WeatherMaker Hearts Desire Prologue
Chapter 57: A New Family

When they arrived at their destination, a village to the north-east of Dilston named Augsburg, one of the first things they saw was a woman on her knees crying.

‘I wonder what’s happened here’ White Feather said, leaning forward on his horse.

‘She looks…’ Amaia began, ‘…heartbroken.’

‘We should comfort her’ White Feather suggested. ‘We may be able to help.’

They dismounted and walked their horses slowly towards her.

‘Um…excuse me’ Amaia began tentatively.

The woman lifted her head; she held a handkerchief to her red and puffy eyes, blinking several times to clear the tears.

‘Who is that?’ she asked in a hoarse voice.

‘My name is Amaia’ she spoke, ‘and this is my companion White Feather. We’ve travelled a long way to get here.’

‘White Feather?’ the woman repeated huskily. ‘That’s an odd name.’

‘It is rather unusual’ White Feather agreed.

‘Where have you come from?’ the woman asked them weakly, rising to her feet and dabbing at her eyes again.

Amaia hesitated.

‘It’s…’ Amaia began. ‘A long way from here…’

The woman brushed her hair back, staring at them. ‘A girl…’ she said, looking at Amaia more closely now. ‘You’re so young, barely even twenty. What are you doing travelling such a long way?’

‘I was looking for my father. I understand he came through this village.’

‘Your father?’ the woman repeated. She blinked several times as she thought. ‘Why…is he not at home? Why are you looking for him?’

‘He’s missing’ Amaia said.

‘And where is your mother? Shouldn’t you be staying home with her?’

‘She’s dead.’

The woman dipped her head. ‘I’m sorry’ she mumbled. ‘I didn’t mean to pry. It’s none of my business, really.’ She raised her head again. ‘I have…lost my daughter.’

‘Recently?’ White Feather interrupted.

The woman’s face screwed up, tears began rolling down her cheeks again.

‘I’m sorry’ Amaia said quickly. ‘We didn’t mean up upset you.’

‘It’s alright’ the woman sobbed. ‘You didn’t know.’

‘What’s your name?’ White Feather asked her, cocking his head and placing his hands upon his hips.

‘Anya’ she whimpered. She hesitated for a brief moment. ‘Where are you two heading from here?’

‘We don’t know’ White Feather told her.

‘We came here to look for my father. We were told he would be here, but we don’t know where exactly.’

‘I don’t suppose’ Anya spoke slowly, ‘you would like to have a meal with us? You must be hungry after travelling so far. My husband and I are both good cooks.’

‘That sounds wonderful’ White Feather said jovially before Amaia could speak. ‘I’m starving. What about you Amaia?’

‘Who are these people?’ the old man said as White Feather and Amaia entered the kitchen of the modest home.

‘They are travellers, from Ketts’ Anya replied. ‘I’ve invited them over for a meal.’

The old man smiled kindly at the two. ‘Hello. My name is Roy’ he said to them. ‘Welcome to our home.’

‘I’m Amaia’ she bowed her head. ‘And this is White Feather.’

‘White Feather?’ Roy repeated. ‘That is an unusual name.’

‘It is’ White Feather agreed. ‘A lot of people tell me so.’

‘You must have had quite an ordeal to have travelled all this way’ Roy said to them. ‘What happened to you?’ he asked turning to White Feather.

‘Oh’ White Feather said; touching his face briefly where the bruises and cuts still remained. His split lip hadn’t fully healed yet either. ‘Just…a little difficulty. Nothing to worry about, really.’

‘What happened?’

‘I…fell out of a tree’ White Feather replied bashfully, scratching the back of his head. ‘Silly I know.’

Roy smiled uncertainly at him, clearly unconvinced. ‘Would you both like to have a seat?’

He led them through the home and towards the kitchen; Amaia took in the house around her as they made their way. It was a simple home, but cosy, and at a glance Amaia could see the love within it. There were little decoration and ornaments about the place, things that looked as if they had been hand-made as gifts. There were brightly painted wooden carvings of different animals, flowers, some of which were dried and preserved or pressed, pictures painted within heart-shaped frames.

