“How did it go, Nixie?” Mother projected across the yard. The dry wind blew a tuft of her black hair across her olive skin, and she tucked it away with ease.
“This may have been my best trip yet.” I smiled broadly, wiggling my heavy pockets at her.
She laughed. “Well, why don’t you come inside and show me? You look like you could use something to drink.” She turned away from the laundry and creaked open the cabin’s door, holding it open behind her.
I followed her inside, eager for a tall drink of water. The cozy, one-room cabin always sent a wash of peace over me whenever I entered. The walls might be worn and the roof may be sagging in some places, but it felt sturdy and safe. The room was made up of a clay fireplace that lined the far wall, a small table with chairs in the center of the room, and a single spring mattress that rested against the back wall. Over the years, we had brought flat stones into the home and burrowed them into the ground to create a cohesive floor. The collage of rocks made up a floor that I wouldn’t even compare to the granite floors of a palace—well, except for the levelness. The uneven elevations made excellent tripping hazards and fabulous opportunities to practice being light-footed. Mismatched dishes and pots lay clustered on the floor around the hearth, and a small wooden crate by the table held our dwindling food supply. It was a very humble abode, but we were proud of it.
Mother picked up the crate of food and placed it atop the wobbly table. I peered inside. Only two small potatoes, half a bag of cornmeal, and jar of walnuts remained.
I looked into the crate and smiled. “Are you ready?”
“Of course. Show me already.” She laughed with an impatient chide.
Without further ado, I began to unload my pockets. I watched with glee as Mother’s eyes widened as I pulled out chunks of bread, apples, a peach, and even a whole bag of sugar.
“Goodness, Nixie!” she exclaimed. “This is incredible! This might be the most food you’ve ever secured in a single trip.” Her face looked aghast as she sorted the apples and bread into the crate.
I beamed with pride. “I’ve had a lot of practice lately,” I admitted. “That outpost has been receiving a lot more deliveries lately, and it’s been far too easy to track their routes. Maybe next time I can grab an entire bag of goods!” I bounced on my toes, the excitement bubbling up inside me.
Mother placed an authoritative hand on her hip. “Now, Nixie…” she began with a stern glare, and I paused my bounces.Here we go...“You know the rules. You mayonlysteal from the Ashbourne military when it’s absolutely necessary. We’re luckier than most; most families don’t have a stealthy daughter who can acquire such goods. But remember that you promised me you would only steal to help provide; do not get greedy.”
I let out a low breath. She was right. I didn’t need any more than what I had now. Although, it wasn’t as if Ashbourne needed all the luxuries they had, either.
“You’re right, Mother,” I finally admitted. “I won’t get greedy, I promise.”
Mother smiled back at me, a proud glint sparkling in her warm brown eyes. “That’s my girl,” she whispered, brushing a loose red curl away from my green eyes. “Now, why don’t you take some of these apples and bread to Mr. and Mrs. Clemmens? Their garden has been struggling this year, and they could use the extra food.” She passed me a small handful of apples and bread loafs, picking out the ones that hadn’t been smashed during my roll.
In between pocketing the fruit and bread, I guzzled down a cup of water, preparing to go back into the blazing heat. “Sure thing, Mother, I’ll try to be back before supper.” I grabbed the last loaf of bread and headed back out the door.
“Be safe, Nixie!”
chapter two
The dry air itched my tanned skin. As I walked, my wild red locks shook free from the scarf I had tied them up in this morning. Without stopping, I pulled the sweat-dampened scarf free and wound my springy curls back into a tight braid. Whoever my birth parents were, they must have had the strangest genetics. Most citizens of Sybettal were born with dark features, such as olive skin, brown eyes, and dark hair. I, on the other hand, had not been blessed with such tame features. My skin was still relatively tanned, but it was more from my exposure to the sun than my natural complexion; and my eyes were a vibrant green instead of the standard dark-brown. Then there was my hair...I brushed a loose curl away from my eyes, considering for likely the thousandth time in my life if I would be better off chopping it all off. My mother had rescued me as an infant during our kingdom’s downfall, so I had no idea what my birth parents looked like—other than the assumption that they had wild features and were short in stature. It had always perplexed me how they simply vanished without a trace. It was highly likely that they perished in the siege along with many other innocents, but I still occasionally found myself wondering what they would have been like in life.
A fresh spout of dry wind flicked at the ends of my skirt, realigning my thoughts to the task at hand. The Clemmens were only a short walk away from our cabin, plus they were kind company, so I was more than happy to make a visit. My worn boots tossed puffs of dry dirt into the air as I walked along the path. Sybettal truly had only two seasons—the dry season and the wet season. We were nearing the end of the dry season, so the ground was unquestionably parched by now. It was no wonder the poor Clemmens couldn’t get anything out of their garden.
As I reached the elderly couple’s home, I noticed Mr. Clemmens was already outside, hunched over his garden, collecting a few meager bean sprouts from a vine. When the older man saw me approach his face instantly brightened.
“Well, I’d recognize that blazing red hair from a mile away. Good afternoon, Miss Nixie. What a pleasure to see you here,” the man greeted warmly.
“Afternoon, Mr. Clemmens!” I waved cheerfully. “I brought you and the missus a few items from my haul today.”
The sun glistened off the sweat beading across the man’s brow. “Have you been givin’ those Ashbourne soldiers a run for their money again?” He laughed heartily while standing from his garden, stretching his back creakily as he rose.
I smiled innocently. “Only doing my civic duty to my kingdom. Those pompous Ashbourne soldiers will hardly even notice a few missing apples.”
“You got that right, Nixie dear.” He huffed, patting dirt from his knees. “Why don’t you come inside for a bit and have some tea? Dorinda would love to say hello.”
“That would be splendid, thank you!” I accepted brightly, following the older man into their stout cottage.
The Clemmens’ house was a little larger than ours, since it had a short loft that could be used as a sleeping space. However, the gingerly-aged couple couldn’t safely climb into the loft anymore, so they mainly used it for storage. As Mr. Clemmens shut the door behind me, I took in the earthy aroma of Mrs. Clemmens’ homemade tea blend. The woman sat bent over a small fire, sweeping ashes out from under the dented tea kettle. It wasn’t until her husband cleared his throat that she looked up and noticed my presence.
“Oh, Nixie! What a lovely surprise!” Mrs. Clemmens’ voice was almost melodious as she hurried to her feet to welcome me. “Please, dear. Have a seat. Tea will be ready in just a moment.”
“Thank you, ma’am. It’s always a pleasure to visit. Oh! Mother wanted me to bring these for you two.” I dug the apples and loaves out of my pockets. I brushed some lint off a few of the apples before placing them on their cluttered dinner table.
Mrs. Clemmens placed her hands on her hips, her mouth falling open. “Now, Nixie…” she began, “I know your mother has a soft spot for us old folk, but she should very well know that we can provide for ourselves. You put yourself in a lot of danger to feed that sweet mama of yours; you shouldn’t have to share your spoils.” She shook her head while placing a steaming cup of tea in front of me.