Danica scrubbed the large black kettle trying to remove the scorched residue stuck fast to the bottom. She had already wasted enough time picking at the scraps left from dinner and knew she’d be in trouble for taking too long. Even if the remaining bits in the stew were scorched, they were still filling after the meager dinner she was given. Furiously she toiled away, trying her best to be quick about it, until a sharp pain went through her right ear.

She knew immediately who was behind her. Matron Stenouse, Mother Matron of the Norport Orphanage, was an unpleasant wretch at the best of times and she loved picking on Danica by flicking her pointed ears. That was only one of her many ways of torturing the child and unfortunately it wasn’t the worst thing the cruel woman did to her for fun.

She always looked so prim and proper and carried herself with an undeserved air of elegance and status. She wore long dresses matching the old fashions of the nobles, yet made of a fine and luxurious soft cloth. She had many such fine garments of velvets and silks, and never saw fit to dress the children under her care in anything more than castoffs and rags.

Danica stood up straight, arms to the side and stared down at the floor. She knew better than to make eye contact with the hateful matron unless told to do so. “I’m sorry for taking too long. I’m almost finished…”

The older woman grabbed the child by the neck before she could finish speaking and forced her to face upwards. Danica could see no anger burning within the matron’s eyes, just a cold and cruel arrogance. The only time the matron seemed to actually show any real emotion was after punishing the children for their transgressions. She, for some reason, seemed to enjoy the cruelty she inflicted on others and did so often and with little reason behind it.

“Excuses. That’s all I ever hear from you is one excuse after another.” The matron turned Danica's head to one side and then the other. “My you are looking pale. Well, more so than usual anyways.”

Danica stood there cringing at those words and knowing what was coming next. A powerful slap across her thin face sent the small elven girl down to the floor. She could barely see anything for all the black spots in her vision and the pain in her head. She knew better than to stay down though and out of pure desperation found the strength to get up. She had been through this enough times to know the procedure she was expected to follow.

She went back to the same spot she had been in before and again stood straight with her arms to the side. The moment she looked up, another powerful slap across the other cheek sent her sprawling to the floor. The cold stone felt so refreshing against the burning skin that she almost wanted to become one with the floor and lay there forever. Tears welled up from within but she dared not to cry out for fear of worse punishment.

She crawled on her knees and then again stood before the woman, silently praying that it had been enough to satisfy Stenouse’s cruelty for the moment. “Thank you, Matron Stenouse,” she said, gritting her teeth through the intense pain.

The woman grunted her approval. “Such a rosy red. You’re almost pretty enough for the whorehouse.”

The matron had gone into graphic detail telling Danica what they would do to her there and promised the little girl that one day she would be sent there to stay forever. She often teased that it would be very soon and for her to enjoy her time at the orphanage while she could.

The older woman looked around the sorry excuse for a kitchen and frowned. “You’re wasting my valuable time and there’s work to be done. Finish that kettle and be off to bed.”

“Yes, Matron Stenouse,” Danica replied. And she went back to scrubbing as hard as she could, knowing anything less than perfection would result in another beating come morning.

After satisfyingly finishing the task she blew out the small candle allowed to her for work and headed for bed. She stepped carefully to avoid all the creaking boards that littered the building and stealthily worked her way down the hall and up the stairs without a sound. She didn’t want to draw any unnecessary attention to herself from the matron.

She would look wistfully into the rooms as she passed by them at the sleeping children within. Free time for the others was a rare thing to have and even then, Danica wasn’t allowed to be around them while they played. She had so many times before wanted to be a part of their groups, even if they did tease her for being different. She was an outcast even among the other outcasts it seemed.

She made her way into the attic and to her little bed by the wall. It was a shabby bundle of rags and old cloth diapers too worn out and stained to use again. When she had some time to spare she would sew the extras and other cloth scraps together into more useful things like a blanket or a jacket for winter. She had taught herself how to sew and was feeling pretty gifted at it by now. She wondered if one day she could be a seamstress, making beautiful dresses for the world to fawn over. She wouldn’t let the old matron have any of them though.

She watched out of the broken window beside her to the street below as her nimble little hands pulled at the stitches of her newest addition to the ragged blanket. It was a new moon out and the only lights to be seen throughout her vantage point were the lights of the Norport city guards. She watched as the two men, side by side, stepped down the quiet cobble road during their nightly rounds holding their lanterns high. It wasn’t always the same people every time, but these were the ones that most often walked by. They kept her safe while she slept and that was almost like having friends.

She wasn’t sure about some of the other men though. One in particular always came out on the darkest of nights and slunk through the city streets. The way he moved reminded her of the way she walked while trying to be quiet and not wake the matron. He carried a big bag behind him and she always wondered what was inside it. Maybe he was bringing home a big dinner and he didn’t want the guards to eat his food.

Another man came from the alleyway from across the street and caught her attention. She couldn’t remember ever seeing him before and wondered what he was up to. She couldn’t make out too many details, but she could definitely tell he was bigger than most and he carried what looked like a sword at his side. She didn’t think he was a guard though since he didn’t walk in the light.

