XIV

Wren stood in the snow outside the house, his breath rising in small shuddering clouds. The cool air bit at his skin, but he didn't feel it. His pulse was quick, but not because of the terror they had just experienced, but because of Lira. She sat on the ground, her legs tucked under her. She was looking up at him, smiling! Barely more than a curve of her lips, but to him it was a blast of sunshine. He bent down and scooped her up in his arms, holding her close. Tears fell from his eyes as he squeezed her tightly. She embraced him back, and Wren felt more joy than he had in a long long time. He wanted to hold her forever, savoring the happiness he felt, but something bugged him.

He finally broke the embrace, glancing over at the house. Its broken window showing only darkness beyond, the feeble sunlight unable to pierce the menacing shadows. His eyes swept the area in front of the window. No glass littered the ground, it had been broken from the outside. Wren hadn't questioned it at the time, but now he could clearly see that it was no coincidence. Someone knew they were trapped inside, and broke the window to help them escape. He turned his head, looking for any sign of life on the deserted street. There were prints in the snow from the guards and dogs, but nothing that indicated someone had approached and broke the window.

"Hey sis," He said, turning to look at her. "You can't like, feel if there's someone nearby can you? Like if someone is watching us or something?"

She cocked her head to the side and gave him a funny look.

"No, no of course not." He mumbled to himself. He let go of his sister and scooped up his pack. "Come on, we should keep moving. Lets find somewhere less... haunted."

The siblings left the main road, and returned to the alleyway behind the buildings. With guards on the prowl, it would be stupid to just be walking down the street. They slowly made their way along, keeping alert for anything.

As the sun reached its zenith, Wren's stomach reminded him yet again, they'd had very little to eat. He picked out a building that more resembled the old workshop they stayed in before, rather than the haunted house. No windows remained intact, the roof was caved in, and junk littered the floor. He glanced at his sister, double-checking that this place was suitable. She simply shrugged, then slipped through the doorless entryway.

They sat down and Wren emptied out his pack. There was little food left, only three pieces of cheese and two heels of bread. He sighed. He would have to forage today, or risk going hungry tonight. He didn't want to steal from the locals, but he wasn't sure what else to do. As he started to divide the remaining supplies, he heard a thump outside. At first, he thought it was snow falling from the roof, but it sounded a little heavier than that. Pulling his cloak around him, he stood and cautiously approached the doorway. Looking outside, he saw no one. On the ground, not far from where he was standing, a burlap sack lay in the snow. Wren dashed outside and looked around, whipping his head from side to side. He looked up at the roof, and between this building and the next, but found nothing.

"Who are you?! Why are you helping us?!" He cried out, secrecy be damned.

No reply came. Still, he felt the back of his neck prickle, like someone was watching.

He approached the sack and nudged it with his toe. Several apples rolled out. He leaned down to inspect them. They were slightly wizened, but nothing worse than what they would find in the mess hall. They seemed totally fine, so he brought them inside. Lira was looking at him curiously. He showed her what he found, and shrugged.

"Someone is helping us. The blanket, the window, now this. I don't know why, but we would be foolish to turn it down, right?"

Lira inspected an apple, then bit into it. She closed her eyes in delight as juice ran down her chin. It was settled then. They gorged themselves on the apples which were slightly bitter, but compared to the stale bread and old cheese, they were amazing. Afterwards, they lay back, heads resting on their packs.

"Hey sis", Wren said slowly. He heard her turn her head towards him. "I'm going to be honest. I have no idea what to do next."

He sat up on his elbows, looking at his sister with an apologetic look.

"I know escaping the compound was the right thing to do. The Silverbloods are doing things, things they shouldn't be. But...I don't want us to just be surviving out on the streets."

Lira sat up, crossing her legs. Her blue eyes staring intently at him, as if she was trying to tell him something. She definitely seemed to be getting better, acting more like her old self. But he was still concerned, especially since she still couldn't talk.

"We need to find you help. But I can't think of anyone we can go to. I doubt regular doctors could help, and I'm afraid the knights would find out if we went to any kind of official magic user." He felt defeated. He had barely been holding back his emotions as it was, trying not to think about everything that had happened. His family, the experiments on his sister...Sam. He felt his eyes get watery as it all started to flood his mind again.

A sudden voice startled the siblings, causing them to jump.

"What about an un-official magic user?"

They scrambled to their feet and spun around. From a dark corner of the ransacked building stepped a woman. She wore a dark grey cloak, and beneath it, plain looking clothes. She looked completely unassuming. Her blond hair was up in a ponytail, and she had slightly almond shaped hazel eyes. She was maybe just out of her teenage years. She took a few steps towards them, and Wren could feel the air tingle slightly. He knew his sister was getting ready for anything.

"Don't come any closer! Who are you?" Wren said firmly.

The woman, girl really, put her hands in front of her, non-threateningly.

"Easy, My name is Sophie. I'm here to help you."

Wren glanced at the burlap sack that held the apples.

"Was that you?" He asked.

"It was. It was also me at the house, and who gave you the blanket."

"Why? What are you doing this for?"

Sophie slowly reached into a satchel, and removed a sheet of parchment.

"Have you seen these around?" She asked, holding it out.

Wren cautiously moved closer, getting a better look at the paper.

"The Kindred Enclave? Are you some kind of orphanage?" He squinted his eyes, still suspicious.

She chuckled softly. It sounded genuine and innocent.

"Hardly. We know you two escaped from the Silverblood compound. After we heard about the breakout, I tracked you down. The Enclave helps orphans, like you. Sometimes, they're escapees from the compound. Others are survivors from attacks who make they're way here, looking for help. But the city doesn't really care. If they find orphans, they're taken into the compound. We don't do that."

