Free Devastation: A Beauty and the Beast Novel by M.J. Haag

without a husband, it wouldn’t be long
before she found herself in the same position. What future could
she then offer her daughter?
    “There’s a wagon just outside with enough
room to carry what’s needed. Take your time to think over the
offer. I intend to return each week with the spare goat milk from
the estate. It’s not much, but it could help if you choose to
stay,” I said, standing and placing a hand on her shoulder. “I’ll
not play games with you. If you choose to accompany me, your
children will not be ill-used and neither will you.”
    She nodded, still looking at her children. I
let myself out.
    A hand tugged my skirt, and I looked down at
a girl no more than ten. Dirt dulled her pale blonde hair and
streaked her left cheek. Her blue eyes darted to the wagon, then
met mine.
    “May I have milk?”
    “Certainly. Did we miss your house?”
    “I have no home.”
    “Where are your parents?”
    She shrugged.
    “Is there anyone here to care for you?”
    She shook her head, and I felt a surge of
pity for her.
    “How old are you?”
    “Eleven, Miss.”
    No one that age should be alone to fend for
themselves.
    “And your name?”
    “Otta.”
    “Otta, I’m here to offer employment at Lord
Ruhall’s estate in exchange for an education. You would be required
to attend school six days and work afterward. You will be fed,
clothed, and given a warm place to sleep. You will be treated
fairly and cared for. Does that interest you?”
    “Very much, Miss.”
    “Then into the wagon with you. Ask Swiftly
for a cup of milk while you wait,” I said, pointing at the
wagon.
    Egrit met me by the wagon.
    “There are three houses on this side with
children those ages. Many more with younger.”
    I nodded and mentioned Otta, who already
waited in the wagon.
    “She will be returning to the estate with
us.”
    Egrit nodded. I’d already shared my plan
with her and Swiftly during our ride to the Water.
    When she moved to the wagon to continue
distributing milk, I went to the houses Egrit had indicated. To
those houses, I offered the same opportunity I had Otta since the
women already had a trade to support themselves. The children would
be educated during the day but would be required to work before
breakfast and after dinner.
    Only two of the women agreed to release
their children. The third woman intended to introduce her
twelve-year-old daughter to her trade. When she told me the price a
virgin would fetch, I thought of the baker and struggled not to hit
her.
    I walked away from the house, not seeing the
road I trod. Egrit caught my arm and pulled me toward the
wagon.
    “Horrid woman, that one,” she said
quietly.
    “Quite,” I agreed.
    Two children already sat in the wagon. Mrs.
Palant and her two children were working together to pack their
belongings.
    Watching them gave me an idea, and I stopped
Mrs. Palant.
    “What happens to your home when you leave
it?”
    She looked up and down the road at the other
houses.
    “One of them will claim it most likely.”
    Her house was in much better repair. All of
the wood was solid, no rot, and there were no gaps between the
boards.
    “With your permission, I’d like to try
trading it with the woman in that house,” I pointed, “in exchange
for her daughter.”
    “Meg has had plans for her daughter since
she flowered. She’s just waiting for the right buyer,” she said
quietly.
    “Do you think your home might tempt
her?”
    “Not when all she needs to do is wait for me
to leave.”
    “Yes, but so is everyone else.”
    Determined, I walked to Meg’s door and
knocked again. She answered with a surly expression.
    “The house for the girl,” I said without
preamble.
    Her eyes drifted behind me, and she
laughed.
    “I have no chance at that place. As soon as
you leave there’ll be a fight for who gets it.”
    “Unless we help the new owner move her
belongings there and make it official.” She glanced at the
structure, her interest plain. “The girl will