When Modette didn't return to the gypsy kingdom during the night from whatever errand was taking her away, of course Esmer went back to the bell tower to look for her. Clopine plopped on a stool in the kitchen with Daisy, awaiting his return. This was a hugely dangerous move that Clopine would have liked to protect him from acting on, but whatever. Let him go out and kill himself for that nugget. Esmer would come dragging himself back to the colony by his stumps in no time, begging for one more chance. And Clopine would just stand above him and be all "Well… "
The door burst open. Clopine watched as Esmer carried Modette in her arms, who might as well have been an oversized sack of flour. He set her down on the table and Modette winced and squirmed like a newborn. The girl looked horrible. The medicine woman Nadia turned Modette on her side and Clopine could see why. She had never seen that many welts on one person's back—and so deep. Not since Old Man Danior had lost his cool about something petty and had cracked his whip on the backs of all the boys lying in front of him like a row of sausages. But that was only one time!
Maybe the fille had been enduring some abuse. Not that it justified her trying to steal her Esmer away at all.
"Oh, this… " Nadia shook her head. "This is not love."
"What can you do?" Esmer probed. "Can't you heal her?"
"There are a lot of fresh wounds, my friend," she sighed. "The girl has lost much blood. But I think I'll be able to save her. Just let me get my concoction…" She headed back into the kitchen.
Esmer's knees buckled as Modette's eyes fluttered open and Clopine's heart lurched.
"Esmer… ?"
He collapsed into the nearest chair; Jolie hopped into his lap. She knew he had been beating himself up for not being able to protect her. "I'm here," he said. "Jolie too." And Clopine."My God, what has she done to you?"
"This isn't the first; she's done it to me for years. I should have stayed in the bell tower, like Mother wanted."
Esmer growled. "That horrid woman. I'll kill her… "
"I'll help," Daisy chimed in.
"No!" Modette cried in fright, then calmed down after a second. "You've done so much for me already. Just leave everything to me; I'll be fine."
"You call this fine?" Esmer snapped. "Look what she did to you. Look at your back!"
Modette tried to look behind her, but her little body couldn't manage it. "I'm afraid that's not possible."
Nobody laughed; everybody knew the jokes to be made in dire situations were reserved for Clopine alone. The nugget sobered. "I'm really sorry, Esmer."
"Don't you dare apologize to me."
"But I am. I'm sorry for everything I put you through. Sorry for making you worry—"
"That's enough!" And Esmer set the goat on the ground and spun around in his chair, facing the wall.
Modette pitifully tried to lift her head. "Esmer… ?"
"Don't be alarmed, soeur," Clopine whispered. "Gypsy men are not permitted to show their tears. He's doing what he has to do." Still she thought it would be much easier for his precious Modette to offer consolation if she weren't staring at his back.
Jolie trotted up to him, confused and amused, and Esmer moved her away with his foot. And Clopine thought with a chuckle that maybe, just maybe, everything would be fine.
… Too late.