[dayahnaira]: 327.Chapter 1: Talking to Sanford.Chapter I: Talking to Sanfornd

As Dayahnaira tread into town that morning, the great rays of the rising sun poured over the land. The clouds slowly changing from their mid-night gowns and into the colorful attire they would carry out for the rest of the day. While the sun peeked its great face over the distant mountain range of the land of D’Lareme. The trees beyond, silhouetted like tin soldiers standing at attention, just at the foot of the mountain. Dayahnaira closed her eyes, lifting her face to the sky, and took in the fresh air of the morning, feeling the bright rays of sunlight as they caress her cheeks with warmth. A slight warm smile slipping across her pale pink lips as she thought of all the beauty and peace that nature gives.
Though, this place she called home, use to be very much alive and well, it seemed to be dying in the last few years. Crops were getting less and less and the livestock getting sick and dying. The trees were even wilting as the soil it nurtured its life from became dry as the desert itself. It was the saddest thing to see, for the trees had been there longer than anything else in this world, and to know they were dying was like a fist to the stomach. It made her ill. Nature was one thing she treasured the most and to lose any part of it was like losing a friend or loved one.
Tears filled her eyes; It saddened her that she could do nothing to change it, to save it all from dying. She was just a plain simple girl, with no rank in the community and no special talent that could fix such a big problem as this. Only the hope, that magic was real, kept her going. Kept her believing that life would be okay as long as it was in her heart. Though she had no proof magic was real, she believed it was what kept this world alive and that’s why she also believed it was dying. A Ruthless king, the man who ruled the land of D'Lareme, had convinced everyone that it wasn’t real. Having anyone who spoke of it or anyone he deemed evil, would be killed. That included many of the village elders and healers.
Caston, her mentor, was a healer and an elder of this village, yet with the reputation she had, she had been spared by the King, even though he neither liked her nor disliked her. Too, he and no one else knew where she lived, so it was sort of like out of sight out of mind. Still the king, was what Dayahnaira believed was causing her world to die. Maybe she was wrong, maybe her king was right about magic, and there being only one god. But Dayahnaira just couldn’t believe it was so, her heart told her other wise and she had to follow that feeling.
She never really understood why she believed, when she was raised up with the king’s values in her home, and even when she lived in the monastery, but a book, her father gave her as a child, stuck with her, her whole life. Stories of faeries and elves, dragons and unicorns. It’s what gave her the hope and will to survive. Promising herself, since she was little, that she would prove the king wrong some day, and bring magic back into this world. Though everyone thought she was crazy, even her best friend, she would not let them hold her back from her dreams.
She lowered her head as tears formed in her eyes. Augavill lay just before her at the bottom of the hill where she stood. Tiny log building, with thatched roofs, lined the empty gravel streets. Tents and wagons of merchants and traders were camped along the outskirts of the village.
A tear rolled down her cheek and dropped to the dusty road below her feet as she moved on into to the village ahead, and from where the tear fell, a small sprout grew. She had loved this simple village, though it no longer had the beauty it once did some time ago, which reminded her of herself when she was young. A smile swept across her face only slightly as she reminisced about her youth.
At the time she lived with her Aunt and uncle she was five. She had had a simple life being taught her aunts trade of baking bread, but as she grew older she took to her Uncle’s trade in the fields, wanting to be in nature more. She had always hated being cooped up in side for more reasons than one. It made sense for her to help, since her uncle’s own daughters would not even lift a hand to help anyone but themselves. Unlike them, she let her hair go. Not caring much if it was kept or not. Her face was always painted with dirt and grime unlike the pasty colors her cousin smeared on their own. Even her dresses were simple, with only browns, tans and other such neutral colors, like that of nature. While her cousins wore bright colors to woo the men like male peacocks flashing their brightly colored tail feathers at a prospect they wished to mate with.
Simple with her needs, simple with her learning, simple in her look, just like the old village of Augavill. She never needed much and never ask much of others, though did what most elders told her. It never occurred to her that life was any way but the way of the elders, and she grew up learning the ways of the kings god and his rules. In the most part she did what she had to, to blend in. (Though if she had not done so well by acting like a servant girl sent to work the fields with her master. )
She was here for the market day of the year to gather supplies for her and Caston. The one woman who had , in a sense, saved her life, more than once or twice over. Caston was her teacher and savior and Dayahnaira had the utmost respect for the woman.
