"It was several years ago, and I have made every effort to make sure that she doesn"t know anything about this. The family that had taken her in tried their best but that area was extremely poor. They had four children of their own and had taken in their in law"s three children as well. Her dropping Raina off with them… they couldn"t take care of her. When I found them, she was tiny and barely weighed anything at all. I could fit her in the palm of my hand. At any rate I took her home and got her a wet nurse. She was always quiet and had a very small personality. It took a very long time to get her healthy and even longer to get her to connect with people. I think having her mother disregard her like that left a mark on her mind… deep beneath the love I gave her. She… I never dreamed she would heal." He explained a small smile creasing his lips. "Then your sister came in like a Enchanted Roaring Wind fixing everything it pa.s.sed. Raina"s confidence, her smile, her happiness came quickly after. Then we started connecting. Suddenly, it felt like I could move on from my darling first wife and find my own center again. That"s why my heart broke at the wedding." Clovis trailed off, deciding that was far enough. "Look at me, talking your ear off.""No, its good to hear. My little sister has always been one to take care of others. She was a princess from a very young age and did all she could for others. Hearing that she"s making a difference for others, and on top of that she has found happiness what more could a brother ask for." Keenan explained as they walked out of the forest. Clovis was once again left in awe.
Before him was a sprawling mountainside, rolling hills building to a beautiful mountain that towered over the landscape, emerald gra.s.s and warm brown boulders and cliffs decorating its face. There, at the mountains feet was a towering structure, that seemed to be made of the coolest grey stone. It was made of towers and walls that reached for the sky. As he watched he quickly realized the palace of Shadows was a Castle of beauty and grace. The gates before him surrounded a large garden with trees he had never seen before. Colors, shapes and sizes he had never seen before. Some of the flowers he recognized from drawings on the walls at that sewing shop he had taken the girls to.
"Oh wow…" He whispered softly. Keenan chuckled rather amused by his brother in law"s response. Then again, he knew there was a certain awe to this place, but it had long stopped affecting the brothers.
"Sooo you know how there"s more than one of us right?" Keenan asked as he saw several shapes moving on the horizon. Clovis looked at him a bit nervously.
"Yes… there are three plus you right? Keenan, Konner, Kain and… Kendrick?" Clovis asked honestly having a hard time with the last name. Keenan nodded and smirked a bit.
"Good you know us, now get ready to face the rest of the clan." He replied smirking as a three tigers ran to the gates. Konnor turned first, launching to tackle Keenan, who sidestepped and let the younger boy crash into the trees behind. The other two brothers flinched slightly, the largest of the third brother approached sniffed the air and his eyes narrowed.
He turned human, Kain standing tall with white hair cascading down his back in a free waterfall. There was a certain elegance to his warm complexion but darkness in his golden eyes that resembled his younger sister. His eyes sized Clovis up from head to toe and then looked over at his brother, an eyebrow raised.
"Who did you bring with you?" Kain asked, and Keenan chuckled, honestly seeming as though he was expecting a really good show.
"Well, give him a sniff and tell me who you think he is?" Keenan replied giving Clovis a look that seemed to mean, "your on your own."
"You smell like Kyera… a little stronger than I would like to admit. Who are you, her guard?" Kain asked seeming rather confused. Clovis coughed softly, clearing his throat. For some reason, based on Keenan"s response he had a feeling this was going to be a interesting encounter.