Part 1

The small barn was dusty and smelt of the damp hay that was stacked high against each wall. The air was humid and stuck to Anya's skin, making her eager to leave. It was that time again, when Tjorin Vale became an oven for the next few months. Mid-summer weather hit at the end of each year, this year of Shei was no different. Even though it was early morning, the day was already sweltering. 

Scanning the room, she studied the clutter and cursed the Gods for making this summer the hottest, she had ever experienced. She knew her curses were pointless since Shei would do whatever he wished with his assigned year; just like the other Gods would; but the God of the Will seemed to have chosen the worst day possible for humidity.

Scrunching her nose, Anya stood hand on hip and sighed. Mr Frizly was not known for his tidy attire, and the tendency extended to his belongings and living spaces. The only light came from the small windows high on the wooden walls. Thin beams of warm sun lit the musty barn, making the floating dust moats glitter in the light. 

She began searching for what Gerahld Frizly had described: a wooden box about the size of a cooking pot with a brass handle The barn was not big but it held a lot of accumulated junk that Gerahld had most probably forgotten ever existed. She picked up a wooden crate and pried the latch open with a pointed piece of wood lying on the ground. Inside were a couple of brass pots but not the box she was looking for. 

Setting the useless crate aside, she continued her search, climbing on top of haystacks and ducking under wooden beams. She was so engrossed in her task that she did not hear the soft footsteps behind her. A faint clearing of a throat brought her attention to the fact that she was no longer alone.

A familiar smooth voice called her name. Anya froze in mid-step and cringed. Irien rarely raised her voice but the bite that came with her usual tone worked twice as well as any vociferation.

 "Yes Lady Irien?" Anya slowly turned around with a strained smile. She walked out from behind a pile of haystacks and neatly folded her hands in front of her pale green dress. Matching her teacher's gaze, she allowed a small smile to curl at her lips. Silverbark! Caught like a fish on a line?

"That smile is not going to help you, young lady. Where have you been?"

"I was... well...I was..." Anya pointed her finger to the stack of hay from hence she had appeared. 

Irien raised a fine brow, but didn't wait for Anya to continue. "Dalliance is not a trait admired in a Guardian."

Dalli... oh by the Gods. "I wasn't dallying–"

Irien's brow arched. "Well, then who is the boy you are hiding?"

"I was dallying with no boy, Lady Irien," Anya spluttered. "I have been helping Gerahld Frizly with his stall." 

Irien lifted the second brow to join the first.

"Please Irien, tonight is the biggest festival this town has seen in who knows how long, and I was just helping set up, that's all. I swear on the honour of the Gods!" she lifted up her hand and showed Irien her palm in innocence. "No mischief this time." Anya fabricated the sweetest smile she could muster but her teacher did not respond. Irien just stood there like a cat would stare at a mouse. "No dalliance," she quickly added, reinforcing her smile.

Irien tightened the muscles around her eyes creating lines in the otherwise smooth surface. She was a graceful, strong lady; who probably acted far older than her years betrayed. Her hair, long enough to reach her hips, was tied back in a bun at the nape of her neck; a style she often wore and one that Anya thought was unbecoming. Its golden sheen seemed to absorb the daylight's sun like pure strands of silk held to the light in a seamstress' workroom. 

She wore a white and gold dress that all Guardians wore when attending a casual event. The front was cut in a straight line from shoulder to shoulder and was held at the shoulders by golden embroidery that travelled down to the back of her hands. The same pattern embellished the back all the way down until it released its tight hold and dropped freely from the waist. A fine dress for any woman in Tjorin Vale, yet a simple traveling dress for the Guardian.

 Irien sighed and unfolded her arms. She slowly sank down to sit on a hay barrel. She was a tall lady, domineering even, and her long, lean body looked out of place sitting there in the middle of a cluttered barn. Even Irien – whose face rarely depicted any signs of discomfort or annoyance – curled back her lip.

"Anya, when are you going to learn some discipline?" Irien kept her gaze on her hands as they smoothed out the soft material of her dress. Her voice was not harsh but heavy with disappointment.

