“Mooooom!” a little girl calls to me, running up. “Ollie took my doll!”669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTxxynKoXM
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?”669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamgcXypr15
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.669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8EoGdeLQ4V
“Nothing, Mom!” Ollie says, while Klef grins, unashamed.669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3YOz0z7kr7
“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.669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65bsYd74gS
“Yes, ma’am,” Ollie and Klef both say. Klef tosses the doll to Mel. “Here you are, my sweet little Melody. Sorry about that.”669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhomzrx3VWu
“Apology accepted,” Mel says sweetly. “Not sure Mom is buying it, though.”669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4e4s0D150W
Klef looks up to me. “No?” he asks.669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYKmYT953J
“No,” I say, walking closer. “I hereby sentence you to death by tickles!” I say, descending on him with quick fingers.669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47R8LrPwul
“Hey! No fair!” Klef cries out.669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHc1Z7MZY7r
Ollie and Mel giggle and join me in the tickling. “3 against 1 is illegal!” Klef cries inbetween his guffaws.669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNImWA5FDB
I stop and pull the kids off him. “All right, all right. What happened to start all this?”669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8h8r7FfaW
“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!”669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCkUneLl9e
“They want to know our story, Ride,” Klef says, looking up at me.669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7D72W0GAG7
“Oh, I suppose their old enough to know the basics,” I say with a shrug. “The clean version.”669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XBAZadOW1
“Nothing less until they’re 13,” Klef agrees.669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfficsY18M
I sit down next to him on the ground and Ollie and Mel sit across from us eagerly. “Tell us everything!” Ollie exclaims.669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeypXjENk1E
Mel nods. “Anything and everything you can!”669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EfKe4sUS3
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…”669Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctgCjBCMad
~End~
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