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Wren looked at his sister hesitantly. Her eyes weren't glowing, and she seemed to be studying Sophie.

"We also know about your sister, a little bit at least. We can help her."

Wren was torn between wanting to immediately trust her, and still being suspicious.

"But why not help us right away? Why wait? We could have been killed in that house!" Wren shouted.

"We had to wait." Sophie replied. "I can't tell you exactly why, not here. But it was for a good reason."

That puzzled Wren, but it also piqued his curiosity.

"Okay..." He said, his thoughts rolling around in his head. "Let's say we go with you. Then what?"

"Well, we can provide you with food, clothing, shelter, even find you work to make money. The Enclave is full of others like you. I was an orphan too, once. We want to know your story. I can't really tell you anything else, but I promise, we aren't part of the Silverbloods, the guards, or anyone else."

Wren turned to his sister. "What do you think sis? I think...I think I want to trust her."

Lira pulled her gaze away from Sophie to look at him. She stared into his eyes for a moment, then gave one firm nod.

Wren exhaled, coming to a decision.

"Okay Sophie, We'll come with you."

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Sophie led the siblings out of the abandoned section of the city, which made Wren very nervous. They didn't navigate down the main streets or walk among large crowds, but he still felt very exposed. The side streets and business roads they walked still had many people. They passed by beggars, workers, kids playing games, and general townsfolk. Homes and shops with people visible through the windows populated the area. After a while, Wren felt his unease drop as he became distracted by the sights and sounds around him. People here seem generally content. Most of the paths were clear of snow and not choked with mud, people nodded as they walked by, rather than scowl, and no one yelled or threatened them. The scent of freshly baked bread and simmering meat wafted through the air.

Finally, they came to a storefront. A large window displayed various clothing on wooden displays. A child slightly younger than Wren swept the walkway out front. A cheery light blue sign over the door read "Aunt Belles Loomworks"

Sophie led them through the door and into a large, sunlit room. Shelves with clothing filled the front half, and in the back behind a counter, girls of all ages worked on looms and spindles. A couple townsfolk lingered about, inspecting the items for sale or talking to someone behind the counter. A large older woman sat behind the front desk, her eyes glued to a ledger. Sophie approached the counter, and the woman looked up, a merry look on her pleasant face.

"Hello Sophie dear! How nice it is to see you!"

"Hello Auntie Belle. I've got a couple new employees." Replied Sophie.

The woman leaned over the counter and adjusted her glasses, inspecting the siblings.

"Mhmm, I see." She said, nodding knowingly. "Why don't you take them back and get them all sorted, eh?"

"Sure thing Auntie. Thank you!" Sophie cheerfully waved, and led them back around the counter, past the rows of busy tailors. She opened a door in the back, and they walked into what appeared to be a large storage room. Heaps of thread, yarn, needles, and many other items were carefully stacked everywhere. Wren glanced at Sophie questioningly, wondering why she had brought them back here.

Sophie paid him no mind, simply walked to the back of the room. A stack of rugs covered the floor here, and she went about moving them. Beneath them, to Wren's surprise, was a trapdoor. Sophie placed her hand flat upon the door and quietly muttered a few words. Nothing happened, but after a moment, she pulled the metal rung, lifting the door silently.

"What was that about? Magic?" Questioned Wren.

Sophie winked at him, "Just a little something we have to do."

The trapdoor revealed a ladder going down into darkness. Many yards below, a lantern lit the ground where it ended.

"Come on!" She said, swinging herself over the edge.

Wren glanced at his sister, but she just shrugged and moved to follow. The siblings carefully followed Sophie, moving hand over hand down the ladder through the dark. At the bottom, they found themselves in a short tunnel, leading to a branching intersection. Lanterns chased away the shadows every few feet. Sophie led them to the intersection, then into another tunnel. They wound their way through several different tunnels, and quite quickly, Wren was hopelessly lost.

Eventually, they were spat out into a large chamber. A man stepped from the darkness, stopping Sophie in her tracks.

"Rats scurrying in the dark?" He asked gruffly.

Wren was instantly on edge when the first word left the man's mouth.

"Nay, rabbits hurrying home." Sophie replied nonchalantly.

The man patted her shoulder and said "Welcome back Sophie." Then stepped aside.

Wren raised his eyebrows, realizing it was just a call-and-answer passcode.

Inside the chamber, men and women hurried about, carrying boxes and supplies. Children ran around, laughing. Seats had been carved into the stone in the center, giving the space almost a peaceful town square appearance, minus the lack of sunlight or trees. They continued down another hall, and passed another sentry. Here, they stopped at a door. The sentry unlocked the door with a key, and stepped inside to light the lantern. The siblings followed Sophie inside. It was one big room, with three bunk beds on one side, a table and chairs in the center, and a small bookshelf on the other side. The room made Wren feel uneasy. He turned to ask her what was going on, but she started talking before he could speak.

"I know what you're thinking, but don't worry. Until we know for sure that you won't cause problems for the Enclave, you'll have to stay in here. We'll bring you food and water, but you can't leave yet."

"What?!" Exclaimed Wren. "You spent all that time following us, taking us through those tunnels, just to lock us in here?"

"Calm down, please!" Sophie retorted. "It should only be for the night, I promise. It isn't up to me anyway, this is just how the Enclave does things. You'll have to talk to someone to get cleared before we can let you just roam around. For all we know, you could be spies. I'm sorry, but it's a precaution they take very seriously."

Wren was fuming. It made sense, but how it suddenly happened did not sit well with him.

"Supper will be soon. Try and get some rest, in the morning someone will come to get you. Again, I'm sorry about this, but it's done for a good reason." With that, Sophie left the room. Wren heard the guard lock the door behind her. Once again, it seemed like they were prisoners.