There are no matters of the heart overlooked in this tale. There may be those who are the best of what another desires.
This union of thought has often brought those together who might never have known what happiness could be.
This need may not be one of a romantic nature but more, a sense of being a part of something larger or greater than oneself. The union with these others will naturally form with no need to bring attention to what becomes obvious.
Our young travelers were to have each their own adventures along their way but would only come together because they each are of a blend of peoples who had more need to know than to attend to their private affairs.
These were drawn together across a great gulf of time and place simply because it should happen. Let us see how the journey progresses . . .
Varspree was a centrally located town, much visited by the surrounding countryside, but being on the intersection of several byways it was obvious its possibilities were unlimited.
However, the unusual seemed the rule rather than the exception.
Topping a rise, Anisah's eyes grew wide as the town spread out below. Varspree was not really very large, just a conglomerate of buildings, inns, pubs, shops, shacks, and a few finer homes on the edge of the hill where she sat.
It was, however, the largest place she had ever seen and she couldn't believe such a place could exist.
Shaking herself from her reverie, she walked the horse down the hill and into the hubbub of the streets. Horses, carts, wagons, people walking across the streets at random made her uneasy.
Sumt'r could be anywhere and, in the confusion, she could not distinguish individuals. Everyone smelled badly, dressed extravagantly, and bumped their ways along the avenue.
She arrived at dusk and now darkness was beginning to envelop the town. Anisah knew she shouldn't be out on the streets.
She was again feeling she should have never left home; she could turn around and ride back the way she came and none of this would matter. But she remembered Brae'x, her stepfather, and knew to return was impossible.
Suddenly a low, lewd voice growled from her side near her stirrup
"Eh, lassie, got something to keep a fella warm, have ye?"
Anisah stiffened and instinctively kicked the horse, sending him into a loping gallop. The horse was dodging obstacles in its way, knocking people into the dust, upsetting carts. Anisah had to cling to its mane to save her life.
She spotted an alley ahead and yanked violently on the reins. The animal slowed enough to turn into the opening and headed for an open stable door near the end of the alley. Anisah was pulling back on the reins as hard as she could, hurting her arms with the effort. They burst through the opening together.
The horse, realizing he had gone as far as he could without running into a wall, slammed his hooves into the dust and slid to a stop. Anisah, thrown from her mount and over his head, landed in a pile of hay in a stall.
"Hey! Ow! What do ya think yore doin'?" a muffled voice yelped from the hay.
Anisah, still in shock from her ride through the streets and just realizing what had happened to her, tried to scramble backwards but tumbled head over heels down the hay pile.
She landed with a grunt and lay groaning in the dust in the stall, sputtering from the dirt in her nose and mouth.
Looking up, she could see a dark head poking up from the hay, the straw jutting out in all directions from its hair.
"Who're you and why'd you come crashin' into my life ?" demanded the boy from under the head of straw. He stood up, brushing the hay away, staring down at her. She sat where she was; her hands propped behind her to hold her up out of the hay, and blinked.
"You should take care where you fall asleep," she said finally, with certain haughtiness obvious in her voice.
"I wasn't sleepin'. I was hiding!" he grunted back.
"Hiding?"
"Yes, hiding. I'm bone tired. Mistress Farlen's got me scrubbin' pots, doin' wash, just a plain ole servin' maid stuff -- and I still gotta keep this stable clean." he added, plopping down on the hay and sliding down to sit in front of Anisah.
"Damn Esme, the stupid cow, hope she gets herself drowned."
"Esme? Who's Esme?" Anisah interjected.
"Oh sure, Esme! She's one of the serving girls, ran off with a sailor a fortnight ago. Now I'm doin' her job and mine," he spouted, looking at Anisah hatefully. “Ya still haven't told me who you are and what you're doin' in this stable.”
"I don't know what I'm doing here. Actually, my horse threw me in here," she told him, realizing this situation might be an opportunity she needed desperately. "Maybe I can help you though."
"How?" the boy looked impatiently at this foolish girl. He had had about enough of foolish girls for one life.
"Maybe Mistress Farlen would give me the serving maid job. I'm new here, need a job and a place to sleep," she said, waving at her horse who stood at the end of the stable blowing his breath in gasps, "and a place for my horse"
"Well, I don't know whether she'd hire you lookin' like you do. Where you been sleeping? In a tree?" he laughed. "But maybe we can figure out a way to get you a job. It sure would help me a lot.
