Fuocarde, East Province
Melena sat atop her gelding, Firebreath, and studied the bustling inhabitants of Fuocarde. The town boasted around six thousand proud people, renowned for their smithies and steel. It was one of Melena's favorite places to visit.
"Let's go, boy." She gently kneed Firebreath, who obediently broke into a trot.
As the pair neared the town's gate, Melena noticed that four guards stood at the entrance. She frowned, but allowed herself to be stopped by the oldest of the four guards. The man blocked her path and Firebreath whinnied his annoyance at the obstacle in his path.
She patted his neck and made soothing sounds. "Hie and good eve to you," she greeted, making sure to keep all the guards in view.
"If only I could agree. Traveler, we must ask you to dismount so that we may search you," the man stated gruffly.
Melena raised an eyebrow. Search her? She debated on what to do. If she refused, it would only cause problems. Irritated with the delay, she unhappily decided to cooperate. She dismounted and the tension from the guards eased.
If she was going to be searched, she wanted names to remember for later. "What is your name, Guardsman?"
"Captain Lazzaro, Ma'am. And you?" He moved closer but did not touch her.
"Elemental Fire Seeker, Melena. And, please, if you could do this search quickly, I have things I need to do in the town."
Captain Lazzaro backed up, his eyes wide with fear. "Seeker?" he stammered.
The other guardsmen went for their weapons as they tightly gripped the hilts, their now unfriendly gazes on Melena.
Melena was baffled by their reaction.
"Yes, Seeker. I come on official business from the Negrazul House. I am seeking a new Fire Elemental," she explained, keeping her voice calm. There should be no fear. Joy, surprise, and even celebrating, but not fear.
"We're sorry, Milady, for our rude welcome. Please, proceed to the town center and register your visit with the Scribe on duty," Captain Lazzaro instructed.
"Thank you." Melena swung up in the saddle and clucked for Firebreath to get moving. She resisted the urge to look back. She could feel the stares of the guardsmen. She was going to have to tread carefully here. Something was not right, and any information would help Master Zuc and Mistress Jelena solve the puzzle of Fuocarde.
***
It was a lovely day outside, but eleven-year-old Marisa didn't notice. She stood by her father, Ortiguez, and avidly watched as he worked the forge. Today's project was a short sword for the town's Duke. The work on it was almost complete and Marisa couldn't wait to touch the blade.
She sat on a stool, her legs slowly swinging back and forth. The loud clang of the hammer hitting the sword rang in the air.
"Father, when you're finished, may I deliver it?"
Her father stopped mid-blow and glanced over at her. She gave him her best pleading look.
He laughed and resumed hammering, speaking to her between blows. "I cannot win when you use that face. You may go, my daughter, and deliver it when it is time. It will take one more day to finish work on this sword. What I do need is for you to go to the Master Tailor's shop and collect the scabbard." Her father put down his hammer, placed the hot blade in water to cool, and reached into the money pouch on the shelf.
Marisa slid from the stool and held out her hand. He dropped one gold and three silvers into her palm.
"There will be a few coppers given back as change. Buy yourself something sweet."
"Thank you, Father!" she gave him a quick hug and raced from the smithy.
She didn't slow down until she neared the center of town. Thankfully, their home wasn't too far outside the main sections of Fuocarde. She waved at some of her friends who were outside playing a game of chase.
She dropped to a walk and shaded her eyes against the bright sunlight. She hummed as she took a shortcut to the tailor shop.
Sitting on the steps was the tailor's son, Tino. Marisa waved and came to a stop near him.
"Hie and good day, Tino. Is your father home?"
"Yes, he's in the store room getting some fabrics. Did you come for the Duke's scabbard?"
"Yep. How does it look?" she asked eagerly.
"It's amazing. Father says he outdid himself," he boasted.
She smiled. Though she wanted to be a blacksmith like her father, she also wanted to learn how to work leather.
"Ah, Marisa, you're here."
She turned and nodded, her eyes on Master Tailor Aldo Brando. "Hie and good day, sir. Father said the scabbard was ready."
He chuckled. "I can see your eagerness. Come in and see." He stepped aside and gestured for her to enter.
Marisa and Tino hurried inside. She stared at the rows of fabric and the shelves filled with leather. One day she would be skilled at working metal and leather.
Master Brando led them into his workshop and Marisa made a beeline to his finished goods table.
There were only three items on it, but she had eyes only for the ornate scabbard lying in the center. The tiny jewel shards were stitched into the leather and formed the Duke's emblem. Alternating rows of rubies and sapphires, the Duke's favorite gems, ran the length of the scabbard on both sides.
"I don't know if you can ever make a better one," she remarked and turned to Master Brando.
He smiled. "This is my best work, but there is one piece that I consider to be my greatest work." He stopped speaking and gazed off into the distance, lost in thought.
