Twelve years ago

Dragon Realms Cypress

Avalon tried her best to shelter herself from the chill of the early morning’s wind. She wrapped herself tighter with her cloak, knowing she only had another hour before she needed to be on the move again. It was only three days ago that she left the Black Rabbits. She would no longer be a tool for a cult of murderers, kidnappers, and torturers. She was once proud to wear the black and purple of that clan, now she was more content to simply be Avalon the Wanderer. Three days ago and it all seemed like only a minute had passed.

Sparrowport was just beyond the forest’s edge. She would charter a boat to Jedeoheim and serve the rest of her life as a Silent One.

A lifetime. That will be how long it will take to atone for my sins.

A mist of rain swept through the forest, numbing Avalon’s skin. Her clothes were soaked and musty from last night’s rain. She knew it would be foolish to create a campfire with the Silent Master sending Rabbits to track her down. A glowing coal could be seen with ease at night and smoke would make it even easier. A warm fire was a luxury she could not afford.

Avalon’s ears twitched and her sagging eyes sharpened; she was no longer alone. Snatching her sword that rested against the tree, she rolled forward to the center of the camp and focused her already alerted senses.

“Who did the Silent Master send? You are foolish to think you can sneak up on the High Blade of the Black Rabbits!” Avalon spat keeping a vigilant eye in all directions.

Finally from the shadows of the woods came a slender figure. With a sword already drawn, she slowly approached Avalon, “The Silent Master didn’t send me, Sister. I volunteered to hunt you down.”

Avalon leaped backwards and unsheathed her sword. Her hilt trembled within her hands. Her heartbeat picked up its pace as she saw the murder in her Blade Sister’s eyes.

Has it come to this? My sister, my lifetime friend…now my enemy?

“Vada, it is not too late to leave with me, Blade Sister,” Avalon sputtered.

Vada dropped her hood and swished her sword back and forth. Each swing inched Avalon backwards, “How could you leave our home. How could you leave me? After all that we’ve been through, you could just do that?”

Avalon clenched her teeth and gripped her hilt with both hands, inching backwards, “The Silent Master. The Black Rabbits. They are both poisonous! Venom which withers our very minds so we can hurt the innocent. Now this? Your master wants to turn us against each other! Vada, you and I share something that he can never touch! I-I-”

“Enough of your lies, Avalon! I swore to the Silent Master I would bring you to justice. Alanna be my witness. You will come back kicking and screaming or dead, it does not matter which to me!”

Vada dashed forward and within seconds she crossed the camp and slashed at her Blade Sister.

Avalon deflected the attack, but was unable to find the mindset to fight back. She was betrayed and confused that her best friend was so dead set in murdering her. Every thought in her mind told her to run, while her body wished to fight.

Taking advantage of Avalon’s momentary weakness, Vada kicked the outside of Avalon’s knee, buckling her to the ground, and slicing down at her in a heavy cleave.

Avalon raised her sword to block.

Vada’s blow glanced off with such force that Avalon’s sword tore from her hand and whipped through the air, driving into a neighboring tree.

“I expected more fight from you, Avalon,” Vada sneered, grabbing Avalon by the throat raising her closer to her.

“I can’t fight you…” Avalon whispered. She slowly edged her hand to Vada’s belt and rummaged through one of her pouches.

Vada slammed her prey against a tree, caressing her blade against Avalon’s cheek. She smiled fondly as it grazed over an old scar, “Do you remember our sparring sessions?”

Avalon tilted her head away from the sword’s pricking edge.

“You and I danced. Better than anyone. Even better than Legion and Malady. We were perfect for each other,” continued Vada.

“We still are…” Avalon said meekly. She grasped what she was looking for in Vada’s pouch.

“I don’t want to kill you, Avalon. You forced his hand. I can’t come back a failure.”

A tear streaked down Avalon’s cheek and over Vada’s blade, “I know, and I’m sorry,” Avalon said before breaking free of Vada’s hold and slinging a handful of white powder into Vada’s unsuspecting face.

Avalon went straight for her weapon while Vada howled, furiously in the background. However the sword was lodged too tightly into the trunk. Gripping with two hands and a foot pressed against the tree, she growled while tugging on the handle, but it would not budge. She took a moment to watch Vada frantically search for a way to wash away the blinding powder, before sprinting off to Sparrowport.