“Let's see what we can do 'bout the way you look. You look like a wood sprite and methinks your lovely gown could use a bit of washin'."
"You'd look quite a sight yourself if you'd been nabbed by a gang of thieves," Anisah snarled back at him. "I've escaped from them, spent the night in the woods, rode a horse all day. I'm hungry and tired. I should have never left home!"
Anisah began sobbing, covered her face with her hands and sank wearily back into the hay; her defiance totally spent.
"Now, now, lassie, don't ye cry. You girls are always a' cryin'. My sisters cry all the time for no good reason I can see. Come on now. Don't cry. Look, I'll feed your horse and get 'im some water. Then we'll get you all cleaned up. I'm sure Mistress Farlen'll have ya. Please, just stop your cryin'," the boy babbled on. His concern showed on his face, as he paced back and forth, trying anything to distract Anisah.
"Do you think she will give me the job?" Anisah snuffled, wiping her tears away on her dirty dress, smearing her face.
"Yes, yes. She surely needs someone to do the sewing at least and she'll probably have you seeing to the rooms as well; those were Esme's jobs. But let's get you cleaned up first. I'll get some water so you can wash up and we'll get those leaves out of your hair. Just brush your dress off for now, and don't worry. Everything'll be fine," the boy said as he jumped up and ran out the barn door, "Stay here, I'll be back with the water."
Anisah stood up and looked down at her dress. The boy was right; she looked a mess. Dust and dirt everywhere and a tear in the hem of her dress, but who could blame her.
Sighing deeply, she sat down and began to try to beat some of the worst of the grime from her clothing. She was making some progress.
At least, I was wearing dark clothes.
Shortly the boy came back through the door, carrying a bucket.
"Here's the water, just like I promised," he said, smilingly like a bonrago, "and I got a comb from Mercy, she'll want it back, but I figured it would be easier than using yer fingers since ya got such long hair." he held out the comb.
"Thank you," Anisah said, taking it and placing it next to the bucket. She walked over to where the horse was standing quietly munching hay, retrieved her pack and dug inside to find her kerchief.
"Could you see to my horse, please? I'm sure he's awfully tired and thirsty," she asked, smiling at the horse with his nose in the hay, "but then, he seems to be taking care of the eating part himself," she added, laughing.
"Sure, I'll get him some oats and more water, then I'll get the saddle off and he'll be fine. Where'd ya get him?" asked the boy.
"Stole him from the cursed son of a whore who tried to have his way with me. Might teach him to pick on someone his own size," she said with more bravado than she felt.
 
; She plunged her face and arms into the water and begun rubbing at them to get as much dirt as possible off with no soap available. Wetting the edge of the kerchief, she wiped her face and neck then she swabbed at her arms.
While she was washing herself, Col’n attended her horse. He removed the saddle, fed and watered the animal, and brushed him so his coat was shiny and gleamed in the lamplight.
"Well, how's that. Col'n?" she said, turning so he could see her. She held her arms out and turned slowly. She asked his name while he watched her cleaning. She liked it, a good name.
"Well, better. But yer hair is a mess," he suggested, grimacing a little as though there might be no way to resolve some problems.
"We'll see!" she snapped, and laughing she grabbed up the comb and began pulling it through her tangled mop. After a few struggling strokes and some pulled hair, she stopped.
“This might take a little longer than I thought and I might need some help since I can't see behind me. I'll, at least, need to know when I have brushed all the leaves and twigs out." She yanked at her hair a few more times.
"I might as well just cut it off," she sighed. Then she pulled a part of the snarled mess over her shoulders and began to comb in earnest. But she was so tired the effort seemed too much.
"Won't you be getting into trouble soon. Someone must be looking for you by now." Anisah asked, as she dragged the comb through another clump of hair.
"No, no one will come around for a while. Besides, I'm supposed to be muckin' out here in the stables, tossin' hay, and seein' to the horses, so I ain't gonna be missed," he answered, turning to look at her, noticing what a terrible time she was having reaching all of her hair.
"Here, let me help ya," he suggested, putting the curry comb down beside her and began picking some of the large pieces of trash out as she dragged the comb through yet another section.
"You was really kidnapped?" he asked after a bit.
"It was a nightmare come true," she answered, pausing and giving a great sigh as she remembered. "But it's turning out just fine now. I even have my own horse." She dropped her arms to her side for a moment.
