A/N—Please read and review. Thank you. I hope you enjoy.
City of the Gods, Tortall
Spring, 458 H.E.
"It's cold." Lianne complained in a whisper. "It was spring in Port Caynn when we left and there's still snow on the ground here. George said the thaw came early this year to the rest of Tortall. What's wrong with this place?"
"It has a higher elevation then every other big city in Tortall." Liam replied, also in a whisper. "What are they talkin' about in there?"
The three children stood outside of a small building that was called 'the God's House' according to a prim looking green sign that hung over the door. The house was on the side of a hill outside the city so they could look down on the city or up to the still white mountains. A cold breeze was blowing so all three of them were shivering in their shabby cloaks while George was inside trying to negotiate their rooms.
"Can you hear what they're saying, Jasson?" Lianne asked. Jasson, crouched by the door trying to eavesdrop, shook his head.
"George knows we're listenin'. If he's talkin' quietly it's because things ain't goin' his way." Jasson replied, joining his siblings at the bottom of the steps. "We'll be stayin' somewhere else while we're here."
"I don't see why we came here." Lianne complained. "I know George doesn't like stayin' in one city for more then a few months but all the other cities would have been sooo much warmer."
"Plus, we always manage to leave here poorer then we come." Liam added. Jasson shrugged nonchalantly and leaned against the white fence that surrounded the yard.
"George prob'bly has his reasons." He said, watching the door intently like he hoped he could see through it and find out what those reasons were.
"You lads lookin' for a place t'stay?" Jasson turned around, propping his elbows on the fence and surveying the speaker. He was a man in his late forties or early fifties with salt and pepper hair and kind, gray eyes. His skin looked tough, he was heavily muscled and Jasson noticed calluses on his hands. He was riding but the horse looked as old and work-worn as the man. His clothes and tack were all plain but sturdy. "Miss Catherine, there, won't let you in."
"It appears that way." Jasson said pleasantly. Liam came to stand beside him.
"Well, is it just the three of you?"
"No, our uncle is in there talkin' t'Miss Catherine now."
The man looked them over. "Can you and your uncle work?"
"Yessir." Liam and Jasson answered together.
"Well, I've got a ranch of sorts up yonder. I could put the four of you up in exchange for an extra hand. Just until you get on your feet around here."
"Thank you, sir. That's a generous offer." Jasson said. Lianne skipped up the steps and called for George.
"It's just me and the misses now. It gets kind of lonely at times. The house is aching for some youngins again." The man said, brushing Jasson's thank you aside.
George came out of the inn and joined Jasson and Liam by the fence. Lianne stayed on the porch and Miss Catherine appeared in the doorway to watch the exchange.
"Name's George Cooper." George said, extending his hand to the man.
"Gerry Stanwick." The man answered, taking George's hand and shaking it firmly. "I was just tellin' yer boys, if you need a place t'stay until you get settled, I could sure use some more hands on the ranch."
"That sure is a nice offer. It if won't inconvenience you."
"Not at all." Gerry interrupted in a laughing tone.
George grinned. "Alright, we'll gratefully take you up on your offer."
Lianne skipped back down the steps and joined her brothers while Miss Catherine closed her door. George put his arm around Lianne's shoulders. "This is my niece, Lianne Wilima, and my nephews, Liam and Jasson." The two boys nodded greetings as they were introduced.
"Pleasure, pleasure. Why don't you come up here, lass, and ride. The walk ain't far but you look half froze." Obediently, Lianne came forward and George lifted her into the saddle in front of Gerry, her small pack on her lap. George, Jasson and Liam picked up their packs then joined the others on the road.
They hiked up the mountain a short way until the road opened suddenly onto a small clearing cut out of massive pines and redwoods. There was a modest sized house, a curl of gray smoke escaping the chimney, a barn, a pen of white goats, chickens and pigs all together, and a vegetable patch. A shed attached to the barn stood with its doors opened, freshly cut wood stacked to the rafters.
"We do a little of everythin' here." Gerry explained as they rode into the yard. "We raise some animals, lumber and the misses is the best midwife in these parts. She grows and makes medicines for all ills. Only got a sprinklin' of the Gift, too." Gerry dismounted and then lifted Lianne to the ground.
"I'll take the horse." Jasson offered.
"Nonsense, lad, you're already froze. I'll just call Madison out; she'll take ye all inside and I'll tend to old Red, here." He patted the horse's withers then called towards the house. "Mady, dear, we're got some right froze house guests."
They waited a moment then the house door opened. A plump, middle-aged woman, her thick brown hair in a bun, stood in the doorway. Flour covered her hands and apron and she had the sleeves of a plain, brown wool dress rolled up to her elbows. She'd clearly been in the middle of cooking. She looked out on them with soft, brown eyes and gave them a kind smile.
