Florie couldn't quite remember . . .

She had only been two years old . . .

When her father left their home in Earthville . . .

And never came back . . .

Florashy stopped her spinning. She saw a figure striding toward her. Long, determined strides. It was her husband, Meredith. He was looking straight ahead of him, as always, his emerald eyes glinting in the burning afternoon sun. So tall, so sure of himself. Even so, Florashy could tell something was wrong. Leaving her spinning wheel, she rushed toward her husband.

"What's wrong? What did Jackie say?"

Meredith smiled and put a callused hand on his wife's shoulder. Florashy knew he didn't want her to worry but she could tell something was troubling him behind the reassuring smile

"Tell me."

Meredith hesitated, but finally said, "My sister said that a wizard lady from Camelot is calling all the warriors from Earthville to go fight for Camelot." He paused. "It's under attack. Dragons."

Florashy shuddered. At least those dragons were just in Camelot . . . suddenly a horrible realization dawned on her. All the warriors . . . That would include Meredith since he was one of the best in all the tiny village. His huge, heavy battling axe was well-known throughout the land. For once, she wished it wasn't.

"You're . . . going?" she faultered.

"Yes." The answer was firm. Meredith smiled grimly at his wife and strode to the cottage. Florie, two years old, was playing quietly outside with some colorful pebbles.

Florashy blinked. She shuffled to her spinning wheel and sat down, but didn't do anything. What if . . . no, she musn't think that. She blinked again, and resumed her neglected spinning.

The following morning, Florashy bundled Florie into a blanket and walked with her husband to the town square where all the other residents of Earthville who knew the art of fighting were. That included Jackie, Meredith's sister; Bradburn, their cousin; Zena, Earthville's master of magic, and  Rainbow, a lazy archer. Besides the rest of the Earthvillians who had tagged along to see the warriors off, there was also a strange lady in a purple dress and a young boy there.

They must be the messangers, Florashy thought. She hugged Florie to her. What was that? There appeared to be a slight commotion among the group.

Patsy Pie, Earthville's overly optimistic minstrel, and Ditsy Hoovins, the village's loopy mail distributer, were begging the purple lady if they could go along. The lady(her name was Twila, as Florashy later learned) seemed upset; her voice began rising. She looked up at Florashy. Florashy avoided her eyes. Twila finally, and reluctantly, agreed for the two airheads to come along.

Florashy swallowed hard and watched as the warriors mounted their horses and bid a final farewell to their loved ones.

Meredith hesitated before mounting Juna, his heavy-feathered shire. He turned to Florashy. Smiling, he wiped a tear from the corner of her eye.

"Don't worry, sweet. It'll be fine. Fine." He stroked her cheek gently. Florashy lowered her eyes. Meredith bent down and kissed her on the mouth. Florashy shivered a little. She loved his closeness, his long, orange-yellow hair, his bright, loving green eyes, his pleasant, gently curving lips. And now she was about to lose him . . . maybe forever.

Meredith brushed a kiss on Florie's forehead and straightened the huge axe that was strapped to his back. He quickly mounted Juna. Without looking back, he slowly followed the others.

Florashy stayed, watching, letting the hot, sorrowful tears run down her cheeks. Everyone else drifted away, back to their homes, but she stayed until the last of the warriors had vanished from her strained view. And even then, she stayed. Waiting, wishing, wanting . . . all in vain. Then she too, turned back for the cottage.

A week later, they all returned . . . all, that is, except Meredith . . .

After that, Florashy left Earthville and went to Gladdington . . .

There, she became quiet and reclusive . . .

Her daughter, Florie, grew, strong-willed and determined . . .

Just like her father . . .