"I think I was pretty clever, if you ask me," she added, laughing again and returning to her task. She told him her story of adventure while they worked.
"Well," she said, giving her hair a final pat, "what do you think?" She turned slowly so he could see the transformation.
"Much better," Col’n replied, nodding his head, "Decent enough to meet Miz Farlen anyhow. Though she'll want to be givin' ya a thorough washing up once she sees ya. Best I get back or they will be lookin' for me," he added. She picked up the lantern and they started for the barn door.
"Come on, now's as good a time as any to meet her, if she likes ya, she'll be wantin' to' feed you a solid meal anyway."
"Thank you so much for all your help," Anisah said as she handed back the lantern and the comb, "I was at the end of my wits until I ran into you," she said laughing. Col'n looked at her strangely then he too began to laugh.
"Don't thank me too much just yet, wait'll you see what happens inside," he said over his shoulder as he led the way.
They crossed a small garden, went up and through a back door Anisah noticed earlier. She paid particular attention to how neat everything was and how well repaired.
They stepped into a huge kitchen, bustling with activity after the dinner just completed in the dining hall.
A girl, in swirling skirts, crashed through a door opposite them, her arms loaded with plates and utensils from the tables. Anisah caught a glimpse of her as the girl passed, hair was hanging loosely about her face. She was flushed from her efforts.
She spotted them and shouted, "Here now, Col’n, when I lent ya my comb, I'd no idea you'd be half the night, playing ladies' man to some trollop. I got my hands full here, get out there and make yourself useful, boy."
"Please, it wasn't his fault," Anisah interjected
"I've no time for yer explanation, girl." the girl spoke sharply as she slammed the dishes she was carrying into a huge tub of soapy water, sending suds flying in all directions. "Col’n knows what his job is and when its supper time he's supposed to be done with his outside stuff so he can help in here."
She turned to the large table spread with food, filled several plates, balanced them perfectly along her arm, grabbed some clean hand towels with the other hand, and turned to go back through the door again.
Anisah stood stunned by the brash attacks of this fiery lady.
"If you'd like to make it up to me for stealing my help, you could grab some more plates and follow me, otherwise be off with ya' and out of my way. I'll thank ya to be courtin' on someone else's time," she hurled the last over her shoulder as she banged through the door, almost hitting Col’n who was on his way in with a load of dirty dishes.
Anisah snapped out of her shock. This whirling dervish must be Mercy.
Anisah ran and began grabbing dishes, balancing them as she saw Mercy do, pushed her hip into the door and out into the dining room. She spotted Mercy's red kerchief bobbing through the crowd of tables, chairs and people eating.
Working her way across the room, dodging swaying patrons, flailing arms, dancers, having her bottom pinched. She did squeal when that happened and jumped.
But it occurred more than once and she wasn't able to retaliate because her hands were so full. She tripped over several obstacles but still managed to make her way to where Mercy was standing by a table.
"Well now, here ya are, thought ya might have gotten yourself lost," Mercy's eyes twinkled with mischief as she grabbed the plates from Anisah's arm and practically threw them on the table as though they were playing cards.
"Now, go get some of those wine pitchers," she pointed to the bar on the front side of the room. "They need another round here. Be quick about it. When yer done, get back to the kitchen and mind ya don't come back out here with empty hands!"
Anisah scurried toward the bar, dodging the same problems she had crossing the room the first time. She was beginning to think she might be getting better when she finally reached the bar.
A little bald man behind the bar was yelling and taking orders from everyone within a few feet, pouring ale and wine into great pitchers as fast as he could.
"Please, sir," she shouted, above the noise in the room, "I'm to get a pitcher of wine for that table there," she pointed in the direction of the table across the room.
"Who are you, girl. You're not any of our help, unless my wife has hired you without tellin' me," he shouted back at her.
"No, sir, you're wife hasn't met me. Col’n was helping me, and he was late to help with supper. So Mercy, she told me I had to help to make up the difference," she yelled back.
A drunk staggered against the bar almost knocking Anisah off her feet, but she stood her ground, grabbed his shoulder and twisted him around and back out into the crowd.
"Well, if yer helpin' Mercy, go ahead and we'll sort it all out later. Mind you'll not be servin' anybody not payin'," he grinned at her and returned to filling the great pitchers.
Anisah pushed her way back through the crowd.
I'm definitely getting the hang of this.
