First chapter. Let me know what you think. In the show Allanon doesn't seem that affected by Pyria's death as he's quick to move on. I guess this idea just allows the series to show a more emotional Allanon as he is capable of acting like a father to both Wil and Ander at the end.

Disclaimer: I own nothing on this website.

Amberle woke up confused as she saw the open sky above her. She was in a hammock by the sea, right at the spot where the tree-line met the beach. Her hand gravitated to her ribs which hurt making her remember the night before. She had been riding when a trap was sprung, knocking her off her horse. A covered face had then appeared above her as she passed out.

Returning to the present Amberle saw the mask once again and realized that she was still in danger. The Princess shuffled upwards, trying to get up when a voice spoke around the corner.

"Ignore Iggy," a woman said walking towards her. "I use him to scare the bark nuts off any Rover that comes sniffing around."

"Aunt Pyria?" Amberle asked, recognizing the woman despite not having seen her in over a decade. Pyria smiled, hugging her grand-niece.

"You are the spitting image of your mother," Pyria declared, stroking a hair back from her face. "Now, what are you doing out here? You could have been kidnapped or killed."

"I'm in trouble," Amberle admitted. "I need your help."

"How far along are you?" Pyria asked immediately.

"I'm not pregnant," Amberle assured. "In your letters. You said you witnessed magic during the War of the Races."

"That was a very long time ago."

"But you still believe in it." Pyria stilled, not wanting to answer that directly.

"What's really going on Amberle?"

"I ran the Gauntlett...and won. I became a member of the Chosen." Pyria smiled in pride.

"Your grandfather must be furious. Good for you."

"No, its a nightmare," Amberle cut off. "When I laid my hand on the Ellcrys I had a vision; Arborlon in flames, Demons feasting on the dead. It was a vision of the future. A future thats going to happen because I broke the rules. You need to help me stop it." Pyria placed her hand on Amberle's cheek.

"Of course I will...," Pyria began when a horse whinnied nearby. "Hide behind there," Pyria ordered, pointing behind the shelter. "Quickly now." The noise of someone walking through the trees grew louder, their horse in tow. Pyria grabbed her spear, ready to defend herself and her grand-niece.

"Mother?" a voice called, instantly making Pyria lower her weapon. "If you're home we seriously need to have a discussion about the amount of traps around here."

"And let you get sloppy?" Pyria called as a young elf exited the tree-line, letting go of the reigns to wrap the woman in a hug.

"It would be nice to come home without being attacked by your latest woodland surprises. The last one nearly broke my ankle," he admitted in her ear. "Its good to see you," he continued as they broke apart.

"I did not expect you back for another month," Pyria said.

"I was passing through. I can only stay for a day or two at most. I guess you'll...uh...hello?" the elf stumbled, confused as he saw an elf maid come out from behind the shelter.

"Rawdon, I want you to meet your cousin Amber from the capitol," Pyria said. "Amber, this is my son; Rawdon."

"Son?" Amberle half-whispered to her aunt.

"We all have our secrets dear, I only ask that you keep mine. Do not speak your true name," Pyria replied as Rawdon got distracted by his horse nuzzling his shoulder in search of food.

"Its a pleasure to meet you," Rawdon said smiling at Amberle as he rummaged for an apple in his sack to give to his horse. "What brings you all the way to Wing Hove."

"Can a girl not visit her family?" Amberle asked, making Rawdon smirk.

"Of course, only its my experience that anyone who ventures this far is running away from something."

"Like yourself?"

"Indeed, whenever I get frightened I run straight back into my mother's arms," Rawdon teased, smiling at his Pyria affectionately as he removed the saddle from his horse. "I uh better go bathe, no doubt I make for a rather unpleasant companion at present. When I get back perhaps you can tell me about your life in the capitol."

"Don't start interrogating her Rawdon," Pyria warned.

"My mother doesn't approve of my interest in Amberlon," Rawdon explained. "Perhaps she will let it go once I make us all dinner."

"That depends if you catch something better than rabbit," Pyria replied. Rawdon dipped his head in agreement, grabbing his bow and quiver before jogging back into the trees.

"You've kept a son a secret all these years?" Amberle said once Rawdon was out of ear shot.

"Yes," Pyria replied, walking onto the beach.

"Why?" Amberle asked, hurrying after her. "Why wouldn't you tell anyone? Does Grandfather know?"

"No-one knows," Pyria replied.

"But when I was a child you used to visit."

