THE UNTOUCHABLE [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER 6: AN EAGLE THAT CAME

Charlotte spent the rest of the day at the excavation site trying to learn something from Dad about his passion: Archaeology. She followed Dad around as he spoke in almost without pause, explaining to her the various findings they had dug out so far from the two sites. Shards of pottery, kitchen utensils, remains of cloths, as well as some remnants of weapons like the tip of arrows and knives were also found.

"Look at these weapons, Charlotte—" Dad patted the tip of arrows and half piece of a knife that were laid on a makeshift table in the tent. Charlotte looked at the darkened pieces of artefacts. "We don't know who used them. Did they kill with these? Did they protect their family?" Dad sighed. "Weapons are only as good as their handlers. The ones who wield them. They can be for good, for guarding or protecting, or for bad, for robbing and killing." Dad paused like he was in deep thought about the weapons found.

After a few seconds, Dad spoke again and changed the topic of his talk."It seemed to be a community that had within it its own hierarchical chain of command, also a burial ground. We have to dig further to see where the burials were. Look at those pottery, it showed some paintings, possible some animals that they had hunted—a bit hard to decipher, but we'll see what's left of it," Dad wiped the sweats on his forehead while Charlotte smiled and nodded. "Wow, Dad. Coming here is the best vacation decision I have ever made."

"I hope I don't bore you too much, Doctor Charlotte Lee!"

"Nope. All's good, Father!" she teased Dad back. She saw Ellie busy writing on her journal in one the tents. She seemed better now and that helped lift up Dad's mood too.

Then she played with Emily after the little girl took a power nap in the tent.

It was a fun day for her, and at the end of the day, she went across the forest again with Dad and Ellie to go back to their cottage. This time she did not feel like she was being watched, and that helped her feel much better.

She looked forward to the next day at the excavation site. She already thought of a few simple games to play with Emily.

Ellie got better and was much more talkative and laughed a lot too. Charlotte decided that she liked Ellie, and she was glad Dad and Ellie found each other.

<<<>>>

The next day, the sun shone and temperarture felt warmer because the spring inched closer to summer. Dad and Ellie were excited by the perfect spring-summer weather, they even talked about a possible picnic.

Charlotte decided to wear her spring dress, a spaghetti-strapped yellow cotton dress and a navy blue wool cardigan to handle the cool wind. Her sneakers were muddy but that did not bother her. Her slingbag slung across her body, and she was ready.

Emily was already at the site when she got there, and the girl was already bored. Since it was Saturday, there was only one other person working there at the site: Michelle, Emily's mom, who would just work for a couple hours because she really wanted to finish taking some notes so she could work on it in her spare time back at the place where she stayed.

Emily started whining, and MissCharLee and her red clown nose came to the rescue, while Dad and Ellie were busy discussing something in the tent with Michelle.

<<<>>>

Arran grasped the jute bag in his right hand. He watched Charlotte from behind a tree at the edge of the forest. His heart thumped hard. He wanted to back away, Sylve and her followers were in their deep rest again, but how about if they were awake earlier today?

This is crazy, Arran! How are you going to let Charlotte have the bag of berries without being seen? How?! And do not forget, your blood is tainted. You do not deserve happiness, kindness, all that is good. You are dispensable. Leave a gentle, kind soul like Charlotte alone. Back off now. Go back to the shadow, to the prison of scarlet fence and scarlet bracelet where you belong.