03 Foundations

Soft butterscotch skin cooled by the onset of death. The burn of multiple lacerations on his arms, torso and thigh. Silky rough hair tangled by blood. The soreness of his throat. The hard wood behind and beneath him.

A single yellow eye staring into his. Teeth bared. Muscles coiled for a pounce.

A small figure, curled up against the wall in the corner. Sky blue eyes wide as it took everything in.

The boom of thunder outside. A daylight in the dark of night.

All was still.

Time was still.

"What are you willing to sacrifice?" the words appeared in the man's mind.

He could not move to respond but his mind screamed "Anything. Everything."

"You will regret this."

"But I will honor it" his thoughts responded.

"And this is why I came to you." a pause. "I will heal your wife, remove the threat."

"Anything," an instant thought upon hearing this hope.

"The demands will come after," pause. "And you will comply."

"I will." was the immediate response.

Nature screamed. The roar of a hundred bolts of lightning was heard outside. The ground shook violently.

The beast was turned away to look outside, then crouched down once more a low rumble coming from it.

Heavy footsteps called eyes to the front of the room where a tall armored figure loomed.

The beast pounced but was caught mid leap by a gauntleted hand that was suddenly there. It pulled the beast back and away. The animal tried to break free, but its struggles were useless against the force that held it.

The figure knelt beside the man, gleaming like one of the king's guardians. Its other hand extended and hovered over the woman's neck. The figure faced him, and he looked back at the shadows covering its iron mask and nodded. The hand touched the wounds and erased them. He paused, letting fingers rest just under her jaw, then stood up. The figure turned away then walked out silently, the huge beast limp it it's hand.

"No matter what you hear, do not go out."

He nodded then looked at his son. The boy was staring at him, but not seeing. His eyes were glazed over, lifeless as his tears continued to fall.

"Ash"

The boy looked at him, then blinked.

"Come here. Your mother needs you."

The boy wiped his tears with the back of his hand then stood up holding the wall for support. He wiped at his tears again then slowly made his way to his parents.

"Mother?" the boy boy whispered. He dropped on his knees beside the woman tried to wrap his arms around her as he sobbed.

"She's alright." The man ran his fingers through his wife's long autumn hair, ignoring the tangles and blood that matted it. His hand found hers and the warmth reassured him. He held her tight.

She wove her hands around the small body beside her and took a deep breath.

The boy sat up and wiped his tears again. "Mother."

She took a deep breath and her eyes fluttered open.

The boy pounced at her and held her tight. He sat back down to give her mother room after a few moments.

"Love," she said softly as she wrapped arms around her husband and wept. When the man did not move she pulled back, wiping tears away with her fingers and looked into his grey eyes. "Is there something wrong?"

"Your eyes," he said, "Love."

Alarmed she looked at her son, "But I can see," and he just stared at her, eyes wide.

"They're different," the boy offered, as a smile warmed him. "It's like the flowers in the meadow." he looked at his father for confirmation.

"Lavender." he nodded.

She looked at him, silent.

"He said there would be a price," he whispered avoiding her eyes. "I shouldn't have made that decision for you."

She smiled as tears threatened to fall once more. "If this is all it costs, then I'd say it was well worth it."

He smiled looking at her, "I'd give anything to keep you beside me, love." He leaned in and kissed her cheek.

They stood and tidied their cottage as best they could. Afterwards they held each other before the hearth, waiting. None moved as it thundered outside and the ground shook. They sat there and quietly enjoyed the company of the people they almost lost.

The rays of morning crept past the doorway. A shadow eclipsed the golden rays and reached out for them. The family stood slowly and looked at their armored savior.

The man stepped forward, "You want us to follow?" He walked towards the figure and his family followed cautiously.

"I changed the land and made a well. Drink from this from this day on." He gestured at the sturdy looking stone structure as eyes followed. It faced them, "Come and receive my mark,"

They looked at each other then at the metal man.

"This is the mark of our covenant. Your wife was the first. You will follow."

The man looked at his beloved and then back at the figure before approaching. Cold hands were placed on his head, palms covering his eyes.

The man felt nothing but saw nothing when the cold faded from his eyes. He covered his blindness and staggered back. Slender arms caught him and struggled to keep him upright before he regained his balance.

"Your child,"

"Do you have to," the woman asked , voice quavering.

"I've already marked your youngest,"

Both man and woman were puzzled for a moment. She gasped placing a hand to her mid, then looked at her husband eyes wide in fear, then shock at the lavender that stared back at her.

"We would be dead by now if not for him," he said.

The boy tore his gaze from his fathers eyes then moved closer to the figure.

"You are under my protection," A hand was placed on the boy's head. "I will give you the power to thrive and in turn you will keep me safe and hidden."

The man stepped forward to support his son, then guided him to his mother.

"Safe?" concern tinged the man's question. "Is there danger?"

"Yes," the figure looked up at the blue sky, "But not in your lifetime, nor your children's." It looked back at them, "Regardless, you gave your word. Your line will stay here and be safe and I will be kept hidden."

His brows furrowed and he looked at his wife then back at the figure. "I meant what I said. You know this. Me and mine will keep you safe."

The figure strode to the well and pulled a bucket up. He then beckoned them to come. "Drink"

The man looked at him then at his wife nodding. His wife rushed in and got a clay jug from their home and brought it near. The figure filled the jug with water then gestured for them to drink.

The man took the jug staring at the figure's shadowed mask then took the dipper within and drank deeply. His wife did the same then helped their child drink. The figure reached out for the  jar, then filled it once more.

"Aren't you going to drink?" the man asked.

"I do not drink."

"You do not drink poison." he accused.

"I do not drink." He took his mask off and revealed nothing behind it.

The man staggered back at the void behind the iron. He looked at his wife and she just stared and covered their child's eyes.

"I do not drink" The figure placed the mask back on.

"What manner of being are you," the man whispered. He subconsciously reached out for his wife's hand as he grappled with what he's gotten them into.

The armored man placed the mask back. "Your names?"

"Ash," the boy volunteered, then looked at his parents.

"Larch," then man added absently.

"Chrysa," the wife said.

"You may call me Seed." The figure sat on the ground a few paces from the well. "I'll stay here. I'll reach out to you after a week and you will know what I say is true."

Larch nodded brow wrinkled as he tried to grasp all that just happened then went in their home. His wife followed while Ash stayed and looked at the silvery armor of the figure and the shadows that could not be chased by the sun. He walked to the well then  struggled to bring the jug of water back in.