"And Rawdon would stay with my husband."

"You're married?"

"I was," Pyria said. "He died several years ago."

"I'm sorry," Amberle replied. "So Rawdon does not know about any of us? That he is royalty?"

"He doesn't need to know," Pyria stated. "He is happy as he is."

"But..."

"Tell me Amberle, do you like being royal?"

"No," Amberle answered immediately.

"And that is why I have not told him."

"But your not supposed to like it, if you do you shouldn't have the responsibility." Pyria smiled.

"You are very wise my dear for one so young. You are a fine Princess and one day you may make a great Queen if your uncles have no children. There is no need for Rawdon to ever know, the royal line is strong enough without him." Amberle reluctantly nodded, accepting her aunt's decision. It was not hers to make.

"My son believes your leading me astray," the King said as Allanon entered the room.

"I remember a younger King, who wouldn't allow the whispers of doubters cloud his judgement," the Druid replied.

"Well we can't all fall asleep for decades and forget that the world has moved on without us." Allanon smiled at that. A moment later the Captain of the guards walked in accompanied by Wil.

"We found him trespassing in the Princess's room. He insisted on seeing the Druid," she said to the King.

"Your Highness, I think I know where Amberle's hiding," Wil stated. "She's with someone called Pyria."

"Pyria?" the King asked. "No one has heard from my sister for years." Allanon turned away, trying to calm his expression at hearing her name.

"According to these letters she lives in Wing Hove," Wil continued. "Amberle was secretly corresponding with her. I found them hidden in her room."

"Why would the princess need to write in secret to her aunt?" Allanon asked.

"We had a falling out many years ago," the King said. "She fell in love with a human. When she asked for my blessing I refused."

"Because she didn't love an elf?" Wil inquired, being half-human himself.

"Because she loved you Allanon," the King said to the Druid.

"I thought she understood that there was no future for us," Allanon replied.

"Well evidently she didn't. However, thanks to your very capable apprentice here we now have our best chance of getting Amberle home safely. I will instruct the scouts to go to Wing Hove."

"No. Wil and I will go...alone."

"We will?" Wil asked. "Inviting a few soldiers might not be a bad idea."

"The demon that killed the chosen could still be inside the city walls. Nobody else is to know Amberle's location or her life could be in danger."

"As you wish," the King agreed as the others left. "What do you think old boy, hmm?" he said to his dog. "What do you think?" The only problem was that it was not his dog, but a changeling.

Pyria and Amberle left the shelter and walked down onto the beach, carrying the rugs. Rawdon was already there, tending to the fire as he prepared to cook the deer he had shot that afternoon.

"I see you did better than rabbits," Amberle said, sitting down beside the fire and smiling at her cousin.

"I was lucky," Rawdon admitted. He was a very good shot but that didn't mean he would stumble across game every time he looked for it.

"Rawdon's been shooting with a bow since he was just a boy," Pyria stated, handing her son a drink.

"And a good thing too, or we would have to live off wild mushrooms," Rawdon teased his mother gaining him an affectionate swat to his arm. "You know I'm only joking. My mother here has raised me in these woods," Rawdon told Amberle. "She can handle herself just fine, else I would never have left home."

Amberle smiled at her aunt, seeing a role model in her. The three of them ate together, laughing at Pyria's stories about her and her brother; excluding the parts involving the palace and their royalty. Rawdon had heard them many times before but for Amberle it was refreshing to hear about her grandfather the King in such a way. After the meal and stories were told Pyria excused herself for bed and left the two younger elves alone.

Rawdon placed another log on the fire as Amberle laid down and looked up at the stars.

"I wish I could stay here forever," Amberle stated, admiring the night sky. Rawdon frowned at that, lying beside his cousin.

"No you don't," Rawdon said.

"Are you a mind reader as well as an expert hunter and cook?" Amberle asked, looking at him.

"No," Rawdon assured, "but I can read people well enough. You wouldn't be happy here. It might seem nice for a week, perhaps even a month but then you would realize that you are leading a life without any purpose. I do not think that is a life for you Amber. You would become bored."

"And is that why you left, because you were bored?"

"I needed to find my own way in the world. Mother wasn't pleased, she wanted me to stay nearby, but I couldn't remain here any longer."

"Aunt Pyria said you joined the scouts," Amberle said. Rawdon nodded.

"I am now a Lieutenant in the border patrol," Rawdon said with pride. "I must leave the day after tomorrow to rejoin my party. Perhaps one day I may even become a Captain."

