An Early Piece of the Puzzle

Chapter 3: Cillian

Cillian

I sat at my writing desk, resting my head in my palm as I stared out the window into the dark night sky. The trees were swaying wildly in the windstorm, many tiny stars and shades of blue and green doing their best to get past them and failing. 

Digger, my crow friend, was hopefully still on his way home, but to be fair, any creature out in the thrashing weather was sure to be picked up and flung far away in the wind. More than once I've found him burrowed under our back porch to escape it.

Regardless, my thoughts kept shifting back to dinner, and the two men who'd joined us. 

It wasn't terribly unusual for Aunt Marj to bring home a stranger or two. But it was very rare that she ever let anyone stay the night anymore. 

When I was very young, only about five and on until I was ten, people would filter in and out of the house every day. Some now lived in their own homes in town, and all the others would eventually leave for the major cities that were being constructed further southwest. 

But that shorter man, the one with the red hair like me. I'd never seen anyone else come through this town with red hair or freckles like mine. His skin was only a shade or two darker, but that could easily just be a travelers tan. And his partner was some kind of half giant/half human magician, probably a bodyguard or something.

I wondered where they're from, and if they might go back? That red haired man had to be from the same place as me, I just know it. I could feel it, but I'm not entirely sure why. Maybe I'm just getting all worked up over nothing? Who's to say there's only one place that red heads like me and him come from. But... What if that is how it was?

I was suddenly startled from my thoughts by the fluttering of wings against the window accompanied by muffled kawing. I jumped up to push the window fully open and a raven pulled itself up onto the windowsill from the vines just below. He quickly lept through the window and I did my best to shut it behind him.

"You're late. You missed dinner," I reached out to the bird and pet it softly. It rubbed its head into my palm with a soft purr. I held out my arm to him and he hopped on eagerly, ruffling his feathers then shaking them out, spraying a few stray drops of water on me.

"Guess that storm is pretty bad, huh?" I rummaged in my pocket, "I managed to sneak you a little something." I pulled out a few pieces of biscuit and half a potato. He pecked at the potato excitedly. I took him to my desk and set him down to enjoy his food.

"You won't believe it. But some travelers showed up," I said to him. 

He looked up, as if to say 'Really? It's been a while since you've had visitors'.

"And one of them has red hair Dig. Red hair! Just like mine."

The raven cocked his head, 'But only you have red hair.'

"I know, but so does he! So... maybe he's from where ever Moms from." I told him excitedly. 

He continued to eat, giving me a muffled kaw through his biscuit, 'Did he say where he was from?'

I shook my head, "No... Didn't say anything about it," I sat myself down in my chair again, "I think they're adventurers, but they didn't say if they were. But they traveled from up north. Do you think they might be able to help me find my parents if I ask them to?"

Dig made a small huff and shook his wings out, 'Probably shouldn't ask that right away.'

I made a frown. I wanted so badly to know. It was killing me to not simply run down the hall, bang on the door, and demand answers. I sat back in my chair, watching Dig eat for a moment, then a strong burst of wind knocked one of my windows open again, loudly banging against the wall. We both jumped.

"Cillian, what was that?" I heard Aunt Del yell at me from her room down the hall.

"Just the window!" I yelled back to her, running over to grab at the swinging frames, "I'm closing it!"

"Make sure you lock it, dear- Oh, hello Digger." She was suddenly at my door and quickly coming over to help me with the window. The crow gave a Kaw that sounded more like a 'Hi' as she passed by him.

"Oh good, it seems that Cilly brought you some dinner." She said with a smile. I loved that Aunt Del let me keep Digger around, no matter how much Aunt Marji didn't like him in the house. but I wasn't so happy about her nicknames.

"It's going to be a rough one tonight, Deary. Let's keep the windows shut for now," She put her hand on my shoulder as she stared out into the dark. I stared with her, watching the tree tops whip around in the dim light of the streetlamps.

"Are you alright, Love?" she asked. I turned to look up at her.

"Fine, Aunty. Why?"

"Well, you were awfully quiet at dinner," She said, I turned back out the window. Trying my best to be nonchalant, "And I couldn't help but notice how taken you were with that red haired fellow. Zach, I think his name was."

I turned my gaze to Dig, who kept his beak down and continued eating.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Aunty," I turned to go to my dresser, pulling out a nightgown, "I usually stare at new guests anyway."

"Well, that may be true, but even still. You seemed much more interested than usual."

I pulled my shirt off and slipped on the gown, "Well... I wasn't."

She sat herself on my bed, smoothing out her skirt, "Is that so?"

"Yes, it is." I told her matter of factly.

She hummed, the way she did when she was considering something, but made no motion to leave the room. I climbed into bed, trying to make it look I was in a rush to sleep. Maybe she'd leave and let me come up with a plan.

"It's the same as yours, you know," She said finally. I sat there, not sure what to say. Then she turned to me, "Nearly the very same."

I scrunched my face, "What are you talking about?"

"Well..." She got up and began tucking me into bed, "If I was a little boy with red hair, and I'd never seen any other person with red hair, I would be a little surprised to see someone else with red hair." She got up and tucked me into my sheets, her smile never left her lips as she spoke. Then she gave me a kiss on the head and went over to Dig, still eating on the desk, and pet him softly.

"And if I was, Oh... I don't know, very curious about where I'd come from, I might just ask the other red haired person where they came from. Or maybe even, how to get there."

I stared, dumbfounded for the moment before frowning at her, "How long were you listening to me?"

"Only a little while," She shrugged, "Just long enough, I suppose."

She strode over to the door and nearly left, standing in the doorway to tell me, "But I also suppose I should ask you to save your questions for tomorrow, eh? These boys have been a long way and need a good, long rest. When you get out of school in the morning, you can ask them anything you like."

I felt a little anxious, but I knew she was right. They might not be ready, or may not even have an answer to any of my questions; even if I did ask.

I resigned and nodded to her, "Okay, Aunty."

"That's a good boy," She cooed as she pulled the door closed, "Sleep well, Cillian."

"Good night, Aunt Del."

Then she left to her bedroom. Dig hopped from the desk to the bed and came to cuddle up next to me. I sighed and wrapped an arm around him.

"Guess she's right, huh, Dig?" I said to him quietly. He rested his head on my stomach, a low kaw in his throat.

"I'll just have to wait until school is over. Then I'll be able to ask whatever I want," I made myself comfortable and closed my eyes, "Maybe they'll have some answers for me."

It took one heavy thought filled hour to finally fall asleep.

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