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The Elite (Part 1)
Prologue
Thousands of gleaming white stallions stood lined up just barely across enemy lines, steaming in the morning sun. Aboard them sat just as stunning soldiers clothed in shining gold armor. But the beauty of their presence would soon be gone with the chaos that was to come.
The cavalry's leading commander stepped out of line, and squinted toward the horizon with his hand over his brows. His posture never changed nor his expression. With a firm nod he backed into line and said, “SOLDIERS! Prepare yourselves for war!” He turned back to the horizon and whispered one word that could change everything, “Ilitan”.
Chapter 1
Tesa's heart beat fast as her dirty bare feet pounded on the soft forest floor. Once, she had grown up in these mystical woods. Once, she had lived a life of love and laughter. Screaming with delight as her father jumped from behind a tree and chased her, laughing, back to their cozy cottage where a warm meal awaited them. Once, she had smiled on her 13th birthday as her mother placed a necklace over her head with a carefully carved wooden pendant of the elements.
"Keep these close to your heart, Tes." She whispered in her ear, "One day, you will change the world." Once…she was happy.
No more, that life was gone. Now, she lived in fear. She ran, her heart pounding, lungs aching as she gasped for the oxygen her lungs craved. She refused to stop, she had to get away. It was like time had stopped, all that was and would ever be was her racing heart beat and the ragged breaths she pulled into her lungs as her throbbing muscles pushed on. The woods were a vast maze ahead of her, the towering pines seemed to reach out at her, tearing at her clothes and scratching her skin. It seemed like they had voices, some soft and some insistent, begging for her to give into the forest. Still she refused the voices, still, she pushed on.
She ran for what seemed like hours through the dark woods. Her legs fighting for balance on the uneven ground. Finally, her shaking body collapsed in a heap on the forest floor, gasping for air. She had no idea how far she had come or where she was, but it didn't matter now, none of it mattered. All she knew was that she had to get away. She closed her eyes tightly as images of the previous day shot through her memory like icy shards…
The night was cold and dark, the wind blew wildly through the trees, causing the walls of the well crafted chalet to creak and groan with every gust. However inside the small cottage, the Everetts were warm and happy as they sat down for a delicious meal of venison stew. Tesa’s father had shot...
Thousands of gleaming white stallions stood lined up just barely across enemy lines, steaming in the morning sun. Aboard them sat just as stunning soldiers clothed in shining gold armor. But the beauty of their presence would soon be gone with the chaos that was to come.
The cavalry's leading commander stepped out of line, and squinted toward the horizon with his hand over his brows. His posture never changed nor his expression. With a firm nod he backed into line and said, “SOLDIERS! Prepare yourselves for war!” He turned back to the horizon and whispered one word that could change everything, “Ilitan”.
Chapter 1
Tesa's heart beat fast as her dirty bare feet pounded on the soft forest floor. Once, she had grown up in these mystical woods. Once, she had lived a life of love and laughter. Screaming with delight as her father jumped from behind a tree and chased her, laughing, back to their cozy cottage where a warm meal awaited them. Once, she had smiled on her 13th birthday as her mother placed a necklace over her head with a carefully carved wooden pendant of the elements.
"Keep these close to your heart, Tes." She whispered in her ear, "One day, you will change the world." Once…she was happy.
No more, that life was gone. Now, she lived in fear. She ran, her heart pounding, lungs aching as she gasped for the oxygen her lungs craved. She refused to stop, she had to get away. It was like time had stopped, all that was and would ever be was her racing heart beat and the ragged breaths she pulled into her lungs as her throbbing muscles pushed on. The woods were a vast maze ahead of her, the towering pines seemed to reach out at her, tearing at her clothes and scratching her skin. It seemed like they had voices, some soft and some insistent, begging for her to give into the forest. Still she refused the voices, still, she pushed on.
She ran for what seemed like hours through the dark woods. Her legs fighting for balance on the uneven ground. Finally, her shaking body collapsed in a heap on the forest floor, gasping for air. She had no idea how far she had come or where she was, but it didn't matter now, none of it mattered. All she knew was that she had to get away. She closed her eyes tightly as images of the previous day shot through her memory like icy shards…
The night was cold and dark, the wind blew wildly through the trees, causing the walls of the well crafted chalet to creak and groan with every gust. However inside the small cottage, the Everetts were warm and happy as they sat down for a delicious meal of venison stew. Tesa’s father had shot...
