Hare in the Mist

The story of her birth, was one Kyna never grew tired of hearing. She would sit night after night begging her uncle Clearie to tell her the tale of her birth once more. He would happily oblige. However, her grandfather Fergal was usually the one to fill in gaps in the story. As Clearie was helping with the birth, he did not know all of the details.

"Your mother raised her head just before you came, grabbing your father by the arm exclaiming about a hare. Now I ,of course, was outside the tent and I saw that young hare hop in and hop right back out once you were out. Screaming and crying, but healthy as could be." Fergal smiled at his granddaughter who sat looking at him with big sea colored eyes. As deep as her mothers. "As soon as you popped out, Clearie here started crying. He called and called for me to bring the cloths we had for you." Clearie interrupted his father in law and chuckled "I started crying because my sister was almost bleeding out and I had to get you out to cut the cord and help her stop bleeding. But other than that we had it all under control, and your father nearly jumped out of his skin when you started crying. You were so healthy and strong. Your mother had chapped nipples for a long time, you were so hungry all of the time." Kyna blushed, she was still always hungry, she could eat her weight in gooseberry tarts. "I wish I could have met them." She said quietly. Her father Aedan, and her mother Ida trusted Clearie to take care of their daughter if anything was to happen to them. Entrusted him to take her away, far away from their city by the sea.

Clearie looked at his young niece. She looked like her mother, with her fathers nose. That stormy night when Ida nearly kicked the door of his library down, hair matted with mud and blood splattered on her skirt, he was suddenly put in charge of her. The Hervel had come to their city, looking for anything they could find. Money, women, anything they could find of any value. They took it all. Clearie was smart, and lived outside of the city. Far enough that he could escape and make it to the nearest village by morning. Ida would not come with him, her husband had fallen trying to protect her and his daughter of barely six years old. She felt she would only hold him down. She told her brother to go, leaving only a small heirloom for her.

"They loved you very much my dear." Clearie said quietly, watching her as she rubbed her thumb over her mothers necklace. Pure Blue Zircon, specially made for her mother on her birthday. Blue was one of the enemy's royal colors, Zyna's king hated the color blue, nearly outlawed it. No one could own blue clothing or anything without suspicion from the King, within 3 hours of something blue showing itself, the kings men had showed up to take it away, and declaring treason upon the victims family. Hervel guards heavily lined the entrances of cities, luckily for Clearie he could offer his niece a bit more privacy. Hervels did not come to villages unless they were called upon. Libraries were especially safe, oh did Kyna adore books, it was the only way to get out of her own head. She loved them just as much as she loved gooseberry tarts. Luckily the Hervel had no power to take over libraries. Their knowledge held power, power that the prince found to be very valuable. There were rumors about her country's prince. He had a decree that no library would be searched, that they were a place of secrets. They should be kept unexploited. The people believed he was working on some plan to take over neighboring kingdoms once his father was dead. No one could see past the effects of 11 years ago.