Vendri

  The alley was cold. It was summer and Vendri had never thought anything in summer was cold but now he thought everything was chilled and creeping in on him. He thought he might one day freeze in this alley way waiting for his Uncle as he did his business at the bar. Business that Vendri would just get in the way of.

  He didn’t have to come but the house seemed even colder then the alley way most nights and at least here he knew he was likely to have a meal.

  The bar maids would often duck out in their feather robes and would off him food and bits of company. They’d reminisce with him about his mother, would tell him how great of a healer she was and tell him to keep being sweet as he grew up. They would offer him the warmest of everything they could offer him before they had to duck back into the bar.

  He held onto those moments but even within that warmth there was a chill that ran through him when they talked about his mother, her healing. He’d tried so hard to help her. But he hadn’t had his mother’s talents for herbs and medicines. He’d wanted to learn the sword be like his father. He was learning his aura…he never thought he would need to… And he tried so hard to find someone else. Someone willing. Until all he could do was lay next to her and hold her cold hand telling her stories as she left the world.

  After that life was an icy blur. His mother being taken away. The worried whispers that were chased away by an Uncle he’d never heard of before. Being brought to a stone and being told that was his mother’s place now. The things that were pieces of their family disappearing one by one. Everything becoming frightening.

  The sharp frigid words of his Uncle telling him that his father didn’t answer the letters Vendri sent because his father didn’t want anything to do with him now that his mother was gone. That father’s leave their children behind all the time.

  Vendri didn’t want to believe it. His father loved him. His father always burst through the door sweating because he’d ran the whole way home rather then wait for a cart. To kiss his mother and swoop Vendri up onto his shoulders. Tell him he missed him and take him all the places he went when he was home. His father took time to lower to Vendri’s level and teach him so many different things. Called Vendri the star of his life, the reason he’d always know his direction home.

  His father wouldn’t abandon him.

  And yet, it had been four month now since mother died and no word from his father. Not a single word.

  It was getting harder and harder to weave together memories and promises to block out everything around him.

  Vendri wiped at the tears rolling down his cheeks.

  Vendri jumped back as someone appeared in front of him not from the door. Vendri braced himself ready to run, he’d had to run before from those who hovered in the alley. He blinked though at a woman, in white loose fit pants though they were a little red in some places wrapped in bandages, a jacket over her shoulders like she needed to be kept warm too. She had a cigar between her teeth looking him over.

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  “Vendri, what are you doing out here?” She asked her gaze seeming to take in everything meticulously. It surprised him to hear his name from someone he didn’t recognize. Wondered if this was another patient of his mother seeing as she was in bandages. She looked at him and winced lowering to his level holding his gaze. Holding the cigar away from him. “Sorry, you probably don’t remember me.” She offered. Looking at him awkwardly.

  No, he didn’t know her. Her shape. Her Hair. Her voice, it was all strange to him. Holding her gaze though the color of her eyes reminded him of his parents laughter, whispered worry, letter read in booming voices matched with the best presents. He wondered if he was stretching it to say her mannerisms reminded him of his father.

  As he heard the door behind him click harder then the nice bar maidens would, he launched himself forward taking the chance and hoping he was right.

  “Indigo!” He shouted. She caught him hissing out a pained breath but held him securely in her arms.

  “Looks like you dad taught you that bad habit too I see. Gosh, I missed you kid.” She breathed. Vendri’s heart raced.

  It was really Indigo? But Indigo was father’s friend. Did that mean his father sent her?

  “Vendri.” A voice snapped and Vendri stiffened turning back to look at his Uncle. His Uncle glared at Indigo and Vendri blinked because in a swirl that he was still trying and failin to process in his mind Vendri was behind her. “Who are you?” His Uncle hissed at Indigo.

  “Your Rendril aren’t you?” She asked her voice pulling as if he was something rather unpleasant not even bothering to answer his question.

  “That kid is mine. His mother is dead he’s got no one but me.” He stated.

  “Such a heartwarming way to refer to your sister isn’t it. Then again she did have an entire list of reason that she wasn’t speaking to you didn’t she. Yes, Vendri’s mother is not with us anymore and that is a shameful tragedy. His father though is alive and though he couldn’t come here himself he asked me to assure his son was cared for.” Indigo insisted.

  “No need I’m here.” Uncle over stepped stumbling as he opened his arms. Vendri couldn’t see her face but he could see his Uncle’s and he watched the man pale.

  “For now. I think you underestimate how much about you I know. How much reassurance your sister kept to make sure you could never take advantage of her and how much she trusted me. Think again about your decisions because if I choose to I can and will destroy you.” She offered in a soft hiss of breath. Uncle stumbled back. “Give me a reason.” She pushed. He hand going back pressing against Vendri’s back.

  “Let’s go Kid.” She offered. After a couple heart thudding steps he looked up at her.

  “My father sent you?” He asked hope clogging his throat. She looked down at him and brushed back his hair.

  “He did. He told me that if there was anything in this world I had to do for him it was look after you.” She insisted. Vendri felt a string of light run through parts of him he’d been scared would stay dark and frozen forever.

  “Why didn’t he write?” Vendri asked. Indigo looked forward letting out a breath.

  “At first your father didn’t know. We didn’t get the letters for a decent bit of time then… Your father isn’t in a position where he can come find us yet. He can’t really write either. He knew that and he made me promise that I would ensure his brightest star was safe and sound while he fights his way back here.” She told him.

  Vendri felt his lip quiver.

  Indigo chuffed his chin and he looked up into swirling pale purple eyes.

  “Kid, I’m going to be honest. I don’t know a lick about what I’m doing but I am here. I’m not going anywhere. You are my family.” She insisted. Her words echoed around him. He thought that those words might have fallen hallow around him if it weren’t for the flame in her eyes lighting each string of doubt ablaze.