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News » The Past that Burned Up: 2
The Past that Burned Up
Chapter Two
The young lady cried as she spoke to her father that night, because he also told her to go. Hearing the words from her mother was one thing, but the fact that she was being sent from her home became a reality with the voice of her father. He seemed to understand, because a few tears flowed from his blue eyes as well. He however wiped them, although his focus stayed on the seriousness of the situation.
Cindy continued to cry as she watched her father reach around his neck to grab a very thin strand that circled it. She had never seen the necklace of a single thread of spider silk. The metal key that it brought from his chest was something that she did not know existed. Her mouth continued to sob, so she could not ask her father what he was handing to her. He answered anyway.
"This is your inheritance, Cindy. Whatever you hear of the fire, or heard of the fire, that is with your mother and me. You have had to grow up in poverty here in this city, but that is not your birthright. I wanted a boy to restore our family, but the fire took your twin brothers. All I have is you, but fate has already brought you Sapphire. That horse is something that cannot be bred, manufactured, or bought, but he is a special wealth. To those that have, more will be given. Thus I see you as my hope, Cindy.
Sapphire and Cindy begin their adventure.
The Past that Burned Up
Chapter Two
The young lady cried as she spoke to her father that night, because he also told her to go. Hearing the words from her mother was one thing, but the fact that she was being sent from her home became a reality with the voice of her father. He seemed to understand, because a few tears flowed from his blue eyes as well. He however wiped them, although his focus stayed on the seriousness of the situation.
Cindy continued to cry as she watched her father reach around his neck to grab a very thin strand that circled it. She had never seen the necklace of a single thread of spider silk. The metal key that it brought from his chest was something that she did not know existed. Her mouth continued to sob, so she could not ask her father what he was handing to her. He answered anyway.
"This is your inheritance, Cindy. Whatever you hear of the fire, or heard of the fire, that is with your mother and me. You have had to grow up in poverty here in this city, but that is not your birthright. I wanted a boy to restore our family, but the fire took your twin brothers. All I have is you, but fate has already brought you Sapphire. That horse is something that cannot be bred, manufactured, or bought, but he is a special wealth. To those that have, more will be given. Thus I see you as my hope, Cindy.
"Go to our old house. I know that you have never been there, and the forest has probably done its best to hide it. The first thing that you do after you go is to search for it. You need to start your life where ours ended.
"Clean the foundation, and look for something that belonged to your brothers. They were so small, but I was so proud of them. Take something of theirs with you, as their spirits need rest. As you clean the foundation, look for a rock that has been repaired with a metal weld. You can find that a section of the weld can be removed, behind which is the keyhole for this key. That is how you find your money to help you start your new life. It is your inheritance, and all that I can give you. Finally, Cindy, sleep on the foundation. It is how you tie yourself to your past. Don't be ashamed of it."
The young lady threw her arms around her father's neck. She cried some more, and heard him sob as well. Once again however he stopped his flow of tears, and focused on the practical.
"You need to leave tomorrow. Winter will be coming soon enough. Also, it is best if you get away before certain people in town learn of your plans."
There was more crying, but eventually her father had the girl lay down to get some rest. Cindy held the key in her hand and cried until she succumbed to slumber. She started crying again as she awoke, because the key had fallen out of her hand once her body relaxed. The item was found, and Cindy put it around her neck with the key resting between her breasts.
She wanted to cry some more seeing that her mother had set a number of items on the single table in the house. The elder lady would not allow the show of emotions, but was stern as she told Cindy to put on the dress that was set out. It did not help the control of emotions for the elder lady to tell her daughter to bring in Sapphire's saddlebags, but both hugged each other and cried for a time until they could again do what needed to be done.
The purple horse was jubilant when he was told that they were leaving. He showed none of the emotional agony that Cindy felt. It did improve her mood slightly to see her horse so joyful, although when she returned to the house so her mother could fill the saddlebags the two women started crying again. Cindy however found herself having to smile when she moved back out to Sapphire.
The young lady tried to sound like her usual self as she rode her purple horse through the town. She was certain that there was a different tone to her voice, but at the early hour most were focused on their business. Cindy attempted to smile a little wider as she saw a lovely carriage turn down the street heading towards her. In the driver's seat was Therox. Cindy would normally feel shy seeing the lad's parents, who were presently comfortably riding in the vehicle, but she could not leave without speaking to him. She thus told Sapphire to turn and move along with the carriage.
Therox's face showed pleasure with the attention from the young lady, and his voice was cheerful as it asked, "Where are you headed this morning?"
"I am going to Hebalsh. Word has it that there are females for Sapphire there."
"Whoa, Therox!" Shouted the lad's father in the carriage, and only after the movement ceased did he say more. "Cindy, you cannot breed animals like Sapphire. Horses like him are special, but all that will happen is the mares will birth a normal foal. It is better for the animals not to put them under such stress."
Sapphire felt he could speak for himself, "I am looking for a mate that I can speak to and share a life with."
The elder man, named Hivarn, did not seem happy speaking to the purple horse, but he did. "I can appreciate your desire, Sapphire. You are however a special animal. Those ladies you have heard about are also special animals. It will not in their masters' best interest to have you sire children with them."
"I would like to speak to them myself."
"Of course, Sapphire. Just remember my words, and do not get angry should they become proven true. You have been a good horse for Cindy, and a good member of our community."
