“Mooooom!” a little girl calls to me, running up. “Ollie took my doll!”1087Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7VWIg9Ot8
I cluck my tongue and stand up, putting down the book I was reading on my porch. “Well, let’s go and talk to Ollie, then, Mel, shall we?”1087Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknZ1v9CypU
We walk around the house together, Mel’s tiny hand in mine. Her pointed elf ears are a stark contrast to her jet black wings, which some of the village kids tease her for, but she’s never shown that it gets her down. In the backyard, Klef is snickering with a young boy, also with elf ears and wings, and holding up a stuffed doll. “Oliver, Kleftis, just what do you think you’re doing?!” I ask, crossing my arms.1087Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYz1wsmWKX
“Nothing, Mom!” Ollie says, while Klef grins, unashamed.1087Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfTRxkjuDa
“Really?” I ask. “Because it sounds like Klef is teaching you how to play thief, which may I remind both of you, is banned in my house.1087Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQtdeWXdCy
“Yes, ma’am,” Ollie and Klef both say. Klef tosses the doll to Mel. “Here you are, my sweet little Melody. Sorry about that.”1087Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewYczkk8mv
“Apology accepted,” Mel says sweetly. “Not sure Mom is buying it, though.”1087Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadiwylPtT1
Klef looks up to me. “No?” he asks.1087Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYagpdAKYNk
“No,” I say, walking closer. “I hereby sentence you to death by tickles!” I say, descending on him with quick fingers.1087Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MEeuDRvxO
“Hey! No fair!” Klef cries out.1087Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLi7l0CR1cZ
Ollie and Mel giggle and join me in the tickling. “3 against 1 is illegal!” Klef cries inbetween his guffaws.1087Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMvgN9r1ld
I stop and pull the kids off him. “All right, all right. What happened to start all this?”1087Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtR2bLK1qVo
“We have to talk about our parents careers in school and do a report,” Ollie says eagerly. “And Daddy was telling me about how he used to be a thief before he was a Campaigner!”1087Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUhHgiIXMc
“They want to know our story, Ride,” Klef says, looking up at me.1087Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35hSu1tjiV
“Oh, I suppose their old enough to know the basics,” I say with a shrug. “The clean version.”1087Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLWw2939xC
“Nothing less until they’re 13,” Klef agrees.1087Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGC8a8Hki66
I sit down next to him on the ground and Ollie and Mel sit across from us eagerly. “Tell us everything!” Ollie exclaims.1087Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAtdPFt9zs
Mel nods. “Anything and everything you can!”1087Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCf9tsSa5Tg
I look over at Klef and smile. “Okay. Well, the first thing you should know, is that many centuries ago, there was a group formed called the Crusaders. And while many people used it for good, some people used it for bad as well. Your father and I both used it for good, though, and there were some bad people who didn’t like that…”1087Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtewrc0qI0
~End~
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