Traveling under provisioned was among Mira’s top five most hated things to do. With a pair of curious children who’d never ventured more than a few miles from their home village in tow and the endless curiosity of a certain sheltered duchess insisting that they stop every few miles so she could poke at everything quickly bumped that five to three.
When the border village along the Dolmas River finally came into view that late evening, the knight refused to make camp. She would not rest again until she had a bath and a bed.
Night crept upon them when the exhausted horses reached Norm’s strange house on the edge of Cawold. The skies, alight in the purples and oranges of early evening, promised a rare calm night.
Cradling Vivveen in her arms, Mira trudged through the white front gate after Norm. Her wings hung limp, feathers in a terrible state after so long on the road.
As they approached the door, the magical porch lights blazed to life like daylight. A moment later, Satina bounded out the door.
“Daddy’s home! Daddy’s home!” the hyper girl squealed. “Mama, come quick! Daddy and his friends are home!”
Charlotte laughed warmly. “Welcome home,” she began as she approached the door. “If you’d let me know you were coming home tonight, I would’ve waited to start dinner.” Stepping over the threshold, her inviting smile passed over the group before her eyes fell on the orphaned child in Mira’s arms. “And who might this be?”
Vivveen cuddled tighter to Mira, hiding her face from view.
“It’s okay, Vivvy,” Mira whispered. “This is Vivveen, and her brother, Caleb,” she said to Charlotte. “We’ve been taking care of them for a while now. They… Their parents were the first victims.”
Gasping, Charlotte stroked Vivveen’s hair. “Oh, you poor things!” Turning aside, she beckoned everyone inside. “Come in. I’ll make something quick.” She turned her smile to Caleb. “Do you like chicken nuggets? How about hotdogs? Whatever you’d like.”
“Mes dieux!” Caleb paled. “You eat dogs!?”
Norm groaned. “It’s just a name. No dogs. All beef.” He looked to Charlotte. “I keep telling you, just call them sausage rolls.”
Pink flooded her cheeks. “My apologies, dear,” she said to Caleb as she knelt down to his level. “No puppies were harmed in the making of these sausages, I promise.” Running her fingers through his hair, she beamed. “Are you okay, sweetie? I’m sure it must be scary being so far from home.”
The boy glanced to Norm as he nodded.
“We uh—” The dagger twisted in Mira’s heart as she knew what she had to do. “W-We were wondering, hoping honestly, that you might want to… take them in?”
Gasping, Charlotte rose shakily to face her. “Well, of course I would, but—” Her face twisted in confusion as she studied the half-hidden girl. “Are you sure you want to break up the set?”
Feathers fluffing, Mira cocked her head. “Huh?”
Charlotte’s eyebrow rose. “They’re siblings, aren’t they? It’s a bit rude for you to adopt the sister and not the brother, don’t you think?”
“Adopt the sister?” Mira’s nose scrunched. “What do you mean?”
The strange woman simply brushed the feathers braided in Vivveen’s hair. “Mira, dear,” she began in utter bewilderment. “The Code of Zephran the Great is quite clear. By law, an orphaned child is adopted when an adult zephyra braids his or her flight feather into his or her hair. I mean, I’m paraphrasing a bit, but that’s how the law has always been interpreted.” She looked between Mira and Echo. “These are your flight feathers, aren’t they?”
“The Code of Zephran?” Echo sputtered. “Even by elven standards, those are ancient! Bloody hell, woman, orcs still lived!”
“They might be old by mortal… I mean, our standards, but every incarnation of zephyrni law reaffirms their legitimacy. Well, those that aren’t specifically revised by the new set, and seeing as there’s never been a specific law that invalidates it—” Charlotte shrugged. “The law is the law.”
Spasms tore across Mira’s features. She couldn’t tell whether she wanted to scream for joy or terror. Regardless of which would ultimately prevail, tears filled her eyes as her whole body shook in the collision of emotions. Either way, screaming was all she wanted to do.
“I… I-I…” Mira shook her head. “You can’t be serious.”
