This story has been going through some major re construction in the past year or so. Here is a sample of what I have re-written so far.

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Prologue

A man slowly climbed the hill, the morning's fog obscuring everything around him until the grave markers were no more than slightly darkened shapes of grey against the rest of the discoloured world around him. As he approached the top, something drew his attention, the same suggestion of movement that he had followed through the gates of the small cemetery and up the small hill toward the stone monument. The flicker of a black cloak, gently tossed by the chilled breeze. The cloak belonged to a figure of firm stance, hardly visible through the mist. As the man approached the stranger, it spun to face him, cloak flaring around it. For less than a moment, fear gripped the man as he stared into a faceless blackness, but just as quickly as the fear had come it vanished as he realized a pair of icy blue eyes stared at him from beneath the shadow of the hood.
A tall woman stood before the man, little could be told about her face, for she wore a black cowl over her nose and mouth. The single lock of tightly ringed hair was black as the abyss, but her eyes were what demanded the onlooker's attention. She had piercing blue eyes, clearer than the sky after a heavy rain, that stood out in stark contrast against ebony skin. The man drew in his breath and ran a hand through blond hair as he stared at her.

Chapter 1

It was a warm afternoon in late spring and the sun shown warmly down on a green field where eight year old Audra Haelven and ten year old Mark Thompson sat. Just outside of their small town of Tretan and with the sprawling _ Forest surrounding the town in the middle of the meadow, it was a beautiful place for two children to play and eat their lunch.
“When I grow up, I'm gonna be a 'ero and save lots u' people and go on lots u' a'ventures.” Mark boasted confidently to his companion, despite stumbling slightly over some of his words. Audra's face fell and she began to clench and unclench her hands—she always did that when she was upset about something. “What's wrong wi' you? Why are you poutin' like that?” he asked her scratching at his blond head.
“You said you were gonna to marry me!” Audra sulked, crossing her dark arms and turning away from her young friend.
“Well u' course I'll marry you, silly!” he laughed, “After I'm a 'ero and go on a'ventures, I'll come 'ome an' marry you.” The boy told her in a very matter-of-fact tone.
“Really.” The girl asked, wiping her small nose with the back of her hand.
“U' course! Or if you want, I can marry you first and we can go on a'ventures together.” Mark exclaimed with a hopeful glint in his green eyes.
“Oh, I don't think I'd be brave enough to go with you. Besides-”
But the little girl's voice trailed off as both children caught sight of a horse and rider racing towards the village. It was the old man who lived in a small cabin along the main road through the forest. “To arms!” He called out as soon as he was within earshot of the small militia outpost on the fringe of the town, “To arms! Brig-”
An arrow flew from the fringe of trees, swiftly arcing and landing in the old man's back, silencing him. His back arched and he tumbled backwards, off his horse. The horse kept running without missing a step.
Mark's hand flew to Audra's mouth, stifling her scream as they watched the old man fall. A moment later the forest around the road erupted with the cries of a hoard of men, rushing toward the small town of Tretan. Mark lept to his feet, pulling Audra after him, and ran towards the town where the attackers were already looting and burning homes and killing townspeople.
When the children reached Audra's home they found her mother and father out in front of the little house. Her father was using his new shovel to defend himself, while just feet away from him her mother wielded the large sword that usually hung over over the door of the Healven home. She handled the sword with grace and effectiveness, maneuvering the heavy weapon with ease, executing quick, smooth arcs as if she had been using the sword all her life.
The children watched in horror as Audra's father fell with an arrow embedded in his chest. Audra screamed and ran towards her parents, tripping and sliding a short way. One of the bandits approached her, a malicious grin on his face. But a moment later her mother was there, sword arcing over Audra, cleaving him from shoulder to navel. The ebony-skinned woman looked down at her daughter with bright emerald eyes. The street was empty for now, but the screams of townspeople and the sounds of battle rang all around them.
“Mark!” Audra's mother's green eyes turned to the boy and he approached her, frightened eyes darting all around, “Get Elena from the house. Take her and Audra deep into the forest and find a place to hide. Do not leave until you are certain that this is over.” She placed her firm grip on his shoulders and made him look into her eyes, “I am trusting you to protect my daughters. Now go.” She pushed him towards the house and pulled Audra up off the dirt.
The children raced into the small house as the fire from next door licked at the Healven's thatched roof. They ran inside and into the back of the two-room home where Audra's baby sister, Elena, lay screaming in her cradle.
Mark grabbed her and the two friends fled the house as flames began to consume the roof. Once outside, they were immediately confronted by the sight of two of the brigands standing over the bloodied corpse of Audra's mother. Snatching Audra's hand her pulled her as fast as he could towards the boarder of the town.
The children didn't know if they were being pursued, they didn't dare to look, so they just kept running as quick as their little feet could carry them. They had often played together in the forest, but they ran deeper than they had ever dared to go. After a while, however, Mark began to fall further and further behind. Unaware that she was now alone, Audra continued to run.
Eventually, the girl slowed. Unable to continue any further, she stumbled and fell to the ground, and as she laid there, darkness began to consume the sky, and sleep forced itself upon her.

