Victoria

Roland bid goodbye to everyone in front of the home and mounted his horse to leave. After hugging the others, he had gently kissed Finn's hand, as had become his custom, and said "Goodbye, Serafina," in a slightly husky tone. Without any further ceremony than that, he was on his way.

If anyone thought his farewell to Finn was unusually brief, no one said anything about it. She was a little subdued, but that was to be expected with Roland departing, wasn't it?

Once around the corner, he nudged his heels into the horse's side. He really should hurry to get Ashley out of the city as early as he could. He hoped Peter had an opportunity to warn her of their impending departure without The Provider's interference. As he arrived at the gate, the two stepped out of the shadows, and he lifted his hand in a silent greeting. The sky was beginning to lighten and the gate would open as soon as the sun made its appearance.

Peter and Ashley were equipped with their packs, and both looked slightly more nervous than trainees simply going back to their camp should look. Still, soon the sun peeked over the horizon and the designated guards of the gate opened it. Roland showed the orders and led the two other soldiers out. They didn't relax until Klain was fading into the background behind them.

Roland dismounted to walk beside his fellow recruits.

"What news from those stationed in the city?" He asked. Everyone knew the military stationed within Klain were generally those experienced enough in the ranks to work their way up and choose, within reason, where they would like to be stationed. Requests for transfer were considered in part based on seniority. Consequently, those troops within Klain often served as an informational hub, still having friends in the various other squadrons which patrolled the countryside.

"The consensus is that the 'disappearing army' must be rumor and speculation." Peter relayed. "Everyone will say they agree, even if they don't. Nobody wants war, especially not for the far little villages with almost no one in them."

Roland's face hardened. Although the General would make the call and give the orders on what happened next, the troops' morale was an important factor in the situation. If they were not on board with defending the people beyond the immediate vicinity of Klain, it wouldn't bode well for those further away.

"Peter tells me you overheard some of what Father said yesterday," Ashley didn't pretend that either of them didn't know who she was talking about.

Roland's face remained forward, but his eyes cut over to her and he nodded.

"He's come to see me each day to try to convince me to quit. He says I don't know what the future holds, but that I won't want to be in the military when it gets here. I asked him what he meant and he brushed me off, but," She paused, considered the two men with her, "It seemed like he was implying he knew something. Mind you, it may have been a trick to try and get me to quit. He's not above making me think I'm crazy for disobeying him, but, still, it unnerved me."

"Has he done anything else to give you cause for worry?" Roland asked. He gave up the pretense of indifference to her family ties.

Ashley stared openly at him, carefully evaluating whether he was trustworthy. Her father had not allowed her any close companions at home, and so, embarrassingly, the two men with her were the closest things she had to friends. What use was a friend if you couldn't trust them?

"I'm not sure," She admitted, "It's hard to know the line between him trying to manipulate me personally and what he would do to gain more power in Klain. He's talked of it before, but it always seemed theoretical."

"If you'd like, you can tell us and we'll do our best to help," Peter put in sincerely. He had signed up for service out of a sense of duty and justice, not intrigue and political drama, but Ashley's distress plucked at his empathy.

Not for the first time, Roland was grateful for the younger man's presence. It would be a bit awkward for him to ask all the questions himself and seem like he was interrogating poor Ashley. It was better as an organic conversation between friends as they walked together toward their camp. What an enlightening walk it would turn out to be.

_________________________

Finn and Mrs. Sherman walked together to the orphanage. Though there was much to talk about, neither one broached the topics on their minds. Mayra elected to stay home and prepare for the potential arrival of the little girl; she said everyone should have someone to welcome them home. The idea had brought tears to both hers and Finn's eyes.

Arriving at the familiar door, Finn knocked loudly. This time a boy who looked about ten answered it, opening it wide to stare at the two women.

"Who are you?" He demanded, a little belligerently.

"I'm Finn, I was here yesterday, and this is Mrs. Sherman." The younger woman said.

"Oh." Said the boy, and promptly ran off into the house, leaving the door open.