Dayahnaira moved on and by the time she got to the bottom of the hill, the streets had begun to fill like bees to a field of flowers. Farmers were bring in their crops by wagon and buggy, leading along a few of their best stock of cows, sheep or whatever else they might of raised in the last year, to sell here today. The merchants and traders, from afar, slowly started setting up their treasures and troths for their day of business. They traveled from village to village trying to make a living and most did rather well, especially if the king visited, which she had hoped was not today. 
When she reached the streets of the village, they had already become crowed, giving reason for Dayahnaira to avoid it and take the back route into town. Their were plenty of dark alley ways and mostly empty streets, because of the festivities going on today. She was more than relieved to be away from the rest of the people and the over bearing noise of babies screaming, wives yelling at their husbands, fathers scolding their kids. It was like having a pan stuck on her head being and hit by a spoon over and over. It was something she knew by experience but she pushed back that memory to the deep reassess of her mind, hoping not to think of it again.
Slowly she made her way though the cold alleyways, avoiding everyone as much as possible. It wasn’t that she didn’t like the people here it was just some of the people tended to latch on to her and never let go till they were done spreading their gossip. She rolled her eyes at the thought, knowing never to believe anything she heard from the woman of this village and moved on to one of the only two storied buildings in the village. The butcher shop of all buildings and the only other one that was as tall was the Serpents Master tavern right across the street. A small crafted sign swung above the door with the words ‘Butcher Shop” carved into it. Dayahnaira was glad to still see it hanging there and walked in the half open door.
The room was well lit, for the many windows that were incased in the stone walls. That reminded her, this was not only the tallest building in Augavill but the only one made of stone too. She smiled liking the uniqueness of it. For some reason she had always like things that were different from all others. It was something she always wanted to be though figured she would never achieve. The warm rays of sunlight brushed her face as she walked into one then the next as she made her way to the stone counter. It was clean of course, for this the room was for the customers and not for the actual deed.
Looking around she saw no one and wonder where the owner was. She knew the man well, for he had become to her like a grandfather she never had. When she came to live with Caston the man had come to visit to welcome her, though she secretly knew he was there not only for her but to spend a bit of time with Caston. Dayahnaira smiled at the notion. She thought it was quite cute to see them together. Caston never showed any kind emotion when alone or even with Dayahnaira, but when Sanford was around, though most might not have noticed it, Dayahnaira could see what joy and happiness it brought to the old woman.
These were the memories she enjoyed to remember, the happy and bright ones that brought a warm feeling to her heart. She looked around breaking away from her daydream, a thing she did quite often, and still no sight of anyone. It was very odd not to see him around. Sanford had always known when some one entered the room. This concerned her, for he used to travel quite often to see her and Caston but at late his visits had become fewer. All she could think of was that he was not well or worse dead. That thought struck like a dagger to the heart.
As she was getting ready to race up the stairs to Sanford’s living quarters some one spoke to her as they entered the room from the next over. “”Ello miss, might I be of service to you?” an older gentleman, who looked a lot like Sanford though younger, said, wearing a blood stained apron around his neck. She knew he couldn’t be his son for Sanford had never married and it wasn’t Sanford himself for this man did not have the snowy white hair that graced the old mans head. This man was not young by all means but this man’s hair had a more peppered look to it.
“Uh...” she began to speak. The man must have noticed the confusion in her face and spoke up before she could say anything else.
“I am Redferd, Sanford’s brother.” he said, his voice was low and shallow though surprisingly welcoming. He reached out a hand to her then retracted the thought once he had seen it. He smiled almost sheepishly which just about made Dayahnaira laugh.
“ is a pleasure Redferd, but where is Sanford himself?”
The man just shook his head, wiped his hands on a fresh cloth and walked around the counter. “I am sorry but he’s not seeing anyone today, but if there is something you need I can get it for you.”
That was not the answered she wanted. and was now getting frustrated with the burly man that stood before her. He looked nothing in body to Sanford, for he looked to be a smithy of some kind. He had muscles strictly in his arms and his hands showed it too. She tried to be polite as she spoke “ Sir, I came her to speak with him directly, and I am not going to leave till I do”
The man was taken aback by her persistence. “ What business do you have with him?” he said trying also to be polite though his patience was running thin. This Dayahnaira could see by the furrows of his forehead.
