WeatherMaker Hearts Desire Prologue
Chapter 6: Tree Pirates

Five years later

‘Amaia!’ Ramana called. ‘Amaia where are you?’

‘I’m here mother!’ the girl called back.

Ramana turned, looking to the balcony above her where her daughter stood, hanging off the balustrade.

‘Are you wearing the dress I told you to?’ Ramana called.

‘Yes mother!’

‘Then come down at once, it’s about to begin.’

Amaia ran down the stairs, coming to the entrance hall and standing beside her mother.

‘Amaia!’ came another voice. Amaia hunched her shoulders instantly as her father came marching towards her. ‘How many times do I have to tell you not to run up and down the stairs? You’ll hurt yourself.’

‘Sorry father. I won’t do it again.’

‘Yes you will’ Farrell frowned at her.

Farrell stood beside his wife, who leant towards him with a smile, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. He smirked teasingly back at her, and placed an arm around his wife’s shoulders, pulling her close. Their daughter went to stand before them, looking forwards.

‘Are we all ready then?’ the painter asked them, standing before his paints and easel.

‘I think so’ Farrell told him. ‘Stand still Amaia. This won’t take too long.’

It was five minutes later that Amaia began to fidget.

‘Amaia’ Farrell told her sternly. ‘I told you to keep still.’

’But this is boring’ Amaia complained loudly.

‘Keep still’ Farrell hissed.

‘Amaia’ Ramana cooed kindly to her. ‘Precious treasure. Be a good girl and listen to your father.’

Ten minutes later, Amaia opened her mouth.

‘I’m hungry.’

‘Heaven forbid’ Farrell groaned, placing his hand over his eyes. Beside him Ramana was smirking. ‘How much longer’ he asked the painter.

‘I’ve just done the outlines’ the painter answered, leaning around the easel to see Farrell. ‘I’ve still got the colour and the lighting and shading to add yet…it will take a bit longer.’

Amaia made a noise of protest; it wasn’t even a word that came out of her mouth, just a long and prolonged moan of anguish that both her parents ignored.

Ramana flattened her dress. The beautiful garment was well fitted and ran across her chest, leaving her shoulders bare, a simple but stunning dress, coloured black and silver. Before her Amaia was dressed in a pretty and modest blue dress, with a large bow at the waist and one in her hair, and beside her, Farrell stood tall and majestic. The dark cloak around his shoulders was lined with blood red fabric on the inside, and at his waist, he carried his sword. One of many he owned that had seen battle.

‘Can’t I have something to eat?’ Amaia complained.

‘Be quiet’ Farrell snapped.

‘Oh look dear’ Ramana frowned at her husband. ‘Your collar is messy.’ She reached around his neck to straighten it; then her hands drew towards Amaia. ‘And your bow isn’t straight’ she said. Then she began to fuss over her daughter’s hair.

‘Get off me!’ Amaia protested. ‘Help!’

‘Now Amaia be quiet, and keep still, you’re making your father angry.’

A short time later, the three of them were settled again, facing the painter who lifted his brush once more to his easel.

A short time later, Amaia broke the silence.

‘My feet hurt.’

‘Amaia’ Farrell warned her sternly.

‘Mine too’ Ramana added.

‘Ramana’ Farrell whined. ‘Not you as well.’

‘Couldn’t we take a break?’ Ramana asked her husband.

‘We’ve not been here that long’ Farrell scoffed.

‘Couldn’t we at least have a drink father?’ Amaia huffed sulkily.

‘Yes’ Ramana repeated. ‘Couldn’t we at least have a drink father…I mean husband?’

Farrell gritted his teeth, casting his wife an anguished look.

‘Why do you make me suffer like this?’ he asked his wife.

‘Oh stop being so dramatic’ Ramana giggled, patting her husband’s hair flat.

‘I want to sit down’ Amaia complained. ‘Can’t I sit down?’

‘No’ Farrell snapped. ‘We’re not finished yet.’

‘We’re entitled to a rest aren’t we my husband?’ Ramana cooed. ‘We are not prisoners are we?’

Farrell ran his hands over his face in frustration, sighing and groaning with exasperation.