Chapter 2

“Do I...know you?” The man asked the shrouded woman.
“Who are you?” She demanded, her tone frosty, “What do you mean trying to sneak up behind me?” Her eyes were narrowed suspiciously as she clenched and unclenched her hand.
“I thought I knew who you were.” He smiled slightly, only slightly put off by her icy blue glare. “It has been a long time.”
“I don't know what you are talking about. You must have mistaken me, I am called black ice.” Her certain expression faltered almost imperceptibly and she glanced away from the man before her as she spoke.
“Of course, there is always that possibility.” He murmured noncommittally.
They stood for a time, two silent figures in the fog, as they gazed at the names written on the roughly formed memorial. The young man's eyes rested on one name, the name of an eight year old girl. Perhaps he was wrong. But how could he be? Skin that dark was rare enough, but to be paired with those eyes... Could it even be possible that it wasn't her? As he glanced over at the form next to him, seeing the slender fingers clench and unclench, he knew that it must be.
“Who are you looking for?”
“I am just looking.” She said, “Paying tribute to the memory of the poor souls who lost their lives in the raid.”
The man drew in a breath and then looked searchingly into the stranger's eyes, “You won't find Elena's name here, or Mark's.”
Her bright blue eyes rose to meet his. They were haunted and tired, as if something had caused them to grow old before their time.
“...Mark?” She whispered the name hesitantly, as if she were afraid that he would vanish at the mention of the name, just another specter of the mist.
“You never grew out of that nervous habit.” He smiled.

“Please come in.” Mark held the door of the old Thompson home open for Audra and offered her a seat.
“How is Elena?” She asked somewhat nervously, hoping that the answer was good news.
“She's fine.”
“Where is she?”
“Audra, I...” Mark faltered, worry in his eyes.
“What? Is something wrong?”
Mark sighed as he sat down at the small, roughly made table, “Elena thinks that I'm her brother.” He hesitated before going on, “I lost my parents in the raid too, I brought her up on my own. I guess she just kinda assumed I was her brother. By the time I realized it, it was too late. I couldn't make her believe me without upsetting her more than I could stand to.” He paused and then chuckled, “I often told her stories about you, you became our own little legend.”
Audra stared at the grain of the wood table, “I understand,” She murmured, “Still, I would like to see her...to talk to her.”
“Come with me then,” Mark stood and gestured toward the door, “I think I know where we can find her.

