Topic: Motley Moxie on the Move

Lirssa Sarengrave

Date: 2007-11-27 12:50 EST
It was a cold day, but full of sunshine and that meant crowds in the Marketplace. With the various cultures? holidays comingling in the chill of season, shoppers would be out enjoying the opportunity of good weather and fine merchandise. Lirssa was not going to lose the opportunity either. The early morning wagon of her father and mother's wares into the square carried her cheerfully along. The new driver, Sampson, was a bear of a man, gruff in face and burly in body, but the heart of a grandfather. He had given his morning's ritual of her safety, which she nodded her head with respect. As token of her good faith, she helped him deliver the wares to various merchants and then launched herself from the wagon as he went about his other errands.

Her new motley was a perfect fit and stretched in all the right places without revealing a bit of skin to the cold. This was not a truth for her hands, however, that had to remain ungloved in the chill if she had hope of keeping a hold of ground, limb, and ledge through her antics and acrobatic displays. A cart rolled before her and another after, as the Marketplace came alive and prepared for what promised to be a good day of shopping. Spring in her step and a leap up on the edge of a lamp post, she balanced on one foot and leaned as if searching the far oceans of people. A few took notice of her, but she was not ready yet. No, one had to warm up first, and that meant spying out a likely candidate for her talents at hawking wares.

Lirssa Sarengrave

Date: 2007-11-27 12:50 EST
A young lady at a stand with ribbons and all manner of hair adornments, busy arranging her wares, looked flustered and worried. Lirssa nodded to herself, and leapt back down from the look out, drew up her winning smile and walked over to the lady. "Many a cart has ribbons and wares such as these miss, but yours are by far the best." The lady stopped to stare at the young lady who had seemed to appear out of no where. Lirssa went on, fingering one of the ribbons. "Now, you don't want to get lost in the shuffle. That'll look sore upon all of them, and what a mistake for the buyers to have spent coin before they find your cart. It's a said predicament this spot here in the middle of a lane where the push of the crowds takes them right by without a glance." The worrying look in the lady's eye increased, and Lirssa beamed, "But you have good luck today, I wager, and if you will allow me to help you, I can make sure they stop to see your wares. Stopping the right step towards buying, and I'll wager that'll be done, too."

Suspicion darkened the woman's blue eyes, "And just what do you want out of it, you rascal?"

Lirssa aped a mortified look, hand to the side of her face in shock. "Want' Me" Nothing but to help you, miss. It's the season of giving, and what is better, me helping you or finding my way into trouble" You'd be doing me the favor." Bubber had taught her well in her youth: give them something free and they'll pay you enough in the end.

"What is it you do then" What makes you think they'll stop here just because of you?"

The light brightened in spritely green eyes, and without a word, Lirssa did a back flip, and true enough some people stopped to look, even a few merchants across the pathway looked up from their business. The lady was won over, brushed a blonde lock of hair out of her eyes, and nodded. "Then help me finish setting up, and get to the business of this day."

"Yes"m," she held in the laugh and arranged the wares with extra care. Selecting a few ribbons and convincing the woman to let her weave them into her hair. She promised it would be worth it.

Lirssa Sarengrave

Date: 2007-11-28 15:41 EST
Two flip-flops in a row and half a twist, the ribbons fluttering in her strawberry curls, she landed in front of a man, "You sir, you don't want to be lost with a pretty ribbon for your lady. An extra special surprise for a party night?" As the man pushed on past her, she sprang around to the other side. "Or a tempting adornment to a different gift?"

The stand was doing excellent business for the moment as her last rousing effort of tumbling and hawking had drawn in enough to keep the merchant woman satisfied. Lirssa could focus on the man a moment. She eyed his parcels, contents concealed in papers revealed nothing for her use. "It's the extra touch that brings the brightest light to the lady's eye. And think of the uses! A touch to a basket, the glimmer on a box of treasure, ribbons illuminate the wonder of a conceal gift."

That had gotten the man's attention, "Just let me show you." She untied one of the ribbons and wrapped it around one of the plane packages. "Look, see how even plain paper can be glorified by the majesty of one ribbon?"

"How much is it?" he questioned warily.

A swift snap and the ribbon was reclaimed, she tied it back in her hair and took the gentleman's arm to steer him back around to the cart, "Find one you like and the lady behind the cart will set a good value, I promise." He bobbed his head and she released him to the merchant's care.

Turned away from the crowd, she waggled her tongue and contorted her mouth to loosen up after such an overabundance of her best words. Memory suited her well, and stories had more to them than tales " they had magic words to be flung about as seed.

Springing around again, her hands high, she called out in bright cheer, "Ribbons, adornments, mystical pretties for the hair or anywhere! Come and see, come and buy, do not let this cart of beautiful wonders miss your eye!" Space available in the lane, she sprang forward to her hands, twisted about to do a flip flop and then a double flip with a twist. She saw the eyes were on her, and she called out again, "Sweet and simple temptations to brighten your style and give life to limp locks, come and see!"

The hopping of a rabbit could not be as bouncy as her step back to the cart, where she began to unlace the ribbons and offer them back to the merchant who looked aghast. "Leaving already? It is but midday!"

Lirssa looked mournful at the thought, her perfected glum expression, the lowering of her gaze, "It is time I make a turn or two of earning some coin, miss, but I'll be wishing you the best."

As if cued, the lady eyed her coin box and took out five coins to offer, "You've done me a good turn, young Lirssa, and should you come to visit again, I would be glad of it."

A happy upturn and the trueness of a smile in gratitude, Lirssa took the coins and pocketed them. "Thank you, miss!? And she gave a wave over her shoulder as she dashed between carts and people towards the fountain, the best space for her show.

Lirssa Sarengrave

Date: 2007-11-28 23:50 EST
There were some shoppers taking their ease, watching her tumble along the edge of the fountain. The curve was a particularly tricky part of the tumbling, not like a straight line, but she manages to land the final double back and catch the applause and some of the coins as well. "It's a fine midday, and don't forget to eat to keep hale and hearty. As the poet says, words are fine to dine for the soul, but meat and drink fill the belly!"

Laughter scattered about, she cartwheeled along the edge and sprang to spin, when the concussion of a blast shifted her balance. The sound was a giant's whip crack, but the heat like a wave of djinn's breath across her. It was all so fast and so slow mixed together in a there and now. A twisting turn, her head bumped rather than crashed against the fountain edge.

Little of the debris reached the area she was, but the wailing and rising cries for help chorused over the crunching boots over debris. All manner of people rushed to help in they way they could. Lirssa was one of them. The ringing of her ears and flashes of dizziness ignored, she helped with hurt and frightened children and under the direction of a healer, guided them all to a clinic.

The clinic was bustling with activity and noise. Motion was constant and the moans of pain crashed against her over and over like a sea upon a shore. She kept a smile and ran doing what she was told. "Bandages," came one. "Water," another yelled. "Sheets," "Blankets," "Ice," "Thread," and all other cries came at her and she rushed to fulfill the needs of others.

Day rushed into night and there was nothing more to her for running. She had to get away for just a little bit or there would be no light to share. She had to find a little room to breath. The streets, old home, called to her and she listened.

Lirssa Sarengrave

Date: 2007-12-05 17:22 EST
"Juggling knives isn't as easy as it looks," Lirssa nodded matter of factly to her young audience at one of the small foster homes. "So, I don't recommend it." It was not the full truth of the matter, but she had caught the shocked look on the foster mother's face as one of the little boys asked if Lirssa would juggle knives. She had seen that look on her own mother's face a time or tow, and it meant she had better be careful.

"But," she clapped her hands together to break the mood and gave a wide smile, "I can juggle colored glass balls. Very tricky and requires just as much care not to drop one or grab "em too tight." Turning to her little sack of props, she pulled out four glass balls, and handed one to a little blonde girl with a healing mark across her cheek where possibly debris from the explosion had marked her. "Can you help me" When I say so, I will need you to throw this ball straight up in the air. Can you do that?"

The little girl looked worried, but gave a timid nod, and Lirssa began to juggle the other three balls. Red, yellow, green flashed and glimmered with the reflected lights from lamps and candles in the front room where the seven children and their foster mother had gathered. Red, yellow, green over and over, back and forth, until Lirssa called out, "Now," to the little girl and the blue glass ball was popped up in the air by nervous hands.

It did not go as far as Lirssa would have liked, and she had to catch it on the curve of her ankle. So balanced on one foot, she continued to juggle until the time was right and popped the ball up high enough to put it into the pattern. The children cheered, thinking that was what was supposed to happen all along, and Lirssa was silently giving thanks for not dropping one.

One by one, she gathered up the glass balls in her hands and arms and gave a bow, exchanging smiles with little wounded souls finding healing of the heart and bodies in this home as well as a little happiness from the young performer. It was not much, but it was all she could give.

"Thank you, Lirssa," the foster mother said as she made sure the fuzzy lined cloak was warm about the girl. "You be careful out there and get somewhere warm."

"Yes"m, I will ma"am." Lirssa placed the satchel over her head to rest crosswise, and headed out for the nearby Marketplace and see what was new there.

Lirssa Sarengrave

Date: 2007-12-14 16:49 EST
Clapping hands together in fierce determination to keep them warm, Lirssa shared cold looks with the sky. "If ya gonna snow, will be gettin to it?" The Marketplace was alive and dead, like a bit of rotting wood that still had sprigs of green growing from another end. The mood just as uneven, she was convinced it was from the fickle undecisive sky that brought it about.

It did not help that handsprings and twisting flips were all the more precarious with weather having fits of cold temper. She needed an overhang or dry area that was not the haphazard creation of reconstruction. She walked the length and width of the Marketplace for a suitable place to lay down the blanket rolled about her shoulders, and continued her debate with the sky. "If you'd snow, I could have a good snowball fight or snow play...something." She kicked at some sullied past remnents of snow and ice. "Can't throw that. It's just nasty." She retorted to an imagined suggestion from the sky. "Need something fresh!"

The sky was not going to oblige at the moment, so she dropped the cloth in a hazy corner between two buildings that had meeting overhangs. Boots removed, a stomp and wiggle of feet as they met the chill, hands clapped together more, and she began to twist and turn her body to warm up into the first spring of a flip and then claimed the silk flowers in their dark reds and purples to juggle and dance. Movement might bring some coin, but more she wanted to see people smile again — and keep warm.

