“Grandma!”

“Dear child, what have you brought me today?”

I walked through the cottage door that was sagging a bit, seeing Grandma cutting some of the most beautiful fabric I'd ever seen. She was quite the seamstress back in her day, according to Pa. The hand-sown, arm-length pictures along the wall depicting all manner of strange and beautiful creatures and scenery was a testament to that.

But at that time, she was working on a plain red fabric that had nothing of her fancy swirling stitching like the elegant beauty of the tiny tapestries. But I wondered what she was going to do with it. Maybe she was planning on putting on a pretty silver thread? On such a bold and beautiful fabric, she could do almost anything.

Her hands continued to cut and measure with expertise, even as she looked up at me with a kind smile through her wrinkles.

I grinned, closing the door behind me. “I’ve brought Momma’s hot cakes and blackberry syrup.”

Her blue eyes twinkled and she sat aside the cloak, folding it with an almost reverence. “Come, child. This is much too much for just little old me! Why don’t you help me eat it, yes?”

My mouth watered at the thought.

She laughed, rising with a groan. Her silver hair was pulled back in a bun and her wrinkles seemed a bit deeper than usual with bags under her eyes.

“You seem tired, Grandma,” I said, peering up at her.

She gave me a gentle smile that even now is ingrained into my mind. It was somehow knowing… but sad. Looking back, it was almost as if she knew what was coming.

“There are things of this world that boggle the mind and hypnotize the senses. Be brave, beautiful child, and cling to The King when I am gone.”

I blew a raspberry. “Grandma, you are gonna outlive me. Don’t go talking like that,” I chided, giving her a look as best as my young self could.

She put a hand on my head and looked right into my eyes. “There will come a day when I am not there to talk you through the trials of life, dear one. And for that, I am sorry. But The King will never leave you, not like the people of this world. The folk here will steal, kill, betray, die, and wither away. But The King will not.”

I was starting to get a little frightened. “What do you mean, Grandma? Why are you talking like this?”

Her eyes came back into focus, and she gave me a little smile again. “Don’t worry, child, I’m not going anywhere yet. And I have some pumpkin creme keifier to go with your mother’s hot cakes.”

I watched her warily for a moment, but she bustled off into the kitchen and the rest of the evening was spent talking about life and cracking jokes. She had one more of a sense of humor.

I think that’s one of the reasons I named Ran after her.

“Why was the knight fighting the tournament with a sword made from cheddar cheese?”

I rolled my head over to look at Grandma, tempted to roll my eyes. “Why?”

“Because the cheese was extra sharp.” She laughed, slapping her hand on the table beside the dough she was kneading.

Despite myself, a begrudging smile tipped my lips. “Alright, fine, that was a good one.”

“Dear me, you better believe it! Old Sir Lance A Lot was on a roll at the jousting tournament telling jokes.”

I cringed as she cackled.

Jill glanced up, her adorable button nose crinkling. “I not get it.”

“Lancelot was a knight of old. Lance-A-Lot means to lance things or poke things, like jousting. He lanced things at the jousting tournament,” I explained.

Jill watched me with big blue eyes, still not getting it. “It’s ok, sis. Go back to playing with your dolls.”

“No, 'issi, I want you to plays with me,” she said, tugging on my simple tan cotton dress.

I sighed, trying not to let the annoyance get the best of me. Momma had to go help a friend of hers who she said was having trouble in labor and so dropped Jill here with me.

It was unexpected and changed our plans. Instead of Grandma taking me to the lake to swim, we had to stay and babysit. It was enough to drive me batty without a toddler pulling on me.

But when I looked down... her lip was just beginning to pout and her eyes were to that stage where she wasn’t quite crying... but it was close.

“Fine,” I said, exasperation leaking through my voice.

“Yay!” she said, toddling back to the blocks Pa had carved for her.

“Shoo. I’ll finish up here,” Grandma said, pushing me away from the kitchen when I glanced at her. “I’m proud of you, Aria. I know you were looking forward to the time at the lake, but you didn’t let that stop you from showing kindness to the innocent. Always be willing to flow with the tides of change, for what you might once consider a trial, might actually be your saving grace.”

I scrunched up my face, trying to understand.

She chuckled, tapping my forehead. “Don’t get your brow in a wad, child. It might stick. Go. Jill’s waiting.”

I did, and it wasn’t until years later that I actually understood a hint of what she meant by her words.

I always hated when she gave me such big sentences that meant Jack squat to my young mind, but they meant a lot to me years later as I reflected on her teachings.

This is the woman you named me after? Ran inquires, sneaking into my brain like a worm.

Why are you here? I was having a nice dream.

Don’t mind me. Feel free to keep dreaming. I’ll just go back to hunting.

Something about that niggles at my sleepy brain. What are you hunting?

No need to sound so suspicious, rider. Just an animal.

What kind of animal?

…

Ra-ann…

Alright, fine. The kind that walks on two legs, has one eye and a mop of hair on top of ugly skin with no fur for protection.

Who…? Ahh, Wolfsbane.

Yep. His scent is still in the city… he’s here, somewhere.

We’ll find him, beaut. Together.

Or I find and eat him before you can stop me.

RAN!

Get back to dreaming, rider. Rest, relax, and prepare. The city is safe for now.

Fine. And Ran?

Hmm?

Thanks for looking out for the city while I’m down.

This is our territory, rider. And we eat anything that threatens it.

I close my eyes with a smile on my face.