Avenger

Prologue

She ran, running as fast as a doe, leaping over tree stumps and rabbit holes. The forest fern saps scraped her legs, the wind blew her golden locks around her face. Akiza could still hear the thundering footsteps of her pursuers, their hunting hounds barking and snapping their jaws.

She couldn't go back, she just couldn't. She couldn't bear the agony in which the Hooded Circle laid on her, those wretched trials, designed to break her down and then to rebuild her into a soldier. They had taught her much, how to fight, how to defend, how to kill. She was trained mercilessly and on point, not a mistake was to be made or attempted. No, she thought, I can't go back, I can't.

Akiza had no where to go, yet she was certain she'd find a place, and she'd find it soon. Fighting back was not an option, she was out numbered. It wasn't that she didn't have the ability to do so, in fact, she had just finished her fifth trial of the week which tested her ability to fight outnumbered. That is, before she found a chance to escape through the vents that were conveniently loose screwed.

Her ten years of fighting experience had taught her to use logic before force. She had been put up to train from the age of three, so that now made her thirteen. This basically made her a child prodigy, for she surpassed all of the other children in every subject she was taught.

Bringing her self back to reality, she noticed the blood running down her tattered grey uniform, probably from the bite of Prince, the most vicious of the hounds. Akiza's cloth black boots padded across the mossy ground, her leather whip smacking her quads and her cobalt dagger hung at her hip. Three six inch needles jangled in her belt pouch and a box of matches was already in her hand. She lit a match and threw it at a nearby blackberry bush.

It burst into flames as she ran past, the smoke blinding the hounds eyes along with their handlers. Suddenly, out of the smoke, Prince pounced at her and then began to open his jaws. Akiza was about to roll when a noise distracted her and she tripped on a stump. She slammed into a tree, her back hitting a single knot, sending waves of pain up her spine and into her neck. Writhering in agony, Akiza gasped and reached for her pouch, her fingers fumbling to grab hold. She pulled out a needle and chucked it at Prince.

It penetrated his fur and dug into his throat. He choked and fell over, howling in pain as Akiza began to run once more. The Circle's hunters were gaining on Akiza as she darted past the trees. All at once, she threw herself across a wide stream and leaped into a tree. She darted across the tree branches and continued to run until SNAP! A thin branch broke beneath her feet and sent her spiraling to the ground, her head almost slamming on the next branch. The fall would be fatal, so Akiza reached to grab a thicker branch and missed. Covering her head, Akiza fell into the abyss below.

Preparing to die, a tear formed in her eye and rolled down cheek. All of a sudden, two thick arms caught her, carrying her at a fast speed. She looked up to see a brawny man with a lumberjack's beard and caramel eyes and a blocky nose. He wore a simple flanel shirt with the symbol of Port Royale sewn into the fabric covering his left collar bone.

Akiza really didn't care who he was, as long as he saved her life and she wasn't dead. Her heart pounced against her breast, blood and air escaped her mouth and nostrils. He dodged trees and bushes, not looking back behind him to see who he was trying to escape. Akiza was exhausted and disheveled, her usually strait hair was in a sweaty, knotted mess. She was so tired that when she moved her head and saw a cliff, she immediately passed out from fear, the darkness overtook her sight. Then, from the darkness, emerged light.

Akiza awoke in a small room in what seemed to be a small village house. She was lying in bed, the blood wiped from her arm and the dirt off her face. Groaning, she sat up, her arm and back felt like they were engulfed in flames. Akiza gasped in pain, tilting forward into the floor. Choking on air, she grabbed the bed and hauled herself up, steadying her self on the post. She limped to the door and slowly opened it, revealing a mid sized room with a table, chairs, a couch, some cabinets, and a few candles. In one of the chairs sat a man, the same one that saved her last night. He seemed to be wearing the same shirt with some torn black trousers. He was siping on some pomegranate juice, his mustache containing drips of violate.

"I was wondering when you'd get up," he said, his lips curving into a kind smile. Akiza stumbled over, grabbing furniture along the way, her knees buckling in pain. He pulled out a chair for her, his broad arms covered in brunette hairs. "Thank you for saving me mister...uh.." the man smiled. "Call me Rydelle little miss, and who might you be?" Akiza wasn't sure she wanted to tell him, but he saved her so the least she could do was tell him her name. "I'm Akiza, I truly do appreciate you saving me." Ignoring her praise, Rydelle leaned over. "Who were you running from in the woods back there? And why were they chasing you?" Akiza frowned, her eyes glowing with pain. " I was running away from a ring of assassin pirates who were training me. I was their best trainee and they didn't want to let me go so I ran away. They tortured me into training, pushing me to my limits. I hate them" Akiza put her head down and glowered, her face clearly showing anger and hatred. Rydelle looked her over curiously. He then got up and walked over to a small counter, pouring a cup a juice. "Do you have any parents or relatives, anyone to go to? " Rydelle asked with his back turned. Lifting her head, Akiza looked at him in surprise. From the back Rydelle looked about thirty five, so he basically had the right to harbor and aid her in this time of need. Sighing, Akiza tilted her head down again. " I was kidnapped at birth so I don't know my family, I was told family is weakness and to have it is a weapon your enemy can use against you," Akiza quickly finished. Rydelle turned around and looked at her in concern. "I have to give you to the English authroties, do you know your birthday? " he asked, scratching his chin. "Actually I do. November nineteenth, 1725," Akiza said smiling. Then, realizing that she had to go to the authorities, her smile faded. Rydelle seemed to notice so he gave her a reassuring smile. " Don't worry, I'll always be there for you, like an uncle." Akiza's mouth curved upwards. She got up and walked out the door with Rydelle, ready to start a new life, beginning at the English office of authority.