The Hidden Crystal

Chapter 62

Iris curled up in Char's bed that night, exhausted from the day. She was alone. Elera had fussed and fretted over her all day, and while she appreciated that, she half wished Char hadn't told her. Now, he was back in the barracks, and she was in his room at Elera's house. Elera wanted to take her dress shopping tomorrow, if she was feeling up to it. Char had to pick out rings. The priest wanted to meet with them before he performed the ceremony.

She touched the fingers of her right hand to her chest, where the amulet pulsed with her heartbeat.

"Mom?" she whispered into the night.

The bright blue eyes appeared as soon Iris shut hers, smiling and laughing, the dimple deepening on her cheek.

Look, Iris. It's snow. Isn't it pretty?

Iris reached out a tiny hand, trying to catch the snowflakes. Her mother's hands held her steady over her shoulder as she walked.

Your first snow, Iris.

Her mother laughed, a bubbly sound, like water rushing over stones in a little stream.

Everything is new when I see it through your eyes.

The cold bit at Iris' nose and cheeks, but she laughed, too, the rest of her warm and cozy in her mother's arms as she watched the white gradually blanketing the scenery. Her mother's youthful face was rosy from the chill.

Now, let's pray really hard that we find a place to sleep tonight, she said, her smile faltering as her eyes left Iris to scan her surroundings. Iris yawned and pillowed her head on her mother's shoulder. A gentle hand pulled her blanket up over her head.

Sleepy baby. You take a nap, and don't worry about a thing. God always provides.

Iris opened her eyes and took a deep breath, staring up at the darkened ceiling as the vision faded. Her heart ached for her mother. She wished she could have known her - really known her. Their time together was short and indescribably sweet. For Iris, anyway. It must have been incredibly hard for her mother, a teenage girl running from Micah's master while trying to care for a newborn she didn't ask for but loved with all of her heart.

Didn't she have any family? Anybody who would help her? Or did they reject her when she came back home, broken and afraid, and force her onto the streets to fend for herself?

Iris didn't know. She wasn't sure she wanted to know.

God always provides.

Iris got out of bed and pulled on her slippers and robe. She padded into the hallway, thankful for the wooden doors in Elera's home. Iris hadn't tried to move one of the stone doors in the barracks, and she wasn't sure she could. She stopped in front of Elera's bedroom, hesitated, and raised her hand to knock, but the door opened before she got a chance.

"Iris?" Elera asked, her blue eyes widening momentarily with surprise. "Couldn't sleep either?" she asked sympathetically.

"Um, I..."

"Come with me, dear. I'll make us some hot tea."

Elera took Iris by the hand and led her to the kitchen. Iris sat at the table, watching as Elera puttered about.

"I've been worried about you, Iris. Even before Char told me what happened," Elera said. "You don't strike me as the kind of girl who wants all of this drama."

"Not really, no."

Elera sat down next to her as the kettle of water warmed up on the stove. "You look like you have something on your mind."