Opening his eyes slowly, Sean discovered his raft was beached on a shallow outcrop of land. He tried to remember exactly how he got here, and all the memories of the night flooded back.

Sitting up, bleary-eyed, Sean reached in his lap for his sister. He found only air. Suddenly fully awake, Sean jumped up and began a frantic search of the surrounding area. 'How could you have fallen asleep? She may have fallen off, or worse…' The man did not want to think about what might have happened. He only wanted to find his sister.

Sean scanned his surroundings in hopes of catching sight of the missing child. He glanced toward the river. A water search would be useless, he realized. Anything that fell in would be quickly swept down the river, so Sean began looking through the long reedy grass of the marshy bank. His ears picked up a high pitch sound. Perhaps it was a bird or a small animal. Or it could be a baby crying! As Sean rushed toward the sound, he found that it was in fact none of these. It was laughter.

Cresting the next hill, Hanna came into view. She was seated on the grass with a tattered shawl wrapped around her. Her eyes danced with delight as she coaxed a tiny babe through the motions of a rugged crawl. "Come on, little one," she cooed. "That's it." Haven responded with another peal of laughter as she dragged her body along the soft earth.

Of a variety only parents can usually feel, an emotion of equal parts anger and relief came over Sean. He rushed on the scene. "Haven!" he cried as he scooped up his baby sister. "I was so worried!"

He turned on the old woman. Her face was placid, which only made him more upset. "How could you take my sister?!"

A small smile touched the corners of Hanna's mouth. "How could I? I think you mean how could I ignore a waking babe whose brother is so clearly exhausted he did not hear her gentle whimpers of hunger. She's been fed, cleaned and lovingly cared for. For that, you are welcome." She spread out her hands as she laid the situation before him.

Sean placed one hand behind his head and dropped his gaze in shame. Haven was safe, and he had been ungracious. "Thank you," he said, lowering Haven back to the ground.

Hanna's smile faded. "I have been to your village. I am so sorry, dearies." The old lady's eyes swirled with an iridescent storm of sadness.

"Did…did anyone…" Sean choked on his words.

Shaking her head, Hanna sighed. "No one is left but the two of you, I'm afraid. Those fires were wicked."

'Wicked indeed. Almost as wicked as the one who set them.' Sean's fists balled up tightly. He had no time for tears; hate seethed just below the surface of his consciousness.

"Better check that anger of yours. It will get you into trouble."

Sean looked at the old woman in surprise. 'How did she know what I was thinking?'

Hanna laughed sadly. "I have seen that look far too many times in far too many eyes. Hate will eat you if you let it. And you have more important things to do."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

'What do you know about what I have to do?' Sean wondered silently.

"You have this little one to care for."

'This is getting creepy,' he thought.

Hanna looked up at the sky innocently and said nothing.

Sean cleared his throat, "I am not sure I am up to the task of taking care of her. What if you…"

Hanna shook her head and gave a negative gesture with her hands. "I have enjoyed my time with the child immensely, but I am no nursemaid. Besides, you were the one who ripped her from the jaws of certain death multiple times last night. I would say that is a good starting qualification." Hanna reached beside her and pulled out Sean's pack.

Sean's eyes grew wide. He was certain the pack had not been there a moment ago. "How did you…"

Again Hanna cut him off, "I told you I had been to the village. I picked this up while I was there in hopes that I would run into you and be able to return it."

"It is very heavy and you came a long way. Didn't you struggle to..."

"Ha! I may be old, but there's still muscle on these bones." Hanna held up a bony arm. It did seem deceptively strong.

"Do you ever let people finish their questions?" Sean asked, exasperated.

"Rarely." Hanna winked.

The woman was wily, and Sean humbly admitted defeat.

"Thank you again." Pushing back the sides of his cloak, Sean took the pack and slung it on his shoulders.

"I took the liberty of adding a few things for the child. There's some food and a little milk as well as a little dress I made. Oh and here's her doll." Again out of thin air, Hanna's hand produced the small doll Alexis had made.

Sean nodded. He was getting used to the woman's strange manner, and after all her kindnesses, he found he even liked her a little bit. But only a little bit.

"How do you like your cloak?" Hanna asked suddenly. She eyed the rich fabric and nodded approvingly.

"It is a very fine garment, thank you. But where did you…"

"I will not answer that question except to say it is very special. I suppose you have noticed that it does things other cloaks can't." Hanna raised an eyebrow and bony finger in question.

"Yes."

"Very convenient thing to have, isn't it?" She wiggled both brows playfully.

"Yes." Silver said again.

"It'll hold a lot of what's in your pack in its folds, but even that has its limit. I don't recommend keeping that vial of mine in there though. It might break."

Sean nodded slowly. He had packed the vial but hadn't mentioned it. He wondered briefly how she knew, but shrugged. 'Same way she knows everything else, I suppose.'

The wind around them picked up. The breeze seemed to come out of nowhere. Hanna closed her eyes and breathed in deeply. With her eyes closed, she looked as ancient as the hills around her. Something made him wonder if they were not made around the same time, but he dismissed the thought.

Sean looked over the countryside. It was beautiful and wild. If it were only him, he would hide out in the tall grass, and eventually snow, and lurk in the shadows with this cloak of his. That life would suit him nicely, he thought.

There would be no people to hurt him and everyone would be safe from the curse he now believed he carried. He immediately tried to think of safe places he could take Haven so that she would be free from him. All of her family was dead. Orphanages were scarce and from what he knew they were thinly veiled establishments of forced labor. And would they love her like her parents did, like he does? 'Never.'

Sean couldn't abandon her. It would betray the love that Alexis and Gareth had given him. He guarded that love fiercely, and he would protect it.

Just as quickly as it came, the wind died into an eerie silence. Hanna rose from the hillside and brushed off her dress. "Well, it's my time to go," she said brightly as if coming from a trance.

Sean looked into her colorless eyes. They transformed her face from timeworn to majestic, and he almost felt the need to bow in her presence. Her smile sent a spider web of creases across her face. "Be well, Sean. You are destined for great things."

Sean scoffed, "Great things? I will be lucky if Borit doesn't see me hung by New Year."

"I cannot say how you will die, but I do know one thing." She paused and Sean found himself leaning in. "You are Fated to be a Guardian. You will change the course of history."

Sean was taken aback. He had heard her say something similar once before, but not directly to him. He knew of Guardians from the few bedtime stories he had heard. They had been mighty protectors, but were now extinct along with the Fates. 'Right?'

Then Sean remembered her eyes telling him the history of the world. He was sure that it had been a dream, but maybe...maybe all of it had actually happened. In which case, he had many questions.

Just as he opened his mouth to speak, another strong gust caused Sean to cover his eyes from the onslaught of dust, grass and fallen leaves. When he opened his eyes, Hanna was gone.

Searching the horizon, Sean knew that he wouldn't find her. He turned to Haven. "We have got a long way to go, little one. The forests of western Birle will be a nice change. I don't suppose you have suddenly figured out how to walk, have you?"

Haven reached for his face, and he let her feel his clean shaven chin. Her delighted cries cheered his heart and strengthened his resolve.

"Ok then," he announced at last. "I guess I will be carrying you. Shall we go, my lady?"

Haven, who had not yet begun to speak, gave a delighted clap. Sean figured it was as good a start to a journey as any, and gathering the little one tightly in his arms, he headed out.