Atlantic Roleplay Community Boards

[Thrax]

---

"I'm not going mother! I want to stay here. Daddy will come back, I'm sure of it," the girl protested, folding her arms. She stood just inside the doorway of the Healer's hut.

Her mother, Elana, holding onto her son's hand, scowled. "We will not be gone long, Luana. Daddy will know where to find us if he does come back. He will not want us here anyway. You are coming with me, so get down here!" she ordered.

The girl did not budge, but shook her head. One of the healers began talking to her, trying to coax her into obeying her mother. As he did, Ivan Blackhands approached and, quickly assessing the situation, stopped to speak. "What is going on here?" he inquired.

Elana tried to appear indifferent. "Just a little trouble with a child m'lord. It is nothing," she replied. Joel, frightened by the tall dark man, tried to pull away. "I want daddy!" he cried.

Ivan glanced at him, the girl, and then her mother in rapid succession. "Your husband... where is he?"

Elana shook her head. "I... I do not know, m'lord, and that is the truth. We were leaving to visit some relatives, hoping he would meet us there," she explained, figuring there was now no purpose in lying.

"You are Elana Branwyr and your husband is Mauric, correct?"

She nodded.

"I gave approval to your request for immigration. You may therefore go. But the girl, if she wishes to remain here, may do so. We will look after her until you and your husband return," he stated, flatly. His tone of voice made it clear he would brook no argument.

Nevertheless, she tried. "I cannot leave my daughter here, sire! It would not be right, and I would have no peace of mind while we were apart. Please make her come with me!"

Luana looked at Ivan and smiled. "I want to go to school, mother. I will miss it if I go with you. All my friends are there. And you said daddy may not be coming back... ever," she blurted out.

Elana blushed and stood speechless, wondering what to say next.

Ivan pretended to ignore the girl's statement, instead exerting more pressure upon Elana to relent. "If you wish to go, you may. Your husband, however, has broken the law and will be arrested upon his return. I give you thirty days to visit your kin, then you must return here, or face similar charges. Regardless, your daughter desires to stay here and may. It will ensure that you fulfill these directives. Either that, or you will have to stay here also. Make your choice now."

Elana's mind whirled. She considered that, with her brother's help, she would be able to sneak back in and get Luana out safely within a few days, when Joel was safely out of the way. Rattan doors and window shutters were easily penetrated. She nodded, lowering her head. "I will let her stay then," she said, looking up at Ivan. "I have your word she will be safe and well cared for?"

Ivan glared at her. "I am a city official, m'lady. Need I remind you that my duty is to protect the citizens of Papua from danger or harm? Even though some of us who run it are are not natives, please grant us the benefit of doubt that we are not such that have sunk so low as to harm children or allow them to come to harm!"

His words cowed her, though she remain unconvinced of their truth. "Forgive me, sire," she apologized.

As if to prove his words, Luana descended the log stairs and went to his side. He held out his hand and she clasped it, looking up at him, smiling. She then cast a look at her mother. "I will be fine, mother. Ivan is my friend. He is just like daddy!" she naively boasted.

Elana felt a chill run through her. Looking at Luana, she could clearly see that the girl meant every word she said and that her emotion was real. What were they doing to make the children view them so? They did not have the dreamy eyes of someone bewitched or hypnotized. Elana did not know what to make of it. It served to confirm in her mind that she would sneak back to free her from their mysterious and frightening influence. "Verywell then," she said resignedly. "We will be back to check on her within a week. Where will she be staying?" she asked.

"We put all wards of the town up at the Inn, in rooms of their own. The innkeeper and cooks help us look after them and make sure they are kept bathed and well-fed. If you like, you may come with me and see how some of them are doing," Ivan offered. "We have three that live there now."

She knew who they were: children whose parents had either suddenly died or disappeared... although in some cases of disappearance, a note was left behind stating reasons for it. She knew she would find them in good shape, for she had seen some of them at the Inn playing on the porch. They all were happy and healthy and emotionally stable. It was all too strange, though. "There is no need, m'lord. I am sure she will be in good hands. Forgive the fears of a troubled woman."

"There is nothing to forgive," Ivan consoled her, putting his arm around Luana, looking down at her briefly. "Do you have enough money for your journey, and would you like an escort there? I can and will provide both."

Elana shook her head. "No, sire, we have enough. I appreciate your offer and generosity. We will be on our way," she said, bowing. Joel grabbed her leg and began to cry. "I want sissy go!" Elana whispered to him and he perked up a little. Then they began walking toward the mage shop and the portal to Moonglow, Joel turning to wave goodbye to his sister. Still calmly standing beside the dark man she waved back to him, smiling.