"Shia!, Portia!!, the lilies are growing. Bel did it." Basillia screamed, running towards her sister.
"Basillia dear, the lilies have always been there. No need to run around." Her mother, Latitia, scolded.
"Oh, but mother the lilies have never looked this beautiful. Bel is so amazing."
Latitia looked at her and sighed.
The village was so noisy and beautiful. The houses were actually cottages separated by beautiful gardens containing various flowers. Right in the middle of the small village was an angelic fountain with water pouring out of a carved water sprinkler in the hands of a fascinating statue of Flora, goddess of flowers. The lively and lovely village was where the Arroyo's lived. A family of seven, life was what it was supposed to be. Away from the deaths, vampires, lycans and the demons, no one had any worries.
Despite how happy and normal the Arroyo family seemed to look like, the people of the village were still wary of them. Witchery was something half of the people of this world abhorred. And everyone had started to suspect the mother of the house of being a witch, especially when she brought back a dead child to life, forgetting their earlier joy. But most people had forgotten about it and the villagers were not gossips.
The smoke rising from the simple log cottage could not ascend in peace, around the roof it swirled, troubled by the wind, gradually shooting southward in unpredictable bursts until it rose, with seeming effort, only to be consumed in the overspreading grayness of the sky.
Danvon witnessed the battle between smoke and wind as a welcoming sight. With mixed feelings, he headed for the house.
Inside, his wife Latitia bent over the heath stirring a large, gray cast-iron pot filled with brown soup. A simple tune hummed from her lips, one which contained little musical design, except that it was light-hearted and merry. She looked nothing like a mother of 5 girls, the oldest already 15. She looked more like one of the girls' sisters when she was with them which was what the villagers felt was strange.
"Ah, my husband," She said, wearing a beautiful smile. "It is you."
He nodded and returned his wife's smile.
"Sweetheart," He said, removing his black fur coat and hung it on a peg near the door. "The house is so quiet I wondered if I had mistakenly entered the wrong cottage."
"Oh, they all went into the village for the fair. Be back any minute now." She paused as she surveyed him up and down. "You look weary, Danvon."
"I walked all the way to Artirak today."
"Artirak!!" She exclaimed.
"We mustn't take any risk, if you get into any trouble, we'll all be in trouble too. Think of the girls, Danvon."
Without answering, Danvon strode to a small bar table which held a bowl. He thrust his hands into the water, rubbed them huskily against one another, then applied them with several spirited slaps on his face.
"Everything will be alright." He went on, toweling off the dripping water.
Latitia smiled, watching him. She knew it would be useless to argue. "If you say so. Come over to the table and sit, Danvon. Have some tea."
He did so gladly, watching affectionately as she brewed the tea for him. In a few minutes she filled a cup with the dark amber brew, set it on a coarse wooden stand, and handed it to her husband. He took it with thanks, grinning from ear to ear. Latitia's cheeks glowed at her husband's pleasure.
"You treat me like a king."
Danvon savored his tea and Latitia busied herself with final preparations for the evening's meal. Before many minutes Danvon continued the conversation.
"And how is Portia these days? Still in solitude?"
"Not any longer, the little one is just going through a phase." Latitia answered.
"Oh Portia"
"She is very stubborn, you know that. But she loves her sisters to death."
"I know, I know," said Danvon "At least she isn't a drama queen like Zarrina."
"Our Ina is promising. She reads better than anyone in Kitao." Latitia was too proud of her child, conveniently forgetting that she wasn't like the other ordinary village children.
"Yes," said Danvon, his tone softening with fatherly tenderness "Very smart."
"We should stop her from talking to that boy, the one she likes," Latitia paused thoughtfully, then added "It's too early to get my Ina married…isn't it?" The villagers married quite early and a 13 year old wasn't really considered a child.
"What makes you think she likes him, wife? Ina would rather play with flowers all day than associate herself with a boy, and you know it. The only reason she talks to him is because of_" Danvon's speech was cut off in mid-sentence as the door burst open.
Into the cottage ran the two youngest Arroyo daughters, chatting and laughing loudly.
"Girls, girls!" scolded Latitia "Is this the way to enter your house? Your father was speaking."
