Chapter 57

Day 259 - First day of Fall

The first day of fall dawned crisp and clear.

I spent some "alone time" with my hubby before attending to Sean.

After a breakfast of leftovers, I spent a little time painting before working on Sean's toddler skills.

But all too soon we ran into the fall rains.

Day 260

The rain gave way to a heavy fog. The metallic taste in the air I first experienced by entering The Shadowlands seemed to intensify. I didn't know if it was because we were slipping closer to Dragon Valley or the concentrated sea air.

Once Sean's toddler skills were mastered, I let him play while I had a bit of thinking time.

While it would seem prudent that I take precautions to not get pregnant at sea, I had not and now I was expecting again. I was cautiously optimistic that I might give birth after we reached Dragon Valley.

Day 261

The dawn dawned with heavy rainstorms and we started our day by celebrating Sean's birthday.

Sean's newest trait was Disciplined.

It felt as if we would be wandering the open sea forever. As charming as out ship was, I began to hate being on it.

Day 261

My day began with the first pangs of labor. I was not thrilled to be giving birth at sea.

I gave birth to twins. Shannon was born first with the traits: Loner and Eccentric. Seamus was born next with the traits: Slob and Brave.

Morning had just passed us by when Sean enjoying being topside during the beautiful weather shouted, "Land ho!"

I thought he might be playing, but no, we were approaching land at last! Beautiful, beautiful land! It looked frost kissed by the late fall weather.

I was thrilled to see our first signs of civilization.

I was not so thrilled to discover company had slipped onboard to "escort" us to the docks.

I felt uneasy thinking that the port did not look entirely welcoming.

We had a welcoming committee and it didn't seem very friendly to me.

Colby chatted with them briefly before returning. He said it was "suggested" to him that we might be more comfortable staying the night on the boat. I wanted off the damn ship, but I wasn't eager to tackle the not-so-welcoming committee right then and there. So we agreed to quietly stay put for the night.

Day 263

We started our first day in Dragon Valley with the twins birthday.

Shannon was a lovely lass with her father's hair and eye color.

Seamus had his father's hair color like his twin. But he had my eye color.

After our breakfast, the guard brought us all into the port.

As we approached the indicated doorway, I was startled to see an elderly blind woman waiting for us.

Before we could step through the doorway, she spoke aloud in a raspy voice, “This is The One I have long awaited. I must speaketh with her alone.”



The guards and my family retreated while I faced her alone. She began touching the bones in front of her reverently.

With a groan that bubbled up from deep within her, she slipped into a trance like state working all the while with the bones.

“Heartbreak and much sorrow is thy lot in life. Moments of joy dancing like butterflies across thy stormy skies keep thee going. Planets and suns waltz across thine heavens. Look to them and see their wisdom. They art circles that promenade across the celestial sphere. Thy life has its peculiar course. But thee… thee hast a circle of greatest consequence, far greater can thee can fathom. I see what is behind thee. Thou madest a great and selfless choice and set salvation in motion. But thy will has wavered and ye have sought joy over duty, always leading to heartbreak and sorrow. Thou cannot see as I. There is greater sorrow ahead of thee and thy will despair and lose thy faith. But thy must not forget thine duty.

Listen to mine words of foretelling: Thy must not waver in thine path; thee must not fail. Thou shouldest muster all the courage and heart of your heritage and maketh choices for not only thy world or mine, but thou holdest all in thine hands. There comest a moment of adjudication and thy will knowest when the broken circle must be closed. Ye must maketh the choice to lose one’s most precious possession for the greater good of all. Time will reveal all to thee, but I tell you now… you art the Paradox of Tears and thy weeping shall bear jubilance and vitality for all.”

After she had spoken she sat back to command, “Call the guards.”

“She is most welcome here. The gods hath sent her. Stand not in her way.”

Those very words changed the attitude of the Dragon Valley port guards. I was escorted to the cell where my family was and assured that very soon we would be leaving to go to our new home in Dragon Valley.

Before too long we walked out into the bitterly cold rains to a waiting horse drawn carriage. It was explained that in trade for our ship we would receive a small farm to live on and the adjoining Tavern would be ours to run. We had not requested the trade and it did not seem negotiable. But our new home was more beautiful than I could have hoped for.

We immediately set about giving the kids a warm bath and changing into dry clothes.

The kids were beyond thrilled to have new toys and space to spread out.

Colby tackled the farm chores trying to get a handle on things. I was very happy to discover a grand piano and fondly remembered the last time I played one in Winter Wonderland. The bittersweet memories washed over me as I played.

While I happily created an earthy stew in my spacious kitchen, Colby began the task of toddler training.

Shortly after our dinner we were ready for a good night's sleep and eager to learn more about Dragon Valley in the morning.