Since I don't write in a linear fashion, many scenes I post will be out of place. To sum up what I've written so far...
Keirn's daughter, Brinn, crossed into the life hereafter after giving birth to a girl. Keirn gave the child for safe keeping to Mara, the midwife, with an admonition that she raise the child in the peace she denied her mother. Mara didn't want to raise the child, but took her into her home after Keirn, a master in the Craft, demonstrated his powers.
The birth of the child, Eilia, was prophesized. Her mother's crossing over and the birth of the special child was enough to draw a siiker (creature which is drawn to energy usage). Keirn's demonstration of his powers was also a draw for the siiker so he left drawing the creature away from his granddaughter.
Ten years later, Keirn is drawn back to the town of Asailia and his granddaughter...
If you think this summation is very rough...wait til you read the chapter/scene. It's a very rough draft of what will be going on but thought I'd post it and see what y'all think.
Keirn’s Return
The village hadn’t changed much. Keirn saw a few new buildings sprinkled here and there.
He’d made a few stops along the way into the village to find a place to live. The marketplace where he’d arranged for Mara’s services remained the same with a few new faces here and there. He didn’t bother to wave back at those who recognized him going past their stands. There would be time enough later for that. There was only one person he wanted to see.
He’d left the smoldering ashes of the death house, ten years ago, determined not to return to this area. Something, though, had drawn him back to the place he didn’t want to be. Was it the child? Keirn had warned Mara what would happen to her if she hurt his granddaughter. He was there to see for himself how Eilia was doing.
He found Mara’s house easily. Not only was it the only one on her street with a chimney for a fireplace, but he saw her, from a distance away, exit the house, cut a switch from a nearby bush and go back in. Keirn increased his pace to get there quickly. Once there, he raised his hand to scratch the leather which covered the doorway but stopped midway.
“What did I tell you lazy child?” Mara’s voice was unmistakable as was the sound of a switch repeatedly striking flesh. Keirn wanted to stop what was going on but needed to be sure which girl Mara was striking. Her next words sealed her fate.
“I’ve had it with you, Eilia! You can’t even scrub a floor right! Look at the dirt you’re leaving behind! The fireplace is still filthy!” He flinched with each strike of the switch Mara wielded. There wasn’t a doubt in his mind now as to whom Mara was beating.
Keirn didn’t bother with niceties. He moved aside the flap and stepped inside the home just as Mara’s hand lifted to strike the young girl cowering on the floor in front of her. Tiny sparks, generated by his rage, struck Mara just as his hand grasped her descending wrist. She turned, enraged someone had the gall to enter her home and stop her from punishing the girl. Her facial features quickly went from anger to shock. Her eyes widened and jaw dropped when she saw who was attached to her wrist.
“Keirn?” she asked stupidly.
He didn’t bother to acknowledge her question. She knew who he was. He had one question for her. “Is this how you define peace?” He gave her a look of disgust, took the switch from her hand, tossed it outside and thrust her hand away from him as if he couldn’t bear to feel her skin any further. “Is this the way you have chosen to raise the child you were charged with? Is this the peaceful atmosphere you were to provide for her?”
He glanced down at the cowering girl, the wet rag in her hand making a puddle beneath it, a pail of water beside her. It was obvious to Keirn what the girl had been doing; judging by the wrinkled pads of her fingers she’d been scrubbing that floor for a long time. He could see the pristine fireplace and the clean floor. He didn’t know why Mara was punishing the child. He didn’t care. This was not the life he expected his granddaughter to live.
Keirn crouched down beside the girl. She has her mother’s eyes, her grandmother’s beauty! Using a gentle tone in his voice he spoke to Eilia. “I’m Keirn, your grandfather. Gather your things. You’ll live with me from now on.”
Eilia sat there staring at him, mouth still open. At his words, she looked up at Mara, as if to ask her what to do. Mara’s attitude, when she saw Eilia’s look, changed from frightened to smug. She turned a superior little ‘what are you going to do now’ smile toward Keirn as she spoke to Eilia. “You don’t have to go anywhere with this man, Sweetums.” You can stay here, I’ll take care of you.” Her sickening sweet voice grated on Keirn. Eilia looked at Keirn again, dropped the dripping rag in her hand, stood up and started gathering her things.
“Can Ainie live with us too?” she asked Keirn. Her shy smile faded when Keirn shook his head in response.
“I’m sorry, Eilia. She isn’t my granddaughter. If I could she would live with us too.”
Eilia finished gathering her belongings. “Can I tell Ainie goodbye?”
“That’s not necessary since we will be living here in Asailia. I’ll make sure she knows where we’re living.” He smiled down at the girl. “Come, we have things to do.” He frowned at Mara then looked back at Eilia, his eyes soft, lips curved pleasantly. “You don’t have to say goodbye to this one.” He turned to leave the home with the girl and saw a crowd gathered outside.
Mara saw them also and groaned inside, what went on in her house was to be kept quiet. Now the whole village would know by the next morning. She followed the two to the doorway then dropped the flap. She smiled wickedly remembering her visit to the Council yesterday. There would be a ritual of the Chosen soon. She had made her case for Eilia to be the one picked to leave the village. One way or the other Eilia would be gone. Mara hoped Ainie would be home soon. The floor needed scrubbing and the fireplace was a mess. That Eilia couldn’t do anything right.
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