The Forgotten: The Lost Children, #2

CHAPTER 1

THE BEGINNING

For as long as they could remember, the People had always been.

There was nothing to link them to their past, for the Olders had been wiped out centuries ago by the monsters that had ruled during the dark time. There remained only stories about the past, but the Beginning had been erased completely by the near destruction of the People by those they were forbidden to think about or talk about, for fear that they would somehow be summoned.

The People lived in the dark about where they came from and how they became, their Land still in fear from an unknown enemy that still threatened to destroy them.

The Governor’s Guard and the Council remained strong entities, created to protect those who threatened the safety and existence of the People, including the Outliers who lived on the farthest edges of the Land, forbidden to coexist with the People for reasons that had been decided long ago by the Inner Circle. The beginnings of the Inner Circle were known by only a select few, and held sacred by the Blood Bond, their power held sacredness and stronger than the Governor’s Council, and holding secrets that not even the Governor knew about.

The Beginning of the People remained a mystery, locked deep within the depths of the Land of Tamaryn itself, buried far below the surface forever.

CHAPTER 2

TAMARYN

The young girl buried her feet in the lush grass, enjoying the soft blades that tickled her toes. She lifted her face, enjoying the warmth of the three bright orange Suns, and then fell backward, gently landing on the soft ground beneath her. The Land was still and quiet, the only sound was of the bright purple birds that chased one another playfully in the air.

The girl smiled peacefully as she lay looking up at the sky.

She'd already spent hours that afternoon wandering throughout the Land. At nine, she was finally granted the freedom to roam without her Patronus watching her every move, but she had been warned by Father to stay within the safety of the perimeter. She knew what the risk of wandering outside could lead to, and she promised him, her large gray eyes earnest as she had done so.

Father knew that she would be careful, but to be sure, he sent her Patronus to guard her, warning him to go unseen. He couldn't bear the thought of losing her too soon, though he knew that his days with his Little Warrior would be far shorter than he hoped for. He had heard the story of his life from the Stones and knew that his lifeline would be far shorter than he wanted it to be. But he knew that if he trained her right, as was his purpose, she would protect the Land in his place.

The girl thought about the day’s training and how she had nearly outdone Father in her sparring for the first time. As she nestled herself into the warmth of the grass, she smiled with satisfaction and pride. She had come close to out-maneuvering Father, but had never done so until now, and she could tell by the warmth in his eyes that he had been impressed. There was nothing she loved more than her daily training sessions with Father as he skillfully taught her in the way of her birthright.

You'll be a great Warrior, one day, Emilie, Father had said to her this morning. You are far more advanced than I ever was at your age and the People of Tamaryn will be safer with you watching over them.  

Emilie replayed Father's words over in her mind. She was proud of her lineage and loved Tamaryn with her entire being. As she stared at the long, weeping branches of the Coriola tree that stood a few feet away from her, she breathed in the sweet scent of the soft white flowers that covered it.  The trees covered the ground for miles and miles creating a soft perimeter around the large fortress that she called home. Their home was only second largest to the Governor's, which was a half a day's ride away. The Coriola petals covered the ground like snow, and Emilie knew anytime she breathed that sweet scent that she was home.

There was nowhere in the world that she could ever imagine wanting to be and she couldn't wait to grow old enough to lead the Governor's Guard as she knew she had been born to do. She only had six more years until she could join the Guard and then the rest was up to her. Even though Mother wished that she had been born to a less dangerous life, the Stones had been read at her birth by the Seer, and Mother knew that she couldn't do anything to change it.

Emilie! Father's voice called for her and she jumped up immediately, dusting the white petals from her clothes and picking up the armor she had discarded on the ground.

Father, Emilie turned to find Father approaching her on his strongest steed. Emilie, there has been a disturbance in the Land and you must come with me immediately. Your mother is beside herself with worry for you.

Emilie felt the hair rise up on her arm as she looked around. She had not sensed any danger and she wondered what she was missing. She didn't see anything out of the ordinary, but then she caught something out of the corner of her eye. She squeezed her eyelids closed wondering if she was imagining the trace of a dark black mist that was floating in the air far behind her.

Suddenly, she felt herself being lifted into the air, her feet hanging helplessly as she realized that Father was lifting her onto his horse.

Ride! Father cried, giving the horse a swift but it firm kick on the side, the horse taking off with a sudden jolt. Emilie held onto Father tight and she suddenly saw her Patronus following closely behind them, his long dark hair flowing as he raced to keep up. Scruple!

Emilie realized that he must have been following her all along and she felt foolish to have thought that Father would've trusted her go off on her own.

The mist continued to follow them, growing larger as it got closer. Emilie squeezed her eyes closed, feeling very much like a frightened little girl and less like the Warrior she imagined herself to be. Father could feel her trembling as he held her right against him, sheltering her from the danger that was beginning to surround them.

