A few days later, as the first glimmers of sunlight pierced through the forest, Nerya rose in great excitement.

  It is finally the day, I truly cannot wait for him to come and begin to learn, she thought.

  She dressed in haste and slipped from her chamber, passing by that of her parents, who still slept.

  Only Eldran’s coarse snores broke the silence, and Nerya made her way toward the kitchen.

  “Pfff, it is truly a burden being small. I cannot even reach the high cupboards… But I shall not wake mama, I heard her speaking with papa until late again,” she whispered with a sigh.

  She went to sit at the table, taking a fruit from the basket which she ate while she waited.

  An hour passed, and sounds at last began to stir from her parents’ chamber.

  Her mother emerged soon after, clad in a nightgown.

  “Nerya, you are already awake? Have you seen the hour? It is yet too early. Have you been here long?” she asked, rubbing her eyes.

  “N… no mama. I was a little hungry,” Nerya answered.

  Zephyra walked to her and kissed the top of Nerya’s head.

  “My daughter, you must learn to lie better than that,” she sighed. “I shall make you something to eat, go wake your father, if you please.”

  Nerya slid down from her chair and crept softly toward her parents’ chamber, Eldran’s snores still breaking the quiet.

  She approached the bed, striving to make no sound, bent slightly, then leapt upon her father.

  Eldran sprang up with a start, nearly dropping Nerya, whom he caught by reflex before she could topple.

  Nerya burst into laughter, while her father steadied her and set her seated upon his legs.

  He rubbed his eyes and blinked several times to see more clearly.

  “Come now, papa, mama said you must rise,” she said, bouncing lightly.

  “Rhooo, your mother… a true witch, that one. Sending her daughter to torment me,” he muttered with a yawn.

  “So now I am a witch, am I? I remind you that today our charming daughter shall not be here. You shall see how much of a witch I can be,” Zephyra replied, leaning against the wall. “Come, Nerya, your milk is ready.”

  Nerya slipped quickly from the bed to join her mother, and they left the chamber to sit at the table.

  The steaming milk eased Nerya, while Zephyra set small biscuits upon the table.

  “Mama, I want the honey things. Please mama,” Nerya said, tilting her head.

  She pressed her lips together and made soft eyes at her mother, who let out a long sigh before rising and taking the Golden Moons from the cupboard Nerya had tried to reach earlier.

  “I shall have to bake more. A true little glutton, my daughter,” she said, setting them before Nerya. “And do not think your pretty little face shall always prevail. I am not so simple as your father.”

  Nerya took a Golden Moon and dipped it into her milk, Eldran joining them and sitting upon the chair beside her.

  “And I, have I no right to my little milk? At times I would be a child again. You would dote on me so as well,” he said mockingly.

  “Oh forgive me, my prince. Would you have me chew your food as mothers do for their nestlings too?” Zephyra replied. “We must dress Nerya, he should not be long in coming now.”

  She held out her hand.

  Nerya climbed down from her chair, her cheeks still full as she chewed her last bite.

  Zephyra dressed her in a light blouse beneath a warm sweater, thick stockings upon her legs, then a long skirt and high shoes.

  “You shall heed what he tells you and you shall not stray from Wensworth, do you understand? Though we do not know him as well as we believed, you shall be safer with him than alone,” she said in a serious tone.

  “Yes mama, I shall be careful, I promise,” Nerya answered.

  They left the chamber just as the small bell upon the door began to ring.

  Eldran went to open it and let Wensworth inside.

  “Sit, the girls are coming. Will you have something to drink?” Eldran asked in a rather cold tone.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Wensworth took a seat with a sigh, watching as Eldran brought out a small bottle of spirits and poured it into two glasses.

  Eldran set one before Wensworth before taking a swallow from his own.

  “You still struggle to accept that your daughter wished to come with me, do you not? Yet you forget you possess something I do not, Eldran. I shall never train her with the sword as you do,” he replied at last.

  “Speaking of the sword, I must give you the one we had made for her third year. That you may teach her to wield it aright. It pains me to admit it, but you know more of magic than I,” Eldran said as he made for Nerya’s chamber.

  He stepped into the corridor just as Zephyra and Nerya entered the room, greeting Wensworth with a wave of the hand.

  The scent of sloe spirit rose from the glasses Eldran had poured.

  “He is incorrigible. The moment he is vexed, he must drink. It is well enough that he holds his liquor,” Zephyra said, her nose wrinkling at the smell.

  “We cannot fault him overmuch. To see his daughter depart with one who has lied… you would be dreadful parents not to answer thus,” Wensworth replied, setting his glass down.

