Kimaapallon, West Province
Tamara sat at the table and watched her father angrily chew his food. She didn't understand why that woman's visit had upset her father so much. She thought the woman had been rather nice.
"Really, Dear. What in the world do you think possessed that Elemental witch to come here now?" demanded her mother.
Her father's only response was a fierce scowl and a hard thump to the table.
"I thought she was nice," Tamara calmly stated. She didn't flinch when her parents both turned to stare at her.
"What? She wasn't rude or mean. Why are you angry about her visiting?"
"You're too young to understand. Eat your vegetables and let your father and I worry about things."
Tamara frowned but obediently ate her dinner. After excusing herself, she headed upstairs to her room and closed the door.
She walked to the window and looked out at the night sky. She took a deep breath and drank in the smells of the night. She smiled when she felt the call of the trees and debated on whether to go outside. Her father's earlier warning about staying inside chafed at her natural curiosity about the woman who scared her parents. She hadn't sensed anything dangerous from the visitor.
Suddenly, the urge to escape the house and run into the forest overwhelmed her. Before she knew it, she was climbing out the window and easily sliding down the hanging vines that clung to the house. Without a backward glance, she ran into the forest.
Several minutes later, she stopped in the clearing and stared at the woman seated on tree stump before a small campfire. Tamara shook herself and, for a brief moment, wondered why she was doing this. Hadn't she always obeyed her parents' instructions? Why was she doing the opposite now?
"Because your blood and abilities are waking up. They recognize what your parents refuse to believe," the woman explained.
"Are you reading my mind?" Tamara, wary now, took a step back. She had heard stories of people that had mind-speech and mind readers who could hear your thoughts. Was this woman one of those? The answer wasn't long in coming.
"No, Silly Girl, I cannot read your mind. I was once in your position. I, too, had to make a choice—obey my mother or take a chance on my own happiness. You have to choose, Tamara, what you want to do. You can come with me and travel the continent and learn amazing things. Or you can stay here and be driven mad by your powers. Your choice."
Tamara stood silently for several long minutes as she pondered the woman's words. She'd had always wanted to travel with her father on his expeditions but was never allowed to go. She was a girl and he only took boys and men with him.
The start of a tiny seed of determination took root in her heart. She was old enough to choose a path and take a chance on what she would find.
"Before I give my answer, please Ma'am, what is your name?"
The woman rose and came to stand before her. She smiled and held out her hand.
"My name is Mistress Belena, and I am an Elemental Mistress of Earth."
Tamara took her hand and shook it. "Please, why did you come to get me?"
"You are gifted, like me. You are, dear child of Earth, destined to do great things."
"Gifted? I have no special gifts," Tamara protested. She frowned, confused by Belena's claim.
Belena patted her on the head and pointed to the ground.
"Ask it to give you grass."
"What?" She stared at Belena. Was the blind woman before her crazy?
"You heard me, Tamara. Make the grass grow."
Tamara shrugged and pointed at the ground. "Grass, grow," she ordered.
Nothing happened. She glanced at Belena. "See? I have no power."
Belena's stance shifted. "Being smart is one thing, but playing dumb will not be tolerated."
She backed up. Belena's eyes were glowing which was especially scary because she was blind.
"I will not ask again, Apprentice. Make the grass grow."
Tamara felt fear for the first time. Just what had she gotten herself into? She wanted to run, but had a feeling she wouldn't get far.
She closed her eyes and thought about that special picture in her mind that always made her feel happy. The smell of the ground, the chirping of insects—all the sights and smells of the outside filled her heart. It rose up and she saw the pulsing green light of life as it danced before her. Stretching out her fingers, she touched the floating ribbons. Power sang beneath her fingertips before shooting downward in a graceful arc into the ground.
She blinked as the sound of clapping reached her ears. She shook herself and blushed. She hadn't done anything.
"Look down."
She obeyed and gasped. Before her was a patch of grass where barren ground had been before. "I did that?" She struggled to understand. She had power?
"Well done. Never say you cannot do anything unless you've tried and failed many times."
Stunned, and a little bewildered, she responded, "Yes, Mistress Belena."
"You are a good child. Come and rest. In the morning, we will say our good-byes."
"Where are we going?"
"To a place where one finds her destiny."
Tamara didn't stop to wonder what her parents would think. Excitement coursed through her. This was it, that something she had been dreaming about for several months now. She wasn't going to let it slip by her.
She grinned and followed after her new teacher. Finding her destiny sounded like a great idea.
***
Eipaikka, North Province
Alea was panting as she took the final turn that led to the South gate. She'd been forced to stop several times because of guards and overly helpful adults. Those were always the worst kinds. They just had to help anything or anyone that looked lost, no matter how much one objected. She didn't need any adults to get in her business.
She slowed to a walk and cautiously scanned the area for a good hiding spot. She only needed to rest a little before continuing on. After a moment, she saw one and unhurriedly made her way to it. She was almost there when she bumped into a man strolling by.
"Sorry," she mumbled and shuffled left, keeping her eyes downcast.
The man growled something rude and continued on. She kept her head down and made it to her chosen spot. She grinned and jiggled the money purse in her hand. Today really was her lucky day. She opened the purse and whistled. There were enough gold pieces to last her three months.
She pocketed them, making sure to wrap a larger piece of cloth around them to keep the coins from making noise. A loud thief was a locked up thief. She tossed the empty money purse into a nearby refuse heap and settled down into the little nook to rest.
She watched the comings and goings of the few who left the city through the South gate. Only one guard stood watch. Well, if you called sleeping while standing upright watching, then the man on duty was doing an excellent job.
She snickered. Adults were so strange. Strolling out of this city would be easy. Alea waited for a while longer before thanking the First Ones for the rather large group who decided to exit at that moment. With ease and a quick scamper, she left her hiding place and inserted herself into the group. They were almost to the gate, when the ground rumbled and bucked beneath their feet.
Alea had only seconds to realize what the sound was. She tried to run, but the press of all the bodies around her kept her trapped. She snarled as geysers of water burst up from the ground in a perfect circle around the group, blocking all avenues of escape.
She growled, angry that she hadn't sensed the trap. She had to get out of this group and water cage, and fast! If she could just manipulate the water....
When a nearby woman began wailing and calling on the First Ones to save her, Alea took the opportunity to work her way through the crowd and closer to one of the columns of water. She held up her hand and closed her eyes.
All sound disappeared except that thundering roar of the water. She could hear its voice. Deep, ancient...playful. The water wanted to have fun. She smiled. Games she could do.
"Time for fun," she whispered. She imagined a hand made up of water, reaching for the column in front of her. The water gave a rumbling laugh before copying her and creating its own hand that reached for her.
"Yes, come," she urged it. She only had a little more to go....
Suddenly, she heard the agitated roar of the other columns as they protested her actions. The column in front of her hissed and expanded its hand. Alea yelped, stumbled back and tried to run. She realized too late as the water crashed over her.
It reformed into a perfect sphere around her. Through the ripples, she could see panicked people running about. She wanted to yell at them that they were not helping, but the water swallowed her sounds.
It didn't occur to her to wonder why she wasn't drowning. She had other things to worry about like the woman she'd tried to rob earlier, walking toward her. Alea really wanted to wipe that smirk off the lady's face.
"Hello, Alea. I know you can hear me. I'm rather impressed by your tenacity, but I'm afraid it's time to rein you in."
She gave the woman her best glower. She was not giving up without a fight.
"Sorry to do this to you, Apprentice. I promise you'll thank me later."
Those cryptic words were the last Alea heard before a shock hit her body. Everything stiffened and her eyes widened before they closed as she passed out.