My brother, Lucky, tended the fire. My mother smiled at me. “You look beautiful in that dress, where did you get it?” I laughed and told her the story.
“I was walking through the grotto, I planted a flower for the lass Georgia, and she gave me it! She said it was too big, and it wouldn’t fit for a while, it is very comfortable! It fits like a glove!” Lucky felt the sleeve and sighed.
“It feels very soft, I wonder what material it is.” He leaned against mother, he seemed so tired and unhappy. I wonder what happened to him today.
“Is anything wrong Lucky? Are you feeling well?” Mother put her hand to his forehead, “No fever- that’s for sure! What a load off my chest! Last time you had the fever I couldn’t bear to leave the house! Remember? Those were awful times.” I grinned, during that time I was told to stay outside his room, what a load of my chest that was! No teasing, chasing, and no sword fighting with sticks! It was wonderful!
“Mother, when will we eat? I am not especially hungry now, but I will be in the next quarter hour.” I stretched my arms while mother checked the rising bread.
“I think about 5 and 30 minutes, but here is a scone from this morning to hold you off until then!” I grabbed the scone with delight. Orange and lemon, my favorite kind! I walked outside into No Man’s Landing, I thought about the way mother talked, she was from far away, a place called the snowmoors, she had a funny accent and said numbers funny.
I got to the docks when I heard someone behind me, I turned to see Lucky running towards me. “Come with me, I want to show you something!” His mood seemed to have changed in a moment. I was confused, what was he going to show me!? He led me past the Landing Gazette, an abandoned building, which use to publish a daily newspaper. Nobody has been inside for years. We kept running, into town square and sat on the steps. He told me to stay while he ran past me and behind the tower. “Look at these!” He showed me plans for something he called an Automaton, “These can protect people, like Mother, when they are sick and lonely!” I gasped, this was a wonderful idea!
“When will you make one? When!?” My toes wriggled inside my boots.
“I need some power source, I have the body made-come up here.” We went behind the tower and climbed down the back of the gate. He had a secret workshop here! “This is what I call a Pacifier! It may sound strange, but this can calm babies! Just like their thumbs!” I giggled, I loved my brother so much, even when he made me scream.
“What can you use to make it work? There is an Aether grove south of here! That may work!” His eyes grew wide, he smiled.
“That could work, although Aether is very expensive, we don’t have enough to get even just a jar! But on the abandoned isle there is fog everywhere! I could turn that into a power source!” I couldn’t believe it, he could do anything!
“Let’s go tell Mother! She will love this idea! Don’t you think?” I stood up. He shook his head and grabbed my arm.
“No! Mother will not approve, then I won’t be able to make my Pacifier!” It didn’t feel right not to tell Mother, but I wanted to see this automaton Lucky was making, so I swore not to tell anyone. Not even Mother.
We walked home half and hour later, we talked out a plan to get on the isle without mother knowing, or anyone for that matter.
