Dragon Carrier Part Two Land of Magic: Dragon Carrier, #2

By Behenel Kharsma

Dragon Carrier Part Two Land of Magic is the continuation of Vaquella's journey of discovering what a Dragon Carrier is and how her Akash has been woven into the past, and present of the Dragon Realm. But she isn't the only one with much to learn and nothing is ever as simple as it seems. With her band of "knights" she, David, Embden, and Mathias visit the Land of Magic where nothing is as simple as being black and white, or Night and Day.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Behenel Kharsma
• Release date: Feb 14, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201482602

Behenel Kharsma

​  Raised in southwestern Montana, Behenel fell in love with the Rocky Mountains at an early age and still finds awe and inspiration in them with every sun rise and sun set.    Always the creative soul, she reached for inspiration for her next source of creativity in writing. First published as a child poet in the Montana based magazine Ghost Town Quarterly, she has co-written in the Western series, The Big Muddy, with Chris Hoffert.  Her first solo writing has been with the Dragon Carrier series, based in both Montana and Ireland.   Behenel started off in college with a vocal performance degree at The University of Montana in Missoula Montana and finished with her degree in Native American Studies from BHSU in Spearfish, South Dakota.     Her precocious son keeps her on her feet and is her continued inspiration to be the best human she knows how to be.  She enjoys fishing and camping with her son, hiking through the woods and finding peaceful profound moments of the soul.    Behenel defines herself as "quirky with a side of awesomeness." ​  Some of her favorite authors are Gary Zukav, Maya Angelou, Kent Nerburn and Christopher Paolini. 

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Acknowledgments and Thanks

Huge thank you to Susie . Best. Sensei. Ever. Without your guidance and phone calls and texts, I truly wouldn’t have had the courage to do this.

To Teresa and Shonna and Shorene and Kathy, my other sisters from other misters and mamas, who are my own pillars of strength whose wisdom and guidance has kept me sane. And out of trouble.

To my own mama, Mary Jo who has been the best cheerleader I’ve ever had. And for my beautiful, amazing, awesome little man I get to call my son. My heart’s greatest joy and the reason I’m still alive and the greatest inspiration in the world.

For Carla. Vaquella’s godmother who named her.

To David Walker who will forever be one of the dearest friends I have been blessed with in this life. And a sincere thank you for letting me use your likeness and I promise to remain as true to who you are in these books as you are in real life.

For my precious and beautiful nieces and nephews whom I will never get the chance to know. I write this for you in hopes that someday you’ll pick this up and read it and get to know me that way. I love you more than words and pixels.

And for all the late bloomers, the creators of non-linear things, and those who will never fit in. Don’t. Never fit in, never accommodate and never settle. You weren’t made to do so, darlings. So, take a deep breath in and keep walking your path. You’re doing great!

Copyright@2021 & Copyright@2022 by Behenel Kharsma

Cover photo copyright@ 2021 by Nathanial Perry

Dragon Carrier insignia and design copyright@2020 by Behenel Kharsma

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Dragon Carrier is a work of fiction. Names, places and incidents and people are products of the imagination of the author.

David Walker’s likeness has been used with the written permission of David Walker to the author of the Dragon Carrier books

A very brief explanation of numbers and numerology.

Beginnings

Duality

Catalytic

Earth Number, Gaia

Raw Change

Harmony, cooperative. Spiritual number.

Spirituality

Manifestation and Abundance

Completion

Chapter One

1 and 3

Holy shnikies...Mathias, I hold you completely responsible for spoiling me of any possibility of ever riding coach again. Vaquella whispered excitedly with wide eyes as they stepped onto the jet bound for Salt Lake City. I’ve never ridden first class in anything. She said as she sat down in her assigned seat. It was a tan leather oversized captain’s chair with a small pillow and screen and what felt like acres of room around it. A few feet away from her was David’s seat. There were two seats where there would have been four packed seats in coach.

Vaquella, would you like your bag stowed? David asked, distracting Vaquella back to reality as she was playing with buttons and gizmos she found in and around her seat.

Oh! Wait, what? Oh yeah...wait, where do they go? She asked wide-eyed as she took her complimentary headphones off. She grinned, knowing that she looked like a little kid let loose in a toy factory.

