The Rogue Dragon

Stealing food from Cole’s kitchen will be simple. After all, I’ve been doing it ever since I learned how to steal. With Cole’s permission of course. When we were smaller, after a day of playing in the Forest of Shadows I would sneak into the kitchen while the cook was occupied and take tea cakes, scones, apples, sandwiches and bottles of milk. We would have a fine picnic in the woods by our Crystal pond and swim in the cold water to fight the summer heat.

I will never forget those days with Cole. He will always be a key part of my childhood and who I am today. He helped me realize that I could enjoy life even though it may be difficult, uncertain and unfair. But as much as I love Cole as my friend, he makes more noise than an elephant with a cold. Whereas I am light and fast on my feet, another reason why I have always been a good thief.

Cole and I agreed that he would take Xander to my home to our old “secret hideout.” Also known as my cellar while I would acquire food in his kitchen.

The easiest way to get into the kitchen is through the back door. It’s almost time for tea so I’d expect the cook to be more relaxed about the simplicity and casualness of the meal instead of preparing a five course dinner. I peer through the doors' large paned glass window. Sure enough I spy the cook taking the wrought iron kettle off the hood above the large fireplace with a kitchen towel. She pours the steaming water into the white and gold flecked teapot. She is right on time as I hear a small silver bell sound upstairs marking the start of tea time. The butler marches down the kitchen stairs and takes the tea tray without a word. I smile to myself as the cook goes to the servers common area, plants herself on one of the worn old chairs and begins to doze. I wait until she is snoring loudly when I make my move.

Fortunately I’ve never been caught stealing food from the kitchens which also means the servants have never had a reason to lock the back door.

Ah, such fools.

I gently open the door to keep the old wood from creaking with the strain. I bend my knees to stay low while I make my way to the pantry. I swipe a kitchen towel off the countertop as I tiptoe to the closet of edible goodness. I crack the door a few inches to not be seen but also have enough light to be aware of my surroundings. I am instantly enveloped with hundreds of delicious aromas from the bread, biscuits, cheese, fruit, teas and spices. I cup the towel in my hand and begin filling it with an assortment of food. A loaf of bread, a block of cheese, a few apples, a bag of dried meat and fruit, I even grab a couple of tea bags and a small water skin. Once I am satisfied with the amount and quality of the items, I wrap the extra fabric around the contents into a makeshift bag, secure it with the string I had stolen earlier and cautiously peek out of the cracked door.

Luckily I was quick enough to finish getting what I needed before tea time was finished. As I continue my cautious walk back out the door I hurriedly nick an extra scone off the baking rack. I am careful not to take a bite and risk leaving a trail of crumbs which the cook would be bound to notice.

“Stop!”

Someone shouts and I freeze in place, feeling sweat break out on my forehead and trickle down my back.

I hope foolishly that if I stay completely still I might disappear from sight.

I twisted my head over to where the cook was snoozing in the common area. To my surprise she's still sleeping soundly. She moans and shifts in her chair then settles again. I realize she must've been talking in her sleep and I relax just slightly. But I waste no more time and practically fly out of the door toward my house.

Once I am well away from Cole’s home I walk briskly but also take a moment to admire our small village. There are five villages in the Valley. The first is Sole, the most prosperous village known for their farming, the second is Dyad, which is found in the forest and manufactures wood to create houses. Then Trigon which is used as a port for traders to meet in the center of the Valley, Quadri is known for their fine metal workmanship and mining for ore, then it comes to Quintus my town, which is the poorest village in the Valley. We are not very talented in one particular craft but we are the town with many professions. Such as my father being an apothecary, others weave fabrics, some raise livestock, our talent is adapting to survive. But it’s still a no less beautiful place. Especially nearing the end of summer, this place is still green and filled with life. Though this town has seen much hardship, I’ve found the people are still cheerful and willing to help each other. It’s also the reason why I only steal from visitors from other villages because the people of my village have always been kind to me and my family. Well most of them anyway.

The school teacher Madam Adelin waves at me as I pass.

“Afternoon Miss Wren!”