A young woman sat in the grass near the creak, picking wildflowers.
“Elena, I can care for you, I would make a good husband.” The young man standing before her was really getting irritating. He had been eying her for almost a year now, and because she was of age, she'd known that it was only a matter of time before he approached her. But she never expected him to be this desperate.
Henry was his name, Elena had never liked him much. He'd been a small, annoying boy, and now he was worse than annoying. He was maddening. He couldn't take a hint, and what right did he have to beg her for her hand? Any decent man would have gone to her brother.
“Henry,” She looked up at him, her green eyes bright, “I won't consent to marry anyone without my brother's blessing. Why don't you go back to town and tell him you're interested. When he's through working for the night, we'll talk.” She hoped the mention of her brother would make him rethink his efforts, it was common knowledge among the young men of Tretan that her brother had threatened to tan the hides of any of them who went near his sister. What was not common knowledge though, was that the gruff tanner would never make good on that threat.
“Your...brother?” Henry was suddenly quiet and rather nervous looking, “Is that really a good idea? Couldn't you tell him?”
Elena suppressed a triumphant smile, “Why, Henry,” She exclaimed, feigning surprise, “You aren't scared of him, are you? I don't think I could live with myself if I married a coward...”
“No, of course not! I just thought...” Elena tuned him out, she wasn't in the mood to listen to him ramble about what a great husband he would make. She wouldn't marry him, nor any of the men of Tretan, none of them were what she was looking for.

Mark and Audra trekked through the forest, toward the creek. When it came into view so did a tan skinned young woman, kneeling by the bank. The hair that she pushed away from her face was so dark a shade of brown that it looked almost black, and watching her one would think that she didn't even know the young man beside her existed.
“Hey,” Mark called out, “I thought I made it clear that my sister is to be left alone!” The young man looked between Mark and the woman for a moment and must have decided that the girl wasn't worth the risk of a fight with the large man coming towards him, because he said something quickly to her before heading hastily back towards town.
Once he was gone, the girl stood and smiled gratefully at Mark. “Thank you, he was really starting to get on my nerves.” Her eyes flicked over to the woman beside Mark, taking in Audra's still cowled face. After a moment her eyes widened, “Wait, I know who you are, I've heard stories! You’re Black Ice!”
“Yes,” She said slowly, “But my real name is Audra.”
Quite suddenly, Elena’s countenance changed. “Audra?” the girl looked at Mark suspiciously “Is this another one of your games, brother?” she demanded.
“Elena, I may joke about many things, but I would never lie about this.”
“I don’t believe it!” She spat defiantly in Audra’s face “I don’t know this woman! I never had a sister! I will not believe it!” Elena spun on her heal and ran deeper into the woods.
“Elena! Get back here!” Mark started after the girl but Audra put a hand on his arm.
“Leave her go.” she said softly.

