Darius clutched the bag tight and then looked at the two of them. Clara was perched comfortably on Serena’s lap, her small frame tucked into the crook of the woman’s arm. Serena’s hand rested securely at her waist, fingers absentmindedly tracing small circles against the fabric of her tunic.
Darius had already prepared to take some sort of gift for Clara but after racking his brain in the short time he had before setting out on this journey, he decided he would not try to fix what was not broken. In his hand was a simple burlap bag, tied tight at the top. Inside: coin. Triple what he had given her two years ago. Follow current novels on NovєlFіre.net
"This is for you," Darius said.
He thought bitterly how he could not even tell her to give this to her grandfather, the girl no longer had a guardian to care for her. He exhaled slowly and watched as Clara slowly removed herself from Serena’s grip. The girl sauntered towards him and looked up at him with wide eyes.
Darius inspected the girl discreetly, her clothes were what he would have burnt—not even worthy of being called rags. Her hair was flat and greasy, probably had not been washed in days.
With an audible "oof," the sack pulled her forward, hitting the floor with a dull thud. Clara tried to recover quickly, feet spreading into a determined stance as she bent at the knees and reached for it again.
Darius saw it coming a heartbeat too late.
The bag swung and so did Clara.
She toppled backward hitting the ground with a soft flop. A few coins escaped and spun across the wooden floor, catching the dying light from the window. Her hair fanned around her head, tangled and wild, and for a moment, she lay there, staring up at her cracked ceiling as if it were the sky.
The man was at a loss for words before he heard a snicker from the other side of the room. Serena covered her mouth and quickly turned away. On the floor, Clara blinked slowly and was met face to face with her old, rotting ceiling. A smile crept on her lips and then she burst out laughing.
Darius was caught with the infectiousness of it all, he smiled and then shook his head. The man walked forward and pulled Clara by her arm.
"I apologise, I should have carried it for you," Darius said.
"Thank you," Clara said. She looked back to Serena off the seat and stuffing the coins that had rolled out back into the bag.
"Wow," Clara whispered, cradling the sack now with both arms, holding it like something sacred.
It was more money than she had ever imagined seeing in one place. Her eyes were wide, her lips parted slightly in awe. Her cheeks had already hurt from smiling so hard. She knew what she was going to spend the money on– a big fat hare that was glazed in honey and glazed spices from David’s mama.
The girl licked her lips and she turned to Darius. "Thank you."
Darius let go of her hand and waved vaguely in front of him, brushing the gratitude aside. "It is nothing, please."
He leaned closer to Clara and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Tell no living soul about this. Protect that with your life. Do you have somewhere for safekeeping?"
Clara nodded vigorously. "Yes, I do. My grandfather made it for me."
"Good," Darius said, giving her shoulder a firm pat. "If anyone asks, simply say the ambassador came to see you. Do not mention the money at all."
Clara nodded again. "I will."
Darius grunted and stood upright. "I will come for you soon."
It was more of a promise than a statement, to which he would fulfill as long as he breathed. He placed a hand on Clara’s head and ruffled her hair. "Please do not tell anyone I played hide and seek with you again."
Clara nodded and Darius was satisfied. He took out a small hunting knife from his side and handed it to Clara. "This is for you as well."
The girl gasped and she held the knife gingerly, she ran her hand across the width of the knife.
"Clara, where should I put this for you?" Serena asked.
"Oh..." Clara looked around, suddenly alert.
Darius leaned back against the wall with a low exhale and crossed his arms. The house smelled of dust and dry wood, but he could still catch the faint sweetness of Serena’s scent lingering in the air.
"I hope I did you proud, mum," he murmured to himself.
Meanwhile, Serena and Clara wrestled with the heavy bag, trying to shove it into the deep wooden trunk tucked beside Clara’s bed. The trunk groaned in protest as it swallowed the sack.
"Just a little more," Serena huffed, one hand braced on her knee.
Together they gave it one last push. The bag sank in with a final fwump, settling between worn blankets and sacks of grain. "There we go," Serena said.
She stretched her back and looked at Clara, the girl seemed to glow. Serena smiled, she hoped that she had done enough for Clara.
"Thank you, thank you," Clara said and threw herself onto Serena.
The woman gasped from the suddenness of it and then she hugged Clara back. She patted her back and then stood upright. "It is my pleasure, this is the least I could do."
"I am so glad you visited me today," Clara said.
Serena looked at the little house and then sighed, but then smiled at Clara once more. "I will be taking my leave soon."
Clara nodded and then scratched her hair. "I will write to you also."
Serena took the girl’s hand and walked her back into the house. Darius was leaning against the wall and pushed himself off once they returned.
He glanced at the girl and then turned towards the door, he turned back and looked them up and down. "Wait here, I will get the horse."