by MJ Schutte
‘My kindsss issss deadsss,’ Isobel said sadly.
‘No, we are your kind. We are all magic beings. You said so yourself,’ Lilian said.
She concentrated hard to get an energy link established to the forest around her without the daraghna noticing. Slowly her wound healed.
Isobel shook her head in confusion.
‘You willsss forgivessss me?’ she asked.
‘Yes, you are my sister. We all make mistakes, but when you love someone, you forgive and forget those mistakes,’ Lilian replied.
‘You cansss lovesss me?’ Isobel gasped.
‘Off course I can. You are my husband’s only sister. Come live with us in the elf forest,’ Lilian said as she rose to her feet.
Carefully she placed her hand on Isobel’s head.
‘Nosssss, don’t touchssss me!’ Isobel hissed as she pulled away, but Lilian stepped a bit closer and placed both her hands on Isobel’s head. Gently she pulled Isobel’s head closer until it was resting against her chest.
Isobel’s arms snaked around Lilian’s waist as a soft gurgling sound that vaguely resembled crying came from the beast. For a long time they hugged each other, not as human and daraghna, but as two women who understood each other’s pain and struggles.
‘I willsss take yousss to my brothersss nowsss,’ Isobel finally said.
Lilian let go of Isobel and smiled a thank you at her. She retrieved the oak walking stick and nodded at Isobel that she was ready.
The daraghna gently picked Lilian up.
‘Are youssss comfortablessss?’ she asked.
‘Yes, I am,’ Lilian replied.
Isobel flexed her muscles for a moment and then launched herself into the sky.
Brighton jogged up to the little group standing in the clearing.
‘Master! It’s good to see you again!’ Goralt said excitedly.
Brighton was about to greet Goralt in the elf way, but suddenly wondered how come the elf was speaking like a human. He decided to inquire about it later and he simply replied ‘And I am happy to see you, my friend.’
He turned to Angelina, gave her a long hug and then his eyes settled on Al’taish.
‘Al’taish, you know we are brothers, don’t you?’ he said softly.
Al’taish’s stammered,’ No…I didn’t.’
Awkwardly the brothers stood looking at each other until Brighton grabbed the smaller man and gave him a bear hug.
‘I gained a brother and a sister in the last few days,’ he said past the lump in his throat.
‘Sister?’ Al’taish frowned as the two men separated.
Brighton looked up into the sky.
‘Yes, and here she is,’ he smiled.
Isobel landed softly a few paces away from the group and gently put Lilian down.
Brighton’s face clouded over as he saw her clutching the torn dress to her chest.
‘What happened?’ he growled at Isobel.
‘Relax, my love. It was only a small mishap,’ Lilian said as she walked closer and hugged him with her free arm.
‘Did you hurt Lilian?’ Brighton asked Isobel as he folded his arms protectively around his wife.
‘I wouldsss neversss hurt wifessss of my brotherssss, my ssssisssster,’ Isobel said softly.
‘Bri, relax! Nothing happened,’ Lilian said.
Brighton’s concern vanished.
‘Well, it would seem you two had a little talk,’ he said to Lilian.
‘Yes, and it was things that stays between sisters, so don’t ask me what was said,’ Lilian smiled at him.
For a while longer the group stood exchanging details of their respective experiences until Brighton finally said,’ Well, I suppose we should get to the ship and go home. I hope Jonathan had already stocked it with enough food and water.’
‘I think it would be best if we sneak through the city after nightfall. There could still be soldiers looking for us,’ Al’taish said.
Brighton’s gaze traveled across the group in front of him, lingering for a moment on Isobel and Mischief.
‘Do you honestly think anybody is going to give us any trouble?’ he smiled at his younger brother.
‘No, I suppose not,’ Al’taish laughed.
‘Al’taish, we are going back to Mendin. Isobel had already agreed to live with us in the elf forest and I know Angelina wants to get back to her home. Would you like to join us?’ Lilian asked.
Before Al’taish could answer, Angelina said, ‘I will tie him up and drag him there if he says no.’
‘I see,’ Lilian said as a smile crept across her face.
‘See what?’ Brighton frowned.
‘More than two hundred years old, the most powerful wizard ever and still there are some things he cannot see!’ Lilian giggled as she slipped her arm around her husband’s waist.