Lage and Ni stood in silence. Their little daughter Merrit had not woken up yet. Kinntho and Kithel tended to her periodically.
Lage had tears streaming down her face as she thought of her daughter's pain. She hugged Ni tightly to her body, whispering, "Why."
At long last Kithel and Kinntho finished.
"How is she?" Lage said, her voice quivered.
Kithel looked grim, "She'll live, but she has been marked."
Ni stiffened in horror, "He marked her?"
"Yes." Kithel bowed his head, "I am so very sorry."
"What does this mean?" Lage cried.
"Ilor took away all of Ni's essence by burning it away, she will never be an element of ground," Kithel explained sadly, "Worse by marking her he has claimed her as his."
Lage rushed to her child holding her close, "He won't take her from me."
Kithel tried to soothe her, "She still has your blood, Lage, she will always be your child."
"But Ilor can make a claim on her against us," Ni asked.
"Yes," Kithel nodded slowly.
"We'll hide her, we'll hide her somewhere he'll never find her," Lage said.
"That could work," Ni nodded, "He cannot take what is not in front of him."
"I will stay with her," Lage insisted.
"No," Kithel shook his head, "You must stay here."
"Who will look after my child," Lage cried.
That's when Merrit stirred from her sleep. She blinked her eyes several times before trying to sit up.
"Slowly," Kinntho soothed her.
Lage gasped as she saw her daughter's face. One of her eyes had turned a terrible burning orange.
Tears streamed down Merrit's face seeing her mother's reaction.
"I'm sorry Mommy," She looked away trying to spare them her odd sight.
"Don't be sorry my love," Ni put a hand on her shoulder.
She shuddered.
"I feel all wrong," She sobbed.
"My love," Ni urged her, "You must understand you are not being punished, but it is dangerous here."
Merrit nodded slowly, "He's coming for me."
"We'll find somewhere safe for you," Lage stroked her cheek, "Somewhere he'll never find you."
Merrit stared at the floor, "I'm never coming back, am I?"
"We will bring you back, I promise you," Lage said.
Kinntho made an odd squeak, and then she said, "I think we have a solution."
Slowly a new form materialized.
She had long blue hair and pale eyes.
"Your father summoned me to help with the child," The woman explained, "I will protect her."
"Where will you take her," Lage said.
"Better you not know for now, Ilor will come soon," The woman warned, "I will return."
Ni and Lage each kissed their little daughter on the head.
Lage sobbed as she watched her youngest daughter disappear from view.