The time in town is initially hard for Daisy as she is not a conversationalist and does not make friends easily. She spends her time at night in the local tavern, but during the day she sits quietly on a bench watching for her goddess to show her how to give service.
After a week, a child begins to sit next to Daisy. Fletcher first just sits next to her, about the same height as her, he lets his legs dangle from the bench, mimicking her posture. He looks around, squinting his eyes, making the same faces as she does, but not realizing that she is monitoring the movements of those who control the town.
Once this pattern has been established for a few days, he asks her "What are you looking for?" His voice almost startles her. She knew he had been there, but had been used to his silence. "How do you know I'm looking for something?" He simply replies "We are all looking for something"
With that answer Daisy looks at him. She can see he is an old soul in a young body, no more than 6. He explains he knows the look of someone looking for something because he has seen that look on adults who come to the orphanage, looking for their child. He says no one has had that look in their eyes when looking at him.
They form a friendship, one that is good for both of them. Daisy begins to mentor Fletcher. Its clear to both of them that Daisy should not be a mother and could never adopt Fletcher, but she has much she can teach him.
Fletcher decides Daisy could teach all the orphans...he decides this without discussing it with Daisy and brings a Monk from the orphanage to one of their bench chats. Brother Jerrik is happy to meet Daisy and insists he can see the difference she has made in a short time with Fletcher, and asks she come to work with all the children at the orphanage. He states "So many ignore the children with no home, your kindness would mean a great deal"
And with that statement Daisy knows Dearmad is showing her how to give service.
"And with that statement Daisy knows Dearmad is showing her how to give service."
ReplyDeleteAnother lesson, perhaps one yet unlearned, is that "Nothing comes for free."
Daisy's relationship with Jerrik solidifies over the course of days and weeks, and as time goes by, Daisy earns both a place of honor and of fame--albeit of a very humble sort--amongst the orphans of Riverside.
One day, however, Fletcher makes a comment during one of Daisy's visits to the orphans that seems out of place. "You're much nicer than Holden." You remember Holden as the shareholder that funded your initial adventure in Riverside. "He hasn't been around much since you came here, and now we don't have to steal things any more. Daisy, will you stay here forever?"
Excellent post, 150 XP awarded!
Daisy's heart breaks a little at this request, knowing she intended to return one day to the monks who had saved her. Maybe this is the path she is meant to walk. Only time will tell.
ReplyDeleteAfter hearing the information on Holden's previous "arrangement" with the orphans, she begins to subtly teach the children how to defend themselves against a larger opponent.
Daisy also decides to test her relationship with Jerrick and asks about Holden. "How could you allow the children to be used in such a way?" Not knowing how this conversation will go, she keeps a dagger hidden in her sleeve easy to grab if needed in a sudden attack.
From what you know of Jerrick, you're confident that there's no threat of him attacking you. You keep your hidden dagger convenient nonetheless, but it's never needed.
ReplyDeleteJerrick doesn't hide his culpability, and his tone is remonstrative. "Look around you, Daisy. Riverside is a town of farmers and laborer, a town of the poor. Our orphanage exists only by the graces of merchants like Holden, I think that what he asks is very little in exchange for the good that his coin does us."
You know, having been around town, that several of the merchants who came to town during the festival of the Sowing are making ready to depart Riverside, with carts, wagons and ships laden with produce and other goods to sell elsewhere. Holden is yet among those who has not left--he has several small cargo boats at the riverbank, which are heavy with goods, as well as a caravan of wagons that is due to leave south for Greymarsh in the next day or two.