Chapter III

"Mother Dear, I have to go, nothing can stop this,"

"I know... I know... It's just... You're so young! You are my son, my precious son."

"Every day that we linger here, is every day another life is lost, many of them. They're getting desperate, Mother Dear, and my name was called. I have a duty..."

"You are my only son, who will help your Papa with the work on the farm? They didn't even call your Papa to fight, they know he is too old for that kind of thing. You know I am getting old as well, and it is hard enough already... Oh I wish you didn't have to go."

"Mother Dear, it's only The Children. The Children have began the War, and it is them who are winning. Look here, they told me, all we have to do is stop them from re-uniting with The Mother, and the War shall be over. See?"

"Yes, so simple, and yet..."

"..."

"..."

"... I'm going now. Goodbye, Mother Dear."

Mother and Son embrace each other, perhaps for the last time. He quickly mounts his trusty steed... A worn jackass. He rides off, a parchment bearing his name safely in his tunic; bearing his name and his call for duty. The Sun is slowly sinking, down, down into its slumber, twilight fast approaching with a mural of early stars painted in the flaming sky. Mother looks on after her son, as he slowly disappears into the horizon connecting Land and Sky. She gazes on into the orange, the bright red, the slight pink, violet, and darkened blue blend of the setting sun. Quickly, she makes the sign of the cross on her forehead, and utters a prayer.

"Dear God, Please protect my son, protect him from all harm of the War, he is a good boy, he is an innocent one. He never hurt anyone, he only wishes to help our farm and please us. Please bring him back safely, let all the arrows and blades miss his body, he does not want to kill anyone, he only wants to live. He is so young, the Harvest has only come sixteen times for him. Please send him home safely, he is my only boy, my one son, we would be shatter'd without him. I give my own life for him, just please, please bring him back safely. Oh my little Riccardo..."

She makes the sign of the cross again and whispers a solemn "Amen", returning quietly to the cottage.