Tales of Lerathian: The Puppet (Prologue)

It's that time of year again! NaNoWriMo has started, and I've been hard at work on my novel. I'm still unsure whether or not I'll post full chapters as I did last year. However, I won't leave you empty-handed. Today I'll present to you the full ten-page prologue of Tales of Lerathian: The Puppet. In it you'll receive necessary tidbits about the world of Lerathian as well as the even more important introduction to our main characters- Jân, Elle, and Nika. Seeing as how I've only just finished writing this prologue, it does not have any editing done to it whatsoever. I haven't even reread it as I am now about to start working on the first chapter. However, I feel the prologue is of good enough quality to release. I hope you enjoy, and like always, feel free to drop a comment about what you think!

A rolling wind shook the nearly bare branches of the trees. Birds flittered here and there as they called to one another in constant song. The noon sun pierced through the white clouds that scattered about in the crisp blue sky. The autumn, though late in season, still clung to summer’s warmth. One could not ask for a more gorgeous day.

However, it was not the beauty of the world before her that she focused on. The song of the birds’ and the crunch of the leaves beneath her feet were lost to her. The lone sound she could hear was the rapid, raspy heaving of her own breath. Her lungs burned for air as the bitter taste of blood lingered in her dry mouth. As much as her sore and exhausted body desired the sweet relief of rest, there was no stopping. The moment she forced her legs to stop moving was the moment she would never get up again.

It was impossible to say how much farther her will could take her. Will alone was what made her keep running. To stop and simply give up after trying for so long would be her biggest shame. It would be a shame even larger than the ones chasing her were accusing her of causing. If only they would stop for a moment. Stop to think about what they were attempting to do, and simply just stopping. Their shouts finally echoed over the sound of her breathing. Despite all her efforts, they were catching up. A fear much greater than what already was settled in her chest struck through her.

An arrow whizzed by her head as the shouts intensified. Had they truly gotten so close? She looked back, and that one glance back undid all her efforts. Her body collided in horrible pain with the cruelly unmoving ground far before she could process her trip over the rocks and roots hidden by fallen leaves. Blood from the gash on her arm splattered red onto the round, but there was no time to deal with the wound. She had to get back up. She had to get away so that she might return one day.

Tears burned the corners of her eyes as her body failed her. It was a pathetic thing to watch her legs collapse with every desperate movement she made to stand. Her chest heaved, frantic for the air which it had been denied. She dug her nails into the ground. If she couldn’t run then she would crawl for a place to hide would be her only salvation now. There was no choice but to ignore the gripping pain of her injured arm and the scratching of the rocks against her skin as she inched forward. Her eyes darted ahead of her seeking out anything to slip behind.

It was another arrow shot next to her that her eyes instantly followed. The angry shout of a painfully familiar voice rang clearly in the not too far distance.

“I said to stop shooting, damn it! That must not be the way her life is taken!”

The words stung more than her physical grievances. The last time she had heard that voice it had been speaking to her kindly. It was hard to believe that had been well over seven years ago. The reality of how long she had been running was hard to accept. That time was now meaningless with her body simply unable to move any further. All that was left to do was finally face her punishment. She only wished she could meet it with a bit more dignity. Sitting pathetically motionless on the ground covered in blood, dirt, and tears was not the way she had imagined her end.

Her five hunters slowed as they approached. Determined to at least meet her fate with refinement, she folded her hands gracefully in her lap as she watched the feet of the others draw closer. Four pairs stopped in a circle around her. The leaves crunched once more as the last slowly walked until he stood directly before her. There was a suffocating silence between them that caused even the birds to stop their songs. The threat of death and bloodshed swallowed the calm, autumn day until even the heat of shining sun could not be felt. With hesitation, she looked up. Staring back down at her with eyes consumed with rage and hatred was her once beloved older brother.

No. She still loved him. It was he who had forsaken his love for her. Centuries of days spent next to each other now meant nothing to him. She had broken the law. She was worthless. The force of his sudden slap almost made her crumple completely to the ground once more. Her body had no strength to support her. She winced but managed to hold back a cry of pain as he kicked her bleeding arm.

