Chapter 2: Bitter Ashes

Peace DaySpring reigned her horse to a stop and surveyed the surrounding lands. There was nothing. What grass had once grown there was now nothing but cinders. On the very distant horizon Peace could see the dry brown of the Harazid waste which marked the border of their lands. It was almost a cheery contrast to the black of the burned lands which she now called her home and had devoted herself to for the last 20 years. It had almost been that long ago that she had crossed the waste. Just a lowly outcast running from her past in the outerlands.
Peace sighed. She had hoped she would never have to return to those wretched roads she had once walked. Though in her heart she knew she would have to return. How would it be different she wondered. And where would she go to look for help. There were very few good places in the outerlands, and those places had dwelt in defensive mode so long they were unlikely to be willing to help strangers. Whatever their response she must try. Peace reached into her saddle bag and pulled out her face mask, she would need it to protect her against the harsh waste winds. She donned the top part and then gently buttoned the face covering. It's rough black material settled into place across her face and brought back a rush of memories. It had been some time since she had put on the mask, yet she would need it to survive in the outerlands. Women were a desperately overused object of prey there. The mask was often the only thing that had kept her safe over the years.
What had she been? Just a child of 16 when she left, oh so long ago. She had received a few good things from that land. She had learned what it meant to love so deeply you would give anything for another. That had come from her family. Parents with a strong marriage that had lasted through her father being in the Carakan wars for 13 years. Two older brothers that had helped her learn to fight and stand up for herself. They might even still be alive. One twin sister. The most loving, gentle, and beautiful thing in the world. Though that had brought about her end. She was always to trusting. One day a man had come, ensured her that he could help her suffering family if she came with him, and taken her away. A few days later Peace's brothers found her body out in the fields. Peace never really got over it, she had trouble trusting anyone besides family after that. She had also held in her anger for years afterwards, until Flieshiv had taught her to give it up to God. She had learned most of what she knew of war and fighting in the outerlands, along with most everything she knew about horsemanship.
Peace shook her head to clear it. She needed to get moving and reminiscing about her past wasn't going to help her any. Except, unless, unless she could find her brothers. That might help, that would help. Peace decided that was who she would seek out first. She reached down and stroked her horse, Darkstar, then sat up straight and heeled her horse to a steady trot. It was going to be a long trip across the wastes.