The Tri Covens

Tri Covens Numara series Book 1

Prologue

The moorland boomed like beating drums as the wind raged effortlessly and built up momentum: as it charged across the vast open moors that lay before it like an invading army.
    The wind soared like an army of invisible spirits hunting for its weaker prey. It finally found it! Two beings rushed across the vast grassland before them, closely followed by nearly a dozen men on horseback. The two runners were running for their lives.
     One an adult woman the other a small child, a little girl around the age of five. They were faltering and the men were closing in. Their hearts pounded furiously like the horses' hooves upon the moorland. The mothers green emerald eyes were full of a misty swarming fear. Tears rolled from them and flowed freely down her cheeks like miny waterfalls. Her breathing was highly erratic and her chest heaved painfully. Her child could go no further, she had made a courageous effort herself, at running just over a mile barefooted too. 
  The razor-sharp grass of the moors had sliced and diced the poor child's tiny feet like many knives upon butter. There was no fear in the child's blue, blue enchanting eyes. They were wild and free, and wondrously vibrant. You could see the intelligence deep within their depths.
     The child's golden hair flowed to her knees and swayed in the winds savagery. The mother picked her child up and held her tightly to her breast as she continued to run with all her might.
    The men on horseback howled and cheered with delight, as they hunted them down like hounds to a fox. Their hateful insults filled the evening air, as the clouds of rain turned the sky black as black can be.
    The horses thundered forward like lightning as they could sense their masters suddenly increased enthusiasm, or it may simply have been because their masters were viciously digging in their heels.
    Meanwhile, the child's mother had come to a sudden and horrifying standstill. They had reached the end of the road. A cliff and a massive drop laid before them. The sharp cold knife-like rock face of the cliffs mighty edge stared at them wantingly.
       The mother had put her child down by her side and had turned to face her pursuers. Whom had slowed, one of the men possibly the leader called out, “Give yourself up witch, there is nowhere to go” The mother did not answer, instead she looked at her child lovingly and smiled, “Remember child, belief, always believe and always remember death is just another experience, a passing……
      A tear finally rolled from the beautiful blue sea like eyes of her daughter. Her mother wiped it away with a soft affectionate swipe of her hand. “I'm sorry child”
    The men now dismounted and with swords unsheathed crept forward slowly, like a wildcat stalking some unfortunate fieldmouse. They closed in slowly and cautiously. Their leader called out again in a strong commanding tone, “For the sake of your child……...give yourself up witch………..peacefully like, a fair trial awaits you…………..”
     The mother laughed before answering mockingly, “Pricker, you already call me a witch………….” Without another word from either party, she stepped back still smiling. The child watched helplessly as her mother dropped like a stone to her death. The men rushed forward in vain, their prey was lost. 
      The child's blue, blue eyes glowed like a luminous sort of green, as the leader of the men looked down at her and became transfixed by their beauty. He suddenly spoke without the realisation of doing so. “We are done here, mount up”. The child stared at them with a sheer hatred, but soon the men were thundering away without a backward glance.
          Many hours passed and the night started to invade the world. Rain splattered from the dark heavens above. The youngster had never moved. She had pulled her hooded cloak tightly around her and she sucked her thumb, she had closed her dangerous eyes and started to run through memories of her mother.
                 She remembered her mother on a hot summer's day. The day she learned of her child's gifts. Her mother had made her swear to never repeat that scorching summers days actions. She couldn't control the burning desire within her to break the sworn promise she made to her mother. The power was too great……..
          She was abruptly brought back to her senses by a strange growling voice. Before her stood a great black panther, fangs bared, green eyes beaming. The child was in no way intimidated or startled by the beast's presence. The creature spoke again, “Amelia” he said questioningly. She simply answered “father”