Chapter 1 Beginnings

The candle swayed slightly, animated by the light breeze coming through an open window. Its wavering orange light alone was fighting against the darkness of the night. A bed, a table and a chair….all that was seen in the shadowy room. A drunken shout from the streets below could be heard. The two green eyes, reflecting an orange hue, didn’t mind as they engrossed themselves in the pages before them. It was apparent that little could disturb the young girl sitting in her bed, for what could wake an absorbed reader? Another hour passed before the girl shut the book and went to sleep. Another light source vanished when the candle died, and the shadows went their way.

Eleonora woke up with a start, still caught in her tormentors grasp. “Breathe” a soft voice could be heard. It was the girl herself and soon she found herself inside her bed, in her room, the book on magic formations still lying next to her. The candle on the table was no more, only a lump of cold wax. “Another one...” murmured the girl before she slummed down into her bed again, covering herself with her blanket. The morning was cold and mist lay over the city, the sun would soon make its appearance.

Another couple minutes passed until the girl’s eyes opened up again. She stared at the ceiling and sighed as she got up from her creaking bed and gathered the clothes laying around the floor in an organized chaos. Simple brown trousers and a white shirt marked with some dirt. Used boots and a satchel finalized her appearance. If it wasn’t for her eyes and raven black hair none would look at her twice.

She closed the window and looked at herself in the rather faint reflection. A sad smile made its way onto her face before it vanished as the turned around. She put the book on magic into her shelf with all the others. ‘Rather good one this time’ she thought as she lightly brushed its cover with her fingers before leaving the room. The corridor was dark and cold. ‘Again’ she thought as she smelled the alcohol in the air and wished she could just go back to bed. Eleonora didn’t open the door from which the smell originated but went straight, down the wooden stairs.

She breathed in deeply as the smell of hundreds of different herbs filled her vicinity and she smiled. “Good morning to you too...” she whispered as she walked up to the door. A staff was leaned next to it. Wooden but well made, some cuts and bruises marked its extensive use. Eleonora grabbed the staff and went outside. The air was fresh for an autumn day. “Good morning Dunewatch, you stink as shit as always...” the girl said as the stepped onto the street, paved with stone. “Talking to yourself eh?” the voice nearly made Eleonora jump as she whirled her staff towards its origin. “Easy easy, just making a joke young warrior” said the man smiling man sitting on the street next to her. ‘Homeless’ she thought.

“Well maybe it’s just you who stinks my unfortunate friend.” she remarked as she tossed a bronce coin in his direction and walked away. She could hear him laughing as a faint “Cheers.” reached her ears. She couldn’t help but smile as her step lightened a little. She made her way to the northern gate of the city, not far from where her mothers shop was. Not by accident, for the forest lay north.

She stopped by a small bakery and got two small buns. The baker greeted her enthusiastically, like every morning. He laughed as she only nodded back leaving with the bread. Slowly life started to fill the streets as she got closer to the gate. The cathedral marked the hour with five rings of the bell. ‘The stink is already rising’ she thought as she reached the gate. “Fuck off ya shithead!” shouted by a woman throwing out a half naked young man. He bowed to the onlookers and then made his way down the street as if nothing was out of the ordinary. Some people chuckled but most simply ignored it.

‘And the noise...’ Eleonora had to wave to the guard in front of her who was smiling at the scene behind her. “What is it girl?” he scratched his face and yawned as he inspected Eleonora. Too much apparently as another guard unseen a second ago lightly punched him on the head. “You live dangerously Gundar.” he remarked as he nodded to Eleonora. “Morning Elly, out for herbs?” she nodded as she twirled her staff around, completely aware of how little she could’ve done to shut up the guard, Gundar apparently. There was a reason they were part of the guard, protecting the gate even.

“Morning Mike, yes. Will be gone most of the day. Any interesting news?” she talked to him as Gundar approached a group of heavily armed people. Mike looked at them briefly but turned his attention back to her “Let me open up the gate for you then.” He motioned for her to follow as he signaled a guard on top of the nearly ten meter high wall. “Not much really, the king is still gone and the empire is still standing. I guess a dragon will come soon to doom us all.” she chuckled at that and nodded “Yes, well perhaps our beloved king is bringing the fight to them as he roams the north.” He smiled and patted her back as the gate slowly opened upwards “Be careful out there Elly, I know you can handle yourself but don’t be overconfident.”

“Thanks Mike. I’ll watch out for dragons, shape shifters and trolls.” she walked away as he saluted her with an exaggerated gesture and an overly serious face. “Bring us glory Eleonora Vera!” She smiled again as she continued on northwards. She liked Mike for his humor, especially because the guard normally was all about being serious business. Not without reason of course and it wouldn’t be without consequence if any higher ups saw him saluting the daughter of a herbalist.

When she first asked to leave the city walls to gather herbs and lay traps most of the guards just laughed at the then 10 year old girl with an oversized staff. He was the only one taking her seriously and asked her to show him she was ready to leave on her own. It took two years until he finally felt she could defend herself to an acceptable degree. But he was always there, ready to mock battle the little girl with her staff. After a couple months he took on more of a teaching role rather than it simply being an amusing start to his day.

She was still only a twelve year old girl and without being awakened would not be able to bring too much to a fight but he was confident she could at least scare off a young wolf or hurt a mans leg or groin enough to run away. At least as close to the city as she was allowed to go at that time she would be safe.