The Guardians of Time

Chapter Sixteen: Beginnings

"I'm sorry, Kirstina." Maylo said to his sister-in-law as they stood in the backyard of the broken, rundown house Heathcliffe's family had been cursed with trying to make a home in.

They stood at the foot of a fresh mound of dirt staring at a small wooden plaque that was stuck in the ground at the front of the pile; on it was Heathcliffe's name, his birth date and the date of his death.

Kirstina was a beautiful woman underneath the tattered rags she wore and the dirt that coated her face. Her delicately light skin was spotted with freckles and her long brown hair was ratty and knotted. Her gray eyes were captivating; even now they resonated through the tears. Under the loose clothing she was curvy and her hips were perfect for bearing children. He could see why his brother was attracted to her. She stood next to him, arms crossed; not taking her eyes from her husband's grave.

Maylo had scared her when he showed up at her door with a small covered wagon; both pieces of Heathcliffe inside. She had screamed out loud and fell to her knees when he broke the news and it was like a knife in his heart. He had done this. It was his fault that Heathcliffe was dead.

He had helped her inside and when she was calm enough, he had explained how his brother, her husband, had wanted to redeem himself to Stenos. He told her that when he approached Heathcliffe with the idea, he was eager to try and restore honor to his home. By the end of the conversation, he had been apologizing profusely to her through tears.

"If I hadn't gotten Heathcliffe involved, he may still be alive. I can't bring him back, Kirstina, and I am sorry." He apologized again.

She was still for a moment longer; her eyes unwavering as they stared at the grave.

"Nothing you have told me is a surprise. Heathcliffe told me about his choice to swear is soul to the evil king. He left; even after I begged him to rethink it. Stenos is a wicked man and I wish him nothing less than a horrific, tortuous death." She turned and looked at him; there was a small smile on her sad face. "I forgive you for your part in all of this, Maylo. It makes me happy that are no longer loyal to the evil king. But can I ask you to do something?"

"Anything." He replied desperately.

"Bury him?" Kirstina looked up at him. "I don't want to see what he's become, nor should his children."

"Of course. "

Alone in the sun, Maylo dug a shallow grave for his brother; delicately placing the lifeless head and body inside. He covered the pieces before placing a plaque there. Taking a deep breath, contemplating his life, he stuck the shovel into the ground before going into the small hut to collect Kirstina and her two children; a son, Gorom, who was ten and a six-year-old daughter named Amayu.

Maylo offered some words for his fallen brother and asked if Kirstina wanted to say anything after he was done. She declined as she pulled her children close and they cried together for a brief while. She then looked at Maylo and sniffled.

"We will talk about their father in our prayers tonight, won't we?" She asked, squeezing them. Both of the children nodded sadly.

"Alright then. Let's get inside. I have some news." He said to her and he helped her usher the little ones inside.

Gorom and Amayu were not afraid of Maylo. They had always seen him like this, as he had sworn his loyalty to Stenos long before their births. To them, he was simply Uncle Maylo. He got them into the hut and when he closed the door behind them, he knelt to their level.

"I know this is a very hard day for you and I'm sorry about your dad, but I have to ask you to do something for me. Go to your rooms and pack everything that you would want to take with you. You and your mom are going to come stay with me for a while. " He said with a gentle smile.