“Look at you,” his once warm voice now turned cold spoke so softly that it was terrifying, “You are not even a shred of the noble woman I knew. You’re lower than that bastard Talmor man you lowered yourself to sleep with.”

“Brothe―”

Another swift kick, this time to her stomach, silenced her before she could finish the word. The other men around laughed heartlessly. She gagged while swallowing the blood that rose from her throat as her brother sent one more hard kick her way. It was because she gagged that no moan of the excruciating pain she felt left her lips.

“Your fall must have damaged your head. Otherwise, you would know you have no right to acknowledge me as family. That is something you threw away.”

“Remorlent, please―”

“Please what?” he cut her off again.

“Can’t I just talk to you, just for a moment? Without your soldiers around?” her question was no louder than a whisper, but try as she might she could speak no louder.

“What are you thinking? That I’m here to exchange frivolities with you? I am here to kill you. Nothing more. In fact, I’ve already spent too much time delaying.” Remorlent said as he drew his sword from his sheath. She saw the terror on her face reflected on its metal.

“Wait, no, please Remorlent. You can’t. Those two still need me.” she begged, more tears rolling down her cheeks.

“Two? So the rumor is true then? It is terrible enough you had one bitch with that Talmor, but now you’ve added another?”

“Elle and Nika are my daughters.”

“They are filthy mixed-bloods. I almost pity them. Almost. You forced the deaths they will face when we find them upon their heads. Your death could have been avoided if you had kept your legs closed.”

“You understand nothing.” she spoke sadly with a shake of her head.

She tried again to stand, but another kick kept her down.

“No? I don’t? I think you are mistaken. I understand completely, Mareiel. I understand that you betrayed us. You betrayed the Elvas, your people. You betrayed me. You betrayed Jân. Even worse, you corrupted the mind of your pure son to accept that Talmor and those bitches as his family.” Remorlent paced furiously as he spoke.

“I gave Jân the option to come with me or to remain in Marmaírein. He chose to come with me of his own accord.”

“Lies. That’s all you have told me from the time of Desython’s death until now. And poor Desython! He is the one you betrayed most of all. Your husband sacrificed his life so that you would live, and you repay him by whoring yourself away.”

“It has been so long since he passed. I fell in love again, which Desython told me I was free to do. There is nothing wrong with that.”

“You seem to completely lack the ability to grasp what is so wrong with what you have done. Falling in love and having more children is nothing you would have been blamed for. It’s who you chose to let seduce you and get you pregnant that is the issue.”

“And why is it such an issue? Tell me that, Remorlent,” Mareiel requested, daring to look up at her brother, “What is so bad about the Talmor that makes wanting to be with one such a crime? We’ve been allies with them for millennium.”

Remorlent scoffed.

“They’re good craftsmen. They’re good farmers. They help us to fight off the Dowarks trying to invade our land. Other than that, they’re sad creatures to be ignored. Their bodies are so weak that even if disease doesn’t kill them they still die before they see a century of life. How does it make sense to mingle our pure blood with something so pathetic?” he spat at her.

“You are aware of the existence of the Mahon, correct?” Mareiel questioned to her brother’s slight confusion.

“Of course!”

“They are Talmor with magical powers similar to ours. You’re right that my head must have been hurt. I can’t remember why they were created? Can you tell me?” she mocked.

A brush of red appeared across Remorlent’s cheeks. He glared at Mareiel in irritation, but said nothing.

“Oh, no wait. I do remember. They were created to put the Elvas in place for the pride of our race had grown so corrupt that we were trying to command the others. Our god had to create an entirely new people to humble us. Not even the Dowarks have to bear such a shame. How can you stand there and preach at me about purity and sanctity when our race is the most tainted of all?”

“Sir, are we going to stand here and let her spew this vile? We’ve been chasing her for years. Let us get this over and done with.” one of the soldiers interjected.

