Chapter Eight
388 Words
The horse neighed and its tail wished forth and back in a chestnut blur.
The prairie engaged in an ancient dance to the tune of the evening breeze.
Her hair tugged at its ends and swept almost sensuously across her back as she stared out over the prairie spread out before her.
It's been four planting seasons since her father last returned; and so long also were the incessant disappearances of people around.
She had lost Ernice last night and had singlehandedly laid her to rest. Her fingers still raw from the digging.
Ernice.
She had been a rock and a mother to her all her life and to lose her so just - broke her so.
She had rode Hermia off with no destination until her heart ached less.
Ernice.
A single lane ran down her face and hastily she wiped it away.
The Seer.
Ernice had said something about that. She hadn't paid much of an ear to it believing that Ernice was going nowhere.
A sob broke from her.
" knew I would find ye here, mi lady."
She turned slowly to the face and the tears flowed fresh again, as the pain sparked anew.
"Mi lady," Ailish whispered.
Her lips moved soundlessly at first. "Ailish," she sobbed.
Blinking furiously, Ailish drew her into her arms.
"’Tis hard, I know, but ye must the Seer see, mi lady."
Elliotte stared on unseeingly.
"It's been four seasons," Ailish said. "Surely there must be something that can be done to undo this evil. Elliotte?"
Hands spread out in helplessness, Elliotte's words came out in a subdued tone. "Tell me what someone like me can do? |'m a curse. l'm not to be. I have no good to bring forth."
"Lies" Ailish countered. "All lies, I say." She squeezed the hand she held. "I know and we all know ye were never a bad nor were ye a curse to start with. Ye in stead are but a bundle of joy, ye ken? Let no one tell you otherwise, ye ken?" Elliotte sniffed.
No one would understand.
No one knew how she felt.
No one knew the extent of her nightmares.
The extent of her feverish craze afterwards.
Ernice....
Only she seemed to breach the gap.
And she's no more.
Anew, her heart bled and her tears flowed.
- Writer
