Miaoyin

[Miaoyin]

The rain beat a heavy rhythm into the gold bricked streets of Slivermoon as a small form ran from awning to awning trying to stay warm and dry. The vendor more concerned with packing away his perishables did not notice tiny hands wrap around a ripe golden apple and the little shadow moved again this time to flee from the city in fear and rabid hunger.

Small drops of rain fluttered down along with the golden and red leaves high above her as her only hope for shelter offered little but a hard roots and dirt for a pillow. The little scarlet haired child bit greedily into the soft fruit, her sharp eyes darted back and forth in the cold dim of the fading lights from the city. Tears mixed with the rain when she remembered not so long ago a time where theft and hunger were not a daily reminder of the harsh life that no child should have to suffer through. The city was still rebuilding itself in the aftermath of the explosion of the Sun Well and they had little time nor ability to look after all the orphans that the war had left in its wake.

The sun shone down on her small black hooded cape when a nearby Dragonhawk fluttered silently on the breeze looking for an early morning snack. The cape was engulfed in flames of the beast in seconds moved it in for the kill and began to nuzzle at it's would be breakfast as branches above creaked with the movement of wind and light steps. Noiseless death fell upon the creature, the blades point jutted out the bottom of it's beak and the weight of the girl upon its neck and back. Thrashing and flailing it tossed the girl high and slowly began to accept it's fate as flames licked out from it's sealed mouth, causing the blade to glow red with the Dragonhawks final dying determination.

Soft thudding foot pads slowly approached the site of the kill as city guards on Hawkstriders moved in to respond to the commotion, only to find a little scarlet haired girl shaking off the ashes of the fire and dawning her cape.

“You there” Barked a guard, “ What are you doing here?” pointing a truncheon at the girl, she began to back away from the armed guardsmen. Panic crawled up her spine at the sight of the guards, their armour and their weapons, she dove for the knife embedded in the creature's skull. White hot pain ran up her arm as smoke and sizzle erupted from between her fingers, the knife still glowed red with the remaining flames from the Dragonhawk's attempts at defending itself. The child screeched as she drew the blade and began to slash wildly at the guards since the destruction of her right hand had caused what little semblance of reason to leave her already fear struck and panicked mind.

A fearful child and a newly broken Hawkstrider was all it took to end the life of one of the guards, his mount reared up and toppled him to the ground crushing his neck in the process. A sword hilt crashed into her skull causing a black world to open up and swallow her down, as the last wheezes of the guard were heard and his friends ran to his aid. She awoke to cold concrete, chains and iron bars while tears flowed down her cheeks hitting the ground with the same heavy rhythm from the rains the previous night.

The trial was quick and merciless. For the people had to be shown that order and justice would still prevail regardless of the turmoil of the cities' near destruction. The magistrates gavel rapped once twice, then once more as the words were spoken that would seal her fate. “ On the charge of murder we find this small one guilty; she has not given us a name nor has she spoken in her defence once since these proceedings began late yesterday.” Speeches were given and the law was offered its sacrificial lamb as the little stone faced girl stared at the magistrate with hard, cold eyes. “ She will be sentenced to life imprisonment deep under the city, and while it pains me to do this to one so young, we must remember that the order of the city must be maintained no matter the cost and that we will triumph over our enemies be they foreign... or of our own kind” The gavel fell another three times as the little stone faced girl was led away from the court just as the rotten fruit, and the choirs of boos fell upon her.

The guards tossed her down a winding stairwell, since it was one of their own who this young monster had claimed, as shackled hands reached out to grab at her when she fell past their cells. Prisoners called out to her with threats and promised of nightly visits paid for by the guard's fat purses since they themselves could not be seen staining their own hands with the blood of this lowly murderer. A hand pulling her up by the hair and a slap was all that greeted her at the bottom of the long stairwell when the jailor hauled her up off the floor and clamped cold hard steel around her slender ankles and wrists. He laughed as he tossed her into the cell, no bed, no sheets only cold and stone surrounded her as the door slammed shut behind her. The jailor whispered promises of pain and humiliation as he shut the tiny window and the last sliver of light faded from her world, all that was left... was cold... and silence.

There were no tears since she had none left, and there was no pleas for mercy for she knew none would come there was only a soft and earnest prayer. Remembering the tales told to her from her mother's knee she recalled the tale of a god, a dark and terrible goddess who had existed once long, long ago. They built her temples, waged wars and conquered whole civilizations in her name and still one day she destroyed them all then as the last warrior lay dying he asked her “Why?... we gave you everything why did you destroy us?” She looked down upon him with her radiance and whispered “ Because I can” The girl offered her everything if only to see the sun again. There came nothing but the silence.

Days into weeks, into months the little stone faced girl prayed to this creature only half remembered from a tale on the knee of a woman who's face was now only mist and a blur of darkness. Scraps of bread were tossed into the cell from the little window as the little hard eyed girl offered her soul, her mind and her body to the dark for salvation. Till one day.

Footsteps light as feathers sounded from the back of the cell. The girl whirled and lashed out best she could but the dim of the cell seemed to grow shadows. “ I have heard your prayers little one, and I will take everything you have offered, body, mind and soul in exchange I will bring you freedom and the means to make you strong. All you have to do is sign this and speak you name.”

A candle flickered to life as the rogue held forth the contract, the little hard eyed girl's desiccated hand stretched forth to take the pen only to have it stabbed into the burnt palm, There was no scream from the little stone faced girl as the blood was caught on the contract. Dark runes skittered across the page as the right hand began to heal itself. “Now” said the old white haired rogue, “What is you name?”

The little scarlet haired girl spoke in a soft whisper, “Mia.”

Darkness opened up beneath her like an ocean vast and deep, she plummeted into it forever as screams of regret were ripped from her lips.

There was no bottom.

- End of Part One