Born of Oak and Silver (The Caradoc Chronicles) by Marie McKean Page A
Authors: Marie McKean
Ads: Link
excited to sit, and set to busying myself in my room gathering my things together. Upon opening the trunk, I discovered multiple large leather portfolios, in addition to several extremely heavy small sculptures and silver serving items.
Bram called for me to bring the trunk’s contents in to them, and so I did so as quickly as possible, setting everything on the rough-hewn table before them. Once the trunk was empty, I became so intently focused on packing the trunk that I failed to notice the conversation between Bram and my parents. It was only when the room fell silent that I attuned my attention to discovering the cause for the lag in discussion.
Bram was going over several of the legal documents detailed in the leather-bound portfolios, which gave the horses and wagon to my father the moment we stepped foot on the train leaving Strasbourg the following morning. He then continued to relate that his large, and beautiful manor house, as it stood at this very moment with all the furnishings, ornaments, and property, was to be theirs the dawn of my twenty-fifth birthday.
I grinned stupidly. At hearing this, I poked my head out of my bedroom door in order to see my parents’ reaction.
Both of my parents had been struck dumb. My father barely managed a slight nod in Bram’s direction as he attempted to swallow heavily.
I returned to look over my room, smiling to myself at the wonder that was Bram. I continued to anxiously busy myself, packing everything that I thought I could possibly need in an unknown place and future.
I cannot say that Bram, my parents, or I slept at all that night. My mother fretted over me endlessly, mending my clothes, and even trimming my unruly hair, while my father and Bram spoke of things I was not able to hear due to my mother’s ministrations.
* * *
Just after dawn, the four of us stood on the platform next to a waiting train. It was a mild summer morning. Other passengers crowded the quay, forcing us to stand in close proximity as we prepared to voice our good-byes.
Remarkably, I s aw no tears in my mother’s eyes. Instead, I saw nothing in their depths but pride, love, and hope. She held my father’s arm tightly, hardly speaking, and had barely uttered a word all morning.
My father too was unable to hide his pride in , and hope for, his son. His optimism seemed to make him stand taller. For all of this, however, he was less able to hide his emotions and ran his hand frequently through his slightly graying hair.
When it was announced that our train would be leaving, Bram quickly bid farewell to my parents and left us to ourselves.
“Good luck , son,” my father said as he extended his hand out to me. “Make sure you study hard, stay out of trouble, and listen to Bram in all things.” He paused in the shaking of my hand and held it firmly as he told me, “You have always been an exceptional boy. I know that you will become an even more extraordinary man.”
I began to shake his hand slowly, unwilling to look him in the eye after his touching words. I was grateful when my father pulled me in for a hug. I hugged him back, and only pulled away after he’d patted my back and whispered in my ear, “Don’t be afraid to do something great.”
When I looked at him, he was smiling, radiating with encouragement. My father then reached into his coat pocket and retrieved a large bundle of folded bills. He slid them firmly into the inner breast pocket of my jacket, and solidly tapped my chest reassuringly with his palm.
He reached back to my mother’s waiting arm and pulled her forward to face me.
S he smiled warmly, looked me over from head to toe, and studied my face most carefully. “Daine, be careful while you’re away,” she said quietly as she focused on straightening my coat, “and make sure that you haven’t gone away forever.” Her auburn hair was warming in the dawn’s growing light
Bram called for me to bring the trunk’s contents in to them, and so I did so as quickly as possible, setting everything on the rough-hewn table before them. Once the trunk was empty, I became so intently focused on packing the trunk that I failed to notice the conversation between Bram and my parents. It was only when the room fell silent that I attuned my attention to discovering the cause for the lag in discussion.
Bram was going over several of the legal documents detailed in the leather-bound portfolios, which gave the horses and wagon to my father the moment we stepped foot on the train leaving Strasbourg the following morning. He then continued to relate that his large, and beautiful manor house, as it stood at this very moment with all the furnishings, ornaments, and property, was to be theirs the dawn of my twenty-fifth birthday.
I grinned stupidly. At hearing this, I poked my head out of my bedroom door in order to see my parents’ reaction.
Both of my parents had been struck dumb. My father barely managed a slight nod in Bram’s direction as he attempted to swallow heavily.
I returned to look over my room, smiling to myself at the wonder that was Bram. I continued to anxiously busy myself, packing everything that I thought I could possibly need in an unknown place and future.
I cannot say that Bram, my parents, or I slept at all that night. My mother fretted over me endlessly, mending my clothes, and even trimming my unruly hair, while my father and Bram spoke of things I was not able to hear due to my mother’s ministrations.
* * *
Just after dawn, the four of us stood on the platform next to a waiting train. It was a mild summer morning. Other passengers crowded the quay, forcing us to stand in close proximity as we prepared to voice our good-byes.
Remarkably, I s aw no tears in my mother’s eyes. Instead, I saw nothing in their depths but pride, love, and hope. She held my father’s arm tightly, hardly speaking, and had barely uttered a word all morning.
My father too was unable to hide his pride in , and hope for, his son. His optimism seemed to make him stand taller. For all of this, however, he was less able to hide his emotions and ran his hand frequently through his slightly graying hair.
When it was announced that our train would be leaving, Bram quickly bid farewell to my parents and left us to ourselves.
“Good luck , son,” my father said as he extended his hand out to me. “Make sure you study hard, stay out of trouble, and listen to Bram in all things.” He paused in the shaking of my hand and held it firmly as he told me, “You have always been an exceptional boy. I know that you will become an even more extraordinary man.”
I began to shake his hand slowly, unwilling to look him in the eye after his touching words. I was grateful when my father pulled me in for a hug. I hugged him back, and only pulled away after he’d patted my back and whispered in my ear, “Don’t be afraid to do something great.”
When I looked at him, he was smiling, radiating with encouragement. My father then reached into his coat pocket and retrieved a large bundle of folded bills. He slid them firmly into the inner breast pocket of my jacket, and solidly tapped my chest reassuringly with his palm.
He reached back to my mother’s waiting arm and pulled her forward to face me.
S he smiled warmly, looked me over from head to toe, and studied my face most carefully. “Daine, be careful while you’re away,” she said quietly as she focused on straightening my coat, “and make sure that you haven’t gone away forever.” Her auburn hair was warming in the dawn’s growing light
Similar Books
