Chapter 7: Stranger Danger

Truthfully, I nearly deleted Amelia’s contact right then and there. It would’ve been easy, just a cross next to her name in my status sheet, one that pulsed as my mind focused on it, telling me with certainty that it would be gone should that focus be maintained for fifteen seconds. I didn’t, though; because the sudden removal would make me look incredibly suspicious if she truly wished me ill. Instead, I did what far too many rom com protagonists never thought of, and communicated like an ordinary human being.

“None of the other children ever added me, nor I them. The nice healer did though, after fixing the knock on my head. Is that a problem?”

“Amelia?” the Matron asked by way of recognition. “No, that’s not a problem. She’s worked in this town for over ten years; at most, you might receive a job offer if your Class turns out to be helpful at her clinic. She’s hired a number of apprentices this way, over the years, turning patients into doctors.”

“That’s a relief,” I exhaled, dismissing my contacts list.

Truly, I would’ve been sad to lose my number one source of free healthcare. Even if I rarely ever interacted with it, the NHS was still a source of national pride.

“Thank you for your time, and your advice,” I added this time, as I left her office, the door closing behind me of its own accord.

I made a beeline to my room, making sure to bolt the door in place. Only then did I open the conspicuous brown sack and count the coins properly. They were funny little things, almost twice as thick as a one pound coin, perhaps due to their metallurgists lacking in skill. Heavy, too; were I to swing the closed sack of fifty three at a man, I could be sure to maim, if not kill with the right angle. I withdrew five gild for my pocket, and placed the rest in my chest, locking it up nice and tight. The temptation to head outside for some shopping was nearly overwhelming, but logic forced me to reconsider.

Being a small town, the majority of ordinary shops would likely already be closed. Such was the case in England, and lights were far more abundant there. It wouldn’t be particularly safe either, depending where I went, and I’d run the risk of getting locked out for the night if I wasn’t careful about returning in time. In the end, I had to grit my teeth, climb into bed, and try to force myself to sleep despite not feeling very tired, lest I my circadian rhythm fall out of sync with polite society. As always, in such circumstances sleep was a long time in coming.

Stolen story; please report.

—

I’d known, as I at last sank into slumber, how people made do in a world without alarm clocks. But knowing intellectually and experiencing first hand are two very different things, as I found out bright and early at the crack of dawn, when the local rooster decided to make himself known. I’d never lived close to a farm before, so the sheer volume came as quite a shock. Really, it sounded more like a squealing jet engine than anything a living animal could produce. From my place on the floor, I considered that I’d been startled off of my bed by a big cock, before promptly deciding never to mention this moment to anyone.

I considered taking a lie in, having found the lack of responsibilities, such as board meetings or client showcases or court hearings, quite pleasing, but my stomach ultimately made the choice for me. Nobody went around to rouse all the children, this was an orphanage, not juvenile detention. But likewise, nobody saved a plate for the missing, either; those who arrived too late went hungry. My choice was vindicated as I wandered down the stairs, the familiar smell of pancakes doing much to improve my mood.

Even better, as I was one of the oldest and therefore biggest, I was able to easily claim a seat, and received one and a half times the standard portion, too. If there’d been maple syrup on hand, my meal would’ve been perfect; as is, the honey provided as accompaniment was a bit too thick for my tastes, and stuck to the gullet longer than I’d have liked. I cleaned my plate all the same, however; in fact I’d rate the pancakes an eight out of ten, not as good as a dedicated diner service, but far better than McDonald’s.

With breakfast taken care of, I completely neglected my dental hygiene and rushed out the door, barely sparing anyone a glance. The day started at dawn for shops here, and I needed to know how much my money was worth. As it stood, I had a few choices for a first visit; there was a baker nearby that sold to individuals, but only after their morning run for businesses concluded, so this would involve some waiting. The clothier was another option, a chance to expand my wardrobe beyond the hand me downs, and to slip into something well made and even comfortable. This one was tempting, but I forced it down with an effort of will. I had a list, you see, of things I needed this week, and at the top of that list was a weapon.

A wooden sword was good enough for practice, thankfully, or my skull would be in considerably worse shape by now, but I needed something that could actually protect me. This had never been an issue before, when I was a destitute orphan, but now I had real money, so sooner or later someone would be overcome with greed and strike at me, despite the protections afforded to children. I’d seen it happen once or twice, both ending with the perpetrator’s hanging, but that never seemed to deter more scum of the earth from giving it the old college try. Nodding to myself, I set a course for the smithy with five gild in tow.