Dwellers of the New World Chapter Seven ( Pt 7 ) The Day is Long

It was nearing the time for harvesting food for the Winter. Although the land was fertile, nothing really grew during the cold, dark months, and the fog would remain longer, so no Sun would reach the earth at this time of the year.

The women would have to work extra hard to collect any remaining vegetables. There were potatoes, carrots, cabbages, onions, also herbs and roots, which would either be placed in sacks and stored in the cold caves, or hung to dry. Also wheat was harvested, along with corn. They did not pick all the harvest, some was left to go to seed, where upon it would be boxed up and harvested for the following year. It was hard work, most of the dwellers preferred the Summer, when everything was plentiful and food could be picked as it was needed.

A sack of potatoes and carrots leant up against the table legs ready to be used. Cinnamon felt deflated, sighing she turned and made her way back to the huge cauldron. She stared across at cook, who was busy with Rosa.

Picking up a knife, she began to slice some more carrots and onions, it was an easy job, which gave her plenty of time to think and decide on another course of action. As she placed the carrots and potatoes into the pot, she began stirring the broth, her mind started wandering. She remembered a root that grew near to her home, her mother had recently dug some up, which she kept in a wooden box on a shelf near to the fire.

Lena would steep some root in boiling water, and give it to the family if they had trouble sleeping. Now Cinnamon had the idea of steeping some of the root in some apple cider, and giving it to the guard, putting him to sleep hopefully. She knew he was partial to apple cider, and mixed with the alcohol, she thought it would take affect pretty quickly.

But Cinnamon had no idea of how much to use, her mother had told her that too much could cause the heart to stop, she didn't want to kill the guard, but this meant she would have to ask her mother, and she didn't want to get her involved...'or could she say it was for somebody else?' She thought to herself. Then her thoughts turned to Varden, she wondered where he was and if he would return to the spot by the river, where she had bathed that morning, though she knew she wouldn't have much to tell him.

Cook suddenly appeared on the scene, breaking her thoughts. “You finished stirring that broth yet girl?”

Cinnamon stopped what she was doing and wiped her hands in her skirt. “Oh yes...sorry cook, I was miles away.”

Cook was annoyed and let the girl know how she felt. “What's wrong with you this morning Cinnamon? There's lots to do, now go and get the rabbits, they're all skinned and chopped, just need to go in the pot, then you can go make some more bread.”

Poor Cinnamon just couldn't concentrate that day, feelings of apprehension kept pricking at her conscience, though she wanted to help this man Dawson, she also wished there was someone she could trust, to not only ask for help, but also share the responsibility with.

Rosa had just finished cutting the last of the rabbits up, as Cinnamon approached with a bucket ready to collect the rabbit portions. “I wish you'd tell me what's on your mind Cinnamon, you know you can trust me...I thought we always shared secrets.”

“I know,” replied Cinnamon, “but this is different...the less you know the better, I don't want to get you in trouble with the master, you know what he's like.” She swept the portions into the bucket, the smell of the mixture of onions and meat lingering on her hands.

“Okay...I get it, but if you need to share anything, I'm here okay?” replied Rosa, pushing her hair out of her eyes.

Cinnamon nodded and smiled, turning and making her way back to the broth. She felt a great weight on her shoulders, and wished that Will was here, she knew he would be the one person she could confide in, but he wouldn't be on guard duty until later.

As the day wore on, the weather didn't improve and didn't do much to lift Cinnamon's spirits, in fact the fog became much worse. Luckily the girl was stood by the bread oven, which gave some warmth, but she would be glad when her working day was over.

The day seemed to drag for Cinnamon, but soon the great doors opened, where upon two wagons entered. Behind the wagons, was a welcome sight for her. It was her friend Will.

“Will...Will!” she called out, running over to him.

“You're very excited today...what's up?” he called out, hardly believing how pleased she was to see him.

“I need to speak with you in private...” she hesitated, then continued. “I also want to entrust you with a secret and to ask for your help.”

Will was intrigued. “So what's all this about?” He smiled at the girl, scratching his chin. “You're not going to get me in trouble I hope?”

Cinnamon was just about to speak, when at that moment Gregor appeared with the boy Sam at his side.

Will knew the master didn't like him chatting to Cinnamon. “Looks like some more kids have arrived, I'd better go. Look Cinnamon, can you get to the barracks when I've finished my guard duty tomorrow morning? I'll meet you and we can go somewhere private and talk.”

Cinnamon knew there was no point in talking now, so agreed that was the best plan. She planted a kiss on Will's cheek, feeling pleased that she was now going to share this secret with someone else, she felt she could trust.

“Well that was unexpected, I shall look forward to seeing you in the morning.” He said, as he too planted a kiss on her cheek.

The wagons pulled up, a couple of men climbed down. Cinnamon didn't recognise them, so presumed they were ship builders.