Lirssa Sarengrave

Date: 2007-12-18 14:31 EST
More glee could not be found in the pixie-like face than when she read the Winter Market sign. Warmth previously a struggle to create flowed through her with the rush of excitement. She could be around Wednesday night at that late hour if she made arrangements for her staying in town. The time was short, but she could make it. Lirssa could not let the opportunity slide by.

With a dash around market goers, a leap over a bag or two, scamper about the edge of the fountain and on her way to the foster home not far from the Marketplace. A few children were out playing and called upon seeing her. A promise or two to come back and play, she jerked the door open, stomped her boots on the carpet to clear it of muck and moisture, and went hunting for the foster mother. "Ma'am! I need a place to stay tomorrow night!" she called during the hunt.

A kindly woman came out from the kitchen, red faced from the heat of the stoves and the work of feeding the large group of children. "Lirssa?"

"Yes'm," and she repeated, "I need a play to stay tomorrow night - late tomorrow night. There's to be a Winter Market, and I gotta be there!"

The foster mother eyed the girl with some trepidation at the idea with all that was going on, but this child had parents and if they approved, she was not one to say nay. "We'd be glad to have you, lass. Will you be staying for supper?"

Lirssa flung herself at the woman for a big hug, "Thank you, and no, I gotta go and get ready!" And she was out the door, a few hops in the jump rope, and on her way.

Lirssa Sarengrave

Date: 2007-12-20 13:40 EST
The morning of the Winter Market Lirssa woke with a scratchy throat and a fever. No amount of pouting, pleading, or threatening was going to budge her mother from letting her out of bed, much less out of the house. The grumpy tantrum Lirssa tried to pull also got her a punishment of restriction to the house and grounds for two days after she was well, too. Her mother and father knew very well that such a restriction was much more suitable punishment to their energetic daughter than any other consequence they could imagine.

Lirssa tossed about in bed, sheets ashambles from the frustrated flopping of her legs, and though she did not realize it, she slept more than anything as the illness did its work and her body fought back. The fortunate herbal remedies of her mother helping along the way, but nothing could fix the complete and utter disappointment of missing the Winter Market fun.

At least her parents had sent a note to let the foster mother know she would not be coming. It was not enough to heal the wounded little heart as she dreamed of happy lights, snowball fights, and sweet, warm drinks.

Lirssa Sarengrave

Date: 2008-02-27 12:38 EST
It was cold and she had the sniffles. Lirssa had taken the wagon ride into town that morning as she did more often these days. School had been given over to self taught instruction. It was an experiment her parents had begrudgingly given in to. Lirssa would take some time off from school and go back. If she still maintained her good grades and kept up with her class, she could go to school when she wanted.

Her parents had done their best to groom her into a respectable young lady, but the early years living on the streets left an indelible mark. Spunky was the most polite way to put it, and only through luck of her first guardian Bubber, kind strangers, and the abundance of patient guidance of her adoptive parents did she have politeness and a natural cheery disposition. Injustice got her back up, friendliness got her loyalty, and, more than anything, she was like a pet: devoted to those that gave her kindness and teeth baring to those that did anyone wrong.

Bullying was one thing she could not stand for. "I don't know what he did, but I suspect if it were something gruesome, they'd be a might bit more," she shrugged, "I don't know"blades than fists." She was explaining to a little street urchin that had shared her morning's bread with her. Not uncommon, Lirssa would pick up a street wanderer and share some food, walk with the child through the streets seemingly without direction, and low and behold, end up at one of the foster homes that sprinkled the town like faint stars in the deep of night.

The child ate quietly and looked up to Lirssa as they walked. Lirssa continued to rattle on. "I suspect most folks don't care what a kid thinks. They got their weird rules and all. I mean, sure if someone was hurting my brother or sister, I'd be up to pick a fight. But some adults, they take up any cause to get all into a thumb biting, rabble rousing, stink."

Lirssa switched gears as free as a bird changes currents to glide upon. "Don't get me wrong. Some adults just be as nice as they can be. Hint is to be polite and not greedy. Folks don't want some dirty little bit of flesh pawing at "em. Gotta be helpful to the right folk, so that means watching and not being too eager, too. Gotta play it smart, kid. Bubber used to say to me that five breaths of watching were worth more than a wail. Sure as you're born, he was right." A skip as she turned them down the street that held one of the foster homes. "Nice folks offered me to join "em in kite flying come the warm times. I suspect they'll be forgettin in time, but it's the thought that counts. Got the offer, and that's a nice thing. You like flying kites?"

The child gave a shrug and shook her head. "I suspect you hadn't much of a chance." Lirssa's mouth played around a frown. She looked to the building where they had stopped. "I gotta stop in and do a friend a good turn. Wanna help me?"

Bread given, kind talk " though lots of it " the child gave a nod though wary smile. "Come on then. Most like, just need to pick up some vegetables at market,? Lirssa said and took the child's hand in hers going up to the door. If she worked it just right, and it hadn't failed yet, this child would be off the streets and in a warm bed with someone tucking her in and kissing her goodnight.

Lirssa Sarengrave

Date: 2008-03-18 14:27 EST
The weather was being persnickity, and with the looking down the noses and snouts of folks at the inn, Lirssa wasn't going back there any time soon. She didn't like hanging around the foster homes when there was not reason for her to be there. They had enough to keep under hand without her being there juicing the kids up with her energy.

Rain did nothing for earning coin either. She could do some tumbling tricks, but most weren't going to stand in the rain to watch her. Rainy days weren't really good for much except going to school.

The teachers had gotten used to her showing up when the weather was bad. At first they had tried to be hard on her, showing her all she had missed while she was away. The problem was with her sponge of a mind and her enjoyment of reading, the conversation usually turned from showing her to her telling them. After a few of this turn abouts, the instructors had come to accept that as long as she was given the information, she was getting the education, whether it was from them or the books.

What she did get from going to school that she didn't get elsewhere was learning to get along with those her own age. Like an ugly duckling, she didn't belong with adults and she didn't belong with children. She knew too much and too little all at once. When the children went to play their games, Lirssa would try to join in the fun. Sometimes they would let her, but sometimes they wouldn't. Calling her names and getting her temper up, Lirssa never came to blows. She just called them uppity adults in short pants, and stomped off.

One little girl, though, had saught her out. They shared their meals, and Lirssa rattled away as the girl giggled at the funny stories. Little Elspeth was a quiet thing, but Lirssa made sure no one ever picked on dark haired, dark eyed, soft spoken friend. Lirssa, of course, tried to make sure no one picked on anyone.

Lirssa Sarengrave

Date: 2008-03-18 14:45 EST
This particular day in school they were studying plants. It was, Lirssa admitted to herself, one of her poorer subjects. They weren't words she could memorized, but shapes that all seemed similar to her. Most flowers looked the same, except she knew lilies, roses, and the usual flowers. Her mother knew them all and every herb there was to find. Lirssa, try as she might, could not get them straight in her head. Those herbs with the strongest scents she memorized, but there was no telling in the field.

The class was not going in the field, though, as the teacher had brought plants in from her own hot house. As each was passed around, Lirssa tried to keep the shape, smell, and destinct features in her mind. However, as soon as the plant moved out of her hand and the next one was in, there was nothing left in her mind but "green" and "sorta spikey leaves."

At that moment, she wished she was with her father at his smithy. That was something she could understand. Fold and meld, heat and hammer, the metals all had their own way of speaking, but she could keep it in her mind. She loved the clang of the hammer, the smell in the air, and the heat so high it sunk deep in her lungs.

"Lirssa, are you paying attention?" Miss Sheffield called patiently.

Lirssa realized it must have been more than once that the teacher had tried to get her attention. "No'm, I sure wasn't. Did you need something?"

The children all laughed around her, but Lirssa didn't believe in lying, unless she was telling a fairy tale or story when folks expected a lie. She gave the laughing ones a superior sniff against their wicked glances.

"Yes, Lirssa, if you would, could you bring that plant to me?" Miss Sheffield was as good as they came, and her look silenced the class and shifted into a gentle smile for Lirssa as easy as pie.

"Yes'm," Lirssa brought up the plant to the desk. "I am sorry, ma'am. Just got to thinking elsewhere."

"I did notice that," the teacher whispered, "but it might be best if you kept your mind with us here today."

"I will try," Lirssa vowed as much as she could. She wouldn't promise she would as that more than likely would turn out a lie.

"Go back to your seat now," Miss Sheffield smiled.

Lirssa nodded and turned to go back down the aisle to her seat near the back. One of the students thought it would be a lark to trip her, sticking his foot out at just the right time. Lirssa pitched forward, and with a quick tuck and spring rolled up and out, with a hand pointed out, "Michael Pointers, you rude piece of flotsam on the bottom of a barnacle boat!"

"Lirssa!" Miss Sheffield gaped and looked just as dismayed between the angry little girl and the pale faced boy. She had seen it all, but Lirssa's language could not be condoned. "Both of you will stay after class."

Lirssa shuffled to her seat and sat with a grump. No doubt, she thought, the sun would be out by then and she would be stuck inside. She'd get Michael for that.

Lirssa Sarengrave

Date: 2008-05-08 12:33 EST
The days were getting warmer, and Lirssa was happier for it. She had spent a good portion of her earnings during the winter. If it had not been for the parade, she would have been hard pressed to feed the little pack of dogs she discovered on one of her sojourns to her old haunts. It wasn't something she was going to ask her parents to help her do, and she sure wasn't going to bring them all home. So, she had it in her mind to feed the poor creatures as often as she could.

Rib showing, fight scarred, scared dogs of all sizes, five in all, made their home against the wind and weather in a narrow alleyway barely able to let a grown man walk down without brushing shoulders on either side of the brick buildings. At her approach, heads lifted, a few weary tails wagged, as her familiar scent gave them the excited thrill of familiarity.

The food had been paid for, plus an extra or two fish heads from behind the butcher's shop, and it was fresh and bloody. Its scent was easily recognized, and all standing now, nuzzled at her pack where the meat had been wrapped in paper. "Hold on with ya now, I won't have ya eatin" my fingers, too," she giggled. Eager mouths took their treasures and chomped and gulped their way through the minor meal.

Such a fresh scent was not mistaken by other prowlers of the alleyways. A warning hackle raise of two of the dogs, their size and shape of mixed mastiff and shepherds, and soon all the dogs were on alert. Lirssa turned to see the source of their anger.

Three dogs, their coats the matted, shaggy look of more street hounds, closed off the alley exit. Their grim tipped hackles spiked along their shoulders and down their backs. They wanted their share of the treats. Unkempt nails clacked against the stones in threatening drumbeats.

