Scorched Starlight

Chapter One

Part One

Khula

Chapter One

"KHULA!" My mother's exasperated voice calls after me as I fly on winged feet through the forest.

That will be something fun to deal with later, I suppose. Grateful to the night sky for cloaking my sweet escape, I push the thought out of my mind as I pick up the pace, veering left to collect Izara on the way to the Forest Centre. The sun will be up soon.

Scooping up a pebble on my route, I lock my eyes on the target at hand, which happens to be the poor unsuspecting frame of Iza's window, before winding up the assailant, and letting it fly.

Smack!

Direct contact with my mark sparks a grin that reaches my ears as I near the back of the Abebe household, and Izara comes soaring down out the window from her room on the second floor just in time to fall into step with me on our morning run.

"Morning, Iza!" I tease, knowing how much my friend resents rising before the sun.

"More like the dead of night, isn't it?" She grumbles groggily, rolling her eyes. "You know you don't have to keep throwing pebbles at my window, right? I can always tell when you're coming, because I hear your mother calling you from the other end of the forest." I twist my lips together to keep from smiling at that, though I know my eyes give me away.

"Yes, yes, Mother summoning, me fleeing, it's all part of our daily morning ritual." I say. Izara scoffs goodnaturedly, in between her giggles.

"You better watch yourself, now." Izara lowers her voice ominously. "The general's wife is to be obeyed at all times." Now it's my turn to roll my eyes at the wholly undeserved legendary reputation of my parents. The General and His Wife may hold rank in the Forest of the Fae, but that doesn't mean they've earned it by any stretch of the imagination.

"Ha!" I crinkle my eyes mischievously. "Where's the fun in that?"

We continue our run, laughing all the while as we pass the pond where Iza and I learned to swim, the tortuous primary school where the two of us became friends, and the Academy. I look over at Izara and find myself smiling anew. Our kinship may well be the only reason I've not fled these woods by now.

"Can you believe the royal family's moving here? To Kaze?" My smile instantly fades, and I nearly trip as Izara's words reach my ears.

"Barely." I grunt. The idea of the royal family being within the same kingdom was enough to disgust me, and now they'll be within walking distance. I suppose that's the other reason I've not yet fled Fae Forest.

The king himself has assured us we'd never make it out.

"Yes," Izara continues, clearly oblivious to my disdain. "They're meant to have moved in by now. Word is they arrived last night!"

"Great."

"They're even hosting a royal ball to 'mark this new chapter in their lives!'"

"Wait, what do you mean?" Annoyance seeps into my voice as Izara laughs excitedly, and I grimace at her outward appreciation for the royal family.

"Yeah, I thought the description sounded a tad fatuous as well, but -"

"No, Iza, what do you mean, there's going to be a ball?"

"The one being held two fortnights hence! Surely your lot would have heard of this well before I have? The General and his family are highly respected by the crown." Izara assured me.