“ My business is my own....” she said getting louder. Most men never took her seriously when she was getting angry. They always laughed saying she looked some what like a catfish when she scrunched up her face to do so, but this was a different matter and it concerned some one she cared dearly about. If something had happened to Sanford or he was ill she wanted to know and she wanted to know right now.
“ so sir, If you please, tell me where he is right this instant or I will have to...” she stopped before she could finish her threat when she hear an loud familiar laugh come from upstairs, followed by a sickly cough.
Dayahnaira didn’t let Redford speak before she ran behind the counter into the back room and up the stairs to her left to Sanford’s living quarters. There she saw her adopted grandfather laying in his bed, his snow white hair drenched in sweet and pasted to his face and forehead. Redford followed close behind hopping to catch her before she bothered the old man. But by the time he got there she was already making her way to his bed.
“ Ma’am you mustn't...” he began to say before he was cut off.
“ Oh hold your britches brother” Sanford said with a groan as he pushed himself, weakly, to a sitting position. “ this young girl here has traveled quite a ways to see me and I will not be having you lug her away. If its anyone I want to see it’s her and I am not about to let her go just yet.” he smiled as he bushed a lock of golden curl away from Dayahnaira’s face.
Redferd looked abashed not sure what to say, so Sanford spoke for him. “ This is Dayahnaira, the young girl I told you about. The girl I consider my one and only grandchild. She’s a great girl and I promise she won’t be a bother to me. So if you would, go fix her some packages and bring that box up here when your finished.” he said with a nod. “Thank you.”
Redferd glance from his brother then to Dayahnaira “ I am sorry, I did not know.” he said apologetically then left down the stairs. She kind of felt sorry for him. He had been wrong and felt ashamed to have made the mistake. She knew how that had been and how it felt many a time, but once again it was something she did not want to remember.
As she turned back to Sanford, she finally noticed his sallow, pockmarked face. It never hit her till she took a real good look at him. Not only was he pale and drenched in sweat, his eyes were hazed over almost as if he were going blind. It was a sad site to see and it pained her to see him that way, but she gave her best smile “It is great to see you.”
The old man took her hand in his then lifted it to his lips, kissing it lightly. “ and it is great to see you child. I do apologize for not visiting this year but as you can tell my sight is not what it use to be.” he said followed by a course cough. “ That is why Redferd is here. He’s been a great help around here, never minding that butchering is not his trade. But he does well enough to keep it going.”
Nodding, she smiled “ Yes! I noticed.” a chuckled slipped past her lips as she spoke “ He doesn’t look much like a butcher. I knew the minuet he offered his hand to me.”
Sanford smiled “ You have always been a smart child. You may not think you are but there is no doubt about it.” Dayahnaira could only smile. It was true, she never thought of herself as smart. Always slow at learning things except reading, but she had a motive for that. Ever since her father brought home that story book with the magical pictures that seem to move and tell a story in their own, but they could not tell her the true story that lye within scripted pages. It had been the only gift she had ever received and she had treasured it dearly.
“ I suppose I am, in certain things.” she said with a sigh
He could only shake his head knowing she would never truly believe till she proved it to herself. “So my dear. How is that old bat doing with out me to bug her?” He laughed giving Day a wink.
She laughed too and shook her head “Quite alright. She says she doesn’t miss you but I know she does. You should hear her talk in her sleep, its quite entertaining.” They both laughed in unison., knowing quite well what was said when the old lady slept.
It hadn’t been to long since she arrived and Redferd was on his way back up the stairs. She did need to go soon for she had lots of stuff to pick up today, but she was not quite ready yet. “ San! The packages are made up and are ready whenever she is ready to take them.” Redferd had said standing at the top of the stairs.
Sanford nodded then motioned to Redferd. “ you did bring the box?” He had asked and his brother nodded in answer as he brought it over to them. Once he had done so he turned and left.
“Ah! Here it is!” He said handing her the medium sized wooden box . “ this is for you. I had it made for you by a good friend of mine. I really hope you like it.” Smiling. her urged her to open it. Dayahnaira had not expected a gift but should have figured she would receive one. It had become almost like a habit for him to give her a gift every time he saw her, but then he had no children of his own to spoil so he did so with her. Even now, at twenty, he still gave her gifts as if she were still fifteen.
