Awakening (Telindell Book 1) Read Free Page B

“That’s alright. Tell me about my mother then,” said Lian, still excited despite the disappointment about his father. 
    “Well, like I said, she ran a bakery,” said Eva.  “I met her on my journey back home while shopping for bread to take on my trip.  We talked, and she told me of everything going on in the world and how the region was thriving.  She said they had more food and stability than they had ever had in her lifetime.  She always was cheerful.”
    Lian smiled. “What was her name, Miss Eva?”
    “Her name was Lyssa, the most beautiful name I ever heard in all my years. The only thing to match the beauty of her name was your own,” said Eva.
    Lian’s imagination was running wild. “What did she look like, I wonder…”   Lian quickly spoke up, following his thoughts, “Miss Eva, please tell me what she looked like. I want to see her so bad!”
    Eva laughed and leaned down a bit towards Lian. “As I said, you share her blue eyes,” Eva said happily.  “Lyssa’s hair was brunette with hints of blonde weaving through it, a truly unique color.  She wasn’t very tall, not much taller than you are now.  I’d say she was about five feet and seven inches tall.  She was slim, had a figure I would have killed for in my youth.”
    Lian’s eyes glistened with hope for the first time in his life. “But Miss Eva, if my mother was so wonderful why did she leave me here?”
    Eva frowned a bit. “Lian, she did not want to,” said Eva.  “It hurt her more to leave you than death itself.  But you see, things changed her village.  The Lord became greedy.  He started taking more from the people than he needed.  On my last visit to Lyssa, she told me how the lord was imposing debts upon the people if they could not deliver.  She had already incurred debt, and you, her unborn child, had incurred debt as well.  She was very near to giving birth then.  So, I told her of this place and how to get here if things became so dire she must flee.
    “Sure enough, a few weeks later I heard her calling my name in the village square.  I remember that night painfully well.  There was an awful thunderstorm here in the valley while the storms rain struck the mountain peaks as snow and ice.  I invited her in, but she refused and handed you to me.  You were only three days old.  Lyssa spoke urgently to me, saying, ‘I was pursued. They are at the edge of the forest on the other side of the mountains. They came into the village and started burning everything and taking the children. I had to leave.  I won’t let them have him.  His name is Lian. Please keep him safe. I’m going to lead them into the pass and try to anger the ogres.’  I hugged her, and she kissed your head and told you she would always love you.  She left the village.  I stayed with you until morning.  Then, I left you with the elder and journeyed to Shana’s Pass to search for any trace of her.  All I found were the half eaten remains of the soldiers who pursued her and this…” Eva walked over to a chest and opened it.  She pulled out a blue ribbon that matched the color of Lian’s eyes perfectly. “This was hers, all that I could find of her. It is time for you to have it.”
    Lian had tears in his eyes. He was saddened to learn of his mother’s fate, but he also felt pride at the courage she had displayed and the sacrifice she had made for him. “That was my mother…” he thought .  “I couldn’t want any better.”
    Eva smiled. “I’ll just keep this ribbon here ‘til we are done with your bath.”  Eva lowered her hand into the water, small traces of steam beginning to rise. “This will do just fine.” She grabbed an old wooden cup that was floating in the water and filled it with water.  Eva poured the water on the small fire extinguishing it, leaving only glowing cinders.  “Now, come on Master Lian. Take those bloody rags off.”  Eva walked to the next room. “It would hardly be decent for me to