The Little Wolf and Mighty Boy

Chapter 6

     Edna turned around to be face to face to the two children staring up at her, both with looks of amazement and admiration coating their features. Edna hadn't felt them approach behind her because she had been too focused on the soldier, and she now felt a little awkward as she faced the two.

     "Well, I guess we will have a good nights rest tonight, huh?"

     The two didn't say anything in response to her words, and Edna grew irritated. "Ahh! Just go play swords, stop looking at me like that!" She said in abarrasment. It was Colt who finally spoke up to her.

     "How powerful is your noble line? What's a Lumanour?" He asked. These were questions he had been wanting to ask for quite a while, and it was now finally appropriate to ask.

     Edna sighed and rubbed her eyes as she realized that this conversation would lead into an entire history lesson, and gestured for the two children to sit at the dinner table for her to explain. Once they had all been seated she drew in a breath to explain her own family history and the dynamics she shared in the nobility world.

     "When I was young I belonged to a small noble family, called the Rammonds. We didn't have a lot of money nor land, but we were perfectly happy where we were. The small villages we governed prospered, and everyone liked our family. When I reached 20 I still hadn't been married, and it was around that time that I met Sophie's father. He was a good man, he had a lot of territory and a large amount of money, and he was looking for a wife. Our family had fallen into hard times due to winter and the recent death of my father, and so I agreed to marry him. He was a good man, and although we never truly shared any romantic feelings we still loved each other as a family. I had Sophie barely a year after our marriage, and her father unfortunately died of an illness when she reached the age of 6. He left me and Sophie a lot of assets, but his brother soon took over the family and the mansion. I felt that it wasn't appropriate for me and Sophie to stay any longer so I relocated us here. While I may be widowed I still hold a lot of power with my name, Sophie as well. I still prefer the tranquil way of like though." Edna finished as she gazed out her kitchen window and into the woods.

     Colt wasn't to surprised by the story, as he knew that Edna and Sophie belonged to a powerful noble family, but hearing the story still made him feel amazed that he could now warmly call these two nobles his family. Sophie looked to be thinking of something, and so Colt decided to ask her a question first.

     "What happened to your family? The Ramonds?Do you still keep in touch?" He asked.

     "My grandmother and grandfather passed on very early on, and my mother soon joined them from a small outbreak of the plague. My father withstood for another year before dying of broken heart syndrome. This all happened right before Sophie was born. My sister is still alive, but married to a man in the army. She relocated to the capitol soon afterwards."

     Colt offered his condolences and thought more about his next question. He was heavily invested in learning more about Edna and was about to ask her more before another knock sounded on the front door. Edna looked annoyed as she strode to the door before opening it with exasperation showing on her face. Her facial expression quickly changed into one of studied curiosity as she gazed out. Colt and Sophie became curious as well and walked up behind Edna, peering around her to look at the guest.

     In the doorway stood the butcher and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Nordenhoir. They both had ghostly expressions, and Colt felt like their expressions sunk even further as they saw him.

     "Edna." Mr. Nordenhoir spoke first, biting his lip as he ran a hand through his graying hair. "Something's wrong about this group of soldiers. They are asking for the boy. They threatened us to retrieve him from you."

     Edna's face shifted in concern, and she glanced at Colt for a moment. "Why Colt? What do they need him for?" Edna was worried. When it came to herself and Sophie her family name completely protected the two... but Colt, Colt was unprotected by their family name. Edna could only attempt to use her own power to shield him.

     "His father is back." Mrs. Nordenhoir jumped in. "It seems like he made a deal with the soldiers... Please Edna! Don't hide him, you can't! They'll tear down all of our homes to find the boy. Your home is the only one they can't touch... but think about us poor villagers!" Mrs. Nordenhoir was on the verge of tears, her shaking hands clasped desperately around her husbands.

     Mr. Nordenhoir looked grim as he looked up at Colt. "I'm sorry Colt. It's best if we bring you to them, I doubt they will actually touch a boy of your age though. No matter what that drunkard told them, you are still part of this village. They won't touch you, I'll make damn sure of that."

     Colt felt warmth spread to his heart at the words, feeling like it was one of the first times someone of the village tried to stick up for him, even though he was also condemning him to the soldiers at the same time. He clutched Edna's leg he nodded.

     "I'll go."