“You are right. I should not have had this meaningless conversation continue.” Remorlent agreed.

He knelt in front of her gripping her right shoulder painfully while placing the tip of sword against her heart. It beat faster. Mareiel tried as hard as she could to keep her composure as she faced her final seconds. Thinking of her dear Alar and children, poor little Nika being only a week old, made this impossible. The instant she died was the instant the shield she had protecting them from Remorlent’s gaze would fall. Jân would be spared, but Alar, Elle, and Nika would be meeting her in the Beyond before the week was out. That was the lone consolation to her death.

It was as she locked gaze with Remorlent one last time that more tears spilled down onto her cheeks. His taught features softened, and the kind, protective brother he had always been was before her in that one moment. Remorlent visibly struggled to keep his arm steady as he pressed his sword harder into her chest. A trickle of blood dotted her dress. Mareiel kept eye contact with her brother despite the slowly growing pain. She hated seeing the corners of his eyes turn red with the threat of his own tears.

Remorlent never cried.

“I don’t want to do this,” he whispered so quietly only she could hear, “But I have no choice. Grandfather ordered that I be the one to take your life. Only by blood shedding blood can our family’s honor be whole.”

“I understand.” Mareiel exhaled shakily.

“You’ve placed this horrible burden on me.”

“I know. I’m sorry, Remorlent.”

Mareiel watched sadly as her brother closed his eyes and shook his head. When he opened his eyes, her brother was buried deep. The man in front of her was again the one consumed by rage and hatred. She closed her eyes as he suddenly drew his sword back, and her body hitched in one brief instance of pain as the sword was lunged directly through her heart. A small, quiet exhale that was Mareiel’s last breath of life fled her lips before the sword was withdrawn and her body collapsed with finality onto the ground.

Elle didn’t understand it, but the desire to scream out with fear from the overwhelming sense of loss that slammed into her chest nearly crippled her. She gasped and looked around in terror. Her naturally pale skin turned even whiter as the color drained out of her face. Not caring that she dropped her large stack of kindling directly at the base of the front door of the little cabin where her father, brother, and new sister lived, Elle furiously ran her hands over her arms to dispel the terrible cold that was making her shake.

There was no perceivable reason for her sudden state of horror. The two goats they kept bleated peacefully inside their pen, the gentle wind continued to brush through the forest, and the comforting shield that Elle knew was her one protector between life and death remained firmly in place. It was something she learned to be grateful for, but Elle would gladly exchange the shield for her mother. The past couple months Mareiel spent at home being pregnant with Nika was the longest she had ever been around. Elle was more accustomed to having her mother traveling around Lerathian in order to keep the ones who were hunting her family distracted.

Thoughts of her mother being found and hurt taunted Elle’s young mind. Her mother had been so weak from giving birth. What if she hadn’t been able to run away fast enough? Elle peaked through the nearby window to find that her father and Jân were nowhere to be seen. They were surely still fixing Nika’s broken crib. Knowing she only had minutes before her presence was missed, Elle ran. She ran past the goats that heeded her no attention, past the clearing where the family kept their farm, and down onto the forest path that led to the High Hill.

Elle slowed and panted heavily before she even reached the steep, grassy hill that ascended beyond the canopy of the forest. She gritted her teeth as she began to climb the familiar path upwards. Jân would yell at her again if he knew she was coming here alone again. It made her too visible. Elle didn’t care. She could feel things that she couldn’t feel anywhere else when she was at the top. Being vulnerable under the wide horizon opened up her mind in ways Elle had no chance of understanding.

Too much time had passed since she made the last climb. Her body protested every step she took, but Elle pressed on until her goal was met. The breeze whipped her simple, green dress against her legs as she stood completely exposed to the world. The bare branches of the autumn trees waved to her, the clouds floated gracefully in their slow dance across the sky, and the warm sum illuminated the world with a brilliant golden glow. It was the fact that she could see such a beautiful sight and still be haunted by a sharp, hollow pain in her chest that caused her to sink pitifully onto the ground.

