Maurice
Well 1; introduction
The country was a bustling one, the street of Hermosa was busy this friday
morning, all the merchants and traders could be seen exchanging goods.
While the people trades, some others where in their mix of baking, seaming,
hunting, fishing and planting, all the services done on this good friday.
After a few hours of trading, you could see the scorching fire of the sun
shining over the aluminum rooftop of the village shops, the market place has
reduced in numbers but they was still a great number of people that
afternoon.
Young Miss Maurice Dallas walked her way with a scarf to protect herself
from the sun, she had forgotten to pick ripe melons for desert for the night
and had to run out to get it before she tires up.
Good to see you again Miss Maurice, did you forget to pick up fruits today,
your usual? the middle aged man spoke to her as he wiped his hands on his
brown apron.
Yes Mr Orin, hope trading was successful today, I would need some oranges,
raspberries, apples, lemons and some melons for today.
Yes it has, I will get them right away.
Thank you she replied.
The man went in to he's stall and got the item Miss Annika requested.
As she walked by again through the market roads, the market women still
brought their whispers as they did that early morning, when she came to
pick her daily need of bread, butter, eggs and pork.
"The whoring witch, one of the women which stood in front of a jewelry
shop spoke a little loud in disgust, stay away from her I tell you,
isn't it bad enough her mother was a harlot but she's not just it but also a
witch too,another woman with red painted lips spoke fanning her self.
Stigma
I saw her speaking with Elliot the village hunter's son, I'm sure she was
trying to bewitch him to her hut
It's no lie that the apple never falls too far from the tree, seeing a long stream
of both married and young men eye her slyly lady Gill a middle class lady
spoke with her hand fan over her nose.
Maurice had ignored it and had gotten green to this daily moments of
whispers and daily ill comments.
Maurice made her way back to a cottage fit for the full numbers of a nuclear
family, letting a sigh of relief she dropped her basket and plushies on the
kitchen stool.
Taking off her scarf, she arranged her meal and decided to draw water from
the well to bath. Every homes had a well dogged up by the feudal lord a few
decades ago for different benefits, for reduction of crimes, security and easy
form of living.
A few years ago the crimes in the land was at peek, where females got
missing or raped or eventually killed all in the name of going to fetch a
bucket of water, or taking a bath at ungodly hours, grown men got rubbed on
the days light in the forests as the take to a barrel of water from the
community's stream or from village pump in the middle of the city.
Maurice 2
The lady, Maurice, was tagged a daughter of a whore since her twelve years
of age, she had grown to this name of stigma and had already thought of it as
cliche,every woman without a husband and which bore a child was tagged
loose in her community, and if such woman was no more, the tag goes to the
female child in their anticipation to take on the steps of her biology although
she had faint memory of her parents, especially of her father, she
remembers she once asked her mother of her father and was told her father
wanted nothing to do with a village girl as he was a noble of another
commune, he considered it his youthful mistake atleast that she knew
growing up in her society
However while her mother was a villager and a very beautiful brown
woman with a striking brown eyes as if it could lit up at any moment, many
suitors had lined up for her hands and on knowing she had a child would
vanish in an instance, it indeed took on her mother no matter how her
mother branded the men as incompetent the little Maurice could still feel her
mother's sadness and sometimes blames her own existence.
Maurice's mother Annie had no job, she wasn't literate to be a governess nor
had resource enough to start up some kind of trade even she knew trading
was useless for her type in her village,an obvious castigation",the villager
refused her some sort of works and when she finally gets it she receives little
to nothing and she eventually became what they called her a "tramp".
It came a day while Maurice sat by herself as usual, she waited patiently for
her mother by the chimney warming herself by the moldy logs of wood, she
enjoyed the crackling sounds but while she waited on her mother, she never
returned, the morning came but she didn't return either and it went on from
days to a week and Annika had no patience to keep waiting for her for it was
the longest she had stayed, at ten years of age she knew it was odd and
became uneasy wanting to search for her mother.
