Autumn Mist

Chapter Two - Life on the Homefront

Cel Estiel was a rustic city of industrial towns folk hemmed in by the elements. Farming fields reached towards the eastern horizon while logging and hunting crews infiltrated the vast forest to the west. As Talia and Cameron road past Fisherman's Lane, they could smell the faint scent of fish gusting from the docks to the south. Talia gazed over fruit trees to see the tips of masts and flags billowing in the wind.

Homey hovels lined the cobbled streets with sparkling roofs still covered in morning dew and walls made of faint rainbow-colored sea stone. Maple trees sat sprinkled in and out of the quaint buildings with red and orange-tipped leaves quaking in the breeze. Above the rooftops stood the majestic highlands of Bowie. Their purple lavender covered tips hovered above rolling mist.

Children ran about playing games of tag, while mothers swept dirt from their porches, gardened, or tended to laundry. A dog lay napping in the sun, oblivious to a little boy who poked and prodded at its fur.

One little brown-haired girl paused as she played in her mother's flower garden and turned, revealing a large, long-eared rabbit clutched in her arms. Talia smirked at the cute view of the child and her pet. The little girl waved, dropping the rabbit, allowing it to scamper back into the unsuspecting carrots. An excited smile dimpled her round cheeks as her large blue eyes gazed at Talia. Talia smiled and waved feeling the magic of the turning season fill her heart.

Suddenly, Thea reared. Talia steadied herself as Thea settled, revealing a chubby little boy standing before her and Thea. His undeterred stance startled Talia as he waddled to her side. In his chubby little fingers resided a long-stemmed sunflower.

"Miss Tali!" He cried in his sweet islander accent.

"Good morning Luca!" She greeted the little seven-year-old with a grand smile while lighting to the ground. "How is my favorite little neighbor?"

"Big-a!" He proudly retorted, puffing out his little chest. "Here!" He handed Talia the flower and she graciously took it. "This is for you!"

Talia smirked, stifling a chuckle, as she beamed back at the little boy. "Aw, thank you, you sweet little man! I hope you are as nice to your mother as you are to me!" Talia shot him a pointed look.

"He is better." Replied a smooth low voice. Talia glanced up to find a grey-haired woman with tired eyes and a thin figure. Lady Savta was Luca's grandmother and only caregiver since he was born.

"You better be careful! Someday you're going to sweep some girl off her feet with those manners!"

Luca cupped his hands behind his back and wagged his belly back and forth. "Don't you worry, Miss Tali, you are the only girl for me!"

Suddenly, embarrassed, the little rogue rascal ran back to where he had come from. Talia smiled, feeling her heart lift with joy and appreciation. She took a step towards Lady Savta, retrieving the orange from breakfast. Luca's grandmother shook her head chuckling. "Little sweet Luca. What am I going to do with that boy?" Her tone was light and smooth like honey. Talia felt her heart warm at the love she saw in Savta's sage grey eyes.

"Well, you could share this orange with him for me. I know you are doing a marvelous job with him." Talia smiled encouragingly.

Savta's eyes grew sad as memories and the importance of her position flooded her tired mind. "It's been a year since your mother brought him to my hovel. The poor little infant was so hungry, but your mother and her way... He never looked so peaceful. Even after..." Lady Savta choked up as the ugly truth reared its head.

Talia laid a hand upon the elderly woman's shoulder and squeezed. "You were the best thing to ever happen to Luca."

"His parents would have been better. If only they hadn't died..."