Chapter I - An Unexpected Friendship

Twenty-one years past, in the year of 1e93 on the 89th day of The Shine of Night.

It was not a rare occasion for one’s past to be revisited in the world of dreams. Too often dreams were of missed opportunities, twisted realities, or just simply a replay of certain moments in time. For Emri, her dreams were often plagued with all imaginable. The skeletons of her past frequented her imaginings, distorting what should be peaceful escapes to horrific nightmares.

On this night, though, her dreams were far kinder. Transporting her to a time and place where her life changed for the better. It’s odd to think one person, in the span of human life, could transform and shape the entire outlook on another. Actions of one can and will lead to the consequences of another, some beneficial and others harmful. So, when she finally awoke and readied for the day, a rather large smile decorated her small face.

Full of energy, she dressed quickly and jostled the small heap of blankets on the bed next to her own. “Come on, Danny. Ma’s already up,” she said as she poked at the soft arch in the ragged quilt covers. She rolled her eyes as the mass squirmed and retreated further into his den. “Come on, Ma’s already cooked breakfast and it’s getting’ cold,” she said to the lump. After no response, she blew a few wild hairs from her eyes and said, “Fine, but I’m not the one who’s gonna get in trouble for the critters you decided to hide out by the garden … which is where Ma is out diggin’ right now.”

The bed moved with a jerk and a dark wad of unruly hair peeked through. The young boy glanced around in a dazed panic; his eyes red and glassy from sleep.

Emri smirked knowing that would grab his attention. She had watched him as he collected a family of horny toads in Ma’s garden basket and covered it with an old sheet. This was bound to be entertaining. Ma hated the things after one had climbed in her clog and ran up her leg when she put her foot in. Emri didn’t know which of the three had moved faster: the clog, the horny toad, or her mother. But Danny loved catching them. He always let them lose in the end though. However, she did admit to helping Danny catch numerous bugs to feed the captured creatures. Secretly, she found them quite bizarre yet fascinating. At times she was just as eager to chase after the critters as Danny was himself. They made it a game of sorts. Whoever caught the most claimed the right to exclusive use of honey for the week.

As if on cue, a loud screech followed by several hollow tumbles and the sound of Danny’s name caused the young boy to fling his covers off and leap from the bed. Emri chortled to herself as she heard the two outside. Danny was getting an earful as Ma had apparently picked up the basket unknowing of its true contents and had begun placing picked vegetables when she discovered the menaces. Thank the Gods it early morning hunting time. Her time.

She headed to the small table next to the hearth where she ate a slice of dark bread, washed it down with barley water—sweetened the slightest with honey, and hurried off for her next adventure of the day with a game bag thrown over her shoulder and dagger on belt. She’d check the snare traps on her way and then once she returned home. Perchance, they might have an easy supper tonight.

“Emri! Don’t you wander too far now. There are chores to be done!” her mother called from the garden as Danny still looked for one of the lizards. He had managed to pick up all the spilt vegetables and righted what buckets and knickknacks her mother had managed to knock over.

The older woman knelt as she harvested what little crop the recent frost had not damaged. She wiped away a lone bead of sweat as the young girl ran up a small hill, the dead leaves and brush crunched under her step. She waved a hand in acknowledgment to her mother, and continued on up the hill until she broke the other side. 

She walked for a long while, occasionally picking up a stray rock or acorn and tossing it at nearby targets, generally trees, thickets, or small animals who were not in the least deterred by her step. The walk was long and lonesome, but it never stopped young Emri from venturing out to her secluded place. Regardless of her maturity level, she was still a child at heart, and frequently made conversation with whatever wildlife crossed her path. At least it made her feel not quite so alone, and in a place such as the Black, that was a feat seldom accomplished.  

She finally came upon “the tree” which was nothing more than an old tree that looked like death had taken it over and over again. The oozing sap at the truck had turned the tree black. Gloomy scale, her mother called it. The tiny mold spores were sooty and coated her clothing by the time she climbed up and back down. But it was tallest and largest within several acres, and Emri began her ascent to the top. The branches were still solid as if it were thriving on the inside, but decaying on outside. Up and up she climbed as the nearby hill finally cleared the horizon and she could see the distant Mountains of Lore.  Her mind wandered as she stared off into the distance. She thought of a bigger and grander world than that of which she lived in. Her mother often spoke of distant kingdoms far better than their own, and how she prayed to the Gods above that she and her brother could escape their world and live a much better life.

Emri was adventurous by heart, often losing hours of day as she explored the depths of her mind. It was the only way to truly escape and fulfill all of her childish and nonsensical adventures.