She wanted to watch longer, but she felt so very tired after a hard day of work. Danica lay down on her makeshift pillow and tried to get comfortable. Tomorrow would be a better day, she hoped. She knew, deep in her heart, if she kept hoping then it would eventually happen one day.

***

Matron Stenouse kept the orphanage running, so she said, by sending the children out to work manual labor. It was small jobs mostly like when merchants or dockmen requested help with moving goods. Danica was rarely allowed out unless it was something particularly disgusting like mucking horse stalls or cleaning chamber pots. She hated doing that type of work, as most people did, but it still allowed her a chance to get out of the orphanage and have a taste of the outside world.

She had to hide her excitement when she got pulled from her normal cleaning duties early that morning and was sent to a nearby clothing store. If the matron even had a hint she would be happy to go, she would have refused to let Danica anywhere near it. She was looking forward to digging for scraps of material in the alleyways behind some of the nicer stores.

As she approached, she saw some of the city guards standing around in front of her destination, keeping a few onlookers back from the building. It was a decently sized wooden building, carefully sanded and stained to give it an air of prominence and wealth. Where there once was a large window, there was now only a hole with jagged glass shards around it. Danica wondered what happened to the clothing normally displayed up front.

She worked her way around the small gathered group and approached one of the guards nearest the door. A large, well fed man with a mustache, he didn’t seem too happy to be dealing with people. Danica stood there for a moment trying to see around him to get a better look into the building curious about what was happening.

“Hey! Get out of here you little rat,” he said, shoving her back.

Danica looked up at him, somewhat fearfully. “Sorry, sir. Matron sent me to clean.”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

He curled his lip disgustedly before grabbing her up and shoving her through the door without another word. Inside she could see broken glass and racks of clothing scattered about. In the middle of the polished wooden floor, there lay a large pool of drying blood. She stared at it, gawking in disbelief at the sheer amount all in one place and wondered where it all came from.

“You, girl,” spoke a voice from behind. “Did the matron send you?

Danica spun around to see a well dressed young man with a haughty look about him. “Yes, sir. Here to clean.”

“Grab that bucket and brush. Water in the barrel behind the building, soaps already in the bucket.” He started to walk towards the back store room and then turned around to address her. “Be quick and keep your hands away from the valuables or I’ll chop them off myself.”

She had barely got started with the actual cleaning when an older man stepped in. He wore the tabard of the city watch like the guards out front, but didn’t wear armor beneath it, opting instead for a well tailored suit that wasn’t too fancy. He looked very regal, clean shaven with well styled graying hair, she couldn’t help but wonder who he was. She stared for a few moments longer than she should have and when he locked eyes on her, she quickly went back to cleaning.

“Ah, Captain Landon” said the haughty man she had met earlier. “I’m glad they sent someone competent this time.”

“Guard Doss is competent enough, Mr. Bigsby. But it seems that some people of persuasion have recently taken a deeper interest in matters.”

Danica, overcome with curiosity, glanced up at the two men talking, trying to concentrate on both her work and what they were saying. They were important men obviously and that was interesting enough, but fear of repercussions from doing a poor job lingered in her mind, spurring her to do the task at hand.

“Well they’d better,” said Mr. Bigsby, anger seeping into his voice. “Crime has never been worse and we’re the ones suffering for it. My own business partner has been murdered in the night by violent thugs!”

Danica stopped scrubbing and loudly gasped realizing now where all the blood had come from. Both men glanced over at her for a moment before resuming their conversation. They talked somewhat quieter this time, but she could still make out their words if she moved the brush slowly enough to keep the noise down.

“We stepped up patrols as much as possible,” said the captain. “We’ve got no one left to put out there and no one’s seen anything.”

Danica thought about the large man she had seen last night sneaking around. She wondered if maybe he had somehow been involved. Should she say something? She had heard that sometimes the children got presents from their jobs for doing well. Maybe, if she was helpful, they’d give her something nice like some food or a piece of material to add to her collection.

“Excuse me,” said Danica quietly. She was scared and nervous of their reactions since she rarely ever got to speak with anyone. “I might have saw something last night.”

Bigsby scowled and started towards her but was stopped quickly by the captain's raised hand. He walked over to danica, careful to avoid stepping into any of the sticky crimson mess, and knelt down to her level. There was something about him that put her at ease. It wasn’t really a sense of kindness or anything of the sort, but a seriousness that didn’t lend itself to cruelty.

“Well you certainly don’t lack for hearing child,” he said looking towards her ears. “What did you see last night?”

“Usually I see two guardsmen walk by. They have lanterns to see with and that’s how I know it’s the city guardsmen. Then sometimes a man comes out after they walk by and he walks like he wants to be quiet. But last night after him a bigger man came out from the alleyway beside where I live.”

She could tell from his expression that he was interested in what she was saying. It was strange that anyone seemed to care what she said without them being disgusted with her or angry.

