Chapter 1 part 1
(Chapter wasn't finished)

The sky was a clear blue in the small town of Mountain's Shadow in Civelia. Clouds came and passed, leaving fluffy shadows on the ground. The sun shown as brightly as a summer sun could. Most people chose to stay inside on such a warm day as today, but three younger people were out and about, playing in the woods by a stream. Now, since it's relatively boring to talk about a town where everyone is inside, we shall venture to the stream where the younger children are.
The youngest is a girl, who's name is Olwyn Addison (daughter of Wizard Addison), with bright auburn hair who is twirling happily in the grass. Her flowing dress is a deep red color with a gold belt and gold outlines. Her skin is somewhat fair and she wears a red gem around her neck. Her hazel eyes looks to one of her friends, who is merely sitting on a rock looking at her.
This one is quite a puzzle. This friend looks female but wears male clothing and holds a wooden sword. This friend's outfit is dull colors. Browns, tans, greens, the likes. The sleeves are short and she wears black gloves. This friend has long, golden hair pulled back into a loose ponytail and has questioning blue-green eyes. This is in truth, the dragon slayer's daughter, Kyler Mallory.
The third is a strapping boy, probably about seventeen or so. Three years older than dear Kyler (who is two years older than Olwyn). His hair is dark flecked with lighter blonde and rather curly. His eyes are a normal brown. He seems to be watched the two girls as if making sure they'll be all right. He wears what you would expect of the lord's son. Nicer clothing than Kyler but still the same color tones. His name is Athelstan Rowan.
All three live in the castle that protects Mountain's Shadow. You see, Mountain's Shadow is close to Farus, the sworn enemy of Civelia. There are not many children within the adolescent years there, so the three are normally found together if Kyler and Athelstan are not being trained to fight.
You might be wondering why Kyler is learning to fight, even though she is a girl. The lord gave Mallory permission to train his daughter because Mallory had no other children after his wife was taken in the plague. And dragon slaying is a family business and must be passed on. So, Kyler is trained by her father as well as the knights. And if anyone has a problem, they have to deal with both Mallory and Rowan. And that, my friends, can be rather frightful.
Now, back to the childish games of youth. Athelstan now seems to contain some look of longing, as if wanting to say something. Olwyn is not old enough to pick up on it, but Kyler is mature beyond her years and notices.
"Dear Athelstan, what pains you?" She inquires.
Athelstan is surprised by the sudden question and shifts a bit, thinking.
"Spit it out or I shall make you," Kyler orders darkly.
"Civelia and Farus," he started. That caught dear young Olwyn's attention. Anything dealing with Farus would catch even a baby's attention in Civelia. "There is growing animosity yet again. I might be forced to leave to fight for the king." Olwyn's young face shows shock while Kyler merely nods.
"I understand," she says. "Let us enjoy what time we have left together then."
"Yes, let us go for a swim in the magical pond!" Olwyn suggests brightly. "We have not done that in a while!"
"Silly, that pond is not magical," Kyler tells the younger girl. "That is merely your imagination." The younger girl pouts.
"I am Wizard Addison's daughter!" She exclaims. "I should know!" Kyler sighs and looks at Athelstan. Some things had changed since they had swam in the pond the child spoke of. The girl, of course, was too young to realize this. Or was merely too innocent.
"Olwyn, Athelstan cannot swim with us," she tells her.
"Why not? Because he's a boy?" Olwyn asks.
"Yes, it would not be proper," Athelstan informs her. The girl crossed her arms, scoffing.
"Proper, smoper," she says. "Kyler is a girl who is being trained to be a man and your family accepts it. My father was never properly trained and look at him now. Then there are all the tricks we pull. When have we ever done anything properly?!?!"
"How about we go get some old clothes and swim in those?" Kyler suggests. Hopefully, Wizard Addison would be helpful when they got back.
"Fine," Olwyn mutters. Kyler looked at Athelstan, who seemed to have gotten a few shades of red darker during the conversation.
Kyler is quite blind to signs of romance but the rest of the castle was not. For a while now, people had notice the affection Athelstand felt towards the young warrior girl. Some found it to be absolutely adorable. Others found it disgusting. Of course, those others were either jealous girls or people who thought that Kyler was an abomination all together. But there was no doubt about the young man's feelings. He spent a lot of time around her, blushed whenever an embrassing subject came up or he was teased about it. He was completely smitten with the girl.
The group had gotten to the castle by now. The walk up the hill seemed to have worn out young Olwyn. It might have also been the running around the older two and pointing out everything. Olwyn was a rather hyper girl, after all.
The gate opens for them and a guard walks up to Athelstan.
"My prince, your father wishes to speak to you," the man informs Athelstan. Athelstan nods.
"All right, I'll be there soon," he says. The guard nods and leaves. Athelstan glances over at Kyler, who was holding Olwyn on her back.
"It's fine," Kyler tells him. "I must take this girl back to her father anyway." Athelstan nods and walks off, leaving the two.