‘We can always come back later’ Ramana said. Not intending to come back for the painting at all.

She took her daughter by the hand, leading her away. ‘Come Amaia, we’ll go outside and look for something fun to do.’

’Finally’ Amaia complained loudly. ‘I was getting so tired standing for so long; my feet were beginning to wear away!’

‘Don’t be silly’ Ramana laughed as they sailed towards the door. ‘Goodbye husband’ Ramana called back to Farrell, ‘we shan’t be long.’

Farrell glared furiously at his wife and daughter as they disobediently left his side. He approached the painter, smiling apologetically.

‘How does it look?’ Farrell asked, referring to the painting.

‘Well enough’ the painter replied. ‘I think I can finish the rest without your presence sir. I’ve most of it done; I can paint the rest from mind.’

‘Very good’ Farrell bowed his head. He reached into his pocket, handing the man a few gold coins before turning and striding away, removing his cloak as he went and handing it to a servant who scurried up to take it.

‘You’re not going to look at the painting my lord?’ the servant asked him.

‘I’ll see it when it’s finished’ Farrell replied. ‘What time is it? I must be midday now.’

‘It is indeed’ the servant bowed. ‘Do you wish me to bring you anything?’

‘No’ Farrell sighed. ‘I think I just need to…lie down in a dark room and rest.’

‘Yes my lord.’

Farrell drifted away, coming to one of the large sofas and lying back with a heavy sigh, his forearm resting over his eyes. The servant moved about the room around him, closing the heavy curtains and blocking out all the light.

She left the room quietly, closing the door behind her and leaving Farrell to his peace.

‘Those two’ he mumbled to himself beneath his arm, thinking of his wife and daughter. ‘They will be the death of me.’

Still wearing their beautiful dresses intended for the painting, Ramana and Amaia danced through the town, twirling and throwing their heads back towards the sun.

‘It’s so nice outside’ Amaia said as she skipped beside her mother. ‘It’s not fair that we had to waste the morning standing around doing nothing.’

‘Oh now Amaia’ Ramana scolded. She grabbed her daughter by the shoulder and turned her around. ‘You mustn’t complain about that again in front of your father. There may come a day when he can no longer tolerate either of us. He might just run away from the both of us out of sheer despair, then who will look after us?’

‘We can look after ourselves.’

Ramana frowned furiously at her daughter.

‘Silly girl’ she said pinching Amaia’s cheeks. ‘You’re supposed to say that you don’t want your father to leave. Or do you?’

‘I don’t want daddy to leave’ Amaia said as she tried to wriggle out of her mother’s grip.

‘Do you love daddy?’ Ramana asked her.

‘Yes!’ Amaia said bouncing up and down.

‘Well guess what?’

‘What?’

‘Daddy loves you too’ Ramana said, poking the end of her daughter’s nose. ‘And do you know who else loves you?’

‘Who?’

‘I do’ Ramana said grabbing her and squeezing her in a tight hug.

‘Stop!’ Amaia gasped. ‘I can’t breathe.’

Ramana began to tickle her, her long slender fingers dancing over Amaia’s belly and under her arms.

‘Ahhh!’ Amaia squeaked. ‘Stop! Noooo! I can’t take it!’

Ramana suddenly released Amaia, causing her to land unceremounsly in the dirt.

‘Mama!’ Amaia scowled angrily.

‘Well you should have stopped moving’ Ramana teased.

Amaia scowled up at her mother in annoyance. But Ramana grabbed her again. This time gently. She hugged her daughter lovingly, kissing her cheek numerous times and telling her how much she loved her.

‘I love you so much sweet girl. My precious treasure.’

Suddenly, all of Amaia’s annoyance at being teased melted away, and she hugged her mother back; arms wrapped around her neck as her mother knelt before her.

‘Now come on my dear’ Ramana said letting go of her. ‘Let’s go to the park and have some fun.’

Ramana held her daughter’s hand as they walked through the wide streets, heading to a place built on the edge of the small town. It was a playground, built by Bairn on Ramana’s request shortly after Amaia was born. And since it had been built, all the young children of the town came here with their parents to play, including Gracie, Amaia’s cousin.

