História The Ruins of Galdur - Three

Eydís Nótt stood next to her husband, with tears in her eyes. She was gesturing frantically, but Birta couldn't hear their whispers. She bit her lip. This had all been much more difficult than anticipated. She hadn't meant to cause them harm; the people who had taken her in.

Eydís stopped talking, and wrung her hands in anticipation. Lord Agnar turned to face Birta. He stared at her for a moment, then extended his hand to her.

"Come walk with me, lass."

Birta exited their chambers, and he followed, putting his arm through hers.

"The day we found you," he started, softly, "it changed everything we knew."

He nodded, as they passed a servant from the kitchen, and waited until they'd reached the gardens outside the courtyard to continue. Birta's coming to the castle had always been kept very vague, and extremely private.

"It was a cold evening," he started. "We'd gone off to sign a deal with the Lord of Haf. He wasn't too thrilled with some of our terms. We left a little wary."

He shrugged his heavy shoulders.

"We were on edge, comin' back. It was startin' to get dark, and we only had a few torches. Eydís said she heard a cryin' babe. None of us heard anythin', but she took off."

His lips curved into a smile and his eyes softened.

"She couldn't bare the thought of leavin' somethin' so defenseless out in such unforgivin' woods, such as these."

"And ya found me." Birta interjected gently. "I've heard the stories. I love 'em, but I want to know more."

Lord Agnar stopped, and leaned against a tree. They had reached the woods behind the castle. It was good for hunting, but not very interesting, in Birta's opinion.

"We found the light before we found you," he said. Birta didn't understand, but he continued.

"Even as it got darker, there was light in the trees ahead. Soft light, like the starflies that shine in the fields at night. You were there, lyin' naked and covered in-" he stopped.

He seemed to be searching for a word that did not exist.

"It looked like dust, made from stars."

His face changed, and Birta thought for a moment, he'd gone mad. There was a confused and uncomfortable look in the Lord's eyes; one she'd not seen before. He ran his fingers over the top of his head.

"You were covered in this dust, and you had this in your wee little hands."

As he spoke, he reached down into a split in the tree he leaned against, and pulled out a small leather pouch. He stared at it for a moment, as if surprised it was there at all.

He handed it to Birta, but stopped her as she started to open it.

"It's a crystal of some kind. That's what the priest told us. We agreed to not say anythin' until ya got older." he said apologetically. "Go to him and ask him about it if ya feel ya need to. He'll have answers for you. But Birta-"

Agnar stopped, putting his strong hand on Birta's shoulder.

"We're your family, lass, ya don't have to leave if your heart is here. Wait until ya see the priest to open that. After, if ya want to leave, come talk to me."

Birta swallowed the nerves and emotions built up in her throat, and tucked the pouch in the ties of her dress.

"Thank you, Lord Agnar. I dunno what this means, but I thank ya for everythin' you've done for me."

She hugged him, to his surprise; and to hers, he squeezed her tightly.

***

Birta played with the pouch in her hands as she walked towards the stables. She wanted to open it so badly, but knew that the Lord wouldn't have asked her to wait, without reason.

"Goin' for another ride, Lady Birta?"

Birta gave the stable boy a smug smile.

"I'm going out to collect more wildflowers for my hair. Would ya like me to bring some back for you, to give to your little girl friend?"

The boy blushed and glanced over at the young girl sweeping near the end of the stalls. He nodded up at Birta, sheepishly, before releasing Ravenfeather from her stall.

"Thank ya, m'lady," he said excitedly.

"Stealin' the hearts of young lads, are ya?"

Birta looked up to see Verndari striding towards them. The stable boy hurriedly got his horse ready for him.

"Where are ya goin'?" he asked, looking at the mare under Birta's caressing hand. She climbed up onto her back, and patted her neck before twisting her fingers in the horse's long mane.

"My father told me ya wanted to leave. Is that what you're doin'?"

Birta thought his voice sounded disappointed, but she pushed the idea away.

"I dunno yet. I'm gonna find the priest, and try to learn where I came from."

She stared at him for a moment, then nudge Ravenfeather and was on gone. Verndari stood, watching as she rode away.