Chapter One

Valley east of Eugene

Rivulets of life giving fluid slid down the razor-sharp blade; the drops lazily drifting to the growing puddle on the ground, staining the mud-caked boots of the combatant. Reaching up, the warrior swiped away sweat soaked tendrils of auburn locks plastered to her forehead.

As she contemplated the past hour’s massacre, foot falls thundered to the scene of destruction.

“Goddess save us! Tiamoon! You’ve destroyed the melon patch! What were you thinking?”

“I need to stay sharp.” The gnome warrior swung the gleaming blade over her head, flinging melon juice around the field.

“Fine. You can just take your sharpened self to the shed and bring out the wheelbarrow. Gather all the melon parts and bring them to the back door. You will roll out the dough for the pies that now have to be made as a result of your thoughtlessness.”

Tia groaned as she headed to the garden trough to clean off her blade and splash fresh water over her face.

“Don’t complain to me. You made the decision to destroy the garden. Now you’ll have to pay the price.” Tia’s mother turned on her heel and stomped through the damaged vegetable rows to the fence, slamming the gate as she barreled to the cottage. “That child will be the death of me, yet!”

Shoving open the entrance to the cottage, she nearly fell in her attempt to stop from tramping her sticky boots on the freshly mopped floor. She unlaced the fine leather ties, thanking the Goddess for the blessed animal who gave so willingly of itself. Boots removed and placed in the sunniest spot on the West side of the cottage, Skye entered the efficient kitchen area of her home. By the time she’d pulled the required dishware for baking, and stoked the wood stove to the appropriate temperature, Tiamoon’s bedraggled form crossed the threshold heading for her room.

“Not so fast, young lady.”

“But I’m sticky, and my clothes are soaked in juice.”

“Not my doing. Get over here and start preparing the dough for shells to pre-cook. Maybe next time you’ll think before taking out your aggressions on my garden.”

“I doubt it.” Tia mumbled as she dragged her stocking-clad feet toward the kitchen area.

“What?” Skye turned a steely stare her daughter’s direction.

“Nothing.”

“I’d best not hear grumbling from you. You’ve been in a right foul mood lately. What is your problem?” Skye tied the baking apron in the back and pushed up her sleeves to wrestle the melon parts into the sink for a thorough rinsing.

Tia wiped the back of a flour caked hand across her damp forehead leaving behind a white streak as wide as a skunk’s stripe. “How many of these are you going to make?” Tia had assisted in the kitchen enough times to forego the formal measuring for ‘pinches and dashes’ of ingredients.

Skye glanced at the assorted melon parts littering the top of her counter. “Looks to be about six, but make eight shells. If we have any leftover, I’ll make shepherd’s pie.”

Tia looked up and let her gaze wander to the window. “Mmmm. Shepherd’s pie.”

Skye glanced her direction and burst into laughter. A frown as thunderous as an August rain storm covered the gnome warrior’s face. “What?”

Skye clutched her stomach and pointed Tia’s direction. “Your…your face!” She exploded into peals of laughter giving herself the hiccups in the process.

Tia rid her hands of the flour she held. She stomped into the bathroom, slamming the heavy wooden door shut. Skye feared the sound of shattering glass but was caught off guard when she heard the reverberation of laughter. The door swung open, and Tiamoon appeared with a wide grin on her face.

“I am a sight, aren’t I?”

Skye could do no less than agree. The little warrior straightened her flour splotched jerkin and, with a resigned sigh, moved to the counter to continue her pie crust duties.

Skye put the last piece of cleaned melon on the drying towel. “Seriously, Tia, what is causing you such consternation? I’ve never seen you so unsettled.”

Tia cut shortening into the flour and salt mixture. She stopped and turned to her mother. “I think, Mom, you’ve actually answered a question I’ve been asking myself. There is peace in the valley. The night elves have withdrawn to tend to their own affairs, and the rest of the folk seem quite content to let things be as they are. Yet, I feel anxious and find myself snapping at others around me. I tried, really tried, to figure out what the problem could be.”

Skye listened to the pained musings of her daughter. “What was the word I said?”

“Unsettled.”

“Yes, you’ve prowled the perimeter of our farm in the evenings setting my teeth on edge. What are you looking to find?” Skye had taken up a sharpened blade to relieve the melons of their skins.

“That’s it, mother. While the rest of the valley, and most of our neighbors, is quite content to revel in this hard-won peace, I can’t bring myself to slog through the days, each one as unremarkable as the last, until the end of time. I’m glad the valley rests, but I need to be moving, fighting, not sure of where the next step will take me. What am I to do?”

Skye watched the shoulders of her brave warrior daughter sag. Her body language screamed defeat. I’ll have to find something to keep her spirits up, but what? She lost herself in the preparations of pie meats allowing her mind to freely wander. Deep in thought, she was startled when a mouse messenger suddenly stood before her, envelope in mouth. Skye wiped her hands on her apron and gently removed the message from the creature’s mouth.

