When Arianna entered the bakery and inhaled the delightful smell of cinnamon, she couldn’t help but smile.
“Hello Arianna, it’s been a while since you’ve been in. How’s your mother darlin’?” The older woman, Briel, said from behind the counter.
“She is well, much better than yesterday. The weather has been dreary and damp and it’s been bothering her hands more than usual.”
“My leg has been acting up so I know there’s another storm coming.”
“Your leg is always acting up you old biddy.” An old cracking voice came from a little man sitting on a stool near the counter.
“Hush you or I’ll not give you anymore sweet treats.” Briel threatened the man.
“More than a storm is coming me girl. Saw a golden plover myself this morning. Bad tides are coming, very bad tides indeed.”
Arianna frowned for a moment as she listened.
“Don’t listen to my father, Arianna. He’s rambling again… Now, what can I do for you today?”
“Just some flour, Briel.”
When Arianna stepped outside she felt the wind stirring around her ankles. Already another storm was building, she watched several villagers run to the inn across the lane. A chirping beside Arianna drew her gaze. A small bird with a black face and white trim peeped at her. It hopped on a wooden beam and turned its head to stare at her. It peeped again and lifted its wings. Arianna stared after it, the golden plover, the harbinger of death. She gulped and tried to watch its flight.
When she arrived home there was a man standing outside the door talking to her mother. She could see tears in her mother’s eyes. There was a wagon with a donkey blocking the path to the house. The man was older, thick hair stuck out from under a wide brimmed hat. The leather of his vest pulled tight over his stomach. His lips turned down in a frown.
“What’s going on?” She called out.
“Oh Arianna,” Her mother lowered her face to her hands and sobbed.
“Mother, what’s the matter.” She dropped the bag of flour and ran to her mother’s side. “Who are you and what did you do?” She yelled at the man.
“I’m Jaki, surely you received the notice from the collector.” He said.
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Arianna looked at her mother, “Did you get anything?”
“No.”
“The debts have been turned over to the Miners Guild and you must either pay in full or come with me.”
“What? Me?”Arianna felt her mother slipping away from her.
“Yes, your mother is too old. You will have to work off the debt created by your father.”
“No, I won’t work for you. I don’t have to. My mother needs me.”
“Yes, you do have to.” He lifted a document. “Can you read this?”
Arianna stared at it. A few words she recognized, but otherwise it was too difficult for her to read. She bit her lip and shook her head.
“It says that your family owes 100 gold to the Miners Guild. Do you have 100 gold?”
Arianna gasped. “100 gold? No we don’t have that…. Father never would have had that much debt. You are lying!”
“Well, interest has been added to the debt. If you don’t have 100 gold pieces then you must either come with me to work off the debt or I will call the guardsmen to have you both taken to debtor’s prison.”
Arianna stared at him. So many thoughts circled through her mind. Her mother knelt on the floor sobbing into her hands. Arianna looked inside their small home.
“Who will take care of my mother?”
“The Miner’s Guild isn’t evil. You will receive a small pittance each week for your time. You can send it home to your mother or save it to do with as you please.”
“I don’t have a choice do I?”
He shook his head, his eyes heavy with weariness.
“Let me get my things.” Arianna’s voice sounded hollow to her own ears. She wondered why this happened to her. She grabbed several items without paying attention. She stuffed some clothes and sewing tools into her bag. Her mother finally stood up from the floor and wiped at her eyes.
“Arianna, I don’t know what to do.” She said it softly. Then she picked up a loaf of bread and wrapped it in a cheesecloth. “This is better for you. I don’t want you to have to stay here in this village any longer. You’ll have a wonderful journey and you’ll meet someone special.” Elise’s voice sounded far off and her glazed eyes searched the room.
“Mother?”
Elise continued muttering to herself about the wonderful man Arianna was going to marry.
“Mother?” Arianna watched her mother gather up some other food items. She wasn’t responding, Arianna sighed and walked to her mom.
“I’ll have a wonderful trip Mother. I will miss you. Please take care of yourself.” Arianna could not keep the tears from her eyes and they slowly trailed down her cheeks.
She threw her arms around her mother and hugged her as tight as she could.
The man outside began knocking on the door and she knew there was little she could say. With a heavy heart she turned to the door and stepped outside. It was only after they left the village that she remembered the golden plover.