A Tale of Crown and Country

Reila

    The Deiarn family lived in a reasonably sized, five room house near the outskirts of town. It was important to note, however, that even at the edge of Quaelsi one was never far from the community. It was a cozy home; not old, but worn. The Deiarn's were good neighbours and the three children were respectful enough that even the elderly folk in town were keen on having them for a bit of honey water in the afternoon. The family owned and operated a cloth shop in the middle of town. It was never so busy that the floor sagged from the weight of purchasers, but it was also hardly ever empty.

Reila had always noticed she was a little different from her siblings. She was more intuitive, more rebellious, and more intelligent. Her father had taken her every year to the bookseller's for a present, and though she was more learned than her friends, she never purposefully informed them of her new knowledge, though it wasn't her fault if she let something slip out.

Mother and Father were both still home when Reila and Castin returned from the forest clearing. Mother was anxiously washing dishes in the kitchen, a nervous tic Reila noticed had diminished over the years; Father was counting the day's income from the shop, an endeavour he wasn't a part of, but one he had taken on to assist his wife.

12-year old Eilyn bounced a ball against the side of the house outside. Reila approached with Castin, who she said goodbye to before they reached the house. Eilyn caught her ball with precision and drew closer to her older sister.

"Angry?" Reila asked nervously. She could never hate her parents. And after the conversation in the clearing, her own emotions had boiled away like rain over a volcano. She was more worried about her parents reaction now, that they would be angry with her for storming off. She had had the good sense not to yell at them, having always been more level-headed than her older brother, Olvier.

Eilyn shook her head. "Mother's finished nearly all the washing and I think Father's re-done the accounts three times."

Sheesh, Reila thought. She hadn't been gone that long, The washing made her anxious. Mother's strange habit hadn't reared its head like this since Father had been three days late returning from Aldira some years ago.

"I guess I'd better go in," she admitted.

Eilyn ran to her and flung her arms around her waist. Shocked for a moment, Reila gradually wrapped her own thin arms around her sister. She hadn't thought how these revelations would alter her brother and sister. Her parents already knew, of course, but Eilyn and Olvier must have been just as surprised to hear the news. Reila stroked Eilyn's soft mousy hair before unwinding the girl's spindly arms from around her waist.

Tears were forming in the younger girl's eyes. Reila bent down to her little sister's height. Eilyn was hurriedly brushed the tears from her eyes and trying to quell the hiccups that came any time she cried.

"Ellie–" Reila cooed. "Ellie, don't cry."

"You're–you're go–going to–to leave," she uttered between gasps of air. The attempt to suppress the tears was not working.

Reila was shocked that her sister could guess at her intentions, but she quickly hid the amazement. "What makes you think that?" she asked innocently, now helping Eilyn with her tears.

"We're not yo–your family–anymore. You don't–don't love us a–anymore," she wailed.

"Oh Ellie, of course you're still my family. I'll never stop loving you. How could you think such a thing?" she said softly. "I love you all too much."

"So you wo–won't leave us?" Eilyn sniffed.

"It's just such a case of the veyulls," she said as way of explanation. "I've got to figure some things out for myself." Reila didn't want to lie to her little sister, but she couldn't very well admit that she was in fact leaving. There was so much happening right now, and the only way to fix this anxious feeling inside was to look for answers. A book never opened is never fulfilled, while a book always open divulges all its secrets. She needed that open book. And she knew it was to be found in Aldira. "I've got to go inside now, Ellie," she added, extending to her full height again.