As Jen rode off, she thought of the last time she had seen her family. The night that changed her life forever.

“Mother.” Jen felt the chair behind her almost fall over.

“Yes?” Leann asked.

“May I stay at Isabel’s tonight? Her parents are telling stories and she invited me to join,” Jen said, her heart pounding. What would she do if Leann said no?

Leann looked thoughtful as she looked around the house. Jen forced herself to look calm.

“Oh, all right. You’ve done excellent work lately,” Leann said.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Jen burst out excitedly. She went running off before remembering her plate and headed back.

“Don’t forget the other dishes before you leave,” Leann said.

“Of course!” Jen said and grabbed the rest of the dishes and rushed into the kitchen.

She worked quickly through the dishes.

“I’m done!” Jen said breathlessly. “Can I go now?”

Leann nodded and Jen bolted out of the house. Today was the big day. She wasn’t lying about staying at Isabel’s but she wasn’t being honest either. Isabel’s parents were telling stories, but she was more excited about what was happening after that.

Tonight, at midnight, she would sneak out to see Jahad. Warmth spread across her cheeks as she thought about him. Mustn’t think of that right now, she thought and arrived at Isabel’s. She knocked on the door and Isabel answered.

“Jen!” Isabel gave her a hug, which Jen returned. “Your parents said yes?”

“They did!’ Jen said. She looked around the house. “Where are your parents?”

“They went out to grab some food, I think,” Isabel said.

“Okay.”

“You ready for tonight?” Isabel shot her friend a sly grin.

“Of course, I’ve been waiting all week!”

“I’m so jealous,” Isabel said, clasping her hands together. “I hope to find a man like that one day.”

“Oh, stop it!” Jen said, averting her face as she blushed. “How about you show me where my room is?”

Jen found herself fidgeting over the next few hours. Isabel’s parents came home and said they would begin sharing stories soon. A fire was started and the stories were nothing special. She had heard most of them before and was disappointed.

“I can see you’re not enjoying our stories, Jen,” Isabel’s father, Deckard, said.

Jen felt her face redden. How embarrassing! She thought she was hiding her disappointment. “S-sorry, but I’ve heard these before.”

“Ah,” Deckard chuckled. “It’s time to bring out a good one, then. Do you know about the Sword of Cataclysm?”

“Isn’t that the sword used by Emperor Talberon before he was overthrown?” Jen asked.

“That it is,” Deckard said. “Though the original name has been lost to time. The Sword of Cataclysm is the strongest power-forged weapon. Only someone of the same blood as Talberon can use the sword. Anyone who is not part of Talberon’s bloodline will assume the sword is nothing special. But, when wielded by someone from his family, the sword is a powerful weapon. When Talberon used the sword, no mage could touch him as the sword protected Talberon from the power and also allowed him to call down great power. It is said he was able to destroy entire armies by himself.”

There was a pause and Jen found herself enthralled.

“If that’s true, how did he get defeated?” she asked.

“A good question. About one hundred sets of special armor were made not long after the sword’s creation. One set of this armor was used by a warrior named Valkeri Palatone, who was able to negate the special effects of the sword and kill Talberon in combat.”

“Really?” Isabel said. She was as enthralled as Jen. “Do you know anyone who has that armor?”

“No. From what I know, most of the sets have been lost or whoever has them isn’t telling anyone. Perhaps the mages have them, since it is a threat to their power,” Deckard said.

“How do you know this?” Jen asked.

“Because of me,” Milan said.

“My dear wife used to live in Carhan and read books in the library,” Deckard said.

“Yes,” Milan smiled at him and patted his leg. “There were many wonderful stories in the library. That’s one thing I miss about living in the capital.”

Jen tuned out the rest of the conversation as Milan and Deckard reminisced about the capital. She wanted the stories to end. The moon was rising and she was ready to sneak out.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“I think that’s enough for tonight,” Milan said at last.

“I suppose you’re right,” Deckard agreed and got up. “You can talk for a bit, girls, but you should get ready for bed.”

“All right,” Isabel said and feigned a yawn. “Come on, Jen; follow me.”

It was an effort to keep calm. In about half an hour, Elayne would sneak in through the window and sleep in the guest bedroom until Jen returned. Jen could barely contain her excitement as they went into Isabel’s room.

Isabel closed the door and let out a sigh. “Almost time. Think Elayne will show up?”

“Yes,” Jen said. Elayne’s parents were always drunk and didn’t care if Elayne was home or not. She felt bad for her friend. “I’m more worried about Jahad.”

Isabel snickered. “Of course you are. Prince Charming might have trouble sneaking out.”

“That’s not…” Jen stopped as she realized her friend was teasing her. “It’s the gift. I gave him all my money.”

“Yes, I wonder—”

The rustling of a bush stopped Isabel, who looked at Jen. This must be Elayne. Jen went over to the window and opened it quietly. Elayne was there, a little confused. “Am I too early?” she whispered.

“Right on time,” Jen replied. Some of the tension she was feeling went away. Now all she had to do was sneak out, get into the forest, and wait for Jahad. “Get in here.”

Elayne climbed through the window. The plan was to have Elayne lie in the bed while Jen sneaked out. That way, if Isabel’s parents checked in, they would see two girls and not wonder where Jen had gone.

Jen did not want her parents to find out about this. If they did, she would get in trouble and have her gift taken away. “All right, time for me to go,” she said.

“Good luck,” Isabel said.

“If I’m asleep, wake me up and I’ll go back home,” Elayne said.