The door creaks open as Athelstan steps into the dimly lighted castle room. His steps echo off the stone walls as he continues into the room. By the slender window stands a regal looking man. He wears a cape-like cloak of a deep red. His vest is a dark forest green while the shirt under it is a blue. His tights are black and boots are brown. His face is taunt with some small wrinkles. A full, black beard that is well trimmed hides some of his skin. His black hair is wavy and has white stripes in it. He turns and looks at his son with the same brown eyes.
Athelstan kneels.
"What is it that you wished to speak of, Father?" He asks as his father motions for him to rise.
"Our neighbors over the mountain, the Farusan clan of Ainslie, request a possible treaty," Lord Rowan tells him. "We shall welcome our guests with a banquet in five days. Do you have any objections to this?"
Athelstan bites his lip, thinking. A treaty with Farusans? He supposed it wasn't that bad of an idea. But still...They were mortal enemies. Was this wise? Would the Farusans go against the treaty? Athelstan takes a breath.
"I do not," he tells his father. "This might change things between our lands." His father looks pleased and releaved with this. He nods.
"Good then," he says. "The feast will be prepared. Inform your friends of this. They will be expected to attend, being the daughters of the wizard and dragon slayer." Athelstan nods, bows, then leaves.

Kyler looks around at all the potions in Wizard Addison's room whilst the man puts his child to bed. Wizard Addison's wife had died the same way as her mother. The Plague. While many wizards had said that The Plague had not been magically enduced but some blamed hethen wizards of the Farusans. Wizard Addison disagreed with both. He said that it was magically enduced, but definately not from the lands of Farus. Lord Rowan and her father had stuck by Wizard Addison.
Kyler picks up a vile, looking aty the green liquid. A face appears in it and she quickly places it down, startled a bit. A soft bop on her head comes from Wizard Addison.
"Curiousity killed the cat," he informs her.
"And satisfaction brought it back," Kyler retorts. Wizard Addison chuckles and pats the girl's head. He wears typical wizard robes of a dark, nearly black, blue robe. It's rather plain, as if he were a man of God. His silvery hair is taunt and pulled back, making him look regal. His green eyes always hold a glint of mischief, and there is always a playful smirk upon his face. Once, Kyler inquired as to why his hair had silvered so early. He blamed the magic he did when he was younger. Kyler asked no further questions.
"So, Kyler, my dear friend's daughter," Addison says in his tenor voice, "how is the lord's son?"
"He does well," Kyler tells him. "He turned rather red today due to your daughter's suggestion?" A black eyebrow on the wizard's tan face raises.
"Oh? What would that suggestion be?" He asks.
"She suggested we go swimming," Kyler informs him. This causes Wizard Addison to laugh full-heartedly and slap his knee.
"That child," he says, shaking his head. He looks at Kyler, an amused and mischievious smirk on his face. "Do you know why, young Kyler?"
"Why what?"
"Why he blushed, you blind child."
"Oh. Well, no. And I am not blind!"
"That is not what I meant." The door creaked open to reveal a rather imposing figure. His blue eyes were stern. His facial features were sharp and strong. His skin was taunt and tan but showed the age and the scars. He wore no shirt, showing his fit body and evne more tan skin and scars. His pants were loose and tan with a brown belt holding them up. The belt matched his boots. His dark brown hair was wavy and somewhat long, pulled into a ponytail.
"Lord, man! Put a shirt on!" Addison says, chuckling. "There are women in the castle!"
"I do not care," the man says, walking up to Kyler. He glares at the girl, who merely wishes to disappear. "You skipped class today, Kyler."
"Sorry, father," Kyler apologizes, taking a breath. Mallory watches his daughter calmly.
"Even though you will not say it, it was not your idea," he reads her. "It was the lord's son." Kyler attempts to keep her face blank but she cannot help that her eyebrows move slightly. Mallory lets out a thoughtful sigh. "I do not wish for you to spend time with that boy anymore."
"But why, father?!" Kyler asks, fully surprised by this.
"He should marry a lord's daughter and not feel any regret about it," Mallory tells her. "And you. You should marry a fellow dragon slayer."
"What? Athelstan is my friend," Kyler says. Mallory opens his mouth to explain but Addison puts a hand on his shoulder and mutters something to him. Mallory nods and looks back at his daughter. He breaks out into a small smile.
"You are just like me, child," he says, placing a kiss on her head. "Believe me, this is for the better."
"I trust you, Father," Kyler says as her father steps back.
"Now come, we have patrol to go on," Mallory informs her.
"Yes, Father," Kyler says, following the man out the door. The two walk down the circular stairs until a boy ran into the rock of Kyler's father's body. The boy falls back, revealing it to be Athelstan. He seems a little flabbergasted by seeing Kyler's father.
"Er, um, Sir Mallory! Good day!" He says, rubbing his head a little. "Are you aware of the Farusan's coming?"
"Yes, your father talked it over with the Wizard and I," Mallory tells him. Athelstan nods.
"It's in five days," he says. "Father told me to tell Ky-Lady Kyler and Lady Olwyn."
"Of course," Mallory says. "They are the Wizard's daughter and the Dragon Slayer's daughter. Do not worry. Addison is aware." Athelstan quickly nods then turns and runs down the stairs. Kyler had been frowning the entire time, not pleased with the notion of hosting Farusans. Mallory looks at his daughter and sighs.
"Kyler, attempt to be civil," he orders her as he continues down the stairs. Kyler follows him after a moment.

