“Mooooom!” a little girl calls to me, running up. “Ollie took my doll!”997Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEk4bJzvrkI
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?”997Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfWcxmgqR0
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.997Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQt9tv4Ba12
“Nothing, Mom!” Ollie says, while Klef grins, unashamed.997Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJ9IoEtRY0
“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.997Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFbLvbULkB
“Yes, ma’am,” Ollie and Klef both say. Klef tosses the doll to Mel. “Here you are, my sweet little Melody. Sorry about that.”997Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrWbhmSHas
“Apology accepted,” Mel says sweetly. “Not sure Mom is buying it, though.”997Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQobDJV2Ago
Klef looks up to me. “No?” he asks.997Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQ1bep5YCX
“No,” I say, walking closer. “I hereby sentence you to death by tickles!” I say, descending on him with quick fingers.997Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Q8WRS1xzL
“Hey! No fair!” Klef cries out.997Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bcnb7nBfF
Ollie and Mel giggle and join me in the tickling. “3 against 1 is illegal!” Klef cries inbetween his guffaws.997Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0oQXOuiMp
I stop and pull the kids off him. “All right, all right. What happened to start all this?”997Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsnFYrsJBi
“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!”997Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQt2gIOOcy
“They want to know our story, Ride,” Klef says, looking up at me.997Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeS5CGsL5z
“Oh, I suppose their old enough to know the basics,” I say with a shrug. “The clean version.”997Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRMkAzK9E2
“Nothing less until they’re 13,” Klef agrees.997Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxDFmd3gy5
I sit down next to him on the ground and Ollie and Mel sit across from us eagerly. “Tell us everything!” Ollie exclaims.997Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBsW69wUlA
Mel nods. “Anything and everything you can!”997Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPv7bme05u
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…”997Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7AokowuSG
~End~
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