“You can’t be serious about listening to her," cut in Bigsby angrily. “She’s a damned dark elf spawn.”

Danica hung her head shamefully and began to scrub the floor again slowly. It was true after all, that she was of dark elven heritage, but she tried to be good. No matter how hard she tried though it didn’t seem to matter and any thoughts of a reward for a good job slowly faded away.

The captain's face grew stern as he eyed the other man. “Mr. Bigsby, I recommend that you hold your tongue. You do not wish to test my patience further than you already have.”

Mr. Bigsby grunted and muttered something angrily under his breath. He walked across the room, taking a seat on a worn wooden stool and glared angry at the little girl. Danica worried what he’d tell Matron Stenouse and how much trouble she’d be in later.

“Tell me child,” Landon said, his voice losing the anger towards the other man. “Do you see these people often?”

She thought for a moment. “The sneaky guy with the big sack comes out when it’s really dark out. That’s the time when the moon doesn’t shine or it’s really cloudy. He doesn’t like rain though. I see others too, but I see him most.”

“Do you think he would show up tonight?”

She started counting on her fingers the number of times he showed up in a row. Satisfied that he would most likely show up again that night she began to nod.

Captain Landon smiled at her. “What’s your name?”

“It’s Danica, sir,” she said, dipping the brush into the bucket.

“Come Danica. You and I need to take care of some important business.” He stood back up and pointed towards the door. Danica just stared at him for a moment confused. He clearly wanted her to leave, but her job hadn’t been finished yet.

Mr. Bigsby stood up fast, knocking over the stool he had been on. His face turned a fierce crimson out of sheer anger. “Now hold on a minute. I paid good money for her. You can’t just…”

Landon turned to him, a look of seriousness on his face. “I can, and I will. You’d do well to remember that.” He then turned back to Danica. “I dislike repeating myself more than I dislike being told what I can and cannot do. Step lively girl.”

She jumped up and followed him out the door leaving a cursing Mr. Bigsby behind them. He called her names that she had heard many times before and a few that were new. She wondered if things were about to get really bad for her and if she shouldn’t have said anything at all.

“Excuse me sir,” Danica said looking up at him as they walked. It was difficult for her smaller legs to keep pace with his determined stride. “If I don’t finish the job, Matron Stenouse will be really mad.”

“I don’t doubt it,” He said, not slowing down.

They went down city streets ignoring the people and the stares they got. She wondered if the people were looking at her or him. He was someone important after all, and she was the weird child everyone hated, so it could have been either. She didn’t have much time to wonder about it as they soon reached the orphanage, and Danica was nearly out of breath from the exertion of walking so fast. She didn’t think Captain Landon had even begun to sweat.

Inside sat Matron Stenouse at her lavish desk, going over paperwork and counting out coins. Mostly coppers, but with a few silver coins shining beneath candle light. She looked up at the captain, almost smiling until she noticed Danica trailing behind him.

“Matron,” he said, formally and with a slight nod. “I won’t keep you long. The girl will be coming with me.”

She stood up, hitting the desk as she did so. Coin stacks toppled over and a few rolled to the floor. “Damned if you will,” she said with a snarl. “I’ve got plans for that one and soon enough for it.”

Danica looked down at the floor, scared to meet the matrons devious stare and mumbled quietly. “She says I’m meant for the whorehouse.”

He locked eyes with the woman and spoke in a cool and calm tone. “I see. Child, run along and fetch your things. I need to have words with the mother matron.”

Danica looked up at him awestruck that anyone had the courage to stand up to Matron Stenouse. Yet here and now was a man who had been nice to her, listened to her, and was willing to defend her. One of the guards of the city, a man that worked to keep her safe.

Without another word, she hurried towards her room when it finally dawned on her what was happening. “I just got adopted,” she said to no one in particular. She ran faster now, tears of joy streaming down her cheeks.

When Danica arrived back downstairs with her belongings bundled up in her arms, she saw Captain Landon standing stoically, one hand gently laid upon his side sword. He stood proud and regal, unlike Matron Stenouse, who sat slumped at her desk pouting. The older woman scowled at danica as the girl approached, hateful as ever, seething with rage. She quickly turned away from the woman and ran up to the captain somewhat out of fear.

He glanced at the pile of rags she held tightly. “What did you bring?”

“That's all I got, sir. My blanket, a jacket and this pillow holds my scrap collection.” Danica proudly held the bundled rags, stained and dilapidated, up for his inspection.

He looked at the matron and smirked ever so slightly, for just the briefest of moments. “Leave it here then. We’ll get you some new clothes when we get to the command post.”

Danica’s jaw nearly hit the floor faster than the mess she had just dropped. She would be going to the command post with the captain of the guard and she was getting new clothes too. Danica could hardly contain her joy at all these wonderful things happening to her. She didn’t bother turning around as she burst out of the door of the Norport Orphanage for the last time, Captain Landon following close behind.

This was the better day Danica had always dreamed of.