"Sir, you'll never find someone crazy enough to go into the mountains at this time of the year."

"And you checked with all of my men?" 

"None of the searchers will go."

"But I am their captain." Captain Galton yelled angrily, glaring at his son. His short chopped grey hair and dark brown eyes gave him an almost sinister look when he glared.

The beautifully furnished chamber of the searchers captain showed his riches. Now the young man here, who happened to be his own son, telling him none of his men would go to the Deltera mountains infuriated him.

"Sir, I'm sorry but you're going to have to find someone else." Fenyald messenger and son of Captain Galton said annoyed. He had the same dark brown eyes as his father, but his hair was brown nothing like his father's had ever been. Not that Captain Galton had always had grey hair, his hair had been a blazing mass of red, but Fenyald had inherited his mother's wavy brown hair instead of his fathers red.

"Fine. Put up posters in the villages and if anyone takes the job... Well, you can choose the best for the job." Galton snapped.

"Sir I doubt any of them would do it without a reward..."

"Through in some shillings then."

Fenyald nodded .

"And they can become a searcher if they make it back alive, with what they were sent out for." Galton paused, "You know the rest."

° ° °

As morning brushed it's beautiful golden lips across the land, Fenyald lead a band of searchers through the villages planting posters around town. One found its self in a local tavern, another on a simple street where a girl sat on the steps of a village house her bare feet tucked carefully under her woolen dress.

Her hazel eyes twinkled with delight, a delight Fenyald had never felt. His father was strict and his mother had died when he was an infant. Just seeing this girl made him want to smile... but he couldn't, as a searcher, he had to keep a straight face, one that hid his emotions.

Now the girl smiled. Fenyald turned quickly, and led the searchers away... away from that joy-filled face.

° ° °

Adria smiled. She couldn't help herself. The searchers face was so straight, while his eyes held a longing, one Adria felt when she saw the searchers. They turned and trotted away on their big horses. But they left something behind, a parchment.

"Adria get in here before you catch frostbite and you toes fall off." Her mother came out and scolded, Adria knew she was exaggerating. Her toes wouldn't fall off.

Someone called from inside, Adria's father, and her mother went back in.

Adria got up from the step and walked across the cobblestone. Once she was next to the parchment she read what she could of it, then delighted, tore it down and brought it into her home.

When Adria's father saw the sign he was surprised.

"Well, if the good Lord hasn't answered you're prayers, Adria." He said.

"What is it Harl?" Eleece asked.

"Listen to this,

WANTED:
Someone to go into the Deltera mountains
On a mission for the searchers.
Come to the searchers ward on
February 2nd.

REWARD:
110 shillings.
And the chance to become a searcher.
Must be sixteen or older.

That second to last sentence was one Adria held close to heart.

"Oh mum, Da, please may I go?" She begged hopefully.

"Well..." Harl looked reluctantly at his wife, "we'll have to talk it over."

Eleece nodded in agreement.