Prologue - Banishment

It was evening. The sun was beginning to sink behind the trees of Braedoch Forest, throwing its leafy depths into shadow. It was early spring and the forest was still newborn; winter’s chill could yet be felt in the air at night.

On the eastern edge of the forest, the nine children of Isaak Romany were gathering together.
Their home was a small house of stone, composed of three circular chambers. In the central chamber a fire burned slowly, varying light dancing on the face of a tall man in a dark cloak. He waited for the nine to gather. His face seemed set in granite, as always; no hint of emotion, no whisper of affection for the children he had raised. He, Maeron Duard, was their guardian, nothing more. They did not care for him either. Though they had grown up in the house, they often chose to stay apart from it: they wandered the forest, worked in the woodshop, climbed the small mountains that overlooked their home in the north. They were not like others. Their life had been one of isolation. They knew weaponry and woodcraft, but little of humanity. They cared for each other and yet spent much of their time in solitude.

Their guardian was afraid of them. Once the clan of Romany had been strong and numerous. Duard’s ancestors, druids and powerful, vengeful men, had cursed the clan nearly a century ago. In the succeeding generations, hardship, famine, and war had plagued them—helped along by the druids. At last only Isaak Romany and his wife were left. They took their children to Braedoch and tried to live with them there. But Isaak was a powerful man of great personal force, and the few remaining druids feared that he would father a new beginning for the clan. They sent Duard to kill him. And he did. He killed Isaak and his wife, but could see nothing to fear in the children…behind his face of stone there was perhaps a heart, for he kept them alive, and raised them.

But he feared them now. Alone, he thought, they could be no threat. But as long as they stayed together, the clan Romany might again rise.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Zoe Romany entered the central chamber of her home, her head held high. Her mid-section clenched with misgiving at the ominous scene before her: Duard stood behind a flickering flame, dressed darkly and wearing a hard expression on his face. Though she had never received affection or warmth from the man who was guardian to her and her eight siblings, she did not like the ill-boding atmosphere that greeted her when she entered the room.

Apparently she was the last to enter; all her brothers and sisters were already waiting silently. They gathered around the fire. Zoe positioned herself close to the door and beside her twin, Sam. She crossed her arms over her chest. Duard had summoned them to this meeting days before, but no explanation of its purpose had been given. Why had he called them together?
Duard nodded slowly and finally broke the heavy silence. “You wonder why I have sent for you,” he said. “I will not keep you waiting. The time has come for you to go.”

Zoe’s brows shot up in surprise. What?

“Braedoch is no longer home to you, nor are you any longer a family. You will each depart alone. You will have nothing more to do with each other from this day forward. You are not to communicate, and absolutely not to see each other. If you do, terrible consequences will follow—I am warning you.”

Silence fell for a scant moment and Zoe’s mind struggled to wrap around what Duard had just told them. We are all supposed to separate? Forever? Her eyes moved involuntarily to Aidan, the oldest of the siblings and the one she often turned to for help and friendship. He stood beside Taerith, another of her older brothers; Aidan’s face was strong and unreadable.

Duard spoke again, his tone quiet. “Make whatever preparations are necessary. You leave in three days.”

Taerith spoke slowly. “You are banishing us?”

Duard stared at Taerith. Zoe watched their silent confrontation with growing confusion and anger.

“Do you question me?” Duard’s voice was colder than a winter’s snow.

Yes, Zoe thought defiantly, but she did not open her mouth to utter the words. She did not like to think of the consequences that might follow if she spoke. Duard had never been abusive to them, but after this, he could do anything….

Taerith replied in a whisper to Duard’s subtle challenge. “No.”

This seemed to mark the end of the meeting; Zoe turned and quickly exited the house, feeling dazed and angry. She moved toward the small stable, her thoughts jumbled. The soft spring ground squished beneath her feet, but her leather boots protected her from its wet chill. She reached the rough wooden fence that was adjoined to the stable and encircled an acre of cleared land. Zoe put two fingers to her lips and blew softly, emitting a low-pitched whistle. A nicker sounded a moment later, and her stallion trotted up to the other side of the pasture fence.

“Brac,” she said under her breath, walking forward and touching the black nose of her bay colored horse. Brac lowered his head and nudged her gently. She tried to smile and said, “No treats this time, sorry.”

She smoothed down his black forelock onto his deep brown forehead. Brac’s dark eyes looked at her quietly.

“I can’t leave you,” Zoe told him quietly, her voice earnest. “We’re going to be leaving in three days, and you’re coming with me. I don’t care what Duard says…you and I are not going to be separated.”

Brac whuffed as if in agreement, and Zoe smiled. “I’m glad I’ll at least have you,” she murmured with a trace of wistfulness that she fought against, struggling not to think of all she was going to lose in only a few short days. “We’ve got to be strong, Brac, or I don’t think we will make it…”