‘It’s nice here’ White Feather commented as they made their way to the next room. ‘Cosy.’

‘I’m glad you like it’ Roy said back to him. ‘Here’ he said reaching the kitchen and indicating to the table in the centre. ‘Please sit down.’

Amaia and White Feather sat side by side at the table, White Feather reached towards Amaia, grasping her hand briefly beneath the table in reassurance, before letting go again. Amaia smiled gratefully back at him. A short time later, Anya came to them carrying a tray of food she had been preparing nearby. She placed it on the table before the two of them.

‘That was quick’ White Feather noted.

‘I always have food prepared’ Anya told them. ‘I would always have good food ready for my children.’

‘You have children?’ White Feather asked.

‘We did’ Anya replied. She lowered her eyes. ‘Eat’ she said hurriedly. ‘You must be hungry.’

Amaia and White Feather both ate quickly. They had carried enough food with them on their horses (kindly given to them by Danior) that would have lasted them days. But had been so eager to reach their destination, they had eaten very little of it.

Amaia and White Feather shared their food together, this time White Feather did not insist on trying the food before Amaia, as he had done when Danior had served them. Here he felt safe, and Amaia in turn, felt safe also.

When they had eaten their fill, they both thanked Anya and Roy graciously and left the home to begin searching for Farrell and Arlen, their horses they had left tied up outside.

Amaia felt safe here to wander off alone, and White Feather allowed her to do this. Each spent over an hour asking questions of every person they could replace, and when Amaia and White Feather met up again by their horses, they were able to piece together what had happened.

Farrell and Arlen had indeed come this way, accompanied by several other men who looked like soldiers. They vanished suddenly and without trace, taking with them a young woman named Annabel, and heading in an unknown direction.

‘Why would they kidnap someone?’ Amaia said aloud, speaking more to herself than anyone else.

‘I’m sure there’s a perfectly logical explanation for it’ White Feather replied nonchalantly, sitting on the wall beside her.

Amaia furrowed her brow, holding her chin and deep in thought.

‘Oh’ she said after a time. ‘It’s no use.’ She huffed, leaning back. ‘How on earth are we supposed to replace them? We have no idea even which direction they went, or where they were going….they left so suddenly.’ She gritted her teeth.

Beside her White Feather watched her silently.

Nearby the horses waited patiently, heads low and tails flicking lazily. They were tied to the fence to stop them from wandering.

White Feather looked up suddenly, seeing a figure approaching them. It was Anya.

‘Did you replace what you were looking for?’ the lady asked them politely.

‘Not entirely.’ Amaia turned to her. ‘Only that the people we are looking for travelled with a band of men and that they left swiftly, taking with them a young woman called Annabel.’

Anya’s expression saddened at that.

‘My daughter’ she said.

‘What?’ Amaia breathed.

‘Annabel is my daughter. She…she was taken…’

‘Your daughter..?’ Amaia mumbled. ‘Taken…?’

‘Yes’ Anya replied quietly.

Amaia bowed her head then, feeling suddenly mixed emotions. ‘My father would never do anything bad like that. I’m sure there is a good reason for what happened.’

‘Perhaps there is’ Anya replied meekly.

‘We should be going’ Amaia said, rising and moving towards her horse.

‘Where?’ Anya asked.

‘I….I don’t know’ Amaia admitted. ‘But I’m sure we’ll work it out, together’ she said glancing to White Feather.

‘Where was your father heading?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘Which direction did he go?’

‘I don’t know’ Amaia said again.

Anya paused.

‘I don’t suppose’ she spoke slowly, ‘you would like to stay with us for a while.’

‘I’m sorry?’

‘You see’ Anya bowed her head, shoulders hunched; ‘I’ve been feeling low lately, as has my husband. Losing our daughter…it’s been hard. We don’t know what happened to her, where she is or even if she will ever come back. We are both worried sick for her, and our house has become so empty. First our son years ago, and now our daughter, and we have fallen into despair.’ Anya raised her head, meeting Amaia’s eyes now. ‘It would be wonderful to have you stay with us….if you want. If you have nowhere else to go. The thing is…you look a bit like our Annabel, and you are about the same age…and you have the same long dark hair as she….’ She broke off then, staring at Amaia hard. ‘It’s so strange that you came here’ she mumbled, ‘it’s almost like fate.’