Brice and his family were here today. Gracie was hanging off the climbing frame, her mother Alice was nearby to catch her in case she fell, and on the sidelines, Brice and his son Shawn watched with smiles upon their faces.

Amaia let go of her mother’s hand when she spotted Gracie. She ran to her, Alice smiling welcomingly at her as she approached. Gracie moved down the climbing frame, extending a hand for Amaia to take as she invited Amaia to play with her.

Ramana lifted a hand to shield her eyes from the bright sunlight that peered from around the clouds. Alice waved to her, and Ramana waved back. She stayed where she was at the edge of the park, watching from a distance her daughter and Gracie play. In her heart, she felt warmth, pride, and happiness.

‘Today’ she grinned to herself, ‘life is good.’

She noticed movement beside her suddenly, and turned to see Arlen standing there. He shifted awkwardly before her, moving closer.

‘Hello’ he said.

‘Hello’ she replied politely. ‘How are you?’

The edges of his lips twitched uncertainly as he stood there, maintaining a distance between them.

‘She’s…grown quite a bit hasn’t she?’ Arlen said, looking over towards Amaia.

‘That she has’ Ramana nodded proudly. ‘My precious treasure. It feels like only yesterday that she was just a tiny baby in my arms. I feel like sometimes things are moving too fast.’

Arlen’s eyes seemed distant as he watched Amaia running and climbing and laughing. She seemed so happy.

‘She’s as beautiful as her mother’ Arlen uttered.

Ramana smirked.

‘Just think what she will be like when she grows up.’

‘Don’t remind me’ Ramana laughed. ‘She’s stroppy enough the way she is now. I’m dreading her teenage years.’

’What were you like as a teenager?’ Arlen asked her.

‘Well…’ Ramana smiled at the memory. ‘If Amaia is anything like I was when I was a teenager….then gods above help me.’

Arlen stifled a snigger, Ramana turned to him, hands on her hips with a disapproving frown.

‘I’m sorry’ Arlen said hiding his grin. ‘You say silly things sometimes.’

‘I wasn’t trying to be silly’ Ramana told him firmly. ‘I was being serious.’

‘Oh’ Arlen sighed. ‘I see.’

He straightened, facing her. ‘You’re happy…’ he asked, ‘…aren’t you?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I mean…’ Arlen went on awkwardly, ‘in life….now…’

Ramana became sombre.

‘Yes’ she told him. ‘I am. I just wish…you were as happy too.’

‘I am happy’ he told her hastily. ‘To see Amaia enjoying life as she does, to see her growing, healthy and fit and….to see you so happy brings me so much joy.’

She tilted her head at him, regarding him closely.

‘I wish that were true.’

Arlen went silent.

He reached towards her, as if he was about to brush her cheek. But then he drew back suddenly.

‘Seeing you happy is all I want in life’ he said to her, ‘to see it so…brings me so much joy.’

He smiled half-heartedly at her, then turned and walked briskly away.

Ramana watched him go, feeling a sadness stirring inside her.

‘Oh Arlen…’ she sighed. ‘I wonder how different life would be if I had chosen another path.’

‘Mama!’

Ramana looked to her daughter as she came running towards her, skidding to a stop before her and tugging on the skirt of her mother’s dress.

‘I found a beetle!’

‘Well look at that’ Ramana said kneeling before her daughter.

‘I’m going to take it somewhere where it won’t get stepped on’ Amaia told her mother.

‘That’s very good of you’ Ramana told her. ‘We should always help others whenever we can, be they people or animals…or tiny beetle.’ She pinched Amaia’s cheeks happily.

‘I’m going to save animals when I’m older’ Amaia said once she had freed herself from her mother, holding the beetle before her. ‘I’m going to heal them and make them better.’

Ramana leant forward, kissing her daughter upon the forehead.

‘Well hurry up then’ she told Amaia. ‘The beetle needs somewhere safe to go. Find somewhere to put it; we’ll go home whenever you’re ready. Don’t forget your father is waiting for us.’

Amaia said goodbye to Gracie and ran to her mother, taking her by the hand. Ramana walked with her daughter through the town, heading slowly back home.

They ascended the gentle slope, drifting down the path towards the large manor.

