The Ancients A Tale of Survival

Jealousy

"They remind you of their parents."

Ƒáeláƞ didn't even move as Äɱďėƞ stepped up beside him. He shrugged as he watched Mỷrἇ and Jåcóbӱ. They were busy being taught by several of the elders. They were smart kids and they soaked up knowledge like a sea sponge. Mỷrἇ and Jåcóbӱ were both smart, but Mỷrἇ far excelled her brother. That much was clear, but Jåcóbӱ was the stronger of the two. Their strengths were different, but they worked well today.

"Ƒáeláƞ?" Äɱďėƞ questioned.

Ƒáeláƞ shifted his stance and crossed his arms as he looked at his blue skinned friend. "They do. I see so much of Dárkmëre and Äçåçiå in those two. They look like their parents and they act remarkably like them."

Äɱďėƞ studied the two siblings. She shielded her eyes against the bright sun that filtered down through the canopy to the forest floor. "We will need to keep a close eye on Maŗŗők. He hasn't taken his eyes off of the girl since she got here."

Ƒáeláƞ grunted as his eyes found his friend. Maŗŗők was currently standing leaning against a tree glaring at the siblings. A look of hatred crossed his face every time he looked at Jåcóbӱ while a look of lust burned in his eyes every time Mỷrἇ laughed. Ƒáeláƞ sighed and scrubbed a hand across his face.

"Maŗŗők loved Äçåçiå. He tried to win her hand, but he lost to Dárkmëre. He has never gotten over it and it doesn't help that Mỷrἇ has so much of her mother in her."

"What are you going to do?"

Ƒáeláƞ rubbed his third finger with his thumb. It was a habit he'd always had. It signified deep thought and right know Ƒáeláƞ was thinking deeply. "She will need to be protected."

Äɱďėƞ looked annoyed. "I know that Ƒáeláƞ, but what are we going to do?"

Ƒáeláƞ sighed. "No one knows this, but Dárkmëre feared for his daughter's safety once she was born. He knew of Maŗŗők's anger over losing Äçåçiå. Dárkmëre approached my Father and asked for his permission to make a marriage contract between Mỷrἇ and I. We have been betrothed since she was a year old. Shortly after that they disappeared. Now we know what happened."

A look crossed Äɱďėƞ's face which she tried hard to hide. Ƒáeláƞ laughed. "I know what you're thinking, but I am only ten years older than Mỷrἇ. Jåcóbӱ and I used to go hunting together. I doubt that he remembers it. So much has happened since then."

Äɱďėƞ's gaze returned to the village. Her clear eyes studied Mỷrἇ, Jåcóbӱ, and Maŗŗők. "I suggest you do something fast. I do not like the look on Maŗŗők's face. He will try something soon."

Ƒáeláƞ nodded. "I already have several of my most trusted men watching Maŗŗők. The people after Mỷrἇ and Jåcóbӱ are still out there. If Maŗŗők is desperate enough, he will try to betray Mỷrἇ and Jåcóbӱ. He will lead them to the people after them in the hopes that he will get Mỷrἇ."

Äɱďėƞ laid a webbed hand on Ƒáeláƞ's shoulder. "Me and mine will help you."

"Thank you," Ƒáeláƞ said with warmth. "Come by my hut tonight and we will talk more about what to do. Bring those of your people that you trust. I want to put eyes in the water. I will not lose those two to jealousy and lust. We already lost Dárkmëre and Äçåçiå. The world cannot afford to lose their offspring. We need them. The world needs them."