't just any city, but was the city of Kristahl, the capital city of the kingdom of Lirun.

The Castle Batair sat upon the highest hill of Kristahl, right in the middle of the city. It overlooked everything around it, and from one of the higher windows one could see perfectly the gates of the city and the forest beyond. Fire was consuming everything past the civilization, belching thick black smoke towards the otherwise clear sky. The light from the flames illuminated the troops that traveled through the area towards the city.

At first glance, anyone could tell that the small city troops were outnumbered.

Lirun was a rather peaceful kingdom, near only two other nations. The capital city was close to their northern border with Seraste. Seraste was a wonderful trade partner and had never posed a threat to Lirun. To the southeast was the much larger kingdom of Tiren. Tiren never agreed with Lirun, and the cultures of the two were drastically different. Separated by only a mere river, it would be easy for Tiren to attack at any point if the idea came to them. Due to this fact, Lirun's forces were all focused in the southern part of the forested kingdom, not to the north where the capital city was only miles away from Seraste. Why Seraste attacked so suddenly, they didn't know.

The Serasti troops came without warning, and they came with every bit of power they had. Everyone in Kristahl knew that the fight wouldn't last long.

"They're in the city! They're in the city!" a soldier cried out in the night to every man and woman that had gathered, as if they didn't know the obvious. "Everyone hide, they're here!"

No one needed to be told twice. Soldiers abandoned the fighting and gathered their families, heading to where ever they thought they'd be safe.

One person who was just about to do this as well was Thalon.

"Pull back! Pull back!" he cried as he stood in a main street with several other soldiers. Their fallen comrades laid at their feet, and the enemy forces were coming at them with raised swords.

"Sir, bad news from the Castle Batair!" a voice suddenly said. Thalon turned, brown eyes searching for the person who spoke. A panting low-class soldier stood near, looking at him with fearful eyes. "A few rogue Serastis made it into the castle. Several people were killed including... including...." The man trailed off, his eyes glancing downwards.

"Soldier, say it already!"

"Your entire family was killed. King, Queen, your sisters and your nephew, all of them."

Thalon froze completely, eyes wide. His heart was racing, but he wasn't breathing. He went momentarily deaf, unable to hear the chaos around him. Then, finally, "I... I'm the last one left?"

"Yes, Prince, erm, I mean King," the soldier said. "You're now the reigning King of -- "

He was cut off as an arrow flew forward and hit him in the side, causing him to scream out in pain and stagger away. More arrows flew, and more soldiers fell, unable to run away fast enough. And even if they could run faster, they truly had no where to go to.

"Pull back!" Thalon cried out once more, helping the injured soldier that had informed of his family's death. "Head anywhere, just pull back!"

Sheathing his sword and placing his shield away so that he had two free hands, he pulled the man along and moved down the street, feeling arrows bounce off of his shield, which was now on his back. His eyes searched desperately for any safe place, but he found none. Everywhere buildings were burning to the ground, the occupants escaping just in time only to find themselves facing soldiers from the opposing army.

Why did they attack us?

This question rang through his head as he ran, still dragging the soldier, not quite realizing that the man had died. Then, he heard a shrill feminine scream, coming from a voice he knew well.

"REILA!"

Finally realizing the soldier was dead, he dropped the body and ran as fast as he could uphill wearing such armor. He knew not where exactly the location the scream had come from, but only that he had to find his daughter at all costs.

"REILA!"

Another shrill scream sounded off, mingling with the clashing of swords. Finally he saw his child crouched by a street corner, her white dress stained and ripped, her thin arms held over her head and face. Standing in front of her, protecting her, was a white wolf with yellow eyes. Two Serasti men were trying to attack without getting to close, and whenever their sword would slice across the dog's flesh, it would howl and whine while Reila let out another terrified shriek.

"Get away from her!" Thalon cried out, unsheathing his sword and taking the shield off his back. The blade met flesh while his shield collided with bone, issuing an echoing crunch into the smoky air. In seconds the two men lay dead, and the little girl was safe.