“Thank you.” The little grey creature sat on its haunches and waited. It was customary to offer the messenger a treat when you were no longer in need of its services.

Skye opened the envelope and pulled out the folded letter. She recognized the spindly writing of her older sister, Luna. Violently opposed to Skye’s association with a night elf, she moved beyond the mountains.

They’d only visited once when Skye fled the household. The man’s children were determined to provide her a living hell on earth. She grew tired of the constant bickering. Too many times pranks sworn to be harmless had come within inches of ending her life. Skye loved her night elf, but opted for love lost and life rather than death.

“What does Luna want?” she mused.

“Won’t know until you read the letter, will you?” the mouse piped up.

Skye jumped having completely forgotten about the waiting messenger. “True.”

Skye,

It has been many years since we corresponded. With peace in your valley, I felt confident I could write a letter, and it would be certain to arrive at your door. I need to make a strange request of you and hope you won’t think me mad.

We are experiencing a wave of unusual happenstances. Our neighbors’ children have been disappearing at mid-month then reappearing several moons later acting very—oddly.

So far, we’ve lost half a dozen youngsters. There doesn’t seem to be a pattern of males or females, just children, ages five to twelve. It happened again last night. As you can imagine, the families are quite distraught and confused.

Would you be able to send Tiamoon over? My next-door neighbor, Killian, has been trying to follow up, but there are more disappearances than he can handle. He could use some assistance.

I received reports of her prowess with a blade, and hope she will be able to work with him to solve this riddle.

Please send an answer with the messenger—either way.

Your sister,

Luna

Skye scribbled a response and handed the messenger the scrap of paper. She noted the creature eyeing one of the pies. Wrapping the pastry in waxed paper and securing it with rubber bands, she placed the tart inside the bag on its back.

“I hope that will suffice as payment.”

“I believe so. Thank you.” The mouse messenger disappeared out the door.

Skye was wiping her hands on the apron when Tiamoon returned to the kitchen. “I believe I might have a solution to your growing restlessness.”

Tia located a very small tart and took a healthy bite from it marveling at the smooth consistency of the filling. “What would that be?”

“Tia…don’t talk with your mouth full.”

Tia rolled her eyes. Once she cleared the food from her mouth, she repeated her question. “What would that be, mother?”

“Your aunt Luna and her village need the assistance of a skilled warrior.” Skye watched her daughter sit straighter and lean toward her as she spoke.

“Go on.”

“There are troubles involving the disappearance of children. When the young ones return, they’re different.”

“How?”

“I don’t have all the details. You’ll have to get those from your aunt when you arrive. There could be a great deal of danger—or none at all. Sitting here at the edge of the valley won’t give you answers.”

Skye watched her daughter roll over the situation in her mind. If she were truly as bored as she claimed, she’d be jumping up and packing her things. This hesitation was odd.

“What’s stopping you?”

“The high plains are home to many battle-tested warriors. Why me?”

Skye stared at her daughter. Was it not but this morn, she all but destroyed a year’s worth of work done in the garden because she was bored? “Fine. I’ll fetch a sparrow to bring a mouse messenger and send a note to your Aunt letting them know you won’t be available to help.”

Tia stared at her mother. Why is she pushing so hard?

Skye pulled a chair to her and plunked down. “You have wandered aimlessly around the house, ridden your horse for days on end, coming back to sit in the garden and sharpen your blade so many times, I’m amazed there is any steel left. You need a purpose, daughter. If you don’t find a direction soon, I’m afraid I’ll lose patience and possibly my mind.

“I love you, Tia, but domesticity is not a suit I see you wearing. Find your way.”

She moved to the stove to fix a cup of tea. When she’d applied the proper amount of milk and sugar, Skye removed her apron and meandered to the living room to settle in her favorite chair in front of the fire. Pangs of guilt stabbed through her. She loved her children, but the time had come for her daughter to strike out on her own.

Wood crackled in the fireplace, and the familiar sound coupled with the warmth of the flames soothed Skye’s angst. She would always welcome her offspring to visit, but it was time for her to begin to live. There were places beyond the valley she wanted to visit. She continued to ruminate about her situation when she felt the warmth of a hand on her shoulder.

“I’m sorry, mom. I had no intention of causing you such grief. I’m a warrior without a war. A long trip to the other side of the mountains might be just what I need to work out where I’ll put my energies when I return.”

Skye felt her neck muscles tense.

“I’m sure there are several places where I can hang my hauberk until I settle.”

Skye resisted the urge to let her guilt push her into making a rash statement. “Daughter, you are welcome to stay here for a couple weeks. However, I believe it is time you struck out on your own. Whether you do or don’t pair does not matter. Living in your own place is a freedom you need to experience.”

Tia chuckled. “Don’t worry, mom. I won’t come back and haunt you.” Tia snatched up her bags and pushed through the back door to the small barn out back. Every journey began with a single step.