The falcon's daughters

Chapter 60

- Are you absolutely sure that it was these scrolls Abadin?

- Yes, your majesty.

- We must be certain that it’s right before we say anything.

- Sadly enough I remember it as clearly as if it were yesterday your majesty.

Worgan sank down on a chair and rubbed wearily over the bridge of his nose. He sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. They opened quickly when the sound of sliding doors was heard. After a while, Lee and Tyrall became visible between the rows of shelves. Worgan got up to greet his old friend.

- Tyrall. I hope your trip went well?

- Of course, old friend.

The old king smiled and let his eyes glide over the people in the archive. 

- I must say it's been a long time since I saw so many people in here. So he managed to persuade you to take back your service Abadin.

Abadin glanced over at Worgan who discreetly nodded before he smiled at Tyrall and placed a hand on Saron’s shoulder.

- Yes, your majesty. And with the boy here to help me, I can work for a few more years.

Tyrall looked intently at the boy's freckled face and thick reddish-brown hair. He frowned thoughtfully.

- You look familiar boy.

- This is Saron. He is the son of Saline. My best scout.

- Saline? Then I understand.

With a smile he nodded at the boy. 

- Your father Galdan was one of my best soldiers. He left my service for your mother and began to work for your king. It was really sad when I heard about his accident. Your father was a good man.

- Thank you, your majesty.

Abadin squeezed the boy's shoulder comfortingly as he turned away and secretly wiped away the tears that ran down his cheeks.

- Now Worgan. Would you mind telling me what it is that you need my help with?

- I'm afraid that Abadin found something when he restored the archive.

- And this find was something I had to see?

- I'm afraid it is. It's probably best that you sit down, old friend.

A deep wrinkle formed between the older man's eyebrows as he sat down at the table. He looked at the two scrolls that Worgan laid in front of him. Slowly he opened the scrolls and his eyes widened when he realized what he was reading and a rattling sound was heard as the scrolls fell on the table.

- Worgan. This is ... it's ... wrong.

- That was what I feared. Someone must have forged the scrolls.

He shook his head imperceptibly when Abadin jerked.

- It's lucky for us that we have Abadin.

- But why does anyone have ... I can not understand.

Tyrall’s hands were shaking when he pulled them through his gray hair, causing some strands of hair to loosen from the black leather strap that kept it collected.

- I'm sorry to have to this to you, my friend. But we need to know what has changed. It may have been something important.

- Of course.

He picked up the scrolls and laid them on the table and rolled them up. The pain was clearly visible in the tormented eyes that carefully compared each row on the two scrolls. His hand trembled as he pointed to a few lines.

- Here. Hair color and eye color have changed. And their birthmark has been erased.

- Tyrall, what did it say from the beginning?

- What is this really about Worgan?

- I'll tell you soon. But this is important.

- As you wish. Their hair was black and their eyes green.

- And you spoke of birthmarks?

- Yes they both had the mark of a falcon.

- It can’t be true! Can it?

Lace sat down on a chair and looked at the others in shock.

- What's going on here?

Tyrall got up and picked up the two reports and stared intently at the men in the room.

- These are my daughters' reports Worgan! I demand to know what this is about!

Lace looked at the king and said very softly. 

- Your daughters, your majesty. They are alive.

- What did you say?

The disbelief was vivid on his face as he collapsed back into the chair. His eyes widened in shock as Lace continued to talk.

- They didn’t die. They live.

- How can you be so sure of that?

- Because I raised one of them. And Y'zora the other.

- But how can you know for sure?

- The birthmark. They both bear the mark of a falcon.

Tyrall breathed heavily and hid his eyes behind a hand as tears streamed down his cheeks. He gasped for breath and looked up. Lee, who has been silent so far, spoke.

- Father? What is this all about?

- Leerian. Your betrothed is …

- My daughter.

A smile began to spread across Tyrall's face.

- She's my daughter. I can not believe they are still alive. In all these years ... I've thought they've been gone forever.

He looked down at the rollers and suddenly frowned.

- Lace, what have you called my girls?

- Sol and Kit.

- And their birthmark. Which of them has the falcon on her shoulder?

- Sol.

- How is it possible that the names you have given them are abbreviations of their real names?

Kit and Cade rode in through Laniro's large gate and up to the royal stable. They were quickly met by two stable boys. The eldest of them bowed deeply before he spoke.

