Page 68 of The Call of Crimson
“You’re sweet, kid.” She chuckles, patting his hand. “But as long as my spirits continue arriving, I’ll manage. People sure do get grumpy when you take away their liquor.”
Around a mouthful of stew, Elijah asks, “What can you tell us about the town? Anything we should know?”
Luella’s face hardens, and she leans across the bar top, keeping her voice low as she says, “There’s something strange happening.”
I glance down, seeing that I’ve already finished the dish, and fight a flush of embarrassment. Clearing my throat, I ask, “How so?”
“I’ve never seen the people so spooked. I hear whispers that the gods have abandoned Rimor, with both the king and queen dying within a year, then Breyla being whisked off to our enemy.People are scared.” Luella’s eyes dart around the room before landing back on us. “I’ve noticed an influx of strangers. They keep to themselves, so I’m not sure if they’re just from other towns or from somewhere further away.”
“That is… unsettling,” Elijah finally says after a few moments of silence.
“I agree,” Luella says before clearing our empty bowls. “I’ll let you know if I notice anything else, Lord Elijah.”
Elijah stands, dropping several gold Remis on the counter. “Thank you, Luella.”
We exit into the late afternoon sun, a new sense of unease filling me.
The cobblestone path turns to dirt as we leave the city center on our way to the outer ring. It’s silent on our journey through the streets, eyes carefully taking us in as we navigate the narrow path. Dirt-covered children pass us, their tattered clothing barely clinging to too-thin frames. A girl with midnight eyes approaches me, mud caked on her bare feet, dark hair knotted and stringy. Her bones protrude in sharp angles, cheeks gaunt.
When was the last time this child ate?
“Are you the princess?” she asks.
“No, but I’m friends with her.” I bend down to her height, taking her open hand in mine. “Where are your parents?”
“Dead,” she says nonchalantly.
Perhaps I should be startled by the casual way she refers to death, but I’m not. The blunt tone that children carry was refreshing to me.
“Mine too,” I say with a shrug.
Elijah crouches down to our level and asks, “Do you not live at the orphanage?”
“I did until the orphan mother left.”
“She left?” I ask.
“Yeah, one day she was just gone. No one’s seen her in…” She begins counting on her fingers. “Two weeks.”
Elijah shoots me a worried look. “When was the last time you ate? Or any of the children from the orphanage, for that matter?”
“The pantry was bare the morning she left. Some people give us scraps, but we haven’t had a meal since we saw her.” She looks us up and down, then whispers, “Do you have any food?”
Elijah’s face falls. “Not on me, but here,” he says, pulling out his coin purse. He drops what’s easily enough gold to feed her for weeks into her outstretched palm. “Take this to Luella’s and tell her Lord Elijah sent you. Take whoever needs food with you and make sure they eat too. The castle will send someone to replace the orphan mother and make sure you’re fed. I’m sorry we didn’t know sooner.”
Dull eyes sparkle at the thought of food, and she gives us a toothy grin. “Thank you, m’lord.”
“You’re most welcome,” I say, mirroring her wide grin. “What’s your name?”
“Leah.”
“Be well, Leah.” Elijah straightens as Leah dashes away in search of food.
Once she’s out of earshot, I ask, “How is Luella going to feed them all?”
“I’ll have extra food sent to her from the castle stores. It’s just until we get someone in there to care for them.”
“How did this escape our notice?” I say, my chest falling.
