Council of Elders

Prologue

All was quiet. There was no sound, not even the rustle of leaves. The moon glowed bright in the otherwise black night sky and at the end of the street, hidden almost from view, stood a woman. Her short, brown hair covered brown eyes that darted along the street like the eyes of a cornered animal and in her arms was a child. The little girl was awake, her beautiful blue eyes glowing in the reflection of the moon as she stared at her surroundings, yet she did not cry. She did not utter a sound. A man appeared on the corner of the street, wearing a long, brown travelling coat, and grubby, brown pants. His steel-capped boots where the only thing that made a sound on that street, echoing off all of the houses. The man reached the woman and they embraced quickly.

"Is that the child?" The man asked, gruffly.

"Yes, Carlos" The woman replied, speaking quickly. "I retrieved her this morning, but I had to fight to get her and..." she sighed. "Carlos, the guards are looking for me." The man rested his hand lightly on her shoulder.

"Don't worry Meredith; I'll take care of them." Carlos moved his hand over the girls' forehead and the little girl gave a small gasp. Carlos' eyes closed and Meredith waited impatiently for Carlos to find what he was looking for. He looked up at Meredith.

"Oh my, there is more power in her than anyone I have ever known." He glanced down at the girl, eyes full of wonder, but then they hardened and he stared up a Meredith. "No-one must know. If she finds out who she really is, then the consequences will be dire. We must squash the power out of her. Keep her in the dark so that she never sees the light of who she really is. I must tell our Master of the power she possesses. Your house is on this road. Number Five." He dropped a door key into Meredith's outstretched hand and with that, he turned on his heel and strode off into the darkness. Meredith stood in place for a second before making her way to her new home.