Children of the Fence (The forgotten Children)

8. Escaping Avendor

I snapped out of my sleep. Terror made my heart pound inside my chest.
I blinked in confusion. The day had already dawned and the birds were cheerfully chirping. Rays of sunlight fell on my face through the window. Gradually, I calmed down a little and wiped the sweat from my forehead.
When I closed my eyes in a brief moment of fatigue, the sardonic sneering face from my dream met my gaze again.
"I'll be expecting you in a week, Fenn."
Should I tell Layla about this? She'd probably think I had gone nuts, and in the end... Maybe it really was just a dream. I shouldn't panic right away.
I looked around. Some were still asleep, but most of the blankets had been scattered on the ground, abandoned by their owners.
Had Theodon perhaps come back after all?
I got up quietly and crept into the bathroom.
If he hadn't come back, I would go and look for him.
Layla had advised me not to venture down into the valley, but if Theodon was hiding, Avendor was the only safe place.
I tried to banish the dream from my mind. Maybe I was just a bit shaken up from yesterday.
The cold water did me good. I cleaned my face with it, trying to wash the drowsiness away.
Reluctantly, I looked in the mirror, but only my own face was looking back at me. I breathed a sigh of relief.

Dishes clinked in the kitchen and the house slowly came to life. I descended the stairs and immediately caught sight of Devon, who was busy preparing breakfast.
"Good morning, Fenn. Did you sleep well?"
I shrugged, trying not to look worried. "Have a seat. Breakfast will be ready soon."
Sighing, I did as told.
When he reappeared from the kitchen, he was awkwardly balancing a large pile of plates and dishes. I jumped up and took the load off him. "Has Theodon come back?" I asked.
Slowly he shook his head. "I didn't hear or see him come in and his things are still gone as well."
I sighed. "He has to be in Avendor then. I'll look for him right away."
"Not on an empty stomach. If you want to leave now, you'll have to get past me first," he warned.
"Uh- alright..."
I felt a hand on my shoulder. "Good morning, Fenn!"
As I spun around, I almost dropped the plates.
"Whoa, slow down, what's the rush for?" Layla chuckled. She took the plates from me and placed them on the table. "Didn't sleep well?"

"Theodon hasn't come back," I finally said as we sat together at the table.
Layla hesitated. "I'll go and find him, you stay here."
I was about to complain, but she cut me off. "I understand you're worried, but in the end he left because I interfered and you shouldn't be wandering about all alone."
"Who says I'll be alone? If you go, I'll go with you."
She sighed. "Avendor isn't safe for you, and besides, you don't know your way around there."
"What are you going to do? Lock me in the basement?"
She glanced at me. "Thanks for the suggestion."
"I won't draw attention, how would they even know me?" I snorted.
She remained silent.
I rolled my eyes in amusement. "I'll wear a disguise too, if that's what it takes."
She hesitated. "Only on one condition: You'll leave the talking to me and won't wander off on your own."
"That's... two conditions, but I think it'll do."

After we'd finished our breakfast and done the dishes, Layla draped a cloak over me, she pulled the hood so far over my eyes that I could barely see.
"Seriously? Don't you think that makes me stand out even more?"
"Condition number three."
"I look like I'm planning a raid on Avendor," I grumbled. "Is Quin coming with us?"
"Quin's overslept again. He can sleep like a dead dog, I almost envy him. Devon always saves some of the food for him out of habit."
She slipped into her soiled shoes.
At that moment, Quin stumbled sleepily down the stairs, yawning.
"Let's go before he delays us any longer," she whispered.
She nimbly opened the door and we scurried out.

Avendor was bigger than I had expected. From above it had seemed like nothing but a small village, but in the middle of it all it was lively, with markets and houses stretching to the edge of the forest.
A narrow, worn staircase led down from the forest into the valley, but we had taken a detour in order not to attract immediate attention.
There were many different stalls selling everything from food to tools and cloth. I even caught sight of a scrap merchant selling parts of old vehicles or technology. The traders shouted at the top of their lungs, attempting to drown each other out and attract the largest number of customers.
We passed a stall that gave off a pleasant fragrance of herbs, incense and dried flowers.
Food of all kinds was freshly prepared and some people were trying their luck at games of chance and betting.
Layla turned to look at me. "Don't get distracted. We'd better start looking for him here. Then we'll pay a visit to his old house. It may have new residents, but he must have gone there. He must have left traces behind."
"Flowers! Flowers! Fresh flowers! Roses, tulips, sunflowers, daffodils and dandelions! Everything your heart desires!"
The voice came from a stall not far away.
A woman, dressed in blue dungarees and a ragged sun hat, that the wind threatened to blow away, carried a couple flowers in her right hand, which she held out to the passersby.
Her left hand rested on the edge of a small table that carried a large selection of flower pots. It tilted slightly under her weight. Startled, she withdrew her hand.
Thoughtfully, she ran her hand across her forehead and brushed a blonde strand of hair out of her face, which the hat could not hold back.
"The finest and best quality in all of Avendor!" she began to exclaim again. "The finest roses for-" Her eyes fell on us.
She faltered.
Curious, she tilted her head, attempting to peek underneath my hood. I pulled it over my eyes.
A broad grin flitted across her face.
"I've got just the thing for you two! Come, come!" She beckoned us over.
I glanced at Layla, but she was already walking towards the stand.
"Roses for the young couple?" The woman held out a bouquet to Layla.
"Consider yourselves lucky! I only picked most of them this morning! I'll make you a special offer too."
Layla pushed the roses out of her face. "Actually, we're looking for someone."
The florist lowered her arm in disappointment, but her face revealed that she hadn't given up yet.
"Have you seen a young man pass by? He wears his dark hair long and is dressed in a leather jacket."
The florist frowned. "A young man with long hair..." She scratched thoughtfully under her hat with the stem of a rose and gave me another look.
"To be honest, I haven't come across any young faces in years. It's as if, at some point, they've all vanished from the face of the earth, which is a bit... odd. I never really thought about it. You two are the first exception in a long time. I'm sorry, I don't think I can help you with this one... But if I could interest you in purchasing a few flowers-"
Layla waved it off. "Sorry, we're in a hurry, but perhaps we'll come back once we've found him."
"But they're still fresh now," the florist replied. "Maybe just one rose and not the whole bouquet then?"
She turned to me. "That would be much more romantic anyway," she whispered in my ear. "It would make the perfect gift for her." Following her gesture, my gaze landed on Layla.
"I'm buying a rose," she said suddenly.
The sales clerk's face brightened. "An excellent decision! To a fine young couple like you two, I'm happy to make an offer for only half the price."
"How much?"
"Just twenty shillings please!"
She flicked the coin to the sales clerk. She caught it in her fist with a grin and handed Layla a rose.
Before accepting the rose, she held on to the sales clerk's hand for a moment.
"By the way, my brother is deaf and mute," she explained, "I'm afraid he didn't understand a word you just said to him." She nodded apologetically in my direction.
The sales clerk's smile disappeared abruptly, as if Layla had slapped her across the face.
"Brother?!" She turned pale. "I had no idea," she stuttered.
She laughed sheepishly. "I'm sorry. Please have a second rose to make up for the mistake!"
Layla waved it off. "Not necessary. Thank you very much for the help."