The falcon's daughters

Chapter 15

Her skin was just as clear as Kit’s.

- None of them have a mark! How is that possible? How could the gods have left two without marks? Do you think that may have been why they were left?

- No. It may take up to a year for a mark to appear. They couldn’t have been more than three months when we found them.

- So then we still don't have an answer. If they weren't abandoned because of not being marked then why?

- I don't know but there is one more thing I want to know. Kit, do you have a mark of a falcon?

- Yes I do but how could you know?

- Sol has one too.

She lowered her voice and mumbled.

- I wonder if it could make any difference?

- We can speculate on that in an eternity Y'zora without being any wiser. If we are to find out why someone did this to them, then we must figure who they are.

Y’zora turned to face him and smiled wholeheartedly. 

- You're right. I have been trying to convince Sol to make the trip with me for years but she has always refused claiming it wasn't the right time. Maybe the time has come at last.

She turned to Sol who nodded eagerly still with her hand in her sisters and then turned back to Lace when she remembered something.

- There is just one problem. King Worgan has given the medallion to prince Cadenor.

- The medallion for the archives?

- Yes, he wants Cadenor to take more responsibility, but I'm afraid the young prince's restlessness has taken over again. He left a month ago. The advantage is that he has a campsite, in the northern parts of Carlan, where he usually goes.

- Well, then we have to split up. If you bring Sol to Laniro and talk to Worgan, I will take Kit and go to find our missing prince. Looks like you get to see part of the world anyway Kit.

- Awesome. When do we start?

Sol laughed at her sister's impatience.

- Tomorrow little sister. Tomorrow. Now we need to sleep and I have to pack.

They settled down by the fire to eat. Deó and Dorcha stayed close together, happy to be reunited once again. Once the girls settled in for the night Lace turned to Y’zora.

- Y'zora. How come you were in the mountains that day?

- I’d been given a mission. They said I would find help in the mountains and I did.

- So you knew you would find Sol?

She looked lovingly at the girl who was sound asleep next to the sister she had been yearning to find all her life.

- Yes. She has been my mission. Finding her, raising her and loving her

- And you didn't know anything about Kit?

- They never mentioned another child. I don't know if it was because they didn't know or because they knew you would find her. Whatever the reason, I'm sure they knew what they were doing.

- That's one thing I'm curious about. How come you gave Deó the same name I gave her?

- That part is something that I myself do not understand. On the night of the day I found Deó and Sol I had a dream. I saw a falcon landing on the ground next to a child. She said I would bring the child up among the mountain peaks. That she would be safe there. She also said that the baby's name was Sol and that the cub’s name was Deó.

- I had a similar dream when I found Kit. Do you think we will ever find out what that means?

- One day maybe.

Her voice grew low as she stared into the flames of the fire.

At dawn, they made their way down the mountain to where Lace and Kit had left their horses. At the edge of the mountains, about a quarter of a day's journey from Sol's cave, they arrived at a small outpost. A young woman from the mountain people's village came out. She smiled when she saw Sol and Y’zora.

- Miss Sol. Lady Y'zora. I received words from the village so I have your horses ready.

Her red hair, which was gathered in two braids, flew after her as she rushed off to fetch the horses. She held the reins to two horses when she returned. One golden brown and one white. Both of them were thoroughbreds. She handed over the reins and her voice was sad.

- Are you really going to leave us?

- I'm afraid so Calla. The time has come.

Sol looked up at the mountain peaks and sighed a little before settling in the saddle.

- But I’m going to miss the mountains and your people. You have all been so kind to me.

Calla blushed when she heard the praise and blinked away the tears that threatened to show. She stroked Deó behind the ears and smiled when the big cat tilted it’s head to her hand.

- Now take good care of your mistress.

She waved goodbye as the group rode off and left the mountains.

In the distance they could see the swaying grass growing on the savannah below them. When they finally left the cold purple rocks behind him, Lace held on to his horse.

- This is where we say goodbye.

- Are you really going into the Plainlands? Since Crayden took control it is more dangerous than ever before.

Lace paid little attention to the worry in Y’zora’s voice.

- So he finally managed to get rid of his father did he. If we stay on the outskirts and avoid all troops, we should be fine. If we take this direction we will arrive at Laniro almost simultaneously.

Sol rode up alongside her sister and gave her a tight hug.

- Goodbye little sister. Be careful.

- You too. I will see you soon again. 

They parted ways so Y'zora, Sol and Deó headed south across the border to Tamarin, while Lace, Kit and Dorcha traveled east into the dangerous Plainlands.