Ch.2.1: Trouble in Mills Yard

Lianna had opened the curtains in the study. The hours just before lunch gave the best light due to the angle of the sun. Using the sunlight saved on candles and oil in the lamps, so they made use of it whenever they could. The light warmed her back as she sat at a table across from her brother.

She looked up from her book to check how Aaron was doing with writing his letters. He could already read and write on a basic level, but now those skills needed to be practiced and polished, along with reading and studying various subjects. He would, hopefully, one day be the count of this land. Soon after he was born, she had learned the basics of most subjects he would need to better become his teacher when he was old enough, but still she studied farther into those subjects herself to keep ahead of him. She would not let her brother go without the knowledge he needed just because they had no money to hire tutors.

"Aaron, try to write that line a bit straighter, and drawing the round part first helps form that letter a bit easier." She smiled as Aaron nodded, his face scrunched in concentration.

Lianna was proud of her brother's effort, but she did often wish he could be more carefree. He was only ten after all.

She waited until he had written a few more lines of practice letters for his calligraphy before calling a stop to it. "Okay. I think that's enough for today." She ruffled his hair a bit. "Why don't you spend some time with Harace or in your room for a while. It won't be long before Nanny brings you lunch."

Aaron looked up from his notebook, his dusty blonde hair falling over his blue eyes as he tilted his head. "You won't be eating lunch with us? Are you going somewhere?"

Lianna inwardly groaned. She had hoped he wouldn't notice until she was already on her way. "Yes, I'm going into town for a bit. I'll be taking Reggie with me." Reggie was their other guard and also their handyman. Earlier that morning, he had caught Lianna trying to make preparations to take the horse and cart to town on her own and had insisted on going with her. By the time the matter was settled, it had become time for her and Aaron's lessons.

Aaron pouted but then sighed. "Will you ever take me with you to town?"

"Perhaps for your birthday," she said, patting his head. The last thing they needed was Aaron running into Duke Brendwald's knights, and there were bound to be a few hanging around town since one had just delivered a message from him.

Aaron ducked out from under her hand with a stricken look on his face. "But my birthday is months away!"

"I know, but I have to do something on my own today. If it's possible to take you before your birthday I'll let you know, okay?" Lianna put on her best placating smile.

Aaron huffed before jumping down from his chair and running to the door. "Fine. Just be careful." With that, he ran out the door.

The smile fell from Lianna's face, and she closed the book she had been reading, running her finger along the cover. Today, she would head to town to buy flour but to also fish for information. She knew where she might be able to start.

There was a pub and a general store in town where people talked, and if she were lucky, she might catch someone traveling through with news from beyond their small county.

She made her way down to the front gate, grabbing a wide brimmed straw hat with a simple ribbon tied around it as she stepped out the door. Reggie was waiting for her with the cart and horse all ready to go. Except for the sword at his belt, not many would guess Reggie was a guard if they didn't know him. He dressed more like a carpenter, with his salted brown hair often spotted with sawdust and his brown eyes rimmed with lines from being out in the sun.

With a rough hand, Reggie helped Lianna onto the seat of the cart beside him. "Hold on tight, miss. The roads have only gotten rougher since the spring rains."

Lianna nodded, holding tight to the seat as Reggie urged the horse and cart forward and out onto the dirt road. There was no money to repair the road, so it was truly in a sorry state. They had to go slowly most of the way due to the amount of holes and dips along the road. But the small town of Mills Yard came into view eventually. Just slightly bigger than a village, the town was mostly essential shops and trade buildings while most of the residents of the county lived farther out on their farms, only coming into town to buy and sell. Only those connected to the shops, the pub, and the inn stayed in the town proper.

Lianna flinched as she stepped down from the cart. Even with Reggie helping her, the soreness in her muscles and backside from the bumpy ride couldn't be ignored. "Thank you, Reggie. I'll be heading to buy flour first, but I want to check around town as well to see how the people are fairing. Father wanted me to give him a report on it." That was the lie she had decided on, and it wasn't far from the truth except that her father was in no condition to act on any reports she may give.

"Alright, miss." Reggie accepted her story readily enough. "I will do some business myself, so as not to draw too much attention, but we should stay within eyesight of each other for safety's sake."

Lianna nodded. Staying within sight of Reggie was something she could manage, and some distance between them would allow her to do what she needed to.