"And you would be content with that?" Amberle asked instinctively, regretting her words straight away.

"Perhaps in the Capitol there are more opportunities," Rawdon countered, feeling the sting of her comments. "I am the son of what others would call a hermit in the woods and I do not even know my father. Being a Lieutenant is an achievement I had never even thought to aspire to."

"I'm sorry," Amberle stated. "I didn't mean what I said. I only wondered why you had not sought a commission in the Black Watch in Amberlon." Rawdon sighed.

"You are forgiven, but the capitol is somewhere I would never go for employment. Despite my eagerness to see it, my mother would not bare me venturing there. There are some wishes I will not go against. Anyway, the black guard is an elite order. I am not worthy."

"I think you're wrong," Amberle replied. Rawdon smiled at that.

"Then there's absolutely no reason why you can't join their ranks," Rawdon said. "You should go back to Arborlon Amber. You have a whole future ahead of you. Perhaps one day I will finally visit and you will be a member of the King's own guard."

"And what will you be doing?"

"If I am lucky I will have the honor of sending my reports directly to the King himself," Rawdon said in amazement. "Imagine that. A nobody having his words read by our ruler. In truth he would probably need an aide to decipher it; my handwriting is appalling," he joked. Amberle laughed, but inside she felt only sadness. Rawdon valued the little things above all else. Ideas that if people knew his true identity would seem miniscule. If the King knew of his existence Rawdon would become part of the royal household; he would see the King everyday and address him as uncle, and yet, Rawdon would be overjoyed with a simple Captaincy in the border guard. Amberle admired Rawdon's life. If only she could enjoy the small pleasures in life; rather than have such great responsibilities. "I better get some sleep," Rawdon said, yawning. "I rode through the night to get here."

"Goodnight," Amberle said as she watched her cousin drift to sleep beside the fire, a content smile on his face.

Pyria had been watching the two riders travel along the beach so she went down to see who had come. When she saw the man on the first horse her heart nearly stopped. He was supposed to be dead and here he was, dismounting and walking over to her.

"Allanon?" she asked.

"We've come for Princess Amberle," the boy interrupted when the druid did not reply.

"I cannot help you," she replied. Allanon then clenched his hands and she felt his mind join hers, searching for her grand-niece.

"She's at the waterfall," Allanon informed Wil.

"Damn your Druid tricks," Pyria hissed, concern growing now she had had a moment to recover after seeing him alive.

"Go now, time is precious," Allanon said to Wil making him run off.

"That's Shea's boy isn't it?" Pyria asked as she turned and searched the surroundings for any sign of Rawdon.

"I'm convinced he'll be the man his father was," Allanon replied, walking up to her turned back. He was unaware of the fear on her face.

"After all these years you look like you haven't aged a day. How can that be?" she asked, running her fingers together as her anxiety grew.

"The Druid's sleep," Allanon informed her. "A deep hibernation that restored my magic. I was depleted after the war. I had no choice but to leave."

"No choice," Pyria snapped, turning to face him. "You abandoned me without so much as a goodbye. You abandoned us to live a life without you! Do you know how much pain you have caused?"

"You are the strongest woman I have ever met," Allanon replied, confused at the extent of the anger on her face. "I knew you would be able to move on without me."

"I do not speak for myself," Pyria stated as she turned to walk away again. Allanon grabbed her wrist before she could.

"Pyria?"

"I want you to leave," she ordered, searching the beach for Rawdon again with her eyes. "Amberle told me about the Ellcrys and her visions. You're here to take her away and act as a puppet master, manipulating innocent lives as you see fit." Allanon frowned at that. "It will be Amberle's choice whether she goes with you or not, but you shall not use anyone else." Pyria then walked back to the shelter and saw that Rawdon's horse was not there. She breathed a little easier, he was probably out hunting and could be gone for a few hours. She had time. Allanon followed her, going over her words as he noticed something odd about them. Who else did she mean?

"When the sleep calls, there is no time for goodbyes," Allanon tried to explain, standing beside her once again. "Being a druid is not a choice, its a calling... You will never know how sorry I am, or how much you still mean to me," he continued, taking her hand's in his. She smiled sadly at that, gazing into his brown eyes that were so familiar to her.

