Eulia And The Butterfly Dragon

Chapter 8 Homeless

"Lets land there," Eulia shouted, "I see Jake and David camped out behind your cottage, Agnes." The dragons remained invisible as they circled down and landed in the same cops of trees they had previously used.

"See you both an a week Maryann said as she, Elodia, Susan and Gemma waved and lifted off.

"Lets go surprise the boys!" Phoebe said then giggled. Phoebe literally ran jumping into David's arms. Eulia had Rebecca in tow and approached Jacob at a slower deliberate pace. She was surprised by the sadness she could plainly read in his face.

"Jake?"

"It's Ian and Mari, sweetheart, they have died," Jacob whispered to her. Eulia stumbled into Jacob's arms and he held her tight. He could feel her trembling. He gently caressed his thumb across her cheek and felt her tears. He bent slowly and gently kissed her wet cheek and could taste the saltiness of her tears, he gently rubbed her back in small circles. She simply clung to him unwilling and unable to speak. "They were murdered, I'm so very sorry sweetheart."

"I...I shouldn't have run...if I had given myself..." her body was racked with her tears.

"It's not your fault...Euly look at me!" Jacob said forcibly. She stared at him with a vacant expression. She looked miserable, he had never seen her more broken, "It was marauders." He held her tighter kissing her forehead as he continued to gently caress her back working to release any tight knotted muscles he felt. "They hit several farms and both Somerset and Beaconsfield. They knew nothing about you." Then he added fiercely, "This is not your fault! This is the empire's doing."

"Will you please take me to the farm," Eulia whispered, her voice barely audible and stricken with grief. "I need to say goodbye."

"Yes, of course. I will take you."

"Agnes, may I please leave Becky with you for a while?"

"Yes, Rebecca Mae lets you and me play with the butterfly dragons, you need to give them names." The child happily took Agnes's hand and followed her. David and Phoebe followed Eulia and Jacob to Ian's farm. They stayed back, far enough to allow Eulia a little privacy for her grief but close enough to show support. Eulia leaned her back against Jacob as he stood at the grave sight with her wrapped in his arms.

"Mari lost four children before Rebecca was born," she whispered.

"Ian told me she had always been frail."

"How did she die?"

"I'd rather not say, sweetheart."

"I have to know, please."

"She was impaled and nailed to the door. She was still alive when we found her." Eulia began to weep.

"Was she raped?" Jacob could not answer. "Did she say anything?"

"She asked me to take care of you and Rebecca."

"What did you tell her?"

"I told her I would and raise Rebecca as my own." Eulia turned to face him and wrapped her arms around his neck sobbing.

"You are such a good man, my love."

"I meant it Euly, you two are a package deal."

"It was Agnes who helped birth Becky and managed Mari's health, all Mari's previous children died in childbirth. She loved Agnes for saving Becky."

"Is that why she let you spend so much time at Agnes's?"

"Yes, so I could learn to be a healer-midwife."