A butterfly fluttered past them. Amaia’s attention wandered then and she let go of her mother’s hand, chasing after it and jumping in the air to try to catch it.

Ramana smiled and shook her head at her daughter’s happy distracted nature. She watched as Amaia climbed under the fence that held Alastor, running further into the field in pursuit of the butterfly.

Ramana heard the door of the manor open before her, and saw Farrell closing the door behind him, grinning at her as he approached.

She smiled back at him, placing a hand upon her hip and flicking her long hair back seductively.

Farrell strode towards her and was upon her in an instant, slipping his hand around her waist and pulling her close to him. He grabbed her roughly by the hair, pulling her head back and kissing her deeply.

A shiver ran down Ramana’s spine as Farrell kissed her, she drew a shuddering breath as their lips parted, and he worked his way down her neck.

‘You look so beautiful’ he whispered to her.

‘You look so tasty’ she replied.

She grabbed onto his forearms, as Farrell moved his lips across her shoulder, caressing her tenderly now. Ramana purred happily, running her fingers through his hair, the two completely distracted by one another. And then they heard a scream.

Ramana and Farrell broke apart suddenly, turning towards the field where their daughter was screaming in terror and running as if for her life. Alastor had come over from where he had been standing in the corner of the field. Seeing a person in the field with him, he had ambled over towards her intending to simply follow. When Amaia spotted the mighty stallion so close to her, she had panicked and ran. Seeing the little girl run, Alastor had increased his pace to a trot in order to keep up, following the person nearest in sight, as he had been trained to do.

Amaia dared a glance behind and saw the stallion had picked up speed and had nearly reached her, she screamed again in terror, calling for both her parents.

‘Help meeee!’

Farrell climbed through the fence, striding into the field as Amaia, followed by Alastor drew closer. Amaia ran past him, and Farrell cast his arms out, fingers splayed he stopped Alastor in his track, pushing the stallion back gently and halting him. He patted the horse’s neck gently, whispering kind words into the stallion’s ear as Amaia ran under the fence and into her mother’s open arms.

She cried hysterically into her mother’s shoulder, bawling as if she had just suffered a stroke with death.

‘Hush now girl’ Ramana cooed. ‘There’s nothing to worry about, you’re safe.’

‘The horse was going to kill me’ she sobbed.

‘No he wasn’t’ Ramana laughed. ‘He’s a good horse, look.’

Amaia glanced tentatively around to the terrifying black beast in the field. Farrell approached the both of them, Alastor instinctively followed behind him now.

Amaia began to panic again, screaming and trying desperately to escape over her mother’s shoulder, digging her nails into her mother’s skin like a terrified cat.

‘Amaia’ Ramana scolded. ‘You’re hurting me.’

‘I’ll take him back down the field’ Farrell said, a flicker of a smile ran across his lips. ‘I’ll let you both escape while you still can.’

Ramana pursed her lips in annoyance at him as she brought Amaia under control. Ramana held her shaking, terrified daughter in her arms as she walked down the path towards the manor.

Ramana put her daughter down as she reached the front doors, which Farrell had opened so easily. She pushed the door inwards, heaving with all her might, but the door that had given way so easily for Farrell, did not move an inch for Ramana.

‘Ahhh!’ she cried in frustration. ‘Stupid door!’

‘What’s wrong Ramana’ Farrell asked, appearing by her shoulder a short time later.

‘It won’t open’ Ramana growled.

She straightened as Farrell walked past her, opening the door with the least of efforts.

Ramana glared at him in annoyance.

‘I don’t like this door’ she huffed. ‘We should replace it and get a new one.’

‘But this one works just fine’ Farrell laughed.

‘I can’t open it.’

‘Well maybe you should try harder’ Farrell teased, causing Ramana to glare at him even harder.

Farrell cleared his throat awkwardly, diverting his attention. ‘Come on Amaia’ he said to his daughter, allowing his wife to calm down.

He took her by the hand, walking with her into the home. Amaia very shortly after let go of his hand and started running around.

‘Amaia!’ Farrell shouted. ‘What have I told you?’

‘Leave her be’ Ramana said to him, having calmed somewhat. ‘She’s having fun.’

‘But what if she hurts herself?’