Elle folded her hands in her lap and prayed. She didn’t pray to Delmar often, but only the god of the world could help her mother now. Elle just hoped that her fears were nothing more than that― fears. She wouldn’t mind feeling silly whenever her mother chose to unexpectedly walk into the cabin with arms open wide to embrace her like she always did. As long as she came back home. The small moments were they were all together as a family made up for the separation.

Her clasped hands moved slowly towards her chin as Elle’s prayer intensified. She would have stayed there for hours if a faint, annoyed call hadn’t carried to her on the wind. Jân had noticed her absence, and most likely had stumbled over the pile of sticks she had dropped in front of the door. Elle sprang up, and quickly worked her way back down the winding way. Her impatience got the best of her as she lost her footing and fell to roll the rest of the way down the hill. Having had worse falls, she jumped yet again and found herself dashing as fast as her stinging muscles would allow down the path.

Sure enough, when she emerged Jân was searching impatiently around for her. That she had come from where she had was not lost on him. His brilliant amber eyes bore into her disapprovingly, and his finger tapped as was his habit when he folded his arms. Elle shrunk beneath that gaze of his. Jân appeared no older than a twelve-year-old despite being only ten years younger than her adult father, but such slow growth was the way of the Elvas. His young physical appearance did nothing to lessen the authority that came from the noblest of Elvas blood that was his inheritance.

“There is a box in the sitting room. It’s called a kindling box. That is the proper place for the sticks you so kindly left to block my way.” he reprimanded sarcastically.

“I know. I’m sorry.” Elle apologized quietly.

“What is worse is that you ignored my warning again, and left for the High Hill though you know the shield is weak there.”

“I didn’t―”

“Elle.” Jân cut her off quickly.

She gave up giving her excuse as Jân always saw through her lies. Instead she fidgeted uncomfortably as she waited to be punished again. He acted more like her father than her actual father did in this regard. Jân simply sighed.

“You’re covered in dirt, and you’re bleeding you know.” he pointed out.

Elle looked down at her legs to realize her fall had done more damage than anticipated. Thin streaks of blood trickled from small cuts on her knees. The dull pain she hadn’t noticed before started to ache.

“I hope this will teach you to be more careful.” Jân said as he opened his arms to her.

Elle eagerly allowed him to pick her up and carry her into the house, the sticks she dropped having been kicked messily to the side. Silence passed between the siblings as Jân sat her on the kitchen counter to wash and bind her cuts.

“Can’t you just use your magic? It wouldn’t hurt so much then.” Elle asked as she winced when he applied some medicine.

“I was only just beginning to learn healing magic when I left Marmaírein, and even then I was particularly awful at it.”

“Could you at least try?”

“You know if I use my magic it will be easier for them to find us through the shield.”

“But just a little won’t―”

“Elle.” he cut her off again.

“Sorry.”

Another sigh left Jân’s lips. He brushed his golden red hair behind his ear and stared with unusual seriousness as he began wrapping her right knee.

“I don’t mean to be so short-tempered. It’s just that…..”

“What?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Jân, what is it?”

“I…..I’m merely tired. Nika’s been crying nonstop for so long.”

“I knew that already. She’s so loud during the night.”

“I have noticed that as well.” Jân teased.

“How come she won’t stop crying?”

“She’s hungry. We don’t have much to give her.”

“Well, what did you feed me when I was a baby?”

“Things were different though when you were born,” Jân explained while working on her other knee now, “Mother was able to stay until you were able to eat real food. Grandfather and the others knew we had disappeared, but it took them some time to figure out why.”

“Oh. How are we going to fed Nika then?”

“Father is simply going to have to risk it and head out into town to find some other way to get milk for her.”

“No!” Elle exclaimed, “Mama said going to town is the last thing we should be doing right now.”

Loud crying interrupted Jân before he could reply with Jân’s own name then echoing throughout the house as Alar called for him. Having finished his ministrations, Elle was taken off the counter.