It was winter and the thick of the covers swallowed her small booths, she
made her way to the village administrator's office but as she walked she
noticed the high murmurs and whispers grow as she walked her way up,
kids around her age pointed their hands and mothers of this children never
cautioned them but scorned at her, she was used to their spiteful gaze but it
seems that it was in great disgust today was it because she never stepped out
for a week.
Finally reaching her destination, lucky enough she recognized a young man
which whom she had seen a few times with her mother and her small feet
carried her to him.
I am looking for my mother Master, she has not returned home for days, her
face brimmed with tears.
The young master with a lady at hand lowered a fit over as he sneered at
her," your mother was a spoil of business and had brought great problems to my
business since this few days I have had no rest, my investment gone, she
wasted my work by getting caught, that damned mother of yours owes me a
tone and she steals from me by dying, he stood up and clicked his tongue
how would you her daughter make up for it.
Maurice was confused about what he said, was her mother a thief and got
caught stealing and what did he mean by "dying ".
I don't understand Mister, Maurice sniffled, the lady by his side let out a
small chuckle,
Oh little thing, poor child, what the young master Ski is saying is, your
mother wassss.. a spoil of business and she's dead because she got caught in
the balls of the king and was taken to death by the queen and now, the
queen's fangs are everywhere in his business, she requests a ton from the
master in return, if I where you darling I will pick my tiny brown feet
running for my life cause the queen would wipe out the generation of your
whoring mother that means, she's coming for you.
Her feet knew one thing, to run and run as fast as she could back home but
at getting home a great crowd and fogginess of the street was chaos, she
didn't know what was happening, her home was on fire as the flames danced
with winds and crowds cheered to their success, she was all alone no safe
heaven to cry, all she knew was the home and mother and the villagers but
she has lost everything in a day because she left home, her mom tells her
never to leave home but today, just today she left and the house was burnt
and she couldn't find her mother, her mother would definitely be very angry
at her, she snaked her small self from the crowd running in with intentions
to safe some of her mother's dresses atleast but 9n her steps she got dragged
away by the same master Ski.
Are you mad you have the same death wish as your mother, come with me
he dragged her bit she resisted,
If you don't come, I won't show you where your mother is, so now tap your
feet faster
The carriage rode for few minutes to a little mansion uncovering above the
valley, they arrived at their destination and she was dragged out to a room which happens to have some of her mother's belong especially a hair scarf
that her mother wore and along a diy bracelet she made for her mother.
Maurice was smart for a little girl, she knew at that moment her world had
ended, and had to escape the grasp of that lunatic after the man had told her
the queen had set an order for her mother to be stoned to death how
agonizing for her mother and now she'd work for him till she becomes of
age.
At the middle of the night she waited impatiently for the moon to rise and
the cricket to crick, she picked nothing but her mother's hair tie and her
beads abandoning every other things, she made her first move, peeping
through the door to the dim hall way, she walked down the steps, and a low
murmuring she could gear from the third room she passed, she immediately
took off her shoes, tip toeing her best to yards door, finally reaching the knob
the voice in the background jerked her soul to reality, her heart leaped in
loose hope, she turned startled to her bone.
Your as sneaky and tacky looking just like your mother, a spitting image, just
a few shades lighter than her mmmm.... you look just as disgustingly perfect,
you will make up for her sins after I have molded you to my taste you shall
make unbelievable sacks of golds, he chuckled wickedly while walking
towards her.
"Slap* the little creature fell to the ground a few drops of blood fell from her
nose and coughed out a few portions too, pulling the child by the hair, he
dragged her back to the room and locking her up. No food was given to her
even the next day, she cried uncontrollably and had gone numb finally
loosing consciousness.
A few weeks gone and she was finally able to step out, she was fed properly
Instead of the half meals, she had stubbornly refused to work for the man,
the maids in the house had thought it at first as brave but with constant
retributive punishment she suffered in time they thought that such idea was
one of foolishness, the pitied they child and sometimes coerced the girl agree
to to their master after various rounds of whippings and starvation It was almost six months already since she had been under master Ski, he
had finally brought her out of the cells underground, as the maids took care
of her by the other of their master, her entire body for her face as body was
covered in scratches sucj like she had contacted some severe skin disease as
bruising and infected wounds were dried and scarred.