Lirssa tasted the worry and fear in her mouth. Its acrid flavor hard to swallow in a throat closing up as adrenaline began its push through her body. Her canine friends included her in their pack of defense. The dane, his long back tense with the confrontation stepped up to join the two mixed breeds. Removing her bag from around her shoulders, she gripped the strap in both hands and held it ready to swing. "Go away!" she yelled at the intruding three dogs.

Her cry had no effect. Guilt and blame griped at her like some unseen hand closed around her heart. If these dogs came to harm because of her. What if the children she tried to help came to similar fates" Was she even doing anyone good"

The dam of the tension burst, dogs sprang upon each other, snarling and snapping. Ferocity the scrabbling game of overpowering and rending. With all the force of her arms, she swung the bag, its weight light, the glass balls of her trade popping and shattering. The hilts of sheathed juggling knives clanged and beat when they came in contact with a dog.

Pain in her leg brought out a scream and just then three people came running up to the alleyway to see what was going on. One took off and the two others came into break up the pandemonium of biting and growling beasts and child. Tears of anxiety streamed down a sweaty face as Lirssa looked up at the man in armor. "I just wanted to help them." The pain in her leg, a bite from one of the big brutes come to attack her friends, throbbed and stung like lightning strikes up her body. She tried to step forward but stumbled. She would not cry out again. She had broken bones before. She had hurts before. This was nothing, she kept telling herself.

"Come on, lass," the man caught her up. Her canine friends began to growl again with the low guttural warnings of danger to their pack. "Easy there," he said to the pack, "easy. We'll take care of her."

"Don't hurt them," Lirssa commanded but it came out in a squeak.

"We'll see to them, lass. Come on now. Let's get your leg tended.? The man carried her out as his partner wrestled and jostled with the four hounds still walking, carrying the fifth and smallest's little lifeless body, careful to not let the little girl see.

Lirssa Sarengrave

Date: 2008-05-19 18:39 EST
Crutches, simple wooden with leather cushioning at the tops, rested beside the girl as she sat on the edge of the fountain and watched the people go by. There wasn't much tumbling to be done. She could, she thought as she watched a butterfly dance and tumble on the currents of the breeze, probably do a few tricks. Still, most spectators would too worried about her injuring another leg to really enjoy it. All in all, Lirssa frowned, best to keep to the ground.

She had spent some time at A Stitch in Time, folding clothes, hanging them back up, and trying to be helpful in general. The bean-feast Miss Lydia had provided being a particular favorite of Lirssa's " nothing like pastries and cookies for lunch! Today, though, had called for being outside.

From the window of the shop the day before, she had seen the two children, hand in hand, scrabbling for leavings of careless and oblivious customers. Their clothes were out of size, but not terribly stained. They had someone watching out for them. It was the frightened, pitiful look in their eyes when they saw the light fading and then tucked their heads together in quiet conversation. There must have been scarce amounts gained from their pickpocketing trials, for the little girl's small lower lip began to quiver and eyes grew wide as the other put his arm around her boney shoulders and guided her from the Marketplace.

Lirssa knew that look. She'd never had to experience firsthand the disappointment of a disgruntled keeper. Bubber had been a kindly old gent. She had been lucky. But she had seen that look on faces since she could first remember; children that weren't so lucky.

On her crutches she had been too slow to catch them. Today, she would be out and about, and try to find them. Two more to get away from wicked hands and minds.

Having rested her leg enough, she stood again and without help of the crutches, hopped up on the edge of the fountain, balancing there to search the crowd. She searched towards the Stitch, as children that age always returned to where they were comfortable, their own turf. A break in the moving crowds and she saw them again. They barely moved, stiff when they did and shoulders hunched. If they were smart, begging would have gotten them somewhere, but no, they were still trying to pickpockets.

At least they hadn't been caught " not yet. Lirssa wasn't going to wait for that to happen. Better her than one of the guards or worse. Another hop off the ledge, she snatched up her crutches and hobbled over to the children. She had to do this right, though, or they would dash away like frightened deer. Around the edge of the building, she watched a bit longer, and then called to them, "Hey, psst, kid," her voice a pitched whisper. "You best leave off that, hear?"

The boy pretended not to hear her, but the little girl looked over and Lirssa could see beneath the dirty straggle of black hair the gray shadow of a bruise. "Can't leave off."

"Don't talk to her, Missy. We gotta do our work."

Lirssa scowled and stumped over. "That ain't work. That's thieving. Come on now. I been there. How you think I figured you out' You ain't palmin" them right, leastways, anyway." Having never stolen a thing in her life, well, she had seen it done enough to know how. She dropped to their mode of speech and familiar words. "Best come wit me, and I'll be showin ya place to learn a proper trade."

The boy got up in Lirssa's face, and she realized he was about her age, not so young as she thought before. "Leave "er be, you. Won't have her playin" tricks for no fingerman."

Mortified and angered by the suggestion, Lirssa lost her temper and hauled off and closed-fist struck him. "Not ever been accused of being a fingerman's pants-jumper, and I'm not takin it now."

Missy yelped as the boy stumbled back at the strike. "Stop it Peter. She don't look like a pants-jumper."

Flush with anger, Lirssa nodded, "Killer right, and I'm not, but I used to be a street kid like you. Come with me, let's get you outta here."

Missy began to cry and shook her head, but it was Peter, rubbing his jaw who answered. "Can't. We're bought and paid for. He owns us, now leave us be." It was said with the sour resignation of a child with pride for a bargain and contempt for what the bargain brought him.

Anger now turned to the rage of one who bought and treated children in such a way. Lirssa couldn't say she much cared for slavery, but as long as the kids were treated proper, she couldn't really argue against it either. What was worse" Living without a scrap of clothing, scrounging for every meal, and no roof over the head, or being owned and yet having all those things and more? This, though, brewed a fire in her like that of a forest lit by lightning. She stumped off fast.

She was not done with those two.

Lirssa Sarengrave

Date: 2008-05-20 14:05 EST
Lirssa sat on the chair disappointed. Her parents had made their arguments against her wishes for magical healing of her leg, and became even more adamant when she gave them the honest reasons why. Their following lecture was not what she wanted to hear in addition to being denied her desire to have the cast off and a healing adept mend the leg.

The brooding had started her to thinking. The thinking started her to moving again, crutches, now ribboned to make them flutter with her motion and the breeze, in hand. It was a long road into town. Along that way, the words of her parents and even long dead Bubber went round and round in her mind.

She was so consumed with the thought it took her a moment to realize someone was coming up behind her at a trot. Turning her head about over her shoulder just as Michael Pointers came up beside her. "What're you doing outta school?" Suspicious of this strange happenstance, her mouth turned sour and eyes narrowed.

"Yeah, well, Hi to you, too, Lirssa." He snapped back. "I'm running errands for my Da. You sure make good time on those things. Why aren't you in school?" He added with a superior look. "You can't tumble like that."

That got her back up. "What do you know" I can too tumble if I want to, broken leg or no."

"That's stupid. You'd break something else in the trying." He was very certain of this knowledge. It was a forgone conclusion.

Lirssa stopped dead in her tracks. "Oh is that so?" Crutches drawn out from their support, she shoved them at him. "Hold these."

Shocked, the crutches hit Michael straight in the chest and he coughed out his breath. "Lirssa, don't-"

Paying him no mind, she took a few hops to get her speed up and started a handspring into a back flip-flop and meant to go into a backflip. The weight was wrong and her center of balance was off. She felt it, and, instead of tucking into the final trick, she opened up and let the energy of the motion carry her in a series of wobbly backward hops.

Pale faced, Michael ran up to her. "You're crazy! You coulda killed yourself!"

"But I didn't!" Everything she wanted to yell at her parents came out at Michael. "I know what I'm doing! And you can't tell me what to do and what not to do. I make my own decisions, got it' Can't always stay safe!"

Michael thrust the crutches back at her. "You're never safe! You're the wildest person I know! What is with you?!"

Lirssa took the crutch and smacked Michael on the head with the soft, leather cushioned part. "You're rude!"

He ducked and rubbed his dark haired head where she hit him at the side of his head and he grabbed back for the crutch. "Ow! Me" I'm rude? You just hit me with your crutch!"

"Hey!" Another voice called in. "Leave her alone!"

Lirssa and Michael turned with a blink of surprise. Lirssa even moreso than Michael, her mouth agape as she saw Peter and Missy standing in the road behind them. Even in their oversized but well kept clothes, they looked pathetic with their sallow skin and hollowed cheeks. Peter had his fists clenched, white of boney knuckles showing, and Missy was mocking the stance with less enthusiasm or confidence.

"Caw..." Lirssa breathed out just stunned.

Lirssa Sarengrave

Date: 2008-05-23 17:16 EST
"You can't do that," Peter snapped at Michael. The four children were huddled in an alleyway along the fringes of the West End that Lirssa deemed safe enough. Safe enough for two indentured children, one acrobat, and one schoolboy. The dogs had taken up their snoozing places around the children. Missy snuggled up to the big dane, petting the dirty, smelly fur like it was the finest ermine. It was a strange cadre of street residents.

Except Michael; he showed his discomfort in furtive looks over his shoulder, the wrinkling of his nose, and roll of his eyes. Something he was doing once again. "I still say we should talk to an adult. They know how to handle these things."

"Just stop it, you two." Lirssa frowned and picked up one of the smaller dogs that was eager to get in her lap. She could not deny him when she kept thinking of the other little dog that had died in the confrontation. With her broken leg sticking out and limiting her comfort, Lirssa was getting rather cranky. "Look, my rump is getting sore, so let's stop arguing. We can't waste time gnawing over it. Peter and Missy can't be gone so long, or it's all gonna be given up before the start."

Missy sniffled as fear rose inside her again. "Hush, Missy, nothin's gonna happen t"weren't gonna happen before." Peter soothed his sister. "Leastways this way he might have some right cause, ye know?"

"Great," Michael groaned, "now you want him to hurt you?"

The sniffles turned into quiet sobs. Lirssa took a crutch and whacked Michael against his back. "Will you shut it' Both of ya!" Her green glass sharp gaze was sliced from one to the other. "We gotta think of a right way to get you two outta there. Any other kids he's got?"

"Just his own," Peter frowned. "They ain't worked over like us, but they seem right happy to do his biddin"."

Michael visibly chewed his bottom lip working against saying something. Lirssa smirked when she saw it and he gave her a smile back. Peter continued to frown, and Lirssa took up the planning again. "Okay, so right now, best thing we gotta do is keep ya from getting hurt. So, whatcha gotta do today?"