"I wish you had been here all these years," Pyria replied. "I wish you could have witnessed what I have..., but you can't change the past. Finish what you came her to do and be on your way; life here has moved on without you." Allanon bowed his head, releasing Pyria's hands at her painful words. He began to walk to his horse when a feral scream filled the air behind him.

"A Fury," Allanon said, pulling Pyria towards him. "Stay behind me." The winged beast flew towards them and attacked, smacking its claws into Allanon and knocking him off the cliff onto the sands below; winded. It then turned to Pyria, standing over her and preparing to strike. Allanon could only watch as the claw swept downwards to slash repeatedly at her chest, tearing skin. It was about to strike again when the beast stumbled back, an arrow having sliced its side.

Allanon turned to see an elf riding past him on the beach, firing arrows from his bow up at the creature. The Fury roared, flying towards its new target, weaving from side to side to avoid the arrows.

"Pyria!" Amberle shouted, running onto the beach with Wil behind her, having heard her aunt's screams.

"Amberle wait!" Wil cried, hurrying after her.

Rawdon rode towards his cousin, pulling his horse to a stop in front of her and turning back towards the beast. He stilled his breath and drew his bow once again, making sure his shot counted as it was the only thing that would stop the beast from killing them all. Rawdon released the arrow and it hit the creature just to the side of the heart, making it lose control of its wings. Traveling too fast to stop the fury collapsed onto the horse and elf, crushing the archer. Rawdon cried out in pain, disorientated from the fall and trapped under his deceased horse. He was helpless to do anything as the fury slowly stood and turned its attention to his cousin and the boy. Rawdon wasn't really sure what happened next, only that through his blurred vision he saw the fury fall to the ground; its head no longer attached to its body.

A dark haired man appeared over him, pushing the weight off his leg as someone else pulled at his shoulders to drag him out from underneath the horse. Rawdon bit his lip from the pain, tasting blood as a shaky gasp escaped him. Suddenly his cousin's face looked down at his as she pushed back the hair from his forehead. She was speaking but he couldn't tell what she was saying, the words were too muffled.

"My mother?" he asked weakly, moving his hand to try and push himself up. Tears were falling down his cousin's face as she shook her head. Rawdon couldn't believe that and forced himself to rise, using his arm to move his cousin away as he looked back towards the cliff. The sight that met him made him feel sick as he saw his mother's bleeding body on the rocks.

The man from before was suddenly there in front of him again, holding him steady as the blonde boy held onto his cousin. The man had brown eyes and looked strangely familiar, as if he'd seen him in a dream before. He was looking at Rawdon oddly, as if he was at war with himself inside. The man held onto Rawdon tightly when he tilted, keeping him upright. The grip was strong as if he were testing whether Rawdon was actually real or not.

"She's gone?" Rawdon asked again, weakly.

"Yes," the man's gruff voice responded, an unspoken question in his eyes.

"I'm sorry Rawdon," his cousin said, making the stranger flinch in front of him at the name, the question in his eyes disappearing instantly. One of the man's hands then reached out and held Rawdon's face gently so that their eyes met.

"It can't be," the man stated as Rawdon's eyes blinked closed and his head fell forward to rest on Allanon's shoulder.

"Rawdon?" Amberle gasped, rushing over only to stop when Allanon held out his hand.

"He's just unconscious," Allanon said weakly, trying to recover from his discovery. "I must get him to the druid cave," Allanon stated, picking up the injured elf and cradling him close to his chest. Not only was the youth's leg crushed, but he had also been scratched by one of the fury's claws. "You must ride to Alberon."

"What?" Wil cut in.

"I'm not leaving him," Amberle insisted, following the druid as he carried Rawdon to his horse.

"You have no choice," Allanon replied. "You must get back to the Ellcrys or it will die and far more demons will be unleashed."

"But Rawdon..."

"I will not let any more harm come to him," Allanon stated strongly. "You have my word."

"Amberle, we have to go," Wil said, agreeing with the druid once he had heard his reasoning. The elf maid looked conflicted as Wil held Rawdon still on the saddle as Allanon mounted behind him.

"He'll be alright?" Amberle asked desperately. She couldn't bare to lose both Pyria and Rawdon in the same day.

"I won't rest until he is Princess," Allanon assured, holding his charge protectively. Amberle finally relented to the idea but felt she had to say something to the druid. She took hold of the reins, preventing him from leaving before she had said her final words. "My cousin is unaware of his heritage. My au...my aunt never told him that he is royal. I would appreciate if you maintained this rouse for the time being. Until his family can be there for him; the news will not come easy to him." Allanon nodded, unable to speak his acceptance.