Later Audra found Elena sitting up in an Oak tree. The girl sat on one of the ancient tree's thick branches with her back against the massive trunk and her skirts hanging down on either side of the bough on which she sat..
“Mind if I join you?” Audra asked. Taking off her cloak and letting it fall, she grabbed a branch, gripped it firmly, and swung swiftly and effortlessly up into the tree.
“Go ahead.” Elena mumbled sarcastically as Audra perched on a branch just to the side and above hers.
“You know, I owe Mark a lot.” Audra told Elena quietly after a moment, “I remember the last time I saw the two of you.” Seeing that Elena was not going to respond, she continued, “I remember the raid…vividly.” her eyes faded into a faraway look “We were sitting in the field outside of town, Mark and I. When the brigands swarmed the town we ran for my house. When we got there, mother and father were fighting the bandits…Father was struck down, Mother fought her way to him, slicing through the attackers like tissue paper. She told us to get you and hide in this forest. Her eyes were even brighter than usual, more fierce, but when we came out of the house, they'd killed her.” Her voice sounded hollow, numb, empty, “Mark pulled me back into reality, if he hadn’t kept his head I would have just stood there, I would be dead too, and so would you.” Audra said turning to look pointedly at the girl beside her. “He helped me save you, he carried you for me. I didn’t know what happened to the two of you. I didn’t even know that Mark wasn’t behind me any more. I had always been faster than him. I guess he fell behind, and then…something must have happened.” Her voice trailed off.
“I had no idea.” Elena said stunned “Mark never talked about the raid. He always knew though, that you were still alive. Everybody thought he was crazy…crazy, just for hoping. I once asked some of the villagers about you, they told me that your mother appeared here one day, on the outskirts of the forest. She was badly wounded, your father found her and nursed her back to health. When she was well enough to talk she said that she could remember nothing, she eventually fell in love with your father and they were married. She never did remember who she was, but she often had nightmares. She believed they were flashbacks of some sort.”
“I remember mother’s nightmares. She would cry out in her sleep. Often she would scream the name Joseph. Father would wake her, she would sob into his shoulder saying, ‘It is all my fault, I could have saved him.’ but she could never remember who Joseph was, or what happened to him.” There was silence for a few minutes, then Elena spoke up.
“What happened to you? After the raid I mean. How did you become Black Ice?”
“I fell and lost conciousness while running away from the village. When I woke, it was night, and I was in a camp. The man on the other side of the fire was older, but obviously very strong. He had tattoos all over his face; he told me he was called Ezam.”
“Ezam? That name sounds familiar, where have I heard it?”
“Ezam was a great hero in his prime, but by the time he found me he had given it up to help train young people who showed…special promise.” Audra told her.
“People like you.” Elena observed softly.
“Yes, he saw to my training personally.” she mused, “Come, it will be getting dark presently. We wouldn’t want Mark to worry now would we?” Audra said with a smile
“No, I suppose we wouldn’t. Mark gets irritable when I worry him.”
“He hasn’t changed much, has he?” said Audra with a smile.

Chapter 4

“'Ey say sh'es Black Ice.”
“The Black Ice? That can't be true. Ice is almost six feet tall, she can make a grown man cower with just a look!”
“That's 'ow the story goes, but I ain't never known Elena to lie. That's Black Ice, an' she's Elena's sister too.”
“Mark an' Elena have another sister? Now I have heard it all.”
“No, she ain't Mark's sister. The way I 'eard it, Elena ain't really Mark's sister either. The story goin' 'round is that Elena's parents died in that raid the ones what've lived 'ere a long time talk 'bout, so Mark up an' raised 'er 'imself.”
“'E was ten, I 'eard it from Elena 'erself.”
Two men sat on the wooden bench outside Tretan's small tavern, watching Audra as she walked back toward the Thompson home from the town's well, a jar of fresh water balanced on her head. For someone reputed to be a cold-hearted mercenary, she was surprisingly graceful. She was the talk of the town. Black Ice, the woman who so many people told stories of, had come to the small town of Tretan. She'd come in her cloak and cowl, and now walked about in a simple woolen dress, looking much like everyone else in town, save for her ebony skin.

“What were mother and father like?” Elena lay on her straw mattress, gazing at the dark celing of her loft room.
“Well,” Audra thought for a moment, “mother was tall and beautiful. Her skin was darker than anyone else's I've ever seen.”
“Like you.” Elena observed.
“Her skin was darker even than mine.” Audra smiled, “She was firm, and a fighter, but she was always gentle with you and me, and very kind. You have her eyes.” She whispered, a bit of longing in her voice. “Father was a shy, quiet man, he always said that mother was his backbone.”
“And your eyes must be from him.” Elena guessed.
“Actually, my eyes are my own. Mother's eyes were green, you've inherited that, but father's were brown. My eyes are an oddity, they're an effect of what makes me 'Black Ice'.”
“And what is that?”
“I'll tell you some other time.” Audra whispered quietly.

