The Queen of Swords

                                                                    Chapter 1
(Editor's note: The information contained in this chapter was taken directly from a document smuggled out of Haven by Lord Nipsi after Kriss's voluntary exile. After many extensive interviews with those who knew her it has become apparent that Kriss rarely spoke of her childhood so we owe a debt of gratitude for father's thievery...for once. - ed. Nipsi the Younger)

The Queen of Swords

Kriss was brought into our world in a small cabin in a remote part of the wilderness. There was no midwife, only her nervous, sweating father, who, according to Kriss's mother, was absolutely no help at all. She was three weeks past due and labor was an exhausting 12 hours, almost as if she were resisting her arrival in our world from the very beginning. She was healthy and her parents, proud. Three years later, Elly was born. From the very beginning she was brave beyond her years, not only her older sister's shadow but quite often her protector as well. Her love of animals ensured that their little household was an ever expanding menagerie, much to her mother's dismay (especially where lizards were concerned).

      Kriss's father began training them with weapons almost as soon as they could walk and the two sisters took to their lessons with zeal and determination. While Elly seemed to love anything with an edge or heavy, blunted head, Kriss's love was the sword and there was little wonder why. Her father, whom she loved with all her heart, had the most exquisite blade she had ever seen. He called it the Moonblade and, along with several scars and a milky white mass where his left eye should have been, he had brought it home from the war.

      The Moonblade was light as a faery's wing and covered with strange runes from tip to guard. The pommel and quillian were covered with strange, beautiful gems that, like the runes, glowed faintly under the light of the moon unless the moon was full. Under a full moon they glowed brightly and the sword gave off an audible hum, quivering slightly as if it were full of so much power it was going to explode. Kriss's father did not like to reveal the sword under a full moon, telling her that so much power was likely attract the wrong kind of people. Kriss did not know who these 'wrong kind of people' were but she was not afraid of them. She and her sister could handle anything and the sword was so pretty to look at when the moon was full that she found herself sneaking it out from time to time against her father's wishes.

      When she was eight or nine she had become so proficient with the weapon that she had surpassed even her father's skill with the blade. He promised her that the next time he went to town he would look into hiring the best instructor available. Kriss pestered him for weeks until at last it was either time to go or he had simply given in to her wishes. Most likely the latter since he went alone and came back with nothing except for the promise of a new instructor in the morning. From their favorite hiding spot Kriss and Elly listened to their parents argue about the coming blade master. Mother was concerned about what the man would do upon seeing the Moonblade but Father insisted that all was well. Apparently anyone or anything could be bought for the right sum of gold in town. Kriss wondered just exactly what this 'town' place was like. She and her sister had never been more than a mile or two from the safety of their little cabin in the woods.

      That night the moon was full. Waiting until her parents were deep in slumber Kriss slipped quiet as a shadow from her bed, her feet carefully avoiding the many creaky spots in the wooden floor, and plucked the Moonblade from its hiding place. One of Elly's cats was the only creature to hear her, evidenced by a pair of shiny eyes in the moonlight. Uncaring, the cat's eyes drifted slowly shut as Kriss slipped out the door into the chilly night air. For an hour she practiced her swordplay in the moonlight. She was an impressive sight to behold even at her young age. When at last she grew tired she slipped back inside her home and stowed the sword beneath her bed instead of returning it to its proper hiding spot. She was soon fast asleep and dreaming.

     She was shaken awake by her sister who quickly put a finger over her mouth to keep her quiet. There was shouting outside. Someone was demanding the Moonblade. Her mother was pleading, begging her father to hand it over to them. Her father's voice was shaky, the first time Kriss had ever heard fear in his voice. “It isn't there,” he said. “The hiding place is empty.”

      “He got here first,” a woman said, then she began saying many words that Kriss had never heard and a few she had been told never to say because they were naughty. Suddenly Kriss remembered where the sword was and fished it wildly from beneath her bed. Elly made a little squeak of surprise then quickly covered her mouth with both hands, her green eyes were wide and wild. Her little head full of adorable little red curls made a quick jerking motion towards the doorway. Kriss nodded and quietly pulled the Moonblade from its scabbard as Elly grabbed her bow. The blade was glowing brighter than ever now and its low hum filled the room, threatening to give them away. Elly gave Kriss a withering glare but Kriss could only shrug in return. In desperation she gently ran her finger along the length of the runes. In response the sword quieted itself although the humming was still present. Elly sighed and flicked her head again at the door. Her curls bounced joyfully around her head.

      “What was that?” the woman snapped from outside. “It's here. Kill them.”

      Elly let out a little squeak again as she and Kriss charged for the door. Wish a sharp whistle Elly sent her wolf flying out the door ahead of them, slamming the door open with such force that it shattered into splinters when it banged against the outside wall. Although everything seemed to be moving in slow motion it was only a split second before Kriss and Elly were halfway across the room. Elly was drawing back her bow and Kriss held her sword at the ready as a loud war-cry that belied her age began to rumble past her lips.

      A tremendous explosion rocked them backwards before they could even reach the door. At first everything went white and silent. There was the suggestion of pain. Then everything went black and Kriss began to dream of other worlds.