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Ascension - Chapter 3

Moving Forward

By Nikky Affolder-WalkerPublished 2 years ago 13 min read
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Ascension - Chapter 3
Photo by Cassiano K. Wehr on Unsplash

The longer time went on the more restless Izadora became. She felt she was wasting her life in this village. She wanted to know about her mother’s people. She wanted to know who her true father was. She was excited at the idea of leaving home, but also scared. She worried for her aunt and uncle. What might happen to them without her or if the villagers discovered her identity as a half-elf. That wouldn’t matter to them, they would only see elf and they would hate her. She had heard some of the hateful things said about elf-kind. She wondered how her mother had dealt with it. It hadn’t really affected her before. She thought it was small-minded pettiness, but it had not hit her in such a personal way until now. Stepping into the butcher shop for some venison steaks she noticed Widow Willowsmith and Madam Teasworth standing near the window gossiping. Izadora didn’t appear to be listening, but she was.

“I heard they’re on the move again searching for land to conquer and take!” Madam Teasworth was telling Widow Willowsmith. The older widow woman looked alarmed.

“Surely they would not come here. We haven’t much to take really.”

“That I cannot say, I hear they are ruthless beasts those elves. That they look at us as animals and think we do not matter in the long run because our lives are so much shorter than theirs.” Madam Teasworth said with a sniff. Widow Willowsmith shuddered and looked out the window nervously as if she thought the elves would come forth from the forest at any moment.

Izadora left the shop shortly after with steaks in hand. She took them home to her aunt, who was pleased for the fresh meat and went to her room. She took off her necklace and stared at her elvish face. She was half human, what would the people really think about that. Would they think her a savage beast because she was half elf? Taking down her hair she began to brush it, the movements meditative. As she brushed, she started humming an old song her mother would sing to her. The melody was haunting and tugged at her heart. Making up her mind she decided that tomorrow she would talk to her aunt and uncle about leaving. She would be 18 soon, in less than a fortnight. She might as well prepare to go journeying. She knew they wanted her to stay, to continue blacksmithing. Old Jagger had told her she was an excellent apprentice and that he believed her fully capable of running a smithy on her own at this point. He marveled at her strength and endurance. She wondered now if that came from her mother’s side. She had heard elves were wiry and slim, but strong and could run over rough terrain at speed. With a sigh she crawled into bed closed her eyes and swiftly fell asleep.

***

When the roaring and screams had mostly stopped and the sounds of moans and wailing was all he could hear, Hagar opened his door cautiously to look about. He found that many of the villagers had died in the attack, especially those that were out doors at the time. Verifying that the sky was clear of dragons Hagar called to Izadora to lead him up the mountain to her mother.

“Calista love, it’s bad out there. Do what you can. We’ll be back as soon as we can with Kiera.”

Calista nodded and the two set out for the mountain with Izadora in the lead. As they came over a rise she let out a cry and ran to her mother’s side. Kiera was breathing heavily. It was obvious she was in serious pain. Hagar pulled his homemade stretcher along behind him. As he reached her his face became grave. The burns were serious. The fabric appeared to have melted into the skin and where the skin could be seen it was charred and black like meat that had been burnt on the hearth when the kitchen boy forgot to turn the spit.

“Listen Kiera, it’s bad. I think you know that?”

Kiera nodded stiffly. It appeared that even that small movement was painful. Hagar looked from the stretcher to her and back again trying to determine the best way to move her. Finally, Kiera gritted her teeth and said plainly, “Just do it Hagar. You cannot spare me the pain.”

Izadora watched wide eyed as her uncle kneeled beside her mother and gently slid his hands beneath her. He looked at Izadora before lifting, “you remember what I told you to do?”

She nodded looking scared. Hagar counted, “1…2…3!” and hoisted Kiera up so that Izadora could slide the stretcher under her. Kiera let out a shriek of agony. She tried not to, but she could not help it. Izadora wiped the sweat from her mother’s brow tears running down her face. “Don’t worry mama, we will take you home and you will get better.”

