Prologue

“Razarr, we must leave!”  A charcoal-colored mare skidded to a halt, then reared up onto her back legs.  “Razarr!”  Her eyes shone with fear.

“Yalda, calm yourself!”  A black stallion trotted up to his mate lazily, tail swishing behind him.  He nickered, blinking golden eyes.  “There’s nothing to be afraid of.”  Yalda snorted.

“That’s what you thought when the river flooded,” she snarled, ears laying flat.  Razarr didn’t pay attention, only looked up at the stars above them.

“What is it this time?”  He dipped his head to look at Yalda.  “Don’t tell me of disaster.  There’s no chance of anything happening.”  The mare stared at her mate in disbelief.  

“I’m a Sky-Reader!” she whinnied furiously, narrowing her eyes.  “You can’t tell me something isn’t wrong!  It’s so clear-” Razarr put his tail over her mouth.

“You’re overreacting,” he cooed calmly.  “And you know I’ve never doubted you’re abilities.”

Shaking her mane, Yalda sighed.  The mountains to the southeast loomed above them, casting heavy shadow upon the couple as the moon rose above a cloudy sky, climbing high above the peaks.  

“Razarr.” Yalda’s voice was no longer frightened, simply pleading.  “Please, we have to leave.”  

“What will happen if I don’t?”  Golden eyes met eyes of deep blue.  “Yalda, calm yourself.  Nothing is going to happen.”  Taking a step forward, Razarr nuzzled Yalda.  The mare closed her eyes, breathing in the sweet scent of her mate.  Yet, her heart still beat with worry as the sky above them rumbled.  

Yalda pricked her ears.  Pulling away from Razarr quickly, she turned her head to the sky, which had gone from clear to cloudy in a few simple seconds.  Standing perfectly still, the dark grey horse stared at the clouds, eyes misting over.  

After a few long moments, Yalda sighed, looking at Razarr.  
“We must go.  The sky says so.”  The mare paused.  “There is a land over the mountains, a land filled with other horses like us.”  Razarr stared at her, the reared up in laughter.

“Yalda!  You know perfectly well Empire is no place for us!”  He stamped a hoof, tossing his head.  “The Thiskel banished us long ago!”  His eyes seemed to dim.  “There’s no going back.”


“But maybe there’s another Alpha Herd, or maybe even a Beta, that will be willing to take us in.”  Yalda’s eyes shone.  Turning her head to look over at her swollen belly, she murmured, “And besides, the Banishlands are no place for a foal.  Our son.”

Razarr closed his eyes, pawing the ground.  Above them, the sky let out a deep rumble, telling of a rain-filled night to come.  Yalda felt uneasiness rising in her throat.  

Suddenly the mare lifted her head, ears pricked.  For a moment, silence only danced across the barren plains.  Then, in a few simple moments, Yalda reared back, letting out a high-pitched whinny.  

“Razarr, move!”  Yalda spun around, leaping away as a flash of light struck the ground where she had stood only a second before.  Razarr leapt after her with a shriek, trying to gallop away as fire began to leap from the grass.

“Yalda!”  The mare spun around, watching with horror as fire circled her mate.  “Help me!”  

“No!  Razarr!”  Yalda squealed, lifting her head to the cloud-strewn sky.  “Why have the Immortals sent this upon us!?”  

“Yalda, please!”  A wail came from behind her, but Yalda didn’t look back as she lowered her head and raced away.  She could still hear the screams of her mate as the night continued, and the mountains came ever closer.  

Her hooves echoed across the soft grass, sobs issuing from Yalda’s muzzle.  Razarr was gone.  The words of disaster had really been words of death.  

The sky cleared, and the moon shone brightly, lighting the path towards the high peaks that shone of a second chance.

A new life waits beyond the Lorarem Mountains.  A life, where my son will grow in the ways of Empire, where he may flourish and grow strong.  A life, where I will be recognized as a horse, and not as a follower.  A life, where the Immortals do not send ominous words of pain and suffering.  A new life, beyond the Lorarem Mountains…