The sun was inching its way overhead, and warmed her gently. The air held a chill to it, but her wool overcoat was honestly overkill. It would come off in a matter of minutes as the sun above warmed her small body.

Silently she wondered what great quests awaited discovery out in the horizon. No one dared to venture out beyond the Great Boundary. It was told that abysmal wastelands stretched on for years at a time, and that any foolish soul who crossed the line would die a slow and painful death; alone and with nothing but the fiery sun cooking their flesh. It was enough of a tale to make one’s skin buzz with fright.

Emri, however, was not one to be easily frightened. Instead of looking to the distance with trepidation, she looked to it with a longing of hope. Hope of an escape and a better life.

The sun had moved a couple inches within the sky, and Emri’s eyes became heavy with sleep. She retreated down several feet so that a misstep would not allow death to claim her should she fall. She settled at a wide tree crotch, and with a long sigh, she reclined back against the trunk and brought her dangling legs up to rest on the branch. She loosened her belt and whipped it from its loops before securing her legs to the branch with the strip of leather. She closed her eyes and soon fell into an easy slumber.

She was awoken by the obnoxious squawking of a black crow. She swiped irritatingly at the annoying creature trying to dispel it. However, instead of shooing the bird away, it turned on her and began to attack.

 She flailed around as she tried to free her legs from the belt. Finally, it came loose, and she used it to swat at the devilish creature. With one swift hit, it faltered in its flight and flew off.

“Damn bird!” she roared as she tightened her grip on the strip of leather, her knuckles turning white. Her heart was racing within her chest, and her breathing was labored.  

As soon as the initial panic faded, she felt a swift gust of wind catch the side of her face. She turned in the general direction, and came face to face with a steel arrow buried within the tree bark, not but mere inches from her face. She jerked back on instinct, and fell sideways from her perch.

She was still quite high up as her head and back cracked against a few stray limbs before her limp body met the ground. The breath was knocked from her, and she pawed desperately at the ground with her right hand. Nothing felt broken, but her head felt as if it had been split open from brow to base. For a fleeting second, she wondered if she was paralyzed. She felt a warm sensation at the back and side of her head.

“Gods!” A female voiced called out, and Emri heard the telltale signs of someone approaching on foot. Bush and leaves were crushed under the weight of someone kneeling forcefully beside her. Emri tried to rise, but a fierce and nauseating pain shot through her skull.

“Ow …” she muttered as she palmed the side of her head, unable to reach the back.

“I’m so sorry! I thought you were a beast—” the unknown girl spoke as her hands hovered above Emri’s body hesitantly, not quite knowing where to place them.

“That talks?!” Emri asked incredulously through gritted teeth.

“I had already released the arrow! Here, just lie still. You are bleeding.”

For some unexplained reason, Emri’s body and mind relaxed as the mysterious girl placed her hands upon her shoulder and arm. She would have been long dead if the girl was head set on it. Instead, she was kneeling beside an injured Emri, a stranger to her as if she had nowhere else to be. No other important or urgent matters to attend to. That made Emri’s heart flutter. Any other person would have slit her throat without preamble and stolen what few items of insignificant value he or she could get their hands on. Chivalry in this dark realm was cold, dead, and unburied—left to rot beneath the trees for the crows to find and feed upon.

Emri remained still as her vision became less and less fuzzy and more clear and straight. At least the trees were not dancing above her anymore; taunting her as they circled her menacingly. She looked off to the right and saw a beautiful young girl, probably not much older than herself. She looked different from Emri and most from this realm. Emri was decorated with scars, bruises, and cuts. Her face and hands were dirty and smudged from days of hard labor. Dark lines formed around her nail beds and under the sliver of nail itself, and her ash brown hair was unwashed and curly. Emri’s clothes were also tattered, torn, and ill-fitting. The only thing of value to her was her custom stitched leather boots.

The other girl, however, was nearly immaculate in her appearance. Her face was clear and bright, and her dark brown hair, almost raven black, was neatly kept, pulled back into a single braid that fell at her shoulder blades. She looked to be dressed in the finest of riding attire, and her posture was quite rigid. It was if she was an alien in this small land. Emri offhandedly wondered if that was why this strange and peculiar girl traveled on such an off beaten path. She would certainly attract attention otherwise, and any attention in these parts was just was asking for trouble. Right over her shoulder was her elegant bow and quiver filled with arrows.       

“What were you doing up there anyway?” the strange girl asked as she removed her tight fitting gloves and pulled a handkerchief from her coat pocket. Emri questioned her intention until she moved the piece of cloth to her head and gently wiped at several spots. When she pulled it back to reveal a clean section of cloth, Emri noticed the splotches of bright crimson. She hadn’t even felt the fleeting blood on her skin.     