When her uncle Hagar said nothing, she looked at him fiercely. “Isn’t that right Uncle?” Hagar stared sadly back at the child he adored and said nothing for a long moment. “We will do everything we can for your mother. She will be kept as comfortable as possible, that I promise. Why don’t you run ahead and tell your aunt we will need the village healer? That would save time and hopefully your mother will not have to wait as long to be seen. Izadora nodded and started to turn away. Turning back abruptly she kissed her mother’s brow. Kiera smiled wanly, “I love you.” Izadora turned to run while shouting back “Love you too mama!”

When Hagar arrived back at the house Calista was the only one there, but she assured him that she had sent Izadora for the healer and expected them back shortly. When she laid eyes on Kiera she gasped, and tears filled her eyes. Kiera met the look and without needing to speak there was an understanding that went between them. “Of course sister, we will keep her and care for her to the best of our ability.”

Kiera let out a shaky breath, relieved to have that confirmed. She closed her eyes and her breathing slowed. They watched the rise and fall of her chest become slower and shallower until it stopped all together. Calista stood in Hagar’s arms crying when Izadora and the healer arrived. The healer took one look at Kiera and blanched. She reached down to the unburned arm and felt for a pulse. After a moment she turned and looked at them and said softly, “I’m sorry… she is gone.”

Izadora lost it screaming for her mother, she ran to her pushing at her and demanding that she wake up. Calista and Hagar sprang forward to grab her, and they were amazed at how hard Izadora fought them to stay with her mother. Finally, they got her in the house and Calista had to shake the girl to stop her hysterics. “Izadora! Hush now… your mother has gone to join your father in the Fields of Sky. Na’alai will watch over them. They will be at peace where there is no more pain.”

Sobbing Izadora clung to Calista. She put up no argument when her aunt gave her a glass of alcohol and drank it. She sputtered and coughed but drank it all like she was told. Soon after the alcohol took effect and she fell asleep in her aunt’s arms. Calista picked her up much as she had when she was a babe and carried her to their bed. She lay down with her and stroked her hair crying quietly. She had loved Kiera and she had never wanted Izadora to grow up without her.

When Hagar returned later that evening, he found Calista curled up around Izadora in their bed, both sound asleep and both faces showing the weight of their grief. He had helped several villagers dig out their homes and they were luckily to find that more people had survived than he originally thought. Exhausted and hungry he went to put together a meal from leftovers and then washed up quickly before he crawled into bed and put his arms around both Calista and Izadora. There was so much grief and pain. He hoped they would be able to do right by Izadora, that they would do all the things Kiera wanted them to.

***

When morning came Izadora stretched, her curls wispy and light, flew about her head like a dark halo. After dressing for another day working at the smithy, she brushed her hair and did it up tight to her head in a coil of braids. With her necklace in her pocket, she almost ran down the stairs to breakfast. Hagar and Calista turned to look at her surprised. While she hadn’t been as silent and wary as she had been, this was closer to the Izadora they were used to.

“You seem chipper this morning” Calista commented.

Izadora smiled and nodded, “Yes, I’ve had a marvelous idea, and while I know you may be hesitant, I think it’s the right thing to do.”

Hagar lifted an eyebrow questioningly. “Is that so… well then let’s have it.”

Izadora sank into her chair and shoveled in an extra-large bite of breakfast. Calista had made scrambled eggs, bacon, buttered greens and toast. This was by far her favorite breakfast, and she didn’t want to spoil it with her ideas. She moaned with delight and took her time chewing. Hagar and Calista waited expectantly.

“Okay, so don’t freak out…”

“Famous last words,” Hagar joked.

Izadora smiled at her uncle glad he had chosen to be light hearted this morning, she hoped this wouldn’t spoil it. Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself and started again, “I think it’s time I take a journey to the north to try to find my mother’s people. I know the name of the clan now, so I should be able to find them. I know I’m not 18 yet, but I will be soon and I’m old enough to marry so I figure I should be old enough to travel where I will.” She took another deep breath and hurried on, “I’ve given it a lot of thought and I think the truth of everything will lie with her people. I must know this part of myself better and without her to teach me, who will?”

She paused and looked at Calista and Hagar and was surprised to see them exchanging a sad smile. “Of course, you are right love, you should meet your mother’s people. You need to know who they are and how they fit into your life. I hope you’ll wait at least a month before you go. You’ll be 18 then and we can start planning for your trip.” Izadora could hear a note of sadness in Calista’s voice as she spoke and reached out to place a hand over her aunts. Calista smiled and patted her niece’s hand as Hagar began to speak.

