Total pages in book: 164
Estimated words: 152666 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 763(@200wpm)___ 611(@250wpm)___ 509(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 152666 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 763(@200wpm)___ 611(@250wpm)___ 509(@300wpm)
“It’s an unfamiliar plant,” I said with a confident tone, “unlike many he’s used to dealing with. I figured since I had a book that offered some advice, I’d just follow those directions while he was seeing to the garden at large. He probably could’ve. It was my fault, really. It’s okay, I can definitely find more plants, I know I can. Then I’ll just pick the petals I need rather than the whole flower. They last for a long time off the plant, for some reason. I can keep going back for more. It’ll be better this way. More natural.”
She tsked softly. “Trying to take the fall for the malfeasance of others, Aurelia? It’s commendable, but beneath you. It holds you back, which in turn holds me back. Holds us all back. The wellbeing of the people in this village depends on the quality and quantity of your supply. I cannot keep the children in their expensive boots, or with their many learning devices, or keep roofs over their heads without something to sell at market, now can I?”
“No, ma’am,” I said dutifully, my stomach twisting at the mention of the children.
“No. And so you’ll need to start taking these people in hand. I can’t be here all the time.”
Uncomfortable tingles washed over me. I didn’t want to step into her job. It made me queasy thinking about upholding the rules and doling out punishments for those who broke them. I’d had a history of bearing the brunt of violence, of watching it destroy everything I knew—I couldn’t stomach the idea of inflicting that pain on anyone else, even if it was just temporary.
“Yes, ma’am,” I said anyway, hoping it didn’t come to that.
She squeezed my upper arm. “Good girl. Now, why don’t you run along and get some rest, okay? You’ve earned it.”
“Yes, Granny.”
I stepped outside, welcoming the cool breeze, and willed the voice from earlier to wash away her sentiments.
Good girl.
But it didn’t come. Instead, my stomach continued to pinch painfully, thinking about what she’d said. Thinking about how this might affect Raz. He wasn’t the nicest man to me, but I didn’t want any blame for his punishments. I didn’t want anything I said to make things worse for him. I certainly didn’t want to dole out punishments for anyone else.
Since Granny had saved my life and admitted me here, all I’d wanted was to live in the shadows. I’d wanted a safe, if not peaceful life, a place for quiet reflection and to remember my mom. That was it. To obtain that, I’d ensured I had enough value that I couldn’t be cast out. But this?
With slight tremors, I made my way back along the path and through the village to my little cottage.
Many of the people in the village feared Granny. They were scared of her punishments, scared of her watch dog, Alexander. I understood why Granny didn’t care—sometimes fear was the only way to motivate people. But she didn’t live amongst them. She wasn’t even here half the time. My situation was different. These people weren’t my friends, many weren’t even cordial, but they weren’t outright enemies, either. Some even tolerated me these days, occasionally smiling in hello when I got my food rations. If I stepped into her shoes, I’d burn all that away. They’d hate me, one and all, obeying me when I had her watchdogs on hand and possibly disposing of me when I didn’t. My life would once again become dangerous and there would be no escape. I didn’t want that. Couldn’t handle it.
There had to be another way. As long as Granny was getting the goods, she wouldn’t press too hard about the details. If the orders got bigger, I’d just need to work harder. Faster, somehow.
My mind turning, I tucked myself into my cottage on the east side of the village and built a fire in the hearth. That done, I settled down onto a chair and watched the flames as I ate.
Run. Leave this place.
I blinked rapidly as his words echoed in my mind. The stranger had sounded urgent. Genuine.
Not the stranger . . . me. I’d conjured up those words.
It’s not safe for you here. Get out now, tonight. Don’t look back. Find your way to another village and disappear. This is the only warning you’ll get.
It was almost like I’d known what Granny would want of me. Like I was warning myself that things were starting to turn in this village. But where could I possibly go? No one wanted a person like me around, a lesson learned through bloodshed in youth. Even if I did want to leave, how would I get out? The territory was fortified. The punishment for leaving without an escort, without permission, was extreme.
My breath came fast, my chest tight.