Prologue

She placed the infant upon the mossy rock, and surrounded it with bunches of sweet smelling herbs, flowers and spices. She reached for a pouch slung over her bony shoulder. Her dirty bitten nails clicked together as she sprinkled the liquid morosely on the child’s forehead.

An owl hooted in the not so far distance. Fear filled her deep blue eyes, panic was etched into her weary wan face. Her breathing quickened. The baby began to cry.

“Shush…don’t cry little one, its all going to be okay. Shh…it’s all gonna be okay.” She picked up the child and cradled her gently. The infant looked glassily into her face. She looked into the baby’s murky grey eyes. They were empty. Not a drop of emotion could be seen.

“CAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAW!” The leaves rustled loudly on the forest floor, winding their way up towards the woman and child.

“Good luck Fawna!” The woman whispered urgently into the child’s ear. “You are destined for great things.” Beads of frightened perspiration were rolling down her nose. “I cannot do anything else for you, but I need you to be quiet.” For the first time, the child showed her a face of understanding. The woman tucked a ring in the infant’s blanket. She smoothed the blanket over.

“This is probably the last time you will ever see me, in this life at least, but I have to run. For the safety of both of us. We cannot be found together. I cannot be found at all.” She kissed the child’s forehead. “I shall see you eventually, maybe not in this life, but indeed we shall meet again.” She turned on a heel and fled into the darkness.

The baby tried to grasp at the air, but she was wrapped up too tightly in her blanket. She whimpered, no-one answered her cry. Their was a scream. A cackle. A burst of light through the dense forest. Then silence.

She cried. But no-one came to her. She waited. But no-one rushed to hug her. Then they came.