She winced one time when the mysterious girl got too close to a larger wound. Emri finally found her voice to speak. “Escapin’,” she said.

The girl looked at her disbelievingly before her eyes traveled the distance up the tree to the top where Emri had rested. “From up there?” the young girl asked clearly amused. “Normally when something or someone is up a tree, they are trapped. That is why treeing an animal is an easy kill. There is no escaping,” she stated with a knowing smirk.

Emri blushed at the playful jab, and had she not been incapacitated on the ground, she would have stomped her foot in annoyance and walked off; her childish pride taking hold. “Yeah well, I wasn’t runnin’ and nothin’ was after me,” she said with a huff and tried to cross her arms. “I always pick this tree ‘cause it’s the tallest. I can see better.”

“Always? How often do you travel here?”

“Not enough …” Emri said. “Every other day, maybe. When I don’t have chores or errands to do,” she paused and surveyed the girl next to her. She set her jaw as she sat up, ignoring the throbbing pain in her head, and turned the slightest bit to sit against the truck of the tree. “How come I’ve never seen you ‘round here before?” she asked the mysterious girl.

The dark haired brunette seemed to think long and hard about her answer as she fidgeted with the hem on her coat. “Mother generally does not allow me to come into the woods. I disobeyed my riding instructor by coming this far out, but it gets terribly boring traveling the same trails every day. I guess in a way, I am escaping as well,” she admitted.

Emri nodded in understanding. “My mother doesn’t like me comin’ out here either. She says it’s dangerous.”

“She is right. Are you armed? It is even more dangerous for a young girl, anyone really, to be walking these lands without a means of protecting themselves.”

“Just a dagger,” Emri stated as she lifted her left arm and tucked her right hand underneath her coat and unsheathed a small dagger. She held it up for her new counterpart to see and then tossed it with much contempt to the forest floor. “It’s not even sharp,” she said with a scowl.

The brunette extended her arm and picked up the dagger with a metal clang as it dragged over small stones. She analyzed it as her fingers graced the planes of the blade. It was made of durable metal, but the simple construction made it more cost efficient. “Do not let that dull blade deceive you,” the unnamed girl began. “It can still do damage, just not as clean or quick. Just ask Old Man Humphries.”

“The one eyed man?” Emri asked wide-eyed as her jaw slacked. The one eyed man had been the very subject of children’s nightmares throughout the realm. He not only was missing an eye, but also only had half a right arm. It was heavily mangled at the stump and was regularly waved menacingly at mischievous children who thought it funny to steal his wooden eye. It annoyed him enough when the blasted ball would not stay put in his socket, falling out whenever he stooped over. But then to have children rush in and swipe the fallen eye, well, that riled his temper further. It was quite gruesome actually.

The other girl laughed at Emri’s gaping expression. “Have you ever pondered how he got the name?” she asked, and they both broke out into a fit of laughter. The brunette stopped as soon as the vile sound left her mouth. She quickly clamped a bare hand to her mouth. What if her mother heard? She swore that woman could spot a smile a league away, and laughter, well, she was positive that jovial sound would reach her ears like a thousand man trumpet band sounding off just feet away. Emri must have noticed the change, and stopped quickly as well. 

She looked hard at Emri as the young girl drew patterns into the dirt with a snapped twig. She couldn’t be much younger than herself. Her actions mimicked that of young girl, but her physique told an entirely different story. Much like her own childhood, she was sure Emri’s had been stolen away from her as well. “How old are you?” she finally asked.

 “Eight.”

“I am thirteen. It is not often I meet someone close to my own age. Too often they are out in the fields, down in the mines, or out on the bay. Doing what they can to support their family, I suppose.”

“I help support my family. My brother and I fetch game, among other things. I pull my own load.” Emri said on the defensive as she crossed her arms. The girl quickly backtracked.

“I did not mean to imply that. I never thought otherwise. You seem resourceful enough. My name is Nora, by the way,” she stated as she formally introduced herself.

“Emri,” she said in return and took the other’s girl within her own.

The movement caused Nora’s sleeve to ride up ever-so-slightly, revealing sections of black, blue, and brown skin around her wrists and lower arm. Bruises that were suspiciously rounded and a few even had crescent shaped cuts. They were scabbed over, and the surrounding skin was red and irritated, as if she had been scratching at them through her clothing.

Emri’s brow furrowed, and her smile faded as she looked worriedly at the damaged skin. “Your arm,” Emri stated as she pulled Nora’s hand closer and pushed the sleeve up, granting her a better view. “Wha’ happened?”