***

The gates of Sparrowport were already crowded with traders and travelers attempting to enter the city. The White Cloak guards inspected and questioned every traveler coming into the port city, looking for contraband or possible Black Rabbit criminals.

Avalon hid within the crowds, being sure to keep her Black Rabbit garbs hiding within the shadows of her cloak. Waiting patiently for one of the guards to become overwhelmed with peasants and merchants pushing their way to the entrance, Avalon slithered around the guards and slipped her way into the city.

Sparrowport itself was built in the valley of hills spilling out into the ocean. Despite all the roads directing to the bay, there was a maze of weaving streets, alleyways, and bridges connecting to layers of buildings.

It was all too easy to hide within the masses of the people moving about their daily routine, but hiding was not the only thing on her mind right now. Her fight with Vada was unexpected

and with that came the loss of her weapon. She needed to replace it and find her way onto a boat going to Dragon Realm Blight, before Vada recovered and found her again.

Making her way into a stretch of streets that served as a bazaar, she found herself caught off guard by the allure of the many exotic vendors. Fruits from Abyss, Furs from Stratus; Sparrowport seemed to have it all, even swords.

Spread out on a blanket, Avalon knelt down to inspect a line of finely crafted steel weaponry. She hovered her hand over the glinting sheen of a scimitar and then brushed the smoothness of a long shamshir. Both swords were from the deserts of Scorch. Although she was curious how they might handle, they were not what she was trained in.

The vendor tending to the stall flashed a keen smile and moved his long beaded hair over his shoulder. Adjusting his turban he spoke in a silky voice, “Ah, a fair maiden that has fine tastes. This shamshir was forged in the free lands of Alva and brought over the ocean to grace your hands alone,” he ended with a smirk and wink.

“I’m looking for an elven shadow blade.” Avalon said, ignoring his flirtatious efforts.

“Ah yes, the ninjato. That is an interesting sword. They say that the Leafsong developed the blade after receiving the teachings from a yikahti. It is why the ninjato is favored by assassins and appears so foreign compared to the claymore or longsword of Dragon Realm Cypress.”

“Thank you for the history lesson-do you have one?” Avalon huffed, tapping her foot. “Patience,

child. Of course I have one. However, as one knows, Long Whisper is at war with

Black Rabbits. Trading a ninjato to someone dressed in their colors is hazardous to my well being,” grinned the vendor.

Avalon darted her eyes looking for signs of patrolling White Cloaks.

“Relax, I shall sell you your shadow blade, as well as a set of robes. The blade isn’t illegal, but being a Rabbit is. Fifty trit, my friend,” the vendor chuckled.

Avalon counted the coins on her. She had only seventy-five trit and was unsure how much passage to Blight would still be. However, if a vendor could see she was a Black Rabbit, it was only a matter of time a White Cloak may find her, or worse, Vada. “Very well, here, take it.”

***

The towering white sails were a sight to see as the salty air tickled her nose. The creak of the barnacle covered hauls cut through the mantra of working seamen. She had never been so far

south in Long Whisper and although she had seen the sea, she had never experienced boats as large as these.

Approaching a dock master from a smaller merchant ship, Avalon held out what she estimated would be enough to get to her chosen realm. She raised her chin and swelled her chest. She may have been a skilled assassin, but she was clueless in the ways of the barter. The best she could do was entice what seemed like a worthy deal.

The dockmaster glared at her open hand. “What is this?”

Avalon’s face drooped as her best laid plan seemed to collapse from underneath her. She straightened her face hoping to salvage her deal. “I need passage to Blight. Fifteen is what I'm offering.”

The sailor snorted and spit out a wad of mucus. He seemed to mull it over as he scratched his rough beard. He then held up his hand, spreading his fingers, “Fifty and were leaving in ten minutes.”

Avalon blinked at the price. “I still need to eat, fifteen is a fair price,” she said reaffirming her offer.

“Fifteen’ll get you to Scorch.”

“Scorch would only get me halfway there. I would be stranded in the desert realm!” she said, raising her voice.

“Fifteen'll get you to Scorch,” he repeated, now crossing his arms.

Avalon turned her head back toward to Sparrowport’s gates. Vada would be in the city by now and heading to the docks. A trip to Scorch was not the ideal realm for her journey to becoming a Silent One, but it would throw Vada of her trail. Perhaps the Angel of Luck was with her today.

“Deal.”

Heading onto the ship, she paused for a moment. Reflecting on her past life that she was about to leave behind, she readied herself for the adventure to come.