“ You shouldn’t have,” she said giving her girlish smile that always seem to make the darkest heart shine. She ran her fingers over the box then reached her fingers slowly over the edges to lift the top. As she did she found what looked like some kind of outfit, so she lifted it out of the box and let it unfold. When it did so she finally saw that it was a leather cloak, hood and all. On the back, was the picture of a raven etched into it. The raven symbolized the one creature that had kept her alive all these years and kept her sain. Her spirit animal is what it was called she later learned.
“ thank you!” She threw her arms around him and gently hugged him, tears forming in her eyes.” I love it!”
He hugged her back, a huge smile sweeping across his old worn face. “ I am glad you do. I want you to wear that today, and keep in the shadows my dear. Wait till tomorrow to do you shopping.” his tone seeming to sober slightly.
Taken by surprise she back away. “ Why! What’s wrong?”
“ The king will be here today...”
“ So, he comes almost every year, and every year I have never even crossed his path. What makes today any different?” There were reasons to be wary of the king, not only because of his rules on religion and magic but reasons of her own.
“ There is something about a child that has him and his men out this time.”
“ So! What does that have to do with me?”
“ They are looking for the child’s mother Day, and this child’s mother name happens to be Renae Benincot.” He stared intensely into her eyes. He was serious as the plague with what he spoke.
She paused with almost disbelief. It had been quiet a few years since she had heard that name, a name that seemed to haunt her like a ghost from the past, a shadow she could not escape from. “ but why? Why are they looking for her and what does the child have to do with it?”
“My child, I do not know. There is very little talk about it but I know he is looking for her. You may not have the hair nor the childish face you once had, but there are other ways of recognizing the person you once were. I beg of you, be wary of your steps this day. Look closely to every road you cross and every face you see. I don’t wish to have my only Grandchild whisked away by out tyrant king nor do I want her dead either. So watch yourself.”
Her eyes were wide and fluttering like the expression a young pup would give to its owner when scolded or scared. She didn’t know what to think. Had her pig of a husband report another false claim to the king about her so there was another reason to hunt her down to be punished or had he simply decided he needed more money and wanted to retrieve her for the king, as a breading mare for his special army? There was also another even more devastating thought, that maybe something was wrong with her child. The child she got to hold for only a few hours before he had been taken away from her to join the king in his palace to be raised up as another solider for his army. 
There was nothing she could do to find out, not with out the consequence of being captured herself, and that was just not an risk she could take. She knew she was not an important person nor one that was well liked but she knew she had to continue her lessons in healing so that she may continue Caston’s work after her passing. It wasn’t, by the beliefs of the people, a very accepted occupation, but she knew that is was necessary and she knew she wanted to help people who would except it. If it would cost her son’s life to do so, then so be it. Though it hurt her to think that she knew it was what had to be done. She could save many more lives with being alive an learning from Caston than being captured and possibly saving her child’s life, if he were even in dire need of her as they might tell her.
She shook her head and gave a smile to Sanford who was holding tightly on to her hand. She nodded “ I will do as you ask.” she said, her voice shaking as if she were about to cry.
“ I love you, you know?” his voice was growing tired as she spoke. He caressed her check in his hand and as he did she leaned into it .
“ And I you!”
Sanford smiled then took his hand away. “ You better go now. I grow tired and Redford will be grumbling about the extended visit, so you best go now. I hate to say good bye, but I know I will see you soon. Make sure to take your packages with you. “ He rested back down on to his bed, his eyes having trouble staying open.
“ Of course! You rest and I will try to be back tomorrow to see you before I head for home.” she stood then leaned down and kissed his forehead “ I love you grandfather.” she whispered in his ear then left down the stairs with her gift under one arm.


When she returned down stairs she found Redford sitting in a chair next to the fireplace in the front room. “ Ah! I see you are finished visiting. I hope you have not troubled him to much” he said with a more jokingly tone.
“ Oh! how could sweet ol me do such a thing.” she shot back with a sweet girlish grin. They both chuckled, giving each other friendly smile.
“ Shall I fetch your packages?”
“ Not today “ she said as she shook her head. “ I will pick them up later before I leave. So hold onto them for me.”
“ Of course m’lady,” He said with a bow then chuckled again.
She was happy to leave on a good note with Sanford’s brother. They had not exactly been courteous to each other at the start but it all ended well, just as she liked it. So with that she donned her cloak, with hood over head, and left through the door with a wave good bye.