“Oh,” she said, feigning indifference, “my wrist got caught the lead of a yearling. He spooked and nearly broke my hand. My mother was none too pleased.”

“That doesn’t look like rope marks. I’ve had several rope burns, and they scab over somethin’ fierce. Stomach turnin’ and they ooze. ” Emri stated more to herself than Nora. Her small fingers stretched across Nora’s thin wrist, gentle in their movement, but came up short of meeting all the bruise points. They looked like finger marks. “My Ma came home one night with marks like these, though. She was bloody, bruised, and had a large gash on her head and lip. She never told me what happened, but these marks look like the ones I saw on her neck. She thinks I’m stupid because I’m small, but I know she was attacked that night.”

“Well I wasn’t.” Nora stated as she pulled back her hand. She refused to meet Emri’s eyes and decided to try for a shift in the conversation. “What did your mother do?”

Emri shrugged and picked at a small scrawny weed growing from the earth as she spoke. “Nothin’. She was quiet for a few days, but soon everythin’ was normal again. I think it was the local butcher. I went with Ma every week to pick up trimmin’s and after that night we stopped. If I had known for certain, I would have put a knife in his belly. But soon Ma was pregnant with Danny, and it was forgotten. Plus he died soon after.”

Emri looked at Nora once again and noticed she was fiddling with the top button of her coat. Her eyes were distance, unfocused, and her head was turned away from Emri. “You should tell your parents if someone’s hurtin’ you. Whoever it is, they shouldn’t be doin’ that. Even I’m smart enough to know that much.” 

“My mother has far more important things to attend to than a few scrapes and bruises,” Nora said in a quiet voice.

“Who’s your mother?”

Nora stopped and looked Emri directly in her eyes. There was neither hesitance nor conflict, just the hardness in her eyes that spoke of truth and determination. Her shoulders squared off as if she was bracing for some type of reprimand or punishment that would come with what she was about to state.

Emri noticed the change and sat ever so straighter, holding her breath in anticipation.

“Kali,” Nora stated with a hushed voice. “The Empress.”

If anyone else had made such a bizarre statement, Emri would have would have laughed in their face for such a blatant lie. Daughter of the Empress, right. Royalty never mingled with peasants. Let alone, stop to aid them in a time of need. Yet here sat a young girl, prim and tailored in the finest of clothing. She was well spoken, well mannered, and her mere presence commanded respect. Emri’s eyes blinked rapidly as they widened at the realization she was, in fact, looking at the Princess. Her head snapped quickly in all directions, eyes scanning the area as her hands fidgeted in midair.

“Y—you … you’re the Prin—” Emri began, but was quickly silenced with a hand covering her mouth.

“Do not speak of my title,” she spoke in a whisper. “Here I am Nora. Nothing more,” she said and removed her hand once Emri nodded. The next few minutes were spent in silence as Emri took in this new information. “How is your head feeling?” the older girl eventually asked.

Emri showed no signs of acknowledgment as she twisted an unnaturally smooth rose rock between her fingers. Her stare was unfocused on some point in the distance.

“Emri?” she asked once more. Her name finally broke her out of her reverie, but the blank look on her face mirrored the fact she didn’t hear the original question. “Your head?” Nora clarified. “How does it feel?”

Emri frowned as she lifted her right hand to her head. She winced upon contact and drew her hand down to discover the pads of her fingers covered in a small amount of blood. She cringed, but smiled. “Like I smashed it on a rock.”

“It will be dark soon. We both should head home. Where do you live?”

Emri grunted as she attempted to stand, stumbling only as the blood rushed to her head. Sticks, leaves, and dirt clung to her hands, backside, and breeches as she tried to dust herself off. “‘Bout an hour’s walk from here. Right on the city limits,” she answered as she pulled a rather large twig from her unruly hair.

“I have a horse not far from here. I can take you home if you like.”

“No, I—”

“I do not mind, Emri. I would not have offered otherwise,” she stated as she placed a hand upon Emri’s shoulder.

“Okay, I’ll stay here—”

“I’m not leaving you here. Come along,” the young brunette spoke as she extended her hand for Emri to take.

Emri, however, looked at her and the aforementioned hand as if they were traitorous entities, just waiting for the opportune moment to strike and carry her off into the void. Emri might have been young at heart, but she knew and understood the ways of the cruel world. No one helped another unless he or she could profit from such actions. Regardless of the short time she spent with Nora, that thought, which had been ingrained since birth, could not be chased off easily, or quickly for that matter. Even though she believed Nora’s story, no one helped without gain. She knew now could be no different as well. “Nora?” she asked. Her voice quiet and full of doubt. It also carried with it a tinge of guilt. Nora had in no way led her to believe she harbored any ill intentions toward Emri, but the doubt was still there regardless. “Why are you helpin’ me?”