“I brought cold chicken and a loaf of bread.” Mark said, sitting on the blanket beside Audra. It was almost two months since her return to Trenton, the first snow had just fallen and Audra was becoming almost at home there as she had been before she disappeared.
“Isn't that what we were eating the last time we sat here?” She asked, amused.
“Well,” he said slowly, “I was kind of hoping we could pick up where we left off.”
Audra felt her face warm a little, but she stayed composed and nonchalant. “Well, if I recall correctly, I was about to tell you why I wouldn't go off on adventures with you when we were interrupted.” She gave him a mischievous glance, “I was about to say that I would not go with you because I would become an even better hero than you, and beat you at everything.”
At that, Mark laughed, an exaggerated, cocky laugh, “Whoa now, don't you think that you are getting ahead of yourself? We both know that I have always been stronger than you.”
“Yes, perhaps you were.” Audra mused.
“Were? No, no, no. Am, I am stronger.”
“Oh, you are are you? So, if the need arose you could...kill a werewolf? Or...fight off bandits on one side and goblins on the other?”
“Glorified rumors, my dear! You have not really done all those things.” He joked.
“Glorified rumors?” Audra asked him. Her voice was still playful, but her blue eyes were suddenly serious, “But of course, what else could they be?” she asked, pulling up her sleeves one at a time to expose battle scars, and sliding her blue dress part way off one shoulder to reveal something resembling a large scar, but silvery in colour. Mark stared at her in astonishment. “Yes, that's it, just glorified rumors.”
“Audra, how...” his voice trailed off
“How did it happen?” She finished for him, “I was traveling. I heard screams coming from a small farmhouse just off the road, so I went to investigate. Whatever it was, it was already gorging itself on the corpse of a child when I got there. The poor child was so bloody and mutilated that it was unrecognizable. The father lay dead on the other side of the tiny flower garden, and the mother was huddled cowering against the house, sobbing.
“I drew my sword and charged the beast, but it lunged out of the way. Whatever it was, it was fast, too fast for its size. I tried to fight it but it grabbed the mother and vanished, but not before giving me this.” Mark stared at her in awe, taking in every word, “I lost a lot of blood, it nearly killed me. For days I was in and out of consciousness, and when I woke I was in the castle of Lord Fallin of Bouge, and I had this scar.
“Wow, Audra, I had no idea you had seen so much.” She smiled at him ruefully.
“Well, that happens when you do the things I do.” Audra looked up at Mark, she looked into his green eyes and he looked back into her blue ones. “That happens when you take the dream of the boy you...” Mark leaned toward her slightly, the look in his eyes was soft, gentle. He moved his face close to hers. Audra's stomach fluttered wildly. Blushing deeply, she turned her face away, suddenly taking a deep interest in a blade of grass.
“I'm sorry Audra,” Mark apologized, also blushing, “I shouldn't have-”
“It's alright.” she cut him off quietly. “I need to go, I promised Elena I would meet her in the forest.” she lied. She didn't want to lie to him, she didn't want to leave, but she knew she needed to get away from him, to clear her head. She stood and walked quickly toward the forest.

Chapter 4

“I am afraid I must be moving on presently,”  Audra announced at breakfast after staying almost three months in Mark and Elena’s home.
“Oh, no!” Elena exclaimed sadly.
“Why?” Mark asked.
“I must.” Audra stated simply, “I have to return to the guild.”
“The guild?” the other two asked.
“I am a member of a guild of men and women who travel about the world, and aid people who are in need of protection, among other things. We also keep an eye on the movements of the more dangerous bandit leaders, and crime lords. I am leaving in the morning.” The other two were silent, then abruptly, Mark excused himself from the table and went outside.
“What do you think is wrong with him?” Audra turned to Elena confused.
“You truly cannot tell?” the girl gave Audra an almost disgusted look, “You must be absolutely ignorant about men.” Elena left the table and headed for her room.
“In my profession I cannot afford to be conscious about men, it could get someone killed.” Audra thought to herself.

