Chapter
One
The
first rays of sun light streamed over the island village of
Cornbridge. In the center of the village the mayor's two story house
proudly flew the banner of the stewards. On the outskirts of the
village, built on top of the rushing Slipside river was a tall
majestic mill. The wheel turned and churned up the water. A single
man pushing a smelly brown burrow piled high with waste, was the
single occupant of the streets. A brown cloth was tied across his
nose and mouth. A cloud of flies buzzed around his head, but he did
not seem to notice them.
The
shutters of the attic window on the mill banged open and a girl with
long straight blond hair stuck her head out. Her bright blue eyes
widened and she flung out her arms and cheered.
“Wake
up everyone!” she yelled, “Mister Crystal is coming home!” she
let out another loud cheer. The window below her head banged open, a
tall broad shouldered boy with curly blond hair and brilliant blue
eyes stuck his head out.
“Gwen,
please!” he moaned as he rubbed his eyes.
“Cheer
up, James, the day promises to be beautiful and Mister Crystal is
coming home.” Gwen cried. James yawned and leaned against the
window ledge, his eyes started to droop.” Gwen frowned, then a
smile spread across her face again. She disappeared into her room,
then a few minutes later, she reappeared with a water pitcher.
Giggling, she lifted it up and poured it down onto the boy's head.
James started in surprise and started spluttering and coughing. Gwen
laughed until tears came.
A
window on a house opposite the mill banged open and a frowsy haired
woman in a nightcap peered out.
“Would
you two shut up?” she roared, and shook her fist at the two young
people.
“Good
morning, Madame Darmen. Mr. Crystal is coming to day!” Gwen yelled,
too excited to be upset by the woman.
“It is
about time he came back and disciplined you lot!” the woman
shouted, “But that is still no excuse for waking people up at such
an unlawful hour.”
“Be
grateful that you did not get water dumped on your head, ma'am!”
James called with a grin.
“SHUT
UP!” the woman screamed, and slammed her shutters.
“I
think I made Madame Darmen mad!” Gwen whispered nervously. Madame
Darmen was quite a powerful figure in the village of Cornbridge. She
was best friends with the mayor's wife and had a brother who was
tax-collector for the stewards.
“What,
you disturbed Madame la de da in the middle of her beauty sleep?”
James scoffed, “She is just a bloated old cow drunk on her own self
esteem.” he wiped his face on his damp sleeve.
“James,
that's so uncharitable.” Gwen giggled.
“Oh is
it?” James smirked, he shoved his wet hair out of his face and
pulled his head in the window. “I am going back to bed!”
“Oh no
you are not!” Gwen called, “Get dressed and get into the
kitchen!” James stuck his head back out the window.
“Sister
darling, you are so bossy!” he laughed.
“Hurry
James, everything needs to be perfect before Mister Crystal gets
here.” Gwen argued.
“Your
wish is my command, fair lady!” James cried with great
exaggeration, then he pulled his head back into the room.
“Oh,
James do not forget to wake that lazy bones up, drag him down to
breakfast!”
“Right
you are!” James called from inside his room.
“Mr.
Crystal is coming home!” he murmured as he grabbed his clothes off
of a straight backed chair and hastily pulled them on. In spite of
his not so enthusiastic conversation with Gwen, he was excited. Once
he was dressed, he splashed his face on the washbasin, ran his
figures through his untidy hair and made up his straw mattress. Then
he started for the door. Then he paused and glanced around the small
room. A thin stream of early morning light was the only light in the
room. The furniture consisted of two straight back chairs, one had a
neatly folded pile of brown and gray clothes on it, the other was
bare. Two straw mattresses were leaning against opposite walls. One
was messily made and the other had a large lump in it.
James
rolled his eyes then grinned and ran over to the occupied bed. He
quickly pulled the covers off.
“Waky,
waky!” he ordered, “Half the morning is already gone!” a boy
wearing a drab thread bare gray nightshirt was curled up in a the
bed. A shock of dark brown hair was falling across his face.
“Mmmm...ph.”
he murmured and refused to open his eyes. James rushed over to the
washbasin, which rested on a small stool. His grin widened and he
hurried over to it and took out the still half full pitcher, then he
slowly lifted the pitcher over the other boy's head,. He dumped the
cold sparkling water all over the sleeper. The boy erupted out of his
bed and plowed into James.
“I
will teach you to dump water on innocent sleepers!” he screamed.
James fell over backwards with the brown haired boy on top of him.
The pitcher shattered against the floor and the boys started
wrestling, both trying to get their hands around the other boy's
neck.
Gwen,
now dressed in a brown robe, which she was wearing over her gray
shift, came dancing down the stairs carrying a flickering candle. She
paused outside the boys room. The door was open an inch and she could
hear loud grunting and scuffling noises. Gwen's smile became a little
more forced. She rolled her eyes and leaned her head against the
wall.
“Why?
Why? Why?” she groaned, “Why can they not, just this once start
the morning properly, with a proper smile and a proper good morning!”
she banged her head on the wall in frustration. The noise in the room
died away to silence. Gwen's frown darkened and she banged on the
door frame with her knuckles. “James? Arthur? What are you two
doing in there?” there was no reply. Gwen sighed and reached for
the door. “Alright, I am coming in.” she cried. Immediately there
was a loud scuffling.