"Same thing. Pick pockets. He says we can't do proper work "til we mastered it."

"You're a long way off from that, ya know." Lirssa shook her head. "Don't suppose he's particular in the things you get, is he?"

"Nope."

"Right, okay," Lirssa dug out of her faded cotton pants pockets little trinkets she picked up around the alleyways and canal streets. "We gotta make this stuff last."

"Where'd you get that!" Michael looked aghast.

"You'd be amazed what comes out in people's garbage," she giggled and more at Michael's turned up nose.

Missy smiled and perked up at her brother's laughter. "I shoulda thought o' that!"

"Yeah, well, takes time ya know" Pick out some of the lesser bits. Can't get him suspicious of you doing so well of a sudden." Lirssa smiled to them with a bright confidence. "We'll get ya free o' him. Just gonna take time and planning."

"And adults," Michael grumbled one more time under his breath.

Lirssa grit her teeth. Not because he wouldn't give it up, but because he was right.

Lirssa Sarengrave

Date: 2008-06-07 15:22 EST
It was a cheerful day. Lirssa squinted a grin up at the sun as if they were thinking the exact same thing. The wind was going to make juggling difficult, but she would leave off knives for today. A knick or two did not trouble her, but bloody fingers did not make for a good performance. With the glass balls still not replaced, she was left with the scarves or the bouncy balls. Scarves in wind also did not make a promising combination, and at the conclusion of the silent debate with the sun, she nodded and started to stretch out at the corner of the building before seeking out her spot in the Marketplace for displaying her talent.

As she stretched over her left leg, she frowned at its weakened appearance. It would take time to get it strong again. The light scars of where the teeth of the dog had punctured the skin stood stark white against the paleness of the rest of her leg. Pushing the red leggings of her motley back down to cover it, she stood up and hopped to test her ankles. Her hair was jingling with the seven bells she tied with ribbons along the rows of braids that started at the front of her hairline and merged together until they came to one ponytail in the back. It had cost a few coins to have the peddler lady do her hair, but she had known Tamri for years now. It was a long standing agreement.

Sharp green eyes, bright as a summer meadow skipped about the Marketplace to pick her spot. It seemed the area around the fountain was consumed by people lounging near the cool of water. If she could find someplace nearby there it would make for a fine audience in place. In order to fish out the right spot, she darted out into the slow moving herd of people, stopping and starting as they made their purchases and met with friends for the day.

Slipping like a fish through water, she stopped dead in her tracks as she spied Peter and Missy out at the corner again. They looked a little better, no doubt having been rewarded with kinder treatment for their success. The anger still spat and sparked in her like an hot coal sprinkled with water to see them bound to that man.

"Move along, little one," a man directed as he marshalled his girth about her. She had been like a stone in the stream, forcing people to trouble themselves in passing her slim form. Lirssa blinked, ducked her head in apology, and jolted her limbs into motion out from the vein of the Marketplace.

A serviceable space, though not long enough for any of her series of tumbling runs, was formed by two vending carts at odd angles. She drew away the satchel from her shoulder and tucked it into a shadowed corner. A shake of her head, the bells set to chiming, she stood tall in the center of her space, then with a slow stretch of her leg, up beside her head, she gave one turn about, and then bent backward, her legs split in the air above her as she stood on her hands. A shake of her head, the bells chimed out again. Some people, more observant than others, gave a pattering of applause as she moved on into the next trick, balancing on one hand as she twisted her body to the side.

Lirssa felt the delighted sparkle in her chest as bright as fireworks. Their applause would draw more eyes and more applause, and if the day turned out very well, she would have coin in her purse again. More coin was just what she needed for her plans.

Lirssa Sarengrave

Date: 2008-06-16 20:23 EST
To say it had been a strange day was putting things as mild as chamomile tea. Lirssa had started her midday routine at the Market fountain to train and earn coin from religious folks making their way home. Most had a generous streak to them after being filled with the teachings of their various gods subjecting them to do good works. Lirssa discovered that generosity leant itself to paying for their own good feelings a bit more than they did later in the week.

The purple and green motley, with its trimming in gold, was a little imperfect in its fit, but she did not want to wear her good motley, the red and gold that Miss Lydia made. That motley was for festivals and events, not every day performances. It is not to say that she worked any less to make the acrobatic twists and turns as thrilling as possible for the audience, and after three separate routines, she had worked up quite the thirst. It was a peculiar turn that when she announced her parting thanks to the audience that gave her the kind smattering of applause, a quartet of little street urchins came bottom lip chewing, darted eye looking, up to her. They wanted her help. It was the first time ever they had come looking for her, and it took a moment for Lirssa to realize it was not a joke being played on her.

With the children delivered to one of the foster homes she knew, the father figure in the house looking bone weary but smiling with his mustached kindness, Lirssa took off for the inn to quench that lingering thirst feeling all the lighter for a good day's work on both counts of her performance and the progress of helping the children of the streets.

Each bounce of her loping run along the streets set the coin purse to jangle against her hip. It was not over full and was hid beneath the length of her motley jerkin to avoid the threat of theft. She would not have been surprised at that though. What took her for a turn the second time that day was the shy greeting of a boy, Louis, who looked her age in the inn. Apparently, Lirssa learned later, that he was the younger brother of Miss Gretchen, one of the tenders she had met just a few nights before.

In fact, she met near the entire Miller clan that afternoon. It was a maze of names and people and was quite the thrilling afternoon. A sweet treat and glass of cordial in her stomach as well as some unforeseen attention from Louis had her walking on air the rest of the day even through the errands her mother had sent her on.

A satchel with a new yard of canvas cloth, a small sack of flour, and another of sugar thumped against her leg with her juggling knives and scarves all the way home. She must have been grinning in a peculiar way, because she was first questioned by her mother and then teased by her father all between the giggles of the five year old twins. Swift as she could she escaped after dinner up to her room, walked the rope from her window to her tree house and snuck away the secret thought of meeting Louis for the ice cream social. She was not telling her parents that one.

Lirssa Sarengrave

Date: 2008-06-18 19:21 EST
Lirssa held Missy's hand as they wove their way through the throng of people towards Miss Annie's ribbon cart. The day had a fresh clean feel in the air of the afternoon. The sun played peek-a-boo behind clouds hurried along by a nice breeze. A breeze prone to pick up and carry all the variety of aromas sprinkled through the maze of vendors and carried on the body of people. Missy sneezed and looked up at Lirssa wide eyed with fear. "What?" Lirssa giggled, "Don't you think I sneeze, too' We aren't on a secret mission, ya silly. Sneeze all ya want." Missy rubbed at her nose with a shy duck of her head, but there was a smile there. The little girl, Lirssa guessed no more than seven, clung to her as near as her clothes. It being tunic and leggings today instead of motley, the clinging could have been worse. "Missy, I have a shadow, ya know. I won't let anyone hurt you." A confident smile and squeeze of the girl's hand. "Lirssa!" Miss Annie called spying the girl with a hopeful glint to blue eyes. "Good to see you. Come to earn a bit of coin?" "No ma"am, come to spend a bit of coin. We need," she stopped. Holding up a hand to bid Miss Annie wait a moment, she bent her strawberry blonde head to Missy in soft conference. "Twenty you think" Think they'll get that much to make twenty?" Uncertain and afraid to assert her own opinion, Missy shrugged boney shoulders and shook her head unknowing. Lirssa was not letting her off the hook, though, and pressed further. "Well, if Peter and Michael are getting the flowers-" "Why are they getting the flowers" Shouldn't girls get the flowers?" Miss Annie was giving a curious sort of smile catching parts of the conversation. "No, boys can get flowers, too, and did you really want them picking out ribbon' Twenty ribbons?" There was a deep frown of consideration that whitened already pale little lips, but then Missy nodded, "Okay, twenty, I think they can get enough for twenty." Satisfied that Missy had tried for an original thought without the fear of asserting it, Lirssa gave a bit smile to Miss Annie, "We need twenty ribbons about the length of my arm from here," Lirssa drew her hand across the inside of her elbow, "to here," she marked the line of her wrist. "May we pick out the colors, please?" Miss Annie was not about to let an opportunity of having Lirssa nearby pass her by. "What do you think to doing a bit of work, and I will give you ten for ten you purchase." Lirssa narrowed her eyes, pouted her lips and tapped her chin approximating the thoughtful look Bubber used to give when thinking over a bargain offered. She was not satisfied without more details. "Give you half an hour." "An hour," Miss Annie countered. "Three quarters an hour," Lirssa bartered back. "Done," Miss Annie's hand out for the shake, and Lirssa took it up for a shake. "Now Missy here is a smart lass, she can help keep things straight when folks start pawing about your wares." Lirssa did not give Miss Annie or Missy time to argue, but shuffled Missy around behind the cart and pointed out how to keep things in order. Missy gave Miss Annie a timid look up through golden brown lashes, and hid her hands whispering up to Lirssa, "My hands are dirty." "Wash them," Lirssa whispered back and pointed to the fountain close by. Then knowing full well Missy would not go by herself, gave a look to Miss Annie that they would be right back, and took care of the issue without a beat lost in lollygagging. Hurrying back, Lirssa set Missy back behind the cart once more and then stretched her legs and back in brief before going out before the cart and calling out with a cheerful grin and clap over her head. "Ribbons and bows " darling delights for every occasion!" A tumbling run, the tunic belted around her waist flopped its loose length into her vision at times, but she did not do any of the high dangerous tricks. The crowd parted and turned to watch, drawing their eyes to the cart where Miss Annie smiled and held up ribbons for display and Missy tried to make herself as small as she could while continuing to straighten even areas that were not mussed.

In the three quarters of an hour, Miss Annie had brisk trade and Lirssa was warmed with the effort and calls, but both satisfied with the bargain they had made. "Now then, twenty ribbons, you said, and a good deal on top of the ten free I offered at the start." Miss Annie smiled to the girls. "Make your selections and we will work out a cost."

Giggling and grinning, the girls showed each other choice after choice: pink embroidered, lacy blue velvet, shimmering purple silk, and so many more. With their purchases made, the girls ran to the secret meeting place at the first oak south of town where they hoped the boys would have made their bounty of wildflowers and greens to be bound. They were halfway through their plan, and things were going very well.