The sun blared over head like a roaring fire sending scorching rays of sunlight to the world below. It was so hot that the minute Dayahnaira stepped out of the door, sweat rolled down from her forehead and down her face. She shook her head and let out a groan, knowing fare well that this would be a long day if she had to wear the cloak Sanford had insisted on her wearing, but there was nothing really she could do about it, since she promised him she would wear it. So with out hesitating, she quickly made her way into one of the last remaining shaded alleyways to retreat from the heat.

She sighed, relieved by the coolness of the shade. This was the first time this year it had gotten this hot. Many were sure to complain about it as she would if there were some one to complain to. Though, there was no time to complain about such matters she needed to do her rounds before the day was through. There was not telling how plentiful the market was today, so she had to make sure she gathered her supplies before all was gone. So she made her way through the shaded alleyways as best possible, trying to make her way, un noticed to the market.
As she peeked around the corner of a house close to the market, somebody grasped her shoulder from behind. With out hesitation she spun on her heal and broke from the persons grasp. Backing away, with hand on a small dagger at her waist, she paused, noticed something oddly familiar about the one that stood there. “ Dylan?” she cocked her head as if questioning herself about who it was that stood in the shadow.
The young man, who looked a few years older than she, stepped out of the shadow to reveal himself. “ Who else would it be squirt.” He said giving her a friendly slug in the shoulder.
His voice was more manly than she had remembered and was quite a bit more handsome than she had last known. She tried to restrain a smile wanting to seem cross with him for startling her the way he did. “ Well how was I to know. You shouldn’t scare me like that!” Though she spoke crossly with him, she was truly glad to see him. It been a couple of years since she last saw, once he started helping his brothers with their father’s business at the mill. 
The young man just shook his head and laughed “ Well, you scare to easy. Not to mention you had your guard down. I thought I taught you better than that.”
“Well its no reason to sneak up on me like that. Why not approach me normally?” she huffed, her detained smile trying to break free.
“ It is kind of hard to do that when your are sneaking around in the alleyways. Took me some time to find you too. Mentioning that, why are you sneaking around?” now he cocked his head much way she had done earlier.
Seeing that look, it was getting harder to keep her stern expression. He was making a fool of her like always. “Darn you Dylan! Stop making fun of me.” She now rested her hands on her hips and huffed. He was so clever she knew he would not believe her annoyance with him, but she tried none the less. “ And if you must know, I was taking a peaceful and very relaxing stroll in the cool shade of these alleyways till you snuck up behind me.”
He only laughed and leaned down to give her a hug with his mighty strong arms. She squirmed a bit trying to keep up her act but it was no use, for he had used his best weapon against her, his every tender loving embrace. ‘Damn him, how could he?’ she thought to herself. There was nothing she could do but let her act go and release the smile that was once hidden behind the a fake frown. “I missed you , you little brat” he finally said and rested his head on hers.
“ And I you, you troll.” she reported back rolling her eyes. They had always argued with each other as if they were brother and sister, which wasn’t too far from the truth. Though they were not blood they were as close as you could get to being siblings. Sometimes they imagined they were twins in another life, something of course they would not have said to anyone else because there was no such thing by the kings standings. He had even known her when she was still known as Renae, though that changed not to long after.
The young man broke his embrace and looked down at her. Dayahnaira barely noticed the release of his arms, for she was still daydreaming about their past. “ You sure haven’t changed much, but still beautiful as always.” His smile was sincere, he wasn’t making fun this time.
Not only did a big smile cross her face but her cheeks turned a beet red. She was flattered and embarrassed. Dylanger was like a brother to her but he had changed a lot in the past two years. He was a significant amount taller and he had become quite muscular, no doubt with the work at the mill. There was no child like features in this man’s face, not anymore.
“ Thank you Dylanger...” she said exaggerating his name, “though I have to admit I wish I wasn’t as beautiful as you say I am.”
Dylanger looked at her cockeyed, “ why do you say that?” no doubt he was confused with her statement, though he should have known the reason why. She had told him a hundred times or more. Yet he seemed to always ask why. Sometimes she wondered how good his memory was.
