Chapter Three: A Gift

As the story ended Demerol noticed Amber standing near the edge of the circle of men eyeing one of them curiously. The man’s name was Kerberos, he had joined the wagon train late and seemed to have almost nothing worth selling, Demerol didn’t like him, he was a large intimidating man and he knew it and used that to him advantage. If it wern't for the three bags of gold that Kerberos had paid him Demerol would never have aloud such a man into his caravan, but the money was needed to pay for repairs and goods and here was a man who had the funds to pay for such things. As the men finished breakfast they sat back and surveyed the village. Amber shyly approached. “You are Demerol,” she said uncertainly. “Darrow’s father?” Demerol Nodded. “Could you give him this…” she held out her hand palm up, in the center of her palm rested an amber medallion encasing a scorpion, the pendant was strung on a simple leather string so that it could be worn tied around the neck. Demerol gently took the gift. “ Sure.” The girl made a polite bow, turned, and ran off. Demerol examined the gift, the girl had been wearing a similar medallion. He tucked the treasure into his belt, he would give it to his son later, and right now he was fully decided on another cup of Jeve before the rest of his group had disposed of all of it. It wasn’t until the suns Zenith that Demerol remember to deliver the gift .He found his son on the northern side of the village napping on a pile of sun warmed stone. As Demerol approached Darrow rolled to his stomach , face flat against the ground. Demerol smiled. “ Comfy?” he ask. The boy nodded. “Good I have a present for you.” The boy didn’t move. “ Actually I am delivering a present to you , from a little girl , now what was her name?” Demerol smiled as Darrow’s ears reddened. Feeling in his pockets he grabbed the medallion and set it gently on the rock next to the boys head. In a blur of motion the medallion was gone. “Her name is Amber.” Mumbled the boy. Demerol smiled and left.
The next three days where stormy. On the fourth day the sun brock thru the clouds, it was time for the caravan to move on. Darrow stood next to his father trying very hard to keep the tears that filled his eyes from overflowing. The caravan had been packed earlier that day, all that was left to do was say good bye. Villagers crowded the square. Demerol Glanced down at his son who was scanning the crowed intently and smiled. The boy had done well making friends with the elder’s daughter. It was possible that their friendship could save the caravan from problems in the future. Demerol searched the crowd for the girl but failed to locate her, and so was quite surprised when his arm was nearly pulled from its socket as his son was grabbed in a bear hug. The two hugged for a minute, Ambers face was tear stained her big blue eyes filled to the brim and her cheeks flushed. Without a word she held out the medallion that hung around her neck and gestured for him to do the same. Placing her other hand over his she hummed a low sad note. A soft light flowed out of the center the medallion in her hand to surround the other. And then she was off disappearing in the crowd. Darrow clutched the medallion. He didn’t know what it was but she had given it to him and he was never going to lose it.