Lirssa Sarengrave

Date: 2008-06-19 21:06 EST
"Stand still." Lirssa whispered down at Michael. Keeping her balance standing on his shoulders was becoming an increasing challenge as he shifted one way and then another. "I'm almost there."

"Will you hurry up!" He called back in his own half whisper.

Missy started whimpering about getting caught, and Peter shushed her in chorus with the other two children. "Look, we aren't doing anything bad." Lirssa said again. "Just a little closer," directed to Michael who shuffled a few steps nearer to the wall.

It was just enough to get Lirssa within reach of the balcony. Her hands gripped the ornate iron railing and she drew herself up, being careful of the ribboned bunch of wildflowers dangling from her belt. It was not unlike the post tricks she would do, holding on to the post and turning completely upside down with the careful manipulation of her muscles. Her stomach was as much a washboard as the scullery maids washboards at the back of laundry houses. It did her good purpose.

Especially now. Feet landing inside the balcony, the room beyond quiet, she untied the flowers from her belt and tied them to the balcony doorknob.

A fast scamper over the side and down onto Michael's shoulders once more, where she paused only the moment before she dropped to the ground and with a big smile motioned for the others to come running after her.

When the young lady arrived in her bedroom that night tired and weary from another full day of treatments to the scars on her face, she would find the flowers and the note. "To the lady lovely as a field of flowers."

Lirssa Sarengrave

Date: 2008-06-20 16:29 EST
Lirssa was dripping wet and laughing. She had convinced Michael to join the rest of her little gang of foster children and street kids, including Peter and Missy, for a swimming journey in the springs of the Glen. All of their clothes clung to wiry bodies as they splashed through the water and climbed the rocks.

"I'm not givin" up!" Peter yelled after Lirssa, chasing her up and down the rocks. Her acrobatic skills gave her the advantage and helped to avoid skinned knees and feet. She stayed just ahead of his grasp.

"Ooh, be careful!" Missy cried up at them. Her feet dangled in the spring water, still not sure if she wanted to get in with all the other children. All of her soaking had come from the others splashing.

Edging toward and outcropping, Lirssa leapt and plunged into the refreshing water, hearing the bubbling splash of Peter just after her, grasping for her arm. "Gotcha!" he grinned as his hand closed around her wrist and pulled.

Michael was fed up with the game and came charging over from where he had been watching them run. "Let her go."

"No," Peter's hand closed hard around her wrist, glaring at Michael in defiance.

"Ow, Peter, that hurts." Lirssa twisted her arm free and trudged through the water to flop down on the grassy edge by Missy. "You all going to the ice cream social and fireworks?"

Michael and Peter were still prickling and did not answer. Missy's little fingers caressed the grass, flicking the blades of green. "I don't know if we can get away tomorrow."

Rolling over, Lirssa put her hands behind her head and looked up at the sky. "Pah, tell him what a great place to go with all those people distracted by fireworks. You could make a haul for him."

"But then we'd have to, wouldn't we?" Peter dropped onto the grass beside her. "It isn't so easy, and we can't keep going through garbage putting him off from getting" wise."

Lirssa blinked down at him and then blinked again. She was softening and rounding in places she had been rail flat before. The way her sky blue linen tunic revealed this made her suddenly self conscious. She sat up and folded her arms across her leaning forward against her knees. "We'll think of somethin"."

"You'll think of something, you mean." Michael muttered as he watched the other children having a good time, carefree and playing.

"Same thing," Lirssa scowled back and set to doing just that. "Let's all meet at the social. I've got a plan a"formin".?

Lirssa Sarengrave

Date: 2008-06-23 21:23 EST
The ragtag group had not been able to meet at the ice cream social, but Lirssa was not disheartened by the turn of events. If anything, she was even more determined to have Peter and Missy free.

Louis Miller had been at the social as they agreed, though she had been running late after the dust up with Michael over when to enact the plan. She still was not quite certain about Louis, but he wanted to take part in the plot, and so when they left after the fireworks she gave him the part of look out.

The streets were still well lit, even to the house of Missy and Peter's master. It's brownstone edifice had two gaslights flickering and hissing at either side of the door casting a yellow glow on the bushes to either side beneath shuttered windows. It was still early with night stretching its new form across the sky and preening with its glittering of stars.

Lirssa checked around her, Louis at his post of the gate along the stonewalls of the front garden. Other children creeping their way around back, and Michael in a shrub next to the door. Brushing down her embroidered tunic and smoothing back her strawberry blond hair, Lirssa cleared her throat and then knocked on the door with a confident pound of her fist.

A serving lady, her white cap trimmed with lace fluttering about a wrinkled face, opened the door. "What is it you want, miss?"

"I need to speak to the master of the house about his indentured servants Missy and Peter." Lirssa spoke assured and loud so her voice would carry into the house.

The maid was having none of it. "Oh, get on with you now, you little ruffian. Master won't speak to the likes of you, and those children are none of your business."

"That's for him to say, or I'm certain he be glad to explain it to the constable!" Lirssa craned to the side to call over the woman's shoulder into the depths of the house.

A kick of her black booted foot out to Lirssa was not dissuading the girl who hopped nimbly out of the way. "That's not very nice. I've come on business, and you go kicking at me."

"What's this now?" a rumbling voice, like that of a heavy laden cart over the cobblestones of the Marketplace. "What's this about Missy and Peter?"

Lirssa Sarengrave

Date: 2008-06-28 14:55 EST
When the Master of the house came into view, he was as thin as a lamp post, built like an iron spike and looked as ready to strike down into anyone that argued against him. "What's this?" he repeated.

Lirssa squared her shoulders and gave a nod. "Sir, my name is Lirssa," she never gave out her last name. It would do no good dragging her parents into such unscrupulous situations. It felt right deep down, but Lirssa knew what adults would think of her attempting this action. "I am here to speak to you about Missy and Peter and paying off their family's debt."

A smile, no more than a slice across his lower face, slid into place. "Why of course, Miss Lirssa, do come in." He turned and the light from the hallway and entry lamps illuminated a scar along his neck that shadows had hidden before.

"No, sir, thank you. We can do the business right here. I understand you have good cause to be claiming the labor to pay off the debt. It is a hard thing for people to pay off a debt with their concern on the children, and they cannot be much use to you without yet knowing a trade." Lirssa tried for nonchalant even with her heart drumming out a faster pace. "I can be handing over one hundred now to clear it all, and let's call the bargain done." Her hand out to seal the deal.

The Master scoffed, a wheezing sort of snicker. "One hundred" After what I have invested in clothing, feeding, and teaching them a trade" Certainly not."

Drawing back her hand, Lirssa did not haggle. One hundred is what Peter said was his parents" debt. "Sir, I will have you know that my legal representative has informed me that in matters of debt, the paying of that debt is bound by law to free those indentured for its lien." That Mister Lucky had also said it was highly unlikely anyone who had even claimed children as lien would release them at all, and they were as good as slaves did not need to be mentioned.

"Law?" The Master crossed bony arms, laughed a high pitch cackle like a mad raven, and leaned over to capture her gaze with his bright, round blue eyes. "What law here, Lirssa" I will grant them over to you when you meet my price and not before."

Lirssa leaned forward, nearly setting petite nose to long pointed one, "Mister, you just made me mad."

Lirssa Sarengrave

Date: 2008-06-28 15:08 EST
That was the cue. The entire rabbling crew of street children, Missy and Peter as well who had let them in the back door and through the house, came charging up behind with a cry. Michael sprang to Lirssa's side as they drew down The Master.

His surprise played into her plan, and unable to fend off the swarm of little hands, he was soon bound by wrists and hands, trussed up like a holy day turkey, with a gag of one of Lirssa's juggling scarves muffling his protestations.

"Where do we put him, Peter?" Lirssa brushed her hands off, as if cleaning them of the foul touch of The Master.

Peter was as a fiend come alive from tales meant to fright children. "No, Peter," Missy whimpered.

Her faint call broke into Peter's wild eyed focus and he gave a smile. "Into the cellar," he announced with a nod. "We don't want him dead."

"I'll leave the coin, too. We all don't want the law coming after us." Lirssa grumbled. "Where's that housemaid?"

"Got her in the kitchen tied to a chair," Jebidiah, one of the street kids who still refused to go to a foster home, announced. "She went without a peep!" He laughed and the other children all rang out their laughs as well like bells across a hillside.

Lirssa grinned but then hushed them down, and gave a look over her shoulder, seeing the signal all was still fine. "Quiet now. We'll leave the money with her. Doesn't promise we won't have trouble coming, but she might have a bit more trust." Agreeing nods all about, three of the children helped Peter and Michael get The Master down the stairs, while the other four went with Lirssa and Missy to deliver the money.

It had taken Lirssa a few weeks, with the help of some of the other street kids, to raise enough money. What she had hoped would be a simple exchange of paying off debt and the parents then doing odd jobs for the foster homes instead of owing debt to The Master had become a fiasco when Peter and Missy both revealed in their own ways that The Master would not give them up easily.

Now, the matter was done for good or ill. With the housemaid giving a silent nod to vouch they had paid the debt, The Master in the cellar where his children who were out would find him later, the gang ran from the house in high spirits, Peter running alongside Lirssa, and Missy alternately crying in fear and happiness to be heading home to her parents.

Lirssa Sarengrave

Date: 2008-07-20 19:16 EST
With the summer months on, Lirssa had taken to going around barefoot. It was comfortable and reminded her of happy days at the tournaments with Bubber cheering for the knights and fighters, feeling the grass, dirt, and wood of the railings beneath her feet. Cobblestones were a bit hot, but as she tumbled and twisted through her routine beside the fountain she kept her hands and feet from touching the stones for long.

A decent gathering had horseshoed around her. Delicate ladies were fanning themselves, skeptical gents trying not to look impressed, or lecherous, at the bizarre contortions, and all being generous with their applause and coin. The day warranted a good favor of smiles and audience, and Lirssa kept going though she could feel the heat of her limbs going into exhaustion.

It was a good thing they were tossing the few coins after each turn and tumble. The bottles Lirssa had collected the night prior from the inn were not yet washed and cleaned for the selling. She had been distracted by the strange goings on. In fact, it distracted her still, and while in a handstand, she shifted her weight to stand on one hand. Her legs twisted out to the side, and her free fingers reached to check the key in her pocket.

Mister Lucky had given it to her, warning her to be careful, and that she could use it when in trouble. It was still there. The key was warm against the skin tight cloth of her leggings, green in the matching motley of her jerkin. Many things about last night distracted her thinking. She had spent the entire night in her tree house turning the key over and over as she tried to figure out what had happened, until she blinked awake in the morning to find the key clutched in her hand.