I smile warmly and wave back.

I had to stop going to school when I was ten because my family could not afford to pay for the fees each year. Madam Adelin always regretted not being able to help me finish school and encouraged me to keep learning. Despite me not being able to do school I wished Kade would have the opportunity but we had no such luck though me and my father have been able to teach Kade how to read and write. The few children that go to the official school of the village are people like Cole. The children from families who can afford to pay their fees. Other than that all the children from the less fortunate families have been taken. The law is that if families can’t fulfill the payment on the Night of the Amber Moon the youngest child from that family is offered up to pay the debt. That child will be enough to cover the payment for that night and for all future taxes. There are some people who give a child purposely so they won’t have to pay each year but no matter how bad things get Kade is my brother not an object or an animal. I steal everyday to get enough money so that I won’t have to give him up like so many others have done before me willingly or unwillingly.

There are several empty nesters in our village young and old, all not able to make the tax so their child was given to pay their debts. It’s been a complete miracle that none of my siblings or me has been taken from my father. My mother died in childbirth after Kade was born so he has no memory of her but I remember her just fine. Kade asks me and Wayne about her constantly but he has the sense to not ask father. Father hasn't stopped grieving for her and I can see the pain of that loss in his eyes everyday. I miss my mother too, more than I admit but I can’t stop working to mourn. I wish my father would do the same and do more to keep his own family afloat instead of just filling the villagers' needs.

I notice an older man, Mr. Parrish having trouble carrying a crate of strawberries to his home. I almost see the crate tip to one side in slow motion and rush forward to help. I catch and hold up the crate with one arm and snatch two escaping strawberries before they roll on the dirt covered ground. Mr. Parrish exclaims.

“Oh thank you Miss Kaiser! You flew out of nowhere like a hawk on a field mouse!”

A smile warmly.

“Your welcome. Can I help you put them somewhere?”

“Oh thank you if you would! Just to my kitchen.”

He leads me through the front door of his modest cheerful cottage and I set down the crate of berries on the dining table. Out of instinct I look around the room for anything valuable but instantly remind myself I’m not going to steal from Mr. Parrish. He’s always been kind to my family and it would be extremely ungrateful if I were to take something valuable. The Parrishs are also empty nesters, their child given long ago to satisfy the debt.

“Is right here ok Mr. Parrish?”

“Oh that’s just fine! Thank you my dear girl. Thank you. Here, please take a bag of berries to your family!”

I politely refuse but the sweet man insists. He takes a clean kitchen cloth and places four handfuls of strawberries and ties it into a sack.

“Please be doing me a favor! Me and my wife surely won’t be needing all of them and I would hate for them to go bad! There’s a good girl. Have a good day! Tell your father hello for me!”

He smiles at me and I grin gratefully as I thank him and head back home with the bag of fresh berries. It’s been a long time since I’ve had strawberries and I’m excited to share them with my family. I stop by Mr. Parrish’s small corral to pet their old stallion Bard. He nuzzles my hand as I rub his ears fondly. I open the pack of strawberries and give him two berries which he munches on gratefully.

“Just so you don't forget who your favorite is eh Bard?”

I whisper to him. He bobs his head in agreement and I leave him to graze.

I try to appear casual as I walk down the grassy cobblestone street and up the steps to the creaking wood door of the shop front. Just in the case that Kade is peeking out the windows in the second floor apartment waiting for me. The gable red shingled roof, the white stucco exterior and every last dark wood plank along the face will always bring back memories. Though I know that this place is practically falling apart just like my life I will do everything in my power to preserve it. I don't care if I have to face down a dragon to keep it standing.

Which, I realize with a shock, depending on what mood Queen Amber wakes up in, I might have to.

Luckily I have already come up with a clever lie like always to ensure that I don't skip a beat when asked about my whereabouts. I have become extremely skilled in lying because I make a point of consistently being honest.

Sometimes too honest but it has its advantages. Now that my family knows that I am willing to tell the truth they have no reason to doubt me when I tell a logical lie.