The young Master Ski had met her eating in the room,
eat up now this might be your last dear,
he gave her quite a stare pulling up his lips for a smirk, you will fetch me a
few sacks or a sack of gold.
Finally she was dressed neatly and her hair combed and was taken by a
carriage, Annika and Master Ski sat at the opposite sends each staring at
different spots, one seemed to enjoy and the other seemed lost and numb.
Finally arriving to her destination, she then realized she was being sold after
spending over thirty minutes with the man, she was taken up the stage for
display, and finally over a hundred fifty pieces of gold coins was claimed by
master Ski and was sold to an old haggard pedophile.
She was finally released from a thin shackle and pulled to the back with
another boy the man purchased.
She saw how unguarded the room was and the thought to escape filled her
mind unlike the boy he was still shackled, she paid no attention to him as she
dragged tables together to make a good height for her to escape from the
window, as much as she wanted to ignore him, she asked if he wanted to
follow her but he shook his head in disagreement and only watched her, on
her timing the young boy heard the footsteps coming and could only do one
thing stall them.. he blocked the handle with the wooden chair closest to him
running to the Annika and pushing her over.
Maurice was shocked by the sudden movements, but she knew from his
agonizing screams from getting caught saving her she picked her self up
forgetting her briusings and injuries, she ran to the forests instead of the
road, as the room was located at the back facing the forest, she ran and ran
for something she thought was an hour, she walked this time till the night
sprawled it's ink on the sky, she was exhausted and lost her surrounding as she lost consciousness falling down a slope behind a tree, she was lucky
enough to not be found a few minutes after she passed out, a few groups
came in search of her and fortunately enough the tree vines and bushes hide
her in their embrace.
She finally woke up to the high disregard of the light piercing through her
lids, her body ached as she had never experienced such pain, upon realizing
she was in a moving cart, she dashed up to meet a passel of young pigs at her
sides, she looked to the driver and realized that however if she was captured
or safed it was by an old man, he road deep to a clearing in the woods and a
small cottage could be seen ahead, she relaxed a bit knowing he wasn't from
Ski.
They finally got there and the old man lived with his old wife in the forest of
Hermosa and eventually she was raised as theirs for they were unable have
babies and they brought her up and she to her inability to bear children and
her special gift to foresee events she was then labeled a witch and was casted
away, she was married to her husband by then but Mr Lanai loved his wife
and decided to make a home in forest and there they lived for years and with
the villagers knowing that the old couple took the young whores daughter
labelled her as bewitch from her early age of attracting young men and her
unravelling beauty.
The next day, the day did start earlier than usual but it wasn't surprising for
the people of Hermosa, as there were temporary leaving the city to the
nearest communities into the kingdom.
The current state disaster and high rise of invasion in the kingdoms borders
has increased subsequently draught and wars was drawing closer to the
kingdoms border and Hermosa is the town at the border, an order to
evacuate the village was given by the province to leave immediately or have
themselves to blame, they average people had gone since abd the people
struggled to get shelter over their heads in the safest village.
Miss Maurice walked out for her daily routine, spent some time in the village
library reading on politics and economics, she goes to wool store and get a
few yarns, go to back home pick up sticks, milk the few cows and feed the
pigs.
Maurice lived a life above average, she lived comfortably with her dogs and
cows, with a dozen pigs and hens to accompany her and she had thought no
reason to leave. She had no life beyond this and her creative talents to draw
and write was mesmerizing as that was what Mr Arun said, he was the
village scholar and had thought and encouraged her to publish a few books
and had even gone as far as to advise her to use a certain name as far as she
would get her income, who would know, not wasn't every philosopher and
writers they knew.
However while the people gathered themselves in carriages, Maurice had a
rough time getting her quill and quires for writing and drawings as the
stores where all closing up, they had until a week of surety to leave the
village.
