Chapter One:

Misplaced Commander

Nessa's pov.

Months. We've been searching for months. The strongest, smartest of us all, our leader, gone. She's been missing for months, and It was all my fault. All because I couldn't listen. She told me, she told me we had to stick together, we were being watched, but no. I let Phil get the best of me. Oh Goddess if anything befalls her I can not be accountable for my actions. Clearly without her we are lost. We can't heal, fallow the pull, we are simply incompetent without her, but now we believe to have found her, our little ruler. The only down side is, if we have found her, it was because of Phil.

It was about a week ago. We were in a Roman village, and Phil was doing what she always does. Flirting and gossiping, trying to find a lead. We usually don't travel so close to the Romans, but we were desperate. If Ryann is in as much agony as I believe her to be, she won't be able to last much longer. I can feel her pain as much as my own, and I know the others do as well, such is the custom of us "sisters."

Ryann always told us, even if you wanted to go down a different road, to follow the wind, our hearts, the pull in a certain direction, it mattered not to her what we call it. She told me that "we are all connected, we share blood, love, pain. We are one. The four of us make a whole, that will soon grow." Sometimes I have an inkling that our little Ryann is insane, perhaps used to much of her "healing" potions. As quickly as the thought comes it is swept away when I remember all she has done for me.

If Ryann hadn't pirated the Roman slave ship, I know I would be dead right now, instead of harboring a few scares. Of course at first I did not believe so. I was beaten, rapped, and used to the amusement of my "master." The memory is bad enough without the evidence on my face. I remember clear as glass begging her to kill me and put me out of my misery, hating her for not complying until she told me of her past. My sweet little Ryan so young, so brave. I only withstand a few markings compared to her. Her body scared, flesh burned, and yet she lives.

Her own family tried to kill her, by stoning no less. She escaped just to be captured by the village Elders. She was to be burned at the stake for her "witchcraft". Again she escaped her captors, and fled to the forest where she has always been welcomed. That was only ten years ago.

Fifteen years old she wondered with her horse as her only companion. Bleeding, burnt, hungry, she wondered to a waterfall. I've been told that's where she found Tullia and Philomena. The three of them were alone with there horses until they found me. Strange how we all came together with only a years time. I guess it was magic. Ryann says it was what she had dubbed "the pull."

It's no matter. The three of us are outside a Roman's estate, a real pig of a man. We are one with the forest, blending in as if we were Woad, Ryann would be proud. As I wait for the opportune moment for an attack, waiting for cover of darkness I notice a thunder in the distance.

"Riders" Tullia whispers from my left.

"How many?" Phil asks from my right.

"Eight." I answer without hesitation.

"But who?" Phil wants to know. She moves as they enter the estate trying to get a better look. I send her a glare as a branch snaps and brings the attention of one of the filthy men. She smiles sheepishly at me as the man with a mane that could compete with Ryann's moves closer. Thank the stars his commander takes his attention to his work, and he leaves to scout the Saxons. When the rider can be seen no more we exhalable in the same moment all looking relieved. I send Phil another glare, and she returns it.

"Gods be damned Nessa, he's gone, we'll be fine."

"We'll not be fine till we have Ryann, did you not see, those are Arthur's Knights" Tullia tells her as if it's the most obvious thing, in the world. Our banter ended when we heard a loud pounding. Looking up we saw the wall to the prison crumble.