Please expect the suggestion of physical violence against children, sexual violence against adults, foul language, swords, yelling, hurt/comfort, torture, bad attitudes, angst, gnashing of teeth and any other things that might upset somebody looking for a traditional love story.

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Varna pulled Dayne by the hand. She had very little tolerance for the five year old Senecos claimed as their own child. Usually, he took the girl with him during the day but today he was meeting with the town elders. Females and children were not allowed to be present during those meetings.

"So, I get stuck watching it. Waur's dispossessed spawn," Varna mumbled.

She tugged harder on the small hand. Dayne's legs struggled to keep up with Varna's pace. But, the child didn't cry out or complain. She merely worked harder to stay beside Varna.

"I haven't even seen it cry since the infant phase," Varna thought to herself. "Definitely, it's a demon of some sort. Just wish I could make Senecos understand that as well as I do."

They entered the back field where their meager crops would be planted. Weeds were trying to make headway into the area. Varna pushed Dayne to her knees. She knew the leggings the child wore beneath the short tunic top would protect against broken skin. There would be no lasting evidence of her rough handling of Dayne.

"Watch," Varna started to pull weeds out and shake off the loose soil before tossing the remaining greens into a sack. "You pull these up and keep at it until I say stop. Understand?"

Dayne nodded yes. Her dark, wispy hair parted enough to reveal the lower portion of the ridded scar. The child was oblivious to the danger the mark exposed her to. Instead, tiny fingers immediately set to work following her mother's directions.

"Maybe one of Waur's hounds will see her out here and finally put an end to this insanity for me," Varna silently hoped.

Varna moved away from Dayne, just in case her dream came true. She started to work on her own section of the field. However, her weeding was slowed by distracting, run away thoughts. Varna could not shake the feeling that some of their neighbors in the village were laughing at her every time she walked with Senecos and Dayne. She could only hope that the good people of the valley believed she was cruelly attacked instead of another willing whore for a randy Elosian Soldier.

And what should she make of evil's own offspring living under her roof? The quiet, almost mute, issue of the invaders who obeyed without question, rarely cried, and never laughed. The dark, scarred child who saved all her sporadic half smiles for Senecos.

"A demon, yes. It must be a tiny demon of some sort come to take over my husband, my house, and my very life," Varna desperately tried to convince herself.

Her idle thoughts turned grim under the hot sun. She was so caught up in the number of possible troubles the child could set into motion that she didn't hear Senecos approach. She did not hear him until the old man was kneeling next to her.

"What? What did you say?" Varna sat back on her heals.

"I asked you, where's Dayne?" Senecos repeated as patiently as his temperament would allow. "Where's our daughter?"

Looking to the last place she had seen the child, Varna found it cleared of weeds and child alike. Varna's heart skipped a beat thinking her wish had come true. Perhaps, Waur had finally sent his beasts to claim his own damned kin. Her hopes were crushed when she saw a thorn bush began to shake violently at the far edge of the field.

"Oh no," Senecos struggled to his feet. "Dayne! Not that bush. Stop! You'll get hurt!"

Senecos raced across the field to rescue the girl. Varna slowly dragged herself to her feet and followed in his wake. When Senecos snatched Dayne into his arms, Varna was somewhat pleased to see tears streaming down the child's face. It was a minor indication that the girl was, at least, partially human. However, there was no sound of whimpering. Scratches covered her face, neck, and hands. Dark pieces of thorns were embedded in her soft skin. Red blood trickled and ran from the open wounds.

"Dayne, what could you have been thinking? You hurt yourself," Senecos cradled the child close to his chest.

"Mama said, she'd say stop," Dayne gave a half smile to Varna. "Mama no let me get hurt."

Varna was speechless. The evil demon child that she so despised trusted Varna to keep her from harm. It was seeking to draw Varna into its wicked web of treachery.

"It's as stupid as Senecos is if it thinks I'll fall for its sweet talk and innocent looks," Varna muttered as she turned away from the pair in complete disgust.

"I've come to trade," Varna, shaking off the harsh winter cold, set the jug down on Offan's table. "This fine, home grown wine for a freshly killed duck or goose."

Struggling a bit with the cork, Offan grunted, "Is it from grapes or from raspberries?"

"What difference does it make if they can't taste it? Their palates are raw from kissing Waur's ass anyway. You try a bit of the drink yourself and tell me if you can taste the difference between grapes and raspberries," Varna stood in the middle of the empty shop with her hands on her hips.