I use my shoulder to shove the rotting front door open to avoid the hinge halting from all the build up of rust. The old bell rings its cheery tune when I enter and the familiar mixture of exotic and intoxicating aromas fill my nostrils. All manner of medicine derived from varieties of plants fill the shelves with thousands of glass bottles, each containing bright or mysterious colored liquids. Though the building may be old my family keeps it clean and maintains it as best we can for what we can afford. All the aged wood shelves and counters are free of dust, grime and cobwebs and the remedies are always fully stocked. Not that we sell out frequently.

I spy my father’s lanky shoulders so unlike Wayne’s hulking form, with his thick combed hair, round spectacles and neatly trimmed beard helping an old woman choose the correct remedy to help her condition or one of her family members. I would guess that she would be the best recipient judging by her hunched back and shriveled form but my father speaks kindly.

“I'm sorry to hear about your grandson but he should be good as new when you apply the black pepper to his bruises frequently. You should see a difference within a day or two.”

“Oh thank you so much Doctor Kaiser! You have been so kind! Now how much do I owe you for the oil?”

I brace myself for the answer and silently hope in vain that it's the real price. It's been awhile since we have had a walk-in customer and a small sum of money is better than nothing.

“That will be three coppers Mrs. Faraday.”

My father answers. I resist the urge to either sigh, roll my eyes, shake my head, or do all three. Less than half the price of what that oil is worth. Three coppers IS practically nothing. I don't look at my father as I walk to the back of the sales counter and reach the stairs to the apartment.

I hear the meager chink of coins and another exclamation of gratitude when the sound of the bell sees the old women out of the shop.

The stairs creak loudly while I march up to the next floor waiting for one of the steps to give way at one of these days. When I reach the top, I find my brothers waiting for me, Wayne with a questioning expression and Kade practically dying with curiosity.

I look at them tiredly.

“Are you going to wait for me to at least hang up my cloak?”

“No”

The two of them reply in unison and I sigh with exasperation.

“I thought as much.”

Kade is the first to hurl questions at me like a tornado and I patiently wait for him to finish asking so he is able to listen once he's finished.

“What did Cole want? Why was he so scared? Why did he only want you to see? What did you find? How come you-”

“Whoa! Ease up! Let me answer the first couple before I forget them alright?”

Well, I'm not that patient.

I hold up a hand to keep him from saying anything else and begin with my well rehearsed story.

“Look, Cole just took me to the Forest by his house to show me a couple of dragon tracks he found and that was it. We already alerted the village guard just in case.”

Wayne's dark eyes narrow at this new piece of information but he so far seems satisfied with my explanation.

“Dragon tracks? In the Forest of Shadows? How did he find them?”

“He went to look after his family heard a loud crash last night. He got really spooked and ran to show me. You know how he gets when dragons are involved.”

One thing to know about Cole is that he is absolutely terrified of dragons. He'll never admit it but ever since a horrific experience when he was a child he can't stand the thought of dragons being in our village. Which is extremely ironic that he has decided to secretly house one in his backyard and once more I can't believe that I let him convince me to help.

Wayne nods, setting his jaw. Me and my older brother exchange a look of understanding that says we need to be alert for Kade and father if a dragon is in the area. They might decide to attack or they'll send more but either way we need to be ready.

As much as I want to help Cole, if the Amber dragon lashes out all deals are off.

I will do everything in my power to kill her and protect my family.

I hang my oversized cloak on the knobs beside the staircase and go to our tiny yet organized kitchen to wash my hands and face in the lukewarm bowl of water we pumped early this morning. While I am splashing water on my face, Kade’s barrage of questions begin again longing for me to describe my experience in more detail.

“What did the dragon tracks look like? How big was it? Were there really long claw marks-”

“Kade, I can't talk when my face is dripping wet.”

I say with my eyes tight shut and my fingers searching for the worn clean towel.

Kade hands me the towel and continues without skipping a beat.

“Could you tell which dragon it was? Was there fire?”

When I am finally finished washing my face I address him again.

“Yes they were big and no luckily nothing was on fire or that would mean we would be in big trouble. Did we get anything good today?”

