Maud sat her three children down that night to her dinner. Jeph had respected her wishes to tell them alone, by herself. Maud did hope that he was not at the bar again though. Allister had been tasked with buying food and keeping an eye on his sister that night. Jeph wanted no secret visits.
While Maud had been thinking, her children gazed at her, waiting. Maud cleared her throat and began:
While Maud had been thinking, her children gazed at her, waiting. Maud cleared her throat and began:
"You may have gathered that something important is happening," she began. "Jeph has decided that the city is no longer safe for us healthy bodies. He wishes to leave the city with others while the sickness passes." Her children remained silent, so Maud continued, "We cannot afford to live here without him, and the sickness is continuing to spread. I fear for you, my children." She stopped suddenly, a catch in her throat.
"But, mother, " her son began. She smiled softly at him. Joseph, named for his father, was wearing the chain and tunic of the city wall guard still, the same his father, her husband, had worn. "I've been commended for my service on the wall. I may be promoted within the next night. The money could help us live from that."
His reasoning was sweet, but flawed. He may be promoted, as he had his father's determination, but the money did not matter. Food and rent was rising too much for them to survive much longer.
"It's not enough," said her eldest daughter, Anne, softly. "Even if we do have enough, the sickness will spread to us, and we will die," she finished somberly. Maud contained a shudder.
His reasoning was sweet, but flawed. He may be promoted, as he had his father's determination, but the money did not matter. Food and rent was rising too much for them to survive much longer.
"It's not enough," said her eldest daughter, Anne, softly. "Even if we do have enough, the sickness will spread to us, and we will die," she finished somberly. Maud contained a shudder.
Not much was said after that. Her husband had died many seasons ago, so her children were used to death. Her throat caught again, but not with fear. Her pride was in her children as they quietly thought about what the future would hold. This did not mean that they would come easily, especially not Joseph. His link to his father was through the wall and he was loathe to leave it.
Yet her children realized the severity of the situation before them. Perhaps they had not quite accepted the future as it was going to be, but Maud did not expect any shouts from them. She was proud to have raised them well. She only hope she was not leading them from the lion of the sickness, to the lion's den of a new place.
Yet her children realized the severity of the situation before them. Perhaps they had not quite accepted the future as it was going to be, but Maud did not expect any shouts from them. She was proud to have raised them well. She only hope she was not leading them from the lion of the sickness, to the lion's den of a new place.