“c7″> 

Chapter One: On the
road

“c7″> 

A
banging sound roused her from bed in the middle of a moonless
night. Still half asleep, she reached for her clothes and shoes,
and fastened the sturdy copper plaited leather belt around her
waist. When the middle-aged woman finally answered the harsh
knocking on her back door and opened it cautiously, two soldiers of
the First Order rushed in and quickly closed the
door.

“c7″> 

Rude
behaviour was something she expected from the soldiers of the
Conqueror, but never before had she been molested in her own home,
her house was officially off limits – obviously
‘was’.

“c7″> 

A
thousand equally rude comments flashed through her mind, but the
instant she opened her mouth one of them handed her a scroll,
firmly knotted with a leather thong adorned with the seal of the
Conqueror.

“c7″> 

“c7″>"What does she want this time? It’s nearer to
dawn than dusk, and there’s no one left she can threaten me
with. It better be worth the lack of sleep." The irritated
woman snapped in an attempt to hide her curiosity and
fear.

“c7″> 

"The
Conqueror is dead, venerable “c7″>Cyrene. We were ordered
to see to your safety. Right this instant the council is in meeting
to decide upon your fate."

“c7″> 

"Dead?
That’s impossible, there was no war and no single fighter
would even stand a shadow of a chance against her fighting skills.
This can’t be true." “c7″>Cyrene said
disbelievingly.

“c7″> 

“c7″>"Please open the scroll; it will answer some of
your questions. But hurry, we probably don’t have more than
two candlemarks before the order is given to kill you, all other
relatives, friends, and servants who may still be loyal to
her."

“c7″> 

The
woman took a small knife out of her belt, severed the leather thong
and opened the scroll. It said:

“c7″> 

“c7″>Mother!

These are
two of my most trusted soldiers, Theodorus and Palemon. They saved
my life more than once and now they are responsible for
yours.

The
governing council just has received my letter of resignation. The
government will remain stable, and though the members of the
council don’t trust each other, they are not stupid. They all
cherish their wealth far too much to risk a civil war by fighting
each other openly.

I
don’t know if they decide to tell the truth or if they find
it easier to proclaim my death, and I really don't care.
Whatever they decide to do, their first step will be to eliminate
everyone too closely connected with me. That’s why you need
to leave the city as soon as possible.