"Well, come in out of the cold, dears. Supper's just about ready." She called in a thick alto. "Gerry, get that old cot out of the barn when you come in. And if you can scrounge up some extra blankets. Come on in, dears." She said again since none of them had moved. George leading, they climbed up the porch stairs into the house.
The inside of the house had the same quaint look as the outside. There was no entry hall just one large room with thick pine furniture, a couch, table and chest for books and dishes. A large black kettle hung over the fire. A smaller table stood at the other side of the room where Madison had been kneading bread. Two cupboards were built into the wall above the table and herbs were drying from the rafters. There were two doors off the main room and a small ladder up to a hatch in the ceiling.
"Our boys slept up there." Madison gestured to the ladder and hatch. Gerry built it for them. I'm sure you lads will enjoy it. Now that room is ours but the lass can sleep in the other one. We can put a blanket up to divide that room, though it's awfully small, or set a cot up for you out here, Master…"
"George. I'm fine out here. We'll let Lianne have a room of her own."
"Alright, now go set your bags down and I'll have supper ready."
"Thank you, ma'm." They all said.
"It's my pleasure."
Jasson climbed up the ladder, Liam at his heels. The loft room had a chest of drawers under a large window. Thick pine bunk beds were built into the wall. A dusty washbasin of white clay sat on the chest and a sketching of the clearing hung on one wall. It looked like it had been done by a kid Liam's age. Jasson tested the window and was pleased to find it opened out onto the roof. Liam opened the chest of draws, finding some old boy's clothes, toys and more sketches.
"Mistress Madison asked me to bring these up to you." Lianne said, climbing through the hatch and offering the boys linens and two heavy quilts for their beds.
"My room's about this size. It's got a double bed and a pine wardrobe with some dresses and stuff still in it." Lianne sat on the bottom bed. "When she came in to bring me a quilt she said she had three daughters and a granddaughter make use of that room. I wonder what happened to them."
"Supper's on." Madison's voice drifted up from below, the smell of a thick stew accompanying it. They smiled at each other and climbed down. George was setting the table while Madison ladled the stew into bowls. A cot had been placed in the corner by the cupboard and George's pack was on top of it.
Gerry led them in a short prayer once they had gathered at the table. The food was the best they had had since leaving Prot Caynn and warmed them to the bones. Gerry and Madison engaged George in pleasant conversation but didn't seem to care where they all came from or what they planned to do in The City of the Gods. After dinner, the kids helped Madison clean up then went to bed, tired from traveling. Jasson fell asleep quickly, feeling comfortable, full and happy.
They woke up with the sun. Having slept in their clothes the children were the first ones in the main room. Lianne was fixing breakfast when Liam and Jasson came down but George was nowhere to be seen.
"Go get some wood and build up the fire." Lianne ordered, taking charge.
"Where's George?" Jasson asked.
"Said he had somethin' to tend to; be back in a week. He already told our hosts." Lianne answered briskly.
"A week?" Liam asked, startled. "He just left us!"
"Wood." Lianne reminded them.
"Alright." Jasson said and Liam grunted agreement.
There was an axe and cutting log outside the shed but just inside the door the logs were already cut into usable sizes. Jasson and Liam each grabbed an armload of wood and went back to the house. Gerry, Madison and Lianne were already eating. Jasson built up the fire then joined them and Liam.
"Come on lassie, let's get lunches together for our lads." Madison said when she and Lianne had finished eating. Gerry looked Jasson and Liam over.
"Yer goin' t'need somethin' warmer then that." Gerry told them. "No wonder ye were half froze yesterday. Mady, do we still have the boys' old boots?"
"Gave 'em away years ago." Madison set a pack containing their lunches on the table and looked them up and down. "I think Jasson, here, is about Matty's size. Those things in the loft chest. Go ahead and change into something warm. Gerry, take Liam out to the barn and see if any of Addis' or Dean's old things will fit."
Jasson climbed up to the loft and Lianne followed him. She sat on the bed while he rifled through the chest, pulling out a pair of thick wool trousers, a dyed green cotton shirt and a short, heavy jacket with a few patches.
"That's three boys and four girls that used to live here." Lianne said. "I wonder what happened. They couldn't have all grown up if there's still clothes in here that fit you."
"You're goanna try t'figure this out, aren't you?" Jasson asked while he pulled on the loaned outfit. It was indeed much warmer.
"Yes. I'm curious. I can't help it."
"Well, you'll have all day t'ask Mistress Stanwick."
Lianne looked shocked. "I couldn't possibly ask out of the blue like that."
