There she stood on the on the battlements once again. It seemed she always stood there waiting for something. Large plumes of smoke rose like gray hands reaching for heaven in the distance. Huge clouds of dust seemed to rise and fall like waves against the distant sky. Yes, she thought to herself, battle rages once again. Who will come to try and claim me this time. I am weary of this life. Is there no peace for me, no solace in love. Am I but mere fodder to male folly? She has done this many times before. It is almost the same diatribe from her mind. Finally as evening chill settles in she turns to enter the tower door. I cannot tarry here longer. Upon entering the tower a torch's meek light beckons her feet toward the bottom and main halls. *issuing a sigh she opens the tapestry and walks into the long gloomy still hall* Her every footstep seems to echo millenia within the place. Why does she even bother to wonder? Someone would most certainly come to take her hand whether she wanted it or not. What she would not give for her freedom! To ride from those harrowing castle walls and go where she will, but she was not adventuresome in nature nor brave of heart.
A herd of hooves is heard echoing on the stone of the courtyard as a group rides hurriedly into the castle walls, the sound of the moat bridge drawing up creaks and groans its protest. Finally a knight clad in shining silver enters the hall, kneels before her and utters. I bring tidings my Lady
Rise good knight and tell me your words of the battle. It is the same as always. He does as commanded without a notice of her or her beauty. She should be used to it now, but it still stings her heart.
I have come to tell you that the battle on your fathers part is lost. You are adrift dear Lady, and I advise you to seek to your relatives. With that said, he arose and went from the walls one last time. He would not return when there was no Lord to fight for. She stood there a moment a few tears issuing from her eyes and then turned for her mothers chamber. Mother seemed to have some foresight on the issue and was laying upon her large bed seemingly in a daze. Mother she walked over to her and touched her hand, but it was cold. Letting the hand fall where it would, she turned and exited the chamber. She called to the servants to assemble in the courtyard. Then turning to her room and gathering what she could carry, and lastly donning riding apparrell, she exited.
Once into the courtyard, Aeralielle ordered the servants to burn her mothers chamber, gather provisions and make ready to set out. She would not wait to see which won the battle for her fathers land. They shall have no prize here screamed in anger and hatred The servants rushed off and busied themselves one final time. Once readied, she set out riding side saddle on her finest horse with her gown draping eloquently behind her. Aeralielle was going back to her mothers home in the Carpathian mountains. It would be a long bitter trail, but there were no other choices, lest she follow death with her father or marriage to a tyrant, both were unacceptible.
This is the long-awaited 4th book of The Chronicles of Henry Roach-Dairier, a future world without people. Think Planet of the Ants, not Planet of the Apes, for young adults and adults.
Danielle and Nina are rescued from their wicked step-mother by Emma the Yellow Dream Train who takes them on adventures. When Nina learns she has the ability to speak to animals, Emma and the other trains teach her how to use it.