"I'm sorry Iri, I mean Lady Irien -  " Anya paused looking at her own dirty hands. "I forgot about the lesson, I really did." She thought of how she could spin the truth to her favour in order to work her way out of trouble but she decided against it. "I am sorry. I never meant to upset you."

"You never mean to upset me but sometimes you do just that. Anya, do you know how privileged you are?" Irien's eyes snapped up and locked with her own. "It is an honour to be chosen to become a Guardian. Others dream of having what you have now and yet, you ungratefully spurn the gift."

"I am not ungrateful," Anya uttered. "I just worry... What happens if you are wrong? Maybe I am not worthy of being a Guardian, or just plainly don't want to be one!"

Irien's sharp pale blue eyes narrowed causing her brows to furrow. Her lips formed a thin pout that made lines run from the side of her nose to her mouth. Her pale face heightened in colour, but over all she remained calm.

"I act on behalf of the Imalandro and Guardians acts upon the will of the Gods. The Gods decided you were worthy. Do you deny that wish? You were gifted for a reason young lady, even if that reason is unclear to us."

Anya opened her mouth to argue back but closed it again thinking better than arguing with her teacher. She bit on her bottom lip. Why can't she just scream at me? It would be so much easier to answer her back! Her hand reached for the ring that hung around her neck. Its unshapely design felt cool against her palm and out of habit she tugged at it irritably. She was not about to throw another tantrum in front of Irien. The last one had ended in a disaster and she did not feel like scrubbing pots with her mother for another week. 

Irien was so controlled; she never raised her voice or betrayed her personal thoughts. It is a Guardians responsibility to remain calm in all situations. Anya thought bitterly at what Irien had said in one of their first lessons together. Irien was full of clever comments or advice. She always had something wise and important to say, igniting the desire within Anya to scream and pull every one of those golden locks out of her teacher's scalp.

"I cannot see myself worthy enough. I never do anything correctly. I am always in the wrong. I am disobedient, disrespectful and apparently now ungrateful. I just cannot believe that out of everyone in Tjorin Vale, they saw me! They chose me! How - why?" Anya stopped herself before she began shrieking. By the Gods, why did you give me this ability... this curse! She clenched her jaw and made a small sound in the back of her throat that she hoped Irien did not hear. 

Irien had come to Tjorin Vale just two years ago. She had sensed power in Anya and had given little room for choice from there on. Anya would become a Will-Guardian. Generally, those that had developed power already, sought out the Imalandro, home of the Guardians. Irien had explained that Guardians do travel from town to town, recruiting talented individuals every now and then. And now was a very important time since a new Keeper was about to be chosen. Such a monumental event encouraged Guardians to seek to increast their numbers. Giving those who saw the infamous figures as untouchable a chance to join their ranks.

For two years, Irien had trained her in the ways of the Will. This sounded more exciting than it was. So far, a rulebook of ettiquete, Aneshian history and Guardian history had been preached to her. Hence Anya's tendancy to forget about her lessons. The Will was still foreign to her and dangerously powerful. Magic in a way, but it was very different to the magic used by those performers at festivals who claim to have powers. Magic was more deceptive: it was a trick of the eye, nothing special. The Will, however, was something much more powerful. An individual can think of something and wish it to be true, however, if he or she is blessed with abilities in the Will then he or she can make that desire or wish happen. But as Irien always told her, there are always boundaries. At first, Anya had been excited to learn about her powers and capabilities but as days turned into months and those months turned into two years, she had become bored of the lectures and speeches about the responsibilities she would gain. She looked closer at her teacher and was surprised to see that Irien's face showed concern. No longer behind her 'mask of duty.' Two faced cow!

"Anya, come here." She motioned Anya to come sit next to her as if she was a child on the brink of tears. Initially, Anya was far from it, but now she could feel the pressure building up behind her eyes. Blinking rapidly, she relieved that pressure and walked towards Irien with her chin slightly lifted. She sat down next to her and schooled her actions from recoiling as Irien took her hands. Her long fingers curling around Anya's.

