Book Two; Of fury, fire, and the full moon. Prologue

A pair of cloaked figures, an older man with a gnarled wooden staff, and an impatient young woman, sat in the port awaiting their shuttle to the transit station above Anatolia.
"Father, where are we going?"
"The count recognized the banner of the Ga-Vok who kidnapped your young cousin. My uncle was able to tell us that the last sighting of this banner was on the frontier world Gasca. We're going there to search for her."
"Could I see the mark?"

The elder showed his daughter a small image. She held it up, examining it carefully.
"I remember it from Marcheton. The shaman and many of the other slain were bearing some variation of it."
"I took this charm from the body of a raider on Tara about a year ago. It's my only lead on their identity."
"And the child?"
"She is clever and powerful for her age, much like yourself."
"Can we hope to find her alive after so long?"

"She is dear to her uncle, and to me. Even if she is not alive, and I believe she is, at least we may bring word of her demise to the king. Perhaps his experience and wisdom wiould be enough to sway the young emperor to action before it is to late to prevent another war."
"And Daniel; won't he need our help with that project of his?"
"No need to worry about your brother Tress; Her ladyship is a controlling influence on him."

"Shuttle three now boarding. Shuttle three now boarding."
"That's our flight Tress. We best be heading out."