The world is known as Tamrah, and the East is dominated by the kingdom of Khynai. Khynai has been a monarchy since its infancy, and now the crown is threatened. Poverty and social unrest are at all time highs. The nation is teeming with crime, and whispers of a revolution can be heard on every corner in every ghetto. King Harlan's abuse of power is bordering on the obscene, and the breaking point of his people is teetering on the brink. It is in these chaotic conditions, in the small village of Gargylon, that Yessendra and Gunther Hart bear their baby girl, JoAnna.
Yessendra is a halfling from the South and Gunther was once a powerful sorcerer - magic is strong in their blood lines - but now they are simple people, struggling to survive in turbulent economic times. It was not so long ago Gunther was a highly esteemed member of King Harlan's court, but he was banished from the castle when he objected to the atrocities taking place in the arena. Now he spends his days slaving away on the Timlin ranch for a miniscule penance, a penance he must somehow stretch far enough to feed his family and pay the bills. This is one magic trick that is becoming increasingly difficult in the Kingdom of Khynai, even for the great Gunther.
Things for the Hart family were fairly uneventful for the first several years of Joey's life. Men were constantly venturing off to fight against Harlan's tyranny. Small rebellions had risen and fallen throughout the battle weary nation, but none were successful. King Harlan crushed them time and time again. It was said that Luther, Harlan's most powerful magician, was able to see all that took place in the kingdom. Some said Luther was more powerful than the gods, but this was obviously delusional paranoia. It was, however, generally accepted that Luther's power was frightening and any attempts at usurping the throne would be futile with him at Harlan's side.
But word was spreading of a man named Arthur. Arthur's wife and daughter had been killed in the arena, and he had begun fighting with only his brothers and father-in-law at his side. His bravery and charisma were legendary, and before long he had amassed an army. He now lead a force of more than fifteen hundred men, and they made their stronghold along the southern borders.
Through it all Gunther kept his head down and his nose to the grindstone, and the world turned. He paid no mind when one of his fellow ranchers became deluded with visions of grandeur and tried to convince him to go riding off to the South. Gunther just stayed silent and watched them go. He had seen first hand the things of which Luther was capable. Harlan had gone mad, and he was quite sure Luther had more than a little to do with the corruption of King Harlan's mind. Anyway, he had a wife and daughter to look after, and if he could give them peace he would, even if it meant breaking his back in the fields.
Joey began schooling when she was four, and even at such an early age it was clear she was a very bright girl. She excelled at nearly everything she put her mind to. Scholarly subjects seemed to be made of her own accord. Mathematics and Languauge lent themselves to her will, Chemistry did her bidding. Her marks were the highest in the land. Gunther and Yessendra had birthed an exceptional child, but just how exceptional was yet to be revealed.
When Joey was six her father was tasked with breaking a particularly spirited stallion, a job that proved too tall for him, and he was thrown. He landed in a heap, snapping his arm like a twig. It was a crippling injury, and hours later, as he lay in bed with his arm in a sling, lamenting over his ill fortune and his faimly's ruin - with his disability they would be starving within a week - Joey pressed her hands to his arm and closed her eyes. Her lips moved but made not a sound, and Gunther felt a soothing warmth spread through his fractured bone. When Joey removed her hands, nearly thirty seconds later, he was completely healed.
When asked how she performed this miracle Joey had only shrugged. Something inside her told her what to do, something she was unable to identify or articulate at such an age, even one as exceptional as her.
But the power to heal wasn't the only talent Joey possessed.
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