"Raspberries," Offan rolled his eyes. "I can tell from the stench of it, Varna. Sorry, but I can't trade with you for this. There's too many jugs of raspberry wine spoiling in the back as it is. I've got family myself to think of," he tipped his scruffily, bearded chin to the blonde children playing with Dayne in the empty field next door. "Give me a finely stitched quilt or a handful of turnips and I'll be trading with you. The Elosians love that stuff but they can't stomach raspberry wine."

"Offan, I'm begging you," Varna's eyes filled with tears. "I've had no warm meat, red nor white, in months. Fish is all Senecos brings in since the crops failed. Those blasted Elosians won't even let us use fish hooks because of the weapons ban. So, all Senecos can catch is the most common bottom dwellers."

"Varna, those fish are good for you," Offan offered gently. "Food like that will help your girl grow strong…,"

"That girl be damned! The she-devil can starve for all I care," Varna screamed, "This is my life we're talking about and not some pathetic, half blood bastard. You're bartering with my life!"

"Watch your wagging tongue, woman," Offan warned as the children's game fell silent at the shouting. "She's just a child. Her paternity isn't any fault of her own, now is it?"

Varna held her tongue. She wanted to tell all the valley that Dayne was not a child of her body. But, Senecos would put her out if she threatened his beloved daughter. "Are you suggesting it's my fault?" She stood straight and cocked her head, issuing a challenge. "If you are suggesting I did something to deserve that dark burden then I may need to send my husband to deal with you in the future."

Offan saw the children were near enough his open door to hear the exchange. The group moved away from Dayne with each of Varna's angry words. All the children save one. Offan's middle daughter, Becca, remained next to her friend. Their hands were tightly clasped.

"I suggest you collect your daughter and go home," Offan spoke softly. "Send Senecos to barter next time. I don't tolerate woman speaking to me like this. Go, go home Varna and try to be a mother your child. She looks like she could use a little love as well as some warmer clothes."

Varna hissed at the shopkeeper, "Watch out for your own children and leave mine to me!"

Varna turned on her heel and slammed out of the door. She grabbed Dayne by her long, dark hair and pulled the girl behind her. She didn't even notice Dayne's cheeks burn pink with embarrassment as she was dragged down the dirt road toward their home.

Once away from the village, Varna let go of Dayne. The girl immediately sped away from Varna. She was racing toward home.

"Run all you want," Varna whispered. "You and I are stuck together as long as Senecos lives."

Dayne picked up a stone by the edge of the road. Varna froze in her tracks. Weapons, tools, were forbidden by the Elosians occupiers. A stone was considered a weapon. If a solder saw Dayne wielding a rock then their house would be burned to the ground and the child would be executed. Varna paused for a brief moment thinking it might be worth the loss of her home and all her property to be rid of Dayne. In the final analysis, the thought of spending the winter in a tent did not appeal.

"Dayne, stop!"

Too late. The rock was fired with a whistling force. When it connected to its target the sound changed to a thud. It was immediately followed by a splat.

"Please don't let it be an Elosian soldier," Varna gasped. "What have you done?" Varna began to scream as she raced toward Dayne.

The girl ran into the thicket at the side of the road.

"You can't hide from me, you little monster! Get out here, now!"

Dayne emerged from the tall grass with blood on her tunic. In her hands, she struggled to hold a dead goose.

"Mama, isn't this what you wanted from Offan at the shop?" Dayne gave a big grin.

"How?" Varna could not believe her eyes. "You knocked it out of the sky with a stone?"

"Yep," Dayne smiled broadly. Her mother's frown wiped the grin off the girl's face, "Isn't it the right kind?"

"Close enough!"

Varna grabbed the bird from Dayne. The weight of it was amazing. It would keep them fed for several sunrises. In spite of the fact her mouth was watering, Varna felt her daughter needed to be corrected for breaking the law. Well, at least, for breaking the law in such an obvious manner.

"When we get home, it's five licks with your father's belt," Varna smirked at the pained look on Dayne's face. "We've told you over and over, no weapons. The occupiers would burn me out of house and home and kill you were you stand if they saw you using weapons. So, you need have a stinging reminder of their law across your backside."

"But, I thought you wanted the food," Dayne was close to crying from the threat.

"I do. That's why I'll give you the strapping instead of your father's heavy hand. I'm going easy on you this time because we're hungry." Varna could barely contain her laughter, "Maybe next time you break the rules you'll make sure nobody sees you do it."

"Yes, ma'am," Dayne wiped a tear away from the corner of her eye and vowed never to get caught again.

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