Prologue

I remember standing with my feet in the laughing waters of the lake Watching a feather float on by Slowly down the shoreline it went As if I was meant to follow it and so I did just that I followed the feather With its black tip and two stripes Splashing along after it In the cold waters With the sands between my toes The sun shinning brightly above me through speckle clouded sky Where a cooling breeze whispered in across the waters To soothe my skin and breathe upon my face Lightly run its fingers through my hair And there on the lakeshore I came upon her Beautiful with her black hair Like the daylight shooting stars cascading through the sky above us White dress and smile . . . A smile such that it held fast my breath Across her eyes it fell sweetly, tenderly in her lips and cheeks Sheathed by her hair swaying in the wind’s soft touch She held the feather in her hand Her eyes met mine and there in the early morning light of summer’s sighing I did speak to she . . . “That’s my feather,” my voice it whispered hardly more than a breath “It’s beautiful,” said she with a soft voice and shy smile And still when she smiled I remembered everything I remembered her I remember you As my little fingers with the fullness of life yawning before them Tied the feather into your hair I remembered in a wash of tears streaming down my soul, I do, I do, I did and I will again . . . “My name’s Navriss,” I sighed and though I could not see through these tears “Hi,” I heard you say. “My name is Rhane.” And I remembered then . . . A smile