I jut my chin at the small bag of coins on the dining table quickly changing the subject before Kade can object. I take a small water skin from our corner pantry and fill it in the drinking water pitcher.

Wayne tries to shrug carelessly but I dont mistake the look of disappointment and worry that crosses his face.

“We didn’t exactly strike gold but it'll help either way. That ring and bracelet you found were worth a good amount. The rest might as well be rubbish.”

Once I've capped the water skin I walk over to touch his shoulder reassuringly and whisper,

“We'll figure something out. We always do.”

Wayne gives me a small smile and I return it easily.

“Well in that case, I am going to check on the snares one more time. See if I can get something before dinner.”

I don my cloak again, take my leather belt with my two small hunting knives just in case, and tossle Kade’s hair playfully before heading back down the stairs.

I obviously have no intention of going to check on our snares. At least not yet.

Thankfully I don't run into my father when I pass through the shop again and I can hear him being preoccupied in the storage area. At least he won't be able to see me out the window while I make my way to the cellar. While he rummaging, I take a small bag of clean cotton bandages from behind the counter, swipe a jar of honey, cleansing alcohol, a salve and oils on my way out and shove them in my deep pockets.

The cellar is a small underground area accessible only from outside our shop. It was another place Cole and I would play when we were children but not since then. Both of us have been engrossed by education, financial situation and family troubles so hopefully no one will think to look for me there. The cellar is only for emergency purposes so we don't use the space frequently. Another reason why it is the ideal hiding place for the mysterious guest.

I crouch as I pass the windows just as a precaution when I reach the doors of the cellar. I rap my knuckles on the wood in four rhythmic nocks to let Cole know it's safe. I pull the rusty metal latch and step down the stone stair while closing the door and locking it behind me. The cellar is dark and my eyes are immediately drawn to the only source of light in the small room.

Cole has lit an old wax candle and I squint to let my eyes adjust to the dimly lit space. I notice Cole has already set up a makeshift bed for the stranger using old blankets and a cot. He watches over the boy while sitting on an old barrel filled with dried grain for emergencies and turns to me with a long sigh of relief.

“I was worried your brothers would find out. Did they buy it?”

I feign offense at the comment and gasp.

“You dare doubt my ability to be a good liar? You seem convinced when I tell you you don’t dress like a complete numpty.”

A look of pretend shock crosses dramatically over Cole’s face and he clutches his heart.

“I like the way I dress! It speaks to my unique and magnetic personality!”

I chuckle slightly and shake my head at the retort. A weak groan from the boy in the cot brings us back to the problem at hand.

“How is he?”

Cole’s lighthearted face becomes dark and worried and I feel the same way. This bloke had better not die on us or that will open up a whole other nasty jar of snakes.

“Not good. At least from what little I know about the medical field he hasn’t eaten or slept in several days and he’s been beaten frequently and brutally. Were you able to get the food?”

I nod and take the small parcel from the depths of my cloak pockets, cleverly concealed to avoid my brother's suspicious gazes.

“I fit as much as I could from your kitchen and I can sneak a couple of things out of my pantry tonight but I might need to go back for more. Oh and I got this.”

I remove the leather water skin and hand it to Cole. He nudges Xander gently on the shoulder to wake him and whispers,

“Hey Xander, Wrens here to help you but you need to sit up.”

Xander groans again but I am impressed to see no other complaints escape his lips. The boy is barely conscious when Cole tries to help him up but he stops suddenly and releases a small cry. I can almost see the sharp pain shoot through his body and I intervene.

“Hold on. Let me have a look.”

Putting up my hand to stop Cole from going any further he slowly lays Xander back on the cot.

I give Cole the sack of food, hang up my cloak by the entrance and get to work. I have to lift up the boy’s ragged dirt and blood streaked shirt to check his chest and stomach. Cole was not kidding when he said Xander had been beaten very frequently. And without mercy.

Large bruises cover his torso and I give him a gentle push, turning him over to examine his back. The boy makes no objections at my inspection but I make sure to be gentle with his movements.

