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Clara’s Story Part 2

Autumn picked up an apple and walked over to the girl.

“Here,” she offered. Clara reached out and took it. Clara nervously tapped her fingers again, then took a bite into the apple. She smiled at the teen.

“Where did everyone go?” Clara asked.

“In town, Jonathan is taking them. He’s a great help. I don’t know what I am going to do when he decides to leave.” she said.

“So, you could leave whenever you want to? No one would stop me?” Clara said.

“Well, if you were about to do something that could get you hurt, I would stop you. What are you thinking?” Autumn said, slightly suspicious.

“I-n-nothing. It’s nothing.” She said finally. Autumn left for a minute and came right back with some ointments, Clara had finished her apple, and thrown it out the window.

“Let’s take care of those cuts so they don’t get infected,” she said as she gestured for the girl to roll up her sleeves. Underneath Clara’s sleeves were a few more cuts. Her face was slightly red as the woman worked quietly, gently putting ointments on each. She shook her head when she saw the burn branding mark on her arm. But she continued working, rubbing in different gauzes and oils.

“I am going to assume these are whip marks?” she asked, looking for confirmation. Clara dipped her head. “You don’t have to tell me what happened, but I need to know how they were treated,” she said.

“The newer ones weren’t treated, but the older ones I was able to get bandages for.” she responded simply. Autumn finished working on her arms.

“And the burns? How were they treated?” She looked deep into the green eyes of the teen.

“They weren't,” she said.

“Okay, Don’t let your arms hit anything until the ointments dry.” she instructed. “Are there any on your legs?”

“A few, and they were treated the same way.”

“Are there some anywhere else? Your back?” Again Clara nodded.

“Can I put the ointments on your back? I will need to lift up your tunic to do it.” She didn’t want to push too far.

“Yes,” was all she said, standing up compliantly. When she saw the damage, Autumn quietly sucked in her breath, and she shook her head sorrowfully. The scars on her back were twice as bad as her arms and legs. Some of them had clearly not healed right, leaving deformed parts of skin on. She then began to apply more medicine to the wounds. Some of them seemed already infected. There was silence for a while, when Clara spoke.

“I didn’t get to thank you for saving me.” she said. “So, thank you.”

“It’s what I do, and you are very welcome,” again, silence, until, “there, all done.” said Autumn. She put away the medication, then rejoined Clara, sitting next to her.

“I was wondering,” she took a deep breath. “It’s not that I’m ungrateful but-” she paused again.

“Spit it out,” said the woman impatiently, but not unkindly.

“When am I allowed to leave?” she asked. “I mean..” again she paused.

“Where would you go?” the woman said, Clara looked down at her arms, not meeting her gaze. Autumn gasped, realizing what she meant. “You want to go back?” She replied, confused.

“I have to go back.” Clara clarified. The woman looked at her sympathetically.

“You are safe here, no one is going to hurt you, no one is going to find you. It is not your job. You do not have to go back.” she echoed.

“Yes I do,” Clara insisted.

“Why?” She challenged.

“I- I just do, and you can’t keep me here,” she stated, fear creeping into her voice, worrying that she may not be able to leave. Keeping her voice quiet, she replied,

“I can’t let you go until you are fully healed,” Autumn stated, buying time.

“I’m fine,” Clara said automatically.

“But are you fully healed?” Clara didn’t answer. “Then that settles it, you are staying here until you are fully healed. Understand?” She insisted, Clara, regarded her for a moment.

“I understand,” she conceded after a long moment.

“Good. The medicine should be dry now, so you don’t have to keep your hands up.” Clara lowered her arms. They both turned as they heard noise by the door, laughing and cheering. The other children had returned.

They returned loudly, talking, laughing, and running. A few of the older children held baskets with some berries and flowers. Autumn quickly shushed them, telling them not to interrupt nap time. Some of the children went to do chores, others were sent outside to play. She went around, attending to some of the younger children who had woken up from their nap. A red-haired dwarf walked up to the woman as she was helping a fairy toddler into some shoes so they could join the other children outside.

“Yes, Alexandra?” she said.

“Can I help in the kitchen today?” she wondered, rocking on her heels as she wanted for an answer. “I really want to help, and I will listen to Emain,” she promised.

