Caila and Phoenix both gasped in shock, as it cracked like an empty eggshell, and there was a fizzing noise. Some sort of clear liquid oozed out from inside the pearl, and onto the gravel.

“Dad?” Caila whispered in a voice that would have made her feel feminine at any moment but this. “What was that?”

“Nothing,” he replied flatly. “Now go home and pack,” he ordered hoarsely. “We’re leaving.”

“Leaving?” Phoenix echoed, shocked. This was more than surprising; it was completely unexpected, and more than a little mad, in her opinion.

“Yes,” Ezell said. He turned to Phoenix. “You are to tell no one that we have left until tomorrow morning at the earliest. You must make excuses for us up until that point. Do you understand? It’s vital that we leave undetected.”

“Dad, what are you talking about?” Caila demanded as he grabbed her arm and started to tow her towards their small cottage. “We can’t leave! Harvest is almost over. If we leave now, we’ll never find shelter before the snows come.”

“We’ll just have to take that chance,” he replied grimly, hauling her towards their front door. Phoenix was still standing in the middle of the main road, staring at them with her mouth open in shock.

“But Dad!” Caila exclaimed, “What about my friends? What about my life?” She tugged futilely on her arm, trying to loosen his grip on her. She drove her heels into the soft dirt, but it did little good, and so she instead trotted along beside him, trying to keep up with his long stride.

“I’m trying to save your life!” He muttered back darkly, probably thinking that she couldn’t hear him.

“What?” She demanded in a tiny gasp that came out as nothing but a squeak.

Ezell threw open their front door the moment they reached it and dragged Caila inside, closing the door behind them. The dim light of the house was such a dramatic change from the sunlight outside that it took them both a moment before they noticed the figure sitting at the kitchen table.

The Trader Woman stood up, her movements like water, and she gave a short bow before sitting back down again and moving her fingers in intricate patterns, tracing the whorls in the warped wood of the table.

“What are you doing here?” Ezell demanded hoarsely. Caila could almost see the fear dripping from his words. He was terrified. What could make her father so afraid? Surely not this harmless Trader Woman? Well, maybe not completely harmless. She had managed to get into their locked house fairly easily – especially since it hadn’t been a full twenty minutes since Caila had been standing in front of their booth with Phoenix.

“I came to talk,” the woman replied, her voice like the music of a babbling brook. But her words had a slight nasal quality to them. Her accent matched that of the dark-haired man’s.

“About?” Ezell demanded, not moving, except to tighten his grip on his daughter’s wrist. Though he was lean, Ezell was tall, and he towered over both women. And yet, it was obvious that this woman at the table had him petrified to the core.

The woman nodded in Caila’s direction. “You know perfectly well,” she replied. “You’ve hidden from us for years what was never yours to hide, and now it’s time that you returned it to its rightful keepers,” she said, in a voice that spoke of years of solving diplomatic disputes, however minor.

“You never wanted her! Her, or her mother!” Ezell shrieked, his voice rising. Caila stared at her father. What was he talking about? “And now, after all these years, you come here and pretend to have some Elfy claim on her? You can’t have her! She’s my daughter, and she stays with me!”

The woman didn’t seem fazed by his words, though they confused Caila. What was he talking about? And what was an Elfy?

“The word,” the woman began in reply, “is Elven, not Elfy. And have you ever thought of asking her what she thinks of the matter? Or did you hide everything from her, you putrid dog?” The insult was made without force, but the malice in her eyes revealed the contempt she held for Ezell.

“My father is not a dog!” Caila shouted, her words, however weak, spat venom at this woman. Who was she that she thought she could come uninvited to her home and speak ill of Caila’s family? She would soon learn that she did not mess with a family of butchers.

The woman’s perfect lips curved upwards in a contemptuous smile as she turned her gaze in Caila’s direction. Caila flinched, as though she had been struck, but didn’t waver. “Your father,” the woman sneered, “is an adulterer and a thief, and shouldn’t even be standing right now, if it weren’t for the Queen’s Mercy.”

“The Queen’s Mercy,” Ezell spat. “What mercy? She tried to kill me until she found out about Caila. Are you telling me that murder is merciful? Because if you are, Tertia, than you’re stupider than I thought, and a whole lot more naive.”

