The next morning, Arianna woke before her mother and quickly stirred the fire to cook the remainder of the stew. Arianna opened the door to peer at the damage from the storm.  Mud splashed across the steps; she scraped the muck off as best she could. A tree near the road had been blown over and a few of the villagers were pushing it aside. Her mother’s cousin, Uane, was standing nearby watching the tree being moved. Her nerves clenched when she saw him notice her. Even before her father passed, Uane always stared at Arianna. It made her nervous the way she could feel his eyes on her and he would give her a smile that never seemed friendly. The day after her father’s funeral Uane came to her with an offer. He would let Arianna work in his tavern and he would help take care of her mother. One time Arianna heard two villagers talking about the women who worked for Uane, and the way they would offer special services for enough coin. Arianna hadn’t understood what they meant at the time, now she did. It was too late to shut the door so she had no choice but to wait for him as he approached.

        “Arianna,” He said slightly out of breath. “I’m glad to see you made it home safely.”

        “Thanks, Uane.”

        “I’m glad your home. Have you thought about my offer?”

        “No, I haven’t.”

           “Several villagers have already asked if you would be working for me now that your father is gone. I’m the only living male relative you have, it’s expected that I take care of you and your mother.”

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

        “We’ll be fine.”

           “My dear, everyone knows that your father left a debt and neither you, nor your mother, my own dear cousin, can cover it.” He stepped close to her and she pressed her back against the door. “No one in the village has eyes as beautiful as yours, as dark green as the forest at dusk. You would do very well in my tavern.”

        Arianna couldn’t withhold the shiver that lanced down her spine. She pushed him away. “My mother is waking and I need to check on breakfast.” She said as she escaped through the door and shut it quickly. Her hands shook as she slid the bolt to look the door.

        “Were you talking to someone?” Elise called out from the bedroom.

        Arianna took a breath before she spoke. “It was Uane. He was checking on us.”

           “Yes, I’m sure he was.” Elise picked up her sewing basket from the hearth, riffling through it for a needle. “I know why he’s talking to you.”

        Arianna grimaced. “I thought you would.” For a moment Arianna wished she could put her cloak on and walk away from the small village. Her heart yearned to just be free, but as she watched her mother struggle to thread the needle she pushed the thought aside.

           “You probably could make more money there, but I would worry about you. We are barely making enough to feed ourselves. I don’t know what I’ll do when the collector comes. I don’t want you to have to work for Uane.”

           “I know. I don’t want to work for him either. We’ll figure something out. We’ve got a little bit saved up, maybe it will be enough.” She picked up another bit of fabric and joined her mother by the fire.