Charlotte’s smile faded. Eyes narrowing, she rose to her full height, looming over the knight. Her hair whipped up. The fading light failed the world entirely. Darkness spread from some intangible place around the woman. Howling moans called from within the house, and everything tasted red as her eyes blazed.
“Are you saying you intend to abandon her?” she hissed, voice dripping with venom. “To renege on your promise to her? The law is the law, and the law must be obeyed.”
“N-No. No, I just… I’m not…” Mira gulped hard as she swore she saw a barbed tail whip and snap behind the woman. “L-Looks like we’re mommies… h-huh, my lady?”
But Echo didn’t speak.
Turning to her, horror filled the duchess’s face. “My lady?” Nothing. “Echo?”
Echo’s eyes were fixed upon Mira. “The Code of…” She reached out to stroke her own wing and touched the feather braided in her knight’s hair, and as she did, the last drop of color drained from her face. “Norman,” she scarcely breathed. “I need a pint.”
Norm cocked an eyebrow at her. “You alrigh—”
“Norm. Bar. Now!”
“Uh… ‘kay?”
Without another word, Echo grabbed him and gave the single hardest flap Mira ever felt. It was like the duchess’s wings were four times their size. She doubted her own wings could give half as much. The two were airborne and a hundred feet away before she could blink.
“What got into her?” Rosalie said absently.
“Oh I’m sure it’s just nerves.” Charlotte tittered. “Not every day you go and have a five-year-old.” Smiling down on the Yesha, she inclined her head. “I’m sorry, but I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced. I’m Charlotte, Norman’s wife, and this big brave girl that’s expecting her first ever visit from the tooth fairy tonight is our daughter, Satina.”
“A pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Charlotte.” Rosalie curtseyed. “I’m Rosalie for now, and this rather large fellow is our friend, Healer.”
Charlotte turned her smile to Healer. “Good evening,” her face twitched, “pastor.”
“Uh… ma’am?” he said in greeting. “Sorry, I don’t mean to be rude but… how’d you know I was a priest?”
“Oh, you know.” Her nose wrinkled into the briefest sneer. “It’s the smell, mostly. All of you that’ve been touched by the divine have a certain sten… scent to you.”
Mira couldn’t say what confused her more. The concept of divinity having a smell, or what fey had to do with teeth.
“Anyway,” Charlotte continued. “To the matter at hand.” She laid a hand on Caleb’s shoulder. “We can wait until our noble friend gets back, but if you’d like, you can give him a feather now and we can make it official.”
“Um, pardon, madame,” he stammered out. “Do I have to be adopted by them?”
She blinked. “You don’t want to stay with your sister?”
“I do but—” his lip trembled. “I had hoped to stay with Monsieur Norm.”
Charlotte’s face twisted in sympathy. “Oh, mon pauvre garçon. If you’re sure that’s what you want.” She reached over and ran her thumb across Vivveen’s cheek as she cupped it. “Let’s get you inside, hmm? You all look half starved.” Straightening up, she looked to Mira. “So what did happen down there anyway?”
Nervous laughter filled the zephyra. “Where do you want us to start?”
***
Following a simple meal of what Charlotte called, “chicken nuggets and French fries,” Caleb and Vivveen went to play with Satina in her room leaving the adults free to talk in unveiled terms.
The three explained all they could remember. From Healer’s initial arrival and meeting Caleb and Vivveen, to their uncle’s betrayal of the town in service to his demonic lord and attempt to sacrifice his only nephew. The eradicated goblin villages. Mama’s tree. Estoria summoning Healer into her presence. All the havoc that befell the Larris Marsh, they laid bare as memory allowed before Charlotte.
For her part, she stayed silent, only speaking to clarify names from time-to-time.
“I see,” was all she said at first.
Producing a bottle of sherry, she poured herself a large glass, and began nursing it. Lips screwing this way and that, she mulled over their words.
Mira shifted in her seat. The weight of the woman’s presence was something else, even though the world didn’t taste red anymore.
“The Ebon Maw?” Charlotte muttered aloud. “I’m afraid I don’t recognize that name. Not that I know many from,” her lips curled in disgust, “that side by name.”
