The Scoundrel's Daughters

The white crow

Finn

After aunty joined us, the journey became really short. I knew both of them were worried for the girls deep in their hearts, but somehow their proudness was the emotion that came to the surface. We stopped at a mountain and Rene pointed at the clearing under our feet.

- That's our mothers' hometown Finn. - she said and I felt my eyes widening. A huge clearing with dozens of different fruit trees and wild flowers. The air was gilled with the scent of thousands of medical herbs and flowers along with the sweet scent of the ripe fruits pulling down the branches with their weights.

- This is breathtaking... I have no idea why they left this place. - Dmitry mumbled and Rene sighed. Her posture became a bit straighter and her voice colder while she said.

- They never left this place. Just went on a journey. Their souls returned to these fields once their journey ended. - Dmitry hugged Rene and gave a peck on the back of her slender neck.

- Well, if your journey ends, don't forget to invite me too. I like it here. - she chuckled and turned around to kiss Dmitry.

- We will stop here for tonight! - Dmitry ordered and the knights along with the soldiers started preparing for camping. Dmitry looked a bit pensive and said.

- Make sure not to damage the wildlife. We want to try to negotiate with these tribes. I don't want to loose my people or shed blood uselessly.

- But Duke Rankin! The King said to eradicate the barbaric tribes. - a knight said with hate in his eyes. Before she could've stopped him, Dmitry stormed to the knight. He lifted him by his neck and growled at him like a ferocious predator ready to leap onto its prey.

- Don't forget that my wife came from these tribes! If you insult these people, you are insulting the Duchess of Rankin! - he choked in Dmitry's hold but no one dared to stop them, except for Rene.

- Let it go Dmitry. - she said with her usual voice and dropped her facade. The soldiers gasped.

- Lady Rankin... - they mumbled and fell on their knees. The one in Dmitry's choke hold stared at Rene with his eyes widened and lips blue. Dmitry dropped him like a piece of trash and Rene crunched in front of the man gasping for air.

- What's your name knight? - she asked sweetly, lifting the coughing knight's gaze. His eyes widened even more.

- How... You supposed to be dead... - he whispered and Rene looked down at herself, then shrugged.

- Yet I'm still alive! - I had to hold back my chuckle just like many of the Rankin knights who knew and respected my aunt. Their eyes filled with hope and peace knowing that the rumors of their deceased Duchess were lies.

- I despise cowards, so look into my eyes boy and repeat what you just said before my husband squeezed the air you have been waisting for a while and convince me why shouldn't I get rid of you. - his hands trembled but the knight clenched his teeth.

- I won't respect or bow my head to a barbaric person! Your actions are just supporting my thesis! These people are not better than animals and wr must eradicate them from the Earth to cleanse our kingdom! - Dmitry's hand clenched on his sword and I took a step next to my uncle to hold him back if needed. Rene just clicked with her tongue.

- Ts ts ts... Boy, your are so incredibly stupid. - she turned to their seniors and asked in a surprised voice.

- Don't novice knights have lots of trainings? Or are you just training their muscles until their head is empty? - Dmitry rolled his eyes.

- My little witch, they don't teach these youngsters to think like we do at the Duchy. The king needs machines, who obey to his orders without questioning their validity. - the knight reached for his sword.

- HOW DARE DUKE RANKIN SPEAK OF HIS MAJESTY THAT WAY?! THIS IS TREASON! - I drew my sword ready to protect Dmitry but Rene got ahead of me. She murmured a little and the boy's sword turned into feathers that got blew by the wind.

- Listen to me! - she stood up and turned to the knights and soldiers.

- Your King sent you here to die. He doesn't care about your lives as long as my husband and nephew could loose their lives during the battle. He kidnapped me and my daughter, he is trying to force Duke Rankin's oldest daughter to marry his useless son!

- It is an honor to die for our King!

- These are just barbaric people! Their technology and powers are far behind the Empire's! - the soldiers chanted but the knights of Rankin immediately understood Rene. They walked behind their master and Rene smiled.

- This tribe in the bottom of the hill, is stronger than you could ever be. - she said and lifted her hand towards the sky. Rene chanted a spell and the sky got dark, soon the wind intensified and lightnings started to hit the ground around the soldiers without hitting any of them. Rene opened her eyes and flashed her sparkling eyes that vibrated with a neon green magic. Soon her magic had been eradicated by a blue light that cleaned the sky and an older woman, probably in her sixties rode to the top of the hill on a tiny horse. Her hair white as snow, in long braids was waved by the dying wind of my aunt, her skin was dark like chestnuts and with eyes like obsidian she stared at Rene.

- For the love of Mother Nature... What is going on here? Why are you disturbing the nature for your selfish reasons!? - she asked approaching angrily Rene. She grabbed her hair pulling her down to look into my aunt's eyes.

- Who taught you to be so selfish and careless?! - she asked without giving a single glance of the army stationing at the top of the hill or the raging Duke. Rene smiled.

- Kahala. She was the one who taught me to hide, and to fight when I think it's necessary. I'm here to restore the flow of nature. - she said and pointed at me.

- That boy is the solution. He is the one. - the old woman released Rene and scoffed.

- Prove it girl! Kahala... Kahala left us long time ago. She died like a fool! Why should I give credit to her spawn? - she asked and I got surprised that she knew Rene was Kahala's daughter. Aunt sighed.

- Because I've lived too many times like a fool already to know, this time I must do the impossible even! -the old woman's eyes softened and she held Rene's hand. She hissed a bit as the woman's magic flowed into her palm, and once the old lady looked into her eyes again, she teared up.

- You fool... - Dmitry held Rene in his arms when the lady released her hand and she lost her balance. The obsidian eyes turned to me as she walked slowly in front of me. Before saying anything, she took a glance at uncle and aunt and smiled.

- At least you learned your lesson little crow. - the lady turned to me and grabbed my hand.

- Show me your soul boy. - she said and I felt dizzy, before I could've understood what was going on it already ended. The old lady turned to Rene with awe and said.

- He might be the one.