Light of Epertase 01: Legends Reborn (33 page)

“Mommy, Mommy, look what I found.”

Jarret burst through the kitchen door with his newfound treasure cupped in his tiny hands.

His mother turned from the stove. “What is it, Jarret?”

“It’s a birdie. It’s a birdie. She’s dieded.”

“Dieded? What do you mean, honey?”

“Dieded. We have to bury her.”

“Oh, honey. You mean she died. Let me see.”

Jarret proudly held his precious treasure in the air where his mother could get a better look. “Sweetie, that’s a mourning dove. And she’s not dead. Look, she’s breathing. Let me have her. We’ll try to help her, alright?”

“Alright, Mommy. I’ll tell Daddy.” He almost dropped his injured bird in his haste to find his father. She grabbed the dove from his hands.

“Daddy, Daddy, come quick. Look what I found outside.”

His father leaned out from his work room. Jarret knew he wasn’t allowed to interrupt his father when he was writing for the local flyer but this was too important to wait.

“Jarret, I am very busy,” he said.

Jarret tugged his hand, ignoring his father’s orders. “Come on.”

His father followed him into the kitchen. “Dear, you know how busy I am. I have a deadline. You need to keep Jarret out of my hair for the time being.”

“I know, I know. But you can take two seconds to see what your son found.”

“Any other time, but with the Princess missing for nearly two weeks now and the rumors that the King has not been seen since yesterday, I have much to do. Epertasians are nervous and they look to people like me to keep them informed.” He paused, sighed, and said, “Alright.” He knelt. “Here now, let me see what you’ve found.”

“Show him, Mommy, fast.”

His mother turned from the counter with a small, covered produce box. She held it low for Jarret to see while his father pulled the top flap away. Jarret danced with excitement. The box was filled with shredded papers, probably discarded from his father’s office. Resting in its center was the motionless dove.

“Mommy, you made a nest.”

“Yes I did, sweetie. Now this is important. You mustn’t touch her while she gets better. If you promise not to touch her, I will leave her on your dresser. But if you bother her, I will have to put her up high. Deal?”

“Yes, Mommy, I won’t touch her. I prombise”

Jarret’s mom and dad continued talking, but he paid no attention to what they said; he was too excited about his new friend. His father patted the top of his head and he smiled. He knew his daddy loved him.

His father headed back to his office and locked his door. Jarret’s mother carried the box into Jarret’s room. He scurried to keep up.

His mother said, “I am going to cover the bird so she can get better. I don’t want you bothering her. Do you understand? You can peek at her but that’s all.”

“I already said I won’t touch her.”

His mother parted some of the folded clothes on his dresser and set the box between them. Jarret hopped onto the foot of his bed and sat with his legs crossed, motionless, staring at the box. As his mom left the room, he gave her a quick glance before turning his full attention back to the box.

He squirmed, wondering what his little friend may be doing.
It should be awake by now,
he told himself. The wait seemed like an eternity.
Maybe I’ll take just a little peek.

He bounced from his bed, tiptoed to his dresser with his footstool in tow, and climbed up. The lid lay loose upon the box. He touched it and then yanked his hand back.
What to do, what to do
. What if the birdie needed him? Maybe since his mother wasn’t in the room, she wouldn’t be mad. His logic was solid so he lifted the lid enough to get a peek. The dove lay motionless except for the flutter of her chest.

He whispered into the box, “Please wake up, birdie,” then looked around to make sure his mother didn’t hear.

“Jarret.” His father’s voice startled him from down the hall.

Jarret slammed the lid closed and jumped from the stool.

“Jarret,” his father yelled again.

“What, Daddy?”

“Time to eat.”

“I’m coming,” Jarret yelled and then whispered to the box, “I’ll be right back.” He raced into the kitchen. While he shoveled food into his mouth he could think of nothing but his new friend. His mother said to slow down but she couldn’t possibly understand.

After his meal, he spent the rest of the day staring at the box. By nightfall he had almost given up hope that his friend would ever awaken.

His mother came into his room. “Have you been sitting here all evening?” she asked.

“Mommy, why won’t she wake up?”

She helped him into his bed, pulled the sheets to his chin, and kissed his forehead. “She is hurt, honey. She needs to sleep like little boys need to sleep. Maybe she will be better in the morning.”

Jarret rolled onto his side with his back to his mom and his thumb in his mouth.

She rubbed his back and sang his favorite song.

Her hand was warm and loving; her voice sweet and gentle. His eyes grew heavy and he fought a losing battle against sleep.

S
cratch. Scratch.

Jarret stretched in his bed.

Scratch, scratch, scratch.

Jarret forced his eyes open against the brightness of the daylight shining through his bedroom window.

Scratch, scratch.

My birdie!
He sprang out of his bed with a thump. The box lid was ajar. Bounding onto his stool, he lifted the lid slightly. The dove rustled and flopped in the papers.

Jarret ran from his bedroom to his mother’s room. “Mommy, Mommy, she’s waking up! Come quick!” He tore back to his room.

His mother seemed to take forever but eventually she entered, rubbing her eyes. He lifted the lid enough for her to peer in. “Yes, honey, you helped her. She’s waking up. Let’s go get some bread for her to eat.”

