The golden rays of the sun still light the room as Malodora examined her appearance in a mirror. She had been delighted when she was given the news that the king had personally requested her presence in his castle. Knowing the rumours of him killing every maiden he had summoned to him but she did not believe it.

For she wanted to use the king to gain power over the land by slaying him to take his crown for herself but she had hidden her plans from her husband, Gerlat. A voice said to her “please Malodora stay here with me. I will protect you from the king so he may never touch you.”



Malodora laughed as she saw Gerlat approach her with his fury with her actions. “I am aware of your views my love but know that I have my skills as you are aware of” Gerlat sighed angrily at his wife’s reasoning “skilled you maybe but not even you were once a Forrdiean witch you lack the skills to defend yourself against him. And fear that I will never see you” for a moment they heard the muffled sound of crying from a room to the side of them.



Hiding her true plans from her husband she told him “Gerlat, even if I did not travel to the king he would come here for me and he will harm are daughters to get to me. It’s better this way my love ... I promise you that no matter what happens I will return to you. Now I need to get changed into my best dress for him” as she left the room so did Gerlat to see who was crying.



As he opened the door to see his oldest daughter weeping her sorrow. Gerlat walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her, trying to comfort her “Ignatia? What is wrong my bear?” he asked her. Ignatia was the oldest out of his two children who was well known for her strength and her strong leadership skills that made the villagers think that she may go into the army or the guard when she was older.

She managed to see in between sods “I don't mother to go ... I have heard ... Stories from the ... Boys in the village” Gerlat kissed her on the forehead as he had stories to but from many other people that had similar things happen to them. He told her softly “I worry to about but we must stay strong for her, for us and so that the gods will look down kindly on us” she stopped crying after he spoke to her but she looked she was about to start crying again.



While Gerlat comforted Ignatia, Malodora had changed into her best dress. Her arms held the small form of her youngest daughter who’s blonde hair shorn in the rays of the sun turned her hair golden. Malodora smiled as she looked at her beauties over whelming beauty “I envy my child. Your youth and beauty makes mine pale to your appearance. When you are older you will grow in grace and beauty may you become a pure hearted women, my bear Kalian” she put Kalian in a crib. As she left the room she heard Kalian cry out to her as if she knew that something was about to happen to her.

When she left home with un easy feet to see that the sun was setting causing her skin to turn pale by the shadows of the setting sun.