Allanon spared no time and set his horse into motion, making his way to the cave where he hoped to heal the elf in his arms. The half-elf he corrected. Rawdon was his son, he was sure of it. Named after his own father, Rawdon was the reason Pyria was so angry with him when she knew his duty was to leave her. Allanon had left behind more than just a memory as he entered his hibernation; he had left behind his own blood.

Rawdon was half conscious when they arrived at the cave and Allanon carried him from the horse to the stone table.

"Who are you?" Rawdon asked weakly, barely able to focus on the face of the man looking down at him.

"My name is Allanon, I'm a druid," Allanon replied as he ripped open the youth's tunic to reveal the bleeding wound.

"There are no druids," Rawdon said deliriously, eyes roaming the cave, trying to understand how his life had just fallen apart so quickly. His mother was dead, making his heart ache in pain. His chest suddenly burned and he cried out as he looked back to see the man's hand over his wound and light shining down on it. The man's other arm had to pin him down as he tried to fight him off. He, however, was far to weak in his injured state to be able to win. After a few more moments the burning stopped and Rawdon looked down at his chest to see the wound gone; only a blood stain remained. "How?" he asked confused, his weakness still present but the pain in his chest gone.

Allanon ignored the question as he went over to the youth's leg to see the extent of the damage there. He grimaced as his hand endured the pain of the magic he had just used. He knew he should have just healed the worst of the wound, but this was his son, he couldn't see him hurt any longer.

"Your leg is broken in two places. Its going to feel a lot worse before it gets better," Allanon told his son.

"What if I take back the no Druid comment?" Rawdon joked weakly, preparing himself for the pain. Allanon felt pride at the determination he saw in the youth's eyes as he grabbed his belt and set it between his son's teeth. Rawdon bowed his head in thanks, ready for Allanon to start. The druid wasted no time and grabbed the youth's leg, resetting the bone. Rawdon bit down hard, disguising his scream in the leather. It was half-way through the second break when Rawdon passed out from the pain.

When he was finished, Allanon stumbled to the ground, pulling off his glove as he did so. His whole arm was blistered and red from the extent of healing he had just done. He didn't regret it, but he needed to take a break before they could start moving again. Resting his back against the stone table, Allanon allowed himself a reprieve as he watched over his boy; an idea he was still struggling to comprehend.

Allanon startled awake, realizing he had allowed himself to fall asleep. Gripping the stone slab he quickly pulled himself up and turned to check on his son only to find him gone. Allanon's heart almost faltered as he looked around the cave to find no trace of Rawdon. He hurried out of the cave's entrance fearing the worst, when he spotted the young half-elf sat on one of the rocks outside. Rawdon looked up and smiled, standing to properly meet the man who had saved his life.

"I fear your efforts to preserve my life made you neglect your own well-being," Rawdon stated, walking over to the druid without any fault in his step. "I cannot thank you enough," Rawdon continued, holding out his hand. Allanon went to shake it but paused when he saw Rawdon had spotted his blistered skin. Before he could withdraw it Rawdon had grabbed his wrist and turned it over. "Your hurt; badly. I had thought you were merely tired..."

"Don't concern yourself with it," Allanon dismissed, taking his hand back. "It is nothing."

"It is hardly nothing," Rawdon retorted. "If only I had my bag, it was on my saddle...," he continued, trailing off when he realized his horse had felt the full force of the blow during the demon's attack.

"Your mount did not suffer," Allanon stated, seeing the pain in the youth's eyes.

"I wish the same could be said for my mother," Rawdon said looking down. If only Rawdon knew Allanon felt the same way about Pyria's death.

"I am sorry for your loss, she was a great woman." Rawdon looked up at that.

"That reminds me," Rawdon said, latching onto his words, confusion rising. "Why were you in Wing Hove? Who was the boy you were with? Where's my cousin? What the hell was that thing that killed my mother?"

"Easy," Allanon said, raising his hand and trying to calm the youth down. "I can explain everything, but you need to be calm enough to listen."

"You expect me to be calm when I have just witnessed my mother murdered!" Rawdon shouted, voice breaking mid-speech. He turned away, ashamed. The young half-elf took a breath and ran a hand through his hair revealing his pointed ears. "I'm sorry...you just saved my life and I'm acting like all of this is your fault."

"It is understandable," Allanon replied, impressed by how quickly Rawdon controlled himself. "Why don't you sit down and I can answer your questions."

