Prologue- Just another day...

I sat on the edge of my window and l looked out at the dark sky before I laid my head back against the wall and closed my eyes.

I inhaled deeply; the air thickly laced with the first bloom of the season. This was my favorite time of the year. I mean who wouldn’t like being able to eat off all the plants you walk by and seeing all the baby creatures.

Something crashed beneath me, and I chuckled knowing exactly what it was: Gee, our cow’s newborn. He was the least agile creature I’d ever met. I looked down as the clashing continued, just to make sure he wasn’t getting himself into trouble. As I waited for my eyes to eyes to adjust, the culprits made themselves known. Jessy, and Heith, the fouls born a few weeks before Gee.

“I better go help him,” I said aloud, though I was the only one in my room. “Before those two wind up the cows and they tear the barn apart.

“Shhhhh,” I heard my dad say, and I froze. “He was awake, and out of his study. He’d been bared up in there for days.

I started to go back to the window before I changed my mind and headed for the stairs. I haven’t seen my father in almost two weeks. After his latest adventure for information pertaining to the top-secret case he is working on for the King and Queen, he locked himself away in his study.

As I reached the bottom of the stairs, I heard Briony. “Sir, are you aware of what tomorrow is?”

“I am,” he replied. “This…This can’t wait.”

I froze behind the open door, knowing that if he saw me, I would hear anything but the truth. He was always honest with Briony. Though he never even thought about finding someone to replace my mother, and Briony never once thought of finding someone to replace her husband, they meshed seamlessly.

“Life’s moments cannot be had once the time has passed.”

“If this could wait, I would make it wait. However, unless you want the King to send his daughter here…” he said as he held up the summons.

“No. You are right,” Briony said.

“This is not right,” my father corrected her. “I merely do not have a choice.”

“What shall I tell Echo?”

“Don’t tell her anything. I don’t want her to worry.”

“She’s going to know something is up. I have to tell her something.”

“Just tell her I had to work. Tell her I will be back as soon as I can….Tell her, tell her that I love her.”

“She is merely steps away. You should tell her these things yourself. It will mean more coming from you.”

“I can’t.” He snapped. “I’ve put this off long enough. If I want to keep her safe…If I want to keep everyone safe, I must go.”

I could hear Briony’s footsteps returning, and I ran back up the stairs as quietly as I could. I didn’t want her to know that I had been eavesdropping, that was a guaranteed way to get on her bad side. She had no problem with people being curious, with them asking questions, but eavesdropping crossed the line. She believed it to be rude, and mannerless.

Diving onto my bed I pulled my covers over me, seconds before Briony made her way into my room.

“Echo?” she whispered, to see if I was still awake.

I didn’t answer, I didn’t want to have this conversation right now.

The light emitting from my crystal dimmed, and my room grew dark as she pulled the door closed.

I sat up, and moved my pillow to the end of the bed so I could stare out the window and watch the stars.

My heart was heavy, and I knew that if I let my thoughts run, they would just add to weight. There was one day, one day out of the entire year I expected my father to be here, and to be present.

I knew his research was important. I knew that his job was important. I knew that the king and queen were demanding.

But I was his daughter. I should be important to him.