“Mooooom!” a little girl calls to me, running up. “Ollie took my doll!”278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTS3QoTdFWT
I cluck my tongue and stand up, putting down the book I was reading on my porch. “Well, let’s go and talk to Ollie, then, Mel, shall we?”278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZViOLRZ4k
We walk around the house together, Mel’s tiny hand in mine. Her pointed elf ears are a stark contrast to her jet black wings, which some of the village kids tease her for, but she’s never shown that it gets her down. In the backyard, Klef is snickering with a young boy, also with elf ears and wings, and holding up a stuffed doll. “Oliver, Kleftis, just what do you think you’re doing?!” I ask, crossing my arms.278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuviTb7htkb
“Nothing, Mom!” Ollie says, while Klef grins, unashamed.278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6e3a4s3i7Z
“Really?” I ask. “Because it sounds like Klef is teaching you how to play thief, which may I remind both of you, is banned in my house.278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6Z7oOSgNX
“Yes, ma’am,” Ollie and Klef both say. Klef tosses the doll to Mel. “Here you are, my sweet little Melody. Sorry about that.”278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAitTbF0t8l
“Apology accepted,” Mel says sweetly. “Not sure Mom is buying it, though.”278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfzIpEbtWi
Klef looks up to me. “No?” he asks.278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8psfOg854
“No,” I say, walking closer. “I hereby sentence you to death by tickles!” I say, descending on him with quick fingers.278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FnzzyeA1n
“Hey! No fair!” Klef cries out.278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGDvp29Av5
Ollie and Mel giggle and join me in the tickling. “3 against 1 is illegal!” Klef cries inbetween his guffaws.278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYeirt7IBc
I stop and pull the kids off him. “All right, all right. What happened to start all this?”278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHSahrJw1L
“We have to talk about our parents careers in school and do a report,” Ollie says eagerly. “And Daddy was telling me about how he used to be a thief before he was a Campaigner!”278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWrxrRzBr5
“They want to know our story, Ride,” Klef says, looking up at me.278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGl4VEwoLe0
“Oh, I suppose their old enough to know the basics,” I say with a shrug. “The clean version.”278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1HPbZhUvi
“Nothing less until they’re 13,” Klef agrees.278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpf7WHYwiq
I sit down next to him on the ground and Ollie and Mel sit across from us eagerly. “Tell us everything!” Ollie exclaims.278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZMHUqdjbr
Mel nods. “Anything and everything you can!”278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9s1ZE0gzw
I look over at Klef and smile. “Okay. Well, the first thing you should know, is that many centuries ago, there was a group formed called the Crusaders. And while many people used it for good, some people used it for bad as well. Your father and I both used it for good, though, and there were some bad people who didn’t like that…”278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfVOmSvloO
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