"Alright," Rawdon said, returning to the rock he had been sat at before. "You said you were a druid. My mother said the last druid died in the War of the Races."

"That what she thought. Thirty years ago I disappeared to enter a Druid's sleep to restore myself. There was no time to say goodbye to Pyria, or anyone else."

"How did you know my mother in the first place? I know she used to live in the capitol but I don't understand how a druid would..."

"Your mother worked in the archives," Allanon explained.

"She never said."

"I was looking for information on the Shannara bloodline, your mother assisted me. That is how I found Shea Shannara; a hero of the War. The boy you saw yesterday is his son."

"So you needed more information from my mother, that is why you came to Wing Hove."

"No. I came to Wing Hove for your cousin."

"Amber? Why?" Rawdon said, making Allanon remember he needed to be extra careful about what he said.

"Your cousin is one of the Chosen," Allanon began. "And judging by your expression she did not tell you."

"Women can't be..."

"There is not law against it." Rawdon broke out into a small grin.

"And I was telling her she would be Captain of the Black Watch one day. She has already surpassed my expectations. Why wouldn't she say?"

"Because the Ellcrys gave her a vision," Allanon explained. "A vision of the destruction of Arborlon. Your cousin did not know where to turn and thus went to your mother. She is the only one who can save the Ellcrys now. The other Chosen have been murdered."

"Amber's in danger?" Rawdon asked. "Why isn't she here?"

"Because she had to get to Arborlon in all haste."

"Then you should have gone with her."

"Wil is capable of protecting her; he has magic like his father."

"He didn't protect her from that demon," Rawdon pointed out.

"No. You did that. Which is why we are here."

"You should have left me. If Amber is in as much trouble as you suggest then you should be with her."

"You could not have expected me to leave you there to die."

"I've lived through worse before." Allanon stilled, remembering that he had seen scars on the youth's back. Too many for one so young.

"How old are you?" the druid asked.

"Soon to be thirty," Rawdon answered quickly. "Why?"

"I was unaware of Pyria having a husband when we last saw each other thirty years ago."

"Then you are equally in the dark about my parentage. My mother had a husband when I was young but he was not my father. She never speaks of who came before. No doubt I am a bastard, why else would she have fled the capitol?"

"Isn't that a rather low opinion to have of your mother?" Allanon asked.

"There is no-one alive that loved my mother as much as I did," Rawdon assured. "Yet even I can admit my mother had flaws. Her irrational hatred of the capitol being one of them; I cannot believe she behaved admirably for her whole time there if she chose to flee from that life."

"You have never been?"

"No. Maybe for fear of what I may find there. A father perhaps...or maybe no-one."

"I want you to come with me to the Capitol now," Allanon stated, ashamed by the hurt he had caused his son. The youth was obviously conflicted about his feelings for his lost parent.

"I can't," Rawdon said. "I have to return to my post."

"The King will require a report from a witness."

"Surely he will take the word of a Druid; why would he need the opinion of a commoner?"

"Because the King values the words of an impartial man." Rawdon didn't look convinced. "And unless you want to make the journey on foot, you require transport back to your post. At the Capitol you will be given a horse and provisions. The delay will be only a few days." Rawdon frowned in embarrassment, realizing he must have been carried here unconscious.

"It appears I have no choice," Rawdon relented. "It would be a two week hike and I have misplaced my bow."

"We best be off," Allanon said, smiling to himself. He had managed to keep his son in his company for a little while longer. He only hoped that when Rawdon discovered the truth he would not hate him for it.

"I will have to walk some of the journey," Rawdon said as he mounted behind Allanon. "Even a magic horse can't carry two for so long."

"There's no such thing as a magic horse."

"I just assumed..." Rawdon trailed off realizing how stupid that statement was.

"I did however once have a unicorn."

"Wait what?" Rawdon gasped as Allanon set the horse into a gallop. Allanon laughed deep in his chest at the shock in his son's voice as the boy clung to the saddle. He was much like Wil in his wonder at magic; but Rawdon was clearly more adversed to the harshness of the world having fended for himself for so long. Allanon recognized the mark of a Lieutenant on the youth's sleeve. A common woodsman would not have achieved such a rank without a long hard effort; too many young nobles bought their ranks in the army. Allanon was proud of him; he only wished he had been there to have seen him grow.

Please review and tell me if you like it/hate it/know how to improve it.