Mathias chuckled as a young flight attendant not more than twenty years old came by, smiling. She had honey blonde hair and an effervescent smile. I can take care of those for you ma’am and sirs.

Embden opened his carry on bag and took out a few books and pamphlets he had brought with him. Mathias handed both his and Embden’s carry on luggage to the young female flight attendant and sat down in their respective seats.

Oh, great, thank you!...but seriously, where do you put them? Vaquella asked curiously looking around trying to figure out what mystery cupboard the flight attendant was going to stow their carry on bags.

The flight attendant smiled, Oh just around the corner there. You can let any of the three of us know if we can get you anything. I’m Rochelle, there’s Teddy in the Attendant’s cabin and Elaine by the entrance. I do suggest if you should need anything personal to get it out before your carry on is stowed. She said politely.

Mathias leaned over, chuckling, and said quietly to Embden. I think Vaquella might be more interesting to watch than the in-flight movies that they’ll be playing.

Embden smiled and laughed under his breath, nodding his head to Mathias, whispered. I agree. He and Mathias were seated one row over and up from David and Vaquella. Hey, Vaquella? Hey! Embden called from his chair. People from coach were beginning to board and he didn’t want to be yelling through them to get her attention.

Oh! Yeah? She answered back between changing music stations. Sorry. She said snickering, mildly amused at her excitement and antics.

"Hey, I didn’t think that you’ve been to Ireland before, so I borrowed a couple of books from the library and also dug up some travel brochures from when we first went. I thought you might be interested in reading them." He handed the reading materials to Mathias who handed them to her across the aisle between people walking to the back of the plane to get to their seats.

Thank you! That’s so thoughtful! She took the pamphlets and books from Mathias and splayed them on her lap to see what kind of information Embden had supplied her with. The first ones on top were pamphlets that had been folded in half but were still in good condition. Oh wow! Irish Etiquette for Visitors, Castles to Visit in the Green Isle, this is perfect! Thank you! I really don’t want to be an ugly American. I appreciate it Embden, thanks!

Embden smiled graciously. You’re welcome! It’s not nearly as different from the U.S. as some may say, but I think it’s better to be prepared than not. Ooh! There’s a terrific book in there, it might be kind of long, but Mathias and I have both read it at least twice. He’s probably read it more. Embden said smiling. I absolutely loved it. Mathias told me it was one that Elwyn suggested to him years ago. It’s on Irish folklore.

Ooh!...nerdy stuff. I like it already. She said excitedly. Can I hang onto these for a while, or do you want them back before we land in Ireland?

No, no, that’s fine, you hang onto them. I’ve got some other stuff here and I brought those for you. Embden said. He turned back around in his seat and got comfortable for the short hour and a half flight to Salt Lake City.

Vaquella smiled, Thanks, Embden. I sincerely appreciate that. She took the first three pamphlets and set them aside from the books. She couldn’t sit and read anything long right yet, she was too excited to even be in her own skin right now.

David sat near the window seat, smiling contentedly looking out at the tarmac and beyond to the mountains as the passengers bound for Salt Lake City, Utah, and beyond, boarded the jet. There was an excitement in his heart he hadn’t felt for a long time, and it was good to have something to override his sadness from the loss of his dogs.

When everyone had boarded and were seated and ready, the flight attendants did their usual routine of advising everyone of where emergency exits were, what to do in case of a water landing, and all the routine safety information standard on flights. Vaquella was listening with only one ear to what was being said as she was already pouring through the pamphlets Embden had loaned to her. The first one she started to read was on Irish Etiquette.