“Okay, but if I hear of you causing trouble again, you will not be allowed to work in the kitchen.” the woman warned. The girl skipped off happily in the direction of the kitchen.

“Mother! Mother! Look what I got!” Amelia came rushing into the room. Proudly she brandished a wand, holding it up.

“Where did you get this?” Autumn asked, but before Amelia could answer, there was a knock on the door. She walked over and opened it. A watchman stood outside the door. He was wearing a chain mail tunic over a white undershirt and brown trousers, the traditional uniform.

“Randy? Can I help you?” she said, recognizing the man.

“Yes,” he began, “A wand recently went missing from the markets, and we have reason to suspect it was one of your children,” he stated.

“I’ll be right back,” she responded, closing the door as she turned around. “Amelia,” she called, the girl came up at once.

“Where did you get that wand?” she asked again, sternly.

“It was on the ground, honest!” the child pleaded.

“It wasn’t yours, okay, you can’t take things that aren’t yours. Mr. Randy is here because someone thinks that you stole it. I’m going to give it back to him, do you understand?” The girl’s lip began to tremble, but she nodded, handing the wand to Mother.

“Thank you, I understand you didn’t know it was for sale, but no more taking things that aren’t yours. You may go play now.” She nodded and walked off. Autumn went to open the door.

“Sorry about that,” she said, handing him the wand, “Whose stand did she steal it from?”

“It was Joseph’s, and he understands children, so he will understand this,” Autumn breathed a sigh of relief.

“Tell him I apologize for the trouble,” she finished, but Randy didn’t move. “Is there something else?” she asked.

“There is,” he lowered his voice. Autumn stepped out of the doorway and shut the door behind her, understanding.

“I have a new apprentice,” he began, “my nephew.” Autumn laughed slightly.

“Have fun with that… but why does that need to be a secret?” she replied.

“Because he found a blood trail, and then he found a knife, right near here. We aren’t sure if it is a criminal or not, but you should stay alert until-” she cut him off.

“It’s not a criminal,” she stated, he raised his eyebrows “I found a girl last night with that knife in her side, and chains on her hands. She’s clearly on the run from slavery,” Randy sighed, a fist formed at his side.

“Cut them off in one place and they pop up in another,” he mused. “But how are they finding the island? I mean, it moves every month.” The woman could only shrug to that. “How is she?”

“I had Hailey patch her up, so physically she is recovering, but she is still uneasy, and maybe a little scared. She seems desperate to get out of here.”

“Why?” he wondered. Autumn took a deep breath,

“I suspect she is being blackmailed, or that she left someone behind. Maybe family, maybe friends, whatever it is. I told her she can’t leave until she is better, which should buy me some time to earn her trust.” Randy nodded.

“Perhaps, if she is feeling up to it, she could answer some questions, maybe we can get some clarity on the situation, and how they are still here.”

“That sounds like a good idea. And maybe knowing that there are people dealing with the situation would help ease her conscience. What should I tell your nephew if he comes around?” she asked.

“Tell him what he needs to know, and feel free to mess with him a little bit.” he smiled coyly.

“Wouldn’t miss that chance,” she smiled back, “I should get back inside, it’s never a good idea to leave little ones alone.” She said as she reopened the door and headed back inside.

“Mother! Mother!” said Nudge, a while later, as he leaped over one of the babies.

“Nudge, no leaping over others, it’s not nice.” she scolded gently. “Now, what did you want to tell me?”

“There’s a man coming! He was walking up our path!”

“What man?” she inquired, curious.

“I dunno, just a man,” he said with a shrug. “He should be here in a little while.”

“Thank you for telling me,” then she paused. “Nudge, did you finish your chores?” He didn't answer immediately. “Why didn’t you finish them?”

“Well, you see, the sheets are too heavy for me.” he complained.

“Did you ask for help?” she asked.

“Yes,” he said dramatically.

“Did you ask specifically, or just shouted that you need help?” again he didn’t answer. “Nudge, you need to ask someone specifically.” He began to look around, and Clara walked up to them.

“I can help, I’m not one to sit idle.” she said. Autumn agreed, it would be good for the girl.

“This WAY! Shouted Nudge as he leaped again.

“Nudge,” said Autumn warningly. He landed and didn’t leap up again. There was a knock on the door, and she answered it. A man was standing there with a note in his hand, he gave it to her.

