We rode until we could see the farm, the horses breathing vapors creating icy clouds. We slowed down, sure that we weren't being followed, and knowing we were too close to the farm to not have help. I could see the smoke rising from the chimney stack in the houses on the farms, which meant at least a few people were awake.

We made our way towards the barn to bring the horses in. I jumped down from my horse, pulled open the barn doors and led my horse in followed by Bellator. He turned and shut the door, then set a flame into a lamp with a flick of his hand. We stalled the horses, gave them their water buckets and fresh grain. We closed the stalls and walked over to a few hay barrels and sat. I wanted to warm up before I had to go back outside and walk to the house. I knew the house was probably warmer, but for now this was good enough.

"Do you think they know where my family's farm is?" I asked.

"I doubt it, or they would have come looking here first." He said. He was right.

I leaned into him for warmth. "Yeah. I hope they don't. We don't have enough of these new blades to go around." I laughed.

Taking the blade out and grabbing some hay to clean the remaining blood that was stuck to it. I knew I would like this dagger.

"Let's go, I want to sleep. I'm tired and it's almost dawn." I suggested.

He agreed. Bellator opened the barn doors and peered around before we left. I was locking the door when he grabbed my shoulder and pulled me down to the cold ground.

"Shh" he hissed and pointed to a rider at the far edge of the farm. Alone, and dressed in black. I was unsure if they had seen us leaving the barn, it was dark and he was far enough away. We didn't move. I didn't dare move to the house in case this rider did spot us.

The figure turned his horse and left. I let out a sigh of relief but didn't move. We waited a moment and then slowly, staying in the shadows, made our way to the house door. Before we snuck in, we made sure the rider was not there, opening the door and shutting behind us, something hit the door as it was locked. It hit again, so hard the door buckled slightly. I stepped back. My father was already behind us, sword in hand. My mother and Aimee standing behind him, both with their hands free and ready to cast. I pulled my sword, looking at my father I unlocked the door, Bellator kicked it open and the three of us charged out. Sigurd appeared in the doorway holding his spear, he held his arms out so no one would cross him.

There was nothing. Not a soul. No footprints be Bellator's and my own. No mark on the door. Nothing.

I looked at my father and shook my head. "What the hell was that?"

"I don't know. Get back inside." He told me.

The four of us went back inside and we locked the door once again, this time adding the wooden bar.

It was Sigurd who spoke first, "A ravager." That's all he said. I think it was to give us time to take it in.

"How would a ravager get here?" My father asked.

"They don't just exist in one part of the world, or two for that matter. I knew Kai had something dark he was hiding. I couldn't make it out by sound alone. Then I felt it. I felt evil when it was outside of the door." Sigurd explained.

"Will it try to get in again?" Aimee asked worriedly.

"It's okay, Aimee, we are a tough group of people to kill." My mother assured her.

"I do not know if it's gone." Sigurd admitted.

"We sleep in the same room for the rest of the night. Here." My father instructed.

We all agreed. "One room at a time, check before you enter."

I was nervous entering my room, there was still a window in there with no bar across it, and I didn't know what I was about to walk into. Bellator escorted me, worried for the same thing. Pushing open the door slowly, both of us holding out swords, we waited just a second. Nothing. We walked into the room, I wanted to lock the window, and I grabbed a few items. Something slammed into my right side causing me to crash into the rocking flooring. My body was objecting with the pain from the fall, I stumbled to my feet. Bellator was already in action, trying to wrestle the same hooded figure from the road. The ravager.

Its hood fell from its head as Bellator threw it into the wall. Its skin was white, with eyes that were snake-like and blood red. Its teeth were black and pointed. Letting out a hissing scream it leaped forward for Bellator. I intercepted it, grabbing it by the back of the hood and pulling it back as hard as I could. Bellator, behind me, tried to stab the ravager in the chest with his sword, the ravager threw its body to the side grabbing my arm as it did. I was tangled in the ravager's cloak trying to free myself. I was desperately fumbling trying to reach my dagger before this thing killed me.