‘Then she will learn a valuable lesson.’

Farrell sighed wearily, feeling like there was no point to argue.

‘Oh’ he realised then. ‘I forgot to tell you. The painting is finished’ Farrell said to her in a hushed voice. ‘Would you like to see?’

Ramana’s eyes lit up, and she clapped her hands excitedly.

‘I would love to!’ she cried. ‘Hurry’ she said pawing at him. ‘Show me where it is!’

‘Alright’ Farrell said laughing as he tried to fend her off. ‘Stop clawing at me and I will show you.’

‘Amaia’ Ramana called turning to her. ‘Come over here for a moment.’

Amaia skipped over towards her mother, and Ramana knelt to whisper into her ear.

‘The painting is finished’ she told her. ‘Do you want to see now why you had to stand and wait for so long?’

‘I suppose’ Amaia said stubbornly.

Ramana gleamed. She took Amaia’s hand and followed her husband through the home.

They stopped before the painting now hanging on the wall, standing together and gazing up at it.

‘Oh Farrell’ Ramana breathed. ‘It’s beautiful.’

The edges of the painting was dark in shadows, a gentle orange glow was in the centre, lighting up the small family of three in the middle. Farrell stood with his arm around Ramana, the two of them standing close, and between them, stood Amaia. All three of them were smiling. All three of them looked happy.

‘It’s wonderful’ Ramana said, taking Farrell’s hand and beaming at him. ‘Don’t you think its nice Amaia?’

Amaia stared up at the painting sullenly; then looked away.

‘When do we eat?’ the girl asked. ‘I’m hungry.’

Ramana giggled happily, kissing her daughter on the cheek, holding her tightly as she tried to squirm away.

‘My precious treasure…’ Ramana said. ‘I love you so much.’

Several days later

‘Amaia!’ Ramana called. ‘Come down. Your uncles are here!’

Amaia came dashing from out of her room, hanging through the balustrades of the higher floor, seeing her mother waving to her from the entrance hall below.

She sprinted down the stairs, running into the arms of Eidan, then going to Markus and hugging him in turn.

‘Amaia!’ came a barking call.

She flinched.

‘How many times?’ Farrell sighed. ‘Don’t run down the stairs.’

‘Sorry daddy.’

She shrank back as he glowered at her.

‘Oh come now Farrell’ Eidan the older brother said. ‘The girl is alright. Surely she can run if she wants.’

Farrell shook his head, muttering and walking away.

‘Hey Amaia’ Markus said to her. ‘Guess what?’

‘What?’ Amaia piped up happily.

‘I’ve brought a gift for you’ Markus told her. ‘We both have.’

Behind Amaia, Eidan smiled widely.

‘Look Amaia’ Ramana said, revealing the gifts she had been standing in front of and hiding from view. ‘These are for you.’

One of them was a rocking horse, beautifully carved in dark wood with real horse hair for the mane and tail, with a red leather saddle upon its back. Upon its legs and either side of its neck were carved elaborate swirls and flowers with large golden petals. An expensive piece, and specially made just for her.

The other was a toy made of an unknown material. It was a model of a large winged beast with three heads, a creature made of the parts of several other creatures. Vividly painted in the brightest of colours, the wing edges were painted in gold, and each of the three heads had tiny gleaming gems for eyes.

Amaia squealed in delight, rushing over to them and beginning to fuss. Ramana moved away from her, standing a short distance away, she watched with pride as her daughter began to play. Eidan lifted the model of the beast for her and she began to run around with it, pretending it was flying. Then very shortly after when she had gotten bored of that toy, she ran to the rocking horse, clambering with more effort than was necessary upon its back and snapping the reins as if it were a real horse.

Eidan sat on the ground beside her as she rocked, entertaining her with conversations of horses as she bobbed back and forth on the wooden toy, promising to buy her a real one one day.

‘It’s so good to see you smile’ Ramana said to Markus standing beside him. ‘Both of you.’

Markus and Eidan no longer wore their mourning blacks that had become so familiar to them. Now, and since Amaia’s birth, they dressed in colour.

Markus reached towards Ramana, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

‘We have something wonderful to smile about now’ he said to her. ‘You are happy in life, you have a wonderful home, and Amaia is healthy and growing well.’