Marisa and Tino stared at him. Master Brando shook himself and went to the table across the room. He returned with a plain sack and twine in one hand. He picked up the scabbard, placed it inside, and sealed it with twine.
"Be careful with this, Marisa. Go straight home. No detours," Master Brando admonished her.
"I will, I promise."
"Good. One last thing. Follow me." He took them back out to the main room and to the counter where he collected the payment. He handed Marisa three coppers and she clutched them to her chest.
"Good day to you, Master Brando. See you later, Tino." She waved and all but ran outside in her excitement.
First, she would take the scabbard home and then come back and visit Master Baker Gera's shop. The thought of Gera's fresh baked kocolate cookies made Marisa's mouth water. She was jolted out of her fantasy of eating cookies by a hand clamping down on her shoulder. She yelped and tried to turn around to see who held her.
"Easy, Child. No sudden moves."
Marisa froze. It was a woman's voice, and one she didn't recognize. "Let me go!" she demanded and twisted in the stranger's grip.
"Why is it that children never do as they're told?" The woman complained. "This should calm you."
Marisa didn't have time to react as heat flowed from the woman's hand and into her. She whimpered and almost lost her hold on the scabbard. She felt sleepy and as she grew warmer, her eyes slowly began to close. She fought to stay awake but the soothing warmth was too much and she fell asleep.
***
Mangevind, North Province
"Tommy, you give that back right now!" Jazmine hollered at her younger brother, as he ran toward the nearest tree.
"You can't catch me!" he taunted and started climbing the nearest tree.
"Oh! You are going to get it when I catch you!" she shrieked and shook her fist at him.
Tommy laughed and held up his stolen prize—Jazmine's garnet ring.
"I'm telling Ma!" Jazmine threatened.
He giggled and tossed the ring up into the air.
Jazmine let out a shriek of anger and ran toward the tree. A foot away from the tree, her brother caught the ring and held it up.
"See, I still got it," he goaded.
She was furious. She wasn't a good climber and wished she could knock her brother out of the tree. A breeze blew by and she shivered. It wasn't in fear, but rather excitement. Something was about to happen, she could feel it. The bushes underneath the tree rustled and Jazmine backed up a step.
Tommy glanced down and the world exploded into chaos.
***
Celena wasn't happy. She and Yelena had arrived in Mangevind two days ago and still hadn't retrieved the new Air trainee. She didn't understand why Yelena waited. Were they not on a strict schedule? Shouldn't they be on their way back to the Negrazul Mountains? Or as close to it as they could get before winter set in.
As if summoned by Celena's thoughts, Mistress Yelena entered the modest room they were staying in. Celena jumped to her feet and bowed before raising her head to look at her teacher.
Yelena stopped and studied her. Celena saw her expression and felt unease. Why was her mentor amused?
"Mistress?"
"Celena, when one is a Seeker, there must be no hesitation, no doubts. Our element guides us and protects our lives. The greatest of its tasks, is to maintain balance."
"Yes, Mistress," Celena automatically replied. She'd heard this same boring speech before.
"If one is not balanced, no matter the element, the Seeker will fail. And, one must be aware of the presence of the other elements within one's body."
"I understand, Mistress," Celena sullenly responded. She was not a child anymore. She wished that Yelena would stop treating her like one.
"It is time to leave. The new trainee lives near the outskirts of the town. I've already spoken to the parents and they said they would have her ready when we arrive."
Yelena spun on her heel and headed for the door. Celena hurried to follow, fuming at her teacher's abrupt actions. It took them nearly three hours to make it to the home where the girl lived and Celena was tired and grouchy. Her feet hurt too, but she didn't dare complain. It would earn her another lecture and she was not in the mood for one.
They were halfway up the road to the house when Yelena suddenly stopped and her eyes narrowed. Celena groaned. She recognized that look. Someone was using an element improperly and was going to get a good tongue-lashing over it. She hurried after Yelena who had switched directions and was headed for the area behind the modest-sized log house.
A scream ripped through the air and Celena staggered back as Yelena's Kasam, Luft, appeared. Luft swirled in front of Yelena who had stopped and was staring off into the distance. Celena knew that meant her teacher had joined with the wind.
"Your orders?" the Kasam asked, its voice thin and reedy, a sharp contrast to its destructive form.
"Dissipate the other Air Kasam and bring all involved to me."
"Yes, Mistress," Luft hissed. He shot up into the sky and flew toward the trees.
"Mistress, is that wise?" Celena dared to ask.
Yelena turned and pinned Celena with a glare that froze her in place.
"Apprentices should observe and learn. The mantras of our Order are not just for repetition. If you do not do your duty, then you are useless as a Seeker."
Chastised, Celena dropped her head and wished that her teacher would unleash some of her irritation on the rule-breaker. She hoped that Luft didn't take too long.