Screaming comes from the Wizard's tower. Young Olwyn had awoken from her nap to the news. She was not pleased.
"Temper, dear Olly," Addison says as he tries to keep things from breaking. The worst thing in the world is an upset Magik.
"I DUN WANNA HOST THEM, PAPA!" The girl screams. "THEY'RE EVIL AND MEAN!"
"Now how would you know?" Addison inquires. "You've never met one!"
"I HEAR THINGS, PAPA!" The girl screams.
"Well, I will soon not be able to hear a thing," Addison mutters as a glass vile shatters. "Olly, don't make me do it." The girl looks at him, eyes wide. She slams her mouth shut and turns to the pillow, containing her screams of displeasure to the poor fabric. Addison sighs, placing a hand on his face wearily. He closes the door to his daughter's room. "I am not that old, but this child makes me feel old."

Mallory and his daughter mount their horses. This was part of Kyler's training. Learning how to track dragons and notice if a dragon is in the area. The best thing for a dragon slayer to do is get the dragon before it harms someone.
Dragons are born from Hell. They are the Devil's children and must be dealt with before they cause harm to God's children. They are not God's creatures, so one should not feel remorse for slaying one when it seemingly has done nothing. That was the mentality of Civelia.
The two had come to a hill that overlooked the village.
"Do you see anything, Kyler?" Mallory inquires, not looking at his daughter. Kyler examines the lands with cautious eyes.
"I see no signs of dragons," Kyler informs him.
"Neither do I," Mallory agrees, urging his horse on. Kyler follows, not speaking. Then, she takes a breath.
"Father, there has not been a dragon here for nearly ten years," she says. "I think the dragons know not to come here because of you."
"You can never be sure, Kyler," Mallory says as they come to the town. "Look at these people. They rely on us to protect them from the evil. They do not need fancy words at this time. What they need is real protection. Priests can send out dark spirits but they cannot destroy them. That is what dragon slayers and demon slayers are for."
"Are there really things as demons?" Kyler inquires.
"Why would you ask such a silly question?" Mallory's reply was.
"I'm a practical person," Kyler says. "I need physical proof for such matters." Mallory clenches his jaw.
"I had no intention of telling you this story," he says to her. "But it seems that I must." Mallory stops his horse by a calm river. Kyler also stops, curious as to what he was doing. Mallory dismounts, tying his horse to a branch and sitting down. Kyler follows in suit.
"Long ago, when I was the prince's age," Mallory began, "I went off on my own to slay a dragon. To prove to my father I was capable. I had traveled a day and it was now night. I stopped by a stream to rest when I heard a female's laughter echoing in the forest. It was, inhuman and caused a shiver to go up and down my spine. I rose and glanced around, my hand on the hilt of my sword. The laughter continued. I turned my back to the river, looking into the darkness of the forest. I then heard some small rippling in the water. I turned to see an astoundingly beautiful woman in the water. She had long, black hair and her skin was amazingly fair, nearly inhuman. The only thing truly frightful about the woman was her red eyes and dangerous look on her face.
'Why do you come to my river, young slayer?' She asked me. I was young and quite shocked at the beauty of the creature. She laughed at my silent response and swam closer to shore. 'Come, join me.' I took a step back, wary of the situation. I then saw her reflection. Do not forget that reflections show a person's true character to a slayer's eye. I saw a monster, a demon in the reflection. I pulled out my sword and quickly slew the demon so she could not harm anyone else. As soon as she was dead, I saw the river turn red with the blood of the men she had lured to their death."
Kyler gulps, eyes wide. She then calms herself, clearing her throat.
"It could have been a witch," she says.
"And witches and warlocks deteriorate into demons," Mallory says as he unties his horse. "There are many types of evil which you must look out for, Kyler. Be aware of that." He mounts his horse and begins to ride away. Kyler quickly unties her horse and mounts.
"Yes, Father," she says, following him. After a while of silence, she speaks again.
"Father, people say the Farusans are demons," she says.
"Those people are foolish," he replies. "Farusans are humans. They are exactly the same as us; they just think differently." Kyler nods but does not say anything. The two continue on their way, noting anything that was worth noting in watching out for dragons.
"Father, am I going to have to wear a dress?" Kyler asks after a bit, a disgusted look on her face. Mallory looks at her then chuckles, shaking his head.
"Of course you are," he says. "I'll make sure the ladies of the castle turn you into a lady." Kyler groans as her father laughs, having his horse gallop.