Chapter 1: The beginning

Beth squealed. “Edward, stop it! That tickles!” Beth, a young girl of eight, was being tickled violently by her older brother, Edward Waslam, a fine boy of ten.
It was early afternoon, on the fifth day of Leaf-Fall in the country of Garla, and the children were supposed to be waiting patiently and quietly for the town prophet, Katakon, to come.
Suddenly Edward stopped and hushed his giggling sister. “Shushush! I think I heard someone coming!” He whispered. The two leapt back into their chairs and sat up straight.
Beth, or Bethany, was a pretty young girl with beautiful, straight auburn hair and jade green eyes. She was wearing a short, fluffy pink dress. Edward, her brother, was a wild young boy with long, thin blond hair and hazel eyes. He was wearing sandals, faded, red shorts and a blue, hooded jumper. Their clothes were slightly ruffled by their less-than-cordial tickling beforehand.
When no one came, the relaxed their backs and sighed. Ed suddenly grinned and leant over to Beth. She looked at him warily, afraid he would tickle her again. “You know, it can only be me,” He whispered harshly. “Only boys, like me, are chosen to defeat those possessed by the orb of the evil king, Daruka.”
“Nuh-uh! I so could be picked if I wanted to!” Beth argued.
“Then why don’t you?” Ed asked slyly.
“Because I don’t.”
“Why not?”
“Just ‘cos!” She yelled.
“Okay, okay, you don’t have to yell.” Edward said, raising his hands in defence. Beth pouted, turned away from him and sulked.
Daruka was once an ancient king who, when killed by a rebellion, transformed himself into an orb that possessed people, and set one family the task of finding a new host every time his previous one deceased.
A door suddenly opened and a woman walked in. She was pretty, with an elegant long dress and hair that was the same as Beth’s. Her name was Megan Waslam. “Children, Katakon is here. Present yourself nicely and sit up straight.”
Edward perked up immediately and sat up straight again. “Yes mother!” He yelped. Beth, however, remained with her arms folded tightly and her lip out.
Megan moved over to where Beth’s chair was and squatted down to meet Beth’s eye level. She placed her hand on her shoulder. “Beth, honey, what’s wrong?” Megan asked quietly. Beth squirmed out of her grip and turned away, red in the face.
Megan put her hands on Beth’s shoulder again. “Beth, you know that if something is wrong, you should tell me.”
Beth tried to squirm away again, but Megan held firm. “Beth? What’s wrong? You can tell me.”
“Edward’s being really mean to me!” She said loudly.
“It’s ok, honey. I’ll make sure,” She glared at Edward angrily. He shrunk back in fright. ”That he doesn’t do it anymore, ok?” Beth nodded stiffly.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door. “Come in!” Megan said loudly.
The door creaked open and an ancient woman shuffled in. She had long, white hair, a small wizened face and tiny shaking hands. She shuffled over to the chair facing Beth and Edward and sat down. She leaned forward and stared at the children intently. “Ah, welcome Katakon. I see you could not wait.” Megan mused. Katakon inclined her head in agreement.
“Well, I’ll leave you to it then Katakon.” Megan said, as she smiled. She frowned at Edward. “If I hear that you’ve been mean to Beth again, you really WILL get a punishment.”
Edward nodded enthusiastically. Megan nodded once and walked out of the room.