Luciana Henriette; Dark Sister! Chapter 2: The Orphanage

  • I had never noticed Honorhall Orphanage before, despite my frequent visits to the city.  It sat by itself at the south end of the boardwalk, and there was nothing on the outside to call attention to it.  I hesitated with my hand on the door.  I could have ended up in a place like this if my folks had not found me, alone on that battlefield with my dead birth mother.  I wasn’t eager to learn what that would have been like.  I pulled myself together and went in.

    I was just turning the corner into the main room, when the grating voice of an angry old woman greeted us.  “None of you maggots are ever going to be adopted, so do as you’re told, or there will be extra beatings!”  The old woman stood facing four children, but she broke off as she saw us.  “The orphanage is closed.  The children are not available for adoption. What are you doing here?”

    “I… uh…” I made a snap decision not to tell this woman where to find Aventius Arentino.  I pulled a leaflet out of my pack and handed it to her with a bland smile.  “Blessings of Mara upon you, sister.”

    “Mara, hmmpph!” she snorted.  “An orphanage is no place to go talking about love.  You’ll get the maggots’ hopes up.”  I was so shocked, I didn’t think about what I was doing.  I slapped her.

    Grelod the Kind groaned and fell to the floor, dead.  A great cheer rose up from the children in the room.  “She’s dead!  She’s dead! Aventius did it!  He called the Dark Brotherhood! HOORAY!”

    Durz and I exchanged glances in horror.

    “When I grow up,” the girl said, “I’m going to join the Dark Brotherhood!”

    A scream alerted us that Grelod’s assistant had just entered the room and seen us standing over the body.  The young woman turned and fled the room.

    “Lucy, we need to leave, right now!”  Durz said.  I didn’t argue.  We ducked out the back, through the courtyard, hopped the fence and then slowed to a walk, trying to look natural and relaxed.  A guard seemed to be eyeballing me, so I handed him a temple leaflet.  He scoffed and dropped it on the ground.

    We needed a place to talk where we’d not be overheard, and that led us to the Ragged Flagon.  We took the table closest to the water, leaned our heads together, and I said, “What in the name of Anybody just happened?”

    “She was a frail old lady, you couldn’t have known.”

    “Those children think I’m the assassin, Durz!”

    “I know!”

    “And so does Aventius Aretino!”

    “I know!”

    “And so does that witness!”

    “I know! I know! I know!” he insisted.

    “What if I am?” I asked, frantically.

    “We’ve got to… what?” Durz faltered.

    “What if I’m being manipulated by Dark Forces?” I asked.  “It’s been known to happen!  Maybe the Night Mother really did hear that kid’s prayers, and has been steering me toward that murder ever since.  Next thing, I’m going to be visited in my dreams, and before you know it, I’ll be a heartless murderer for money, and I’ll never see you or my family ever again…”

    “OK, OK, calm down!” Durz lunged across the table and grabbed my face, forcing me to stop talking and look him in the eyes.  “That’s not happening,” he told me.  “What is happening is that we need to leave The Rift before any of those witnesses report us to the guards.”

    I nodded my understanding.  “Good,” he said.  “Now finish your drink and calm down.  Then we’re going to walk out of here, nice and easy, and we’re going to head for the stables and rent a carriage.” 

Comments

2 Comments
  • Guy Corbett
    Guy Corbett   ·  March 1, 2012
    Awesome that slap in my mind sent blood and teeth flying lol and def brought a smile on my face as the kids all cheered lol I really like lucy's reluctance and lack of understanding of whats happening to her. How Durz react to the next bit I wonder?
  • Batman
    Batman   ·  February 27, 2012
    Slap of death!! heh seriously I really think that old hag existed on nothing but hot air.
    beautifully crafted tension piper, i can't wait to see what happens next.