My parents rushed into the room followed by Sigurd. I was still trying to push the ravager off of me, its sharpened teeth snapping at my neck, my arms, my face, anything it could.

Bellator wrapped his arms around the waist of the ravager and pulled it up off of me, taking the weight off. I was able to reach my dagger, I stabbed the ravager in the chest, pulled it out and stabbed it another four times. I could hear Sigurd yell something, not sure what, but the room lit up in a bright warm yellow flash. Sigurd was channeling sunlight, and the ravager screamed like its body was on fire. Bellator threw the ravager to the side of him, and my Father jumped on the ravager, sending his sword into its face.

We scrambled to our feet, not sure if it was dead or not. My father pulled his blade out, and stood over it for a moment ready to strike again.

When it didn't move, its black blood leaking all over the floor he stepped away and helped me to my feet.

I was breathing heavily, my body shaking with rage. I was going to kill Kai. I was going to rip his head straight off of his body. He sent this thing to my family home?

His brother's family? I yelled out in anger releasing the rage, as I did so a blast of energy burst from my body in all directions, I could feel everything around me, the dead ravager, a nearby bear and her cubs, the horses in the stable, even the grass and trees. I knew there was nothing left to threaten us. I felt it.

I walked to the window, closing it and slamming the board across it. I turned and stared at my family.

"I leave tomorrow for the Valley of Gweiadur. I'm not wasting any more time. Whatever Aadi needs from me will have to be done on the way. Kai will not surprise me again."

I finished my sentence and walked out of the room. I opened the front door and stepped out into the cold air still shaking.

Bellator came out behind me, just as angry. He was checking me over to make sure I was okay, so I let him. I could feel something in my body changing. I was ready, I was going to destroy this damned god Amaia, and Kai along with her.

We slept in the same room, we didn't want to risk that I could be wrong. I didn't blame them. I wasn't sure that I could trust the light that came from my angry outburst. I was sure it was Aadi though. I knew he was protecting me.

I didn't move when I woke up. I laid beside Bellator taking in the room. My mothers collection of herbs, and the beautiful flowers she brought in to lighten up the room. Her fresh baked bread. My fathers life's work building this house, Each piece of wood, each stone placed. And Aimee, my dearest sister. I knew I had to protect them the most.

"I want to train today, spells, combat, everything. I need to release some energy. I feel different today. First though, Sigurd?"

I pulled out my new dagger that has proved to be a very useful weapon, and passed it to Sigurd. "I picked this up yesterday, I think I was supposed to."

He raised his eyebrows and took the dagger. He closed his eyes, turning it over in his hands, running his fingers down the blade and smiled. "Yes. This is good." He placed it into his bag.

"Almost done, and we can finish on the way. We need to stop at the river of Gwaed. We need to fish!" He grinned. I was pretty sure that meant something else.

The rest of the morning we spent getting ready to go train. I was anxious to get out there and was just returning from the large barn looking for my shield. Stomping off my boots I asked, "Where is my shield? I can't find it. Was it left behind in the mountain? Damn!" I liked that shield. I worked hard on it.

"It's okay, Kay. We got others. You can take mine, it's a match to yours anyways." He offered.

I nodded. "Okay, thank you." I left to the barn again to search out the other shield. While I was marching through the snow I was thinking about the valley of Gweiadur. I didn't even know which direction it was. Sigurd said the river of Gwaed was on the way, he must have some idea where we needed to go. And what of these ravagers? Obviously they are not crawling around on all fours in the forest eating stray people. Riding horses, and sneaking into houses. They are sentient. Did Kai make a deal with this one? How many others were there?

Argh! I yelled out angry. So many questions filling my mind, and no way to answer them. I felt like my chest was going to explode. I ran the rest of the way to the barn, rushed through the door and shut it, holding my head against it. Breathing, smelling the wood, the hay, the horses. I turned and walked over to the same hay barrels me and Bellator sat on the other night. I closed my eyes, pacing my breath, I was concentrating on relaxing when I could smell fire, and cloves, and cooking meat.

