Draynon nodded and opened the book.  He leafed through the book until he found the chapter that he was looking for.  “Here we go.  Now this was roughly 120 years ago, or four generations.  It’s not so much a history book, but written similar to a novel to make the facts easier for the reader to remember, rather than just bombarding them with endless seeming names and numbers.”  He coughed once to clear his throat and began reading from the book.  “After the destruction, many people wondered how it started.  Who gave the order to kill us?

 Astrid was woken at dawn that morning by a light and persistent knocking on her door.  She climbed out of bed and slipped on the dressing gown.  Padding across the thick woollen rugs that covered the stone floor she carefully cracked open the door a few inches.“Good morning,” a chirpy voice said as Astrid peered out.  The voice belonged to a slim girl with an excited expression and wide, vapid, blue eyes.  Strawberry blonde hair hung lightly across the girl’s shoulders and her dress was a pale lavender.  Her nose was slightly snubbed and she had a face that was flat in a conventional form of pretty that looks very nice while the girl is young, but does not last long.

  Mrs Bellmar was not amused about being forced to teach Astrid Politics or Statecraft.  Astrid knew this to be a fact as Mrs Bellmar spent the entire lesson telling her about it.“It’s not my place to say anything about Lord Draynon’s choices, and I really shouldn’t say anything,” Mrs Bellmar said in a voice that could have easily commanded troops across a battlefield.  Astrid feared that the buxom Mrs Bellmar would say something, and that particular something would be extended.  “Why a young girl such as yourself needs to know politics and such is beyond me.  Young girls should be concerned only with sewing, cooking and catching a suitable husband.&nbs

“Brian,” Sigwulf called as the older man ran past.“In your office,” the man replied before he disappeared into the swarm of people scurrying everywhere.Sigwulf grumbled as he stalked into his office and collapsed onto the chair behind his desk.He picked up the letter on his desk and scanned through it.Sigwulf,Be informed that we are conducting an investigation of all reports relating to the following...1) Galadon Knights,2) The Katrall family,3) Reports of large numbers of people moving into forests across Kalthar,4) Sounds of large groups of voices in the forests,5) Anything else relating to the above.The functioning information you gather is to be placed into three annals.

  It was the next afternoon and Astrid was just heading to tend to Swift when she saw Sigwulf gallop his horse into the compound.  He leapt from Kann’s back and sprinted past her, casting her a quick glance as he ran past into the fortress.“He’s in a hurry,” a male voice murmured close behind.“Quite,” Astrid replied, tensed, and turned to look behind her to see the owner of the voice.A tall man that appeared to be only slightly older than her was smiling.  “My name is Sir Berwyn.  You’re that new girl I heard about.  You’re from Derrell aren’t you?”Astrid nodded.  “Astrid Chance.”