“Listen to that crying. We can’t just ignore it, or let her starve. It’s a risk we have no choice but to make.”

“Fine.” Elle pouted.

“That’s the Elle I know,” Jân chuckled, tickling her chin and laughing harder as she tried not to smile, “Alright, come on now. Why don’t you go put your lovely sticks into their box while I’ll see what help our dear father needs now?”

Elle nodded, and Jân snuck another tickle and a small kiss on her cheek before departing to Alar’s room. Elle took up her task though the stiffness of the tight bandages around her knees made it awkward to walk. She preserved until she made the few trips in and out of the house it took to place the sticks where she should have the first time.

Now without the distraction of her brother or a chore, the hollow feeling of loss struck Elle a second time with strength that rivaled the first hit. It was much harder to push back the tears. Staring into the merrily crackling fireplace nearby helped somewhat, but the edge of her sleeve became a handkerchief that caught the wetness forming in the corners of her eyes.

Dinner was considerably later than it usually was that evening. Nika’s crib persisted in its habit of breaking since even the expert carpenter Alar could do little without the necessary resources. A makeshift bed had been made out of pillows instead. Not that Nika wanted to sleep and give her father and brother a bit of relief at any point throughout the day. The milk they did have had to be rationed till more could be gathered. Naturally, week-old Nika could not understand this and cried for her stomach to be filled until she exhausted herself and finally drifted off.

That had been shortly after the sun sunk below the horizon. Despite their weariness, Alar and Jân talked cheerfully back and forth over their salad that had been the lone thing they had the energy to make. The two were chipper souls who rarely seemed to waste their time focusing on the negatives on life. Elle was not nearly the same way, although she was not despondent in nature by any means. She would have joined in the conversation had it not been for the unpleasant feeling that remained with her throughout the entirety of the day. In any other situation Elle would have told Alar and Jân right away. However, there was no denying great worry for Mareiel lived constantly in their hearts despite the smiles on their faces. She didn’t want to stir up that worry based on nothing more than a feeling she couldn’t explain.

Her unnaturally quiet demeanor that evening was not lost on Alar and Jân though. Elle either continued her silence or gave a noncommittal grunt to whatever was asked. Gladdened that they left her alone for most of the meal, Elle shrank into her chair when Alar refused anymore to accept her silence as an answer.

“I know this is not your favorite meal, but it’s quite good for you. It’s also one of the last meals we’ll have with the freshest of vegetables. Try to look like you’re enjoying it at least a little.” Alar prompted gently.

Elle nodded, poking her fork at her food she had barely touched.

“I was talking to you.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll eat my food.” Elle replied quietly.

“No, that’s not what I meant sweetheart. I want you to talk to me. I know I tell you that your honest criticisms of our cooking are not always the most appropriately timed, but I would even prefer them to this quiet you. I feel as if I missed out on something. There’s nothing wrong, is there?” her father asked kindly.

“I just don’t have anything to say.” Elle lied with a shrug, placing even the broccoli she hated inside her mouth in hopes of satisfying him.

“You’re not still upset about father leaving for town tomorrow, are you?” Jân asked as her plan instantly failed.

Elle shook her head this time.

“Are you frustrated with Nika’s crying?”

“Perhaps you are still saddened over your mother’s departure?”

“I said I just don’t have anything to talk about.” Elle snapped angrily to both Jân and Alar’s questioning.

The two glanced at each other with mildly hurt looks.

“Alright, dear. We’ll leave you be.” Alar continued in his gentle manner.

Elle shrunk even further into her seat as he and Jân hesitantly resumed their conversation. Guilt washed over her. She didn’t like being angry or speaking poorly to her family. Alar’s mentioning of Mareiel simply pushed her already strained emotions past what her young age was used to coping with. She pushed her feet against the table leg in frustration. Elle remained in that position for a couple minutes before she forced herself to sit up and eat again. A couple more small mouthfuls made it past her lips before she found fascination with stabbing as many holes into her food as possible.

“If you are truly not hungry it is alright for you to go wash up and head to bed.” Alar eventually suggested.