Several more black welts and jagged scars from where the skin was punctured cover his skin and I find that some are still fresh and bleeding. There is also a long but shallow cut on the line of his jaw and the hair on his temple is matted with dried blood from another cut to his head. I’d say he was beaten by a whip or a club of some kind. I roll him back over, rest my hand on his midsection and press ever so slightly. Immediately the boy hisses in pain and struggles to get air into his lungs.

“Hey Xander, you're ok. Just breathe.”

I wait until his breathing steadies but it still comes in painful wheezes.

I nod, ceasing my poking and prodding and turn back to Cole to give my diagnosis.

“He has three, maybe four broken ribs, mild brain damage and quite a few cuts and bruises. I'd say it'll take him several months for full recovery but two to three weeks before he can fully move again. Let's start by giving him some water and I'll get to work on him. He’ll have to hold off for just a bit longer to eat until I can get his ribs secure.”

Cole nods vigorously allowing me to take over as physician.

“Right. Do we need to get any medicine?”

“No, I swiped some on my way out of the apothecary.”

I reach through the pockets of my cloak hanging on the hook and set them on a barrel. I start by putting one hand under the boy’s head and Cole begins to pour a thin trickle of water into his dry mouth. After a couple of seconds of pouring I stop Cole.

“Don't give him too much, his body isnt used to it. We can give him more in a couple of minutes.”

The expression on Xander’s face says he’s anxious for more but I hold firm. It'll just come right back up if we give him too much at once. We’ll have to do it in stages. I gently set down Xander’s head and pull up an extra barrel of grain. Cole hands me the small bundle of food and I unwrap and remove the food to place it on the wooden barrel top. I shake out the clean kitchen towel and have Cole pour some of the water onto the cloth. I go back to the boy and begin cleaning his abdomen, face and back focusing particularly on the open cuts. While I wipe away the grime Cole gives him water one sip at a time. Once I am satisfied, I ask Cole to pour some of the water on my hands to be free of the dirt from the boy’s clothes and body. When my hands are clean I remove the wax sealed bottle of alcohol and apply just a touch on a white piece of pure white cotton. Watching father treat his patients helps me a great deal and I remember that talking to the patient can calm any nerves and help sooth the pain.

“I’m almost done cleaning then I can start bandaging.”

“Can I eat now?”

Xander says almost like a young child begging for supper to be served faster and I chuckle. The blow to the head combined with the sleepiness is doing him wonders.

“In a minute if you are good and stay still for me. This is going to sting a little.”

Xander nods weakly with understanding and I can see him tense to prepare for the inevitable pain. I gently dab alcohol on his bleeding wounds and hear his sharp intake of breath but slowly start to relax as I press on and the burn becomes bearable. The alcohol assists in cleaning away the dried blood and allowing me to see the seriousness of his wounds. Luckily his cuts don’t reach the muscle but it is not a mere slash from a thorn bush. They might be infected from not being treated for so long but once all the layers of blood and grime are gone I apply a disinfecting salve. The salve is derived from plants such as chamomile, lavender, tea tree, lemon, calendula, and arnica mixed with a beeswax base that will help heal the wounds and fight infection. After I have applied the paste to the gashes along his back stomach and face I secure bandages to his skin using honey to stop any bleeding and to keep the salve in place while I wrap his ribs.

“Ok Cole I'm going to need your help with this.”

I finally address him and he immediately jumps to my aid.

“I need you to help him sit up while I wrap him. Hold the end of the bandage and don’t let go no matter how tight it gets because if you loosen it the bones will be out of place.”

“Got it.”

Cole says and puts one hand under Xanders shoulders and helps him sit up slowly using his other hand for support.

“Good, now just hold him.”

I take a long wide roll of cotton and have Cole secure the end under the boy’s back. I begin to wrap tightly around Xanders rib cage to where he begins to wheeze again from the restriction. Cole looks worried too but says nothing and does as he’s told. After I’ve finished I secure the end with a sewing pin and tell Xander he can lie back down. Both breathe a sigh of relief and I wipe the back of my hand across my sweaty forehead. The hard part is over so now I can work on the remaining injuries.