He raced down the hall with her trailing him. “Is Daddy at work?”

“Yes. He left very early this morning.”

“He will be sooooo proud of me, huh?”

“You bet he will.”

By the time they returned to Jarret’s room, the dove was awake and fighting with the box. Jarret’s mother slipped a chunk of bread under the lid. “Let’s let her eat while we have breakfast. Then we will let her fly to her home.”

“Sure.” Jarret sprinted to the kitchen table. His legs bounced and his mind shot back and forth from his food to his friend.

After he finished his toast and tornment juice, he grabbed his mother’s hand. “Come on, come on.”

“Alright, honey, I’m coming.”

She retrieved the box and together they went outside to the front yard. “Are you ready?” she asked.

Jarret bobbed his head.

She set the box on the ground and slowly lifted the top flap. For a moment nothing happened. Then, as if realizing she was free, the dove rocketed into the air.

Jarret shouted and ran through the yard, chasing her until she flew out of sight. He turned back to his mother and proudly grinned. She smiled back.

Alina’s eyelids began to flutter. Rasi rushed to her side and grasped her hand.
I am here. You are safe.

She forced her eyes open. They looked sadder than he’d ever seen them.

“Rasi?”

It’s me. I’m here. I’ll never let you be harmed again.
He caressed her arm but she shied away.

“Rasi, wait!” She pried her hand from his.

He stared at his empty hand with a lowered brow.
I tried to save your father. I tried to find you in time. I’m sorry.

She lifted his chin and looked into his eyes.

What? What is it?
he asked.

“I need you to be honest with me.”

Anything.

“I’ve never pressured you to talk about your past. Maybe, in some way, not asking allowed me to deny what the people had said. But I cannot deny it any longer. I need to know the truth. Where were you when my grandparents were murdered?”

His face must have told her everything she needed to know because she covered her face and turned away.

Alina, I … I … I.

“Did you break into the castle that night?” she interrupted. “That lying creature, Scorne, said you helped him. I didn’t believe him but rumors in the kingdom over the years always said you killed them. Is everyone lying, Rasi? Or do I not know you as well as I believed?”

He hesitated. He had no easy answers. His heart broke.
Yes. It is true I was in the castle that night. But I did not …

The devastation on her face stopped him cold and made him want to cry.

“Why were you in the castle?”

Her question brought back his overwhelming guilt of drawing the guards away the night King Cecil was murdered. Telling her meant he would have to reveal his vengeful plan of killing her father and he would rather die than for her to know that.

He shook his head.
Please, Alina, I can’t answer that.

A tear rolled down her cheek. He reached to wipe it away but she pulled back. “And the girl, Rasi? The one you were accused of killing. What of her? You were there that night, as well?”

I was trying to save her, I swear.

“They said you were the only suspect – that you were found in the alley by her body. I want to believe you, but if it wasn’t you, then why were you there? Who killed her?”

Rasi pictured Elijah’s murderous, cold eyes that night. Maybe he should tell her everything. Tell her the things her father had done and why he was in the castle that horrible night. She’d believe him. She’d understand. Part of him wanted to protect her with lies, let her believe that her father was mostly the good man she remembered and that his last living actions were during a period of weakness. But to do so, he’d have to absorb the blame and Elijah didn’t deserve to be protected.

He looked to the ground and took a deep breath. He couldn’t look at her because what he was about to say would hurt her badly. With no other choice he answered.
Your father killed her.
She paused, devastation crossing her face. She put her hand over her mouth and let out a whimper, one he’d never forget.

“My father? How? Why?”

He wasn’t a good man, Alina. He wasn’t the man you knew. He blamed me for the murder of that young girl to save his own skin. He knew your grandfather was a good man and would have brought justice to him had his black heart been revealed. He took my tongue and banished me so I could not expose him. I am forever sorry for the pain my words bring you.

She couldn’t speak for several moments of pained silence. Her blurry emerald eyes met his. “You tell me all of this but you refuse to tell me about the night my grandparents died?”

Rasi turned away. There was no more need for secrecy and he knew it. Before he answered, the silence nearly killed him.
Yes, Alina, I was there, but I did not kill them.

“Why then? Why were you there?”

He took a deep breath. There was no turning back.
I was there to kill your father for the crimes he had committed. It was he who ordered my wife and child murdered after he killed that young girl and made me the scapegoat.

Her lips quivered, leaving silence that would cripple the gods. Finally, she whispered as the pieces fell into place. “It was Scorne who killed my grandparents?” Rasi nodded. “And it was Scorne who kidnapped me for my father. Does that mean my father ordered Scorne to kill…” She trailed off, the words too devastating.

I fear so.

“Oh gods.” She gagged like she might vomit.

“Why didn’t you tell me? All of these years, you kept these secrets?”

You loved him, Alina. I saw it in your face when you spoke of him. No daughter should know such secrets of their father.

“I’ve always believed you to be my protector, yet you allowed me to live with a monster. I felt safe when I was with you but again and again you let me go back. Look what he did to me because you didn’t let me know of his evil.”

He bowed his head.

“Rasi, I need time to think.”

He jerked his head up.
Alina, wait. What are you saying?