“Mooooom!” a little girl calls to me, running up. “Ollie took my doll!”121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbWyF3HGPd
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?”121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdhL6IxiSL
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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0qmtYOSzx
“Nothing, Mom!” Ollie says, while Klef grins, unashamed.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgJQPoUw5J
“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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBX1m3JTlC
“Yes, ma’am,” Ollie and Klef both say. Klef tosses the doll to Mel. “Here you are, my sweet little Melody. Sorry about that.”121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUC6g544YE
“Apology accepted,” Mel says sweetly. “Not sure Mom is buying it, though.”121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSUlIKKDgP
Klef looks up to me. “No?” he asks.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0qk2NnMHJ
“No,” I say, walking closer. “I hereby sentence you to death by tickles!” I say, descending on him with quick fingers.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomD1sU7xZ5
“Hey! No fair!” Klef cries out.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBX7WGRGj7
Ollie and Mel giggle and join me in the tickling. “3 against 1 is illegal!” Klef cries inbetween his guffaws.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvH7W1aJoWq
I stop and pull the kids off him. “All right, all right. What happened to start all this?”121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kNLlfFsNE
“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!”121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0fv7ccYSw
“They want to know our story, Ride,” Klef says, looking up at me.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5oddken4Dj
“Oh, I suppose their old enough to know the basics,” I say with a shrug. “The clean version.”121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLEiw0yctl
“Nothing less until they’re 13,” Klef agrees.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1l6xtiJrb
I sit down next to him on the ground and Ollie and Mel sit across from us eagerly. “Tell us everything!” Ollie exclaims.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxzsLUH8Yk
Mel nods. “Anything and everything you can!”121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡst57MC7kOA
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…”121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEB2L8v3SW
copyright protection117ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3eSqLcaef
~End~copyright protection117ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FOsxrpAJ1
ns107.23.176.162da2