“I’ll keep working on him but you can go ahead and start giving him something to eat.” I tell Cole and he begins preparing the food. He takes the apple and breaks it in half and I nod approvingly at his choice. He has picked up a couple of things from his father. The natural sugar in the apple will help boost Xanders blood sugar without becoming too much of a shock to his system. In this case the bread would not be recommended because it contains highly processed and purified sugar.

Cole breaks off a smaller piece and holds it to The boy’s mouth. Xander takes it carefully and groans only this time with pleasure and gratitude.

To take care of the dark bruises along his back and stomach I apply the black pepper oil generously while the strong odor overpowers the old musty air of the cellar. When I decide the oil has been sufficiently applied I put back down his shirt and cover his body with a spare blanket. When I’m pleased with my work I wipe my hands on the now dirt-covered towel and sit on one of the wood barrels and sigh.

Cole transitions between the fruit and the water in steady time.

“After he finishes he can rest up. I'll check on his cuts tomorrow but that's about all we can do for right now. Will you be ok if I leave?”

Cole pauses giving Xander a drink and nods.

“I can handle it from here. Once he’s finished with the fruit I can head home and check on him in the morning.”

I agree and start to gather my things when Xander’s hand shoots out to clutch mine before I leave.

“Thank you.”

He says with fatigue but less pain and I give him a curt nod.

“Get some rest. I'll be back later.”

I throw my cloak back over my shoulders and walk up the steps and out of the cellar to head for the woods.

As much as I like the hustle and bustle of the market there is something about Forest of Shadows that will always hold a special place in my heart. Whenever I can’t get anything from the market by picking pockets the Forest is always here to help. It's getting later and later in the day and I hold my hands up to the sky just below the great sun. I measure the distance between the bottom of the sun and the tops of the mountains of the Valley to know how much daylight I have left. About two hours left. Just enough time for me to check the snares and make a somewhat filling dinner. Once I am outside our neighborhood I break into a run toward the tree line. I weave in between the overgrown bushes and trees, crunch through the dead leaves and pine straw and crash through the old brittle branches. A wide smile breaks out across my face as I feel the rush of wind roar in my ears. I used to race Wayne here to check in the snares when I was younger not just to beat him but to have a small idea of what it’s like to fly and be free of the weight of responsibility I carry all day every day. There’s a part of me that sought after adventure and whether or not I want to admit it, it’s still there. I always felt that I was meant for more than just stealing, barely scraping by, keeping my head down, and being completely compliant. One of these days I hope to break the mold and do something insane and entirely illogical. But as much as I want it to happen I doubt that day will ever come. It seems I am destined to be stuck here, ever surviving, always doing what I’m told.

I make it to the first snare with ease and just as I was expecting it’s empty so I move to the next one. Empty again. Next one. Empty. I check all seven of our snares and come up with nothing. My shoulders slump with hopelessness and despair. My lively run turns into a slow trudge out of the woods and back to my home. But before I leave I make my way to the small cheerful creek running through the Forest. This creek runs from my home all the way to the Crystal Pond behind Cole’s home and I get on my knees in a large rock by the muddy riverside and splash the cool water on my red sweaty face. I cup my hands and drink the pure liquid, practically feeling my energy being restored to my limbs. The water seems to bring my everything back into focus and I talk myself through my dilemma.

The Night of the Amber Moon is in three days. Which means I have to come up with enough money to satisfy the tax which comes to about 50 pure gold coins. And right now with what we got today in trading and from what Wayne picked up in silver we have less than a quarter of what we need. I run my damp hands through my tangled dark hair racking my brain on how in the world we are going to find the money.

But I am refusing to give up. If I give, I might as well be handing Kade over to the Collectors to pay the debt and I refuse to let that happen. The rushing of the water makes an idea come to mind that will most likely never work.

Legend has it that a gold mine secretly operated through the Forest to avoid the attention of the dragons and unfortunately one day the business had a run of bad luck. The dragons heard about the operation and attacked to take all the gold they could carry in their greedy claws.