Whatever happened last night in the inn had been bad. That much she knew. Never in her life had she been afraid of Mister Lucky, but she had never seen him so angry before " the way he looked at that man who had disappeared. He hated him. Well, if he hated him and Mister Alain hated him, by golly, she hated him, too.

Her arm ached and she realized she had near folded down on herself while she had been thinking. Her knees were by her ears and as close to a human pretzel as one could get. Unfolding and hopping to her feet again, she shook her head to sound the bells of her ribboned hair and gave bows and curtsies to the applause. Handspringing through the crowd, she flipped back up onto the edge of the fountain, eager to feel its cool spray, and it always had a nice dramatic effect, too.

From the new view, she could see Val slipping through the traffic of the Marketplace and waving at her. Another bow, she resigned to what she had earned so far and hoped it would be enough to cover some of Mister Glenn's supplies for the banister. Springing down again with goodbye waves and smiles of thanks, she gathered up her satchel of juggling knives and scarves, among other things, and rushed to meet Val.

"Hurry up," he gasped with wide eyes, 'some fella's shown up looking over the place. He looks all sorts of scruffy, and he's got a wagon with stuff in it!"

Confused, and with the warning in her mind from Mister Lucky to be mindful of strange things, she grabbed his hand and pulled him around in a whirling turn to dash back the way he had come.

(more directly about the house is under the A house into a home thread in the S.P.I. folder)

Lirssa Sarengrave

Date: 2008-07-30 12:55 EST
Lirssa had rested so well the night before that the next day her energy was higher than she had recalled it being in weeks. She felt like the sun up above was only a puppet shadow to the glow she had inside. With all that energy tingling along her as though it might spill out of her fingertips and spark from her hair, she went straight for the Marketplace.

Bells and ribbons were twined in her hair for two coppers. The tugging, twisting, pulling did not hurt at all. Though, as she fidgeted on the crate with its pillow, she supposed it was because she was so twitchy beneath the steadily braiding hands that it felt tighter than before. In the end, she gave her head a jingling vigorous shake and did not feel a single lock slip or ribbon loosen.

The performance was longer than usual and she tried a few new tricks. One was a near miserable failure, but she was near the fountain so putting out the makeshift torches was easily hidden in the routine before she burned her hand again. She had hidden the wince with a sharp laugh. Some of the audience suspected. Their eyes narrowed, the smiles dropped into wiggled sneers or lines of concern. Yet, most were oblivious to the error and clapped their appreciation just the same.

As the gathering all slipped away from their circle around her on to their own tasks and the lives that they wove, Lirssa sat on the edge of the fountain and let her pinked hand soak in the water. Legs stretched out, feet wiggling, and in her motley with the bell and ribboned hair, she must have looked a bit loony. Mothers moved children to the opposite sides of them when they passed by. Patrolling guards would stop and look at her as though studying her long enough might force her to confess whatever mischief she was planning while she sat with a big smile and soaking her hand.

It did not bother Lirssa. The same looks had been cast at her since she could remember. It was natural. No one expected a child on their own to be up to any good. Bubber had looked after her, taught her the trade of being an acrobat to help him along in his begging. He taught her right from wrong as far as he knew, but not just how to hold her tongue. Most of all, he taught her how to earn her way using her talents, and being cute had once been one.

Now, though, she was growing up. It was a bother all in all, but there were few options, and she did not like the alternative. Dying was something she had a mind to avoid, and for something like twelve years, though if she was honest she did not know exactly how old she was, she had done just that. By miracle, chance, or magic, she had survived the streets. She did not even remember her real parents anymore. They weren't even shadows or feelings as they had been when she was little. Those feelings had been fear and love all jumbled together like pieces of a broken stained glass window. There was no pattern to it. Now they were as characters in a story. She had to have parents, but there was nothing more than the fact they had been.

She had a family now, though, and responsibilities. In her own mind, she thought of herself as the protector of street kids everywhere. She had survived because someone helped her, so she was going to do the same thing. That meant getting this new building done and getting just those few more, twenty or so, off the streets.

Lirssa Sarengrave

Date: 2008-07-30 12:56 EST
Examining her hand, the pink still there, but no blisters to be seen, she rose to go to the house for the afternoon before she returned to make her night hours performance. The streets were as busy as ever, but she made good time arriving at the house. There were few adults around, and those were focused hard on their work. With a smile and a wave, Lirssa greeted them all but did not break their concentration.

Val passed by with a nervous sort of smile. He carried a bar of metal in his hands in the direction of Mister Johnny who was managing to still get work done though Sampson was near monkeylike in his clambering nearness to see the man's skill put to use. "We gotta speak with ya "bout somethin"," he whispered in passing.

When Lirssa turned, her lip curled and brows pulled in confusion, "Wha?" Val just gave a nod back to the house.

She turned back to the house that now looked ominous with its three stories, the Victorian style gables and ornaments no longer as heartening. If the children were having second thoughts about living here, well, there were always others, but it would make it that much harder to convince the next batch. Green eyes cast upon the new set pavestones of the walkway that led to the wide porch and the open door there.

Jess opened the door with a visible shiver. She was scared, and Lirssa could see it. Well, it wouldn't do any good to be cross out right without knowing what was going on, so she gave the girl a smile and let her lead on to where four of the other children were waiting in the now finished parlor. "Hello. Val says you got somewhat to be said?"

Benji was poked and prodded, nodded and whispered to by the others until he gave in to be the de facto spokesperson. "Yeah, well, you see"the thing is this, Lirssa," he cleared his throat.

Lirssa's jaw clenched and her spine stiffened. Crossing her arms and setting one foot to patting, she was gearing up for a fight.

A worried look cast back to his companions now shrinking down where they sat on the floor, but one gave another nod and a nudge of a foot for Benji to continue. He was a young boy, near as he could guess, about eight years old. The dusty blonde hair often hung in his grey eyes, and he took no pains to clear it away. "Well,?" he tried again, "we don't want to go back out to the streets anymore. We want to stay here. Now."

The heads of all the children there nodded like a bunch of birds bobbing on the ocean. Lirssa was about to lambast them for being cowards for not leaving their old life only to have to do a complete re-think. "Oh, well, it isn't done, and it isn't safe. You'd all be packed here with no one to look after ya."

"We got that now," grumped Esther, her freckled nose crinkled. "This place is on regular patrols like. And we won't go upstairs till the adults give an okay. Not like we don't live out in dumps now less safe than here. Come on, Lirssa, you gotta say it is okay."

"Adults won't like it. Not one bit." Lirssa warned, but then gave a nod. "Okay, well, we'll need some provisions, and I'll stay this night with ya just to see how it goes."

Delighted smiles and puffs of breath sprang up all around. Lirssa giggled and then became serious once again. With a sharp raise of her hand in warning, "Gotta keep it from them, and I know some of ye've gotten awful fond of the grown ups, cause their good folk, but you gotta keep it secret. Now," grinning again, "guess I'll go spend this money I earned to get us some sleeping gear. Esther and Benji, come with me, because then I'll just stay to earn some more. Rest of you, get to doin" whatcha should."

With a turn about, the three of them headed back to the Marketplace and for a shopping spree, a completely new experience for Benji and Esther who studied Lirssa as she worked her way and paid with confidence for what they needed.

Lirssa Sarengrave

Date: 2008-07-30 17:10 EST
That night Lirssa tumbled and turned to earn back what she had spent on the sheets and pillows, and a few night shirts. With her right hand still feeling a bit tender from the burn earlier, she did most of her work one handed or without hands at all. The balance on the edge of the fountain on her left hand, twisting legs over her back while she twirled a bit of cloth around with one foot drew several spectators. A bounce of both legs and twist of the torso, she caught the cloth in the air as she landed on her feet.

Over the applause she called, "With sweet moonlight's tender kiss," poetry sometimes drove people away, but Bubber always told her "Don't let people think you're not but a bouncing idiot." He had taken her to the street plays and the festival performances to memorize poetry and lines. Lirssa had not learned much in the way of reading from him, but the actors would take time to teach her, and she had a thirst for the knowing. She was convinced, though she did not say so to her parents, that schooling had taken away her memory.

At the end of the poem, the crowd somewhat thinned and she gave her final trick of the night, thanked the crowd, and sat to take her hair out of the ribbons and bells. It would do no good sneaking around the house, Alain House she'd come to think of it, with the bells chiming in her hair. Tired sore fingers worked gently at the braids. She had not paid attention to how they were put in that morning, and after all the activity of the day, taking them out in improper order caused the last one to snarl and knot.

It was growing late, she needed something to drink, and she needed someone to get the blasted bell out of her hair. Habit took over reason and as she struggled with the hair, her feet took her to the Red Dragon Inn. Mrs Sianna took pity on her, and with delicate fingers, nimble from play and practice of instruments, Lirssa was free of the bell. A hug in payment for the help, it was high time she was off to meet with the other children.

Lirssa Sarengrave

Date: 2008-07-30 17:11 EST
Afterall, she heard Mister Alain tell Mister Johnny he might be stopping by. That meant they needed to have a plan in place to hide their staying overnight in a split second notice. Wild with excitement, her heart racing with the thrill and the pumping of her legs, she ran through the city, dodging the near-do-wells with agile leaps and twists when they thought her easy prey.

She knew this city too well, even with its constant changing. Some places always had what was really needed, and there hadn't been a time yet that she couldn't find a ladder to climb and skinny across a roof or a passing person to run behind and hide in the shadows of buildings and greenery.

When she arrived at the house, its windows, some decorated in elegant bars with their figures in rampant, were dark like so many hollowed out eyes. She slipped in through the not yet complete fence and crept up to the house with a soft whistled tune. A hand darted out of the door and jerked her inside. "You be here!" Jess squealed.

"Shh!" Lirssa motioned the girl to calm down and then went to find the others. They were all huddled around in the parlor, some of the girls staring at the new nightshirts like they were alive and might bite them. "Why aren't you two dressed?"

Esther spoke up, her own new nightshirt starched stiff like a ruff rising from the boney shoulders. "They's too scared to put "em on."

" "M dirty, Lirssa." Anasta looked up mournful.

"Well, clean up then."

"Only working pipes for the bath is upstairs," Val supplied the reasoning.

Lirssa was having none of it. "Kitchen sink is working."

The two little girls looked aghast. "We can't be washin in there." Anasta began to shake with fright at the thought. "Wash food in there and stuff."