1)Handshakes are important. Look someone in the eye and shake their hand firmly upon meeting them...check. Well, that seems perfectly natural. I was raised that way too. 2) Use your ‘inside voice’...oh thank God. I’ve got sensitive ears. 3) Avoid talking about politics or religion...oh thank God. I’ve had all I can handle of that shit from Tanner. This might be a vacation yet! 4) Finger waving whilst driving is considered polite. Huh! I wonder how many of the things I learned growing up doing and seeing were carried over from Ireland. I was raised with that too...dad did it all the time while driving and it was considered rude if you didn’t give that little wave of the fingers as you drove. 5) When in a pub, if you drink, you also buy a round of beer for everyone you are with. Everyone takes a turn at buying a round. Hmm...might have to ask on that one. I never did acquire a taste for beer, but I still really want to see what a pub is all about. 6) Tipping is at the discretion of the person who has been given a service. Seems reasonable. 7) Never put your feet up on a table, it’s a sign of death and bad manners...Huh... I wonder what they do with ottomans’ or if keeping your feet off of things is just the way it’s done. 8) No smoking at all in public places as of 2004. Oh, how nice! 9) If you can’t handle cursing, you’re going to need to learn how to not be offended by it. Swearing is as commonplace as breathing. Oh, sweet Jesus...this IS going to be a vacation! I can say fuck from sun up to sun down and no one will think anything of it! YAAAAS!!! Ok, ok, what’s next? This is going to be so great!! I might have found my tribe! 10) Multiple ‘goodbyes’ are a part of the culture. 11) Not accepting something such as a material thing right away is also part of Irish culture. Wow...mom is way more Irish than I thought! Haa Haa!! She takes forever to hang up on the phone and she’s always been that way. Sometimes it takes her half an hour from the first goodbye to the time she hangs up the phone. 12) Don’t use ‘top of the mornin’ to you,’ call people ‘Mick,’ or say, ‘may the road rise up to meet you.’ Hmm...nope that thought about mom was very short-lived. Good thing she’s not coming with us, we’d be tarred and feathered the instant we set foot on the ground. She’d say that AND with an attempted Irish accent... 13) ALWAYS tip or handshake and thank your bus driver. Ok, polite, mannerly. Got it. 14) Eat what’s placed before you. Uh oh...did I bring my gluten pills? Yes... I put them in with my toothbrush and toothpaste in my luggage with toiletries and my hairbrush. Oh, thank goodness. Ok, got it covered. I’m good. 15) Praise the host a LOT...uh oh...this sounds like my mom again with the overdoing it thing. Ugh...fine. At least I had someone show me how it’s done...grateful. Got it. 16)  The Irish have Good Samaritan Manners. 17) ALWAYS be obliging and grateful and gracious. Ok, got it, again with manners... I might be more Irish than I think with this stuff. This feels like how I was raised! 18) Notice and appreciate everything, and especially respect the differences. Well, that seems natural. I have the curiosity of a dozen kittens, I got this one down pat. 19) In conversation, never ask ‘how someone feels.’ If they want you to know, they’ll tell you. If not, it’s not up for conversation or discussion. Huh! I can see how Americans would be obnoxious with that considering all things. Wonder how counseling works over there...maybe beer takes the place of that? 20) Tweeds and wools are what most will wear in Ireland, don’t dress garishly if you can help it. Oh, Embden and Mathias have got that down to a ‘T,’ they always look impeccable. 21) Bring a gift when invited to someone’s house or for dinner or anything. Huh...another thing I was taught to do while growing up. I’ll have to remember to thank mom for letting me go through her gift cupboard and bring those huckleberry candles and syrups. Vaquella sighed happily and put the trifold pamphlet on Irish etiquette with the rest of her reading materials. She looked over to where Mathias and Embden were sitting in their respective seats. Embden had his electronic tablet out and was checking on what looked to be a downloaded copy of Montana news. Mathias had a book in his hands, glasses on his face, and was entrenched in what looked like an old copy of Homer’s The Iliad and the Odyssey. David was at her right, a few feet away, sound asleep already.

A flight attendant, Teddy, came by offering the other first-class fliers drinks and snacks. Gentlemen, could I interest you in snacks or something to drink? He asked Mathias and Embden.

Vaquella looked to her right at David who was still sleeping. For a fleeting moment, she thought of waking him up to ask him if he wanted anything. It would have been a thing her mother would have done; waking up someone to ask if they wanted food or drink. It was beyond reasoning to ask a sleeping person if they were in want of food or drink. One doesn’t normally eat or drink in ones sleep so why would they need to be asked if they wanted food or drink? She leaned her head back on her headrest and looked out of the window where David was sitting, peacefully asleep. Have I honestly forgiven her for being human? She thought to herself as Teddy poured Mathias a glass of wine and Embden an orange juice. Yes, yet when she bombards my boundaries and is in my face every day and it’s not just one or two things, it’s hundreds, and it’s nearly impossible to separate myself from those with distance because we still live in the same house...I don’t have the chance to look at her objectively and then ignore them...I have a difficult time maintaining my Light about these things. Is that an excuse? Of course not! An excuse would be excusing it...just like my mother has done her whole life...wow, all that over your friends being poured a drink from a flight attendant. Vaquella sighed and rolled her eyes at herself.