Ramana nodded.

‘She is’ Ramana sighed. ‘I am very proud of her. She will grow into a fine young woman.’

‘That she will’ Markus nodded. ‘I am sure of it.’

‘I look forward to the day’ Ramana said, ‘when she will spread her wings and live a life on her own. Have a child of her own, and experience all the joys of being a mother. What bundles of joy children are.’

‘Why do you look forward to that?’ Markus asked her curiously. ‘Is it because she will be out of your hair? Or because you will have another little child to fawn over?’

Ramana slapped her brother on the shoulder playfully. ‘Don’t you tease me like that!’ she scolded.

‘We had better be going now’ Eidan spoke up as he rose to his feet. ‘You know how mother hates it when we’re away for too long.’

‘He’s right’ Markus said. ‘We should hurry home or else she will worry and become frantic.’

‘Give her my regards’ Ramana said to them. ‘Tell her and father I am well, that we are all well. Tell them I will visit them both soon.’

She hugged her brothers tightly, one after the other. They waved goodbye to Amaia, who was too distracted with her new toys to notice them.

They left with smiles on their faces; closing the heavy door behind them, for Ramana struggled to close the door herself.

When they had gone, Ramana turned to her daughter.

‘Amaia’ she said.

The young girl glanced curiously up as she continued to rock back and forth on the wooden horse.

‘How would you like to come for a walk with me?’

‘Yay!’

Amaia instantly fell off the wooden horse, not even bothering to dismount properly. She ran into her mother’s arms. Ramana picked her daughter up, opening the window and climbing through it, still with Amaia hanging onto her. Too stubborn to use the door which irritated her so, she would often use the window.

‘Can Gracie come with us?’ Amaia asked her mother as they went.

‘Of course’ Ramana giggled, snuggling her. ‘Whatever you want. My precious treasure.’

A short time later, Alice answered the knock at the door, seeing Ramana standing there with Amaia.

‘Can Gracie come out to play?’ Ramana said to her.

Amaia who was clinging to her mother’s back like a monkey peered over her shoulder at Alice.

‘Of course she can’ Alice smiled. ‘Gracie! There are visitors for you!’

A short time after that, Ramana was walking through the woods behind the two girls who raced back and forth ahead of her like excited spaniels.

‘Catch me if you can!’ Amaia squeaked. She darted away as Gracie began to chase her. Despite being nearly a year older, Gracie’s shorter legs couldn’t keep up.

‘You can’t catch me’ Amaia sang teasingly. ‘You can’t catch me.’

‘Come on Amaia’ Ramana said firmly. ‘Play nicely.’

She sat and watched as the children played, resting at the foot of a large tree.

She sighed contentedly, leaning back against the bark and closing her eyes. She tilted her head back, glancing up then at the tree above her. Ramana stared at the two large branches that grew outwards above her head, positioned almost perfectly horizontal and running almost perfectly parallel to each other with a gap between them.

An idea slowly dawned on her as she continued to stare.

‘Amaia!’ she called suddenly. ‘Gracie! Come here, we’re going home!’

‘Awww’ Amaia immediately began to whine. ‘I haven’t finished playing.’

‘Neither have I’ Ramana retorted with a smile. She opened her arms wide; Amaia as if by instinct ran to her mother and embraced her.

‘Come Gracie’ Ramana said, offering her hand for the girl to take. ‘We’re going home, but we will be back.’

Ramana walked home with the two girls, one hanging off her shoulders, the other holding her hand. They helped her, as Ramana rummaged throughout the entire house, looking for materials. They found much wood and rope, and even brought paints. Ramana and the girls managed to haul all that they needed, through the town, and back to the same spot in the forest where that particular tree had caught Ramana’s attention. It took several trips and more than a few strange looks from some of the people in the town. Arlen watched from a distance, standing in the same spot he saw the three as they headed in one direction carrying several pieces of wood, then the other direction carrying nothing, then back again in the other direction carrying more wood.

Once Ramana decided they had everything they needed, she tied the skirt of her dress up, tied her hair back, and got to work.