Rolling her eyes with a great big sigh that slumped her shoulders and hung her arms loose like a puppet with broken strings, Lirssa groaned, "Butter and beans, will ya just do it' We'll clean it out after. Come on then. I can't be fussing after you all every inch of the night. We gotta make sure we have clear ways to hide this stuff around here so the grown ups won't suspect."

With Esther's help, the girls went to clean up, and from the sound of giggles later that Lirssa had to shush down, they lost their apprehension of cleaning up in the sink. Their small little bodies fit in it with room to spare, and Lirssa frowned to see the clean line of ribs and shoulder blades.

Not long, though, and she would see them plumped up and making something more for themselves, and hopefully a good family might find them, too.

Lirssa Sarengrave

Date: 2008-09-29 23:30 EST
"You don't spell troop that way," grumbled Val.

"Yes you do. See..right there," Lirssa pointed to the poster for the latest production from the ballet. "T-r-o-u-p-e."

"Wouldn't that be trooopay?" Esther wrinkled her nose at the sound. "It sounds awful thata way."

The children giggled as they gathered around Lirssa as she wrote the letter on their behalf. Some of them could certainly read and others had some managing of writing, but hers, though far from perfect, was the most acceptable. They had all agreed she should write the letter.

"Did they walk on their toes, Lirssa?" Jess asked with a thrilled hush.

"I swear it." She nodded and continued to write the letter. "I had a good view, too, from where I was." She did not need to tell them that she snuck in the back. She did not want to encourage such a behavior. Besides, as she justified it, she was doing so on behalf of them to see if it was worth their interest and spending some of the foster homes savings to take the children.

What she had seen had been very exciting but also a bit alarming.

"Why can't we see this one?" Anasta pouted.

Lirssa shook her head. "No way. It had all sorts of bad stuff in it young kids shouldn't be seein." At least, not seeing again and in play form. They had seen enough of bad things in their own lives. Lirssa had not stayed for the end, so as not to be caught, but she was convinced it wasn't right.

"It'll be fun at winter time, too. Like an early holiday present," beamed Benji.

"Right," Lirssa nodded. "And my friend, Mister Jolly, he's really smart, and he said there's a really good ballet that's performed around that time that kids go and sometimes are in, too."

She finished off the letter, and asked, "What are you all calling yourself these days?"

"High Spires House." Val announced with a nod.

Lirssa's brows rose and then she shook her head as she signed it off, "You all really need to stick with one name, ya know?"

"I like it," agreed Jess with a quiet smile.

"Benji, you'll take this straight to the theater, yeah?" Lirssa handed over the folded letter.

With a salute, Benji took the letter and dashed from the house.

((The actual letter can be found here))

Lirssa Sarengrave

Date: 2008-10-08 15:23 EST
"You didn't!" gasped Esther, eyes wide and mouth agape.

Lirssa didn't know if the girl was more shocked that she had been in a brothel or if she had accidentally told adults that she had been. Either way, the reply was the same. "I did. 'Course, I should have known, but they dared me!"

Jess was curled up with one of the street dogs, the gentle old Dane, at the edge of the garden where Esther and Lirssa had sat to take their ease. "I wouldn't have gone," the little girl whispered as she rested her head on the dirty, grey fur of the dog, running garden grubby fingers along the coat.

"Me either. Those places are," Esther did not say what they were, but the look on her face as if she had eaten something sour could not be mistaken.

"Anyway," Lirssa sighed, rolling her green eyes, "the point is, I've been thinkin' I need to learn to hold my tongue. I just know it's going to get back around to my mother and father. I'll be in for it then."

"You should have let them dare 'til they were blue in the face," Esther countered, pushing back her hair from her shoulder. "You're gonna be in so much trouble."

Lirssa flopped back onto the patch of grass beneath the shade tree. "Look, you know what its like on the street. I gotta keep up appearances. Besides, it isn't anything I've not seen before when I was out on the cobble beds myself. Bodies are bodies, ya know?"

The two little girls cringed again and Lirssa finally got an inkling there was more to it with those two. Something deeper about places like brothels where fingermen and pantsjumpers abounded. Something about being out on the street where bodies were just bodies to some folks, and things to be used and abused. Changing the topic with a smile, "So, killer excited about the ballet' I best be making my way over some time to make formal introductions and such. Esther, you and Val should come, too."

The change of topic brightened Esther up immediately, though Jess was still into the shy withdrawal. At least she had a hint of an unsure smile. "Val won't go. He's afraid being in a ballet someone will find out his name." Esther giggled and Jess grinned behind a hand.

"Who cares his name is Valentine?" The two girls started laughing outright, and Lirssa just rolled her eyes. "Honestly, children," and folded her arms while the girls got their giggles out.

Lirssa Sarengrave

Date: 2008-10-13 17:47 EST
The wind was making mischief with her scarves just as Lirssa had hoped. Instead of fighting with the nature of a breezy fall day, she had accepted its desire to join in her act. The scarf tossed into the air, catching upon the gust of a whirlwind in her corner of the Marketplace, and she would tumble and spring, and with luck, catch it before it floated too far away.

In order to spare embarrassment, her old motley of purple and green had been patched and stitched with various ribbons so she looked more like a magpie's nest than a performer. Still, it was not worth pulling out the red and gold. She was going to use that the next day for her appearance at Dr. Maranya's. A patchwork motley complimented the scarf routine in the end, and while remarks were made behind hands to companions, Lirssa was oblivious to their meanings.

Jolyon had been spending less time in the warehouse each day. With the completion of the inventory as well as initial reviews of the contents, their origin, and connections to other lands, the warehouse and artifacts owner was now setting her sights on loaning out the materials. Jolyon could not blame her for the expense she had taken in the hiring of him for those months, but loaning out the materials was not his business. So, he was left to a few hours work a day continuing to draw up collection suggestions in the grouping of the artifacts.

Today though, he was looking for bottles. He had a notion to stop back by the Kaiser Glassworks shop. But before he faced that hard hit to his pocketbook for special made glass, he set his sights on the Marketplace in hopes there might be seller there with items already made and desiring to bargain.

As ever, he had the satchel of books and papers resting crosswise of his body. His brown hair had grown longer than he would have liked as evidenced by his continually having to push it from his summer sky blue eyes. In most eyes, he looked like very much what he was: an itinerant student of life and something less than aware of his own appearance being somewhat disheveled.

The scarf flew up in the air, and Lirssa tracked it as she flipped and tumbled. It was, she thought for a moment, the hardest trick she has ever done, and with a gasp as she turned about to try and snatch it, found the light slip of green silk floating away over the heads of the crowd. The audience laughed in sympathy as she snatched up her few coins earned and went chasing for it.

A faint tickle of his neck and then the surprise arrival of a dusky green cloud over his vision startled Jolyon. He drew off the silk scarf with a frown of dismay and turned to look for someone lacking a green scarf, be they merchant or buyer.

"Mister Jolly! You caught it!" Lirssa breathed out a bubble of laughter and reached for her scarf. "Be a shame to have to replace that, too."

Handing over the scarf, he nodded with a twist to a good natured smile, not wanting to laugh at the little girl's clothing. It did, however, make him quite aware of his own appearance, and that, too, kept him from saying one remark. Only, he managed, "I am glad I could be of service. Having a good day other than your wayward scarf?"

"Killer good. New trick is hard, but I think it makes things fun and unpredictable." She smiled as she stuffed the scarf into her own satchel worn very much like Mister Jolly had his, crosswise. "Whatcha doin' out this way' Don't you work or somethin?"

With a nod, Jolly motioned for them to take some of the walk together. "I do, or did, but am slowly separating myself from that business to focus on my winery and my own pursuits."

"Me, too." Lirssa nodded. She could completely understand getting away from being cooped up in a building all day long. "I mean, with school and me."

((happens before Splitting Seams in the Stitch in Time folder))

Lirssa Sarengrave

Date: 2008-10-13 18:15 EST
Jolyon stopped at a vendor showing a few bottles among his other ratty ended wares. A glance to the young girl at his side, "I had wondered about that, truly. Do you not like school?"

She opened her mouth to answer and thought twice. Afterall, Mister Jolly was a learned man, and near to always had some books about him. She was pretty sure if she looked in his satchel know there would be some the way it bumped against his leg. Still, she was an honest soul most times. "True speaking, Mister Jolly, no." With a big gulp of breath, she was not going to let it lay there like that, all flat and unexplained. "I like learning all right. Actors and mummers used to teach me all sorts of stories and poems when I was little. Bubber said I should not be just a tumbling idiot. Just, school is so hard. It isn't..." she bounced a bit on her toes as her body tried to exemplify what she could not exactly find words for, "...peppy?"

It was impossible not to snicker. Jolyon even allowed himself to laugh, then shook his head to the eager merchant and started to walk again. "I must admit I can never recall my schooling being peppy either. You do have a rather eclectic sort of grasp of language. Sometimes using words quite beyond your years, but I suppose that comes from the plays and poems."

"Listening helps, too." She piped up as she went jauntily along at his side. "Of course, I go sometimes. If the weather is bad or I'm hurt and can't tumble. I go then, but most times I just learn from around me. Only Miss Sheffield, she's my teacher, says I'm starting to get behind on my mathematics and sciences. I suppose I gotta start going more." The cringe went through her whole body and kicked out a leg as powerful the revulsion was.

With a sympathetic pat to the little girl's motley covered shoulder, "We all have to do some things we would rather not. I think you've a strong enough spirit to withstand the onslaught of schooling, should you set your mind to it. Afterall, you had the spirit to write your thoughts to the ballet troupe, and I hear it has turned well for you."

A skipped hop and she was turned about to walk backwards with every confidence in the world, beaming her smile up at him. "It sure did! The children from the house get to be in it. And what?s more," she gulped, the thrill of it stealing her breath, "they are going to give us some of the money the earn to support the house!"

"Very well, done, Lirssa." Jolyon congratulated the obviously delighted child. "See, now what is a half day of school to one who can do such as that?" He wanted to see her in school. Of all he had witnessed around him, what the children of the streets, neglected and abandoned to the indifference of a chaotic world, needed was education.

It did not suit Lirssa to think of that one bit, but think she did as they walked. She watched Mister Jolly stop at vendors and would give him a nudge when she knew the vendor was overstating his price. The nudge would transfer through his satchel of books. That satchel of books gave her a thought that brought a sly smile. She tugged on the satchel clasp, trying to be oh so careful and get a peak at what he was reading.