Tertia’s beautiful face grew thunderous. “You are nothing but a pitiful little human,” the word was a curse on her lips. “What would you know about sacrifice, honour, and mercy – you, who have never set foot on a battlefield in your short, insignificant little life? You are nothing but an ant at my feet. I could crush you with a single thought, if I so chose,” she snarled her hatred in his direction, and though he still looked afraid, Ezell also looked more angry. And the angrier he got, the bolder he became.

Caila stepped into Tertia’s view, so that she had to tear her murderous gaze away from the girl’s father. “You will do no such thing,” she said in a commanding voice, and Tertia flinched. “I may not understand much about what either of you are saying, but I do know this: it’s centered around me, and I won’t listen to a word you claim as truth unless you keep that damned evil attitude in check, or by the Goddess, I’ll run you out of here so fast, you won’t know what hit you until you’re in the bottom of the lake!”

Tertia’s face grew pale for a moment, but then she composed herself. “Fine,” she said in a voice of indignant resignation. “But I’m warning you, you better keep that thing from antagonizing me, or else I won’t be able to control myself.”

“Your contempt for my father,” Caila stressed the word, “is plain. But you are talking to me now, and you will not speak another unkind word to or about him while under our roof.”

“Fine, then I’ll step outside and speak to you,” she said, standing.

“You may step outside,” Caila replied, “but I promise you that if you do, you will never set foot in this house again; not while it still stands, and I am in it.”

Tertia seemed truly rattled by Caila’s words. Obviously, whatever this woman had hoped to find, it wasn’t this bold, rash girl.

Tertia seemed sincerely resigned now, and she sat down. After a moment, Caila and Ezell sat as well, Caila across the table from Tertia, and Ezell beside his daughter.

“Start at the beginning,” Caila said, turning to her father. She wanted to hear the story from him first, before this prejudiced woman tainted the story with her hate.

“Yes, go ahead, Hunter,” Tertia sneered. She stopped short when Caila gave her a death glare.

Ezell sighed and ran his hand through his brown hair. “Years ago, before you were born and when I was still a young man,” he began, “I started hunting for this group of people that I didn’t know much about.” He smiled sadly at his daughter. “I didn’t always live here, you know,” he said. Caila nodded wordlessly for him to continue while Tertia’s face was contorted back into its typical form of contempt. “These people were all beautiful, with fair skin and straight, perfect, angular features. They trusted very few outside their own, and they admired beauty above all else. Except for one.” His face became sad as he recalled. “Secunda was beautiful, with dark chestnut locks and jade-green eyes, like yours.” He touched his daughter’s cheek, beside her eye, for a brief moment before letting his hand drop. “She moved with grace, and had the kindest heart I had ever known.” His eyes were downcast now. “At first, when she began to pay more attention to me, I thought she pitied my ugliness.”

“But you’re not ugly, Dad,” Caila interrupted, sounding a bit more like the young girl she was.

He smiled more sincerely now. “No, but they considered anyone who wasn’t perfect, like them, to be ugly. And after spending so much time around them, a little of their mentality rubbed off on me, and I began to see myself the way they did,” he explained. “But Secunda kept coming, and she made a point of seeing me at times when the others would not notice her absence. And then she confessed her feelings for me, and I allowed myself to admit how I felt about her.”

“Mom?” Caila asked softly, and Ezell nodded.

“When she realized she was pregnant,” Ezell continued, skipping ahead a little, “she was terrified. Her people would want to kill her child, she knew, because they considered me a monster, and therefore the child an abomination.”

“Me.” Caila whispered, her eyes widening a little.

Ezell nodded again, and Caila swallowed hard, watching Tertia from the corner of her eye. The woman seemed bored with the story, but her fingers were still tracing the whorls, and her eyes were as bright as ever.

“Secunda’s sister, Prima, found out about our relationship shortly after it became obvious that Secunda was pregnant. She went and told their Queen about it, and who subsequently banished Secunda. She then came to me seeking asylum. Of course, I granted it, and when she gave birth, she named you Caila.

“And then she died,” Caila whispered.

“She wouldn’t have if she had been under our roof,” Tertia scoffed.

Caila turned to face the woman. “But you banished her – or don’t you remember?” She accused. “Unless, of course, you’re debating the facts of my father’s retelling?”

