“Echo mama?”
The tiny voice was like a dagger to Echo’s skull. She shifted uncomfortably in her bed. Though the world still swam, the aftermath of the tavern had already begun.
Darkness filled the room as she forced her eyes open. Something small shook her shoulders.
“Echo mama?” Vivveen repeated.
With a groan, she reached up, took the child in her arms, and pulled her into her curling wings assuming she couldn’t sleep. Myria knew she’d spent many a night in her mother’s feathers in her fledgling days.
“Mama,” Vivveen whined.
“Go to sleep, downling,” Echo croaked through parched throat. “Mama’s head hurts. She had too many grownup drinks, and has to pay the price.”
“But something’s wrong with Mama Mira,” the child protested.
Nose wrinkling, Echo forced herself to focus. Squinting against the darkness, she saw Mira and shuddered away the thought of the dawn bright feather in her hair.
My knight, she assured herself. Just my knight. There’s bound to be a loophole.
But as she took in Mira’s sleeping form, her heart sank.
“Charek,” Mira croaked in her restless sleep. “No… Don’t… Thief… I… Help…”
“It’s alright, dear,” Echo whispered to Vivveen. “I’m afraid this happens whenever she has a chance to truly rest.” More so, it would seem, after being exposed to our hostess. “There’s nothing we can do but give her space.”
“But she sounds scared. Like someone hurt her.”
“She’s a knight, love. I’m certain many people have tried and succeeded in doing so.”
A mewling whimper rose in Vivveen’s throat. “We should wake her up and make sure she’s okay.”
“No!” Echo said firmly. “I made that mistake once and only once.” She could feel the curiosity build in the child. “We can’t begin to guess how many battles she’s seen. Her instincts will send her hand straight to her sword. Now, I don’t know about you, but I’d rather not test my reflexes tonight.”
Vivveen winced at her mother’s implication. “I feel bad.”
“As do I,” Echo gently kissed her head. “I wish there was something I could do, but with my head in this state, casting a sleep spell might well deliver her to a slumber she might never awaken from.”
Sniffling, Vivveen shifted deeper into Echo’s embrace.
“I know,” Echo repeated as she absently stroked the girl’s hair. “I know.”
For the longest time, they lay there. The half-conscious duchess hummed a familiar tune. The very one her own mother would sing on nights like these. When sleep departed prematurely, and refused to return despite every attempt to lure it back.
“Echo mama?” Vivveen said softly.
“Hmm?” Echo scarcely muttered.
“Can I have your name?”
The woman shifted around to regard the child. “What’s that?”
“Mama Mira gave me a personal name,” she explained simply.
“Did she now?” Vivveen nodded. “And what did she name you?” The girl hesitated. “It’s alright, love. You’re my daughter as well, aren’t you? You’re allowed to tell me.”
“Iteeri,” Vivveen whispered. “She called me her Iteeri.”
“Iteeri?” Warmth filled Echo to the core as the zephyrni word clicked. “What a perfect name.”
“So can I?” Vivveen repeated. “Since Mama Mira gave me my personal name, can I have your family name?”
“Well I suppose it wouldn’t be fair for her to give you everything, now would it? That and I fear the actual words for Ashwood in zephyrni would be completely unpronounceable for a human girl.”
Burrowing deeper into her mother’s feathers, Vivveen wrapped her little arms around her as best she could. “So my name’s Vivveen Iteeri Zeerie now?”
Echo couldn’t control the snort of a laugh at the name. Regret hit her before the child’s eyes could tremble.
“That won’t work, dear,” Echo said before the quiver in Vivveen’s lip could become tears. “You see, in zephyrni, a noun that ends on a consonant sound denotes a masculine subject.” She immediately twitched at her own explanation. She’s a five-year-old human, you bloody git! “What I mean is, the N sound at the end of your name makes it a boy’s name in zephyrni.”
Vivveen gasped. “I’m not a boy!”
The innocence of her declaration sent a chuckle through the duchess. “Decidedly not, my princess, but on the other hand, I refuse to take the name your parents gave you.” She smiled brightly at her. “Perhaps we could simply shorten it.” She had the girl’s full attention. “Henceforth you shall be Vivvy Iteeri of the House Zeerie.”