“Where
are my boots?” James yelled.
“No do
not come in!” Arthur cried, “We are not ready yet!” Gwen smiled
to herself, as a chair tipped over and she could hear someone hopping
around first in bare feet then in boots. She jiggled the door
threateningly. Immediately the two boys flung themselves against it.
“Go
away Gwen!” they chorused. Gwen laughed.
“Then
you better hurry.” she called and continued down the stairs.
The
smell of cooking porridge greeted her as she reached the foot of the
stairs. She smiled. Madame Velna always made porridge for breakfast,
ever since Mister Crystal had given her the job of cooking for his
three wards. Gwen loved the smell of hot porridge, but the boys
always complained about it. Gwen skipped into the kitchen, blew her
candle out and set it on a shelf. A tall thin woman with graying
blond hair and a sharp thin face was stirring a large black pot which
hung from the hearth.
“Morning
Gwen, set the table!” she said sharply without turning around. Gwen
danced around the round wooden table and opened up a tall cupboard,
she grabbed a small stack of wooden bowls and spoons.
Madame
Velna, Mister Crystal is coming home today!” she cried, “Does
that not make you happy?”
“When
I was your age I had to be content with learnin' how to sew, cook,
and care for the youngin's!” Madame Velna said sharply, “If you
must know, I do not approve of his learnin' ya.” Gwen scowled as
she pulled some wooden mugs out of the cupboard and set them next to
the bowls and spoons.
“You
do not care for my guardian!” she accused. Madame Velna stiffened,
but still did not turn around.
“He is
lazy and shiftless!” she snarled, “Cornbridge deserves better
then his kind.”
“But
he does teach the boys of the village!” Gwen argued in her mentor's
defense, “I do not see you doing it.”
“Also one girl!”
Madame Velna growled, “Tongues are beginning to wag, one girl among
so many men.”
“Mr.
Crystal is old, James is my brother, and Arthur is just a boy!”
Gwen cried angrily. “And if you ask me-”
“Ask
you what?” James asked as he entered the room.
“Nothing!”
Gwen said quickly as she set a jug of fresh goat's milk on the table.
“Oh
really?” he replied in a disbelievingly voice.
“Shut
up and sit down!” Madame Valna ordered as she set the porridge pot
on the table.
“Yes,
Ma'am!” the young man said meekly, as he sat down and helped
himself to a bowl, mug and spoon. Gwen sat down opposite him and put
a bowl in front of herself, then the other bowl at Madame Velna's
stool. The woman sat down at her seat and poured a generous amount of
goat's milk over her porridge before handing the pitcher to James.
“I
must say, I have some very important things to talk over with Mister
Crystal!” Madame Velna said as she blew on a spoonful of porridge.
Gwen squirmed in her seat. She knew that she had not always been
respectful to the older lady. She could recalled several heated
arguments which the housekeeper was sure to drag up, while turning
her report over to Mister Crystal. James gave her a reassuring look,
which did not calm her at all. Madame Velna liked James, and he
rarely got into trouble. He was tall handsome, smart and friendly,
everyone liked him. Where as Gwen, who was also tall, but that was
not something a woman was supposed to pride in. according to the
snobbery of the overlord stewards, woman were supposed to be tiny,
slender and dainty. Gwen was not any of those things. She was tall,
often clumsy, she was not nearly slender enough to please the shallow
minded fools and she had the habit of being to cheerful and bossy.
Madame Velna, who was also very bossy, but not friendly, despised
her. Gwen frowned as these thoughts came to her mind.
Then
there was Arthur. Gwen froze and her gaze shifted to her two
companions. Once more she had forgotten to count Arthur, while
setting the table. One would think that it would be easy to remember
four table settings, but for some reason, unless he was in the room,
Gwen always forgot to count Arthur. Madame Velna and James always
neglected to remind her, as well. Gwen started to get up, with the
obvious intention of getting dishes for Arthur. But Madame Velna laid
one hand on the girl's arm.
“Gwen
Lancelot, we do not leave the table until everyone has finished
eating.” she said coldly. Gwen slouched down on her stool, already
feeling Arthur's disapproving gaze on her. “Gwen, sit like a lady,
and eat your porridge.” Madame Velna barked. James shot her a
sympathetic smile, which Gwen did not return. But she sat up
straighter and started eating.
The
door to the steps swung open silently and Arthur appeared in the
door. As long as Gwen had lived at the mill, the door had squeaked
for everyone but Arthur. Arthur was just under an inch shorter then
Gwen and had ordinary straight dark brown hair and uninteresting
brown eyes. His face was tanned from working outside. He appeared to
have no muscles worth speaking of, and had a slim build. He stared at
the three at the table with unblinking eyes. Even Madame Velna looked
a little sheepish. Then he walked across the room, took a bowl, spoon
and mug out of the cupboard. He set these on the table, then sat down
himself.
“Sorry!”
Gwen muttered. Arthur ignored her and concentrated on filling his
bowl half full of hot porridge.