‘That’s awfully kind of you’ Amaia said hastily, ‘really, but we don’t want to be a bother.’

‘Oh it’s no bother at all’ Anya said. ‘You have nowhere else to stay as far as I can tell. Well…we have an inn here, it’s only small but……I would like it if you two would stay with us. We won’t charge you or anything…we will look after you and….’ Anya shrugged helplessly. ‘My husband and I would appreciate it.’ She fell silent for a moment. ‘I’m sorry’ Anya said in a whisper. ‘This must seem a bit strange to both of you, but…I’ve lost both of my children, my daughter very recently. I just feel…like…I need to take my mind off things. Do you understand?’ she asked them with pleading eyes.

‘Yes’ Amaia nodded. ‘We’re both very grateful. Thank you, we would both like to stay…..as long as we’re not getting in the way.’

‘You won’t get in the way’ Anya reassured. ‘Believe me, our home has been far more chaotic when my children…’ she broke off. ‘Come with me’ she said smiling. ‘I will cook for you.’

That evening the four of them had a warm meal together, Roy and Anya, White Feather and Amaia. They talked and laughed and joked and smiled, acting as if they were a true family and had known each other for years. Roy and Anya found the both of them intriguing, especially White Feather, with his stranger mannerisms.

‘This food is delicious’ Amaia beamed. ‘I love it!’

‘Roast duck’ Anya smiled, resting her elbows on the table. ‘Our very own.’

When the meal was finished and cleared away, Anya leant forward, speaking to Amaia and White Feather.

‘I don’t want to ask any awkward questions’ Anya began, ‘but are the two of you…together?’

‘Oh no’ Amaia shook her head quickly. ‘We’re just….’

‘I’m a companion’ White Feather finished. He shot Amaia a sly look.

‘He’s just a friend’ Amaia clarified.

‘Alright’ Anya said uncertainly. ‘I just wanted to make sure. Can I show you to your rooms then?’

‘Of course’ White Feather glowed.

They followed Anya upstairs, and she showed them to two separate rooms.

‘This is my daughter’s room’ Anya said to Amaia. ‘You can stay here. And this…’ she said walking down the corridor a few steps away, ‘is my son’s room.’ She turned to White Feather. ‘This is your room.’

‘This is all very kind of you’ Amaia said. ‘I don’t know how to thank…’

‘It’s ok’ Anya smiled kindly. ‘Just…tell me if you need anything. At any time, day or night. We won’t mind, honestly.’

‘We will’ Amaia said gratefully.

‘Ok’ Anya nodded. She hesitated for a moment, glancing to each of them. ‘Goodnight’ she told them. ‘Sleep well.’

She drifted down the corridor and back downstairs.

White Feather spoke to Amaia.

‘Are you ok?’ he asked her.

‘Yes’ she said. ‘I trust them if that’s what you mean.’

‘Me too. I’ll be glad at least to sleep on a bed inside tonight. I don’t mind sleeping outside, but the nights can get chilly sometimes. You know?’

‘Well’ Amaia said to him. ‘Goodnight.’

‘Goodnight Amaia’ White Feather replied, he reached towards her, brushing her cheek with the back of his hand. ‘We’re safe here’ he told her. ‘I don’t know why, but I feel sure of it.’

Amaia nodded quietly.

‘See you in the morning’ White Feather said, hugging her briefly, before turning away and heading to the room he had been given.

Amaia walked in the other direction, heading to her own.

That night, her sleep was restless. She tossed and she turned, eventually waking some unknown time later. Amaia lay in the unfamiliar bed, head turned to the side and staring about in the dark at the unfamiliar environment around her.

After sometime she decided to get up, wandering down the corridor and using the wall to guide her in the dark, she headed to the room where White Feather slept. Opening the door slowly to stop it squeaking, she peered into the room.

