The night I had made plans to leave the palace came quicker than I would like. Uncle Napoleon had called me earlier during the day to inquire about the children's health. I had rolled my eyes inwardly because I knew he did not care for them at all. I was aware also that he would kill them in a heartbeat should he think they were useless to his cause.
Grandmother had been right. I could not stay here any longer than I already had.
He had also brought up Reginald’s training, saying that although I was grieved to be separated from my child, it had to be done. I resisted, of course, because it would have been strange not to do so otherwise. He had said that my refusal was pointless and I should spend the days leading to his one-year birthday bonding with my son.
Now it was midnight.
I could hear the hollow wind howling in the dark night outside, and when I peered out my window, I saw that the world was still very white. But what had to be done had to be done. It was either this dreary weather or watching my son being mentored by that monster.
I put my twins in a makeshift bag that could also serve as their bed and blanket all in one. Then, on my back, I carried the few supplies that I could for our journey. I had opted to travel light and instead have on me several pieces of gold coins I could change for money once I had left the Darkmoon pack with success.
According to the map I held, the pack was very close to Farrow, a vampire settlement. I would have no problem traveling through the land because the vampires would be in their homes for most of the day, and they were known to mind their business. It was not a very large settlement, and I was positive I could cross the land before dusk when the creatures of the night would come out to begin their day.
However, if I could not make it out before dusk, I would still be relatively safe as I and my children had vampire blood in us as we came from a hybrid lineage.
After crossing the vampire land, I will enter a mixed settlement. It was a land that entertained peoples of all sorts_ werewolves, vampires, humans, etc.
After which, I will pass through several human settlements before getting to Normandy.
I had a long journey ahead of me.
*****#******
Two Months Later
“Aunty Halle, the fire is out,” I shouted, drawing the attention of my grand aunt to the fact that we needed more wood.
I had told her that the logs we had bought for our hearth would not be enough to get by but she always insisted on buying only what was needed. She had told me several times that it was best to live one's life in the moment. I took it to mean that she was rather too prudent and a little bit selfish with money.
I arrived six weeks ago. My journey here had taken me exactly a fortnight and I could not be more glad for it. I had not experienced any significant struggle on my way and it did not seem as though anyone had followed us or was looking for us. Yet, I could not afford to lower my guard.
“Sunflower, what do we do now? The boy who supplies us must have run out already, and don't you dare start the ‘I told you so' speech,” her voice at the end took on a crescendo, and I chuckled. Aunt Halle hated to be reminded that she had been told something and did not need the advice.
“I can get some wood from the forest; it will not…”
“That is not happening, dear; I have no milk in my breast to feed your little ones should anything happen to you,” came her response.
“I weaned them last week, Aunt Halle. You can feed them oats and…”
“You are not going to the forest to chop wood. Get the boy, we'll just have to pay him more,” she grunted, not willing to spend the extra money but not willing to compromise my life either.
“Isn't she just the best?” Raven quipped and I smiled.
Aunt Halle was very different from Grandmother Tristan. They bore little similarities with each other but you could still tell they were related. However, unlike Grandmother Tristan, who bore an aristocratic aura about her, she had a warm personality that drew people in.
When I had arrived in Normandy, I had asked around for an elderly woman named Halle. It was not long before someone took me straight to her home. The moment she laid eyes on me her eyes lit up. I had not had to tell her who I was, she knew at once that I was Marilyn’s daughter.
She had made me and the twins comfortable and she had found a reasonable excuse to have me in her home. She had spread the story that I was her best friend's daughter sent away from home because I had conceived outside of marriage and my spouse happened to die before our wedding. She had given me a new name, too, I was to be called Sunflower, and my daughter was called Lily, while Reginald was given the name Locke. She had said it was important to do so so as to avoid attention. If my uncle was looking for me, he would be looking for a woman named Regina and not Sunflower.
She had made me dye my hair a bright red and ensured that I changed my dress style completely. It was hard to tell if one was not looking closely that I was Regina.
“Yes, Aunt Halle,” I stood up from where I was squatting, trying to keep the fire going.
I went in search of the wood boy.