Later in the day, Mark found Audra again gazing at the monument of the Tretan Raid.
“Audra, can I talk to you?” he asked looking slightly nervous, “It’s important.”
“Sure, what is it?” she asked
“Well…I know you were planning to leave tomorrow, but…” Mark hesitated, “But I was wondering…” he sighed, “Do you remember what we were talking about, just before the raid?”
“I believe we had just agreed that you would become a hero, then come back to marry me.” Audra smiled, Mark gave a nervous laugh and cleared his throat.
“Yeah, well…I, uh…I was wondering…well, uh…I mean…Audra, I always knew that you survived, even if nobody else believed it,…and I…I have never stopped loving you. I…Audra…will…will you marry me?” Mark looked away, embarrassed, while Audra just stood there staring at him, stunned.
They stood there for a long time. Two lone figures facing each other, atop the hill, silhouetted against the sunset. One, a tall, slim figure with cloak wafting in the wind, he other just as tall, and well built. They just stood there, saying nothing.
Audra stared at Mark. “Mark, I…I don’t know what to say.”
“Please say something.” He begged, “These past few days have reminded me why I loved you.”
“Mark, that was fourteen years ago, we were children.”
“But-”
“Besides I have too many enemies. I should not have come in the first place. I only came to find out what had happened.” tears came to her eyes, “I…I just had to know. I wondered why I, of all people, survived. Why it was I who inherited your dream. But the thought that you and Elena may not have survived haunted me. I had to know. And now that I know, I must leave.”
“But Audra…I love you.”
“That is why I cannot stay. If anything happened to you or Elena, it would be my fault, I could never forgive myself.” They looked at each other for a long time, not saying anything. Audra looked away, “I have to go.” And with tears streaming down her face Audra turned and ran swiftly down the hill, toward the dark, lonely forest.

Chapter 5

It was late when Audra returned to the Thompson home, “Your supper is on the table.” Elena mumbled, and without even looking up from her book, she climbed the steep steps to the loft where she slept. Audra ate the cold meal silently; and, when she was finished, she too climbed up to the loft. She sat on the mat that Mark had laid out for her to sleep on, and watched Elena as she lay there.
“How could I leave them all over again? It was hard living, not knowing that they were alive. How could I live now that I know, and I know that I cannot be with them?” Eyes brimming with tears, she rolled over, and closed her eyes.

The next morning, when Mark came in he found Elena at the table and Audra in the kitchen cooking breakfast.
“Audra, wha…” he looked at Elena, but she just beamed at him.
“I was thinking last night…If I am going to stay, I will need to pull my own weight.” Audra stated matter-of-factly, smiling at his astonishment. “That is, if you still want me to stay.” she added her smile fading.
“Of course I want you to stay. But, I thought…”
“You thought I had too many enemies? I do, but they don’t know where I am. I left no unfulfilled promises or obligations, no loose ends, and I told no one where I was going. I am a free woman.” Mark smiled at her,
“Then you will marry me?” He looked at her hopefully,
“Yes!”

Chapter 6

“You look lovely!” Elena exclaimed. The young woman stood back to admire Audra. Her dress was simple, white with a silver sash, and she wore a circlet of small white flowers in her hair, a gorgeous contrast to her dark complexion.
“You know,” Audra smiled wryly at the younger woman before her, “I don't think I've felt nervous like this in a very long time.”
“Don't be. Everything will go well.” Elena grinned and began giggling.
“What?” Audra's eyes narrowed suspiciously.
“Well, you are my sister, and I always thought that Mark was my brother. So, it’s kind of like my sister is marrying my brother.” She laughed.
“Why, you twisted little girl!” Audra laughed along with her.