She considered her beauty a curse, though she did not find herself particularly beautiful in the first place. To her, she was just a plain ordinary girl, always had been as far as she knew. Even when she was younger with her dark hair she seemed to attract men from all around. People seem to find a girl, who rarely wore her hair down, never painted her face with outrageous colors, and had the feisty yet shy like attitude of wolf, strangely attractive. Though this puzzled her and had come to mind every time Dylanger forgot and asked why, that why a man, who did not like opinionated women like herself, would want to marry such, yet her husband had black mailed her into marrying him. Why? Because she was oddly beautiful that every man within leagues away wanted to take her as their own? She highly doubted it. He may have been a duke but he was always looking to gain a little more power and to get in better graces with the king, and there had surely been a leek to one of his men, about her being the daughter of the general of king’s army.
It had been kept secret, for her father wanted to give her new start with a family that would love her. Though it wasn’t that her father didn’t love her, for his love for her knew no boundaries, but he could not be with her all the time and she could not be left with his hateful wife who had no such love for anyone but herself. The abuse to her by her mother had been extensive and cruel, leaving not only physical scars but mental ones also. Just the thought of the woman that was claimed to be her mother, upset her and she had to push it away before she welled up in tears.
“ Blast you Dylan, you always forget and I always have to remind you with tears in my eyes. If I must tell you again then I think I might have to say good bye now.” the expression on her face seem to set him straight and he withdrew from pressing her any further on such matters..
Ashamed of his forgetfulness Dylan put his arm around her and kissed her on the forehead “ I am sorry, I had forgotten. Though I still think your beautiful and not just on the outside.” He smiled and now spoke more gently as not to upset her any further. “How bout’ we go visit our good friend Old Tom and catch up what’s been happening. Wada ya say ?” he finished giving her a almost flirtatious nudge.
She would have love to but she had to do her shopping first, if she didn’t it may be all gone by the time she returned. “ I Just can’t Dylan. I have stuff I have to do first, if I don’t it may not be there when I return.” she said with disappointment. She, herself longed to catch up on all that had happen in the past two years but she had things she had to attend to.
A funny but very familiar smile crossed his lips,” I figured you would say that, and you are in luck child.” he was playing his game again, the one where he had all the answers. “I have gathered, from the people of my village, who just coincidently traveled her today with their own goods, the items in which I know you gather every year. Minus a thing or two you might have added to your list this year. So you don’t have to worry about missing out on anything , and when we come back you can still shop to buy what little that might be left.” He finished with a satisfied nod and a half crooked smile.
He was a cleaver one alright and always had something up his sleeve. “ Well...” she said with her smiling lips pressed together to make her ‘I can’t believe you’ look and shook her head “ I guess we can go then, you sly deviant you.” There was no way to resist now, he had made it quite impossible to say no. Though she couldn’t seem to find a reason to anyway.
Before they gallivanted off, she clued him in, to why she was really sneaking around, though leaving out a few unnecessary details he didn’t need to know about. Dylanger didn’t need to be worried about such things, at least not right now. She didn’t want to involve him in her troubles.
The two of them snuck through the crocked alleyways and crept quietly across open streets, with only a few more streets to cross till they were out of the village. One last open street to run across and they were home free into the wilderness of the trees and meadows. They looked around quietly, the only people were several blocks to the right of them, to far for anyone to notice them crossing. Then carefully, they began to cross the wide open street, making sure to watch for anyone who might see them.
It was more a game to Dylanger that it was to her. What they did now, by sneaking around in the alleyways and such, was like a game they used to play as children, but now it was a more serious matter. She was not playing a game but doing so for the sake of well being. The promise she made with Sanford was clear, she was to stay as far away from the royal company that was supposed to arrive here today. Though she feared that their sneaking around might be a cause for suspicion to anyone who might catch a glimpse of them doing so. When they were kids its was just shrugged off as child’s play, but now they were older. So, especially with the people of this village, anyone that might catch sight of them might just as well think them thieves and draw more attention to them than they needed. Worse, it might draw the attention of the king and his men who would of course charge over to investigate, causing her to be in sight of the King.
It had to be shrugged off, there was nothing she could do about it, besides not to be seen. So they careful and quickly tried to make their away across the street. They were half way across when they heard a loud booming voice holler down the street at them. “Halt! Stop where ye be!” It was one of the King’s soldiers and he was looking straight at them. It would not have been so bad if the rest of the army was not falling close behind.
