Free Roses by G. R. Mannering Page B

happy to come with me to the Hillands, child? It’s a long journey.”
    Beauty scarcely dared to believe what she was hearing.
    “Yes,” she whispered.
    “Yur’ll become my daughter. Are you happy with that?”
    “Yes . . . yes .”
    Owaine smiled.
    “She is more than she seems,” said Ma Dane, but he was not listening.
    “I want to take Comrade,” said Beauty.
    Ma Dane glanced at Beauty and she felt the bonds of a promise breaking.
    “Pa Hamish’s riding horse? You may take him if you wish.”
    Owaine did not have the heart to say that such a fine animal would be no use on the journey or in the Hillands. Beauty loved that horse and it would hurt her to leave it.
    “You must go and pack now,” Ma Dane added in a voice that was breaking, “for the Magic Cleansing begins tomorrow and you must be out of Sago. We all must go.”
    Owaine pressed his left hand to his chest and told Beauty that he would meet her by the stables once she had gathered her things.
    A tense silence followed his exit from the room. Finally, Ma Dane turned to her ward.
    “Beauty, I have something of yours that you must take with you.”
    Ma Dane took a golden amulet from her desk and it caught the edge of a book, making a loud chink that vibrated around the room. Carefully, she carried it to the girl as though it pained her to hold it.
    “The House of Rose?”
    “Yes.”
    Beauty touched the engraved rose and felt her fingertips crackle. Ma Dane placed the red sash around her neck and the amulet dropped to her chest, thumping against her beating heart.
    “But what—”
    “It was your mother’s . . . my sister’s, and it arrived with you when you came here. I will give Eli my amulet when I die. Do you understand?”
    Beauty’s eyes widened. She had always believed that she came from a paupers’ hospital, the child of a fallen woman, as Ma Dane told everyone.
    “You lied to me about my birth!”
    “There is no time for that—”
    “I am a House of Rose! I am your kin!”
    “No, you are the daughter of a Hillander now.”
    Beauty’s eyes flashed. “Who is my father? Where did I come from?”
    “That, I do not know.”
    “More lies!” she screamed.
    Ma Dane took her by the shoulders and shook her hard. “There is no time now. But you must answer me this, for it is important. What do you dream, Beauty?”
    Beauty hesitated.
    “Do your dreams come true?”
    “No.”
    Ma Dane held her for one moment longer.
    “Then you are lucky,” she whispered, turning away. “You must get ready to leave now. You most likely will not see me again.”
    Beauty glared at her, seasons of abuse spurring her bitter anger.
    “Why did you treat me so?” she cried, tears prickling her eyes. “Why did I have to suffer?”
    Ma Dane paused, her face flushing.
    “I was protecting you,” she said. “I was protecting all of us. You do not know what you are—”
    “You are cruel! You are evil!”
    “No! You do not understand . . . but you must leave now. You are not my responsibility anymore.”
    Ma Dane went back to packing her books and Beauty wiped away a stray tear with her fist.
    “You will die!” she screamed. “For I have dreamt it!”
    Ma Dane gasped as Beauty fled the room.

Part Two
    A girl stood on the docks of Sago at twilight in the balmy heat. Her dress was plain and old fashioned, but she held her chin high, as if she were a true lady with great riches.
    Sailors passed, offering her winks and whistles, but she stoutly ignored them. The general bustle of the city was beginning to ebb at this time of evening, and all were flowing into the squares to savor the very best that Sago’s nightlife had to offer. Cargo ships were tethered and stocks were locked away. The tide was in and the water was high. The girl stood amongst it all alone, waiting.
    A smoldering dash of amber ripped the horizon against the oncoming darkness and the sea glinted in the fading light. It was muggy and warm and the water slapped sleepily against