"Oh Papa!!" They both exclaimed in unison, racing to him with open arms. Danvon set down his tea and greeted them with the happy face of a father who was contended with his offsprings. After a minor tussle over who could occupy their father's lap, they were situated, one on each of the man's strong knees.
"We are sorry to interrupt you Papa." Said Tinkerbell, youngest of the two.
"It can wait, my little ones. But I will tell you about Artirak."
"You went through the forest Papa?" asked 10 year old Basillia.
"Yes. And I saw a big silver wolf." Danvon smiled down at the awe-filled faces of his daughters. "She was with five other big silver wolves that looked like they were her children and one of them was so beautiful to look at. And the river was sprinkled with sparkling flowers, probably by the goddess, Flora. What a wonder it would be to swim there."
The girls giggled with delight "When will you take us to Artirak?" asked Tinkerbell.
"When the time is right, my child," replied Danvon "Now children," he went on "Your Mama will have the food ready soon. There will be time enough to talk later."
"Girls," added Latitia as her two daughters bounded down from their father's lap, "Before you take off your coats, go back outside and take down the clothes from the line, we mustn't let them get caught in the storm." She picked up an old basket from a corner and gave it to Basillia. "Where are the others?"
"They stopped in the village to talk to some of Dessa's friends." Answered Basillia.
Latitia grimaced "It is bad enough that Irridessa associates with those….strangers," she said "But I will not have her bringing my babies around them. You must speak with her Danvon."
Danvon said nothing until Tinkerbell and Basillia disappeared through the door. Then he exhaled a long sigh. "I will wife. But Dessa would never let any harm befall her little sisters."
"I'm happy the harvest is past. Perhaps now the strangers will leave."
"Dessa is a good girl. She will take care of Portia and Ina."
"No doubt. You are right but I just can't help worrying." Latitia returned with vigor to her labors "So husband, I know you reached the city, did you talk to anyone?"
"Here and there. But it was not a pleasant talk. Those in the countryside are not the only ones that are poor. I think it is perhaps worse for the peasants in the city. They have not even the comfort of nature to soothe them. But I am so thankful such is not the lot of the villagers here, for now. I saw great bitterness there, Latitia. Much turmoil in the world. It may even touch this village before it is over."
"Touch Kitao? As far away from the city as we are?"
"It's not too far, I could walk the distance. We have seen them already in Kitak, Titi. Who is to say the strangers you talk about are not the same as I have heard about? Thousands of them are flocking to the countryside from the cities."
"We leave first thing tomorrow morning, Danvon. No risk." Latitia's words trailed away as the door to the cottage opened.
Danvon Arroyo loved this time of the day more than anything, resting from the worries of life to be showered with the loving, exuberant greetings of his children. But as his two other daughters now came through the door, Danvon found himself unexpectedly filled with mixed emotions.
Zarrina's face broke into a grin of childish glee as she bounded towards her father's waiting arms. Portia on the other hand, wore a serious expression as she bent respectively to kiss her father's cheek. Danvon remembered when she was still a little girl like Tinkerbel, cheerful and uncomplicated. Now she was like any other confused teen. Danvon studied his 13 year old daughters for a moment. Portia had pretty red eyes, but they did not glow, they burned. As for her twin, Zarrina was even more gentle, loving and caring than his older daughter who was like an angel. Because of her nice nature she was too protected by her twin that he was so sure Portia couldn't breathe without her sister.
The cottage door creaked open and in came Basillia and Tinkerbell, balancing the basket between them. Another figure followed closely behind.
Though the chill wind blustered through the door, seizing every opportunity to drive out warmth wherever it could, Dessa's appearance radiated sunshine to her father.
"Hello Papa," said Dessa as she closed the door behind her, a smile twitching at the corner of her pale lips. Her voice was not loud, yet very clear, musical with the melody of a chilly and investigating breeze rather than the sound of a cathedral choir. "And Mama."
"You'll catch your death staying in the open for so long," scolded Latitia smilingly, already forgetting her former anger in the protective instinct to mother her baby chicks. "Could you not see the storm coming?"
"It was not so bad," replied Dessa mildly "I love the smell of the approaching clouds. And I'll have to give up my afternoon walks, the first snows are not far off. I must be outside now whenever I can."
"Oh well, supper is ready. So come everyone to the table."