Grateful for Lirssa's subtle indications, Jolyon felt he was making a decent amount of progress in his exploration today. It was a thought to bring the little girl with him on more of his shopping trips at the Marketplace. With her help, he could save a coin here and there. The latest bump against his book bag, drew his attention from the latest enthusiastic merchant. "Say there, Lirssa, something you need" I'd rather you ask than just go roaming about my bag."

Blushing up at the man, she announced quite proud of the thought, "Mister Jolly, you can be my tutor."

Jolyon Gardiner

Date: 2008-10-13 20:35 EST
To say Jolyon was struck dumb might be too precise a metaphor. It took him a moment to realize just what the girl had said, and the fact that it was not spoken as a question or request, but a natural deduction of the facts before them. He had to admit, when the wheels of his mind began to turn again, that it would be a suitable arrangement. The hours would be less, he would be teaching as he had some in the past, to a student who at least seemed quick witted. Reservations, though, were as reins to the chariot of thoughts. "I think you should speak with your parents."

Lirssa set her jaw in a determined fashion and tossed the suggestion aside. "I will pay you out of my own pocket. They'll be glad I'm gettin an education."

"Miss Lirssa," he countered with a firm shake of his head, "that would be impolitic and quite out of the question to expect you to work even more so to accommodate a wage for me. I will speak with your parents if you will not. One should learn to forgo some independence for the sake of proper means of support."

Her mouth scrunched up. Mister Jolly was being all manner of right, but it chewed her insides up to ask more of her parents who had their own flesh and blood to be looking out for. They weren't poor by no matter or means, but she was keen to not make her own stubborn ways their problem. If she just went to school, there'd be no cost to tutor her. If she didn't go herding up street kids, there'd be no extra costs to support them, or time taken to see them straight away from other chores around the house.

"Mister Jolly, I suspect you mean to do what?s right, but I gotta do what?s right, too. I could go to school. It wouldn't cost them a thing of it, leastways not a lot of money. You and me, we'll work out a deal. Right' I need a tutor, you need someone to show you what?s what around here. I've lived here all my days. Seen things come and go. I'll pay for your lunch when we study, I can get some good deals outta folks that you can't." She implored and did her best job of looking hopeful and honorable with a dash of cute all in one.

It was hard to argue with the child's frank manner or the sincerity and truth of her words. It took some inner struggles, but he finally offered out his hand to strike the bargain. "Very well, Miss Lirssa. I expect you to be a prompt, courteous, and curious student. A deal is struck if you agree upon meeting in two days time at the Teas 'n' Tomes shoppe for your first lesson at two past the noon hour."

Lirssa clasped the hand and gave a firm shake. "Thank ya, Mister Jolly." With a smile she tugged him down closer for a whisper, set to start the bargain off just right. "If you need some beeswax candles though, I think Miss Melinda might give you a good deal. She's been eying you like you are a sweetmeat in a bakery window." With that she was off at a run to get to her next business of the day.

Jolyon scratched at his forehead and tried to be subtle as he looked around. The candle cart was several steps behind, but sure enough a handsomely curved lady with white blond hair peaking from beneath a blue cap was smiling his way. He touched a front lock of hair by way of courtesy, and walked very swiftly on his way.

Lirssa Sarengrave

Date: 2008-11-10 12:01 EST
The tinkling chimes of a clock sang up the stairs from below. Lirssa shut her book with a clap and almost tossed it aside. Only she recalled just in time that it was not her book but Mr. Jolly's lent to her. Taking more gentle care, she sprang from her bed and set the book with others on a small desk. Her father had made the desk for her when she announced she had a tutor. It had been such a surprising treat that had yet to wear off. Fingers traced the lines of the light cheerful wood and she hopped away with a big grin to her small wardrobe in the corner.

It was close to afternoon with a day sunny if a little cold. That did not matter. Other than the trip into town, she did not anticipate spending much time outside. Of course, unless there was a good opportunity to earn some coin, or a child needed her, or.....Well, now that she thought about it, there could be a lot of reasons she was outside for long. She grabbed her cloak, a new deep green with fake fur trim along its hood and tossed it to her bed. The new motley was drawn out with a great deal more reverence.

Miss Lydia had done her magic again. Lirssa was not quite sure what the material was, though Miss Lydia had explained. She had been too excited for the first wearing to be paying too close attention. It was the most perfect shade of raspberry, though Miss Lydia had called it something else, that Lirssa had ever seen. Gold and green trim added fine detail, but most of all the outfit covered her, stretched and bent with her every move. It even had the most wonderful black gloves with the fingertips revealed.

Her homespun clothing went flying as she dressed and she beamed as she looked down at the perfect fit once again. Soft soled boots, new as well and had cost a pretty penny, were pulled on over the black stockings. The quarter hour chimed from below. "Butter and beans!" Time was escaping from her. She grabbed her cloak and bag of tricks from the edge of the bed. Forgoing the stairs, she called down to her parents, "Be back later. Don't wait supper!" and shimmied down the rope outside her window.

Feet hit the ground and off she ran towards town and the clinic beyond. It would take her a little over an hour at a steady lope to reach her destination, but by then she would be warmed up and ready to go.

Lirssa Sarengrave

Date: 2008-11-12 15:51 EST
Lirssa balanced on her hands with ease in the center of the half circle of patients at the clinic. Both legs twirled the squares of cloth around and around. When she felt the momentum was good, she began to change the angle, bending further backwards, drawing her legs back over her head while they kept the clothes twirling. Even with her concentration she could hear a few gasps and then the hesitant into more certain applause as she came to a pause looking much like a spoon bent out of shape.

One kick and then another, she sent the squares of cloth into the air, sprang over to her feet and hands flung up into the air just in time to catch the clothes as they came back down again. With the new round of applause she bowed, reaching behind her to her bag to trade out the clothes for the special unbreakable glass colored balls Dr. Maranya had crafted for her. Rising up again to see the pale faces of the children, sickly in various fashions, smiling as much as their energy would allow.

It would take particular care with this trick, "Now," Lirssa smiled to them all as she walked around the curve, "I need some help on the next trick." She crouched before a little boy in a strange contraption of steel wheels, covered close in a thick blanket with a dark blue robe around his skinny shoulders. "Do you think you can help me?"

The boy looked one way and then another, the other children chewing on bottom lips or ducking down afraid they might be asked, and he shook his head.

"Are you sure?" Lirssa grinned and gave a wink. "I bet you're really brave." She stood up and nodded, "You all are really brave, you know? Most folks wouldn't have the courage to face up to being sick. Trust me, I've seen lots. You've got lots of bravery in you, only I bet you're just waiting for the right time to show it. Well, maybe now just isn't the right time for you, but that's okay."

One other little boy's hand came creeping up, the splotches of bruising revealed under his arm. "I'll help."

Lirssa Sarengrave

Date: 2008-11-12 15:52 EST
Lirssa sprang over to him and handed him the green glass ball. "I need you to roll it to me as hard as you can when I point to you with my foot, okay?"

The boy nodded. Seeing it was only rolling something, a girl with tired brown hair that needed a good dose of sunlight, raised her hand. "Can I help, too?"

"Sure!" Lirssa handed her another ball. Soon enough all the balls were in children's hands. "Now," Lirssa held up her hands like a conductor of a symphony, "there are four juggling balls out, right?" Bobbing heads replied. "So," she reached back and got her other pure glass juggling balls, they were a bit lighter but also breakable, "let's see if we can get them in the pattern along with these." And she started to juggle, pointing a toe and one child, who gamely rolled it to her, the same foot, now free of boots, would drop to the floor, let the ball roll up on her toes and she would pop it up into the pattern.

After all the balls were in the pattern, the children delighted with their inclusion of the game, Lirssa began to change out the patterns, using the anti-glass balls in the more daring tricks like catching it on her foot behind her and kicking it back up over a shoulder into the pattern.

By the end of the entertainments, Lirssa felt actually a little worn out, but the smiles were all she needed to re-energize. All smiles, but one boy in the back glum and sullen who did not seem to watch at all. As she packed her things up, Lirssa watched him sit there while the other children were helped back to their rooms or on to other areas. Satchel on her shoulder, she stopped by him. He turned from her and she shrugged, drew out a ribbon from her hair and set it on the arm of the chair beside him. "We're all connected you know. Invisible ribbons drawing people meant to meet together. It will draw you on to where you should be." And she left with a spring to her step.

Lirssa Sarengrave

Date: 2008-12-11 12:24 EST
The inn had been particularly gloomy that night. Mister Tucker had been grumpy because of his cold. Doctor Maranya had been snappy because, well, Lirssa wasn't quite sure why, but probably had something to do with being gloomy. Miss Tara was solemn, which just sets the entire scope of things sideways. In the end, Lirssa took her parchment paper packet of some beef, pork, ham, and other game meat and her bag of peppermint bark bought from Miss Mira out with her into the cold night.

It was late, the wagon that traveled each morning into town and each evening back to her parents home northwest of town had already gone its way. Lirssa had other projects to see to that night in the depths of the West End. West End meant terror for some, curiosity for others, and home for some random few. Trouble always seemed to start there, but it was there that Lirssa had spent a good deal of her life. In fact, the entire city with its changes and twists was all her home. And in it there were those like she had been without family or shelter. Some deserved what they got from her point of view. Scroungy ruffians with more bite than brain, living for the suffering of others just to bring those others lower than they felt deep inside.

Then there were the lost ones, and not all of them walked on two legs. Lirssa found her little group of strays huddled together in a narrow alleyway they favored when the weather was poor. This weather was definitely poor: a cold and wetness that drove into the bone like spikes. The mongrels with their dirty coats lay one on another, piled together like old, musty pillows with hair. The old dane perked up at her approach and she let them all nuzzle at her, their noses keen upon the treats she had brought them. Parceling out the bits from one mouth to another, she fed each one. Fire for the belly, she hoped might keep them warm. It hurt to leave them there, but there was no place to take them.

A small little nose, big round brown eyes looked up at her. His entire little body, bones so keenly seen through the short tawny fur, shivered. "I'm sorry, little one. Food's all I got." But she drew off her cloak. It was her older one, but still when it was gone she felt the true weight of the cold on her. The cloak she tucked down over the group of animals as best she could.

Drawing her arms about her, her own trembling starting, she walked away, wiping the tears from her cheeks. She had another stop to make before finding her old cubby in the back of an abandoned warehouse to wrap up in a new blanket on top of tired, moth eaten canvas, and wait for the morning.