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Prologue
It was a cold an lonely night in the watch tower of Arden. Guards were lazily playing cards and joking. The magnificent city was quiet with sleep. Only random noises of animals were to be heard. Tristin, the head guard, paced back and forth trying to keep himself awake. He kicked some guards and soldiers that were dozing off with his boot. They jerked awake and mumbled curses.
“Ahead!” A guard called from nearby the gates. Tristin pushed his way through the men that were scrambling to their feet, weapons out. He reached the guard that had called out. Clapping him on the shoulder, he took the bow and quiver full of arrows from his hand. He could see a dark shape moving from the trees.
“Open the gates.” He ordered. The tall wooden gates groaned as several men pulled them open.
A lone rider rode through the gates of Arden. The guards watched the weather beaten horse and rider as they slowly plodded through the wooden pillars. The city did not welcome strangers with open arms due to strange occurrences and rebellions that took place during the last year. Slowly the head guard walked over to the rider. Even though the riders cloak was pulled up over her face, pale skin, green eyes, and golden blonde hair could be seen. Mud was splattered over the young girls face. Her pale skin glowed eerily in the moonlight as she turned her palomino-colored horse toward the guard.
“What business do you have in Arden?” The guard barked, impatiently.
“Vincale is under attack. Their Highnesses sent me as a messenger.” The girl choked out. The guard barked orders to some nearby soldiers. He turned to talk to the girl again but she had fainted and fell into his arms.
Chapter One
Keira fidgeted in her seat, her patience wearing thin. The Arden Council had stared at dawn and it was now near midday. She drummed her fingers impatiently on her chair and scanned the room. Over 500 representatives of all the the cities of the Brislen Realm were sitting in the Great Hall of Arden. Keira had only come to the Council to find Emmeline Elensar- one of the youngest Council representatives. She had a job she needed Emmeline to do.
Keira was halfheartedly listening to the debate that was taking place. It was over the land disagreements in the North near Brashner, the City of Merchants. Keira stopped listening. She thought they should be talking about the evil and darkness that was spreading. However, many people denied the fact that the Realm could fall.
Finally, as another hour had passed, the Council came to an end. Keira stood up quickly and pushed her way through the crowd. She straightened her red dress as she emerged in the lobby. It’s low neckline, tight bodice, and elegant floral patterns showed off her well-toned figure. Her dark hair was pulled back into a red clip. Her blue eyes danced with hope and anticipation of sharing a well-kept-secret. Keira made her way down the winding staircase, to look for Emmeline.
“Excuse me sir, where might I find Emmeline Elensar?” Keira asked and elderly Councilman. He scanned the room without saying a word to her. With a grunt of annoyance, he pointed to a group of men and women alike.
“Thank you.” She said and moved toward the group. The group consisted of scholarly-looking men and women around their forties, and a younger girl about twenty. The young woman was wearing a dark blue dress with a gold embroidery. It had an elegant and charming look. The girl had long curly blonde hair that fell to her waist. She had a heart-shaped face with fair skin and rosy cheeks. She had a full lower lop and a nicely curved upper lip. She was very slender and muscular, although she was only five feet and six inches. Her name was Emmeline Elensar, an Arden-born woman.
Emmeline froze when she saw Keira walk up to the group. Emmeline’s green-brown eyes flashed. Keira couldn’t read Emmeline’s expression, however. Keira put on a straight face and moved toward Emmeline.
“Excuse me gentlemen, ladies.” Emmeline said to her group curtsying. She took weary steps away from Keira.
“Hello Emmeline.” Keira said pleasantly.
“Keirian.” Emmeline nodded curtly.
“It’s Keira, Emmy. You of all people...” Keira said. She disliked her first name.
“It’s Emmeline, Keira.” Emmeline snapped. Her eyes were dancing with irritation.
“What happened to you?” Keira said softly. Emmeline glared at Keira and spun on her heel. She stormed off toward the guest rooms. Keira was left standing in the middle of the room looking confused.
Keira sighed and started ti go after her old friend. Keira walked through many corridors and up many winding metal stair cases following the sound of Emmelines footsteps running. When Keira finally reached the expansive corridor with large, comfortable rooms on each side, she had lost Emmeline. She had nearly given up when she heard a crisp voice ring out.
“Now, Lady Elensar, you’re going riding in this weather?” the voice said. Keira followed the noise until she was left standing in an open doorway of a spacious room.
Emmeline stood near the wash room wearing breeches and a white blouse. She was buttoning up a wool jacket looking irritated. A maid was standing in front of her, wearing the maids uniform, a black knee-length dress with a lacy white apron.
Emmeline waved her hand, “Stop worrying! I’ll be fine. It’s not that cold!” The maid shook her head and resigned to a nearby chair to sew a pale pink frock.
Emmeline turned to leave and spotted Keira at the door. She grumbled something and stormed into the wash room. The maid looked up to see what the noise was and smiled as she saw Keira. The maid gently laid down her project and moved toward Keira.
“Hello, miss! May I help you in some way?” The maid said cheerfully. She bowed to the noble woman.
“No, no thank you. I came only to have a word with your mistress.” Keira explained.
“Oh! Please do come in. She’ll be out soon enough.” The maid cried, “I’m Elepe, Emmeline’s servant.”
Keira smiled wearily and looked around the room. It was very nice and comfortable looking. It was painted an elegant shade of pale blue with darker blue furniture. There were many pictures of landscapes on the walls. It was a room dedicated for a noble, no doubt. The maid bustled around making coffee and putting out some scones on a small table.
