Chapter Thirteen
Caroline drifted in and out of sleep. She was vaguely aware of a man entering the room, cleaning her wound again and applying some ointment, and changing the bandages. At one point she saw stars twinkling through the window. After what seemed like days later she woke to see sunlight streaming in, accompanied by a sweet scent, as of some exotic flowers she was unfamiliar with. The feverishness she had felt before had subsided. There were voices outside. She sat up, tested her weight, and found she could walk without much difficulty.
Tegwyn entered and smiled at her.
“Oh, you’re up. Just in time for breakfast.”
***
Caroline was seated at an oval shaped table in an adjoining room. Vanaya and Garsen were there, along with a man she had not met before. Tegwyn introduced him as Kinnemort. A hearty breakfast was set with scrambled eggs, ham, berries and milk.
Vanaya stood, took the hand of Garsen, and announced, “We give thanks to the Good Mother Endewyn who brought us to this world and taught us to walk in it.”
She sat and they ate. Caroline was anxious for word of Tony, but no one spoke during the meal.
“Oh, I must have gotten your cup,” apologized Caroline, noticing the ceramic mug she was drinking milk from.
“What’s that?” asked Vanaya.
“This cup has your name on it. “Vanaya.” And there’s a picture of a little girl with black hair glazed on it. Was your hair dark when you were younger?”
“No, I was fair haired. The tribulations of life in Calendenny have turned my hair white long before my winter.”
“Oh. Who made this cup? It’s beautiful craftsmanship.”
Vanaya gazed at Caroline blankly.
“That cup has always been here, since I was brought to this world by the Good Mother. As was this dwelling, and the entire village of Calendenny.”
“I see. When were you brought to this world?”
“Many years ago when I was a little girl I was brought from the Other World. Garsen came shortly afterward, then the rest you see in this village.”
“Other world? Oh, I see. What do you remember of the other world?”
“We all have vague memories,” answered Kinnemort, “but they have faded, like dreams. Some of us remember cities of titans, with cyclopean, impossible buildings reaching into the sky.”
“I remember the Vid. Magic windows that showed other lands and people,” said Garsen. “And the…autos. Great metal engines that moved under their own power on big black wheels.”
“I do not remember such things,” said Vanaya. “I remember a world not too different from this one, except it was much colder and snowfall more frequent. I still recall the words of another language I once spoke in the Other World.”
“When did the Wolf King bring you here?”
Vanaya raised her eyebrows.
YOU ARE READING
The Foster Children of Time
Science FictionTEMPORAL AFFAIRS Tony Marco doesn’t have his driver’s license yet but he has a ticket to ride a bus – a Time Bus. Soon after the start of his sophomore year at Diaz High School, he and his irrepressible friend Caroline Montano catch a free ride to...
