The Pearl Of Vynes - Chapter 11 Brave In Name

“No” Joel said firmly to Miles. The two of them were sitting at the family table, Narissa serving tea to the both of them as they argued.

“I promise she won’t get into trouble” Miles said, warming his hand against the tea. The fireplace was going but it didn’t warm Miles very much from the chill of the cold air.

“I’m more worried about you dragging her into it. With all of the stories you tell of what you get up to do you really think I’d let you take my daughter?” Joel said angrily, sipping his tea. Joel hung his tongue as he had burnt it on the boiling water.

“It’s always a bit exaggerated” Miles said shrugging.

“Exaggeration is the least of you problems” Joel said accusingly.

“Alice wants to see what’s out there. Joel, you’ve seen her whole life and the trouble she has gotten into. Regardless if I’m around” Miles replied back

“You’re a bad influence Miles” Joel said.

“To you maybe, I’ve only dragged you along a few times” Miles said laughing.

“We barely got back alive half of the time. You’d think I’d wish that on my daughter?” Joel started to shout.

“She’d be safer with me. If I hadn’t been around she would be troll soup by now. She’ll get into trouble and neither of us can stop her from doing so” Miles shouted back

“The last thing I want her to do is be your apprentice. A trickster by trade but a hero you are not, how will you keep her safe from the things we can’t even speak of?” Joel said continuing to shout.

“Then be the father your supposed to be and protect your daughter” Miles shouted loudly. The two men could hear the soft patter of feet coming from the bedroom. Both men stopped talking as Alice came around the corner, rubbing the sleep from her eyes as she saw Joel and Miles sitting at the table.

“What are you two arguing about?” Alice said while yawning having been woken by the noise.

“We’re currently discussing what dress you should wear when we leave” Miles said with a smirk.

“And for the last time, you’re not taking her Miles. She’ll be better off here” Joel said in frustration.

Alice realising the situation ran over to her father’s side.

“But father, there’s so much I want to see. Miles has showed me so many things. There’s so much I need to know” Alice said pleading with Joel

“No and that’s final Alice” Joel said gruffly.

“But Dad, I want to go” Alice said again.

“No” Joel said with a note of finality.

Alice started to tear up and ran back to her room; the faint of sobbing was heard.

“Now you’ve done it Joel” Miles said. Narissa stopped cleaning up the kitchen and went to Alice to comfort her.

“What else can I do? I have to protect my family” Joel said.

“But she’ll leave whether or not you give her permission Joel. She needs a home to come back to” Miles said with a serious tone, he lent over and placed a hand on Joel’s shoulder. Joel mulled it over, looking guiltily in the direction of Alice’s bedroom.

“You’ve cornered me this time Miles, mark my words if anything happens to her I’m coming after you” said Joel, making a threatening hand at Miles.

“I’ll make sure you can catch me this time then” Miles replied smiling. Both men rose and shook hands at the pact.

As the sun hit her face, Alice wiped the dried tears off her face. She had gone to sleep after being unable to convince her father, after everything that had happened with Miles it was going to slip through her fingers again. Alice held onto the pendant that Miles had given her long ago. Surprised Alice noticed the shine had come back. Its shimmer was very much like a fiery rainbow, and despite being inside, it had a faint glow about it. It was nowhere near as bright as when she first saw it but it held a beauty she had long ago thought was buried forever in her childhood. A loud series of bangs and swearing came from the front of the house. Getting out of the bed, Alice walked out of her room and to porch of the house to see what was happening. Alice saw Joel was carrying a load of crates and putting them on a cart sitting on the road. Miles was sitting in the front seat encouraging Joel to keep lifting. Judging by how Joel was sweating and cursing, the crates were obviously much heavier than they had appeared.

“Ah Alice, I hope you got a good rest” Miles said from his driving seat. The horse attached to the cart was casually flicking its tails to keep the flies away as it waited patiently to be off. Alice looked away, sad that she wouldn’t go off on that adventure that she always dreamed of. As Joel put away the last of the crates he paused looking at his daughter having grown so much from when she was a little girl. Joel walked over to Alice, placing a hand on her shoulder.

“You know how I feel about you running headlong into danger” Joel said softly. Alice turned her head away, a tear forming at the edges of her eyes.

“Which is why I know that you’ll go ahead and do it when I’m not looking. Alice, you should go with Miles” Joel smiled. Alice snapped her back to her Dad, astonished at his admission despite all of the protests.

“You’ll be safer when everyone knows where you’ll be going. Which is why I’m giving this as your parting gift” Joel said turning around and picking up a sheathed dagger lying on the back of the cart.

“You’ll probably never have to use this but protecting yourself is a must out there. There’s all kinds of things that would be happy steal you away, Miles excluded” Joel said, Miles huffed in response from his seat.

“You have my blessings Alice. Find that adventure you always wanted” Joel said as he patted Alice’s head. Alice wrapped her arms around Joel, giving a tight hug as both of them began tearing up.

“Sorry to break the farewell but I do have a schedule to keep” Miles said interrupting the daughter and father. Alice broke the embrace as she smiled at Joel.

“There’s a pair of robes I left in the kitchen I want you to change in before we head off. Nightgowns are cute but not suitable for a travelling lady” Miles said with a mischievous grin. Alice raced off inside to look for her new pair of clothes Miles had given her.

“She’ll be in good hands Joel, I promise” Miles said comforting Joel still sitting in his driving seat.

“She was going to leave one day or another, but she’ll be better hands with you. Unlike when you were with me” Joel said, crossing his arms.

“I don’t know what you could mean. It was always consensual” Miles said holding his hands up in a shrug, a sly smirk on his face.

“I hope the best for your journey then” Joel said

“Dad, dad. How do I look?” Alice shouted behind Joel. Joel turned around to face the house. Alice was dressed in light leather armour, green pants decorating her figure and the new dagger strapped to her waist.

“You look like an Brave already” Joel smiled. Laughing with joy Alice launched herself at Joel, jumping into his arms. Joel caught her and span around for a short time and holding each other tight.

“I’m going to miss you dad” Alice said looking up at Joel, Alice tried to burn the image of her father in her mind.

“For me as well dear, stay safe out there” Joel said. Alice parted from his embrace and joined Miles on the front of the cart.

“Thank you for everything dad” Alice shouted from the cart, starting to wave.

“You better visit often, your mother will be annoyed with you” Joel shouted.

for visiting.

“Of course” Alice shouted back. Miles snapped the reins and the horses started walking forward. Alice turned around and continued to wave enthusiastically at Joel as he slowly faded in the distance. The village itself became smaller and smaller as they trod down the road. Turning to face the front, Alice had a face set in determination. Adventure was just around the corner.