“We’ve thought a lot about this too. We want to make sure that we plan everything just right. No need to go haring off without a proper course of action in place.” Hagar continued, “We need to consider shelter, provisioning, money, a chaperone…”

Izadora sat up straighter, “A chaperone?! I’ll be an adult, why would I need that.” Calista frowned at Hagar, “It was a poor choice of words, he meant a guide. Someone with more experience that can help guide you on the right path to find them. That’s all.”

Frowning while she thought Izadora spoke up, “who would guide me? None here know the truth of my heritage. They will certainly know if they travel with me.”

“Ah yes, about that. You’ve seen how it is here. Being a lone elf out in the world is dangerous. I don’t recommend you travel in that form,” He continued over her protests “for now… then when you get nearer to your mother’s people you wear your true face. Coming to them as a human would likely be just as dangerous. You don’t have to stay with a guide forever. This would just be someone with more experience traveling that can keep you company and steer you in the right direction.”

Izadora wanted to argue. She didn’t want to be contained she wanted to roam free and take this adventure head on with only herself to rely on. She realized though that this was foolish and if she wanted their blessing to leave, she should do as they request and make use of a guide. It was true she would technically be able to just go, but she didn’t want to leave her aunt and uncle heartsore. She didn’t know when she would be back, and she didn’t want to leave with ill feelings between them.

Izadora spent the next month planning her trip and working. She saved every bit of coin she could, and she began to stock up on necessities for travel. She spent her evenings laughing with her family and wishing to be gone, but also knowing how much she would miss them. It had been the three of them for a long time. A week before she would be traveling, she gave the news to the master smith. He squinted at her chewing on tobacco and taking her measure.

“You’ll be back won’tcha?” Jagger asked. She sensed a note of concern in his voice.

“I really don’t know how long I’ll be gone, but I expect I’ll come back at some point.” She answered, unsure where this was going. He had other apprentice smiths, so he wasn’t losing all his help with her leaving.

“Well now, what would you say if I promoted you to full smith and named you my heir?”

Izadora’s face mirrored her shock, “What? Why would you do that. You have sons…”

Jagger waived a hand dismissively, “Yes, I have sons and only one isn’t completely useless in this trade. I know he would falter, and the smithy would fail if I left it to one of them. You are an excellent smith. I know there are those that would disagree with my choice because you’re a woman, but I say to hell with those people. It’s my smithy and I can have it pass to whomever I want.” He nodded his head emphatically. “Well? Will you take my offer?”

Izadora stood there for a moment letting his words soak in. Until she had found out the truth about her ancestry and her mother, she would’ve jumped at this opportunity. There was a part of her that wanted to throw her arms around the big man and hug him while shouting “yes yes yes!” but there was another part of her growing louder by the moment saying no… insisting that she needed to proceed with her plans. After a few silent moments she looked up at the big smith and smiled with tears in her eyes.

“Oh, Jagger you don’t know what this means to me. I appreciate this offer more than you know. There are things I must do right now, so I can’t say yes… especially when I’m not entirely sure when I will be back. I will try to come back soon. In the mean time you may want to consider who else you would leave the place to if I don’t return or take too long. I think you still have a lot of good years in you so maybe… maybe I will have the chance.” Taking a step towards him she wrapped her arms around him and gave him a hug. He was surprised and pleased and returned the hug.

“Just remember you have a home here girl. You are wanted and valued. I don’t know what it is you must do but remember to come home. This place won’t be the same without ya.” Jagger said in his growly voice. He gave her another squeeze and then let her go. He waved her off and wished her a good evening.

Izadora spent her last few days getting ready to leave. Hagar would be accompanying her to Seahaven where he believed he could find her a guide. She kissed her aunt goodbye and wished her well and promised to write her when she got where she was going to let her know she was safe. Mounting their horses they took off at a walk and headed in the direction of Seahaven.

Fantasy
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About the Creator

Nikky Affolder-Walker

I am a wife, a mother of 3, a pet mom & I have a B.A. in Psychology & Womens Studies. For many years I've put off my dream of writing to take care of my family & I'm grateful to have found Vocal. It's never too late to live your dream.

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