Jen nodded and climbed out the window. Sneaking out used to be so easy. Now it was more difficult due to how many more people had moved into Arindall and the increased guard patrols. At least it was still possible. The streets were nearly empty. She couldn’t let the guards spot her or her parents would find out. She darted through the streets, avoiding any patrolmen, and eventually made it to the edge of Arindall.

Couldn’t have taken me more than fifteen minutes, Jen thought, and went into the woods. It was a bit creepy and difficult to see. She arrived at the meeting point and was not surprised Jahad wasn’t there. He was always late. She went over to a rock and sat down.

Five minutes passed. Ten minutes. Fifteen. Still no sign of Jahad. Jen was beginning to worry he wouldn’t come. She would give Jahad a piece of her mind tomorrow if he didn’t show up.

“Oi, Jen?” a voice called out. “Where are you?”

Oh, you dolt. “Over here!” Jen said.

Jahad didn’t respond and then appeared. “Phew, glad you made it. I got lost,” he said.

“Of course you did.” Jen hugged him and noticed her gift wasn’t there. “Where’s—?”

“Is that all you want? The gift I got for you?” Jahad said with a sly grin.

Jen shook her head and gave Jahad a deep kiss before he could say anything else. Her heartbeat quickened and she found it harder to breathe. Then she broke the embrace. “You’ll get more if you can bring me—”

Jahad put a finger on her lips. “One second,” he said and went over to a nearby bush. He reached his hands in and came out with a bundle. “As promised.”

She took the package shakily. It was heavy. “Ulrich has his suspicions. He didn’t ask me who these were for. You should be able to swing these with some practice,” Jahad said.

Jen removed the wrappings, then gasped at the sight of her two short swords. They looked beautiful. They were so shiny and smooth. She unsheathed the weapons and felt her arms shaking. She swung, clumsily, and quickly tired herself out.

“So, do you like them?” Jahad asked.

“I love them!” Jen exclaimed and put the weapons back in their sheaths. She cupped Jahad’s face and gave him another kiss. “Thanks for doing this for me.”

“You know I’d do anything for—” Jahad stopped and looked around. “Do you hear that?”

Jen was about to ask what he heard, then she heard it too. She turned toward Arindall. “Is that screaming?” she asked. The noise was faint but she swore there was yelling.

“Fire!” Jahad exclaimed. “We need to go help!”

“Yes,” Jen said and grabbed her swords. They started moving back to the village. Then she stopped suddenly, and Jahad looked at her oddly. “We shouldn’t go back.”

“Why?” Jahad asked. “The fire’s spreading!’

“I don’t think that’s an ordinary fire,” Jen said. Now that they were closer, she could hear a lot of screaming. Something bad was happening.

“I’m going to help,” Jahad said and continued.

Jen let out a sigh and followed. She watched Jahad leave the forest and noticed two figures in front. It was too late. She opened her mouth to warn Jahad and then an arrow whistled through the air and struck him in the chest.

“No!” Jen screamed. She watched Jahad look around in confusion and turned to her.

“Run!” Jahad gasped, then collapsed.

Jen ran back into the forest, leaving Jahad alone. She didn’t stop running. Jahad! Jen felt guilty as she ran. Was he going to die? Those thoughts left her as she heard twigs snapping. She was being followed!

I can’t get away! Jen thought and tried to move faster. She couldn’t let them catch her. Her swords were slowing her down but she refused to drop them. One of the men yelled something in a language she had never heard before.

Suddenly, Jen found herself on the floor, dazed and gasping for air. It took her a moment to realize what was going on. Her right shoulder felt numb and one of the figures was standing over her with a nasty smile on his face.

Five more people appeared, all speaking the strange language as they talked among themselves. Jen tried to move but her arms and legs were pinned down. “Let me go!” she wailed, trying to break free.

The one on top laughed and looked at one of the others, who gave him a nod. Whatever he was going to do was stopped when a sword slashed across the man’s face. Half his jaw opened and the man’s eyes rolled into the back of his head as he fell backward.

The other four men yelled and she heard the clash of weapons.

Realizing she was free, Jen pushed off the body and got up. She saw the person who had saved her. The four men turned to look too, and two of them were beheaded before they could react.

Her savior was a man with long black hair. The remaining two soldiers attacked him but he struck down both in seconds.

“I’m sorry,” the stranger said to Jen. “I failed to save your friend.”

“J-Jahad’s dead?” Jen sniffed. She hadn’t realized she was crying.

“If that was his name, yes.”

“W-who are you?” Jen stammered, backing away. The bundle with her swords was on the ground.

“My name is Caldian.”

“Who are they?” Jen pointed at the dead.

“I’m not sure,” Caldian said and sheathed his sword. “It’s not safe here. Arindall is burning.”

“What?” Jen said and turned toward her home. She could see thick black clouds rising to the sky, and the screaming had gotten louder. “What’s happening?”

“An attack,” Caldian said. “Far too many to help. You best come with me.”

Tears flowed freely down Jen’s face. How could she leave when her family was in there? Her friends? “Where would we go?”

“Back to my clan,” Caldian said. “There’s nothing else to be done. The entire village is being slaughtered.”

“I-I don’t want to leave,” Jen sobbed.

Caldian placed a hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry. There’s nothing you or I can do for Arindall. I’ll take you to the Whispering Mists and get you the help we need.”

“No! I won’t leave my family!” Jen went to run and felt something hit her in the back.

“Sorry, girl,” Caldian said as he kneeled. “You’ll thank me when you’re older.”

That was the last thing she heard before darkness took her.