As they drew nearer to the House, the iron gates opened and Father's large steed flew in with Scruple, her Patronus who had chosen the form of a primate, right beside them.

When they reached the safety of the stables just outside of the House, which was surrounded by members of his Guard, Father leapt off of his horse and looked at Scruple angrily. You were supposed to protect her! How could you have missed it?

I'm sorry, Master, but it was upon us before I realized it and by the time I did, you were already there! Scruple shrunk, his body trembling, disappointed in himself for letting the Warrior down. You know I would never let anything or anyone hurt Emilie!

Father's anger subsided as he walked toward Scruple and hugged him gently. I'm sorry, my friend. I know you would never knowingly allow her to be in danger, and the Ubilez are a sneaky enemy.

Emilie gasped at the sound of the Ubilez’s name. Her large eyes were dark with fear. Father had said the forbidden name, and Emilie realized for the first time how close she had been to real danger.

Why would they be in the Land of Tamaryn, Father? Emilie asked, her voice small as she snuggled up next to Scruple, his long fur warming her as he planted a soft kiss on her cheek.

The Warrior looked at his young daughter, pausing before he spoke as he chose his words carefully. Occasionally, they gather their strength and are able to surface, seeking out the strongest of the People. If we aren’t careful, they will take one, which is why we are diligent in sensing them and catching them before they are able to do so and driving them back down where they belong.

Is this why Tamaryn is always so heavily guarded? the girl asked, making sense of the Land she lived in.

Yes, my Little Warrior. This is why the Guard is so important to the Land. This is why we train our Warriors at such a tender age, so that we always have a plentiful Guard. We can’t ever take a chance that the Ubilez captures one of us. Once they do so, they will use that life to help them remain on top even longer, which jeopardizes the safety of our People. They can never stay on top forever, unless …

Unless what, Father? Emilie asked, curious about her father’s pause.

Her father looked away from her without answering and the Little Warrior could tell that he wasn’t going to answer the question.

What would they do with our People if they stole them? the Little Warrior asked taking another approach, trying to imagine what the Ubilez could be capable of.

Father paused, his face betraying something awful that the Little Warrior wasn’t sure that she wanted him to say. Some things are better left unknown for now, my young one.

Scruple wrapped his long arms around Emilie as he drew her in, as though to protect her from the unseen enemy. Emilie wondered what the Ubilez looked like, but Father gave her a look as though he knew what she was thinking. He shook his head slightly, his jaw tight, and Emilie realized that he could read her thoughts and she blocked the Ubilez from her mind completely.

Emilie thought about the Land, beautiful and peaceful, the air sweet and the People who lived so freely. She knew that Father worked diligently to protect the Land that he loved so much, and he had instilled that love in her since the day of her birth. She pictured the People and their villages, with their tidy little houses and plentiful crops. She thought about how her mother often went into the villages and cared for their sick and made sure that there weren’t any in need, taking Emilie with her when she wasn’t training with Father. Her mother taught her to be kind and compassionate to the People, with her gentle touch and her soothing voice, and Emilie enjoyed her visits into the villages with her. While she preferred to train with Father and learn how to fight, she understood the value of what her mother did as well, though it didn’t come as naturally to her.

As they walked toward the House, Emilie was flanked by Scruple and Father and knew that she was as safe as she could be, but she shuddered anyway. She looked to see if she could see the black mist, but it was nowhere to be found.

The House is protected, Little Warrior, Father said, reading her thoughts again. You are safe, now.

Emilie nodded, but as she closed her eyes, she suddenly saw a vision of her beautiful Land, barren and dead, and she shuddered as a cold shiver ran straight through the middle of her soul.

CHAPTER 3

THE GOVERNOR’S HOME

The Governor loved his home more than anywhere else in the Land, though he loved the Land with all of his heart. Tamaryn was entrusted to him now and he knew that it was his life and duty to protect and care for it. But nothing meant more to him than the home he went back to every night. It was the place where he lived with his beautiful Governess and the two animated and intelligent boys that meant the world to him.

He could still remember the very moment he laid his eyes on all three of his children, pink and wrinkled, howling as the light touched their eyes for the very first time. He observed them every day with deep interest, watching them grow, and was both amused and amazed at how sharp their minds were. He especially liked watching how his dark-haired, brown-eyed eldest son was cautious and brooding, his twin sister even more so. He could see so much of himself in his eldest son and tried to get his daughter to embrace the light, but her heart seemed to be drawn to the darkness, no matter how hard he and the Governess tried. But even with his son, as much as he could see the seriousness of his nature, he could also see the strength and compassion in his heart, much like his mother. At such a young age, Jakob had far surpassed his expectations of what a son would be and every time the Governor looked at him he felt such pride. He especially liked their time alone together when he could talk to him about his interests and hear the things that weighed on his heart. Even as a small boy, Jakob’s thoughts were deep, far deeper than even some of the adults that he had encountered in his reign as the Governor.

