The sisters

Prologue

Amana’s horse Cynara galloped through the dense brush that lined the Forest, once again drawing too close to its edge. Amana hardly noticed until a low-hanging branch smacked her in the face, and suddenly, she could feel the appraisal of the eyes of the Forest. She tugged Cynara’s reigns, guiding the horse away from the tree line. But once they were back on track, Amana allowed both her mind and her horse to wander once more. Only a few months had passed since news of her sister’s death had reached her. Amana had not wanted to believe, but when an elusive letter bearing her mother’s signature arrived on her doorstep, she’d known the rumors were true.

Though Amana and her sister had not been close in many years, it had still been a hard truth to swallow. A truth Amana found herself choking on when a letter with Nadeline’s name etched across the front arrived on her doorstep. It read;

My Dearest Amana,

I wish that the circumstances under which I write this letter were different or that I had time to waste on explanations, but time is short, and I need your help. For fear that this letter will fall into hands other than your own, I cannot say much. Attached to this letter is a map with directions to a cabin not far from your home. Please, meet me there and everything will be explained. This is a matter of life and death, one that will decide the fate of generations to come. Trust no one of the Forest or the Covens with this matter, and please, be urgent.

-N

Amana had not hesitated, and as Cynara stopped in front of the cabin circled on the map, Amana’s heart clenched in anticipation. The sun had long ago set behind the tall trees, but Amana could still make out the small cabin nestled amongst the yellowing weeds. Amana dismounted her horse and approached the shed cautiously. It was quiet, and no light came from the small building. Amana pushed open the door and peered inside. In the darkness, she could only make out a bed set under a window. Aside from this, the room seemed to be empty, but as Amana’s eyes adjusted, she noticed something shift on the bed. She entered the room, walking slowly towards it, and as Amana looked closer, her jaw dropped and her heart followed suit. There, burrowed in the covers, was a small brown baby.

Amana glanced around the room again, half expecting someone to appear and claim the infant, but when no one stepped forward, she reached down and scooped it into her arms. The infant wore a ring strung through a vine around her neck. Amana lifted the ring and sucked in a deep breath as she recognized it. But more startling than her mother’s jewelry, where the baby’s big brown eyes nestled above a wide nose and a heart-shaped mouth. It was all unmistakably reminiscent of Nadaline. Understanding dawned on Amana as her sister’s baby cooed up at her.

“What’s its name?” Amana’s daughter Safiyah asked, her bright curious eyes staring up at Amana expectantly.

“Her name.”Amana sighed, “She doesn’t have a name.”

“Doesn’t have a name,” Safiyah complained, “Everyone has a name.” she paused, then asked instead, “Whose baby is she?”

Amana looked to her husband, Enam, standing against the wall across the room. He raised his eyebrows in question as their eyes met. “I’m her mother,” Amana answered, the words rolling off her tongue before she knew what they meant.

Safiyah looked at her father accusingly, then back at her mother, “But papa said babies come from-”

“That’s enough Fee,” Enam laughed, pushing himself off the wall, “Give your mother a break. Go get ready for bed.”

Amana watched her daughter leave the room, her daughter whom she loved more than life itself. She looked down at the baby in her arms, wondering how Nadeline could leave hers behind. She had the urge to go to her herb cupboard and brew a pot of tea to calm her mind. But Amana found it quite impossible to tear herself away from her niece. Enam crossed the room and settled down next to her.

She adjusted her hold on the baby and leaned into him, “Are you angry with me?”

“For not abandoning your niece? No, but-”

Amana cut him off with a tsk.

Enam chuckled, returning her embrace, “I’m not angry, but, I am worried. Where’s Nadeline, and why would she leave her daughter alone so close to the forest?”

Amana pulled Nadaline’s letter from her pocket and read it again, looking for anything about a child, or what she was expected to do next, “What if something happened to her, Enam? What if she’s hurt?”

Enam thought for a moment, “Tomorrow I’ll go by that shed and look around myself, see if I can find anything.” He stood up, and pulled Amana to her feet, “But it is late, and we’ve had a long-” Enam stopped short and cocked his head to the side, “Do you hear that?”

