• Prologue
    tab A tall, impressive king stood next to an elegant woman. The woman’s dark eyes were cold with fear. Cradled in her arms was a bundle, gently moving.
    tab “She must be raised in secret my dear. She cannot be raised here.” His voice was low and subdued.
    tab “I know! Stop with the worrying!” She half-shouted, eyes brimming with hot tears. “ I cannot take this! Our poor girl will not know her parents!” The tears spilled, running down her pale face.
    tab “Calmon Sylvi! Calmon! Show no emotions my love!” His voice was sharp with a soft undertone. “They do not know that she was born!”
    tab “They will if she stays here Richard!” She wiped her tears, face hardening into angry lines. “She will be raised by the warriors in our far stations. Our daughter must be protected without learning her heritage. We will have Shaman take her.”
    tab “I agree.” The King raised his voice. “Shaman I call thee to my side!” His voice rang with hidden power. It almost seemed to fill the room with a blistering power. The little bundle, clutched to Sylvi’s bosom, twitched. Sylvi clutched the bundle closer and watched, boredom etched on her face, as a figure appeared in the room.
    tab “Shaman!” Sylvi sounded anxious. “Take our daughter to the western training grounds to be trained as we cannot allow her to be raised here. Please Shaman!” Her voice broke and she began sobbing.
    tab “I will milady and Master.” Shaman was a normal looking warrior except for the silver markings on his arms.
    tab “Thank you Shaman. Oh thank you!” She cried out and gently kissed the bundle before handing it to Shaman.
    tab “She will be taken great care of. Might I know her name?” He smiled gently at the bundle.
    tab “Call her Antoinette. Tione for short.” Sylvi waved a hand, signaling his dismal. He bowed to his master and lady before disappearing.

    tab Deep in the west, Shaman appeared before a handsome Duke.
    tab “Shaman! Why are you here?” The duke was a good friend of the royal family.
    tab “I bring a child to be trained. Her name is Tione.” He handed the bundle to the Duke and disappeared rapidly. The Duke sighed and put the child in the nursery.
    tab That night, the little bundle shook. The little girl opened her wood violet eyes and glowed with pure light, neither white nor black; it was more a gray color, amazingly beautiful. As the color disappeared, the girl fell back asleep, a light mark appearing on her chest.