Mary's Path

The boy stood next to Mary and looked at Mrs. Karrots.

“What’s your name young man?” Mrs. Karrots asked him.

“Zerden ma’am,” he replied.

“Nice to meet you. Mary here will show you where everything is and how we do things around here. I expect you to work hard and fast and do things the right way. Is that understood?” The boy nodded. “Excellent. Mary, take Zerden and bring water for the vegetables, two pots are enough today. When you are done, I want you to come to me, I have a special task for both of you,” she said.

Mary nodded and began to walk towards the door without looking back to see if the boy was following her. When she reached the well, she saw that he was not far behind.

“The pots should be filled to two-thirds. Make sure you don’t spill water on the floor and stay out of the way of the adults,” she told him as she hoisted her first bucket of water out of the well.

“I know how to carry water,” he said wryly.

“Whatever you say” she said, and soon she had started carrying her buckets in. It went faster than usual to fill the vegetable pots as there were two of them carrying the water. Soon they both stood in front of Mrs. Karrots again.

“Already finished? Not bad. Then I have a task for both of you. I should send an errand boy, but they never seem to be around when you need them, and I can’t spare someone else today.” she started.

“The King has decided to have a feast today and there will be many guests. Unfortunately, it seems that our stores of meat are starting to run out. I need someone who can get pork chops, tenderloin or something along those lines. Can I send you both?”

Mary knew that it was sign of trust to run such an errand. Then she came to think of the butcher at the main square.

“I know a butcher who can be of help help,” she said, nudging the truth a little bit.

“Let’s hope your butcher can come thru for us. Go to the butcher and give him this list,” Mrs. Karrots said. “Tell him to deliver the meat as soon as he can and he’ll get paid when e arrives. I want the both of you to go together. It’s a big city and I don’t want you to get lost.” Mary nodded.

“I’m just going to go get my cloak, we’ll meet out in the yard,” she told Zerden. She ran up to the room and realized that the only cloak she owned was the grey one she had been given by the Lady. That would have to do, she thought, and ran out into the yard. Zerden stood there waiting for her in a brown cloak.

“What are you wearing?” he asked.

“Don’t worry about it” she replied as they walked through the gate and out into the city.

Mary realized how long ago it had been since she had been outside of the castle. Not since that night. No, she thought, she wouldn’t think about that night.

“Why did both of us have to go?” asked Zerden angry.

“I don’t know. It would have been quicker if I had gone alone so you can go back and sit down and wait for me,” Mary said.

“You’re just going to get lost,” he replied.

“Ha, I never get lost in this city,” Mary said confidently.

“A sissy like you?”

“I’ll have you know that I know these streets better than most,” Mary said as she let her legs find the way. She was so annoyed with Zerden that it took a while for Mary to realize what street they were walking on.

This was the main street leading up to the castle from the south gate. Mary stopped.

“What are you doing now, are you tired or something?” asked Zerden, turning toward her.

“We’re taking a different path,” Mary said. “I know one that is faster.”

“I don’t think so,” Zerden said.

“What do you know?” asked Mary. “You don’t even know where we’re going. But if you want to be later than we need, sure thing” she continued, walking down the street. She wasn’t going to show him that she was scared just by walking down this street.

She knew they were about to arrive at Mr. Sansi’s house. She could see the wall around the house. She stopped again and looked at the wall. The tree that had hung over the street was gone. Someone had sawed it down and now there was nothing left to show where she had dropped down on top of the Lady’s carriage.

As she stood there looking at the wall, Mary could feel echoes of her own feelings that night. She felt the fear, the panic and the anxiety. They crawled into her chest, and she felt tears starting to appear in her eyes. She fought them with all her will power. She wouldn’t start crying like a baby, she thought.

“What is it now?” asks Zerden impatiently. “Shall we stop for 15 minutes just to look at a wall?”

“No, we won’t” Mary shrugged angrily and began to walk hurriedly down the street. She knew Zerden was still following her, she could hear his footsteps behind him. Good, she thought, then I don’t have to worry about him getting lost.

The main street wouldn’t take them all the way to the main square. After a while, she turned left and continued on a smaller side street.

“Wait, where are you going?” she heard Zerden ask.

“To the butcher, where do you think I’m going?” she replied, without looking in his direction. She continued to walk fast until she again turned off to the left. Then she stopped to make sure Zerden hadn’t fallen behind. It would be horrible if she had to spend time look for him.

A moment later, he came around the corner. She just nodded a little and kept walking along the street. She turned to the right after a while.

“You know we’re walking in a circle, don’t you?” said Zerden, looking around nervously. He wasn’t used to being alone in the city.

“Of course we aren’t” Mary said. “We’re heading for the main square and if you make sure to keep up, I’ll make sure we’ll come back without getting lost,” Mary said. She knew what it felt like to be in a new foreign place and didn’t want to worry him. He seemed content with the answer, and they walked quietly side by side through the streets that Mary knew so well.