Amana frowned, “What? I don’t-” She fell silent, there was a distant sound that seemed to be growing louder. Amana’s eyebrows knitted in concentration as she tried to place the familiar sound. Enam walked over to a window and pulled the curtain back just enough to peek out. The curtain fell as he turned to face Amana, his face tight and controlled. It was then that Amana placed the sound, a sound she had not heard in years, a sound she never imagined hearing this far from the Covens.

“Dragons,” Enam said.

Amana moved faster than she ever had before. With Nadeline’s baby in her arms, she ran to the closet in her room. She gently tucked the infant into some blankets and prayed she would not cry. Nadelines warning echoed in her head as she made her way back to Enam, Trust no one of the Forest or the Covens...

Amana froze as she returned to the room. They were no longer alone, a young woman stood in the middle of the room, her eyes locked on Enam. He held a sword in his hand, but he held it loosely, unsure, and Amana could see why. The woman’s clothes were dirty and torn and she had a wild look about her as if she’d been sleeping outside for some time. She even smelled of the Forest. Her halo of red hair was matted and spotted with leaves and dirt illustrating her tribulations. Something about the woman looked familiar, but Amana couldn’t place her face.

“Who are you?” Amana finally asked.

As Amana spoke, the woman’s head whipped around until she found Amana. Tears brimmed her eyes, “Mom?”

Before Amana could answer, the front door swung open and two more people entered the room. A young man with piercing black eyes set above sharp cheekbones and a woman with ice blond hair that hung to the middle of her back. These people Amana recognized, these were Witches of the Southern Coven. Enam tightened his grip on the blade.

A sly smile came to the Witch's lips as she took in the occupants of the room, “Enam, Amana, is this where you’ve been hiding all this time?” She turned her nose up in disgust. “I suppose it suits you.” Her voice was soft and smooth, like the scales of a viper, Amana tensed as she waited for her to strike.

“No one is hiding from you Tara,” Enam responded, his voice hard and low, holding a warning of its own.

Amana wished he would stay silent, he never feared the witches the way a mortal should. The way she did.

The Witch raised an eyebrow, “Then I suppose you are willing to return the property that you stole from the Covens?” She eyed the sword in his hands hungrily.

“My father forged this sword. It belongs to me, if you want it, you’ll have to take it.”

Israel placed a restraining hand on Tara’s arm as she moved to respond, “Stay focused my love, the sword is fodder.”

Tara pouted but remained silent as Israel turned his attention to Amana, “We’ve been informed that you are harboring Adaeze. Give her to us, and no harm will befall you or your family.”

Amana had almost forgotten about the mysterious woman, but at the mention of Adaeze, she staggered back as if someone hit her. Amana’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

“You've been misled, the only people in this house are of my blood.” She chose her words carefully.

Tara shook her head, but before she could respond, the strange woman gained her composure.

“It’s Johari mom! They want Johari!”

Desperation coated the woman's tone. Amana suspected she was trying to help but didn’t recognize what she was saying. Her frantic speech only fueled Amana’s unease.

Tara must have shared in Amana’s discomfort, because she slowly turned her cold gaze towards the woman, “Enough.” she said, snapping her fingers at the woman.

The stranger clutched her throat and opened her mouth in a silent scream.

“Stop it, Tara, leave her alone,” Amana spoke up, feeling oddly protective.

Tara lowered her hand and the woman collapsed on the ground taking deep breaths. “I’m growing tired of these games, tell us where Adaeze is or your daughter is next.”

Enam processed the threat faster than Amana, and before she could stop him, he raised his sword and swung his arms. Enam moved faster than Amana thought possible, but it was not fast enough. In the middle of his swing, Tara lazily flicked her finger in Enam’s direction, causing him to drop his sword, as his hands flew to his throat.

“Enam?” Amana walked around her husband as he fell to his knees, “Enam!” She cried.