- Your highness, his majesty wants to see you and lady Kit in the throne room immediately.

Cade raised an eyebrow at the urgency in the boys voice.

- Immediately? Without having had the chance to change first?

- Yes, your highness. We were instructed that as soon as you returned you would go to the throne room.

- Then it's best that we do what he wants, right?

Kit sighed deeply and she patted Chiro one last time.

- You're a fool Cade. Come now. Your father is waiting for us.

His laughter followed her as she left the stable. A fly landed on her neck and as she waved it away, her fingers touched the amulet chain. She lifted the amulet and stroked lightly with her fingertips over the silvery claws that wrapped around the glittering yellow stone.

- What do you think this thing can do? 

- Maybe that's what father wants to talk to us about.

They hurried to the throne room and were surprised when they only found Sol and Lee in it.

- Kit! 

Sol called out happily and hurried forward to embrace her sister. 

- I've missed you.

- And I you.

She took off her amulet and held it out to Sol.

- Something tells me you should have this.

- But what should I do with it?

She mumbled and examined it slowly, letting her fingers grace over it just as Kit did a few minutes ago..

- I don’t know. It's just a feeling I have.

- Then I'll take good care of the little sister.

- Is everything okay Lee? You look tense.

- That’s because he knows what it is your father wants to talk to us about.

Sol looked at him and frowned. 

- But he refuses to tell me. He's been like this for four days now and it's starting to annoy me.

- Sol, love…

- No Lee. Whatever it is, you should have just told me.

- You'll get your hands full in that marriage brother.

Lee gave Cade a murderous look when he laughed before turning to Sol again.

- Sol I really couldn’t say anything.

He began to try to explain and sighed when she turned away. Then Tyrall’s amused voice was heard from the door.

- Don’t be so hard on him my girl. I asked him not to say anything. I wanted to be the one to tell you. And I wanted to wait until your sister was back.

Kit and Sol looked at each other in wonder.

- Tell us what, your majesty?

- I think it's probably best if we sit down. Yes, that would probably be the best thing.

The girls sat down on a bench while Lee presented a chair to Tyrall.

- Thank you my boy.

He sat down and looked at them in astonishment and opened his mouth and then closed it again.

- I hardly know where to start. How could I not see it.

- Is everything alright, your majesty?

He looked at them and smiled lovingly as he nodded.

- Yes. Everything is finally as it should be. I guess I should start with why I'm here. You see, I got a letter from Worgan saying he needed my help. When Abadin started going through the scrolls in the archives, he found something that was not true.

- Excuse me, your majesty. But what archives?

- You see Kit. It is the archive of births. The archive of all those who have been born in the world. Worgan wanted me to confirm his suspicions that some of the reports had been altered and that two of them concerned my children. You see, eighteen years ago my daughters disappeared. They were kidn*pped. The only thing we found after several days of searching were their dresses that were torn and covered with blood.

- But what does it have to do with us?

- The reports said that my daughters were blonde and had blue eyes, but that isn’t true. My daughters are dark-haired and have green eyes.

They gasped at the words and looked at each other doubtfully before Tyrall continued and now the tears ran down his cheeks.

- They also have a very distinctive birthmark in the shape of a falcon. Their names were ... are Solari and Kitana.

- You mean that ...

Kit's voice broke and Tyrall got up. He approached them and held out his hands. They looked at each other before grasping his outstretched hands and getting up. He looked at them for a long time and put a hand to their cheek before closing them in his arms. He held them close to him and whispered. 

- I never thought I would see you again. My children. My daughters.

He took a step back and looked at them.

- I should have seen it right away. How could I miss it. You are so incredibly similar to your mother.

- Fa-father? You're our father?

- Yes Kitana I am. Forgive me for being so blind. That I couldn’t see that it was you.

Sol fought to hold back the tears and smiled at him.

- It's okay father. It’s okay.

- Solari, Kitana. My darling daughters.

He smiled and caressed their cheeks before closing them in his arms again. Kit and Sol hid their faces against their fathers chest as tears ran down their cheeks. Tyrall’s tears landed on their hair but neither of them cared. Finally their family had been reunited. Lee tapped a stunned Cade on the shoulder and motioned for him to follow. They silently left the throne room and the large doors closed quietly behind them.