The Dread Heart (Part 2)

A Mythic Fairy Tale

She dared not ask of this, for oft as she lay in her bed, she heard her mother curse both his departure and return. But as she grew into a young woman, the time came when she at last resolved to discover the truth. And on a chosen night when her father left she rose from her feigned sleep and followed him unseen.

As she did so, she saw that her father did not go alone. For at a certain place there met him several others, both men and women, some with children and what belongings they could carry on their backs. These he spoke to in whispers and led into the shadows. There she lost sight of him and returned quickly to their house. But having done so, she followed him again a second night. Again, others met him at a certain place, though it was a different one than before. Again, she lost him in the shadows and returned. This she did until seven nights had passed and she saw that he thus varied his comings and his goings as does a thief to avoid discovery. Yet he was not a thief. For he took only those who willingly departed with him into the darkness, and he brought with him nothing back.

And on the very last of these nights, she disguised herself, stole out of the house as the night began to fall, and went to the first place where her father met those who followed him. More were there, and she mingled among them to wait for him.

Then her father came as he did every night. But as he looked in the face of each who came and counted them, he was dismayed to find his own daughter in their number. Thus he said to her, “My daughter, what is this you have done? All who have gathered here do so under sentence of death, and our journey will be with peril and the shadow of darkness. Why have you come here to break my heart?”

“Always have I loved you, Father,” she answered. “But you know that here there is no place for me. And long have I known that your eyes have surely seen the things of which you speak to me in tales. I go with you now that I too might see and stay.”

Then tears came into his eyes at her words and he covered his face. “Of a truth, it was wrong of me to keep you here, for I selfishly feared your loss. You have been my sole joy and consolation in these darkened days. Now I must let you go and see your face no more. For I must abide here still that I can help others escape.”

“Say not so, Father,” she replied. “This land once knew of light. And it will surely come again.”

Then all together they set off on their journey, her father leading them through the secret paths he knew beyond the lights of the watchtowers and the guards with their weapons of death.

TO BE CONTINUED…