Tertia’s face contorted into an unreadable expression. “Much of what the Hunter says is true, with some key differences,” she said. “First, we did not banish Secunda. She was told that if she wanted to remain with us, the child would have to be aborted; she would not be allowed to remain one of us, and still be mother to a half-breed.”

Caila glared darkly at her. “Of course,” Tertia continued, “we had no idea that the child would turn out to show none of its human characteristics. Aside from your ability to be quite vocal, of course,” she amended, giving Caila a half-smile.

“You’re not helping yourself,” Caila said flatly.

“If you knew what we’ve been through, you would not be so callous,” Tertia replied shortly. “Secunda chose the wrong decision. She decided she would rather live away from her people before disposing of the child in her belly. So she did. And without us near, she died in childbirth. If we had been around, she would have lived.” Her expression was sincerely regretful, but Caila still distrusted this strange woman.

“And I would not be here, either,” Caila pointed out.

“True,” Tertia replied. “But as the second daughter of the Queen, she was entitled to be a great leader of our people.”

“Excuse me?” Caila said, shock on her voice.

“Were you never told?” Tertia said. “My sister – your mother – was the second of four daughters. Prima was the first, I the third, and our sister, Quarta the youngest. Your mother was the most beautiful, and therefore entitled to more attention than the rest of us.”

“And I’m sure that made you all very happy, then, when she left,” Ezell sneered.

“Of course not!” Tertia exclaimed. “We loved our sister. But we had an image to keep up, and therefore, if she got rid of the child in her belly as soon as possible, she could be allowed to stay, and uphold the family’s honour. But she chose to leave instead.”

“If it was so horrible for there to be a half-breed in the family,” Caila began, cutting into the argument and filing away Tertia’s contempt for further conversations, “then why are you here now?”

“That,” Tertia replied, “was what I had intended to explain first. It is lengthy and complicated, so I want no interruptions while I am explaining.”

“I make no promises,” Caila said, sitting back and waiting.

“Before I tell that story, however,” Tertia said, “I need a few things to help me illustrate it. Therefore, I must return to my caravan. Also, I need to have Quarta and Vonek as witnesses.”

“Who?” Caila asked, confused.

“Quarta is my sister – your aunt – and Vonek Ravenel is the leader of the Royal Personal Guard. They are there to make sure I am objective in my retelling, and that I don’t leave anything out. Is this acceptable to you?”

Caila turned to her father to get his opinion. “What do you think, Dad?” She asked. “Would you find it acceptable?”

He seemed to deliberate for a moment first. “I will be there, along with Phoenix, Vikki, and Cornelius,” he replied. “Then, it would be acceptable.”

Tertia’s eyebrows went up. “You want more witnesses there of your side than of ours?” She asked, and the way she said it made it clear that she thought that unfair.

“You still could overpower us, if it came to that,” Ezell replied shortly. “I just want to make sure I have open-minded, trust-worthy people around.”

Caila turned to Tertia. “I agree with my father’s conditions. Phoenix and Vikki are only my age; they can hardly be a threat to you, can they?”

Tertia’s brow puckered, and she chewed on her bottom lip in a way that reminded Caila of herself when she was unsure or nervous about something. “And who is this Cornelius fellow?” She asked finally.

“He is the village leader,” Ezell replied. “He is wise, and neutral. He has also seen battle, though perhaps not by your standards.”

Finally, Tertia nodded. “Acceptable,” she said. “Where would you like to meet?” She directed the question to Caila.

“Here is fine,” she replied. “Unless you feel threatened?” The question was more of a challenge than anything.

“No,” Tertia replied shortly, standing. Her movement were so fluid that they were unnerving to Caila who, although she moved much the same, had lived her whole life among humans. “I will meet you here again in one hour.” And then she left, leaving Caila and Ezell sitting at their kitchen table.

“Well,” Caila said. “I guess this means we’re not leaving, huh, Dad?” She turned to look at her father, but his expression showed a pain she didn’t think she would ever understand. “At least,” she added in a whisper, “not yet.”

AN: So, we find out about Caila's mother, and her heritage, which we kind of already knew, but then again, it wasn't definite now that the prelude was changed. And for anyone who is reading this and going, "WTF? what happened? Did I miss something?", that is because I edited chapter 1 several times. So now, as this is officially chapter 2, it makes sense. But you'll have to go back and read chapter 1 again to get the missing stuff. :D Anyways, R&R, please! CC is welcome, flames are not. :)