I opened my eyes to find myself once again, sitting with Aadi in front of our fire pit, the same meat and fruit platter as before.

"Oh, I don't have time for this Aadi." I huffed out.

"This is exactly what you have time for." He said sternly. "We need to talk. That ravager is only the start. Yes, they exist..."

I cut him off, "So why didn't you tell me about that then?" I grabbed some meat and took an angry bite, mid chew I asked, "And where the hell is the valley of Gweiadur? What's in the River of Gwead? Back to the Ravager, will more be coming? Do those things even understand anything?" I stopped talking , swallowing and then took a new bite.

Aadi raised his eyebrows and chuckled lightly. "Yes, more will come for you, Kaida. They are not like you, they are evil. And they will do what they can to live. The stories of them surviving on others' souls is essentially true. They take your life energy for their own. You are all very lucky it did not wait for you to sleep." He picked up a horn and drank some wine.

He continued. "The Valley is south. You will know when you are close. Nothing lives there. Sigurd will know the way."

That reminded me, "Aadi, when this is all over, can you give Sigurd what he wants?"

He looked at me seriously. "If Sigurd wants his powers taken from him, it is his choice. The gods will respect his request and not force him to live in any way he does wish to. We love you as much as you love us. That's how this works."

"So Sigurd can just stop?" I wondered out loud.

"Not really. He will know what to do when he is ready. I promise you that, Kaida." He smiled. "You might be a fierce fighter, Kaida, but your heart is soft. I like that." I smiled at that.

"Can I have some of that wine?" He laughed and poured me a horn. I closed my eyes and took a long, slow drink of the delicious wine. Upon opening my eyes again, I was back in the cold barn.

One thing though, Aadi was right. That was what I needed.

"Praise, Aadi." I whispered.

I found my fathers shield quickly and left back to the house, returning in better spirits.

The field was still thick with snow, I didn't mind, it just meant we were going to have to work harder. I dropped my shield and my cloak. I stretched my arms a bit and pulled out my sword. "Who's first?" I asked with a grin.

"Me." My father said.

"Finally, I thought you were afraid of me." I laughed.

He started to laugh and shoved me hard with his shoulder mid laugh. I fell to the ground and rolled onto my knees, he was above me with his sword, swinging it downward towards me, I held my own sword up stopping him. I pushed forward hard, trying to shove him off of me, His foot slipped in the snow and he fell to the side. Jumping to my feet, I swung my sword to the side aiming for his chest. He bent down, my blade just missing the back of his armor. He grabbed my leg and pulled it out from under me, sending me straight onto my arse. I tried to kick him off with my free leg but he reached up and grabbed that one as well. Sitting up, my sword already fallen from my hand, I tried to swung and punch him in the face, he already had a foot under him and was able to stand before I got him. He stood up and kicked me in the shoulder, sending me backwards, and holding his sword out to my chest. He stepped back and nodded.

"That was good, let's try with magic." He said.

"Fine, but only defensive." My father knew I was better with defensive skill than attacking.

"No, you need to learn how to use what you can, as you are fighting. You are a good fighter, Kaida. You don't need practice. You need to learn magic." He scolded.

I nodded. I wasn't going to argue. There really was no point when I was going to lose anyways.

Brushing myself off, my father pulled Bellator aside and spoke to him for a moment and then returned. Bellator returned to his spot, ready to watch again.

I picked up my sword, walked over and grabbed my shield, drying my blade on my cloak.

Getting ready to go, I just kept thinking if Aadi could just step in a little that would be great. I took a deep breath through my nose and pushed it out hard through my mouth, and stood ready.