Both of them stopped in mid-step and spun around to face the approaching troop. The men were dressed in brilliant armor wrought in silver and gold. Magnificent brood swords hung in leather sheaths at the soldier's sides while their ornate helmets gleamed, almost blindingly in the sun. The men were so big that they even made Dylanger look small.
The man who had spoken first arrived ahead of the rest. Dayahnaira glanced at him only slightly then looked away. It couldn’t be. If it were so, she would be found out for sure. No father could mistake his own child for someone else, even if they have changed. Or could he? She was shaking like a leaf now, though there was no way she could be cold for the heat was overbearing out in the sun, but her fear overwhelmed her. This man, she herself, could not mistake, as the man who raised her as his own. He was the one she called father, he was the only man in her earlier days who truly loved her. If he did recognize her, would he give her up to the king?
The man obviously noticed her unease and put a hand on her shoulder. “ Calm yourself child! There is nothing to fear.” he said, his voice calming as she had always remembered. He had not seen her since she was ten but he surely knew she was his daughter. She forced a weak smile and stopped shaking just in time, for the rest of the men had just reached them.
Dylanger grabbed her hand, and she grasped his, holding it tightly. Her eyes still to the ground. The man stepped away, returning to his professional appearance. “ Please present yourselves to your king in the appropriate manner.” He said standing at attention as a somewhat shorter man stood forward. He was still taller and bulkier than Dylanger was but not so much as his men were. Dayahnaira would not have known who he was if it were not for his impressive attire of black and crimson which was trimmed and sewn in glittering golden thread, and for the crown, which was inlaid with several rare jewels, that sat upon his head.
His men stood at attention behind him, still as statues, as he approached her and Dylanger. Dayahnaira had never really been this close to the king before nor his men, besides her father of course, so was in awe with them. So in awe that she had not bowed as was expected of all peasants. Dylanger had already done so and had been yanking on her arm as to draw her attention to what was going on. It had not phased her till she saw the king face to face with her then it was too late. She tried to bow down but the king grasped her arm before she could.
Surprisingly his grasp was gentle and not as she had expected. If he was going to punish her for not doing the appropriate thing in his presence then she was sure he would not have grabbed her the way he did. But then again she had never encountered him in person before. “ There is no need for you to bow child. Now stand and present yourselves.” he had said. Even his voice was gentle. Dayahnaira just couldn’t see a man that was so cruel to act the way he was now. He was nothing as she had imagined him to be, he was even handsome in his age and not the old decrepit fat man she thought he was.
The king stood back allowing Dylanger to stand. He grasped her hand and spoke professionally. “ I am Dylanger Miller and this is my betrothed Sada Shoemaker. We are from Aironsvill, here for our families to sell goods at the market. We are just going to look around a bit before we set up for the day.”
The king just nodded as if expecting more. “ Can the girl speak for herself?” he asked Dylanger dryly.
“ Of course sire! But she is nervous. She has never had the pleasure of meeting the king himself. She talks about what a wonderful man you are and has always said she wanted to meet you some day, though I don’t think she expected to meet you just yet. She wasn’t prepared.” Dylanger answered back quickly.
Dayahnaira couldn’t believe he had just said that. What was he doing? Trying to cause more problems. She only hoped he knew what he was doing. “It is true sire! I...I have never thought I might get this close to you, it is a pleasure. I just hope you don’t think less of me for not bowing as I should have.” she said trying to follow along with Dylanger’s story. Her eyes lowered to the ground.
“ Look up child, I want to see your face.” the king was being kind to her, but why?
She did as he said and looked up but she did not look him straight in the eyes. It was told that a person could see into your soul and seek out your inner most secrets when you look deep into another's eyes, and though she did not know if it were true she did not want to test it. Instead she look just over his shoulder to the man who had approached her earlier. His face was stern and showed now emotion. Though his eyes did meet with hers and she knew he knew.
The king walked up to her again and brushed her cheek with the back his hand. “ You are definitely the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. You betrothed here is very lucky to have you.” he said then back away once more “ I give you both my blessings in your marriage.” 
Dylanger and Dayahnaira looked to each other then back to the king. They were amazed he had not done anything more than he had. They bowed to him one last time then ran of out of the village. Dayahnaira looked back only once, to see if they would follow, but they had not. They only stood their a moment then moved on. It almost saddened her to see them leave, to see her own father march on with the king’s army.