The city was deep in winter’s sleep.  The folk were tucked away in their homes awaiting the coming dawn.  Cleaning the fog and frost off one of the window paines, a small girl child stared out at the crystalline world.  Her little flower petal hands clutched the sill, her blue diamond eyes looking down the cobblestone street.  A smile formed on her little bud mouth.  A duo of riders had emerged from the fog.  “Father and Melorn, they’ve returned!”  She exclaimed quietly hoping the maid was not going to scold her for still being up.  Slipping down the stairs into the main section of the house she, Solest, made her way to the parlor.  She ducked behind a cabinet in the hall just as the man servent left, an empty tray tucked under his arm.  Solest crept to the archway of the parlor, hidden by an indoor plant.  The warm ivory plaster of the walls and the deep burgundy upulstory were inviting.  Especially after being away from home for a few weeks.  Standing infront of the tan marble fireplace, steaming mug in hand was Alec, Solest’s father.  His brown hair was matted from being forced under a felt cap that laid in a chair along with his outer garments.  The other man, Melorn ran his aching fingers threw his salt and peppered-colored beard sighing, “Well, we’ve returned from another encounter.”
“Indeed Melorn, indeed we have.  But there is still soo much work that needs to be done.  They want us to start teaching her.  Solest may be only six but she is quite intelligent for her age not to mention courious.”  Alec replied easing an ache in his back with his fist.
“Indeed so.  How many times have we caught her listening in on us?”  Melorn said with a chuckle.  Solest smiled this was rare praise for her.  Enboldened she crept closer to hear more.
“We have to be careful the Inaro are feirsely.. Solest what are you doing up!”  Alec, her father, bellowed as he strided over to his wayward child.
“I… I was waiting up for you to get home.  Who are the Inaro and what and who do they want you to start teaching?”  Solest asked.
“Enough! Up to bed with you now.”  Alec said sternly.
“But I want to know!”  She whined.
“When you are older I will tell you.”  Alec replied sheparing her up into her room inspite of her protests.
“How much did she hear Alec.”  Melorn asked when his friend returned to the parlor.
“Enough to tease her for awhile, we have to be more careful from now on.  She must not find out.”  Alec replied closing her eyes.  A few years later after Solest’s tenth birthday Alec disided it was time to take her to the town of Halon on the banks of the Deman River.  She was estatic to say the least to be going to Melorn’s home village.  Melorn spent the warmer months cataloging a set of ruins on the north side of the river.  The fields that the ancient residents farmed were still being farmed to day by the current inhabidance.  Eager to learn anything, Solest absorbed the information metted out by Melorn, who enjoyed having Solest dog his steps.
“Now my dear  girl why don’t you go run along and play with some of the local children.  You need to be a child still.”  Melorn said with a small laugh looking out at the bright day.  So, with Alec’s promision, Melorn took Solest down to the center of the town while her father and he attended to some urgent business.  Sitting on the curb Solest watched five children kick, chase, and throw an old leather ball.  Their quintet of black hair and green eyes marked them as being siblings or at least close cousins.  When it rolled over to Solest’s feet she picked it up and watched the children form a staggered half circle around her.
Solest smiled holding up the ball and asked, “Mind if I join?”  Grinning the oldest of the three girls motioned for her to throw the ball to her.  The hours whizzed by as they played, enjoying a child’s endulgence.  Breathlessly the oldest girl introduced herself as Cearo and her sisters as Elletta and Lucine, the youngest.  Cearo’s brothers were Desmond, the oldest of the siblings, and Vartan, who’s glinty eyes would spell trouble for his family in a few years.  When asked if she had any siblings Solest replied that she did not that it was just she, her father and Melorn.  The next day she and her new friends played on the river bank.  She laughed with Cearo as Elletta splashed Vartan, who retaliated with gusto.  Desmond stood a bit off from his more rambuncous siblings, skipping stones while his green eyes took everything in.  He had just turned twelve and was taking on more grownup responcibilities.  He was proud when Melorn asked him to keep an eye on Solest.  His family had been in business with Melorn for years and they needed the money more than ever.  The damnable Inarion tribes were raiding the outer farms again.  After saying goodbye Solest strolled down the path to Melorn’s two-story manor, she and her father were staying in.  Slipping in threw the back door after checking on her bit of a herb patch that was her’s Solest aproched the stairs leading up to her room.  “No we will not turn her over to you.  Not yet anyways.  The contract was for twelve years and that is how long we shall keep her.”  Alec said with barely restrained anger.