too, and the door opened as they all turned to see Lark returning, a sheepish grin on his face.
“Did I miss ice-cream?”
Sonia finished drying her bowl and went to the counter, peering inside the canister.
“It’s not melted yet Daddy! You can still have some."
“Good,” Lark said, latching the door shut and coming over to the kitchen.
“Hello there Ven,” he said. “Did you walk Sylvia home?”
He sat down at the table and dug his spoon into the bowl Adeline handed him.
“Aye, and it was a good thing I did too—I might have missed out on ice-cream,” he said, aiming the last part at Sonia. She giggled, the sound of it making Sylvia’s heart twist.
To be here with her parents, Sonia, and even Ven was something she didn’t experience often, and she tried to savor it every time she came home. And now I have to fight to protect it , she thought. Tomorrow would begin a journey that would change everything, and hopefully lead them to some answers about how to protect Meadowcity, and how to keep their families safe.
“I think I’d better get to bed,” Sylvia said, clearing her bowl. We’ve got a big day ahead of us she added silently.
Chapter Seven
Before daybreak the next morning, Sylvia found herself softly knocking on the door to Ven’s family villa. She hoped not to wake the baby, as his little brother was only a few months old, and she was sure he wouldn’t appreciate being woken this early.
The sky was grey-blue, and a chill breeze caressed her face. She flipped her leather collar up to warm her neck. The sun wouldn’t rise for another hour.
She heard quick, quiet footsteps, and suddenly the door creaked open. Ven stepped out and shut the door behind him.
On his back was a full rucksack, laden down with a few sheathed knives hanging from straps. In his hand he held his bow. It was very finely carved; Sylvia knew he had bought it with his hunter’s wages when he first began to make a living. He reached above his head and slung it onto his back to rest across his pack.
Without a word, he began to lead her away from his villa. Softly, he said, “I don’t want to wake anyone.”
They mounted the stone path leading towards the treewall. The barrier of trees was still green, but any day now would begin to turn, with Summer’s End approaching.
What Sylvia thought he meant was, “I don’t want them to know I’m leaving.” She sighed. She had said goodbye to her family this morning. Her mother was silent as Sylvia told them she was going to Riftcity. To her favor, her mother didn’t even ask why Sylvia was leaving, when the city was closed to travel.
Sylvia’s family, however, was used to her leaving for weeks at a time, risking her life in the woods and hills and mountains. She couldn’t imagine how Ven’s family would feel.
Her hand crept up to her neck where the glass bead her mother and sister had given to her rested. Taking a deep breath, she focused her thoughts on picking her way over the stone path. She and Ven were headed for the Citizen’s Hall, where they were to meet Gero and Flint, and then go on their way.
“Did you leave a note?” she guessed quietly, looking down at the path.
“Yeah,” he breathed.
Sylvia couldn’t imagine what his mother’s reaction would be when she came down to get breakfast ready for the family, only to find out that her oldest was walking off into danger.
Sylvia had had to wake Sonia and tell her that she was leaving. But the little girl was only half awake and told her, “That’s okay Sylvia, I know you’ll be back soon.”
Her heart wrenched in her chest again at the memory.
With silent thoughts and silent footsteps, the two walked swiftly towards Meadowcity’s only gate, in front of which stood the Citizen’s Hall. The building’s massive door was open just enough for them to slip through. Sylvia steeled herself and entered, Ven close behind. The
“Did I miss ice-cream?”
Sonia finished drying her bowl and went to the counter, peering inside the canister.
“It’s not melted yet Daddy! You can still have some."
“Good,” Lark said, latching the door shut and coming over to the kitchen.
“Hello there Ven,” he said. “Did you walk Sylvia home?”
He sat down at the table and dug his spoon into the bowl Adeline handed him.
“Aye, and it was a good thing I did too—I might have missed out on ice-cream,” he said, aiming the last part at Sonia. She giggled, the sound of it making Sylvia’s heart twist.
To be here with her parents, Sonia, and even Ven was something she didn’t experience often, and she tried to savor it every time she came home. And now I have to fight to protect it , she thought. Tomorrow would begin a journey that would change everything, and hopefully lead them to some answers about how to protect Meadowcity, and how to keep their families safe.
“I think I’d better get to bed,” Sylvia said, clearing her bowl. We’ve got a big day ahead of us she added silently.
Chapter Seven
Before daybreak the next morning, Sylvia found herself softly knocking on the door to Ven’s family villa. She hoped not to wake the baby, as his little brother was only a few months old, and she was sure he wouldn’t appreciate being woken this early.
The sky was grey-blue, and a chill breeze caressed her face. She flipped her leather collar up to warm her neck. The sun wouldn’t rise for another hour.
She heard quick, quiet footsteps, and suddenly the door creaked open. Ven stepped out and shut the door behind him.
On his back was a full rucksack, laden down with a few sheathed knives hanging from straps. In his hand he held his bow. It was very finely carved; Sylvia knew he had bought it with his hunter’s wages when he first began to make a living. He reached above his head and slung it onto his back to rest across his pack.
Without a word, he began to lead her away from his villa. Softly, he said, “I don’t want to wake anyone.”
They mounted the stone path leading towards the treewall. The barrier of trees was still green, but any day now would begin to turn, with Summer’s End approaching.
What Sylvia thought he meant was, “I don’t want them to know I’m leaving.” She sighed. She had said goodbye to her family this morning. Her mother was silent as Sylvia told them she was going to Riftcity. To her favor, her mother didn’t even ask why Sylvia was leaving, when the city was closed to travel.
Sylvia’s family, however, was used to her leaving for weeks at a time, risking her life in the woods and hills and mountains. She couldn’t imagine how Ven’s family would feel.
Her hand crept up to her neck where the glass bead her mother and sister had given to her rested. Taking a deep breath, she focused her thoughts on picking her way over the stone path. She and Ven were headed for the Citizen’s Hall, where they were to meet Gero and Flint, and then go on their way.
“Did you leave a note?” she guessed quietly, looking down at the path.
“Yeah,” he breathed.
Sylvia couldn’t imagine what his mother’s reaction would be when she came down to get breakfast ready for the family, only to find out that her oldest was walking off into danger.
Sylvia had had to wake Sonia and tell her that she was leaving. But the little girl was only half awake and told her, “That’s okay Sylvia, I know you’ll be back soon.”
Her heart wrenched in her chest again at the memory.
With silent thoughts and silent footsteps, the two walked swiftly towards Meadowcity’s only gate, in front of which stood the Citizen’s Hall. The building’s massive door was open just enough for them to slip through. Sylvia steeled herself and entered, Ven close behind. The
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