"You want t'figure it out yourself." Lianne's shock turned into a smile.
"Yes. Is that so wrong?"
"Of course not. Have a good day and make us somethin' good for dinner."
"Already spoiled and we haven't even been here a full day." Lianne called after him as he climbed back down.
"Much better." Madison said when she saw him. "Go ahead and take the lunches and meet the others out at the barn. They should be about ready."
"Thanks, Mistress Stanwick." Jasson said, picking up the sack of lunches. Even with the thicker clothes, it was still shockingly cold outside. Jasson took a deep breath of the cold air then hurried to the barn. Liam was pulling on a jacket that was a few sizes too big for him and Gerry was hitching Red to a cart.
"Put the lunches in old Red's bags." Gerry ordered. Jasson did as he was told then helped Gerry finish the hitching. Gerry loaded axes, saws and other tools into the cart then they set out. They hiked up the mountain until they reached a field of felled trees. "We need to cut them trees into bite sized pieces to take on back."
Liam looked at the huge pines. "And by 'bite seized' you mean those entire trunks that were stacked in the shed."
"Exactly." Gerry said with a smile. "Let's get to work."
They worked continuously until lunch. By that time Jasson's muscles were aching and he had blisters on his hands. They sat together on the edge of the cart and spread the lunch out between them. They'd been given bread, stew in jars, cheese and some early fruit.
"Ahh, that Mady always feeds me like I'm a king." Gerry said, taking a big bite of bread.
"Yours is a happy nature, sir." Liam commented, wrapping his hands around a jar of warm stew. Now that they weren't working they were beginning to feel the cold again.
"Course, we look at this and see a feast as well." Jasson added.
"How ya lads doin'?" Liam spread one of his hands, exposing large white and red blisters.
"Like some lily handed, blue blood." He sulked.
"It'll get better." Gerry assured them. "In a week those'll be nice calluses."
"As long as my fingertips stay soft, I'll be happy. Fingers are very important in how we normally feed ourselves." Liam said then immediately looked like he whished he hadn't.
"It's alright, lads. I won't ask and I won't judge."
"Pickpockets." Jasson replied. Liam glared at him. "At least most of the time. But rest soundly, because we won't steal from you. We still got our decency."
"I never suspected you would. Though I guessed you were somthin' of the sort of thieves."
"Mostly we're just poor." Liam said, assured they wouldn't get kicked out onto the street for being honest.
"Things are hard all over, lad. Time was, thievery was a profitable occupation. Now there's very few profitable occupations left. But you lads are too young to remember." Gerry opened his stew and leaned back against the wood they'd already cut.
"Master Stanwick, what happened to your kids?" Jasson asked softly, hoping he hadn't over stepped his bounds, but Lianne had provoked his curiosity.
"My kinds, huh. Well, many things happened. Mady likes to call it bad fate but I think it's just life." Gerry took a long sip of stew and Jasson wondered if he was going to continue. "Matty, my grandson whose clothes yer wearin', died two and a half years ago. The flu took him and my granddaughter, Kitty, both. Winters here are harsh; kids die every year. My youngest, Belle, got sick that year, too. She didn't ever really recover and passed away just last winter. My other daughters were out of the house by then. Maggie, who gave us the grandchildren, was living in a village up north. She sent the children t'us during the war because it's safer in the cities, but she was a healer and didn't want t'leave her people. Her and her husband were killed in a raid.
"The war took my sons, too, Addis and Dean. They were just sixteen and fourteen but they saw it as their duty t'fight. They died within a month of each other. Kegan, my other daughter, was sixteen when she died, too. It was childbirth—killed both her and the baby. Mady still feels guilty about not being there for her." Gerry took another sip of stew.
"I'm sorry, sir." Jasson said.
"No, there isn't a person in Tortall who didn't loose loved ones in the war and I can't begrudge the gods over natural deaths. I can't feel sorry for myself when there's orphans like you starving every day. I've had a good life, lovin' children and I still have a lovin' wife." Gerry paused. "How did your folks pass on?"
"We don't know." Jasson answered. "As far back as I can remember George has been takin' care of us. I've got glimpses of older memories but nothin' concrete. All George has ever told us is that our father was killed in the war and before he died he asked George t'take care of us. George isn't even our real uncle, he was just our father's friend."
"See, so what right do I have to be unhappy?" Gerry said.
"Like I said, happy nature." Liam mumbled.
"You should be content, too, lads. You've got each other, that sweet little sister, and a man who obviously cares for you a lot."
"Enough t'give up his own sons." Jasson whispered. Neither Liam nor Garry heard him. They finished eating and got back to work, racing the sun to get as much done as they could.