And what can I get for you this afternoon, ma’am? Teddy asked with a beaming smile. I’ve got juices, water, wine, and snacks if you’re interested in those too.

Oh, ahm, just water will be fine, thank you.

Would you like a glass of ice? Teddy asked Vaquella as he poured her a glass of water.

No thanks, I’ll just take it, room temp. Vaquella sucked in a quick breath as the jet hit a single unexpected bump of turbulence. It was enough of a jolt to knock David awake from his catnap.

Bloody hell... David said quietly as Vaquella looked over to her right where he was now sitting completely upright. Vaquella chuckled and smiled.

Will that be everything for you ma’am? Teddy asked kindly.

Yeah, this is great for now, thank you. Vaquella pulled another brochure from Embden from her stack of reading materials he had provided for her. Teddy was tending to David who decided to have a vegetable juice.

So, this is living. She thought as she stared past David into the clouds below them out through the window with the brochure in her right hand. I’ve been in survival mode for so long I’ve forgotten that there is life beyond and past my own thoughts and circumstances. I’ve forgotten to live. I’ve forgotten HOW to live. She thought sadly.

Are you ok, over there? David asked, pulling Vaquella out of her thoughts.

Oh, yeah, I’m good. She smiled.

David smiled back at her. You looked like you were contemplating something monumental.

Nah...well, maybe. She sat up in her seat and turned toward David. I was just looking out at the clouds, realizing a few things...I was actually remembering how dead I have felt to life. Looking out at the clouds...It reminded me that I used to hold such excitement for life and believed every day was an exquisite adventure waiting to happen, I just had to add myself in, and voila...awesomeness!

David smiled and nodded between sips of his juice. You say it as if happiness were the past, non-accessible anymore.

Vaquella sighed. Mmm...no, I wouldn’t say not accessible, I just forgot how to remember who I am for a while. She paused, thinking. "It’s a difficult thing to remember who you are when the world is telling you they hate you for existing and they try to kill this thing they find repulsive, which happens to be you. And then it turns around and chastises you for not being happy because it tried to kill you."

David put his juice on his tray and looked down at his hands in his lap, then over to Vaquella, smiling knowingly. You know, kiddo, you’re not dead. I see something I haven’t ever seen in your eyes before...a spark that has been there the whole time, it was just buried. You’re not dead.

Vaquella smiled and looked back out the window for a moment. That’s a good way of putting it...a buried spark. She looked back at David and excitedly asked. "Hey, do you think we’ll get to see any castles?! That would be so awesome to see a structure that’s way older than the US has even been around. Ooooh! And the peat bogs, I know they’ve found a few preserved people in those. Which is so amazing! I want to find out more about those, too!"

David chuckled at Vaquella’s excitement. "You are a unique one. Just don’t get any ideas of giving me a toss in the bog, I’m well preserved enough already." He tossed his grey hair that hung at his shoulders with his left hand, batted his eyes, and clasped his hands together up near the right side of his face.

Vaquella giggled at David’s humorous antics. Oh stop, it wasn’t that funny. He said laughing.

Chapter Two

2 and 4

Elwyn stood at the edge of grass and sea as a soft and salty breeze tousled his white and grey hair. It was dusk on the chilly mid-April day. Day and Vaquella were in the air, on their way to Ireland where they would finally be safe from prying minds hunting them. Elwyn leaned on his trusted walking stick and closed his eyes. He took a deep breath in and sighed it out with a smile. They come, Night. The breeze blew in swirls and turned to gusts that danced playfully around Elwyn in the dusky sky overlooking the bay.

Elwyn could feel Night’s pure joy as he danced past him in the cooling air of the ebbing day. He could hear the elation of Day’s return in Night’s voice as he trumpeted his enormous call that couldn’t be heard with human ears. Every realm felt Night’s voice, every unseen being lifted their hearts with his as he danced the wind around Elwyn. Elwyn chuckled as he felt Night around him and watched him with his eyes closed. Such as it was with the unseen. One had to see them with the heart before the eyes were willing and able. Ai, my dear heart friend. There is much reason to be dancing. He thought to Night and chuckled.