"Thank you, Lord Hivarn."
"You're welcome, Sapphire. Now, Cindy, Hebalsh is a long way from here. Where do you plan to sleep the night?"
The young lady really did not want to say, but there was also a hope that the young man would join her. "I am going to find the remains of my family's house."
"Of course." Hivarn rose to stand in the carriage, and he started removing a sword belt as he spoke. "I have been waiting for this day to come. Your father accepted his punishment without complaint, but your family does have a history to be proud of. Your father, and those out in the wild, knew how to keep themselves safe. You have been brought up here in the city though, and your father is worked too hard for him to effectively teach you what he knows. Take this sword, Cindy, and learn to use it if at all possible."
"Thank you, Lord Hivarn."
"I want it said that I never fussed at Therox for speaking to you. I truthfully did it out of curiosity to see if your father would come to me with a dowry. I suspect that is what you are going after. I wanted Therox to marry the princess, but she was courted by another who had rank far better than my son. There are some girls in town who would make my son a good wife, but he sees your beauty, Cindy."
"My parents did not argue with Sapphire, Lord Hivarn. I thus am going to Hebalsh. I don't know if I will return."
"That is my sword, Cindy. I would like for you to bring it back to me."
"I cannot promise when, Lord Hivarn."
"The fact that you will attempt to do so at all is enough. Now go. I will need to speak of this to the baron, and it is best if you are gone by then."
Cindy signaled her horse to move closer to Therox. The two young people looked into each other's eyes. They wanted to make some act of remembrance, but neither were experienced in manners of doing so. They had only spoken to each other, and felt proud of themselves for managing that without being reprimanded by their parents. Thus, only words of good-bye passed between them spoken so softly that neither truly heard the other. Cindy then had Sapphire take her away.
Both horse and mistress felt a little scared as they moved around the lake. The woody trunks were no longer the supports for limbs that bore fruit. The presence of brambles and long thin limbs from small trees caused both the horse and young lady to realize that they were no longer in a place they could call home.
As they traveled through the untamed forest, both horse and lady felt eyes watching them. Neither were trained in fighting. Both considered running away the only viable option to any problems. They however had no way of knowing where presently to flee. They understood from the speech of their elders not to return to their home, but every other way appeared extremely unfriendly with dangerous creatures hiding in numerous locations.
It helped both Sapphire's and Cindy's sanity to recognize a landmark. It was a very large magnolia tree. What helped identify it was that it stood alone in the forest. A glittering ring of sunlight glowed in the darkness of the forest and made the red fruit of the tree appear appetizing even though they understood it was not. They did cautiously step among the low branches of the tall tree with its large leaves, remnants of great white flowers, and cones that were still partially filled with red berry-like fruit. The felt that enemies could be hiding on the upper branches or under the thick carpet of leaves, flower petals, and dropped fruit. Once near the trunk however, they felt relief.
Cindy dismounted Sapphire to throw her arms around his neck. He appreciated the affection, but mumbled that they needed to check their directions. Cindy took her steed's advice, and pulled out a piece of paper. Moving to the edge of the sunlight, but not past, she climbed over low limbs to circumnavigate the tree until she could see a slope and the faint sound of a bubbling brook. She quickly moved back to Sapphire glad to give him the news. After hugging his neck again, she mounted the pony to continue on their journey.
They were just as glad to see the blood rock, but it scared them as well. Cindy's mother had admitted that death had occurred upon the boulder. It was truthfully a good surface that hunters used to gut and clean any kills. The blood of various creatures over a multitude of years had stained the surface of the rock, and odd growths added their own color to it. What scared the horse and rider was evidence that the rock had recently been used. Leaves were moved away from around the boulder. A new rope hung from a nearby tree where a carcass had been hung. There was clear evidence that the eyes that Sapphire and Cindy felt were watching them could indeed be real.
The purple pony galloped to the root pit, but they barely stopped to verify its existence. The sign of a recent fire in the large hole that had once been an enormous tree was clearly evident by the smell in the air of fresh ashes. Frightened of the unknown and those that inhabited it they rushed to the next location on their map.
The large oak frightened them both. Again the carpet of leaves had been disturbed under some rope swings. The boards nailed for steps up the trunk appeared new.
The two stopped before their final destination. It was indeed a ruin, but it was large. The burnt timbers had been thick and strong. Sunlight filtered down upon a number of scrub plants and young trees attempting to reclaim this area of the forest, but the movement of people had so hardened the ground that the roots might as well as been working through rock.
Cindy cried as she walked to a rose bush. There were still flowers. She looked and saw other plants that truthfully should only grow where they could get constant attention. She saw the reflection of sunlight off of colored panels that had once filled windows. She cried at the sight of beauty that had once filled this place, and the knowledge that it could have been her home.
Cindy tries to learn of her past in the next installment.
Posted by TerishD on Friday, March 03, 2006 (14:46:45) (912 reads)
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Re: The Past that Burned Up: 2
(Score: 1 )
by Thema on Sunday, March 19, 2006 (16:02:12)
I'm becoming a little fonder of our pink & fluffy duo. I suspect this is in no small part due to a familarity with & sympathy for them.
So far the tale has been predictable, but nevertheless enjoyable. I can't wait to see how TD applies the inevitable twists that I'm sure must be forthcoming.
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