Monster Stories by Firelight

Snow flew in the freezing cold, dark night as the flames in the fireplace did their best in an attempt to keep warmth in the small living room. Islana and her family huddled together trying to keep the freeze away, it was where they would stay until morning as the bedrooms had no way to heat them.

Dinner had at least been fairly substantial as it had been a stew of deer meat and root vegetables. It wasn’t always that they had a decent amount of substance, really depending on what her brother and father could catch during the day and what was left from the times when the weather was more for gathering.

Tonight though had been a decent night, so far, as they took turns discussing various topics. Islana had been going on and on about a small bird that had landed on her shoulder and how much fun it had been.

Her father wasn’t happy with this and said as much, mentioning that if anyone saw her…

“What is it that will happen?” The four-year-old redhead had been told her entire life (as little of it as there had been to this point) to not let anyone see her ability, but not told why.

“Just do as I say,” Her father responded.

Before there was a Lord Vasant to break her spirit, Islana was rather determined young child. She could dig her heels into a subject, at times.

“I want to know…what will happen?” Clearly, there was no letting this go for the girl.

“You really want to know? Alright. The Inquisition…that’s what.” Her father was irritated.

“You’ve mentioned that word before, what is it? I mean it almost seems like a monster.” Inquisition had been spoken of as almost a secret, in the past but not explained.

“It is, a monster, of sorts. They are people that go around killing anyone who is a little different. Anyone who have abilities - like yours. And if they don’t just kill you, they’ll torture you first then kill you.” Angus told his youngest child.

“Father, please…You’re scaring her.” Cathal spoke out for his sibling that had now moved closer to her brother.

Cathal was her protector, the one that acted more like a father to Islana many times, especially when her father was drunk. It was a job he had just fallen into, and Angus’s drinking had caused the boy to grow up before his time.

“It’s time she knew the truth.” The all too familiar drinking pouch that contained the spirits of the evening went to the man’s lips. “The Inquisition would think nothing of torturing and killing her, they don’t care of her age.” Angus turned back to Islana. “They have these abilities called boons. Say they have gotten them from the Gods - some can probably tell that you’re different just by looking at you.”

“I don’t understand. Why can they have abilities but not people like me?” The young girl had crawled next to her older brother who had his arm around her.

“I don’t know probably they do not want that power for anyone but themselves. It’s more important to remember they can just know things and you never know who could be a spy for them. That’s why you need to be careful. If they found out about what you could do, none of us could save you.” Angus had reached the level of not censoring his words but he also did feel it necessary to tell her.

“Would they hurt any of you?” Islana was very scared now and deeply concerned by this idea.

“No, we’ll be fine,” Cathal spoke up before her father could say another word.

Angus mumbled something about fairytales and it being too hot and wandered outside. Aine who had just been listening to this entire conversation said something about having a treat in the kitchen and went about retrieving it.

The young girl’s emerald eyes filled with tears and she just cried for a very long time while her brother tried to comfort her. There was little he could say, this installed further that everything her father had said must be the truth. For years, her father would tell her of the Inquisition and why she needed to be careful of them. The words witch or magik were never used, in regard to Islana’s own abilities. Those were things of others but not in their own family.

As the memory turned dream faded, Islana opened her eyes. The sun was shining down and she dreaded facing one more day here. Still, her body rose from the bed and then got dressed as if on instinct. As she was headed to tend to Vasant at breakfast, she recalled he was going out today,as the man had some meeting to attend that meant today the girl could snoop. Maybe, hopefully, something would come her way.