Beyond the hills-Chapter 1

You won't understand this if you haven't read the prologue: topic37432.html

CHAPTER I

Under a great big willow, surrounded by miles soft green turf, Rachel sat, her nose buried deep in a big leather-bound book. She lifted her head. In the distance, green hills could be seen encircling her small valley. Rachel came from the only village within the valley. It's name was Stanio, and was made almost entirely of small wooden houses with thatched roofs. About a meter from the first hut, the turf stopped, and the dirt roads started. The only road that wasn't dirt, was the central road, which was cobbled, and led far away, over the hills and beyond. No-one knew where the road led, because no-one was allowed to go past the hills. It was said that beyond the hills lay evil. But Rachel's dad, a blacksmith by trade, disagreed with this. Rachel returned her attention to her book. Suddenly, she heard a loud cry. On the soft turf, just far enough for Rachel not to have noticed them was a big circle of people shouting:

"Fight! Fight!"

Rachel closed her book, and started walking towards the circle. She pushed through the crowd of children to get to the center. On the grass, there lay Elvy, Rachel's twin brother, with Zuriagh sitting on top of him, hitting Elvy with all his might.

"Zuriagh! Stop!" Rachel cried out. No-one heard her. With all her might she pushed Zuraigh off Elvy. Bending over Elvy, she saw that his nose was clearly broken, and his face was seriously bruised. Behind her the crowd was dispersing.

"Elvy, are you Ok?" Rachel asked. No answer. Out of her pocket, she pulled a small wooden whistle her dad had given to her for if Elvy got hurt again. She blew on it with all her might, sending out a high pitched squeal. Quickly, Rachel stuck her hand in her pocket, and brought out a bandage and a leaf.

"Why does this always happen to you?" She asked herself. She spat on the leaves, making them soggy, rolled it up, and stuck it up his bleeding nostril. Withing a few minutes, her dad came running. With out a word, he picked up Elvy, and carried him away. This wasn't the first time Elvy had been beaten up. He was just the kind of person that people tended to pick on. Sighing, Rachel stood up. She picked up her book, and started off in the direction of the village.

* * *

Everyone gasped.

"Are you sure of your facts Por?" Barr asked.

"I have been researching it for twenty years...unless I have made a huge mistake, I am sure,"

"Then we must send out a messenger at once! The fastest rider within our world!" The King called out.

"Sir...in this weather?" Ro asked. "The storm shall break the poor horse's legs and burn the rider alive!"

"We have no choice, the weather shall never calm."

* * *

Rachel stared out of her bedroom window. It was night, and again there was a storm raging. Elvy lay next to Rachel. She had been appointed to take care of him, since she was to be a apprentice healer the next year. On his hand she had put a bandage soaked in greenberry juice.

"Thanks," She heard him say behind her.

"Took you a fair time to wake up, didn't it?" She asked him sarcastically. He smiled.

"Why did Zuriagh hit you this time?" She asked.

"He said that I was trespassing into his territory," Elvy replied.

"Territory?" Rachel asked.

"I was looking at the horses," Elvy had always adored the horses. They all belonged to Zuriagh's father. Elvy dreamed to learn to ride a horse, but their parents didn't have enough money to pay the fees.

Rachel woke with sounds of voices. She lay in the bed next to Elvy.

"...what says you to my offer," She heard a strange voice talk.

"We'll consider," She heard her dad replying. After a while, she heard her dad continuing.

"Sixteen gold pieces."

"But that's six more than the original price!" The other voice cried out in dismay.

"Well, you should consider how much this saving the world thing matters to you."

"Fine. But that's for them both."

"Deal."

A while later, Rachel had gotten dressed, and stepped cautiously outside. In the kitchen, her father sat with a small leather pack on the table.

"Ray..." her father started. He only used her nickname when he was about to tell her something bad.

"You and Elvy's going away for awhile,"

"Where to?" Rachel asked. She had never even been to the foot of the hills.

"Somewhere beyond the hills"

Chapter 2: topic37965.html