She deftly dodged a hand headed for one of her breasts and arrived back at the table without too much damaged to her person. She poured wine all around the table and headed back toward the kitchen, placing the pitcher on a table where a cluster of empty ones sat.
Banging through the kitchen door, she saw Col’n scrubbing dishes in one large tub, dunking them in another one, and stacking them as fast as he could.
A large woman suddenly burst through another door into the kitchen, scaring Anisah so much she jumped backwards almost falling into one of the tables of food.
"Here now, who might you be, what're ya doin' in my kitchen, young lady?" Mistress Farlen spoke with authority, marching straight to her as she talked.
She was a large, round woman, her face, her hands, and ev
en her hair, tied tightly in a bun, evoked a certain roundness. She wore a simple blue woolen dress with a white cotton full apron, brown woolen stockings and sturdy brown leather shoes.
Col’n tried to intercede. "Mistress Farlen, ma’am, I found this girl in the stable all cryin' and afraid, she'd escaped from a bunch of thieves and looked a sight. She doesn't have anywhere to go and needs a place to stay and some money so I thought Esme's runnin' off like she did. Well, maybe you could use a servin' girl and she's already been helpin' Mercy . . ."
He finished with a great gasp as he tried to catch his breath after his long speech.
Mistress Farlen glared down at him, "Such wild stories, Col’n. Your stories will be the end of you yet."
"No, ma’am, he's telling the truth. He brought me water so I could wash some and wanted me to meet you, but I took so much time he was late for supper. So Mercy said I should help her to make up for the trouble I caused, so I just started helping. But you don't owe me anything for what I've done and I - I can be on my way," Anisah offered.
The woman waited for Anisah to finish, looked at Col’n again and back at her. Anisah had a sinking feeling this wasn't going to work out as well as she hoped. Mistress Farlen's stare now concentrated on her.
"I don't know about these stories of thieves and such and don't have time right now for the listening. But seeing as how you're willin' to work, you may as well get back out there and do what ya can to help. I'm short-handed, so if ya do a decent job there might be a place for ya. We'll see how ya do, show ya how to do some other things as ya go along."
She turned back to Col’n who stood watching, water dripping on the floor from his wet hands, "And you, mister, can get back to scrubbin' dishes instead of standin' there gawkin'". Col'n jumped as though hit and busily began to grind away on the dishes as Mrs. Farlen turned away from both of them to talk to the cook.
As Mistress Farlen rushed off, Col’n turned slightly and smiled at Anisah. She grinned back at him, got busy loading up another group of plates, and slamming her bottom against the door again and pushed her way back into the dining room.
It was late when Anisah and Mercy finally finished and the bedlam in the dining hall was reduced to a small murmur. They gathered all the empty plates and dishes, washed all the pitchers and mugs, put up the chairs, banked up the fire in the great hearth at the end of the great room, and turned the lanterns down low for those still sitting at the tables talking.
"You didn't do too bad a job," Mercy admitted, nodding her head, as they were completing the clean-up job, "And I gotta apologize. I'm sorry for callin' ya a trollop."
"That's all right, you were angry. I'm just glad you let me help," Anisah replied wearily.
"Is it like this every night?" she asked.
"Well, lass, I didn't let you help, I couldna have finished without you, or Col’n, takin' at least part of the load, especially since Esme ran off. But yes, every night except Sundays, and not just nights either, we serve all day. Mistress Farlen is a good woman though. I get a nice bed, hot meals and a bit of money for me troubles," Mercy talked, as she placed more dishes on the shelves.
She was fairly young, older than Anisah, but not much. She always seemed flushed and flurried as she worked, but she was a big girl and Anisah knew Mercy probably could handle most any problem she came across. Anisah worked hard. When she was at home, Brae'x saw to that, but this was different, very different. She wasn't certain she could endure it.
Mistress Farlen came back into the kitchen, where the girls were sitting while they talked.
"Well, lass, you're still here, that's a pretty good sign. You did a passable job tonight, and I do need the help. So if you'd like the job, I'll give you what Esme got in pay. You can always make a little out there from some of the more generous gentlemen in that herd," she laughed. Her smile was pleasant and she seemed much less harsh than before.
Anisah relaxed a little and knew she liked Mistress Farlen now she had a chance to actually talk to her quietly, "Do ya think ya might like to work for me then."
"Oh, yes ma’am, I certainly would love to have the job," Anisah blurted out, knowing this was an unbelievably fortunate circumstance for her. She almost cried, but sniffled and smiled at Mistress Farlen, "Thank you ever so much."