He lay there on his side utterly still, his breathing gradual. The moonlight shining through the window above his bed lay over his body, lighting up his features. She stepped towards him, moving carefully across the unfamiliar wooden floors, trying not to make them creak. She stood over him, watching. He looked so peaceful lying there.

Her eyes travelled down his body. She reached forward, pulling back the sheet to expose his chest.

Her heart constricted as she saw clearly the injuries she has only briefly glimpsed before. There were wounds all over his body, cuts, bruises and larger gashes that had been sown back together.

He must have suffered greatly, must have been in pain, and had never once shown it, never once mentioned it or complained. Amaia could only image exactly what had happened, and it was all to save her. She felt suddenly swamped with guilt and shame.

She stepped back suddenly, letting go of the sheet she held and gasping slightly. White Feather’s eyes were open. He was watching her.

He sat up slowly, gazing at her calmly.

‘Could you not sleep?’ he asked her gently.

‘No’ Amaia breathed. ‘I… I couldn’t sleep alone. I was worrying about you.’

‘I’m only in the next room’ he reasoned.

‘I know…but…’

‘You’ve gotten used to having me around?’

She glanced up at him with large eyes.

‘Come here’ White Feather whispered to her, shuffling back on the bed and pulling the sheet back so that she could lie down.

Amaia stepped forward, sitting on the bed, lifting her legs up and lying down. White Feather let the thin sheet fall over the both of them, he lay down with her, holding her close as he had done so before, in the many nights after a long day of travelling. Amaia instantly felt warmth radiating from him, and a strange light touch against her shoulder that she knew were his delicate wings.

‘Maybe I was cold’ she said, holding herself tightly.

‘Maybe’ he replied softly.

‘Will we try to look for them again in the morning?’

‘Yes’ White Feather said. ‘In the morning. But now, you must sleep.’

Amaia listened to him. She closed her eyes, feeling instantly at peace, feeling instantly safe. With White Feather by her side.

A short time later, Anya went upstairs to check on them. She began to panic when she saw that Amaia was not in her bed.

‘It’s alright’ Roy said, comforting her when she came to him. ‘She’s in the other room with White Feather.’

The two stood in the hallway, looking into the room they had given to White Feather. They saw Amaia and White Feather sleeping together, White Feather holding Amaia close to him. The both of them sound asleep.

‘What an odd couple they are’ Anya said in a distant voice. ‘I wonder what their story is.’

The next morning, Amaia woke feeling happy and rested. She turned over, seeing White Feather lying behind her. He was already wide awake, smiling down at her.

They went downstairs, intending to go outside and begin searching for Farrell and Arlen. But they were stopped by Anya, who insisted that they had breakfast before they leave. White Feather happily accepted before Amaia could object. They ate quickly and left the home to begin their search. They again asked everyone they could replace about the group that passed through the village and taken Annabel, but as it had been the day before; they did not learn anything that may point them in the right direction of replaceing them.

They had simply become ghosts.

What they had learnt from the people they spoke to, created more questions than answers, and they were at a dead end.

The entire day they wandered about the village, trying to replace out what they could. They finally came to rest hours later, sitting upon a low wall and watching the sun set.

‘I feel so lost’ Amaia grumbled. ‘What do we do now?’

‘I don’t know’ White Feather said. ‘I don’t know.’

They sat there in silent for a while, until they were interrupted by Anya, who had been watching them.

‘Did you replace what you were looking for?’ she asked them for the second time.

‘No’ Amaia shook her head. ‘We don’t know where to go from here. We’ve lost him. Perhaps for good.’

‘Are you going home then?’ Anya asked them.

‘I have no home to go to’ Amaia answered miserably. ‘There is nothing there for me anymore.’

‘Do you want to stay with us?’ Anya offered.

Amaia lifted her head. ‘I don’t want to be a bother.’

‘It’s nothing really’ Anya smiled. ‘We need a distraction after losing our daughter.’

‘How long can we stay here?’ Amaia asked her.

‘For as long as you want’ Anya said. ‘In truth, I would be sad if you left us.’

‘Well’ White Feather shrugged. ‘That’s that then, for the meantime, this is where we stay.’

Ten months pass