“Really?” Elle asked quietly with eyes only just glancing upwards.

“Really. You must come over here and give me a hug goodnight as you always do though.”

Elle willingly got off of her chair to be lifted onto her father’s lap where he enveloped her in the strong yet warm and comfortable embrace that she loved so much.

“I love you, baby.” he whispered in her ear.

“Love you even more, papa.” Elle replied.

She didn’t mind that Alar let the hug linger. Being in his arms made every bad feeling go away. If Elle wasn’t afraid of having to admit those bad feelings she would have refused to move when he loosened his grip so she could slide back onto the floor. Elle received a few more blessed seconds of relief when it was Jân’s turn to wrap her up.

“Go get some sleep before Nika wakes up again,” he advised with a smile, “Delmar knows how much we’ll get tonight once she gets her energy back.”

“Truer words have scarcely been spoken.” Alar agreed with a hint of humorous dread.

Elle forced herself to smile and giggle as she was known to do, but she feared her attempt at being cheerful fooled no one. She instead turned on her heel to walk briskly towards her room. There had never been a time where she wanted so badly to be safe from the curious and worried stares of her father and brother. Elle was more inclined to cuddle up to them whenever something was wrong. To avoid them was surely only going to intensify the situation.

With a sigh of her own, Elle filled her basin with warm water. A small crystal cube that was one of the last of its kind from the box Mareiel gifted her upon her last return splashed when she dropped it into the basin. The water swirled as it turned a soft shade of lavender, and her bedroom filled with the sweet scent of the flower. Elle lavished in the soothing, tingling sensation running across her skin when she washed her face and neck. It had been her intention to save as many of her washing crystals as possible, but tonight was a special occasion where Elle required the comforting aroma.

Elle changed into her silken white nightgown that was yet another present from her mother. It was apparently tricked with magic so that it would never dirty or stain. As far as Elle could tell this was indeed the case. She wore the gown every night, and it remained as soft and bright in color as it had when Mareiel placed it in her hands. It was disappointing to see that it was steadily growing shorter as she grew taller.

The smell of the lavender grew too much for Elle after a couple minutes. She stopped brushing her hair to open the window. The same light, crisp breeze that blew throughout the day continued as the wind drifted a few red leaves into the room. Elle gave them no intention. She instead became absorbed with the beautiful darkness of the world of night. The stars that could be seen through the branches twinkled with their soft light while the sounds of the nocturnal world played a lullaby.

Elle was content to sit there with closed eyes and a thankfully peaceful mind. That is, until the loud sound of her sister crying took over the house once again. She could almost hear the loud sighs of Alar and Jân still at the table.

“Be quiet already, will you?” Elle complained in annoyance.

The crying only got louder. Elle tried to drown out the noise by covering her ears, but it took no longer than a few seconds for her to become fed up. She rushed to place her slippers on her feet before taking a graceful climb through the window. It was all too easy for her to see in the dark so Elle was off running again towards the High Hill. The sounds of Nika’s crying became fainter and fainter until they disappeared altogether. It was only then that Elle stopped running and enjoyed her impromptu night walk.

The small animals nearby either scurried away from her or stared at her with curiosity. Elle gave the ones she spotted a small smile or wave as she walked by. Mareiel and Jân had always told her the Elvas out of all the five races had the strongest connection with nature. Elle liked to believe that meant the animals could understand her or sense her emotions. The goats seemed to get along well with her, but she had to wonder if that was because she was the only one who liked taking care of them.

The climb up High Hill was even more difficult than it had been earlier that day. It was harder to see the rocks and uneven ground that would send her tumbling due to the shadows, and Elle’s still wrapped knees protested such strenuous movement through their bandages. If she was anything at all then Elle was determined. All the dull pain her legs were in went ignored until she successfully made it once more to the top of the hill.

