

She had shown Alska the ancient magic of her people, taught her their history but when the elves of black and gold had come, they had asked about men draped in cloaks of storm. Mother was a shaman, from an island across the Sea of Ghosts. All she knew was what Mother had taught her Father was a hunter, and had unfortunately died when Alska was still in the womb. How long had it been, she wondered, since the elves of black and gold had come to her, in the wilderness, asking all of these questions she had no answer to.

Alska couldn't remember the last time she had felt the warmth of the sun, seen the light of day.
