The Ash War

Prologue

I watched from the window with my sister as the stranger walked into town, her blue cloak flew behind her as she walked along the dusty road. Our town was a small decrepit place, insignificant and far off the map. We all watched with fear as the stranger stopped in the middle of the road. The mayor of the town stepped up the stranger, and with a nod of his head. We all slowly walked out.
The system was simple, if someone mysterious or unknown was coming, everyone but the mayor hid until he gave the word it was ok. We were all ashamed of forcing the old man to put his life in danger, but he said it himself when the law was put in place.
"I will not have a youthful citizen give up his life, I would rather have my own feeble life taken for the better of the town." Martin, the mayor of Heraldin had said. "Now are all of you lazy buffoons going to stand there or sign this stupid paper?" The collective council of our farming town signed the paper without a second thought, mindless like the sheep they herded.
I turned my mind back to the stranger in the road and tightened my grip on my sister's hand. It was cold, sickly. She gave a small feeble cough and I held her close. "Maybe the lady will have a way to save her! Mary won't have to be sick anymore! They couldn't save mom, but maybe she can save my sister!" I thought with hope as I got closer to the stranger speak.
"My name is Valory, I am tired of the business of life, and just want a quiet place to live for the rest of my life. I won't be a bother." The lady was saying.
"I don't see the problem, we are simple farmers here in this town." Martin said in his wheezing voice. The circle of people began to dismiss; however I stood with my sister and waited for the women to turn towards us, hoping she could save my sister. At the hardened age of fifteen, my eyes glowed with hope. My heart stopped as the women turned towards me and revealed she was only a couple years older than me, three at most.
"Why hello there, what's your name?" She asked me quietly with a smile. Her face spoke of sadness and loss and yet it held a spark of hope to it.
"H-Harry. My names Harry." I stuttered out, "And this is my sister, Mary." I said as I looked at the feeble girl next to me.
"Well, It's nice to meet you two, My name is Valory." The girl said and stood up to walk away, but I grabbed her hand in desperation.
"Wait! Please! Save her! Save my sister!" I cried out.
"Harry," Mary said quietly, barely audible. "Don't concern yourself with me. I'll be fine." But she her legs gave out below her and she fell to the ground.
"Mary!" I screamed, "Please! Miss Valory! Save her, please save my sis-" My words are cut off as a kick sends me across the dirt road.
"Kid! Don't you know your family is dead! Accept it and stop bugging the adults!" One of the passing farmers said, and brought his foot back to kick my sister as well. "This'll teach you to stop leeching onto other people and ruining our lives!" He yelled as his foot came down, but Mary was gone.
"Sir, I'm sorry to intrude, but this girl has done nothing, and Harry didn't bother me." Valory said quietly as she held Mary in her arms. She turned towards me and held out her hand to me. "I will do what I can, but I am not a healer." She said with a soft smile as she pulled me to my feet. We walked away and left the farmer speechless. We arrived at a small hut that the mayor had said Valory could use and she set my sister carefully on the table, however her face fell instantly. "Harry, Your sister... Mary... She's dead." Valory stated quietly.
"What? No, That isn't possible. She can't be dead, she was alive just a couple minutes ago, she can't be-" My mumbling is cut off as I am wrapped into a warm embrace.
"Harry, when the time comes, I owe you a story. Remind me sometime, Ok?" She whispered as she rubbed my back as I began to sob openly. "It's ok, Everything is going to be ok, I'll take care of you."