Silent excitement at the declaration rose from Vivvy. No protest. No confirmation. Just the bubbly excitement only a soul like hers could generate.
“I’m glad you approve.”
“Mama?” Vivvy’s voice rung with concern. “Is it my fault your head hurts? Did I make you drink all those drinks?”
Echo gasped. “Of course not! Why would you think that?”
Vivvy’s voice got even softer. “After Madame Charlotte said you adopted me, you flew away.”
“No-no-no, it wasn’t you that sent me flying. In fact, I was rather upset that our time playing family was coming to an end,” Echo assured her.
“Then why’d you drink those yucky, grownup drinks?”
Yes, the echo of Charlotte’s voice in her head made her wince. That includes that part of the code.
Their strange hostess hadn’t spoken those words. Not verbally anyway. In fact, Echo wasn’t sure it was actually Charlotte that spoke as much as her own knowledge masquerading as her bizarre hostess. But the way the woman’s eyes drifted to her flight feather woven into Mira’s hair as those unspoken words flitted through Echo’s mind…
“Let’s just say, I need to be more careful with who receives my feathers. Now,” she cuddled Vivvy a bit closer, “back to sleep. Mama’s head can’t take much more, alright?”
Look at me, Echo mentally scoffed. Ran away. Had a kid. I’m one tattoo shy of becoming a cautionary tale. But as sleep regained its hold on them, she turned a warm smile to the tiny form beneath her wings. I’ll need to have some proper tiaras commissioned.
***
“About time,” Mira grumbled as Echo slunk down the stairs.
“What time’s it?” she slurred.
“We just finished lunch,” Rosalie chimed. “Vivveen wouldn’t let us wake you.”
“Vivvy!” the child corrected her. “My name’s Vivvy now. I’m not a boy.”
“Vivvy, wouldn’t let us wake you,” Rosalie corrected herself.
The scent of lunch lingered through the house. It was nothing spectacular. At least, not according to Charlotte anyway. Something she called “meatloaf sandwiches on whole wheat.” Whatever that was, the tangy sauce was the strongest flavor Mira had ever consumed. She’d sucked down three glasses of water in desperation to soothe her mouth.
Charlotte handed the duchess a pair of white tablets and an opaque drink.
“Ibuprofen and coconut water,” said Charlotte. “For your head.”
Echo smiled appreciatively as she settled into the sofa to rest her head on her knight’s shoulder.
“Have you your sword at hand?” she mumbled.
Mira cocked an eyebrow at her. “Yes?”
“Excellent.” Echo sighed. “If you’d kindly apply the blade to my neck, I’d be ever so grateful.”
Norm laughed. “Next time, maybe don’t try to keep up with me, short stack.”
“Dually noted.” Echo threw back the tablets, and gulped down half the glass in a breath. “I take it we’ve not gotten any closer in determining our next course of action?”
“Actually,” Mira’s face twisted, “we might have an option.” Echo’s silence insisted explanation. “Apparently, Narsis’s master might fit the bill for a ‘forgotten ancient.’”
“How so?” said Echo.
“He wouldn’t say, ma’am,” said Rosalie. “Only that he’s a tower in the,” the Yesha shuddered, “Falefal.”
Echo’s face screwed with confusion. “Why does that sound familiar?”
“Because there ain’t no place more haunted in all the world than that bloody forest,” Healer grumbled.
“You probably heard rumors about it since you got here,” Mira explained. “I mean, that’s my best guess. I doubt stories about it have reached the islands.”
“And unfortunately,” Charlotte grimaced, “I’m afraid it might be your best choice. Anything that could count a ‘forgotten ancient’ isn’t going to just lounge around Magoria playing cards with Dracothornian defectors, or stroll down the street in Sitri. If you want forgotten…”
“Search the forbidden. Bloody wonderful.” Echo sighed. “At least, it’s a lead.”
“If this is the way we’re going, we’ll need a guide,” said Healer.
“And where would you suggest we find one?” said Rosalie. “I can’t believe there’re many people qualified for such an expedition.”
“Sitri,” Mira said with finality. “It’s the only settlement within miles of the forest. We should be able to hire a guide there. Maybe even a ranger.”
