Image by Andrys Stienstra from Pixabay

It was three weeks to Himostava, and Eire was fuming. Every attempt he’d made to get his granddaughters home to their parents before the holiday had backfired. The Arpathi wouldn’t take the twins back, stating because they were human it was required that a human return them. Eire didn’t see any difference between them returning the twins and a human doing it, but he’d learned years ago when an Arpathi told you “This is the proper way and must be done just so” you didn’t argue.

“Peace, Silver Fox,” Amritha, one of the Arpathi who was sheltering them, said. “If you cannot return the little phoenixes to their parents now, perhaps in the spring it will grow easier.”

“I hope so, Amritha. These littles need their ma and da,” Eire said.

“It is almost time for that human celebration. Have you given thought to holding it here?” Amritha asked.

“I’m no cook, Amritha. I can’t make the cookies. And I don’t have a way to get them presents,” Eire said. “I don’t exactly have credits to spend.”

“No, but Sorus is but a week’s journey from here in darkspace,” Amritha said. “Let us carry a message again to their parents. Perhaps they will send things for the little ones.”

Eire looked at her. “That’s – that’s a brilliant idea, Amritha. You can go, get the things, and be back before Himostava. I used t’make the sugar globes. I can whip those up again pretty quick. Ask my daughter for some of her cookies. She’ll have some ready now. I know she will.”

“Write her another message, asking her for what you need. We will see to it that she gets it, and that the gifts she provides are returned to you for the little phoenixes,” Amritha said.

Eire grabbed a pen and jotted down the message. “Phoenix girl, I tried but I can’t get the girls home fer Himostava. But I want them to have presents from you and the giant anyway. Can you send somethin’ back with these Arpathi fer them? Maybe toss in some cookies too? You know I was never the baker yer ma is. I’ll let them know who sent them the presents. Keep yer hopes up. I’m aimin’ fer spring plantin’ and all the chaos around that to get the girls back, even if I have to sneak them aboard a ship myself. I promise that you won’t spend a second Himostava without yer girls, Love, yer crazy da,” he muttered as he wrote.

Amritha took the note and passed it off to one of her sets of daughters. The twins bowed and headed for the door. Nafisa and Laoise ran into the house. They’d been enjoying some time in the garden with one of Amritha’s other sets of daughters. “Grandda, it’s almost Himostava,” Nafisa said.

“I know. I’m tryin’ t’arrange a special surprise fer you,” Eire said, winking broadly at his granddaughters.

“Ma and da will miss us,” Laoise said.

Amritha held up her hand and the girls who’d been about to deliver Eire’s message stopped. Eire smiled. “Would you like to send them somethin’?” he asked.

“How?” Nafisa asked.

“Amritha’s sendin’ my letter to yer ma with two of her daughters. I bet you two can write pretty well now, with all the practice we’ve been doin’. Why don’t you write notes to yer ma and da too? Let them know you miss them, you love them, and yer lookin’ forward t’when you can come home,” Eire said.

“Can you help us spell?” Nafisa asked.

“Of course,” Eire said. He lifted his granddaughters up into their chairs at the table. Amritha smiled and waited patiently for Eire to help the girls write their notes. Once they were finished, they were slipped into the packet with Eire’s note, and then the Arpathi twins were gone.

“Story?” Laoise asked.

“I think I can remember some of the Himostava stories. It’s been a few years though,” Eire said, scooping them up and settling down on the couch.