"Must be tradition," Said Finn, "a similar thing happened yesterday." She led Mrs. Sherman inside and called out for Jessie. There was enough noise of children to follow it back to its source, again in the courtyard. Today Jessie was teaching the children a lesson on history before they were allowed to run off and play. Finn wondered how the boy from the door had escaped her view and gone off on his own.

Jessie was in a chair holding a book as she read to the children, who were mostly seated on the ground around her feet. A few of the largest children stood at the back of the group, presumably dissatisfied with being seated on the floor.

"...And so Klain once again avoided the prospect of war through careful preparation and diplomacy. The following ten years saw increased trade between the city and the surrounding farmlands--" Jessie suddenly spotted Finn and Mrs. Sherman in the doorway. "Actually, children, that's a good place to end the history lesson for today. We'll take up arithmetic after lunch, and I expect you all to be good listeners."

The children groaned but were satisfied to have the lesson over with, for now at least. Victoria jumped up from her place near Jessie and ran over to hug Finn.

"You're back! You said you would be but sometimes people break promises," The little girl said cheerfully.

"I told you I would plan on it. Sometimes plans change, but thankfully today they did not," Finn wanted to be completely honest with the girl. She never wanted to make promises she couldn't keep. "I want to introduce you to my friend, Mrs. Sherman."

"Hi," Victoria became suddenly shy and hid behind Finn's skirt.

Mrs. Sherman kneeled down to be closer to the little girl's level. "It's very nice to meet you, Victoria. Finn tells me that you're in need of a home. I've got one that could benefit from a little girl's presence. Would you like to spend some time with me today to figure out if you might like to come see it?"

Victoria's eyes widened in surprise and she nodded. Finn smiled at the kind way Mrs. Sherman put Victoria in charge of a portion of the situation without putting too much pressure on her. She was sure Victoria felt very out of control in a place like this, the way she clung to her doll, and the chaos that the many other children brought around her.

A calm, quieter home where she could be in charge of little things probably sounded like heaven to the little girl. Mrs. Sherman offered her hand and Victoria reached out to take it. The two strolled to a corner to chat and get to know each other better.

Jessie had been observing the interaction from behind them with a look of approval. "I'll be so excited to send her to a good home," She said quietly, "these kids all need them, but she's such a tiny thing, I've been hoping she'll get an especially kind one."

Finn smiled at her, "I can't imagine much anywhere kinder than with Dr. and Mrs. Sherman."

As they talked, a scuffle arose amongst several of the larger boys in the courtyard.

"Boys, be kind to each other!" Jessie called about their noise. She made her way into the fray and pushed the fighting males away from each other. "What was it about this time?"

It was a wall of silence from the children. Almost unnerving, actually, the way they collectively shut Jessie out of their disputes.

"IN MY DAY WE DID OUR FIGHTING RESPECTFULLY AND SHOOK HANDS AFTERWARD," Henry came walking in. "MY WIFE MABEL ALWAYS ADMIRED THAT ABOUT ME. NEVER HELD A GRUDGE." He nodded with emphasis. "JESSIE, MAKE THE BOYS SHAKE HANDS."

Jessie sighed and turned to the boys, who looked at her stone-faced before slowly turning to one another and silently shaking hands one by one until Henry was satisfied.

"THAT'S MORE LIKE IT." The elderly man ambled out of the room.

Jessie shook her head. "I'm sorry about Uncle Henry. He's a good man deep down. He's just very loud."

Finn giggled, "It's all right. It just takes some getting used to. The boys, on the other hand, seem a bit... stoic."

Jessie sighed, "I don't know what the issue is with them. They're not like any other children I've had here before. It's a challenge. I was able to find the new orphan girls homes fairly quickly. They all were quiet and studious, but the boys are so hostile-acting that people are put off by them."

"That's so sad," Finn said. She looked around as the boys played. She noticed, not for the first time, that none of them smiled, even as they kicked a ball around. It was as if they had no joy at all in them. What in the world had happened to these poor children to make them this way?

No child was without joy and laughter, that she knew of. Finn recalled the ruckus they'd made. She'd written it off as the sounds of children being rowdy before, but in retrospect, there was no laughter mixed into it.