ALIENA
   "Good morning, darling."

   "Morning, Mama." I said and kissed her cheek as I sat at the long table. "Where is Papa and Aaren?"

   "In the throne room of course." Said my mother with a gentle roll of her eyes. "They are too alike for their own good. Between the two of them, they will always manage to find work to do."

   Resisting the urge to remind her that father was king and so this was probably a good thing, I chuckled as I sat, filling my plate with apple crusts and honey filled lemon squares. I didn't much like the lemon squares but I knew Tonia, the cook, was proud of them (she'd made up the recipe herself) and so I was sure to put extra on my plate to make he feel good. We ate in silence for a while and I let my mind wander.

   "Is everything alright, darling?"

   I looked at my mother --- a near mirror image of me but with greying hair and laugh lines. "I'm fine."

   "Are you sure?" She asked and touched between my brows with her thumb as if she could rub my worry away. Then she sighed and took my hand. "Darling, I've been meaning to speak to you of something."

   Her serious expression made me place my spoon back onto the table and focus on her fully. "What is it, Mama? Is everything alright? Is it Papa's heart? Did the pains return?"

   "Oh, no, nothing like that at all." She promised with a wave of her hand. "This is about your accident."

   I frowned. "You mean the one that happened seven years ago? That accident?"

   She raised a delicate eyebrow. "Is there another of which I am unaware of?"

   "Well... no." I lied, thinking of two days earlier. "What about the accident?"

   "Well, it isn't about the accident itself but rather, your behaviour since then."

   Now I was even more confused than before. "I've been good and careful and---"

   "I know you have. Don't worry, you aren't in any trouble." She smiled gently, calming me slightly. "It is just... oh, Aliena, you were always so brave and fearless and curious. So... wild."

   "You hated that." I reminded her.

   She laughed outright. "I did." She agreed. "But only because it terrified me. I was always so afraid you were going to get hurt."

   "And I did. I nearly died." I said, as if she needed reminding.

   "That's true, yes, but... you're so reserved now, darling. Right after your accident, it was almost a blessing and then we --- your father and I, I mean --- we believed you were simply growing up. But, Aliena, if this reserved, calm woman is who you are now, then that is perfectly fine. Perhaps a relief even. But if your reasons for being this way is because of fear, or if that wild piece of you in being repressed..." She took my fingers, squeezing them. "You're nearly sixteen. In a couple of winters, you will be married and perhaps even a mother yourself. You will need to be reserved then. Wildness will not be fully acceptable, but right now you are home, darling... I'm afraid that you will loose a piece of yourself."

   "I don't... understand."

   "I'm not explaining it well." She paused a moment, collecting her thoughts, then tried again. "In but two summers, you will be married off to some high lord or prince, or perhaps even a king, and when that happens, you will need to show reservation. But as of right now being home and as safe as you can be, I would rather you be able to fully express yourself while you can." She touched my hair. "If that wild girl is no longer apart of you, then we love you, but if it is a part of you and you let it out... well, we will love that piece of you, too."

   I felt tears in my eyes as the overwhelming feeling of love overcame me. "Thank you, Mama, but I am not that wild girl anymore. I am who I am. You don't need to worry." That tasted like a lie on my tongue and even as she kissed me hand and went back to eating, I tried to figure out the reason of why. It didn't take me long to understand.

    You don't need to worry. Yes, that was a lie. Not about my wild nature as that truly seemed to drown under the ice that day, but of something else.

   Despite the comfort my brothers' words had brought me the day before, I slept very little. As the night went on, I became more and more sure that I was correct. That the castle was in danger. That she did need to worry. We all did.

   "Mama?" I began hesitantly.

   "Hm?" She glanced up and must have seen something on my face because she dropped her own spoon and immediately, the lines of worry creased her brow. "What is wrong, Aliena?"

   "I lied." I told her. "I did have another accident. Only one not so dangerous to me."

   "When, darling? What happened? Are you alright?"

   "It happened only two days ago, when Nania and I were on the mountain. I had a vision."

   She frowned. "A... a vision you say?"

   "I fell into the snow and when I awoke, I had such a terrible headache and my nose was bleeding. I raced home as soon as I could to tell you," no need to tell her that it was during the storm, "but Aaren told me it was only an illdream brought on by lack of food and drink. I believed him and so I have said nothing, but I am growing more sure that he was incorrect." I took a deep breath, trying to calm my tone and slow my words. "I believe that we are all in danger, Mama."

   "What vision was sent to you?" True fear hinted in her tone and that caught me by surprise.

   "You believe me? But Mother doesn't send visions so---"

   "Of course she doesn't, she send her animals. Aaren is born and bred in Nascia; he knows of no other God but the Mother herself. He forgets that there are other gods, and some of them send visions."

   "You believe in the other gods?"

    Her smile flashed briefly. "You forget that I was born in Tark, Aliena. I grew up believing in the watergods and when I moved here to marry your father, he had me believe in the Mother as well. If they are both real, than why can the others not be as well?" She smiled calmly and showed me her thumb, which was missing the print it was so scarred. "I still cut my finger and drip blood into the water before bathing to thank them, just as I pray to Mother in thanks at each meal for the meat we are gifted to eat. It may not have been Mother who sent you the vision, but Father Anul of Averton and the dragon gods of Dargolyn are known to send visions. Did they send you one, I wonder? Or were you given something even more?" She took my hand. "If you believe it is a vision and not a dream, then I would very much like to hear it."