Slapping my shield with my sword my father instantly shot a fire spell at me, my shield in front of me taking the hit. I ran towards him whispering the wind spell , 'Ventus', when I was close enough sending a hard wind into his chest, knocking him slightly. I was hit from behind with a wind spell back. Bellator joined the fight. I didn't hesitate, leaving my father in the snow, I dashed towards Bellator, he was sending flames at me as I dodged them, left then right. I dropped down sliding in the snow knocking his feet from him, wrapped my legs around his neck, whispering, 'Glacies' I channeled ice through my legs. He tapped my legs in submission. I released him and got to my feet.

"Damn, you really are fast." He said catching his breath. My father laughed. "Yeah, Kaida, I think you have got to be quicker. And your magic sure did the job, it could have hit me harder with that wind, and try to be farther away giving you time to react to any surprises." He patted my shoulder as he reached me. "You are a force to be reckoned with. Let's see what happens when you get control of that heart in your chest." He encouraged me. "And stop saying your spells out loud! Even a whisper makes all the difference in time!"

I wasn't totally satisfied with what we had done, I was about to tell them to go again when Sigurd showed up. "One more thing before we leave?" He asked.

My father was all too happy to finish our training. Bellator and I agreed to join Sigurd.

We headed into the forest while my father went home to my mother and Aimee. "What's going on Siggy?" I teased. It had become Aimee's new name for Sigurd, I thought it was funny.

"We need one more thing from here before we leave. We need shivarin." He told me.

"A shivarin? The plant? They don't grow around here." I told him. "I have never seen one."

Shivarin's are white, leafy plants, they grow all year round in all climates. It was the plant of the gods. It could either heal you, or kill you. Awakened called it the flower of fate.

"We will find out." Was all Sigurd said.

We walked for a little while talking about things that didn't matter, then I asked Sigurd. "Sigurd? You don't think we will run into another ravager out here?"

"Not not in the day, no. They can't stand the sun, it's like children and vegetables. They hate it."

Good I thought. I didn't want to deal with another one yet. "So how do you know there are shivarins here?"

"They are everywhere." He laughed. "Here!" To my surprise he actually found one, and we were still close to home. I suspected magic helped.

"Beautiful, is it not?" Sigurd asked as he cut the plant at the root with a small pocket knife. He gingerly rolled the plant up and stuffed it into his side pouch.

"Done." He said as he stood.

This really wasn't very exciting, I repeated Aimee's words in my mind.

We started back to the house, I was thinking about how Sigurd could have done this alone, but reminded myself this was my problem, not his and I should be more thankful that he is here helping me.

"Sigurd? How long will it take to get to the river?" I asked.

"Oh, a little while. We have to go south for a week first, we must stop somewhere." Was all the information he gave us.

Walking the rest of the way back in silence made it seem longer than when we left. As we got closer to the house, I could hear my parents arguing about something. We opened the front door to find them at the table.

"I must go, Astra. You and Aimee will be safe, Frig and his wife will help extra with the farm, they already agreed." He was telling my mother.

"After a ravager comes to our home?" My mother shot back.

"You and Aimee are more than capable of protecting yourselves, and like I said, I will ask Frig's son to stay in the house with you both. He can have Kaida's room."

"You can not come, father." I cut in. "I need you to stay..." He cut me off, "No, this is what I am supposed to do." He looked me hard in the eyes. I nodded. I wasn't going to argue. If this was his fate, then I would not step in. I was not going to deny having my father's help made me feel like I had a better fighting chance. His magic was strong, and he was brilliant when it came to magical combat.

"Let him come, Mother." I hand both her hands in mine. " Ota will keep you safe." I promised, and thought to myself.

Sigurd was busy packing a few things and then he asked Aimee, "Will you care for Willow? The valley of Gweiadur is no place for such a precious fox." He said sadly.

Aimee let out a small squeal of excitement and agreed, of course. I noted my mother was slightly annoyed by this but said nothing. I smiled, Aimee got a fox.

It wasn't long before our horses were loaded with everything from Shelter, to weapons. My mother forced my father to bring an extra fur or two for himself. After convincing her that we had enough provisions, and a few tears later, we left.

Heading south away from Duskenhills I felt like I was finally doing something, and that I actually had a plan. Not much of one, but it was happening.