From out of the back of the wagon, jumped three girls and three boys. Cinnamon hated being around when new children came, she felt so sorry for them, their faces dirty and pale from crying and being cooped up in the confines of the wagons. But she knew it wouldn't be long, before they settled in to their new life. She had no idea where they came from, Cinnamon thought they were orphans that had been abandoned in the forest.

Having never lived in the forest, she had no idea of what life was like. She did remember once going with her parents to visit one of her Father's old friends further South, but they only went for the day and she was very young at the time, and couldn't recollect much of the journey.

Gregor marched up to the children, eyeing them up and down, checking inside their little mouths. Then he turned and spoke to one of the guards. “The girls can stay with the new couple that arrived, they'll learn to work the land and produce food, help out around the home and look after the animals. The boys can go down to the sea and help with the ship building, we need to finish that new ship before Winter sets in.”

Gregor then turned his attention to cook, walking over to her, with Sam still at his side. “Cook...I want you to feed these children, then my guards will bed them down for the night. Tomorrow they start work.”

Cook wiped her hands in her skirt, replying. “Yes sir...right away.” Then she turned her attention to the children. “Come on then all of you...no time to waste, lets have you at the table, I'll serve up some of my rabbit stew, you'd like that wouldn't you?”

The children seemed to smile, as they held hands and made their way over to the wooden table, sitting themselves down on the benches, they tucked into their first meal in ages, the food hardly touching the bowls.

Cook stoked up the fire, that was kept going at all times, even when it wasn't in use, the guards on night duty needed it for hot drinks and warming up left over food, but also for warmth.

Cinnamon wondered who the new people were, that the girls would be staying with. She hadn't heard of any new couples arriving, her parents normally knew if there were more arrivals, but hadn't mentioned anything.

She turned to cook. “I'm off home now...I'll see you tomorrow.”

Cook waved Cinnamon off, to busy with the children to take much notice. Rosa was still clearing up, and getting ready to serve some food to the master in his cabin.

Cinnamon made her way towards the great wooden doors, she was looking forward to going home.

“You off now?” said the guard on the door.

“Yes...when do you finish Reb?” she enquired.

Reb was feeling tired, he had been on guard duty all day, now his shift was nearly at an end. “Oh! Won't be long now, just have to wait for these young ones to finish their food, then see them on their way.”

He opened the great door. Cinnamon left deciding that before going home, she would take a walk down by the river, see if Varden was around.

The fog outside the barracks seemed to be getting thicker, but this wasn't a problem for Cinnamon, it was nothing unusual, it just made her cough more.

It didn't take her long to reach the river's edge. There was a silence, that was slightly unnerving, but Cinnamon decided to call out for Varden in a whisper. “Varden...are you there?” there was no reply,
so she called again, but still there was nothing, so deciding to go home, she pulled her skin shawl further around her.

The way back to the cabin was still eerie, as it was getting dark early. Suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder, jumping she span around frightened of who was there.

Then the hand came across her mouth. “Sh! It's only me Varden...don't scream.”

Looking around Varden stood, a big grin on his face. “I've been looking for you,” she said. “Surely you shouldn't be out here in the open, so close to the cabins...if my parents catch you, they'll report you to the master.”

“It's okay...too foggy for anyone to see me, less I want them too.” He took her hand. “Come with me.” He led her back down near the river and through some trees, near the edge of the forest, it was very creepy as the fog floated between the branches of the trees.

Cinnamon became frightened and wanted to go home. “I don't like it here Varden. Say what you have to say, then you can walk me back to the river.”

Varden smiled again and put his arm around her shoulder. “Don't be frightened, it's only the trees here...you're just not used to them in the dark, we're perfectly safe, honest.”

“So come on then any news about Dawson?” enquired Varden.

Cinnamon looked dispirited. “No...I did try to take some broth to him, to get a message to him, but the guard just snatched the food from me and closed the door in my face...it's not that easy you know.”

Cinnamon paused then spoke again. “I did have an idea though.”

“Oh yeah! Come on then...spit it out,” replied Varden.

She started to explain about the root and her plan to give him some cider with the root in it.

“But how you going to get him to drink it?” enquired Varden.

“I'll give it to my friend Will. He's on night duty...I'm seeing him in the morning, so I'll have to be up early.”

“You'll need to give some to the guard on the door too, if we're going to help Dawson escape.” said Varden.

As they were whispering their plan, they heard the sound of horses hooves coming their way. “Quick get down!” said Varden, pulling the girl to the ground.

Two riders stopped and listened through the fog and trees, only hearing the cracking of twigs. Varden put his hand over Cinnamon's mouth, in case she was frightened.

They lay down in the thicket as the riders spoke to each other, too frightened to move.

Dwellers of the New World Chapter Eight ( Pt 1 ) Friend or Foe | ABCtales