"Callista! Come ‘ere!"
An old man stuck his head out of a tiny hut. "Callie, it’s time for bed." He walked over to a girl of about 18 sitting on a rock. She was thin and pale, with long, limp blonde hair and dull grey eyes. The old man reached out and took Callie’s hand. "Speak to me, Callie. Please." But Callista remained silent and continued to stare straight ahead with her vacant eyes. A old woman walked over to the pair.
"Has she said anythin’?" she asked.
"Nay, not for 10 years."
"It’s been a long time since ‘er parents were killed."
The old man sighed and looked at his wife. "That can do much for a kid."
The woman nodded and took Callista’s other hand. "Let’s get ‘er inside. ‘Tis gettin’ cold."
Carefully they stood with Callie between them then they led her into the hut.
The darkness of the castle matched the darkness of Lady Katherine’s soul.
"I want him dead," she stated coldly, her emerald eyes flashing.
"but…milady….he is your betrothed."
"Lord Jacen is my key to ruling this town and the surrounding area. With him out of here I clear the way for richer suitors." Katherine turned to her two hired assassins, Elric and Lucs. "An accident by the river should do nicely."
The men bowed, partly out of respect, mostly out of fear. "As ye wish, milady." They hurried out of the chamber, leaving Katherine alone. She glanced at the single candle burning on the wooden table.
"Finally, the land is mine."
Callie trudged toward the river. The daily routine was one that had taken her foster parents three years to drill into her. It consisted of walking to the river, filling the bucket and then returning. A part of her brain that was still active took note of her surroundings and made observations. Cold….there will be ice on the river soon…probably in a few days… She continued her walked through the woods. As she neared her destination, however, she slowed, the sounds of a struggle piercing the fog clouding her mind. She set the bucket on the cold ground and crept forward toward the bushes that concealed the river. Trying to be silent, Callie peeked over the top of the bushes.
Elric and Lucas struggled to pin down a young man between them. Syddenly the young man threw Elric off him and started to escape. Lucas grabbed him and the man fell, hitting his head against a rock. He groaned and passed out. Elric stands and looks at Lucas who is checking the man for signs of life.
"Is he dead?" he asked.
Lucas shook his head. "Nay, just asleep, it looks like." He stood and lifted the man roughly. "Help me throw ‘im in the river."
Together the carried the man to the river bank. Callie chose that moment to burst form her hiding place, shrieking like a hawk. Her voice was rough and sratchy from years of no use, but the effect was the same. Elric and Lucas dropped their burden just as Callie leaped onto Lucas’ back. She clawed, scratched, and bit, still screaming her head off. Elric backed away. Lucas started toward him, and Callie jumped off his back. She stood over the fallen man, her eyes full of life and wrath, her hands curved like claws, and from her throat came an animal growl. The men looked at her then at each other.
"Bloody ‘ellfire, Lucas. Let’s just leave her to ‘im. He’s as good as dead anyway."
Lucas nodded in agreement and the men sprinted out of sight.
Callie lowered her hands to her side and took a deep breath, feeling the cold air burn her sore throat. Her arms and legs ached from holding on to Lucas and she had a nasty bruise forming on her arms where Lucas had hit her in an effort to dislodge her. Blood ran from small scratches from the branches of the bushes. She took in the damage to her body and then started laughing. After a moment she relaxed and then turned her attention to the fallen man.
Callista knelt by him and gently feels his head for the wound from the rock. She winced as her fingers found a large knot the size of an egg on the side of his head. Quickly she pulled her fingers back and noticed that there is no blood on them. She sighed in relief and leand back on her heels to get a good look at the man she had saved.
He was fair skinned with long dark blonde hair. Since he was laying down she didn’t know how tall he was, but she guess that he was over average height. His body had a slim, yet muscular build to it. He was dressed in comfortable work clothes, though the clasp that held his cloak closed was decorated with the symbol of a wealthy family that owed quite a bit of land to the south. Callie continued her examination of his face. He had high cheekbones and dark eyelashes. He was certainly handsome. She noticed how dirty his face was and then reached over and dipped her hands into the ice cold water.
She gasps at the coldness but gritted her teeth and cupped her hands together. After lifting her hands out of the water, she held the water in her hands for a few moments, willing it to be warmer. Then she gently washed the face of the fallen man. When he was clean she turned back to the river and looked at her reflection.
Her pale blonde hair fell in dirt tangles around her shoulders and down to her waist. Her face was gaunt from lack of food and her grey eyes were slightly sunken in. But life filled her features again, and that provided the change to make her beautiful instead of plain.
She smiled and began to hum a simple tune that she had heard her foster parents sing ot her at night. A groan interrupted her melody. Callie turned and hovered over the young man as he opened his eyes, blinking in pain and confusion. The smile on her face broadened as he focused on her. His mouth opened and closed a few times, as if he couldn’t get his voice to work. After a moment of concentration he was able to produce a whisper.
"I must be dead!" he exclaimed, his eyes never leaving her face.
"Nay," she replied in her soft voice.
He smiled. "Then ye are not my angel?"
"Only if you wish it." She leaned closer to him, breathing in his pleasant scent. Her hair fall over her shoulders and framed her face. He reached a hand up and his long fingers brushed her cheek. She closed her eyes. Then she open them wide and jumped up. It was almost completely dark, her parents were probably thinking that she had fallen into the river. The man raised himself up on his elbows and looked at her curiously. She backed away. "I must go."
"Wait, I don’t even know your name!" he called out, but ti was too late. Callie had fled into the forest so quickly that she left him wondering if he had imagined the whole thing.
Part 2 (coming soon)
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