The two young girls ran all around her, helping her as she worked and fetching anything she asked for. Ramana climbed the tree, Amaia and Gracie with much effort, managed to stand up a long piece of wood between them. Ramana reaching down was just able to grab it and lift it up to where she sat balanced in the tree. She laid the plank on its side, resting between the two long and thick sections of branches that ran parallel. She began to nail the piece of wood down.

Once she was done hammering several beams of wood into the thick branches to create a platform, she began to work on a ladder, so that the children (who by that point were running around the base of the tree impatiently) could climb up. Once the ladder was finished, she built a short wooden wall around the platform she had made. Then she made a rope swing, then another, and then hammered more planks of wood into the tree to create another ladder so that they could all climb higher in the tree. And then they began to paint the tree itself.

The day began to grow late.

‘Have you seen Gracie?’ Alice asked Farrell back in the town.

‘No’ Farrell replied. ‘I was about to ask you if you’d seen Amaia.’

Alice giggled. ‘Well this is a funny predicament. I know Gracie is with Amaia playing, but its time for her to come home now.’

‘I am also missing my wife’ Farrell mused. ‘It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that they are all together.’

‘Maybe Arlen knows’ Alice suggested. ‘Guess where he might be?’ she asked Farrell.

Farrell smirked.

‘Praying’ the two of them voiced simultaneously.

‘So have you seen them?’ Farrell asked Arlen when he and Alice had entered the temple and found Arlen.

‘I have’ Arlen replied, rising to his feet and turning away from the idol he had been praying before. ‘It was the strangest thing. The three of them were running back and forth between your home’ he nodded to Farrell, ‘and the woods.’

‘Why?’ Alice asked raising an eyebrow.

‘They were carrying wood’ Arlen shrugged. ‘And rope. And paint. I guess they were building something.’

‘We should go replace them’ Alice said to Farrell.

‘I’ll come too’ Arlen said. ‘I’m curious also as to what’s going on.’

It took only a short time to track the three fugitives. By that time Ramana, Gracie and Amaia had forged a clear path through the woods, so they were not at all hard to replace. When they had been located, all three were amused by what they saw.

Farrell craned his head back as he stood at the base of the tree, eyeing curiously what was now a small fortress above their heads.

‘Ramana!’ he called. ‘Are you up there?’

‘Go away’ came a voice.

Farrell cocked his head, squinting as the light from the setting sun glared in his eyes through the canopy of the trees. Beside him Arlen began to laugh at what he was seeing.

Farrell shielded his eyes.

‘Ramana’ Farrell called again. ‘Come down from there.’

‘No!’ Ramana cried dramatically back, the top of her head just visible from behind the barrier. ‘I said go away!’

‘Yeah!’ Gracie echoed hanging off the edge of the small box that was built above them. ‘Go away.’

‘What are you doing up there!’ Alice asked them with a giggle.

‘We’re pirates’ Amaia called.

‘Pirates live at sea’ Farrell corrected. ‘Not in trees.’

‘Give me all your gold!’ Amaia demanded, waving a pointed stick around.

‘Yeah’ Gracie copied. ‘Give us your gold!’

The three of them were wearing hats made of leaves that were stitched together carefully with a needle and thread. Feathers of various sizes and from various birds were sticking out at all the corners.

‘Come down from there’ Alice called up to her daughter. ‘Diner will be ready soon.’

‘I’m not coming down’ Gracie called down to her mother defiantly. ‘I am going to stay up here forever and float above the forest.’

‘But you’ll get hungry’ Alice cooed. ‘Come down won’t you?’

The three were eventually persuaded, after a time, to leave their fortress. Gracie was the first to come down, helped by her mother, next was Ramana. She turned, lifting her arms out to Amaia, who still sat in the tree.

‘Come down my love’ her mother said to her. ‘It’s ok. I’ll catch you.’

Amaia leapt from the tree and into her mother’s waiting arms. Ramana hugged her, squeezing her tight and whispering into her ear.

‘My precious treasure.’ She tickled Amaia, who began to squirm in her arms. ‘Let’s go home.’

Farrell watched over Ramana and Alice as they left the woods, walking with their children.

He glanced around him suddenly, noticing that Arlen was gone.