“It sounds like you’ve made up your minds,” said Charlotte.
No one could disagree. In all honesty, from the moment Narsis had spoken of his master, Ja-Harris, it seemed their path was decided. They could chase the unknowable, or pursue their only lead into the dreaded tangles of the Falefal.
“In that case,” worry trembled Charlotte’s face as her eyes drifted to the stairs and sound of playing children, “you’ll need a sitter…”
***
Three days passed in peace. After so long on the road back to Cawold, none of them relished the idea of leaving so soon, but neither could they wait long. Not without risking roots setting down in that far flung border village. Or rather, more roots in the case of the knight and duchess.
“Do you have to go, Mama Mira?” Vivvy whined.
Mira winced, pained at the thought of leaving the girl behind, but it was for the best. Taking her with them to the Falefal was out of the question, and what other option did they really have? They couldn’t very well leave her in the garrison in Sitri.
No. She would be safest in Charlotte’s care.
“I’m sorry, downling.” Mira knelt to the child’s level. “But we need to find out everything we can about the bad people that were making everyone sick in the swamp. You don’t want more people to get hurt, do you?” Vivvy shook her head. “Good girl.” She hugged her daughter— the very thought of having one still enough to send her mind reeling —and whispered to her, “Why don’t you go play with Satina and your brother, okay?”
Sniffling, Vivvy nodded solemnly and trudged off to play, leaving her to finish readying their supplies.
Assessing her breastplate, Mira buzzed her lips. The smooth gash left by Romier’s spell was like nothing she’d ever seen. There wasn’t a smith outside of Sitri that could repair such damage. Not in a timely manner anyway
“I take it you couldn’t find a smith,” Charlotte said conversationally.
The knight shook her head. “None that wouldn’t need at least a week. Echo tried to use a spell but—” she shrugged.
“Damage from that sort of magic is hard to undo,” Charlotte muttered.
“That’s what Echo said.” Sighing to herself, she cast the ruined breastplate aside. “I’ll grab a new cuirass when we get to Sitri. Until then, I guess I just gotta hope my parrying’s up to snuff.”
“Oooooor…” Charlotte reached into her apron pocket, and presented Mira with a brand new rose brooch. “I had one of my immmportant friends grab it for me. Try it on tell me what you think.” The knight pinned it to her jerkin. “You know what to do.”
Twisting it, Mira uttered the command. “Bloom.”
The clinking of plates and jangle of chain called out as armor erupted across her form. A full suit, not merely the hauberk she’d been gifted before leaving Sitri. Charlotte clapped her hands with delight, as ornate pauldrons nestled over the zephyra knight’s shoulders and wing joints.
“I haven’t made many deals with zephyrni,” Charlotte explained. “So I’m afraid my options were limited, but it’s a good suit with decent enchantments. Just needs a new tabard to complete the look if you ask me.”
Turning her arm this way and that, Mira assessed her new armor. She could feel its quality and strength, but at the same time it was lighter than anything she’d ever worn. Lighter, and quieter than it should have been.
At a loss, all Mira could think to say was, “Thank you.”
Charlotte waved her off dismissively. “Save it. I feel guilty sending you off to that cursed forest without Normie-kins.”
“It’s okay, ma’am,” Mira assured her. “With all three kids here, you’ll need all the help you can get here.”
“Oy! Mira!” Healer bellowed. “You about ready?”
Guilt washed Mira’s face as she looked to the child she’d so desperately wanted, but could never justify having. Her heart ached knowing that her ignorance of her people’s laws had condemned the poor girl her care.
Murderer. Mira winced at her own accusing conscience. Maybe she’ll get lucky and you’ll join the other bodies in the forest. It’s not like you deserve to be happy.
Feathers rustled as Echo came in to land next to her.
“We should be off, my knight. Sitri is no short trip,” she said.
Nodding slowly, Mira sighed as she pressed her fingers into the rose crest to call, “Wilt” three times to transform her armor back into a brooch.
Tentative fingers found the small of her back. Echo’s mournful eyes looked up to her, an unreadable pain twitching on her features.