   So, food forgotten, I told her. I told her of the five castles burning and told her of the five objects I had seen and the needle pointing me directly south. Also, I told her of the insistent feeling of urgency that I've had with me since I had woken on the mountain.

   "I fear we're running out of time, Mama." I said when I was finished the discription. "The fires... I believe they will happen soon. Very soon."

   My mother had remained quiet the entire retelling, but now she spoke and her voice was dry and shaky, yet still firm. "Gather some things together for a long trip for you and your brother."

   "What? Where are we going?"

   "South of course, as your vision showed you." She stood. "I need to speak to your father."

   "Wait! You and Papa are coming, right?"

   "Of course, but we will need to evacuate at least this area of the city and set up some shelters for all we move from their homes. It may take a few days and I want you and your brother out of here as soon as possible. We will follow behind you."

   "But, Mama---"

   "Pack, darling. I need to speak to your father right away." She nearly left, but then turned again and returned just as I was standing. I was taller than she was --- I'd gotten my height from my father. Still, she made me feel so small and young when she took my face in her hands and met my eyes with the authority of a queen.

   "You were sent this vision. Not I, not your father, nor anyone else but you. It was sent to you. Trust in the gods that it was for a reason. Trust in them and be brave."

   "But... I am so frightened, Mama." I whispered.

   She smiled, just a little, becoming my mother instead of the queen once again. "You cannot be brave unless there is fear to push bravely past." She kissed my forehead. "Now go and pack. The gods, whichever ones they may be, gave you a job to do and you will not leave them waiting any longer than necessary. Promise me."

   "I promise, Mama." I pulled away first and raced up the stairs to pack for a long trip south.

LORYN

   I sat at the window looking out at the stars, feeling the slight chill on the air as if it were already winter. My view was of the garden and, beyond that, the castle wall. Would it burn, I wondered?

   There was a knock on my door and I jumped, glancing at it. It was past midnight; who could it be?

   I stood and reached for the pale silk robe to wrap around my thin, silk nightdress. I'd only just tied it when there was another knock and the handle turned. It was locked though and did not open. "I'm coming." I called, just above a whisper and then leaned against the crack in the door. "Who is it?"

   "It's your mother. Now let me in."

   I grimaced then straightened my spine, fixed my hair as best I could in the limited time allowed me, and turned the key in the lock. The door opened so quickly that I had to jump back in order to avoid it hitting me in the face.

   "Mother." I greeted, trying not to sound worried. "What are you doing here so late?"

   "I came to have a word with my daughter." She said coldly. "Is that so bad of me?"

   "N-no, Mother, I only meant---"

   "I know what you meant." She said with a sigh. "You think you know everything of course. Perfect you."

   I shied away from both her tone and the harsh scent of wine on her breath. "I'm not perfect."

   "Of course you're not! Your hair is frizzy, your eyes are too big, and you're fat."

   Did she come here this time of the night with the reason only of insulting me? What was I to say to that?

   I stayed silent but my mother did not.

   "Your father," she sneered the word, "only believes you're even mildly pretty because you're fat like he is. He is so proud to have a little girl who looks so much like he does. It's why he keeps giving you gifts." It was only when she shoved the box my father had given me that morn that I realized she held anything at all. "Go ahead." She said, pushing it harshly against my chest. "Go ahead and eat them, pig."

   I flinched. "Mother, please---"

   "Pig!" She called me again. "Eat them. I can tell you want to, so take your precious gift and eat them!"

    I had to back up to stop from being hit in the chest with the hard box as she shoved it at me. "Mother, stop!"

   She threw the box and it landed with a crash on the floor. "I'm done! I'm done helping you! I'm done trying to make you pretty. See how your father likes it when I marry you off to the first pig suitor that comes along. Perhaps I'll find one to match your appetite, dha?"

   "Stop!" I shouted. "Mother, stop! Please! I'm sorry!"

   "You're sorry?" She laughed harshly. "For what? For being your fathers favorite? He looks at you like he looks at his whores, Loryn, so don't be too flattered. Maybe if you go fuck him he'll stop me from marrying you off to a pig farmer---"

   Rage suddenly rose up that she would talk about my father in such a way. I shouted wordlessly and pushed her. Startled, she fell back and I heard the crack of her head hitting the stone corner of the heath before the thump of her body dropping to the floor.

   I stood in stunned silence for a moment. Was she dead?

   Frantically, I rushed over and felt for a heartbeat, finding one quickly. She wasn't dead then. Relief took a moment to come, and it only stayed briefly before fear came at its heals; what would she say when she woke?

   I hadn't even realized that I'd been backing away from my mother until my back hit the door. When it did, pure, blind panic won over and I found myself running out into the corridor, down the staircase, and out into the night. I followed the trail to the southern gate and then out onto the sandy beach. I didn't stop running until I reached the cave I knew.

   It was a low cave and mostly filled with water during high tide, but it was an escape and not many knew of it that I was aware of and so, clothes and all, I found myself wading into it and crawling up onto a dry ledge in the dark. I curled up as small as I could make myself and covered my face as if it would hide me from the entire land.

   Still, even after the nights events, I fell asleep thinking about the vision.