"Prince Batair!" she cried out happily, jumping up and dashing past the wolf so that she could hug his legs. "Thalon! I knew you'd come, I knew it!"

"Reila, where is your mother?" he asked, sword still raised as he glanced around, searching for other enemies to kill.

"I don't know," the girl said sadly, brown eyes beginning to tear up. "Gavin took me from her, to keep me safe. But then something happened to Gavin, and I'm alone with his wolf...."

She glanced back at the animal, which limped forward and licked her hand, whining slightly. Blood dripped down from several wounds on its back.

"Come now, we must find Gavin and Silvana," Thalon said. "Where was Gavin last?"

"Follow me," she said, dashing into a nearby building, the dog at her heels.

The building was empty and rather undamaged despite all of the fighting in the area. There were signs of previous inhabitants, like the sword on the floor and the open map on a desk. One door was open, but Thalon closed it immediately.

"We'll be safe here, for now," he said, kneeling down to Reila's height. He dropped his sword and hugged her tightly, sighing in relief. "That was close, and for a moment I thought I lost you, child."

The girl giggled, hugging him in return. "I'm happy you came, Prince Batair. I haven't seen you in a long while, and it's a good thing I saw you just now!"

"Yes, it was," he said softly, trying to keep his voice level while his heart began to crack in half.

I'm supposed to be the father of this child....

"Reila, I'm so sorry that I haven't seen you much as of late," he whispered sadly, still hugging the girl. "I'm a very busy man, but I shouldn't have been that busy that I couldn't see you once in a while. When all of this fighting is over, I'll take you on a little trip. Does that sound good? We could go south, and spend a week at a lake in the area. Would you like that?"

"That sounds great, Thalon!" the girl said happily with a laugh. "But, there's one problem. Mum wouldn't like it if I spent time at a lake, out in the woods. She wouldn't want me to get dirty and scrape my knees."

"How about this, we bring your mother along with us! That way, she sees how much fun it is."

"We'll have a wonderful time! Thank you, Thalon! Thank you!"

"Don't mention it," he said with one of his lopsided grins.

Suddenly, the door burst open, ruining the happy moment. Two Serasti soldiers came in, swords raised. Thalon reached for his sword and jumped up, striking one down immediately. The other, however, was going after Reila. The small girl screamed....

Then, an arrow came whizzing through the doorway. It stuck in the man's back, causing him to cry out and fall.

"Don't you DARE ever try to touch my daughter!" came a female voice.

Silvana strode through the doorway, a dangerous looking bow in her hands and a quiver of arrows on her back. The tavern maid was furious, a red glow rising in her otherwise pale cheeks as she stared at the dying man on the floor. Her brown cotton dress somehow managed to remain spotless despite everything. Her livid green eyes were staring at the dying man with an angry intensity, never once leaving him until his final breath. Gavin stood behind Silvana, looking quite fearful of the woman in front of him.

"Thalon, they're trying to take the castle!" she cried out upon seeing the father of her child. "If they take the castle, we're doomed!"

"There are no troops left to defend the city," he said gravely. "The only thing we can possibly do is escape the city, and try our luck in the forest. All of our army is down south near our border with Tiren, on the night when we need those men the most...."

Gavin shook his head sadly as his dog sat near his feet. The barbarian mutely communicated to Silvana, who paled and shook where she stood.

"He says that the forces have surrounded the city completely," she whispered to Thalon. "They're slaughtering anyone who comes their way."

"Mum," Reila whispered, crying silently. She ran over and hugged her mother around the legs, wiping her tears on her dress.

"We're all dead," Silvana said, eyes wide. "We're not going to make it through this."

"Don't you dare say that!" Thalon cried out, eyes narrowed, voice bellowing. "We're all going to make it through this!"

"Don't lie!" she screamed at him, now crying just like her daughter. "You're always the optimist, but it never does any good! 'Silvana, my father will never find out,' or 'Silvana, though he knows, you're safe,' or 'Silvana, I may not be there for you and Reila, but things will turn out in the end!' And now your new phrase is 'Silvana, we're all going to make it through this!' STOP THE LIES!"

