Madeline Warmbow

Her head throbbed as she tried to sit up. The Britainian Inn room was clean and sun shone in from the eastern window, letting her know it was yet early in the day. Van had just left to procure some breakfast for the two of them, stiff from sleeping in the small bed.

As she began to focus, other thoughts weighed down on her mind, adding more pressure to her spinning head.

Two days ago a refugee from Minoc brought her ailing mother to her for treatment. The younger woman, just past her teen years, had just found work as a barmaid the evening before. Both women were gaunt with hunger. The older womans eyes revealed a hard life whos light was dimming. The younger lass had not yet given up all hope, however. Van had given her the prize money from a contest he had won a few days before to help get her and her mother on her feet, and pay for the transportation and lodging for the older woman.

The younger woman introduced herself as Railen. She herself was in a sad state. Barefoot and in threadbare clothes, she helped her mother get into the clinic, and to a soft bed. "Ye'll be safe here Mum. I'll be back to visit ye in the morn', after I am off work." She gave her mother a kiss on the cheek and left the room.

Maddy gave her a physical examination. The girl was in fair shape- Loose teeth told of ongoing malnutrition, but the girl had not lost her fighting spirit. With regular meals and shelter she would recover quickly.

Despite her efforts, the older woman refused the mashed peaches and bananas and slept most of the day. Maddy had given her water laced with poppy to ease her of the pain of the bedsores and help her sleep comfortably. She dressed the sores and washed the womans body, and left her to rest while she got ready for the Moot in Britain. There was no more she could do for the woman, and Tilly, their household nanny, would look in on her and send a falcon should there be any change in her condition.

The Ball in Britain was a stark contrast from the state of the two women she had cared for that morning. Elegant gowns and rich foods in abundance. She sat with Hoagie and friends from Cove when Van had to leave unexpectedly, leaving her unescorted.

As they were speaking Lord Irvyn joined them at the table. A contingent of Yewish guardsmen also sat at the large table, giving one of the gentlemen she had just met from cove thinly veiled insults. Lord Irvyn leaned to Maddy, and suggested she ask the Gentleman for a dance. In full understanding, Maddy followed suit, to prevent a disturbance to the event, and provide the gentleman peace, though he looked as if he almost relished the confrontation.

Later that evening back at home, Maddy checked in on the woman. Her breathing was more shallow, but she slept soundly. Maddy wiped her face with a clean rag dipped in sage and rose oils. Gently she washed the womans feet and hands. Softly she whispered "travel peacefully in your sleep Misses...you have earned your rest." She covered the woman, old beyond her years with a warm blanket and stoked the embers to help keep the room warm for her. In the morning she would send for the girl.

When the girl came the next morning, her lower left jaw and cheek were covered in a massive bruise and cuts. Maddy inquired, and Railen explained that some Yewish soldiers had come in with insults and attitude to the Vesparian quarter of town. One woman had tried to keep them in line and keep the peace, but as a story was told that the men did not like...a fight had broken out. Railen had tried to keep them from hitting a patron, and in the scuffle that ensued, she had been punched in the face with a gauntleted hand, knocking out a tooth and splitting the skin in places.

The girl had come with a couple of hired fighters from britain to aid her in carrying the body to her final resting place. They loaded the coffin Railen had purchased into a cart and took her to a graveyard outside of Minoc, to be buried near her husbands remains.

After spending time with Dante and Ember playing, Maddy felt a little better. She and Van could provide a much better life for their children than the one Railen had experienced to date. Late in the evening she tucked the children into bed with a kiss, leaving Tilly to watch them, and went to meet Van in Britain to spend some well needed time with him.

As they walked through the Vesparian and Covian assigned part of town, a Yewish soldier began asking them what their buisness was and began insulting Van. Maddy had asked for his name to make a report to the officials of the Moot, and the man would not reply. "Kevin Longpoo" Van quipped, trying to get a rise out of the man. A third party, Sally- one of the workers at the Swaggers tavern hid behind Van as another Yewish soldier approached. Maddy intent on making a report left to go to the Trinsic quarter, and Van followed.

All of the Inn rooms were quiet in the evening. Van, ever curious, and unable to resist a locked box...especially a gold locked box...set himself to the task of opening it.

" Van, Leave it" she had asked, but he ignored her or didnt hear...
He moved to the other side of the table and yelled STAND BACK, as she made her way over. " Van I said...." A Malitov Cocktail went flying into the air. Maddy turned to run, but she was not fast enough as the explosion knocked her forward, and the right side of her head bounced on the wooden floor. Shards of glass from the bottle stuck in her back like gems in an evening gown, shining in the candle light. When she came to, Sally was dressing her wounds, and Van chastisied her for not listening. The room spun...and Maddy leaned away from Sally, loosing her lunch.

Here she sat in the Inn the following morning, her head thumping, and she wondered where the next fuse was being lit.

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