Before the Beginning

Freya Crescent walked out of the shop.

“Damn shopkeepers” she thought. “Just because I’m a rat-person doesn’t mean they have to call me a rodent...Memo to self...kill all who insult...”

She wiped the hair out of her eyes. It wasn’t raining, as usual in Burmecia. She had actually grown quite used to no rain. It had been 5 long years since she had been in her hometown. Her father, Odeon, lived in Llindblum, so what was the point of returning? No one she cared about was there anymore. Like Sir Fratley.

Freya knew immediately that she was going to start crying when she thought about Fratley. Where the heck was he, anyway? She had searched for 3 years and still had no trace of him.

She pushed out of the welling crowd and remembered what had happened that fateful day...

“Lady Freya? Miss Crescent?” a mailman knocked on Freya’s door. Freya woke from her daydream and swore silently. She answered it. The mailman, Jim, was standing there, looking quite anxious.

“What is the problem?” Freya asked sweetly, trying to be polite. The mailman was not making eye contact.

“News from afar.” He whispered. “You father wishes your presence at once.”

Freya understood. If Odeon Crescent, her father, wanted to see her, it might be urgent. Perhaps Linus, Freya’s elder brother, was seriously unwell? She took her spear and went off to Llindblum.

Odeon Crescent sat in a dusty chair, his eyes dull. Linus stood leaning against a wall, also dull. Freya came in.

“Sorry I’m late, Dad. I saw a couple of Hedgehog pies, and you know how I love the noise they make when you jam a spear up their...” her voice trailed off when she saw the dark faces of her remaining family.

“What’s wrong?” she whispered. Odeon stood up and placed his hands on Freya’s shoulders.

“Freya, you must not be too upset, well, actually, I don’t blame you if you do...but there is something I must tell you.” He said sternly, but his voice was cracking. “It’s about Fratley...”