It was near silent save for the constant wafting of the wind. Elle stared up in amazement of the bowl of stars above her. She had never come up here at night before. The night sky was so wide and consuming Elle felt as if she was about to start floating up and higher into the air. The all too common feeling of entrapment and wanting to go beyond found its way into her heart.  Elle knew her life would be forfeited if she left the safety of her mother’s enchantment, but she hoped one day she could see something of the world Mareiel, Alar, and Jân told her about. Lerathian was such an expansive place. Elle wanted to see the endless flat fields, the crashing waves of the ocean, and the Reaching Tree forests. Elle wanted to meet a Mahon, and even a Dowark and Vilder if somehow they weren’t interested in killing or eating her.

Leaning back to see nothing but the sky, her vision unexpectedly blurred as sudden tears filled her eyes. The unexpected was then explained by the slow but steady return of the same feeling that had haunted her all day. Finally alone where no one could hear or see her, Elle let the tears fall. Her cheeks soon became quite wet. Elle didn’t make any attempt to wipe them dry. She simply allowed everything to spill out while she fought to find comfort from the glittering stars above.

Her quiet sniffles filled the minutes that passed. Too distracted by her burden, Elle didn’t notice the presence making its way towards her in the darkness. She jumped and almost screamed in fright when Jân sat down next to her.

“Sorry, I should have made more noise. I sometimes forget how quiet I can be.” he apologized with a light smile, not seeming surprised by her tears.

Instead of reprimanding her for going off on her own or for coming to the High Hill, he joined her in watching the heavens above. Elle cuddled against his chest when he lay against the grass, and he wrapped his arm around her shoulder. It was a while before either thought to speak again.

“This is what I thought.” Jân did eventually say quietly.

“You thought what?”

“That you could feel it too.”

Jân hesitated. Elle could tell he didn’t want to say the fear in their hearts aloud, but he chose to whisper it softly.

“Mother’s loss.”

Elle nodded. Jân held her closer to him.

“I knew we shouldn’t have let her leave so soon. She was just so insistent that she could feel them centering on where we were.”

“Mama said when she came back next time she would teach me how to sew. Then I could make my own dresses.”

“Don’t you like the gorgeous gowns father makes for you?” Jân joked despite the heavy atmosphere.

“No.” Elle replied bluntly.

“Well, I won’t tell him if you won’t.” he continued.

His attempt at a smile faded when Elle refused to respond to his teasing. She only frowned, staring hard at the ground with more tears rolling down her face. Jân placed a kiss on her head.

“Hey, have you noticed it yet?” he asked as cheerfully as he could manage.

“Noticed what?”

“That the shield is still up.”

“Oh yeah, it is. But why?” Elle asked curiously when she realized the truth of his words.

“We know what we’re feeling is the truth so there should be no way the shield should remain in place. It’s there though, and stronger than it has ever been. Mother must be continuing to protect us somehow even though she’s gone.”

“So it’s like she’s still with us?”

“Exactly. I knew you were smart.”

“But, it’s not as if she can come hug me anymore. She can’t tell me that she loves me, or help me sneak your snacks away from your room.”

“You did what now?”

“You took my doll!”

“I gave it back.”

“Not soon enough.”

Jân scoffed, shaking his head and rolling his eyes.

“I wish she could have been around more.” Elle continued.

“Me too.”

“I don’t understand why they had to take her away.” Elle’s voice cracked as her tears intensified.

Glancing at her with complete sympathy, Jân sat up so Elle could sit in his lap. He rocked her back and forth to comfort her as she cried. Elle tried to wipe away her tears now. However, there were too many and her heart bled so profusely that she quickly gave up.

“I don’t like the Elvas,” she spoke once more through a cracking voice, “Mama could never be around because of them, and now she can never come back.”

“Oh, surely not all Elvas are so bad. I think I’m pretty decent.” Jân kept joking, not having a clue as to what else her should say or do. He held back his own tears.

Elle said nothing more, but only cried harder. Jân never stopped rocking her. Exhaling shakily, he glanced upwards once more to the sky. The endless multitude of glittering stars taunted him. They watched with their quiet beauty mocking the dark storm within his heart.