“I do not know,” Nora answered honestly. “I just want to help you.” She was quiet for a long while as she stared off into the trees and traced the furrows of the bark. She felt dark eyes upon her, urging her to continue. The older girl conceded and sank back against the truck of a tree. Her lovely jodhpurs were covered in mud and dirt. Emri silently berated the other girl for allowing such a garment to get to such a state. Nora took a long breath before she began to speak. “You are the first person I have spoken to in months … besides my mother, of course. And I have enjoyed it.” Nora spoke. Sadness seemed to spill from every syllable. “It was nice to finally make a friend.”

“Okay,” Emri said as she took the aforementioned hand. A smile upon her face.

Nora sidled up to Emri and then fastened her right arm around Emri’s waist to help support her on the short trek to the horse.       

●●●

It was nearing sunset as the girls made it right to the boundary of the Dyer household. At the request of Emri, Nora stopped in front of an old iron wire fence before Emri slid ungracefully from the saddle and cupped her throbbing head. They bid goodbye to each other with promises to see each other again soon.

Across the way, a young boy was hurrying home, his small legs barely keeping up with his over energized body. “Momma! Emri’s ridin’ a horse with a strange girl,” the young child yelled excitedly as he leapt through the thick underbrush surrounding their house. He had seen Emri, along with a strange girl and her horse, walking through the woodlands as he was hunting for game. He had caught a pheasant who was flailing unhappily at his side as he held it outstretched and by its feet, his own stumbling every now and then over hidden debris on the forest floor.

Helen, who was standing right inside the kitchen door, turned and stepped outside to address her winded son. That was when a lone figure stumbled out of the brush, looking exhausted and battered.

Emri must have heard her younger brother’s tattling because as soon as he came into view she scowled and spoke. “Must you tell everythin’ you know, Danny?”

“Emri! What in the three!” her mother gasped in concern, but also mild irritation.

“Ma,” she scolded as her mother cupped her cheeks, looking for any signs of injury besides the few scrapes and bruises on her face and arms. She gasped loudly as she saw the caked blood at the back of Emri’s head. “I’m all right. I just fell from the tree.”

“Emri Jane Dyer, what have I told you ‘bout climbin’ those trees in the forest? And who was that girl you were with? Did she cause this?”

“It was an accident, but she’s my friend, and she was kind enough to help me home.”

Her mother held her head within her hands as she regarded her sadly. The woman’s eyes spoke volumes in experience, fear, and loss of hope. It was the look of someone far older and wiser. Her mother inhaled deeply, almost contemplatively as she looked at her daughter and placed her right hand upon her chest, right above her heart. “Your heart’s too large, Emri,” she said in a despondent tone. “If you’re not careful, it will get you hurt. We’ve had this very discussion many times. You cannot trust people here. They’re only out to hurt you,” the older woman urged, willing her young daughter to hear her plea and heed its warning. She took her by the hand and led her over to the small wash bin in the kitchen. 

“My heart tells me that even people here can have good in them. You’re here, aren’t you? And Danny and I … we’re not bad people, are we?” Emri asked as tears welled up within her eyes. The pain in her head, as well as in heart were becoming too much for the young girl to manage. It was overwhelming, and she was just thankful she was now at home with her family, in her mother’s embrace.

The woman considered her daughter’s words with surprise. It struck her how observant, and intelligent Emri truly was, not that she ever thought otherwise, but the type of thoughts Emri just voiced, were never spoken or addressed. “Oh, of course not, sweetheart.”

“Then if that’s true of us, what makes it untrue for others?”

“Very well. Let’s get you cleaned up. That cut looks rather nasty,” she said as she dipped an old rag into the tepid water and wrung it out.

Dirt, dried blood, and forest debris were all wiped away by tender hands as her mother tended to her cuts, scrapes, and the particularly mean gash on her head. With all the love and gentleness a mother could bring, she was finally clean, and supper was not far off.

Both Emri and Danny sat at the old, rickety wooden table which was set for three. Danny was rocking back and forth on the uneven legs, and Emri sat and watched her mother fill three bowls full of barely pottage over bread and a few spare slices of salt pork. “I would like to meet her,” Helen said as she allowed her pottage to cool. “We’ll have supper one night, and she would be welcomed to join us.”

Emri smiled brightly as she ate her stew with renewed vigor. Perhaps the next time they all sit down for the evening meal, Nora would be right alongside her. The thought alone was overwhelming.