She's A Good Girl

Posted on Sat Oct 8th, 2022 @ 1:33am by Holdstaff Esgou

Mission: FRH
Location: Floria River Hold
Summary: Dark news arrives at FrH
Timeline: M4 D28

The ink had finally dried on the last entry of Floria River Hold's account book. The Hold once again had a very prosperous month, which meant an incredibly profitable first quarter to the Turn. Everything balanced and that made the Hold Steward very happy. But that happiness quickly dissipated as his eyes caught sight of the note from the Headwoman.

A drudge's teenage daughter had gone missing. She hadn't been seen or heard from for over two sevendays, and the mother was distraught. Esgou wanted to crumple the note up and toss it in the fire the lit his hearth. He didn't, though. He knew his feelings came from frustration when people could just not face the reality that was life now with Threadfall. People caught outside died. If you were foolish enough to be outside during Threadfall, you suffered the consequences. And then there were the raging hormones of teenagers that some parents refused to deal with.

**Your daughter probably ran off with some cothold boy,** Esgou thought as he fingered the parchment of the note.

He sighed. He knew his conscience would not leave him be until he went and spoke to the kitchen help.

°°°•••

"She's a good girl she is!" the woman exclaimed through her tears. "She wouldn't run off with no boy. She was training under the Headwoman to be a baker. She wanted that more than anythin'"

Esgou nodded as he patted the drudge's hand, "Yes, the Headwoman told me how dedicated Reesa was to her duties and her learning. She definitely doesn't sound like a girl to make rash choices. I will discuss this matter with the Lord in the morning. Until then, I want you to take some of this in your klah before bed."

The drudge looked at the small jar he handed her,"This not gonna kill me is it?"

"No,no. It's some herbs from the Healer to help calm you and help you sleep," Esgou smiled as kindly as his stern features would allow.

°°°•••

After the woman left the kitchen, Esgou looked at the Headwoman, "There's something you've been holding back while we've had this meeting with your helper. It cannot be good."

The Headwoman sat heavily in the chair across from the Steward, "Just before you came to the kitchen, my son stopped by with some unsettling news from the outlying area."

Esgou felt a sense of dread crawl up the back of his neck. The Headwoman's son was the captain of the Hold Gaurd and was actively patrolling the lands around the Hold after the theft of several herdbeasts and sheep. He looked at the Headwoman to continue with what he was sure he didn't want to hear.

"My son has received four reports of missing people. Male and female. They just seem to have disappeared. No notes left behind, no bodies to be found."

The news settled like a rock in the pit of Esgou's stomach.

Sleep would be long in coming to the Steward of Floria River Hold this night.

~~~~~~~~

Esgou ~ Steward of FRH
Michele ~ [email protected]