All stories have a beginning...

I was only five when Nightfall descended upon Heas but I still remember the cries of terror as they tore through my home. Darkness and blood. I lost my Father that day… my brother… as we fled to the Northern Hold others fell and even their memory is lost to me. I do remember the tears that lasted past even Daybreak - some of the refugees never moved on, some of them never moved again. North Hold was a cesspool of death.

When the Marquis de Aruta perished the tenuous hold on the Highlands was lost. So many could not even find the will to run when the Demons came over the walls - the dim memory of Nightfall rushed back to me, but this time I saw what I only heard then. I don’t remember running, or even stopping. Since Daybreak the Demons were more scarce and that is all that saved us in our mad dash to safety.

Along with my Mother and sisters we found refuge with distant relatives in the newly constructed Kizuni Odawi. Since then my fortunes have improved, but you have to look back four generations to see my Sayaki heritage… and the Sayaki do not care to look that far. They have taught me much that was neglected during the chaos which reigned over my childhood, but I can do no more here.

Mother can hardly support the girls, but at least they have a chance if I leave now. They can find husbands if I am not around to remind the Sayaki where they came from. And, I have much to learn. I must travel to Seahaven. I will walk out of the ashes and into the fire.