The Lore Wain and Her Nephew Pt. 38

"There once was a ridgerunner whose name was Lint." Celeste began.

"Lint??? Like pocket lint? Why's that his name?" Pummi remarked without humor but a skeptical tone.

"It's because his real name was lost in translation but that's besides the point." Celeste continued, "He was the oldest of twelve. His youngest sibling's was named Palma. Unfortunately for the siblings, the mother had a favorite."

Pummi scoffed and glanced at Zarabean, who was too enthralled with the story to notice.

"Their mother loved Palma much more than all her other children when she shouldn't of." Celeste sighed, "She gave Palma their beloved tribal medallion to show that she loved her the most. As a result, Lint and his the majority of his other siblings grew to hate Palma out of jealousy for their mother's affection."

Pummi didn't know why but he became fascinated with the story. So much so he sat down and looked up at Celeste with intrigue.

Celeste smiled softly at Pummi before continuing solemnly, "One day, when the siblings were off picking fruit in a field, Lint decided to abandon Palma in the bottom of the dried out well. With the help of their siblings, Lint succeeded in dropping his sister into the deep well."

At the mention of the well, Pummi became tense. The well in this story reminded him of Zarabean's cell back at home.

"When they all sat down to eat the fruit they had just picked, some pirates arrived from the sea. Afraid of being captured but also grateful for the opportunity, Lint offered to give the pirates his sister as their slave. The pirates happily agreed, fished Palma from the well, and took her across the sea as a slave." Celeste took a deep breath, "Meanwhile, Lint told his mother that Palma had been killed by a toothy cow to cover up for what he had done. He even brought the medallion back with dried 'blood' on it."

"Why didn't I think of faking his death..." Pummi thought loosely to himself before shaking his head at his own thoughts. They didn't seem to sit well with him. Deep down, past his anger and hurt, he still cared about his brother.

Celeste noticed Pummi's slight tick but continued, "Lint thought he had seen the last of his sister until many years later. Their home soon went through a horrible drought, causing all the fruit trees to die. As much as the ridgerunners wanted to stay in their land, their mother told them to take a ship to Anneria, where they could pick the fruit of their land. Reluctantly, Lint took a ship with his ten other siblings."

"Upon arrival, they were all arrested and brought before the royal advisor... However, the royal advisor spoke to them through a curtain. There had also been a drought in Anneria those years so the King at the time put all food affairs in the royal advisor's hands."

"When Lint tried to explain their dire problem and their apologies for trying to take fruit without permission, the royal advisor accused them of being spies for the Fangs. (This was shortly after the fall of Nameless had occurred). Lint begged the advisor to believe that they were just hungry and in need of food. He was not believed. However, the advisor said that if he could prove their dire straits by bringing back their tribal medallion, they might be believed."

Celeste continued, seeming to realize she had Pummi's full attention now, "Lint protested, telling the advisor that the medallion was all that remained of his sister who died years ago and that his mother would never part with it. The royal advisor then ceased one of Lint's other sisters, Layna, and told him to return with the medallion or he would never see his sister again. Despite the harshness displayed, they were all given provisions so that they and their tribe might not die."

Pummi looked down at the floor as he thought to himself, "A tribal medallion given up as evidence to a human? I know we aren't the most trustworthy but those medallions were priceless in their times..." He looked back up at Celeste and wondered, "Will the mother... give it up? For her other daughter?"

"A month or so had passed before the mother instructed her children to go to Anneria once again for food. Lint told his mother the dilemma and reminded her that her daughter was still held captive until they brought back the medallion." Celeste was now looking at Pummi directly to tell him story instead of her crew. She wanted him to know this story was supposed to teach him something. "Understandably, the mother was torn, for the medallion meant the memory of her daughter who presumably passed, but ultimately, she gave up the medallion so her other daughter could return home. Lint's mother couldn't bare the thought of losing another daughter."

"Once the royal advisor held the medallion in their hand, they invited them to a feast, even bringing out the one taken captive to eat with them. After the feast, Lint and his siblings were sent on their way but before they could get on their ship, they were taken back to the palace. Evidently, Layna who was arrested previously was accused of stealing the royal advisor's favorite fruit."

Pummi could be heard audibly gasping.

"Come to find the fruit in Layna's sack," Celeste looked sad, "the poor ridgerunner was ceased again. Seeing as his mother could no longer handle the grief of losing another daughter and being reminded of his wrongs he had done to his sister Palma, Lint begged the advisor to take him in her stead. He felt remorse and repentance for what he had done all those years ago."

Pummi vaguely glanced at Zarabean and then back at Celeste with his ridgerunner eyes open wide with anticipation. It was like he desired the end of the story more than fruit for the first time in his life.

"That is when the unthinkable happened." Celeste gestured her hands in surprise, "The royal advisor rose and walked out from behind the curtain to meet Lint. The shocking part... It was Palma all grown up!¹"

"No!" Pummi exclaimed in child-like surprise before silencing himself.

Zarabean looked over at his brother in surprise upon hearing his reaction.

"What do you think Palma should of done in that moment?" Celeste asked with her eyes glued on Pummi.

Pummi looked over at Zarabean and saw he was being stared at. His eyes hit the floor upon seeing his brother's badly bruised nose. "Palma should of taken Lint up on his offer... and imprisoned him... if not worse. He deserved it..."

"But that's not what Palma did." Celeste saw Pummi look up at her in shock.

"What!?" Pummie exclaimed. "Lint threw his little sister in a well and gave her to some pirates as a slave! Who knows what pain she went through because of him-!" He cut himself off and looked at the floor in shame.

Celeste leaned her head down slightly and said, "Palma forgave Lint, Pummi. For everything. She knew something that he didn't. The Maker was with her through all her pain and even though she didn't choose to be there, she saved many lives as a result."

Pummi was silent and didn't say anything in regards to the story. Instead, his mind filled with replays of all his cruelty towards his brother and his friends. He hadn't been a good brother by any means and it was all because of his own selfishness. Pummi couldn't bring himself to look at Zarabean... until he heard four words.

"I forgave you, Pummington." Zarabean said, reaching a hand over and placing it on Pummi's back.

Pummi broke into tears and covered his face as he curled into a ball on the floor.

Zarabean scooted over and held his older brother compassionately.

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¹Palma the ridgerunner was the first non-human royal advisor under High King Welsey, who was the great grandson of High King Kalmar. This same King Welsey was Celeste's grandfather.