at her with interest, the people of Avengar nodding as if in agreement.
With her head held high, she spoke steady with a kindness that came from her heart. “Much has changed recently. We have a new home. A home that we do not have to leave, a place that is ours. Avengar can finally rest from its wandering and rebuild. Now that we have such a grand place to call home, yes, we do need people to do jobs that were not needed before, especially when we have such guests as Prince Alistair and Jaceson. However, that does not mean that those who do such jobs are not welcome to sit and eat with us, that you are not welcome to enjoy festivities with everyone. You may do work that may cause the rest of the world to see you as nothing but a servant. Not here. Here you are family, friends, and neighbors. We want to enjoy your company, to celebrate with you. Once the food is set out, then sit and enjoy what you worked so hard to prepare. We are thankful for your labor. If it were left to me, we would all be eating burnt bread this night.” She smiled at the faces staring at her.
The people of Avengar nodded and smiled while the men who came with Alistair and Jaceson had shocked expressions on their faces. Jaceson, Alistair, and Nonna all smiled with approval.
Music and dancing went far into the night. Magnolia watched, not feeling up to dancing much herself. Delighted that Jaceson had asked Railynn to dance, she was content to sit back and listen to Nonna tell stories of the history of their people to the children who had gathered around them.
“Our Daciana was always a brave one. She was given her first bow and quiver at the age of four. At seven she joined her mother to gather berries. We were in the Highlands of Scotland that summer by invitation of a friend of King Rupert’s. Daciana and her mother were out gathering when Vivian realized that they were being stalked. A wildcat jumped out at them, teeth bared. Vivian backed away, pushing young Daciana behind her as the wildcat leaped into the air at them. As Vivian screamed, so did the cat. An arrow to its heart caused it to fall to the ground dead. Daciana stood proudly with her bow in hand.”
“I don’t remember that,” she whispered softly, her eyes locked on Nonna’s.
“Who taught her how to use the bow?” a young, wide-eyed girl asked.
“Her father. He felt it was important for Daciana to be able to protect not only herself but her people. He trained her to be as capable as any man in a battle.”
“Girls can’t fight,” piped up a boy whose face was smeared with dirt. His clothes were just as filthy.
“When you find a woman who can hold her own in a fight, well, that is a woman you should either marry or run away from.” Alistair sat down next to the little group and winked in Magnolia’s direction.
“Will you be marrying her then?” the girl asked with a large smile on her face.
”Did you not see the ring I gifted her with?”
The children nodded.
“That is more than just a pretty trinket. The hands represent friendship, the crown represents loyalty, and the heart represents love. The wolf on the heart, well, I added that just for Daciana. She told me once that wolves mate for life. I think she has the heart of a wolf, don’t you?” His blue eyes twinkled as he spoke with the children gathered around.
“Will you live here?” the boy asked, sitting straighter.
“You want me to live in Avengar?”
They all nodded.
“I think that’s acceptable. I don’t think any of you will allow me to leave with Daciana.”
“You cannot have our princess.” The boy stood with his hands on his hips, feet aligned with his little shoulders. His head was held high, and several other young boys stood beside him.
“Gwain,” the girl groaned at him. “Sit down before you get in trouble.”
Magnolia stood and walked the few steps to young Gwain. She kneeled so she was at eye-level with him. “You would protect me?”
“With my life, Princess.”
With her head held high, she spoke steady with a kindness that came from her heart. “Much has changed recently. We have a new home. A home that we do not have to leave, a place that is ours. Avengar can finally rest from its wandering and rebuild. Now that we have such a grand place to call home, yes, we do need people to do jobs that were not needed before, especially when we have such guests as Prince Alistair and Jaceson. However, that does not mean that those who do such jobs are not welcome to sit and eat with us, that you are not welcome to enjoy festivities with everyone. You may do work that may cause the rest of the world to see you as nothing but a servant. Not here. Here you are family, friends, and neighbors. We want to enjoy your company, to celebrate with you. Once the food is set out, then sit and enjoy what you worked so hard to prepare. We are thankful for your labor. If it were left to me, we would all be eating burnt bread this night.” She smiled at the faces staring at her.
The people of Avengar nodded and smiled while the men who came with Alistair and Jaceson had shocked expressions on their faces. Jaceson, Alistair, and Nonna all smiled with approval.
Music and dancing went far into the night. Magnolia watched, not feeling up to dancing much herself. Delighted that Jaceson had asked Railynn to dance, she was content to sit back and listen to Nonna tell stories of the history of their people to the children who had gathered around them.
“Our Daciana was always a brave one. She was given her first bow and quiver at the age of four. At seven she joined her mother to gather berries. We were in the Highlands of Scotland that summer by invitation of a friend of King Rupert’s. Daciana and her mother were out gathering when Vivian realized that they were being stalked. A wildcat jumped out at them, teeth bared. Vivian backed away, pushing young Daciana behind her as the wildcat leaped into the air at them. As Vivian screamed, so did the cat. An arrow to its heart caused it to fall to the ground dead. Daciana stood proudly with her bow in hand.”
“I don’t remember that,” she whispered softly, her eyes locked on Nonna’s.
“Who taught her how to use the bow?” a young, wide-eyed girl asked.
“Her father. He felt it was important for Daciana to be able to protect not only herself but her people. He trained her to be as capable as any man in a battle.”
“Girls can’t fight,” piped up a boy whose face was smeared with dirt. His clothes were just as filthy.
“When you find a woman who can hold her own in a fight, well, that is a woman you should either marry or run away from.” Alistair sat down next to the little group and winked in Magnolia’s direction.
“Will you be marrying her then?” the girl asked with a large smile on her face.
”Did you not see the ring I gifted her with?”
The children nodded.
“That is more than just a pretty trinket. The hands represent friendship, the crown represents loyalty, and the heart represents love. The wolf on the heart, well, I added that just for Daciana. She told me once that wolves mate for life. I think she has the heart of a wolf, don’t you?” His blue eyes twinkled as he spoke with the children gathered around.
“Will you live here?” the boy asked, sitting straighter.
“You want me to live in Avengar?”
They all nodded.
“I think that’s acceptable. I don’t think any of you will allow me to leave with Daciana.”
“You cannot have our princess.” The boy stood with his hands on his hips, feet aligned with his little shoulders. His head was held high, and several other young boys stood beside him.
“Gwain,” the girl groaned at him. “Sit down before you get in trouble.”
Magnolia stood and walked the few steps to young Gwain. She kneeled so she was at eye-level with him. “You would protect me?”
“With my life, Princess.”
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