After Alaura left, Catriona made a comfortable spot on the chair for Isla to sleep. She extinguished the smoky taper and crawled into her bed on the opposite side of the room.
For a long time she lay awake thinking about the night’s events and Alaura’s intriguing and frightening story. She’d never consider leaving the security of her home at night to hide in an alley to watch Keiron’s dwelling.
She closed her eyes and tried to rest, but every sound seemed louder than normal. Several times she wondered if intruders were meddling with the door lock. She listened for footsteps and voices but heard none.
She finally fell into a restless sleep. Maura’s pleading eyes swayed in and out of her dreams like a breeze moving a curtain to and fro. Catriona felt the brush of golden wings against her cheek and woke with a start.
She sat up and searched the dwelling with her eyes. The sun peeked in from around the closed curtains, creating shafts of light in the room. Dust particles danced in the shine, falling and rising in rhythmic spirals. Her eyes settled on the chair in the corner. It sat empty.
Catriona sprang from the bed, ran to the chair and pulled away the blanket. Isla had vanished. She raced to check the doors and found both secure. She scanned the room. The child had to be here.
She searched beneath tables and chairs, opened cupboard doors and rooted through the many sacks and boxes tucked into every available space. She rummaged through the garment closet and the water closet without success. In exasperation, she dropped into the chair.
A quick rap sounded on the front door. Catriona bolted upright and ran for her staff. She held it firmly as she peeped out the viewing hatch.
“Open up!” said Alaura.
The woman fumbled with the lock. She had barely enough time to step aside before her apprentice pushed the door open.
“What are you thinking?” Alaura dashed to the front window.
“What’s the panic? I had—” Catriona froze, dumbstruck as the young woman pushed aside the curtain and pulled Isla from the window sill.
Alaura turned to face her teacher. “Why did you let her sit there for every passerby to see?”
“I didn’t put her there!”
“She hid from you?”
“She did.” Catriona glared down at the shorter, slim-built human. If she hadn’t known better, she’d swear the girl possessed dwarf lineage because of her lack of height and her occasional rude demeanour.
Alaura’s expression softened. “I’m sorry for accusing you.”
“You should be. It’s improper for an apprentice to speak to her teacher in that manner.” She slammed the door shut. “I busied myself looking for her when you attacked my door. A moment more and I’d have found her and removed her from public sight.”
Alaura cast her eyes to the floor. “It surprised me to see her in the window. It’s her safety which concerns me.”
Catriona looked upon her apprentice, approving of her submission. “I’m not asking for the impossible, Alaura. Only respect.” She released the sternness. “You’re forgiven for your outburst. The next time think before you react.”
“Of course.” Alaura pulled the child closer. “Let me care for Isla whilst you prepare yourself for the day.”
She bathed and dressed Isla then disposed of the soiled water while Catriona sat the child at the table for the morning ration. The little one slid from the chair and darted into the garment closet. She dug in between the sacks and boxes, burying herself from view.
“I think Keiron has the child terrified stupid,” said Catriona. “There’s no other reason to explain it.”
“What shall we do with her?” asked Alaura.
“Send her to Petra.”
“But what if she doesn’t possess magic? She may be refused after all this time.”
“Then we’ll test her.” Catriona pulled a black book from a shelf and flipped through the pages until she found the recipe. “The Tell-tale Powder will reveal her abilities.” She made a list of required ingredients. “Stay with the child while I step out for supplies.” Catriona pulled on a sweater and took a shoulder pouch from a hook. “I won’t be long.” She slipped out the front door.
Alaura sat in the chair and looked towards the garment closet. She reached into her sack and withdrew a pear. Taking a deep breath and slowly releasing it, she focussed on the fruit. The pear rose and floated towards the closet. When it neared the spot where Isla hid, it fell and landed on a stuffed sack. A small hand reached up and snatched it.
A short time later, Isla poked her head from beneath the closet contents. She inched her way closer. Seeing only Alaura, she ran the rest of the distance, jumped onto her lap and snuggled into her arms.
Alaura hugged the young hauflin tightly and kissed her cheek. Reaching into her sack, she pulled out a small leather pouch. She opened it for Isla to see the contents. Inside, beneath a false bottom, lay the child’s stones. Alaura had returned to Keiron’s dwelling to collect them. She believed the girl had gathered special stones, perhaps ones with unique powers. One gem appeared similar to the blue stones in the necklace that had disappeared the night of her birth. Keiron had no doubt sold the jewellery.
“These are your stones, Isla.” Alaura spoke in Hauflin. “And this is your pouch to carry them in.”
“Mine?”
“Yes, these are Isla’s.” She pulled the child to her breast and kissed the top of her head. “With or without magic there will always be a special place in my heart for you.”