Wolf of the battle field

Chapter 1 Running for My life

Today started like any other for me. I got out of bed when the old lady running this house of unwanted children, rang the bell. I got out of bed looking at the other young children sharing this large room. "First bell! Get up or go hungry." I called rocking one of the older girls awake to help.

I gathered the younger ones while the other two older girls went to help with breakfast. I always get stuck with helping the young ones. That girl will never eat when I have to leave here. I thought, herding the children into the bathroom. Once everyone was washed and dressed, I herded them down to the dining room.

The old woman who insisted we call her mother came up to me, slipper already in hand to teach those that muck about at the table a lessen. "Katja dear. The young ones are being seen this morning. Did you lay out the good clothes last night?"

Of course, I did! After the full day of work I did and missing the dinner to do it. "Yes, mother. I did it last night befor bed."

She smiled at me then sighed. "That means that dinner in the pot was yours. Hurry now go and eat it before you have to head out. I will ask one of the others to get the young ones ready." She looked at the other two older girls serving the the watery poriage we had for breakforst. "You are our best worker Katja. You need to get going."

I nodded and headed for the kichen and poured out the thick stuew from the night before. Then I guzzled my meagre breakfast that I should have had the night before and headed out the door with the sun barely up. I'm missing annouther meal becuse the others wont do simple tasks becuse they know I will be asked to do them before bed. I thought as I walked up the uninhabited street to the baker shop.

Once I'd arrived and knocked on the door the baker yelled at me and kicked me out before I had a chance to ask him for work. After the last time I worked for him when the bakery court fire I could understand him not wanting me there.

Then I went to the forge and the smith slammed the door in my face before I could even say good morning. Which was not surprising considering how I caused the forge to go out. I was sweeping and the dust got into the forge. The fireball was impressive but I panicked and kicked the quenching barrel over to put the fire out. It fell into the forge putting it out and sokeing all the coal.

I sighed looking across the streat to the one place I could earn money without walking miles out to the nearest farm. I found myself in the only place I had been able to work in for the last week, the local tavern. The one place I really didn't want to be.

"You want to work here... again?" The owner asked leering at me as soon as I walked in the door.

Want is a strong word. You always grab at my ass when I walk past. "Yes, please. I need to bring in some money or we will not have the funds to feed everyone."

The owner sighed and then smiled. "Fine. You spill it you pay for it."

Well, that is not as hard as it sounds, except you pinching me anytime I get close makes me spill. "Thank you." I said despite my thoughts.

He handed me a broom and I started to sweep the old hay, mud and whatever else was down on the floor from last night. Why does he still act surprised when I walk in here? He knows no one else will let me in. I'm scared to think why he does let me work here. I've been just as bad at work here as I've been everyhere else.

I looked up from the floor to look around the small tavern. This place was never busy in the mornings so all there was to do was sweep and wipe down the tables, which had the upside of keeping me away from the barkeeper's hands. So when a tall woman walked in and sat at a table I stared at her in shock for a moment.