“She must be some woman to get you to go so far so quick.” William smiled at his old friend.
“She’s the only woman who could get me to go so far.” Mark replied. William looked at Mark, perplexed, as he got ready to marry a woman he had only known for _.
“How can you be so sure that it’s her? What if she is just playing along with you? What if-”
“It’s her, Will. It’s Audra, no one could act that well. She knows too much, and you didn’t see the look in her eyes the first time she heard me mention the names Mark and Elena.”
“I don’t understand, how long have you really known her?”
“We grew up together. You could say we were childhood sweethearts. The last time I saw her was the day of the raid. Until I saw her at the monument _ ago…”
“So, you are just trusting that she is the same person she was fourteen years ago?” Mark just stood there, unsure of what to say. The silence was broken a few moments later when a man entered the room.
“Mark, it’s time.”

It was a cool winter day, the sun was shining down on layer of snow, making everything sparkle, and in the field to the south-east of town there was a gathering.
People sat in rows of chairs, whispering amongst themselves. Blue and white ribbons were woven through the chairs, and oh, the flowers! Violet and white Primroses. And behind the chairs was a small white tent.
Mark stood before the rows of people in his white doublet and black boots that shined like new. The priest stood next to him, and everyone waited.
Elena emerged from the tent, scattering petals of Violet Primroses and everyone rose to their feet. It was often noted, even many years after, that her beauty was particularly remarkable that afternoon. Her dark completion was clean and clear, and the silver and blue dress showed off just enough of her figure, without being sensuous. Still scattering her petals, she reached the end of the chairs, faced the priest, curtsied, then stepped up to her brother, and kissing him on the cheek, sprinkled petals over his head, and slowly turned to face the isle between the rows of chairs.
Audra then emerged from the tent. All present drew in their breath at the sight of the ebony skinned woman, clad in white and silver. At the top of the isle, she turned, paused, looked at the man who stood there waiting for her, and gave a small smile. He smiled back, a loving, happy smile.
Just then, all who were standing there heard a scream from the direction of the town. Audra turned toward the town, she turned back to look at Mark, but his face was suddenly as white as the rose petals that lay upon the grass at his feet. As shouts erupted from the forest, Mark fell, Elena cried out in horror, and rushed toward him. Audra could do nothing, she felt her feet moving, slowly, toward the end of the aisle, where Elena kneeled over the gasping form of her brother. Audra sank to her knees and held the hand of her dying love. Chaos was all around them, but she only knew one thing, the past four days had been the happiest of her life, it was the first time since that day, so long ago, that she had not been haunted by a past that she could never forget. As she knelt there, she became aware of one other thing, she became aware that she would not spend the rest of her life with Mark, as she once thought. Her days of happiness were already over, and there was nothing she could do to save him.
Mark struggled to say something, his face twisted with pain, she leaned closer to his handsome face.
“Take care of Elena.” He rasped with effort. “Care for our sister.” Audra nodded, tears streaming down her cheeks. Weakly, Mark raised his hand to her cheek and she held it there with her own. “I love you…Audra…” Weeping hysterically, Audra held Mark’s hand tightly pressing it to her face. She was not even aware of Elena being pulled to her feet by a big, burly man with a dirty bandana over his face, until she was pulled to her own.

Chapter 7

Audra stared at the body of her nearly dead lover, at the head of the arrow that protruded slightly from his chest, and at the fresh blood that stained his new white doublet. Slowly, Audra noticed the men who surrounded her. She saw Elena’s shuddering, limp figure, held up by one of the men who had killed her love. One of the bandits stepped forward.
“Black Ice, we have orders to take you to our leader.” Audra’s eyes grew suddenly cold. Slowly, she raised her eyes until she was looking the man in the eye.
“Did you kill him?” Black Ice asked the man quietly. There was a calm, cold edge to her voice. The man looked at her, taken aback.
“N-No,” he said his confidence crumbling under her gaze.
“Did you?” she asked, her icy-blue eyes looking into those of several of the men in turn. “Who killed him? Call off your attack and tell me who killed him, and I may just let the rest of you go only moderately injured.” She heard a quiet laugh behind her, an evil laugh that sent chills up the spines of everyone standing there. “Deven,” she spat the name like a foul taste in her mouth. “I thought I killed you already.”


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