Page 6 of The Starling and the Hatter

3

Elise

Singing was more tiring than I had expected. I’d never sung for hours, so I hadn’t realized that it was impossible. Over the coming days, I learned how and when to rest my voice. When I wasn’t performing, I was rummaging for food or exploring the forest outside Dressle, looking for a place to sleep and grateful that I’d left in the warm months so that I only needed a small fire to keep me warm. The last thing I needed was to be assailed at night because my fire beckoned to the same sort of predators that had given me the tainted drink.

As the sun set, I headed into those woods, grateful for the stream that trickled near the festival grounds. I slumped onto the ground beside it to soak my feet, scrubbing the dirt from between my toes. I had shoes, but I needed to save those for travel. I had no wish to wear them out just walking around the festival, so I’d decided I would go barefoot most of the time. I liked to think of it as an artistic choice, just another facet of the Starling persona that I was trying to build in my head. I felt I was making a good impression so far. At least, I hoped I was.

Today was Tuesday, and since this festival ran Sunday to Sunday, I knew I had less than five days to get my footing, make some money, and then follow the festival rats to the next village.

There were people of all types there in Dressle. Congenial farmers, worn-out mothers, crude young men and happy children. I kept my interactions short, hoping not to be remembered—or targeted.

But Maddox remembered me, and he had a family.

The following day, I was singing close to Maddox’s costume tent, trying to take up space and capture an audience, when two young girls ran by. They were perhaps four or five years old and similar enough in looks and size that they might have been twins. They tumbled through the costumes and into the interior of Maddox’s tent. A roaring shout sounded from the tent’s depths, startling me into silence. My singing cut off and my eyes widened as a booming voice yelled, “How dare you enter this hallowed space!”

The little girls screamed, and my feet moved without my permission. Whatever the girls had done, they did not deserve to be terrified by—

Maddox’s tall body lumbered out from between his racks of goods. One little girl clung to his back while the other held on to his leg. “You’ve awoken the beast!” he growled, raising his arms and curling his fingers into claws. The girls squealed in terrified delight but held tight.

“Now you will become my supper!” Maddox reached back, capturing the girl that clung there, and pulled her around to his front before pretending to munch on her side.

The other girl got to her feet and jumped up, trying to capture her sister. “You leave Twyla alone!” she hollered.

Maddox widened his eyes and looked down at her. “Another snack!” He scooped her up into his other arm, swinging both girls around before setting them back on their feet. They giggled as they found their balance, and I noted that one was a little taller than the other. So perhaps not twins.

I couldn’t take my eyes from them. They looked so happy, and Maddox seemed to enjoy being around them. A little seed of envy curled inside of me, but I pushed it aside, reminding myself to look forward, not back.

Maddox

I set down my giggling sisters. “Now,” I said as I crouched in front of them. “Where is your mother?”

Both girls shrugged in unison, their eyes wide but not quite innocent. Not again. I hung my head, then lifted a hand to press two fingers into my eyes. “Please do not tell me you ran off without telling her again.”

I opened my eyes only to see them looking guilty as they repeated the identical shrug.

“Girls…” I lamented with a sigh.

“We just wanted to visit you,” four-year-old Didi said as she reached up to put her arms around my neck.

My frustration was difficult to hold on to when she was so sweet. I sat on the ground and pulled her into my lap. “You girls can’t keep doing this,” I scolded. “You know how worried your mother will be.” I looked around, hoping to see Dorothy through the crowd of festival goers. If she was not close—and I suspected she wasn’t—I would have to take them home myself. I didn’t see her, but I did see the Starling—Elise—watching us with interest. She’d been singing her songs close to my stall the whole day just as she had yesterday, and I liked to flatter myself by thinking that perhaps she did so because she felt safe around me. I certainly felt better when she was in sight. The fact that she was on her own, not making much money and looking starved, made every one of my protective instincts crackle.

Her lack of funds coupled with my current sisterly predicament gave me an idea.

I stood and took each girl by the hand, towing them over to where Elise was trying to resume her song. “Sorry,” I interrupted before she could get the first note out.

She looked a little startled. We hadn’t spoken since I’d helped her with her costume yesterday. I’d waved to her this morning, but she’d kept herself just far enough away that speaking to her while running the business wasn’t an option. “Yes?” she asked.

“I have to ask a favor. My sisters here have escaped from their mother yet again.” I shot each of the girls a scowl, but they didn’t notice. “I need to return them home, but Dad is at our shop on High Street today and I don’t want to leave our wares unattended. Could you maybe sit there until I return?” I grimaced, knowing it was a large favor, especially when she was trying to earn money.

“Oh.” She seemed surprised by the request. I could hardly blame her. We were not friends and I had no right to ask favors.

“I know I’ll be keeping you from singing, so I can offer you five bits for your trouble,” I said, hoping the amount was enough to tempt her, but not so much that it seemed like egregious overcompensation.

Her eyes widened and her hands fisted her black cape. “You overestimate the amount I can earn in so short a time,” she protested feebly.

I’m certain I was, but the opportunity not only to protect my merchandise, but to get a few coins in Elise’s pockets in the process wasn’t something I could pass up. “Perhaps, but the price is worth it to me. I need someone to watch my wares—otherwise I could be robbed blind—but I also have to take my sisters home.” It was all true; I just left out my other motivations.

“You’re pretty,” Twyla said loudly.