"Look at me," reluctantly Anya raised her eyes. Irien's forehead was marred from the small frown. Her pale blue eyes seemed transparent in the morning light that floated in from the rafters and for once Anya thought the pale grey specks in their depths were more like tears than daggers. "Never think you are not worthy. You are more worthy than you will ever know. The Gods have a reason behind their choices and they sent me here to instruct and to teach you the gift of the Will. They have trusted you to carry out the tasks and responsibilities that will be given to you, whatever they will be. The Will wills it so. Understand that the Gods and even I only want what is best for you. You are stronger than you think and are capable of almost anything you put your mind to." 

Anya dropped her gaze again. She could feel Irien's eyes looking down at her like a burden on her shoulder making it impossible to meet them. Irien took a deep breath and squeezed her hands. After a long pause, she started speaking again.

"Well, on a slightly lighter note, I do have some interesting news for you."

Anya looked up and tilted her head to the side; the change of subject was abrupt and the tone was very unlike Irien. She seemed almost excited. No, impossible! This must be good.

"Really? About what?" she asked calmly, besides her own excitement. She retracted her hands and watched a slow smile spread from Irien's mouth to the corner of her eyes. She was taunting her. She knew she couldn't handle suspense or surprises but Anya kept her face still.

"A dove flew into my room today."

"Ah, a dove, that is exciting." Anya said sarcastically, rolling her eyes.

Irien continued, ignoring Anya's remark: "It had an invitation from Arazia. They have invited us to attend - and for you to partake in... the Choosing of the new Keeper."

A moment passed before the news settled in and Anya was able to move her tightly locked lips.

"What?" Anya choked on the short word and felt her jaw drop. That dove must be lost. There is no way, no possible way I am...or could even be considered... but when has a dove ever been lost? Oh by the Gods... Anya was standing now, her back rigid; the hairs on the nape of her neck on their ends. "Me? But how can that be? Irien... I mean Lady Irien; you have to agree that I am nowhere near Keeper material!" Laughs of hysteria were running through her veins now. "The Elders and Keeper Karia must have lost their stones to think that I can even be considered a Keeper... the Keeper! I mean just look at me!" she indicated to all of her as if it would prove a point.

Irien chuckled. "Many novices will be partaking in the Choosing but it is an honour for you especially since you are not even a student at the Imalandro." Irien laughed again making Anya shake with anger.

"This is not a laughing matter!"

"No it is not, but you are."

"Oh thank you, that makes me feel so much better. In fact I feel better enough to happily tell you that I am not going."

Irien stopped in mid chuckle – though the smile was still on her face. There was even a hint of a former child in her eyes but Anya was too worked up to notice. "You are not going?"

Anya gave her head one sturdy shake.

"Even though you might be chosen?"

"That is not even a possibility." Anya retorted stubbornly.

"So why not go? What are you so afraid of?"

Anya pursed her lips and glared at her teacher. I preferred you as a bland, old cow! "I am not afraid!" she said a bit more forcefully than she intended. "And who said anything about me being afraid anyway?"

"Then why not go?"

"I have a perfectly good reason for not wanting to go." Liar!

"And that would be?"

Anya shifted her gaze and pretended to study the very boring wooden walls of the shed. She shuffled her feet on the spot and crossed her arms under her breasts.

"Forgive me for misinterpreting your words but I thought you wanted adventure and to experience life to its fullest? Is that not what you told me the other day? Anya? Are you going to answer me?"

"Yes I did say that." Anya unwillingly admitted. Biting down hard on her back teeth she glared at the far wall.

"All I ask is for you to think about it," Irien said finally. She stood up and rubbed the creases in her dress away. "We still have a few days to get ready for the journey. I shall not force you to accompany me but I do think it would be for the best." Anya felt Irien place her hand on her shoulder and then before she left, added. "Your leaving of this village is bound to happen at some point."

**AN**

This was my first ever attempt at writing a novel. I thought it would be interesting to put it up so please let me know if it is something you want to continue reading. It is long, I won't lie :P But the characters are very close to my heart. Thanks for reading!