“That’s not surprising, Mrs. Norm,” said Rosalie. “I don’t think many people know many nasty bitey demon thingies by name.”
“It’s perfectly alright, ma’am,” Healer affirmed. “I don’t right understand why they thought you might know at all.”
A soft chuckle puffed from Charlotte’s nose. Shaking her head, her eyes settled on Mira.
“So.” She sighed. “Forgotten ancients, was it?” Mira nodded, making Charlotte roll her eyes. “Typical gods,” she nearly spat the word. “Never give a straight answer. Elementals, chthonic entities, undead, do you have any idea how many things qualify for the title of, ‘Forgotten Ancients?’”
“More than I want to count?” Mira ventured.
“You want to even count one?” Charlotte countered.
A fair point, Mira had to admit.
Finishing her sherry, Charlotte rocked back in her seat. “I could ask Daddy, but—” she shook her head. “I don’t know. He can get pretty temperamental when it comes to matters of that side.”
Knock-Knock!
Mira’s wings flared at the knock at the front door. It was late. The sun was fully set. Confusion etching her face, Charlotte rose from her seat.
“A visitor?” she muttered before glancing at the clock sitting on the mantle. “At this hour?”
“Hello?” came a familiar, if haggard old voice. “Mrs. Charlotte, have you company? I saw the wagon out front.”
Charlotte hurried to show the old gnome alchemist, Narsis, in.
It seemed like the return of business after the destruction of the warg led wolf pack had put the spring back in the codger’s step. He was far livelier than when Mira last saw him. Twinkle back in his eye, he winked at her as he climbed up into a seat.
“Seems my potions weren’t needed?” he began as he regarded her. “Or if they were, they did the trick.” Looking around the room, his brow knitted. “Where’s Norm and the other ones?”
“Zhel’s accompanying Brother Luke back to the High Church of Korik,” said Mira. “And Norm and Echo flew off to the tavern.”
A laugh far bigger than his frame should be capable tore from Narsis. “Good to see he hasn’t changed. So—” he clapped his hands, “how’d things go down south? Seems you found one of those Yesha I’d heard rumors about. Didn’t realize there were demigiants, too.”
Not wanting to have to explain everything a second time, Mira locked eyes with him.
“We saved the village,” she began, “but it was messed up.”
“That’s puttin’ it a bit mildly, don’tcha think?” said Healer.
“Considering it seems she’s traded a nu-duwar and preacher for a go’thial and Yesha, I’m inclined to agree with you, short stack,” said Narsis.
“Mr. Narsis, sir?” Rosalie began sweetly. “I don’t suppose you would know anything about forgotten ancients, would you? Mr. Healer’s goddess boss lady said we need to look for them.”
“Forgotten ancients?” Narsis repeated. “That could be any number of things.”
Hearing those words for what felt like the millionth time made Mira’s eye twitch. Nothing could stop the groan that welled from the center of her being.
“We’ve established that,” she grumbled.
The alchemist’s lips screwed up. “Hmm, I suppose you would have by now. Still, forgotten ancients… Actually—” His eyes drifted a thousand miles away. “I might.”
Eyes widening, all three rocked forward expectantly.
“Are you familiar with Falefal Forest?” he asked.
Mira couldn’t help but shudder at the name. “The most haunted place in the world?”
“So they say,” Narsis confirmed. “My master, Ja-Harris, he uh… well, let’s just say he might fit the bill.”
The knight could see where this was going and braced for impact. Steepling her fingers, she touched them to her lips as her eyes drifted shut.
“And just what will we have to retrieve from that forest to get him to work with us?” she asked flatly.
“Um… well… you see—” Narsis cleared his throat. “It’s not so much a matter of retrieving anything so much as it’s where he’s constructed his tower.”
Mira froze mid breath.
“You’re saying we’ve gotta go into a place where every tree’s got at least one body in its roots?” said Healer.
“One of the few places Yesha commands us to never venture?” added Rosalie.