"Well, now we have a different problem," Mistress Farlen added, the frown back on her face, then she smiled again, "first thing we need to do with ya is give ya a decent bath, a little food, and then to bed with ya."
"Oh, Mistress Farlen, thank you so much, I can think of nothing better. Lord knows I need the bath and I'm starving. I think I last ate a couple of days ago, but I can't really remember. Things have been movin' so fast. But, thank you again," Anisah poured out, her happiness, her hunger and her weariness, making her a little giddy.
"Come on then, child. Let's get some of the grime offa ya. Col’n, ya go get some water for the tub and put it on the fire, and stoke the fire up a bit while you're there, put some more wood on it." She turned and startled the boy who was quietly stacking dishes, and wiping the counters and tables while he listened, but he jumped and grabbed a pail and started to dash out the back door.
"I've a pack of clothes out in the barn," Anisah offered helpfully.
"Take a lantern, boy, and while you're out there get the girl's pack from the stable," Mistress Farlen yelled after the boy,
"Mercy honey, ya go ahead upstairs and make up the other bed in your room; if you will, child; I know ya must be beat down and I thank you, as you know. But you can help, then come back down and get yourself some supper," she spoke gently to Mercy.
Mercy nodded and went up the stairs. Col’n ran out the door, stumbling through it. He returned shortly, poured water into a big kettle hanging from its irons in the fireplace, added a couple of logs to the fire, swung the kettle over, turned and walked back out through the door with his lantern.
Mistress Farlen wandered around the room slowly, hanging some things, putting away others, while the water in the kettle was heating. Anisah stood where she was, too exhausted to move, watching the woman tidy the place.
"Come here now, lass, ya get into this tub and relax a little," Mistress Farlen was talking as she pulled the kettle away from the fire, dipped into it with one of the buckets. She poured the boiling water into a tub setting near the hearth on the side away from the staircase. Mistress Farlen turned to Anisah, "Now do you have a name, child?"
"Yes, ma’am, I'm Anisah," Anisah moved slowly toward the tub, yawning as she went. She was just about to remove her clothes when Col’n came back in with her pack.
"Wonderful. Thank ya, Col’n," Mistress Farlen said to the boy, "but I believe we need two more buckets of water, if ya will, lad." Col’n grabbed two more buckets and flew out the door, thankful he wasn't in trouble.
Anisah removed her clothes after the boy left. She almost had to tear them off; they had gotten so crusty. She slid slowly into the tub letting the water engulf her as she sank into it.
Mercy returned bringing a sliver of soap from upstairs. She handed it to Anisah, who, as drowsy as she was, had enough awareness to reach and take it.
"Thought ya might be a'needin' this. Took a chunk off the big roll in the pantry," Mercy added, as she backed away smiling at this little girl almost drowning herself.
"Oh, thank you, Mercy, that's very nice of you," Anisah spoke in low tones, wondering if she was going to be able to stay awake.
She began to lather her body and even dunked her hair and began scrubbing it, when Col’n burst back into the room.
Anisah, surprised, trying to slide quickly back under the water, went completely under but rose as quickly, spewing and sputtering, soap trailing down her face. She wiped her eyes with her hands but that only made matters worse. Mercy grabbed a towel nearby and helped Anisah wipe her face.
"Sit down, boy, and quit your gawkin'" Mistress Farlen spoke to Col’n who had stopped just inside the door, standing and holding the bucket
s of water without moving, "put your buckets down over here, and get yourself some food. You too, Mercy." She pointed to where she wanted the buckets, and turned back to Anisah.
The boy stumbled over, put the buckets down and went to get some food but ran into a table, still staring at Anisah who lowered herself back under the water. Mercy just shook her head and followed him, grinning and mumbling about how foolish boys were.
"Now, Anisah, tell me some of these stories Col’n was blathering about," Mistress Farlen sat down beside the tub and watched the girl finish her bath.
Mr. Farlen came blasting through the door at that moment, returning from the cellar where he had retrieved more wine kegs and ale for tomorrow's business.
Anisah ducked back under the water again but not quite as much as before, amazed at the sudden increase in traffic, particularly male traffic, since she had climbed into the bath.
This whole affair was like an open parlor; she wasn't accustomed to so much activity when she took a bath. But Mr. Farlen didn't even glance her way but barged into the dining room with his load, too busy to worry about her.