“What’s wrong, my lady?” said Mira.
“Nothing,” the duchess muttered. “Only,” she turned to Charlotte, “could we have a moment alone?”
“Of course.” Charlotte smiled. “Just, one thing, girls…”
The world became cold. Light fled in the presence of their hostess. Distant wails of unending torment emanated from house. Scarlet filled the air around her. Her endlessly jovial features became sharp and unyielding as the sun became as night, and the clouds themselves began to weep blood.
“I will care for this child of yours as if she was my own,” Charlotte’s continued, voice as firm as her burning eyes, “but only that. She wears your feathers. She is yours. If you have any thought of abandoning her. Of reneging on your duties to her, know this: there will be no place. No rock. No speck of dust in this or any other realm that I cannot find you. And nothing, not even the gods themselves can keep you from me.”
With a blink, a smile filled Charlotte’s face, and the world returned to its right state.
“So come back soon, ‘kay?” she said as if nothing happened.
That lingering red flavor still choking her, Mira nodded, and with that, the woman turned and made her way towards the house.
Echo’s hand trembled in Mira’s. Though the knight never felt their fingers lace, she couldn’t say it was an unwelcome anchor after whatever that was.
“Well.” Echo gulped. “At least we’ve one hell of a governess?”
Mira cleared her throat, desperate to be rid of the red. “Uh… w-what did you want to talk about, my lady?”
“Oh um—” Echo’s eyes flicked to the feather in Mira’s hair then to the house. “Nothing.” She shook her head. “Nothing at all pressing.”
“Echo?”
“If it’s all the same, Mira love, I’d prefer we put some space between us and here.” She beckoned her to follow. “They’re matters we can address once all this haunted forest business has been handled.”
“As you wish, my lady.”
Vivvy. It had to be something involving Vivvy. That was all Mira could think. Perhaps something involving the child’s noble status, or how Mira’s knighthood— particularly given that her service was to a human kingdom —might complicate the girl’s life.
Rejoining the others, they made short work of preparations. At least the journey to Sitri would be more comfortable than their return to Cawold. With all the caravans in the village, they were hardly wont for supplies. If anything, they were overwhelmed by options… and bargains. They’d eat well along the road.
Shortly after lunch, Mira climbed up into the wagon. It was time.
“Right.” Healer grunted as he mounted the driver’s seat, making the whole wagon rock. “Everyone’s good? Nobody needs nothing?”
“Not that I can think of,” Rosalie— who was currently taking the form of a ginger tabby —said from a particularly comfy bale of hay.
Echo fluttered down to the seat next to Mira. “Whenever you’re ready, pastor.”
“Be careful,” Norm cautioned them. “And don’t do anything I wouldn’t do, but if you do, don’t name it after me.”
Soft laughter wafted amongst them.
“Come back soon!” Charlotte chirped. “And ladies, don’t forget our conversation.”
That put a slightly red tang in Mira’s mouth.
“Mama Mira! Echo mama!” Vivvy squealed. “I made this for you!”
Stretching up on her tiptoes, the little girl extended the most flawlessly white sheet of paper Mira had ever seen towards them. Taking it from her, she unfolded it to see the most amazing colors painting a scene of Echo and herself soaring high above the other, the child holding hands with them.
“Do you like it?” Vivvy beamed. “Satina let me use her colored waxes!”
“Crayons,” Satina gently corrected her. “They’re called crayons.”
Vivvy looked on, eyes shining for her mothers’ approval. Mira couldn’t speak. The lump in her throat refused to let her. Even a squeak would send her tumbling out of the wagon to snap her up and stay.
“It’s beautiful, downling,” said Echo.
Norm bent down and picked her up to hug them goodbye, and, at last, as tears threatened to shatter the knight’s stoic façade, they began the long trek to Sitri.
Resting on the rail, they waved until the strange little house was out of sight. Echo glanced over her shoulder to find Rosalie sleeping, and Healer engrossed on the road ahead.
“So.” Echo nudged Mira in the ribs. “You’ve named her, Hope?”
Smiling from the center of her being, Mira did her best to shrug off the translation of Iteeri. “Seems fitting.”
Echo nodded. “Perfectly so.”
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.