“You
are late!” Madame Velna snapped, pointing out the obvious.
“Sorry!”
Arthur said simply, giving no explanation, which was his typical
fashion. Madame Velna scowled.
“Arthur....Crystal,
I should not have to ask every little thing! Why are you late?”
when madame Velna was especially annoyed, she liked to address the
culprit by their surname as well as their first name. Only Arthur was
a nameless orphan that Mr. Crystal had brought with him from his
other village, where he lived mainly in summer. No one knew Arthur's
real surname, unless Mister Crystal was just not telling. Madame
Velna got over this difficulty by calling him by the surname of
Crystal, as the boy was legally Mister Crystal's adopted son.
“Um-I
could not find my boots.” Arthur said slowly. Gwen noticed he was
still barefoot, so it was obvious that he had not found them. Madame
Velna gave him a disapproving look.
“Your
boots are wherever you left them last night!” she snapped.
“No
they are not!” Arthur contradicted, as he took a bite of his
porridge without blowing on it. Immediately he clapped his hands to
his mouth and started grunting. Gwen hastily took a drink to hide her
grinning face. Madame Velna's face grew darker.
“I
suppose you think you are so funny?” she snarled, “But boots do
not walk away overnight.”
“Arthur's
did, and mine moved.” James said as he scraped the last of the
porridge from his bowl. Madame Velna shot him a nasty look.
“What
did you say?” she cried her face growing redder.
“Arthur
was already in bed when I took off my boots.” James explained
patiently, “I saw where he had put his boots. I put mine next to
them. This morning I got up before him, his boots were gone and mine
were at the foot of my bed instead of by the door.” Madame Velna
glared at Arthur suspiciously
“Is
this your kind of practical joke?” she demanded. Arthur dropped his
mouth and started fanning his mouth. “Answer me!” Madame Velna
screeched. Arthur's eyes widened, then he spat out a mouthful of hot
porridge.
“No!”
he said then grabbed the pitcher of goats milk and took a deep draft
of it.
“Ugh!”
Madame Velna howled. “You are disgusting!”
“Sorry,
I burnt my mouth!” Arthur apologized as he put down the pitcher,
his face red.
“I
could tell that!” the by now totally enraged housekeeper screamed.
Arthur shifted in his seat and looked uncomfortable.
The
scene was threatening to get even more awkward, when someone banged
on the door and called for Madame Velna. Glad of an excuse to leave
the table, Gwen rushed for the door and found Mr. Dagonet, the
blacksmith and his twelve year old son Caleb standing on the
doorstep.
“Mister
Dagonet, Caleb.” Gwen said with a quick curtsy. Caleb responded
with a deep exaggerated bow, and a loud kiss on the older girl's
hand. Gwen laughed.
“Who
is it?” Madame Velna cried.
“Just
the blacksmith and Caleb.” Gwen replied as she assured the visitors
in. Madame Velna a typical Cornbridge widow, instantly smiled
sweetly. Mister Dagonet was an eligible widower, if you could get
past his half insane batch of children. Arthur and James exchanged
looks. Arthur started coughing, while James hastily grabbed his
dishes and headed for the washtub. After giving both boys a
particularly nasty look, Madame Velna got up and extend her hand to
Mister Dagonet.
“What
brings you here so early, my good sir?” she asked. Mister Dagonet
took her hand awkwardly.
“Caleb
was up since the third hour ma'am, he is most eager to start school
again.” he stammered.
“I can
imagine!” Madame Velna said sweetly, she reached over and patted
Caleb on the head. “Oh how I love a boy who like to learn!” Gwen
hurried to clear the table, she dared not look at anyone else, lest
she would burst into laughter. Caleb scooted past Madame Velna and
hurried up to the three wards.
“I-is
he back y-yet?” he stuttered. Caleb had a stutter, which was why he
preferred to cause mischief then talk.
“Hello
Caleb!” James said calmly, although his hazel eyes were sparkling
with mischief.
“No he
is not back!” Gwen said in a low voice, her eyes danced with
laughter.
“James,
Gwen, take Caleb to the school. Arthur please wash the dishes.”
Madame Velna said in a soft pleasant voice, but the three wards
understood the other meaning to her words. What they heard was James,
Gwen get yourselves and Caleb out of my sight so I can entertain
Mister Dagonet. Arthur wash the dishes as punishment for your bad
behavior.
“Sorry
Arthur.” James mumbled. Gwen looked a little embarrassed as she
pushed Caleb towards the stairs.
“Wh-what
d-did Arthur d-do?” Caleb stammered, his voice was cut off as James
slammed the door behind him. Madame Velna led Mister Dagonet outside
to show him her herb garden. He did not look overly thrilled at the
prospect.
Arthur
glanced around the messy kitchen. It was so unfair. It was not his
fault that he could not find his boots and had to spit out his food
because it was so hot. Something hot, wet and stinging slid down his
cheek. Absently he lifted up his hand and wiped it away. His fist
came away bloody. Arthur felt a cold shiver run don his back. Quickly
he grabbed a towel and wiped his face. The towel came away all
bloody and wet. Oh no! Not again! He thought in dismay.