Once again, Anisah recounted her tale of adventure bringing it to the point where she walked into the kitchen. Col’n left to go to bed while she was talking.
"Ya lived an exciting life, Anisah. I'm not so sure there ain't just a bit more danger than I want to expose myself to. Right now I'm tired and goin' to bed. I'll see ya at breakfast," Mercy said as she stood up, stretched, and went up the stairs.
"My goodness, lass, that's quite a tale. Can't believe a little girl like you could have managed all that," Mistress Farlen said shaking her head.
Anisah had, while she was finishing her story, stepped out of the tub and dried herself. She put some of her clothes on from her pack, not exactly clean but not as dirty as what she had just taken off, sat and ate a bit of the food though she was surprised she wasn't as hungry as she had thought, and felt totally exhausted.
Anisah found it hard just remembering her travels.
And all I wanted to do was go to Tariny and study herbal curing. This was not what I expected either.
"So off to bed with ya, girl. Mercy's probably left the lantern on for you. Just go to the top of the stairs and turn left, the room's about five doors down."
Anisah nodded her head drowsily, climbed the steps and following Mistress Farlen's directions, found the room and her new bed, blew out the candle Mercy had left burning for her, fell into bed and was asleep instantly.
Mr. Farlen had returned during Anisah's story and was sitting on a bench listening. He rose and walked toward the hearth to knock out his pipe; his wife paused a moment listening to him before heading up the stairs.
"I wonder where she really comes from; we'll probably never know. It don't really matter to me as long as she does her job and doesn't steal from us. Her story is certainly hard to believe. Seems the gods are protecting her. Well, time to stop this day and get some rest. I need it, it's been a long one," he said to his wife as she disappeared around a corner, banked the dying coals in the fireplace, and followed her up the stairs.
He was very cynical about some of the people his wife had had working for her; several had stolen a night's till and run away.
I work hard and don't need to worry about some tramp taking what's mine.
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Anisah was watching a young girl sitting on a small rock in the middle of a field of flowers. Other children surrounded the girl. Many were running about, shouting, laughing; some were sitting around near the rock the girl sat on.
As she watched, Anisah realized all of the children had some physical defect, some had clubbed feet, others had facial deformities, some were blind, some seemed deaf, and others had no control over the muscles in their bodies. She felt cold at the realization, her heart ached and she couldn't breathe freely.
These poor children! Why do they seem so happy? She wondered as she watched the girl rise from the rock and began to walk among the children. She was dressed in a shimmering blue robe and turned to each child and gently caressed each one's face as she moved.
Anisah felt her heart would stop; she felt only numbness and her thoughts whirled. Then the girl turned and looked at her and she knew why.
The girl from the rock was her, a bit older; she was watching herself. The other reached into the folds of the robe and drew forth a small clear ball, wrapped in a net of gleaming metal, a gossamer bubble.
The sun's glow shimmered and sparkled as its light passed through it. She turned the ball slowly in her hand and let it drop from her hand. It hung suspended reflecting the sun as if through clear diamonds; everything viewed from the other side of the globe was magnified.
The sky somehow seemed much bluer reflected in the misty jewel. The children oohed and aahed as the orb began to spin faster and faster, rising over their heads.
Suddenly, the orb became incandescent, burst into a shower of tiny diamonds, floating softly down like a gentle snow, onto the heads of each child. The tiny flickers seemed to expand and flow like crystal liquid over the bodies of the children touching them gently where the injuries were more pronounced.
The children began to cry out with joy and amazement, touching themselves as the essence flowed over them like slow rivulets of clear silver.
One small boy cried out and began to leap about, "I can see! I can see!" All around other children began to cry out in amazement. "My feet! My feet, I can stand! Look at me!" And another, "Ooh! Too loud." she moaned as she covered her ears.
All the children seemed to be cured of what had affected them; they danced about, perfect children who were rescued from their own hell.
Anisah, of the vision, walked to the last little girl and picked her up, smoothing her hair, and rocking her softly.
The orb floated back to Anisah and hung in the air. She reached and cradled it in her hand, slipping it back into her robe.
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Anisah sat up in bed gasping, looking around her in the darkness. "What's the matter?" Mercy asked sleepily, rolling in her bed and fumbling about in the dark with her cover.
