Keep Fighting

Introduction

Allyria Stormbroken, a highly placed noblewoman, ran away from home in search of a new adventure. For the past five years, she has been secretly studying magic, between her high class music and language lessons. Sneaking out the window to fight anything she could, she was finally ready for something greater. The only thing left to do was wait for the right moment.

As she wandered the hallways of the Stormbroken estate, she came across her father in his study. She had always been closest with him, as he indulged her every want, lavishing her with gifts of beautiful instruments, pretty dresses, and anything her heart desired. All but one thing; fighting lessons.

"Your mother does not want a young lady fighting"

"A girl like you will never need to fight"

"Wouldn't you rather dance instead?"

She crept to the door of the study, wondering why her father was here today, and heard a peculiar conversation between her father and mother.

"She's twenty years old! If not now, when?" Her mother had exclaimed in a ferocious whisper.

"Still too young, I don't care what the Windvaen family has offered you!" Her father retorted just as angrily.

She knew what this was about. Alymer Windvaen, the son of another noble family, not as highly placed, but very ambitious. They had been approached in the matter of marriage many times, but her father always came to her rescue, claiming her age, her schooling, or any reason he so chose was reason enough not to marry. It would appear her mother was much more keen to the match.

Allyria made plans to leave that very night, and began to creep through the corridors, looking for an escape. She wouldn't be so lucky, not this time. Fire had engulfed the very hallway she was seeking, in an attempt to leave a goodbye in her father's study. The shrieks of people burning, and the angry yell of a mob of commoners below reached her before the fire. Unfortunately, this was not the first time, and stashing her bags in an alcove in the wall, she headed to the safe room, resolved to leave as soon as it was safe.

One week later, she stood in a black gown at her father's funeral, while the firestarters still hung on the gallows across town for the murder of a nobleman. With no one left to protect her from the marriage, her mother had gone full tilt into the marriage alliance, claiming it would protect them from another incident like this. When the funeral was over, she packed her things, leaving behind a life of luxury for a life of freedom. All that remained was one small package, with a written label from her father, dated one week before his death.

She hadn't been able to open it until now, and as the wrappings fell away, a rapier fitted exactly to her size was revealed, along with a letter.

"My dearest Allyria,

    I know you've been fighting, I know that you've been waiting to leave. Perhaps I should have tried harder to fight this marriage, perhaps I should have helped you learn. However I know that when it is time to give you this gift, you will be prepared to use it. Go. Go and be free to do what you wish, to fight, and learn, and make friends myself and your mother did not choose. With my every blessing, I beseech you to go. I will miss you, and the sound of your lyre floating through the corridors, and your 'unladylike' laugh, and the way your eyes light up whenever I give you what you want. I ask one thing of you before you go. Wherever you are, remember I am with you, and I ask that you bring your lyre, so that I know, at least if I can't hear it, that others hear your beautiful music. I love you more than anything in the world Allyria.

                            Father"

    With tears falling on the words, she sheathed the rapier, attaching it to her belt, packed the letter and her lyre, and left to make her new beginning.