Coup d'état by M. Jade Glock (ebook reader wifi .txt) 📕

The prophetess watched as father and daughter practiced combat skills with their staves. Aerlinniel, stubborn and determined-which seemed to be the trend of twelve year old's-had been put to the ground by her father's weapon. The prophetess winced as she saw her daughter's pain paint itself across her face, but she knew better than to coddle her child. The town's people were beginning to think that she was a neglectful mother with the way that Aerlinniel walked through the village, anyone who wanted to greet her with an embrace often were met with a slight cry.
“What are you doing to her, prophetess?” A concerned mage would ask her while working in the ward. They tended to the injured there but she never did bring Aerlinniel.
“Why is she not being treated for her wounds? What could the child possibly be doing to herself to cause such blemishes and pain?” Questions were allowed but none would even dare suggest that she was harming her own child. In truth, it hurt the prophetess inside. It was heart wrenching not being able to give her daughter that loving care that she so looked forward to giving when she was born. She was still a child, one that should be able to run and play with the others her age. Her youth was quickly being stolen from her, but it was what had to be done. The dreams that she had, not a fortnight ago, were the only reason why she insisted on this. The vision of the village burning, men, women, and childrens cries could be heard deep within the flames. But the worst part of all was the image of she and her husband lying, not moving, in their home within the trees, and Aerlinniel's screams as she was being dragged away by armored men. She was much older, a beautiful young woman, but still recognizable by her mother. Tears stung at the prophetess's eyes as she remembered those vivid nights. She could not change the future, she was going to die, it was inevitable. The last thing that she was going to leave behind was her daughter, and the last gift she would give her was the means to protect herself. If Aerlinniel was going to survive she must learn combat, it was her only hope.
“I love you, my child.” She said through her tears as she escaped to the recesses of their home. She couldn't take the sight of her anymore, much more and she would crumble and take her daughter into her aching arms.
“I'm so sorry.” She cried. “Please don't ever forget that I love you.” She wept.

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The chieftain felt like his heart was slowly being cut open. Every time his small daughter fell to the ground because of his forcefulness he wanted to cry out.
"Stop this!"

He begged to himself.
Trying to beseech his mind into giving up this whole endeavor. He didn't like hurting his daughter at all and sometimes he even questioned what kind of guardian he was.
"I'm her father, I'm suppose to be protecting her, not causing her pain." He had told his wife one night.
"I know." That was all she seemed to be able to say.
The chieftain never wanted to start training Aerlinniel, especially the secret ways that had been passed on in his family for generations. Aerlinniel was young and a fast learner but her heart just didn't have the strength and fight of a warrior in it. The chieftain loved his daughter very much, he just couldn't help but feel a void in his heart, as if he had already lost her.
Very soon after he and his wife were joined they had talked about children.
"I would like a home full of the sound of soft feet running through it." She had said.
He remembered her being so happy and he had agreed with her, they would fill their home with as many children as the heavens would allow. When his wife had told him that he was going to be a father, he was overjoyed. It wasn't until several weeks later they had lost the baby they so desperately wanted. His wife cried for days with seemingly no end and he himself felt like he was going to just fall apart. They would try for several more years to have a child. Three more, only one made it out into the world, but a plague that had ravaged the forest villages that summer had taken their infant away from them. They had practically given up, trying to accept the fact that they just weren't meant to be parents. But then his wife had come to him again, they had another chance at being parents. Both were filled with fear, only a tiny flicker of hope remained within their hearts but it was practically drowned out by reality. Nevertheless they did everything that was required for them to have a healthy baby. No one could fathom their joy when Aerlinniel was brought into the world. His wife was the mother she longed to be and he was the father he desired to be. Now he had to watch his long awaited for daughter pick herself up from the dirt, her body tired, her child like spirit that he adored so much being nothing but a memory now. He remembered asking his wife.
"Are you sure this was a vision? Maybe you were mistaken somehow."
He could see the tears forming in her eyes.
"I wish I was, that would be such sweet relief." She shook her head vigorously, "but no, I know what this was."
That's when they began to prepare Aerlinniel. He took a minute to stare at his child. Though she was young she was more than beautiful in his eyes.
"After I've waited so long for you to come into this world, you're now going to be taken away from me."

He smiled sadly. "And I've had you for such a short time. Not nearly long enough."

Publication Date: 04-19-2012

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