Chapter 1

Quietly, she made her way to the forest. The sun disappeared behind the mountains, hiding her among the shadows. Lilly stepped lightly to keep hidden. Childhood memories fade with each step. Ducking under the low-hanging branches of the memory tree, she comes to a small clearing surrounded by fruit trees. Lilly searches the clearing, relieved when she finally sees him feeding two horses tethered under the peach tree.

"You know if you keep feeding them peaches, we won't get anywhere," Lilly teases as she grabs her twin for a hug.

" They have to eat too! Besides, Emberly is over a week's ride from here," Stephen says as she gives him a tight squeeze.

She shifts nervously looking down at her mud-covered boots. Her long amber hair falls, shielding her face in the moonlight. "I'm not ready. I mean why us? Our magic is nothing special..."

Stephen gently tucks his finger under her chin and lifts her face up. "Look, Sis. We must keep safe. The hidden city is the only way to protect us from the council. If we are initiated, there is no freedom. Our magic will be at their disposal." He reaches into the pocket of his burgundy cloak to reveal a tiger's eye pendant set in silver.

"I thought it was lost ..." Lilly whispered as she tearfully turned over the pendant to read the inscription on the back.

~Light will only shine the brightest in the shadows. The shadows are only hidden without light. Love deeply, wholly, and unconditionally~

She never told me what this meant... O-only that one day, I would understand."

"I promised Ma, that it would find its way back to you... " Stephen explains as he boosts her onto her horse. "The last night I saw her, she insisted that you will need it ...."

He quickly picks up extra fruit and shoves it into his bag. Settling onto his horse, he motions that it is time to leave. Led by the light of the full moon, Stephen and Lilly start their journey to Emberly, The Hidden City. The night ride is quiet, almost enjoyable. Lilly cannot help getting lost in her thoughts. Thoughts of their town, the library, the night Ma disappeared. 10 long years without her to guide and love them. Lilly and Stephen never faltered; they know they would see her again. 

 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Your first glance at Silvahora will be of little consequence. Nestled between two nearly impassable, towering mountains the city sits quiet and unassuming. The main square is nothing more than a small plain fountain, surrounded by several modest two-story shops. The shops are often bustling with business while the families live above. Its central and fortified location is a blessing and a curse, only farming and trade help this isolated city survive. From the South, those of the warmer climates travel the seas to the well-traveled path from the Clearlyland docks. From the North, the ice dwellers skillfully make their way along the treacherous mountain pass. The miners travel via a winding maze of tunnel systems in the Eastern Mountain of Tor. The West mountain drops into an intense unclimbable cliff side before dropping into the valley. Fittingly, few travel this way, from the wastelands that surround the academy.

Travelers pass through the city, unaware of the little secrets it keeps hidden in plain sight. But, if you look closely, between the bakery and butcher shop there is a small worn dirt path. The path meanders around the thick forest along the edge of town. It curves down deep into the valley passing several dozen families farms and grazing animals. It abruptly ends at the base of an ancient oak tree. Here the Tree of Memories stands tall with multicolored ribbons tied to every branch, a sacred place for Silvahora.

The untrained eye would expect the memories tied with ribbons to be most important. They marvel at the way the ribbons shimmer in the light, shifting colors as the breeze rustles the ribbons and leaves into a dance with the elements. It moves them into a small trance, where the tree seems to sing to them. Hours will pass before a wayward sound snaps them back to the present. Confused, the onlooker returns to town. They leave unaware that the Memory Tree houses the entirety of Silvahora's magical knowledge and is only accessible by those of the original Silvahorian bloodlines. That each ribbon is alternating between the colors of the six bloodlines.

Inside you are likely to find the Librarian Sivak, a tiny, gruff man with wise gray eyes, and flecks of silver dancing in his charcoal beard. His hair stubbornly held onto the remaining bits of black in a single stripe down the middle of his short hair.

"Miss Lilly, does your Mother know you're here?" Sivak asks while rolling up his current project and placing it on the teetering pile of scrolls on the desk.

"Yes, she does!" exclaims a young girl with bouncing amber curls and forest green eyes. " See! She even sent me with some meat pies and lemonades!"

Lilly struggles to place an oversized basket of food on the only empty table.

"Ma said its time. That I had to stay until Stephen or my Da come for me." Lilly tells him as she sets the food out. "That I needn't know grown-up things 'n you know why. But I know it's cause the Council will be here today."

"I always told them you were smarter than the other kids. Come little one, let's eat this while it's hot." Sivak smirks as he hands her a fork.

With full bellies, the pair retreat to the large cloud-like armchairs in front of the brick fireplace. The smell of the burning fire and musty old scrolls almost lull Lilly to sleep. Always wanting answers she sleepily asked, "Why don't..... my Ma want me around when the Council comes?"

Sivak looked up from his scroll, peering at her over his glasses. "What do you think you know about the council?"

Lilly gently sits up and tucks her knees under her chin. Gazing thoughtfully into the crackling fire, she takes a moment before replying.

"Well -um, they come every five years to round up all the kids. They are taken to the town square and tested to see how strong their magic is. "

Sivak nods as he rolls up the scroll. " That's right. The older and more powerful ones are taken to Escurades City. Once there, they are put through extremely rigorous training at the academy to serve the council." He looks up expectantly at the chair next to Lilly, " Enough of this. Your brother will be here shortly."

Suddenly, a young fiery-looking child in a burgundy cloak huffs in exasperation as he flops into the armchair next to Lilly. Asking for a drink, he sits for a moment trying to catch his breath. The lemonade is gone in one gulp. He wipes his mouth on the sleeve of his tunic.

"Ma said we are to stay here until Da comes back from Emberly." Stephen turns to Sivak, "She.. she said to tell you it happened." He stammers as tears begin to well up.

"Yes, mm, there, there," Sivak says patting him on the head "Are you hungry Stephen? Your mother sent meat pies earlier." Sivak says absentmindedly as he fills a plate for the child. " While you eat I'll find us some reading materials for the evening,"

He mumbles as he heads to the towering shelves. I knew it was only a matter of time. Damn it, Marelda.

Carefully he pulls the lore of the Dragon, Fae, and other magical beings. The children know of these magical beings. But with Marelda gone, they would need to greatly accelerate their training if they are to survive the coming troubles. Sivak walked into the room to find the twins cuddled under the blanket, staring quietly into the fireplace as they fought sleep. He takes a moment to carefully conceal his concern. "Children! Are you ready for the lore of Dragons, Fae, and other Magical beings?"

Lily and Stephen sit up in wide-eyed excitement. "Have you ever heard of the grey travelers?" Sivak asks as he unrolls the first scroll. In unison, the twins shake their heads no. "Well, before we get to the travelers, we must start here with the dragons."