"I've never lied to you!" he yelled back, stricken by her words. "I've made mistakes in the past, that's all! But I've tried to make it right, I really have! Now is not the time to bring all of that up!"

"Like hell it isn't! We're going to die anyway, so this is my last chance to say anything!"

"We're not going to die!"

Gavin suddenly jumped between them, waving his hands like mad at Silvana. She glared at him, but he didn't back down, instead motioning faster to her.

"Stay out of this!" she yelled. "I don't need your advice!"

Despite her words, he didn't stop motioning and she didn't stop watching. The mute communication slowed, and the angry look on Gavin's face transformed into desperation.

"Tell me what he's saying," Thalon demanded, glaring at the two.

"That's a horrible substitute," she said, ignoring Thalon. She shook her head sadly at the mute. "Besides, so many things could go wrong. That's part of why it's illegal, and you know it. If even one thing does go wrong, the result would be worse than death."

Had Gavin been able to scream or cry out, he probably would have done so immediately. Instead he continued his signing, glaring horribly at Silvana. A moment later her eyes widened and she slapped him across the face. His head turned comically from the force of the blow, but he didn't stop his signing.

"Don't tell me what's best for my daughter!" Silvana screamed, slapping him a second time. "I know what's best for her! I KNOW WHAT'S BEST!"

While she continued to scream, no one noticed that someone was trying to open one of the doors to the building. Reila was sobbing, Gavin was signing, the wolf began growling, and Thalon was trying to block it all out. He had his hands over his ears, gritting his teeth painfully and glancing away from Silvana. Then, he finally saw it. He saw how the door shook in its frame as someone tried to force it open.

Immediately he ran over and pressed his body against the door, trying to keep it from opening. Gavin and Silvana stopped fighting, noting that the other door also began to shake.

"Get it, Gavin!" Thalon cried out desperately.

He didn't need to be told twice. The mute quickly held the door closed, using all of the strength in his rather thin body to keep it closed.

"It won't work," Silvana said to him, shaking her head. "We're going to die here...."

The barbarian mouthed to her angrily as he held the wood in place. His dark eyes glared at her light green ones, and for several moments the two fought a seemingly silent battle.

Then, Silvana began to relent. Tears streamed down her face, and she held her head in her hands.

"So many things could go wrong.... I might not have enough magic, and even if I do, we could be stuck like that for an eternity...."

Thalon still didn't know what was going on, but he knew their lives were on the line.

"Silvana, love, listen to me," he said desperately. "Whatever it is that he wants you to do, just do it. Please...."

Sobbing softly, she glanced from her lover and then to her daughter, who was crying with her. She then glanced back at Gavin, who mouthed only one word... try.

---

"Break the doors down!" the Serasti captain cried, watching his men as they pounded and threw themselves at the doors.

At first the portals refused to open, remaining as strong as ever. Both were being braced by the occupants inside.

"By order of Lord Dorjan, break them down!" the captain cried. "We've gotten word that Prince Batair is in there! He must be killed!"

They continued to try and force their way into the building, but to no avail. Then....

"Sir, they've stopped bracing the doors!" a man called out.

"Well, isn't that good to know? NOW BREAK THEM DOWN!"

And they did. After a bit more struggling, the doors fell and the Serastis flooded into the room.

A few seconds later, they all stopped in their tracks, staring down at the scene in front of them with shocked faces.

"What? What is it?" the captain yelled. "What are you all -- oh gods above...."

He pushed past his men and stopped in the center of the room, standing among the four dead bodies that lay there. Prince Batair, a woman, a small child, and a barbarian. All dead.

"How did this happen?"

They all stared down at the puzzling scene with confused expressions.

"Eh, it doesn't matter," the captain finally said. "The entire Batair bloodline has been wiped out. Now Lord Dorjan rules -- "

A low growling suddenly cut him off. Alarmed, he glanced into a dark corner that he had originally overlooked. Sitting there, bleeding horribly from various wounds, was a wolf.

Hardly a second later the wolf ran forward and out of the open door, leaving the Serasti men in the room with four bodies going cold.