“You are the orphan mother?” he said. Autumn nodded as he constantly shifted his weight from one leg to the other. She opened up the note, reading. It was a letter of recommendation, from a woman who adopted a girl a few years ago.

“When my wife and I said that we planned to adopt, our neighbor suggested this place,” he said. Autumn smiled at him.

“You are here to adopt?” she confirmed. “Good,” she said when he nodded his ascent. “You can come in and interact with the kids, but keep in mind that a lot of these kids have seen trauma, so I need you to be gentle,” she cautioned, then led him inside.

“Why is your wife not here? She asked as she led him through the building.

“She wanted to come, but she was very busy working today.” the man explained. “But, we’ve always wanted a child, but have never been able to have any of our own, so we came to the decision to adopt.”

“Well, if you do find a child whom you want, we have a procedure. First, I will go and visit the house itself, to make sure that it is safe for the children. Then they may visit with you for a while, to make sure that everything goes smoothly, and finally, you may adopt.” The man shrugged, just then Nudge leaped back into the room.

“I’M DONE!” he announced, bouncing on his feet, then he noticed the man.

“I told you that there was someone coming up the path,” he said proudly.

“And what is your name?” the man said.

“I’m Nudge!” he said, unable to keep his voice down. “Do you want to go play outside?” he asked directly.

“Outside it is,” the man said with a chuckle, and they departed.

The stars were just appearing out of the sky when the dinner bell rang and the children all gathered, holding out their bowls to be filled with soup. Autumn handed Clara a bowl, and she was also served, joining the children on the floor where they ate. They talked and laughed, one boy was recounting the epic game of hide and seek. She ate quickly and quietly, watching, enjoying their conversation. They were all curious about the new girl, and began to pester her.

“How old are you?” asked one,

“Do you like soup?” said another. They bombarded her with question after question.

“Hey,” said Autumn, “That’s enough questions for Clara for one day, okay?” she said, she saw Clara breathe a sigh of relief. “Now, clean up your dishes, get ready for bed, and settle down for a story.” The children dispersed, doing as they were told, “Clara?” She called, the girl turned to her, “the younger children stay for story, but the older ones go either quietly read or tal. They are allowed to be up later, you can go with them if you want,” she explained.Clara nodded and turned to where the older children had gone. Satisfied, the woman turned her attention back to the younger children, helping them get ready for bed, and had them sit for story time. They were squirrely at first, but gradually dropped off to sleep, and placed in beds, a few of them waking up and having to be put back to sleep. Then she went to send the older children to bed.

“It’s time to sleep now,” she said after knocking on the girl’s room doorway. Her eyes searched for Clara, but she didn’t see her. “Alexandrea?” she said, choosing the girl closest to her.

“Yes?” said the girl.

“Did Clara come in here?” Alexandrea shook her head.

“No, I haven’t seen her,” the other girls added in mumbles of agreement.

“Okay, maybe she went to the spare bed, now it’s time to go to sleep, girls.” They all bedded down, “And no staying up and talking like last night,” she said, a few of the girls giggled. Autumn shook her head with a smile on her face. She went to the spare bed, but Clara wasn’t there. She started searching through the house, looking for the girl, but she knew in her heart the truth, Clara was gone.Autumn picked up an apple and walked over to the girl.

“Here,” she offered. Clara reached out and took it. Clara nervously tapped her fingers again, then took a bite into the apple. She smiled at the teen.

“Where did everyone go?” Clara asked.

“In town, Jonathan is taking them. He’s a great help. I don’t know what I am going to do when he decides to leave.” she said.

“So, you could leave whenever you want to? No one would stop me?” Clara said.

“Well, if you were about to do something that could get you hurt, I would stop you. What are you thinking?” Autumn said, slightly suspicious.

“I-n-nothing. It’s nothing.” She said finally. Autumn left for a minute, and came right back with some ointments, Clara had finished her apple, and thrown it out the window.

“Let’s take care of those cuts so they don’t get infected.” she said as she gestured for the girl to roll up her sleeves. Underneath Clara’s sleeves were a few more cuts. Her face was slightly red as the woman worked quietly, gently putting ointments on each. She shook her head where she saw the burn branding mark on her arm. But she continued working, rubbing in different gauzes and oils.