Walking back that evening after her days work, she sensed the abnormalities
of the village but shrugged it of because a great numbers of people where
already leaving the village so the quietness was expected, she finally found
her requirements and took the road narrowed into the woods, it was closer
but was thick with dense bushes, she grew closer to her destination and the
unwavering smell of copper filled her nose, she halted and all sort of
imagination clustered her but her heels made fast as she got to her cottage,
and the trails of blood and thick puddles of red was obvious in her
surroundings, her home seemed like a slaughter home, going round and in
her house the only surviving creature was the wolf cub she had recently
taken in a week ago when she went fishing, it hide itself perfectly she herself
wouldn't have seen it if not from it's whimpering, it looks like even however
it tried to hide but sustained injuries.
She didn't understand what was going on, was it the invaders that caused
this havoc in her home, her thoughts where interrupted by the heavy
galloping coming outside her yard, rushing to the ripped door, she saw a
horde of horses approaching, all dressed on armours with an engraving and
a crest, a crest of the house of Sunbeam obviously this group was definitely
from high rankers.
Woman you should leave here it's not safe one of the men without a helmet
spoke, this group were sixteen, from Maurice's calculation, from the petit
structure, two females and fourteen males, they were dressed in dark
clothes, seems that the first four which faces were completely covered with
dark scarfs on their black sturdy horses were ranking.
This is my home i have no where else she replied standing her ground.
One of the men who seemed to have dealt with stubborn villagers who
refused to leave, she could see him roll his eyes as the others got their horses
except the silent four who strode their horses around the area examining it.
Do you wish to die here, look at your home and livestock, only that your
lucky you survived the attacked he spoke.
Do not worry about me I can fend for myself.
The man seemed exhausted from convincing her, he only left her after
sparing her a long pitiful stare and left to answer one the men on the black
horses, they men soared in and out of my house and could not help but
irritated by the intrusion, for how much she knows, she didn't even know if
they were they ones to vandalize her abide.
I will not have it that you and more men intrude my privacy for so much the
heavens may have it I do know if your group is indeed the invaders given
that I don't know who you people are, I do not recognize if you're part of the
country or not sire.
The whole area dropped silent in the accusations and finally one of the
person's on the horse got off and walked to her.
A sweet tantalizing voice of an authoritative woman spoke.
Apologies Miss, order from royal house.
We are the Sunbeam soldiers and we are designated to survey the activities
and help move the residents of the commune to closest and safest
community she spoke, It is quite strange that nearly all the residents of this
commune has exited, it is a small one not say , the village, but seeing a young
woman as you in a family cottage, how is it you were not harmed nor leave.
Maurice had seen this point was lost of words as she was cornered under her
own truth, she stammered I.. I do not have anywhere nor any family relations to go find.
Surely a lady like you should have someone one of the soldiers walked
jumped in, Sir Alhearaah.
What is it,
they was a rumor of a witch in the woods perhaps she is the one.
I am no witch couldn't bear such accusations at this point.
Do tell why your home was attacked not too long ago and you survived.
I was at the library and was merely lucky .
All shops and stalls has being closed since yesterday that's the inclusion of
the library, luck is what a witch would say.
Why would I destroy my own home if I was a witch.
Some sort of ritual and you had to play the victim because you know you
can't out run the royal hunters.
Enough clatter bellman, witch or not the time to find a witch is long gone
said the woman who returned with wolf.
You have to vacate here, it's not safe, willing or not ma'am, we advise you
head in and pick the rest of the important things of yours Allaeraah declared.
Her unwillingness was plastered but she couldn't continue to be thoughtless,
walking back the woman called back.
Miss..?
It's Maurice.
-_-
Dallas, Maurice Dallas
I believe this creature is yours handing her back the wolf.Prepare we are leaving Hermosa, one of the men announced, as Annika
followed the men out the the forest.
Was she to talk completely out of Hermosa in foot, struggling with her
baggages, she finally found a few large carts where people were already, it's
large enough to stand and sit and enough space, finally settling in to this,
"witch" was whispered across and ofcourse she was shown indifferences
about everyone avoided contact with her , as she sat at the outer part of the
now moving cart.
Perhaps she thought to herself it was best, finally moving to a new
surrounding, a new life ahead for her and perhaps award herself a better
name other than "witch or whore". A new beginning she thought to herself,
maybe she'd finally find a meaning to her life at nineteen.
Awake..