“What brings you to Arden, my lady?” Elepe asked.
“The Council.” Keira replied. The maid passed her a mug of steaming coffee.
“Oh! You be a part of the Council? Which land are you representing?” Elepe cried enthusiastically.
“What? Erm, no, I am just here to...um... observe.” Keira said quickly. Elepe looked at her, startled. Very few people came to the Council just to watch; it is a boring period of time.
“It must be a...pleasant trip, then.” Elepe recovered with a toothy grin. ‘Hardly!’ Keira thought. She was getting impatient with Emmeline’s lack of appearance. She took a sip of coffee.
After awhile of talking with the maid, Elepe, Keira excused herself. Slowly she walked back to the Great Hall to retrieve her cloak.
Keira stared awfully at the empty hall. It was a large three-story room. Each story was a balcony with rows of velvet chairs. In the center of the hall stood a long wooden table. The hall was decorated in white marble pillars and stained glass windows.
Keira sighed, the Hall was beautiful but boring all the same. Keira turned and walked out of Great Hall and down toward her room. Her room was located outside in the gardens, it was a building called the Garden Suites for guests who were only staying temporarily. Keira pulled her cloak tighter around her and made her way through the snow covered grounds shivering. When she reached her room, she pulled the door open and stomped her feet on a mat to get rid of the snow that was clinging to her feet. She looked up and saw a man standing in her room, she began to grin helplessly.
“Aidan?!” Keira cried out. Her brother grinned as she threw herself at him. They hugged and laughed. Aidan was a handsome man, with dark brown hair and blue eyes, like his younger sister. Aidan stepped back and held his younger sister at arms length.
“You haven’t changed!” He grinned even broader, his eyes crinkling.
“I can’t say the same thing about you! You’re taller!” Keira teased. It was true. Keira and Aidan hadn’t seen each other for over a year, and they had been the same height. Now he was a head taller than her.
Aidan bowed his head, still grinning. “Any luck?” He asked.
Keira’s face fell suddenly. She looked at her feet, embarrassed. Keira knew that Aidan would have known. Who wouldn’t? The news had traveled fast that the Brislen Riders- an all woman army- was trying to come back after a 4-year absence.
“No.” Keira muttered. She heard Aidan sigh; she looked at him apologetically, “I tried, but she wouldn’t have anything to do with me.”
Aidan nodded understandingly. He hooked his thumbs in the thick breeches he was wearing.
“I’ll talk to her.” He said casually. Keira made a small noise of disbelief. Aidan scowled at her.
“She’ll come ‘round.”
“I hope.” Keira whispered. Aidan smiled grimly and hugged her around the shoulders.
“Don’t worry about it.” Aidan said, “I’ll talk to her tomorrow.”
Keira couldn’t help but smile, she knew it would turn out ok. She nodded with out saying anything. Aidan smiled and moved toward the door.
“Come on, let us go get some lunch.” he said.
“Sure.” Keira agreed and followed her brother out in to the cold.
~
The Council slowly drew on over the next couple of days. Keira and Aidan made several attempts to talk to Emmeline but they were unsuccessful. Keira was beginning to lose hope, her brother, however, was optimistic all throughout the week.
On the last day of the Council, both Keira and Aidan were in a horrible mood. They knew they had failed. Keira was packing her things when someone knocked at the door. Aidan poked his head through the adjoining door to his bedroom.
Keira pulled open the door to find Emmeline standing there with a long wool jacket over her green dress. Her green-hazel eyes shone apologetically.
“I’m sorry that I was horrible to you.” Emmeline said. Keira, whose throat had gone dry, pulled her friend into the room and closed the door.
“It’s ok.” Keira said, her voice cracking.
Emmeline’s eyes filled with tears, “No! No it’s not ok! You know it’s not!”
Keira tried to smile but tears were running down her cheeks, “I was hotheaded. To think that you would want to come back,”
Emmeline shook her head, blonde curls falling from their place, “I was scared that’s all.”
“Why? Why are you scared?”Aidan said suddenly. Emmeline looked up. A small smiled played on her lips.
“I can’t tell you.” Emmeline said. She strode over to Aidan and threw her arms around his neck, “Aidan.”
“So will you come with us?” Keira questioned. Emmeline released Aidan and looked at Keira.
“Of course.” She said after a slight pause.
That night the three friends packed for the long ride ahead of them. Emmeline was tense and sharp as the night drew on. Keira pulled out Emmeline’s old sword and handed it to her friend. Even though it had been packed away for ages, it gleamed brightly as Emmeline unsheathed it. Emmeline touched the blade gingerly. Her eyes glistened with some tears.
“Thank you.” She whispered. Sheathing it up again, Emmeline placed the sword with the rest of her packs.
“Are we leaving tomorrow?” Aidan said, changing the subject. Keira nodded as she tied one of her packs.
“Early morning. We need to be at Scottsdale in two days.”
“How many people...women?” Emmeline inquired.
“Almost 700, maybe more.” Keira said as she cleaned her dagger.
“Seven hundred?” Emmeline whispered. Aidan stood up suddenly and stretched. He twisted his back to make his spine crack.
“Well my dears, I’m off to bed,” He said and sidled out of the room. Not long after Emmeline and Keira wen to bed.
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Hello, I'm Amoniel
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It's interesting, and intruging, and there's something about it that makes it captivating. I've read stuff that you have written previously, and this was not what I expected... based on other stuff you've read, the quality - the content - of this is higher than I expected! 
