A Warriors Heart: The Lady Of Death

Chapter 1

"Papa, where are we going?"

"To see a friend of mine, remember I told you, I have to go away so you're going to live with my friend okay, now come along".

Cleo and her father had been walking for a long time, her legs were hurting, she was tired and hungry.

Cleo started to cry so he picked her up, put her on his shoulders and handed her some sweets.

"Were almost there, look".

Cleo looked to where he was pointing to see a small town with wooden buildings that were all raised off the ground on stilt like supports, their tiled roofs shimmering in the sunlight and strange decorations hanging in front of the doors, she would later find out that they were not in fact decorations but noren, a type of fabric curtain used to keep dust out and protect from the weather, they had reached Meadowdell, her new home.

"You go and sit over on those steps and don't move while I talk to my friend ok". Cleo skipped over to the steps her father had indicated and sat down, just inside the building the steps led to were men and boys all fighting so she watched them while she sat there waiting for her father, while sat there an elderly woman came over and offered her some sweets.

"These are called dango, they are Japanese, and do you know where Japan is?"

She was very nice and friendly; Cleo shook her head as she shoved one of the dango into her mouth.

"It's a beautiful land across the sea, how old are you and what's your name?"

"I'm five and I'm called Cleo" she answered with a happy smile.

"Our little town was founded by a small group of samurai whom travelled from japan to bring the teachings of Buddha to the west".

"I know Buddha, he's special, look" Cleo proudly showed her the Buddha pendant that she wore around her neck.

Cleo's mother had given it to her just before she passed away last year; she had always talked about Buddha so Cleo knew more than most kids her age.

The old lady's face softened as Cleo recounted her story.

"Why are you sat here all on your own?"

"I'm waiting for my papa, he's over there talking to his friend" Cleo pointed at her father, the old woman looked and her face suddenly grew dark, she wasn't smiling anymore.

She stood up and went into the building telling Cleo to stay where she was until she came back but as soon as she went inside her father came over with his friend.

"Right then kid, I'm going now. You're going to stay here with Mr Stimes; he is going to take care of you now."

Cleo's father patted her on the head and nodded to Mr Stimes who then grabbed her hand, this made Cleo suddenly very frightened so she started to cry, he tried to pull her with him so she started screaming and kicking him.

Suddenly Mr Stimes let go of Cleo and she was picked up, she found herself wrapped in a blanket and could hear a voice telling her not to cry and that she was safe now.

she didn't know it at the time but the owner of that voice would eventually become one of the most important people in her life and the only voice that mattered.

Cleo could also hear her father and Mr Stimes arguing with a third man.

"Take it and go. Now as for you Mr Stimes you are hereby banished from Meadowdell on authority of the elder."

cleo didnt remember what happened next as she fell asleep in the arms that were holding her.

When she woke up it was in a large room with flowers painted on the walls and one of the boys she'd watched fighting was sat on the floor with his legs crossed.