How can there be hungry People in Tamaryn when you make sure they have plenty of food? Jakob asked earnestly, as he and the Governor walked through the fields one day, checking on the crops that were doing extremely well for the season.

I don’t know, Jakob. I wish that I could explain it to you, but I can’t always explain it to myself, son. The People don’t always know when they need help and by the time they realize it, sometimes it’s too late for them. When you are Governor, you will understand this, but I will make sure you can see it before they do. I will teach you. The Governor looked at his son with affection and admiration. At a young age, he asked questions that were beyond his years.

I won’t let you down, Father. I promise. Jakob knew from an early age that he would carry the responsibility of his father, and had seen it his entire life. He carried it in his heart, even as he watched over his younger brother and twin sister.

The Governor was at peace, knowing that all of his children had the strength of heart that he hoped they would have. The Governess loved them with a depth that surpassed anything the Governor ever hoped she could, and he knew that together their love evened out all of the holes and crevices that the other might miss. He had known from the very beginning that theirs had been a good match, even pre-ordained, he had fallen in love with her from the moment he laid eyes on her. Their love was a deep one and for that he was thankful. He knew that marriages that had been pre-ordained didn’t always share the luxury of having deep love, but his passion for the Governess gave him a peace that he had never known before her. Even his Father, the Governor before him, had approved of the match, and Will knew that Emilie was the other piece of his soul, even before the Stones told him that it had been so.

Will thought about the days when Jakob and his twin sister, Ava, had toddled throughout the House, and how they had given him such joy as they discovered every crevice of their large home. He had reveled in the joy of their discovery, but when his son Kell had been born, something new had awakened within him.

Kell had a curiosity that far surpassed anything he had ever seen. While Jakob was brooding and serious, Kell was light and joyful with a stubborn streak that was often unexpected. Kell was not afraid to question or challenge his strong father, but he also had a charm about him that was equally as disarming as his strength. Will knew that Jakob was a strong contender and that if anything ever happened to Jakob, he would be right there by his side, supporting his older brother no matter what may come their way.

But Ava was a mystery to him.

No matter how hard he tried he couldn’t understand his beautiful daughter, who looked so much like Jakob, but was so different and strong in her own way. He had questioned the Governess many times about how he should approach his strong-willed little girl, but the Governess echoed his sentiment. A loner, Ava kept to herself even at a very young age, refusing to engage with her brothers and as much as Will tried, she didn’t seem to display any affection toward him, either. But Will saw her strength, and he ordered his best Warrior to teach her in the ways of the Guard, his heart telling him that it would do her good, though he didn’t know how.

Ava was a mystery to him, but he loved her still, knowing that one day she would see it and hoping that she would also allow herself to surrender to it.

Will loved his family and was grateful to the Stones for giving him such favor. His entire life he had done everything within his power to love and rule over Tamaryn with the strongest part of his heart, refusing to bow to the will of the Council as so many before him had done. He knew that this was dangerous, but he also trusted himself and knew that his heart carried the will of the People in every decision he made.

He trusted himself, the Governess, his love for his children, and his love for Tamaryn above all and Will knew that if he followed his heart and his instincts that he would lead them well.

Watching Jakob and Kell together, he knew that his two sons would be able to lead the Land well, even long after he was gone. The Stones had told him that it would be so, but they had failed to make any mention of Ava, and for that he was fearful. The Governess never let Emilie know that the Stones never made mention of their daughter. They loved her for her stubbornness and did all they could to draw her in as much as they could and when the Governor returned home every day, he was thankful that the family he had created was the home that gave him peace.

CHAPTER 4

THE MIDWIFE

The Midwife had grown up in Tamaryn, learning the craft of family from her mother and grandmother. She had been born into a long line of woman entrusted by the Governor’s House to bring their children into the world. She understood that her lineage gave her certain privileges and honor in the Land, yet she chose to live humbly with her husband and daughters, who she adored more than anything. While she had the right to live in one of the Governor’s houses, she loved the freedom of the Land and wanted her family to grow up there. The Governor was fair and kind, and he had given her special permission to live with her husband on his own Land that he had cultivated with his sweat and hard work. The Midwife had been grateful, reassuring the Governor that she was always in his service and always at the ready for anything he might ask her for.

She knew that hers was an important and special life and that she had been given great responsibility to bring new life into the world. She had accompanied her mother for as long as she could remember, and watched her bring babies into the world with a watchful eye. She knew every intricacy involved and paid close attention to every detail. She watched her mother soothe those with troublesome deliveries and celebrate with the easy ones. She learned at a young age how to grieve with the mother’s whose babies went to the Great Beyond while already in the womb and those who travelled there soon after their