"Sigurd, where to first?" I asked, feeling like a mockingbird repeating myself.

He didn't answer me. I didn't ask a second time, I have come to know that Sigurd will only answer me if he wants to.

I was beside my father, Bellator and Sigurd in front, the clanging of our gear as the horses walked. I was lost in my thoughts about the valley of Gweiadur, the river of Gwead.

"Sigurd? Can you do that travel spell I saw Vala do?" I had a thought that if we could get ahead, then we should.

"I don't like it," He said, raising his shoulders to his ears. "It makes me feel like I'm floating and... Yes, the answer is yes."

"Will you?" I asked. I waited silently. He nodded in agreement.

We gathered closer together, still on top of our horses, Sigurd looked stressed out, wrapped his horse's lead around his waist, and raised his hands. Slowly we were surrounded by white smoke. I felt like I was standing on a boat, and it was waving in the wind. I could hear Sigurd groaning unhappily. I felt dizzy. I understood immediately why Sigurd disliked it

The smoke dissipated slowly revealing entirely new surroundings. Instead of snow there was brown grass, and a few bushes with vegetation. It was still winter here, just not as cold, and not snow. I was happy with that.

Sigurd shivered. "Yeah, I still hate it. I don't like that spell, even if it is handy." Some magics were only available to seer's. Or at least, it's only taught to seer's by other seer's and kept between them. Maybe I would ask Sigurd to teach me the logistics of the spell, and I could fail at that as well. I laughed at myself. The others turned to look at me as if I was the new crazy one. I shook my head, "It's nothing." I assured them.

We travelled down a road until we came to the front gate of a village. Except, the gate was half missing, and burnt. The surrounding walls looked like they were old and unkempt. It was obviously abandoned.

Sigurd led the way, as he was the only one who knew where we were, and what we were doing here.

"Hey Sigurd, Where are we?" My father asked.

"La Beth." Sigurd replied.

He kept leading us down the dead streets, past houses and other buildings crumbling. I couldn't imagine what we could be here for.

Apart from the sounds of our horses, and the occasional crow's caw, there was nothing. Not even a scavenging coyote. After a series of turns we stopped in front of a burnt house, Sigurd jumping down from his horse. It probably wasn't very large when it was whole, the outline of the building was still generally there. The firepit made of stone is still mostly standing, but not useful. Nothing else survived. Even if it did, it would have been overgrown with plant growth and unrecognizable.

"Where are we?" Bellator asked first.

"Home." Said Sigurd.

"What? This is your home, Sigurd?" My father asked.

"Yes. It was burnt by the non-awakened many, many years ago." He said.

"What happened?" I asked him.

"Our enchantment failed, and a group of hunter's happened to spot the village. Before we could resist and hide ourselves once more, they returned with an army of men. Hateful, scared, stupid men. They killed as many awakened they could, then tracked down most of those who escaped, and burned the village to the ground so we wouldn't return. We had no time to collect anything. I need one of those items now." He told us as he started to push around debris.

This was Sigurd's home? I felt a pinch in my stomach. I closed my eyes and bowed my head.

"What does it look like, we will help you." I told him. Bellator and my father agreed with me.

"A chest that can fit in your hand. It may not be very pretty, not anymore." He was searching around the fireplace, we all split up digging through various places, pulling aside overgrowth, kicking aside dirt piles with no luck of finding anything that resembled a chest.

Sigurd finally emerged from an area full of lifeless bushes with an "Ah hah!" presenting a crummy looking, wet snowy wooden box. I wouldn't have thought it was what he was looking for. I was glad if it was him who found it because I probably would have kicked it aside.

He opened it up slowly, letting the lid crumble to the ground. He picked up the tooth. It looked like it could be a wolf's tooth or another canine. He dropped the rest of the wood, and tucked the tooth into the pouch with the sliver of wood from the field post, and my dagger.

"My memory." He explained. I was unsure what he meant by that.

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