jumping waaay ahead...
Pistachio #17. Stopping by
Story : knights
Rating : G
Timeframe : 1267
Unable to sleep in the wake of the sound of the door and the soft thud of boots below, Mara crept down the stairs. She carefully eased herself onto the fourth step from the bottom, drawing her legs up to her chest, and pressed herself against the rails to peer into the kitchen. As much as she wanted to see her mother, she had learned that conversations she was not meant to hear were generally the most interesting. So she huddled in the dark in silence.
“Is Mara...?” Mother’s voice was strained.
“In bed,” said Aunt Kari with a stern look. “You can see her in the morning.”
“I can’t stay.”
Mara nearly leapt at the sudden touch of fur against her ankle. She glared at the calico cat, who calmly curled up beside her.
“Then why-?" Aunt Kari looked up and Mara craned her neck to try to glimpse her mother around the corner. “You have news?”
“None of it good,” came the answer. Aunt Kari waited in silence for her to continue. “Lithera has refused Ceylor’s aid.” There was another heavy pause. “Demons have overrun half the nation.”
Aunt Kari closed her eyes and heaved a sigh. “Perhaps the connection will finally be noticed.”
Mother passed before the kitchen doorway, briefly slipping in and out of view. Her shoulders drooped beneath her cloak that was caked with the dust and grime of her travels. “There's more.”
“Oh?” said Aunt Kari.
“A lone… they call him a warrior.” She broke into uneasy laughter. “They say he can take down a demon with his bare hands, that he wanders the ruins and refugee camps, caring for the wounded, that he…” Her voice faltered, lapsing into a sound close to tears. Mara gripped the stair rail with white knuckles in an effort not to race into the kitchen.
“Lyssa…” Aunt Kari’s eyes held the same softness Mara had witnessed after many a bump or bruise. “You know where he is. You could go to him.”
“How can I ask him to forgive me after all these years? How could I even begin to explain?”
“Then what will you do?”
“Nothing.” The tearful note returned. “Just thought you should know.” Mother whisked through her sight once more and there was a creak and a resounding slam from the door. Aunt Kari watched her exit with concern, but did not say another word.
Mara scooped up the cat and raced back up the stairs as quietly as she could, certain that sleep would not find her for a long time.
Story : knights
Rating : G
Timeframe : 1267
Unable to sleep in the wake of the sound of the door and the soft thud of boots below, Mara crept down the stairs. She carefully eased herself onto the fourth step from the bottom, drawing her legs up to her chest, and pressed herself against the rails to peer into the kitchen. As much as she wanted to see her mother, she had learned that conversations she was not meant to hear were generally the most interesting. So she huddled in the dark in silence.
“Is Mara...?” Mother’s voice was strained.
“In bed,” said Aunt Kari with a stern look. “You can see her in the morning.”
“I can’t stay.”
Mara nearly leapt at the sudden touch of fur against her ankle. She glared at the calico cat, who calmly curled up beside her.
“Then why-?" Aunt Kari looked up and Mara craned her neck to try to glimpse her mother around the corner. “You have news?”
“None of it good,” came the answer. Aunt Kari waited in silence for her to continue. “Lithera has refused Ceylor’s aid.” There was another heavy pause. “Demons have overrun half the nation.”
Aunt Kari closed her eyes and heaved a sigh. “Perhaps the connection will finally be noticed.”
Mother passed before the kitchen doorway, briefly slipping in and out of view. Her shoulders drooped beneath her cloak that was caked with the dust and grime of her travels. “There's more.”
“Oh?” said Aunt Kari.
“A lone… they call him a warrior.” She broke into uneasy laughter. “They say he can take down a demon with his bare hands, that he wanders the ruins and refugee camps, caring for the wounded, that he…” Her voice faltered, lapsing into a sound close to tears. Mara gripped the stair rail with white knuckles in an effort not to race into the kitchen.
“Lyssa…” Aunt Kari’s eyes held the same softness Mara had witnessed after many a bump or bruise. “You know where he is. You could go to him.”
“How can I ask him to forgive me after all these years? How could I even begin to explain?”
“Then what will you do?”
“Nothing.” The tearful note returned. “Just thought you should know.” Mother whisked through her sight once more and there was a creak and a resounding slam from the door. Aunt Kari watched her exit with concern, but did not say another word.
Mara scooped up the cat and raced back up the stairs as quietly as she could, certain that sleep would not find her for a long time.