  “You have ever had a delicate manner of saying things. At times it unsettles,” Zephyra murmured.

  Eldran returned to the kitchen and went straight to Wensworth, holding out the cloth that contained the sword.

  He undid the ties and drew back the fabric, revealing the blade gifted to Nerya.

  He looked at it for several seconds before setting it upon the table.

  “Well then, my little one, that is a fine gift you were given.

  Elven runes that strengthen the steel to bear a great quantity of mana are not found everywhere.

  It must have cost you a fortune?” Wensworth asked as he set the sword aside.

  “Not especially.

  It was the village smith who gave it to her.

  I told him it was too much when I saw it, but he would hear nothing of it.

  But… with all this, I confess I do not know whether she will be able to use it now,” Zephyra explained.

  “That is why we entrust it to you.

  You will be better suited to see whether she can.

  I know how reinforcement works, but if it goes ill… I am not sure I could manage,” Eldran added.

  Wensworth finished his glass and rose from the chair, looking at Eldran and Zephyra.

  “Come, we shall be off.

  We must go far enough that none may see us.

  I shall bring her back to you unharmed, trust me.

  At least… as unharmed as may be,” he said with a laugh.

  Nerya then rose from her chair and went to her parents, embracing each of them in turn.

  “Remember what I told you, do you hear.

  Stay well with him,” Zephyra said as she released her.

  She rose as well and handed a small bag to Nerya, who looked inside and saw spare clothes.

  Zephyra walked her to the door, setting her coat upon her before kissing her, then straightened and turned her attention to Wensworth.

  “I rely on you to care for her, understood.

  I may not be a mage as powerful as you, but I entrust you with my daughter.

  I shall not jest about this,” she said with a cold calm.

  Wensworth opened the door and gestured for Nerya to go out, following her before turning back to Zephyra and Eldran, who had come to the threshold.

  “I say it again, all will be well, do not trouble yourselves.

  And if there is the slightest issue, I shall inform you at once,” he said before looking to Nerya.

  “Shall we go?

  We have a fair road ahead.”

  Nerya gave him a wide smile and set off, turning to wave both hands at her parents before passing through the gate.

  Eldran and Zephyra remained at the entrance until they could no longer see their silhouettes.

  “These few days without her will be long.

  Everything truly had to go awry,” Eldran sighed sadly.

  “We knew it in our hearts.

  One cannot have a daughter so lovely, who already knows how to use her little charms, and expect her to be like the others.

  She is growing, and we can do nothing to stop it.

  We must only help her as best we can,” Zephyra replied.

  “I know… but I would have her remain that little girl a while longer,” Eldran said.

  Zephyra went back inside while Eldran remained upon the threshold, staring at the garden with an empty gaze.

  Until, a few minutes later, a clearing of a throat drew his attention.

  At the corner of the corridor, Zephyra leaned out, smiling at him.

  “It will not change anything.

  But it has been long since it was only the two of us.

  What would you say to making the most of it?

  We need no longer be careful now,” she said with a wink.

  She stepped from the corridor, swaying before Eldran, who smiled foolishly at the sight of her.

  “Humm, you change the subject swiftly, my dear wife.

  Using your witch’s powers upon my desires… you are truly a monster, you know,” he said as he went inside.

  “Come now, admit it.

  You cannot resist these curves.

  And would you come warm me a little?

  I shall end by growing quite cold if you leave me so,” she whispered as she drew near.

  Eldran placed his hands upon Zephyra’s cheeks before kissing her without reply, then lifted her and carried her toward their chamber.

  For their part, Nerya and Wensworth were already on the road in a small carriage.

  “So, where are we going?

  These few days away from all this will do me good.

  To speak at last as I please without having to think whether I truly sound like a child,” Nerya said brightly.

  “I understand you too well.

  Yet that said, it is rather unsettling, to be honest.

  To see your small body speak with clear words and without hesitation is truly disconcerting,” Wensworth replied.

  “I learned well how to hide my game.

  I struggled greatly at first.

  My clear thoughts nearly made me speak normally more than once.

  But despite my blunders, I do not think they suspect anything,” she explained.

  “I do not think so either.

  And you are their daughter, nothing can take that away.

  Even if we are not from here, our body is still the fruit of our parents…” Wensworth began.

  “No.

  Stop, truly.

  I would rather avoid imagining my parents doing such things.

  I know, yes, but I have no wish to know what they do,” Nerya cut in with a grimace.

  Wensworth burst into laughter at those words, snapping the reins sharply to quicken the pace.

  The scenery thus slipped by for several hours, their talk ranging across the world while Nerya could at last show all her curiosity.