Agreed. Night felt to Elwyn. He swooshed to a stop in front of Elwyn and bent His head low and touched his head to Elwyn’s. At the speed of thought, Night returned to his aligned place with Elwyn. Night’s third eye and connection to the Dragon Realm and all etheric and holy things shone brightly. Elwyn’s third eye glowed with the connection between him and Night, and both their hearts and heart chakras glowed the same color of love and compassion, trial and challenge, growth and wisdom, and connection to each other. Four lights of love and wisdom, all aligned, unseen by humans yet celebrated and honored by All the Unseen, walked inside each other and with the other, paused in heartfelt gratitude.

This isn’t going to be easy.

Night felt the question to Elwyn and showed him an image of Elwyn and one of Vaquella. Question: Who?

Elwyn chuckled. On the lass. He sighed. We must get them to align, if not, harm will come to them both. More than just their lives are at stake.

Elwyn could feel Night’s reluctance as they stood overlooking the sea. The sun had set, and the evening breeze blew colder. I know. Elwyn could feel the wisdom behind Night’s understanding and questioned what was behind his hesitation.

Feeling Elwyn’s question, Night answered. Do you plan on going to war to make peace? Night asked. In the history of Gaia, that has never turned out well.

Elwyn slammed his walking stick on the ground making a satisfying thump. I don’t know how to get them to do it any other way! And I know why She’s so hesitant...but Her carrier doesn’t. We both know why...We both know that Day must bond and align to her Carrier, to feel that which she has been held from. She needs to understand WHY Vaquella is her Carrier, despite the past, that Day has been dormant to. And despite Vaquella’s Akash, that Day knows, and you both read.

Elwyn felt Night wrap around him in a warmth that started in his heart and emanated past his physical body and held the chill of the evening from settling in. I know. Night showed Elwyn an image of them both as they were; Dragon and Carrier aligned. Always. Night felt to Elwyn. Partner, family, soul-deep love, never alone, power of two that are one, protect, help, heart opener.

Ai, I know you’re always with me. And you have my back in all ways...all realms. Elwyn said quietly.

Night showed Elwyn another image of himself hiding behind a cracked door, with his serving platter-sized blue eye watching everything that Elwyn was doing while there were four images with him: Vaquella, Mathias, Embden, and a blurry image representing David, with Elwyn.

Ai, that might be best. Elwyn thought. He asked with the emotion of question as he thought the image of Night keeping a wing over his sister, Day.

Night chuckled and responded in thought. Yes. Still protect sister. Night thought the image of Day still in a nest. She had overly large, cartoon-like eyes and small wings. Not ready to fly yet.

Ai. That’s best. Elwyn took a deep breath and sighed. Well, Heart Light, shall we go in then? Margaret’s making an apple amber pie tonight and I know how you love her pies.

Night roared his approval as Elwyn turned with his walking stick and walked back to their home.

Chapter Three

3 and 7

The flight to Salt Lake City, Utah went quickly for Vaquella as she and David talked about trivial things that any other time wouldn’t have had the importance they did now; the music stations that were available for listening on the flight, guitar players and their style of playing. One of Vaquella’s exes who was mediocre at best on guitar and abominable at singing. David’s brother’s career as a comedian, David’s extended family that still lived in England.

Embden, Mathias, Vaquella, and David had only an hour and a half to get to the next gate for their overseas flight to Amsterdam. Mathias hailed two carts to take them to their next gate. From there they would have an hour and forty-five-minute layover before their final flight to Dublin, Ireland. From Dublin, it would be another two-hundred-mile journey to the other side of Ireland to Farraige Agus An Ghleanna, Sea and Glen in English, or simply and as it was known, Glen.

Once again, Vaquella felt completely spoiled by flying first-class from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Amsterdam. They were served an in-flight dinner with glasses and ceramic plates and metal utensils which impressed Vaquella because she’d only seen plastic cups and paper plates and plastic utensils on the one flight she’d taken with her sister to Hawaii years ago. And she was even more impressed with the steak and potatoes meal they were served. It had green beans, spinach, cranberry, walnut, and blue cheese salad at the side, whole wheat breadsticks, and cherry cheesecake for dessert. It was served with water, juice, or wine.

Are all first-class flights like this? Vaquella asked as she looked over at David who was seated at her left closest to the aisle.