“My order won’t even set camp within sight of that forest when on campaign,” said Mira. “Do you have any idea how dangerous a place has to be for the entirety of the Dragons of Sitri to march days, literal days around a place?”
“I didn’t say it was a good idea.” Narsis shrugged. “But, regretfully, if you’re looking for forgotten things, you need to look in forbidden places.”
Silent looks passed between Mira, Healer, and Rosalie. Unfortunately, there was no fault to his logic.
“What do you think, Mrs. Norm’s wife?” said Rosalie. “There has to be another option.”
“Oh without a doubt,” said Charlotte. “The problem is I’m afraid none that I can think of would be much better.”
“We should wait ‘til Echo and Norm get back,” Healer grumbled. “See what the two of ‘em think.”
“Mama?”
Mira sighed. “Well at least we have an option. (“Mama?”) A crap option, (“Mama?) but an option. (Mama!?)”
Charlotte coughed into her fist. “Um, Mira? I think someone is trying to get her mommy’s attention.”
Feathers fluffing, the zephyra followed the woman’s line of sight. Vivveen, Caleb, and Satina waited next to her.
“Give her time, dear,” Charlotte continued. “She’s new to the whole ‘mama’ thing.”
“Oh!” Mira gasped. “Right. I’m a—” She gulped. “Mom now.” Clearing her throat, she turned to her daughter. “Y-Yes, fledgling?”
“Do I have more names now?” Vivveen asked curiously.
“Huh?” was all Mira could say.
“Well Satina said her name is Satina Damienne von Wilder, and people keep calling you Ashwood, and you said that zephyrni all have three names, so do I have more than one name now?”
The knight’s mouth opened but an answer eluded her. Looking to Charlotte, she cocked her head before replying.
“That’s a good question,” she said. “Don’t you have one? What were your parents called? Mr. and Mrs. what?”
Vivveen shook her head. “We only get the one name back home.”
“Not even Miller or some such?” Healer offered. “Lots of folks use their job for their family name.”
Again the child shook her head.
Iteeri! Mira’s mind screamed. She’s your Iteeri!
“Well,” the knight took a long pause to consider how to respond. “I did sort of give you a personal name already. I mean, if you want it anyway.”
The child’s eyes sparkled. “Really? What is it?”
“Uh-uh,” said Mira. “It would be your personal name— I wouldn’t want to take away the one your parents gave you, after all —and you remember what Echo and I told you about a personal name, right?”
She nodded her head. “Only family knows it.”
“Good girl.”
Shoulders scrunching, she ground her toe into the carpet. “Can I know it?”
A peel of laughter burst from Mira. Vivveen’s lip quivered. She hadn’t meant to laugh in her face, but the innocence of the question was just too much.
Pulling her into a tight hug, Mira enclosed her wings around them to whisper, “Your personal name is Iteeri.”
“Ih-teer-ee?” the child repeated the foreign word in the softest voice she could.
With a nod, Mira opened her wings, and put her back on the floor. “Do you like it?”
Vivveen nodded wildly.
Smiling her approval, Charlotte cleared her throat. “Now that that’s settled, and since we’re waiting on Echo and Normie-kins to get home, can I interest anyone in dessert?”
But waiting for the duchess was, ultimately, a waste of time.
Wings hanging limply, she stumbled through the door several hours later in a terrible state. Her hair was a mess. Half lidded eyes, impossible to focus on anything, danced in her swaying head.
Cautious looks went between the others as Norm followed her. Her usual elegant fluttering reduced to a flat footed plod as she staggered through the house. The stench, though, that was far and away the worst of it.
Eyes going wide, Charlotte leaned over and blew out a candle before the duchess’s breath could catch fire.
“I’ll make extra coffee in the morning,” she muttered to herself.
About the Author
A. S. Raithe is a fantasy author living near Pittsburgh with his wife and children. Always the creative type, it wasn’t until high school and being introduced to a local bestselling author that he found his passion for writing. He took time away from writing to attend college before being convinced by his wife to pick it up again shortly after their wedding. Outside of writing he enjoys exercise, baking, gardening, folklore, music, and hiking.
