The Orphans

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CHAPTER 23

Era's heart broke for the third time. She did not need a soothsayer to tell her what was going on here anymore. Their looks and dirt said it all.

"I am sorry."

"No, I miss her. It has been long since I saw her and she said that to me."

"It is okay. Do not worry. I would say that to you every day from now on. You are beautiful."

She managed to smile and before Era knew what was going on, one of the children, a young girl of about three years of age, began to hit her leg.

"Hello dear," she smiled at the girl as she waited for her to speak.

"What of me? Am I beautiful?"

"Ha…" even though she was smiling, her heart was bleeding on the inside. "Of course, darling, you are gorgeous."

"Yay, she said I am gorgeeoorrr…" Era smiled again. She really was cute underneath the dirt covering her face.

Before he knew what was going on, most of the children rushed up to them, all eager to hear from her.

"Me too."

"What about me."

"Tell me as well."

"Miss…"

She quickly straightened herself and tried to listen to each one and also tell them that which they wanted to hear until they finally quieted down.

Once she was sure they were okay, she asked the question that plagued her mind even though she kind of already knew the answer.

"Where are your parents, Anna? Why are you all here, alone?"

The moment she asked, she regretted it. Immediately most of the grown ones started to cry as Anna, though in tears managed to reply to her.

"They are no more. They all died during the war. We are the ones left. When the fighting began, my mother managed to get most of us out and began to run away with us but after some time when she went to get more food to store for us, after hiding us, she was attacked and killed. I saw her and watched as the men left her there to die. I took the food she had managed to take and came back. Since then we were left to ourselves and when there was no more food, we had to leave and come out in search of food."

If Era thought she was okay and did not want to cry out, she was surely mistaken. As the girl finished her tale, her own tears had rained down her cheeks.

They were orphans left to suffer and fend for themselves and now there was no other hope for them. She knew the cause and it was her husband's maddening craves for power and dominance.

He had wrath suffering for the innocent and the weak yet he saw it not and tends for more.

It broke her heart knowing that her people came so close to experiencing that and right then and there she felt grateful to have been able to trade her life and freedom and happiness for their suffering.

"This is all of you?"

Anna nodded her head, wiping her tears with the back of her hand.

"Okay. I am guessing you haven't had anything to eat, right?"

"Not since the day before yesterday. We just eat anything we see and pick up."

"Okay, not anymore. You all should hide, this place is too open and I would go in search of fruits. I saw some on my way here and would get as many as I can."

She looked back up and did a headcount. They were thirteen in number. "Then after I return, I would head back home and get away to bring you all back with me to stay with me, okay?"

Anna nodded her reply as life shone in her eyes. She had already lost hope after they had walked on and did not see anything in the trees. It was not the season for fruiting, so what most ate were just leaves and slept.

Now, she saw hope in Era and she clung to it.

With that, she pecked the little ones and rubbed the cheeks of the others, then quickly took them to somewhere more hidden and warned them to hide before she climbed on White Beauty and hurried away to get food.

It took her about forty-five minutes to go pluck some fruits and hurry back, thankfully she had White Beauty's speed to add.

By the time she returned she handed each one his or her own fruit. She managed to get fifteen fruits. She could have gotten more but her jacket could barely contain more without them spilling out on the way.

"Eat this and keep this two to share for the younger ones later when they are hungry."

Anna nodded her head in understanding and waited for more instructions. "I would go now and go prepare things and a place for you all to stay. I also need to arrange for better food and care for you and the children, okay?"

"Don't go," Anna cried, holding onto her arm with a tight grip. Era smiled at her.

"Do not worry, I promise, I would return."

"No. I do not believe you. It was what my mother said but she did not return."

Era managed a weak smile at her and shook her head. "Not I. Didn't I leave to get fruits and return? Okay, see, I promise you, I would go and as many times as I would need to leave to get things in order, I must return to you. This is my promise."

"Promise?" Anna asked again for clarity. "No matter what happens, you would return?"

"I promise. No matter what happens I would return and I would come back with others to help. You have to trust me."

"Okay. I would wait and be good until you return."

"That's my girl. Be a big sister to them in my absence, okay?" She picked up her jacket from the ground and wore it, it was a bit chilly in this terrain.

"I must leave, take care and do not come out. I would locate you myself."

With that, she climbed on her horse again and rode off into the distance, with a silent prayer in mind for their safety.