It’s been a while since I’ve flown first class honestly. Lots more bells and whistles nowadays. Like that dinner, David rolled his eyes and leaned back in his seat and reclined it, and this blanket! He let out a whistle and his eyes got big. This is softer than my first ex-wife’s naval. And he pulled it up to his chin and scrunched down in his seat.

Vaquella spurted laughter and covered her mouth, so her laughter wasn’t so loud. Whaaaaat?! She asked as her voice went up in pitch while she was giggling.

Why do you find me so amusing? He asked while laughing. My brother was the comedian, not me.

Because you’re funny. I wouldn’t laugh if it weren’t amusing. She sighed. We’ve been over this before David...you make me laugh, I make you think.

Yeh, you do, David said thoughtfully with a smile.

Vaquella looked up and over to where Embden and Mathias were reclining in their seats just a row up and over to her right. She smiled appreciatively as Mathias took off his seat belt to stand and bolster Embden’s pillow and tuck the blanket around his gently curled, sleeping body. He gently kissed Embden’s cheek and whispered in his ear and sat back down. He put his seat belt back on, pulled his blanket over his legs, pulled out The Iliad and The Odyssey, and continued reading.

Look at them...they are so incredible to each other, Vaquella said to David in a hushed voice. She paused for a moment. "Total relationship goals right there. I wish I had seen my parents do what they do...they talk to each other, they respect each other. All you have to do is look at them when they’re together and you know that there is so much love and honor between them. I never saw my dad have that toward my mom, and mom...she just. Vaquella shook her head and sighed. I wonder how different my life would have been if I’d have had two parents like them...that honestly showed each other respect and treasured the other."

Yeh, I know what you mean. You put it like that, and I can’t help but wonder the same. But you know, with myself and my life. David said quietly, not wanting to disturb the other passengers but wanting to be fully engaged in conversation.

You know, it would piss me off when I’d hear my dad and then mom because she wouldn’t stand for anything on her own, or some bullshit on the news or even just small-town rhetoric completely tearing apart and bashing a gay or lesbian couple. Or just tearing apart and hating the LGBTQ+ community as a whole. It made me so irate on levels I couldn’t explain and to me, it was one of the most heinous and unjust things in this world: to be hated for not just who you loved, but for how the apparent God" of Christian society was believed to have made you. We’re told that God doesn’t make mistakes and that God loves all His children and we should love our neighbors, yet so many of those same people who claim to believe that, hate their neighbors for who they love, who they marry, and who they take to bed. Which by the way is no one’s damn business between two consenting adults. And those same so-called Christians support child molesters within their churches, especially when it’s being done by a white male in charge, and that’s across the board, not just limited to one denomination or another. And if God doesn’t make mistakes, then why are we hating people for the way that our beliefs tell us someone is made by that which we deem perfect and not capable of mistakes? Vaquella took a deep breath. Sorry, it’s a very large soapbox of mine and I totally just went off on a tangent with it...The hypocrisy of the Church and the people that are part of it is one of the main reasons I stopped going years ago. We’re preached to love thy neighbor, but only if they’re just like us and have our same beliefs. We’re told that God doesn’t make mistakes but we’re going to hate those whom He has made because they’re not like us. And how about that thou shalt not kill thing?! Yet the Church itself is responsible for more deaths in human history than any other entity or reason or war... all in the name of the God that created and loves every human being on this planet...We humanify God, so let’s go there. I, your child, go into your beautiful home that you have made for your entire family, where your other children, my siblings that you also love with your entire heart, are living. They are happily playing in the mud, playing with their dolls, drinking tea, and hanging upside down from a tree because they’re kids doing their human thing. I proclaim that I will kill them because I claim that only YOU are the real Parent and if they don’t agree with my beliefs, I’ll kill them in your name. I don’t like tea, so I go and kill the child peacefully drinking tea and then tell you, I killed your child in your name because we didn’t agree on tea drinking. How is any parent supposed to be happy or proud of that? Can you imagine the pain that would cause? And it does and has for centuries. And why do we as a family on this planet who call each other brother and sister, justify that?"

David raised his eyebrows and gave a small whistle, still looking at Vaquella. Those are powerful thoughts, kiddo. David paused. "Yeh, it seems hatred and racism have been a human thing for far too long. My brother, Mick, and I were hated growing up. We were bastards and half American in a time when either