Her husband's hands were slick and coated in blood as a gash across his neck gushed. Amana dropped to her knees in front of him and pressed her hands to his wound trying to stop the blood.

“Tell us where she is and your daughter will live,” Tara spoke coldly.

Amana stared into her husband’s eyes, watching the life drain out of them, she looked down at her hands stained with his blood. “Please, have mercy, I don’t know-”

Israel stormed past Amana towards her Safiyah's room, Amana moved to block his way but found herself pulled back. She looked up to see Tara’s hand raised in her direction. Israel returned with Safiyah in tow. He raised his hand and looked at Amana, “The choice is yours.”

“Please!” Amana begged.

Isreal froze, Amana thought he was considering her plea until she saw Enam’s sword burst through his chest. Tara screamed as he fell, revealing the strange woman, Enam’s sword still clutched between her shaky hands. Tara waved her hand and the woman flew into the wall with a sickening crack before she hit the floor. The witch ran towards Israel, but before she could reach him, a man appeared between them. At least he looked like a man at first glance, but this creature towered over everyone else. His skin was coffee brown, and white flowers were woven into the long mane that hung down his back. He carried a sword that was half as long as he was tall. Instead of metal, the sword seemed to be made of tree branches tightly woven together. Tara stumbled as she stopped before the creature. Her eyes widened as she took him in and she turned to run. The man in the middle of the room however was faster than even the witch. He swung his sword with lightning speed, removing her head from her body. He turned around just as quickly and pointed the sword at the warlock, but lowered it when he saw Israel.

Israel sputtered blood, barely clinging to life as he looked at his dead companion. He looked up at the creature defiantly, “Maybe not tonight, but Adaeze will die.”

The man smiled, “Not tonight,” and swung the sword killing him in the same fashion as his accomplice.

The man sheathed his sword before walking over to the strange woman. He bent down and touched his hand to her head. After a few moments, she shot up.

“You don’t belong here, do you?” He asked gently.

The woman only stared in confusion as she looked at the dead bodies around her. The creature tapped her temple and she disappeared.

Amana crawled over to her daughter as she watched the man walk over to her husband, bend down, and gently close Enam’s eyes. Amana buried her face in Safiyah's hair and cried. For her sister, for her husband, for herself.

“Do you know who I am?” The man asked after a moment.

Amana looked up at the man and nodded, “You’re a fairy knight.”

“I said ‘who’. My name is Ezekiel, Adaeze is my daughter.”

Amana realized with a start he was talking about her niece, “But that's impossible. Nadeline was supposed to-.”

Ezekiel cut her off gently, “We often meet our destiny on the path we take to avoid it. Your people will learn this soon enough.”

“Why me?” Amana pleaded, “I can’t protect her, I can’t prepare her for what she has to do. You have to take her.”

“Tensions in the Forest run high, it is not safe for Adaeze.”

“It’s not safe for her here!” Amana insisted, “the Covens have already discovered her.”

Ezekiel followed her gaze to Enam’s lifeless body, “I am sorry for your-”

“I don’t want your apologies! I want you to take your daughter!” Safiyah shuddered as Amana shouted above her.

“She will die in the forest. This is the only place she has even a possibility of survival.” Ezekiel bent down until he was eye level with Amana, “When you were born, you were told you would accomplish something great. That can still be true.”

Amana fell silent, thinking of the prophecies that were whispered to her mother before Amana had even been born. Dreams Amana had long since forgotten. Amana shook her head in disbelief but otherwise remained silent.

“Your house sits on fey lines, protected by one of the five knights. Here she will be far enough from the Forest to be hidden from creatures who may wish to do her harm, but close enough that she will be protected by our magic from the witches. One day she will be called upon to rejuvenate the Forest and the dragons. There are fey and witches alike who would do everything in their power to stop her. You must protect her, and keep her hidden from those who would do her harm.”

Amana stared at Ezekiel, absorbing his instructions, finally she closed her eyes in acceptance and asked, “When, when will she be called upon?”

“She will be safe until the Black Dragon appears, the gift of the eye is bestowed, and the past is revealed.”