"Nothing. Please, nothing. Please go back to sleep. I was just having a nightmare," Anisah answered, "Don't get up, it’s all right. Go back to sleep." She heard Mercy lay down.
Anisah slid back under her own covers, disturbed but yet intrigued. What kind of magical healing was this? She had never seen, or heard of, such a thing. How lovely it was. A magic bubble spread its healing powers over all. But why was I the person who possessed the orb?
She drifted back to sleep, wondering.
Anisah awoke the next morning to Mercy's voice shaking her and calling her name, "Get up, Anisah, we'll be late if we don't get a move on. We've got to get downstairs to freshen the fire, heat up the stove, get the milk and eggs, and help Col’n get water for washin' the dishes."
Anisah jumped up but sank back to the edge of the bed. The cold crept into her feet from the floor and helped clear her head. She made her way to a washstand she saw by the window, splashed her face with its icy water. Giving a short gasp at the cold, she turned to find Mercy almost dressed.
She grabbed her skirt from where she had tossed it on the end of the bed and pulled it over her head, trying to button it, her hands were numb from the cold. She retrieved her boots and sitting on the bed, tugged them on, jumped up and ran down the hall after Mercy.
The morning was a rush of chores and orders. Mistress Farlen kept several cows and chickens for herself, so she wouldn't have to deal with the 'thieves in the market.
"And they call themselves farmers, probably all stolen goods in this town," she huffed.
The girls were starving by the time they had a chance to sit and eat. "How'd you girls sleep last night?" Mistress Farlen asked Anisah.
"Oh, quite well. Thank you," replied Anisah. Mercy gave her an odd look from under her brow but said nothing as she returned to he
r food.
"After breakfast, we'll get your clothes washed before the first drunks begin to arrive. It won't take long and I have my own to do anyway. Mercy'll help. Col’n will too when he's finished with his stable chores.
Col’n, you'll need to get us some more water and start it heating over the fire, bring enough so's we have plenty of rinsin' water.” “More important than you know, the rinsin' water," she nodded toward Anisah, "makes things fresher smelling."
They all jumped, began gathering the clothes, separating them, and scurrying about, like Mistress Farlen's chickens. They wanted to try to get them washed and rinsed so they could hang them to dry.
Anisah and Mercy finished this chore just in time to start serving dinner. Mercy taught Anisah about the costs of the food and the drinks, and more about how to properly serve a table instead of flinging the food at the guest.
She also pointed out there was a special dining room where the more refined guests ate and, grinning as she mentioned it, where the best tips were. Luckily, Anisah knew how to add and subtract money, learned when she had helped her father at the village market.
Later, the two girls cleaned all the rooms, emptying chamber pots, and bringing in fresh pails of water to clean the washbowls, while most of the guests were out wandering around the town.
Soon, the evening arrivals flowed through the doors in a continuous line, calling for food and drink, and more food, and more ale, round after round, endlessly.
Finally, things began to slow down and, as the last of the diners staggered out the front door or up to their rooms, the girls were able to walk into the kitchen.
There they grabbed a crust of bread with some cheese before starting the cleaning of all the dishes; mopped the floors of the dining hall; wiped all the tables clean; and stacked the chairs for the night.
As usual, Col’n was performing the dish washing chores, but helped occasionally by carrying an especially large load of dishes for the girls.
At the end of this second day and Anisah's first full day of work, she staggered into the kitchen with a last load of plates and collapsed into a chair. Mr. Menden and his guest were just finishing their wine and beginning to disperse to go to their rooms.
"I'll finish the dishes if you'll mop," offered Mercy, sitting with her arms draped in her lap, too exhausted to move.
"I don't know which is worse, but it doesn't really matter. All I want is to be done and go to bed." Anisah replied.
She went to the far corner of the kitchen, opened the door to the closet under the stairs and pulled out the mop and tub. Pouring water from one of the buckets into the tub, she pushed the mop into the water; splashed it onto the floor and began to mop near the rear entrance.
She scattered a few flakes of soap she shaved from the cake near the sink and methodically scrubbed the old floors, pushing the mop in small circles. She felt she was working through the process while sleeping on her feet.
Once, she pulled back the door to throw dirty water out into the yard and paused so long the door swung shut and smacked across her bottom. She yelped, kicked the door and slumped back to her task.
She was mopping in the corner of the dining hall near the bar when the door on the other side of the room opened and she heard a man's voice.
She whirled about with the mop held out in front of her as if it were a shield.
TOGETHER