Maurice had dosed off, Maurice knew she had nothing to loose not even a
life quite recommendable did she live behind, honestly she knew she was
only scared to move to another community even if she she knew she could
afford it, she was willing for time to take her with her, a lonely sad child
some villagers said, some said a hope of no motivation, a waste of such art
the artiste said.
Perhaps now she would have an opportunity to take a first step to life, she
may still delly in her pit or not.
Maurice had dosed off through the night, while they ride began the people
inside the cart where mostly old men and women but that still never
changed anything they had travelled out off the Hermosa and it was clear
morning in the sky some carts outside of Maurice's was almost empty if not
totally.
Wake up now girl, we are at Caruso town, we are stopping to feed the horses
and take a rest, except you wish to take shelter here, the soldier banged at
her side of the cart, realizing it was only her and an old couple still in the
carriage, she didn't know which village was the best options, stepping down
from the cart, she walked around the town, her things still in the cart,noticing it was bustling and hustling, walking around the street, a couple of
men spotted and followed her and finally bumped into her while she did not
want a bright bustling town where people knew and interacted with people,
where the drama was the core of entertainment.
She had no idea she was getting robbed but immediately the men fled away
and Maurice still oblivious of her situation.
Drama, a great place to suit lady Nadal, a perfect gossip to keep the town
bright she spoke out loudly while she walked about the street selling traders,
who looked at her in admiral and suspiciousness and a gaze that went
unnoticed, fear, she knew others as they were familiar to her but "fear" that
was new.
Not a great way to judge a town you merely know , the female soldier
Allaeraah from Hermosa spoke. She had followed Maurice all the way, she
did not know of the reason why she had the feeling to see to her, however as
a soldier she was thought to always trust her guts.
Apologies if that was offensive, nearly I'm not completely wrong to say that a
town like this is nothing but a place of gossips and rumours, I am merely
speaking out of experience sire.
This town is rich in it's production of raw material directly to the capital, and
has undergone so many attacks, as they're one of the vital strength to the
kingdom, so has suffered many loses, how the people move on is true the
ruly behaviors, their source of happiness is entertainment, any type maybe
she jested.
Ohh I never knew Annika suddenly felt guilty of the new knowledge.
Apologies for my rudeness Sire.
Please call me Allaeraah, perhaps even Arah, it's strange I known for a
soldier you don't know especially that directly from the king to drop
formalities, you see no one wants anything to do with a female Commander,
it's either business or report, so being me is hard, I thought to spend a couple
of minutes with a fellow woman around my age I suppose while the men
have their time and I may never see you but what's work with no fun, she
nudge Anikka who found the entire scene perplexing and funny Maurice smiled back at her
I am indeed a bad judge of character, apologies Arah.
It is okay I get that allot, let's find something to eat first she said leading her
to a small tarven.
After they finished and headed back to their location Arah spoke.
Thanks for your company miss Maurice, maybe on our next meetings we can
actually be friends taking a few steps she remembered and turned.
I think I know the suitable town for you, perhaps a little change in hairstyle
for you she offered Anikka a quick smile putting back her mask on.
Maurice smiled greatly back at her climbing back to the cart she realized the
couple was no longer there only her cub , she fed it right away as she had
gathered a few pieces of food for it.
They ride lasted till early in the evening when they sun was setting.
A neighboring village to the capital a rich state, her final destination, could
she afford to live here, she knew in this place everyone minds their business,
what ever happens is non of their business but isn't that the life of the rich,
was she actually rich would she be treated indifferently again.
She was dropped off as soon as they got to Brunswick town of Hrunalia.
Her things were dropped off at the side of the road but her soon requests of
Commander Arah, kept 5he guards aria, however Arab had agreed to her
request.
I wanted to thank you and I don't want to sound unappreciative but I don't
think I could fit in here, I am indeed a village girl I can't possibly fit in here I
wanted to...
I have already thought of that, do not worry yourself Miss Maurice, giving
Maurice a gave a thick leather piece of clothe which she identified as a batch
with the Sunbeam embroidered on it a little name rank under it spelling
Commander Allaeraah Karlsruhe (Com' Allae Karlsruhe)
Queedolyn03130