But they didn’t take everything. There have been instances when people have found priceless gold coins and other treasures in the creek. Over the years the area has been combed by the village so whatever treasure was here is long gone. But somehow, whenever I’m not able to make enough, I’ll find something precious in the water. At one moment I was able to have a sufficient amount of coin to pay for our debt and have food for my family to get us through the entire cold season. I highly doubt that there is anything left after what the village has taken and for what I have found in the past.

And yet here I am again, back at the water's edge not able to make ends meet. I stop my pacing and close my eyes almost in silent prayer. I plead with whatever god might be listening and say,

“I can’t do this alone and I’ve done everything I know how to do. But there is only so much and not only do I not have enough time I have an extra mouth to feed. Please help me know what to do to help my family.”

After I’ve finished my prayer, a feeling comes over me that I don’t have words to explain. The crashing sound of waves roars in my ears and I almost feel a powerful rush of water flowing up my skin. I expect to find myself soaked when I open my eyes but I am completely dry.

When I look back down at the creek something catches my eye. Something in the water is reflecting the light of the fading sun and I bend down at the water's edge to push back a pile of dead branches and mud. I have to break several of the branches to reach the object and I step into the freezing cold creek to get a better grip. After my arms and legs are covered in mud I finally reach the object. It's extremely hard and cold from the water and I almost reverently wash away the layers of mud and algae.

It seems so unreal I pinch myself to know if I'm dreaming and I feel the urge to scream or run or maybe both.

What I have in my shaking hands is a solid gold jeweled goblet. It's not a very large cup but it's decorated beautifully with ornate patterns etched into the precious metal and rubies, diamonds, sapphires and emeralds the size of grapes are encrusted along the outside. I know this has to be able to pay our tax and then some! I quickly wash my hands and leather boots, dry off the goblet with my cloak and do my best to conceal it in one of my pockets. I'll take it immediately to the dealer and use the money for supper tonight. It's been a long time since my family has had a decent meal and I plan to give it to them as soon as possible. Wayne and father are going to be so relieved and Kade will be so happy to have the food. I say prayers of thanks to whoever or whatever cared enough to help out someone as insignificant as me and I race to the pawn shop with a slight spring in my step.

“How in the WORLD did you manage to get this?”

Kade asks, his eyes wide with happiness. His gaze combs through the amount of food with utter disbelief and I can't help smiling.

“What's all this?”

Father asks as he gets to the top of the stairs. Kade rushes forward to hug him and beams.

“Look what Wren bought us!”

Kade grasps the front of my father’s shirt and pulls him to the wood dining table for a better look. Father is smiling as well but I don't miss the worry behind his eyes and I reassure him.

“I traded something I found in the creek today and was able to get supper.”

I say gesturing to the abundance of food.

I bought two loaves of bread from the bakery, cabbages, tomatoes, squashes, carrots, strawberries, plumbs, apples at the fruit and vegetable stand, a large block of aged cheese from the dairy, a pound of smoked ham at the butcher and even a bag of candy from the sweet shop. When I walked into the kitchen with my hands full of food Wayne looked almost as if he could cry with joy and I have to say I came pretty close too. The amount of relief that came from finding that goblet has been pure bliss. I can’t remember the last time I felt this light and I don’t want the feeling to let up anytime soon.

I walk over and take my fathers hand. I place a small but heavy bag of coins in his palm.

“This will be enough to cover the tax. And the rest can help out with getting food, supplies, whatever we need.”

He looks at the bag with gratitude and smiles at me but it doesn’t reach his eyes.

“You said you found something at the creek? What did you find?”

I stare at him in confusion wondering why he isn’t overjoyed now that we have the money to pay for all our needs.

“Oh it was a gold goblet. I thought it must’ve been there for ages cause no one had found it while they were searching the creek. Good thing I was able to find it then right?”

He nods hesitantly.

“Yes… you're right. Thank you for this.”

He says taking the gold and replaces his uneasiness with an enthusiastic grin.

“Well, I’ll get started on supper then! Tonight we feast!”