[Child of the 7th Age]

Andreth:

Andreth nodded sympathetically while she gestured to the others to hold back on their comments and let her speak, "You're right. All of you. We can't continue like this. But come inside. None of us are going to settle anything standing on the steps." She backed through the door and beckoned the others to follow, leading them to the parlor that was part of her family's personal chambers. One of the servers stood waiting inside and slipped a piece of paper into her hand. Andreth glanced down and smiled. It was Harald's familiar scrawl and the note said exactly what she had hoped.

Andreth leaned over and whispered to the maid to bring back a tray with drinks and buns and a bowl filled with hard boiled eggs. She'd seen the empty lunch pails that the children had toted to school and now the hard, gaunt lines that were etched on the parents' faces. Whatever food they could manage was clearly reserved for the little ones. In this room, the drought was more than just a distant thing. It was reflected in the hollow eyes and lean bodies of many gathered here. How could folk spend time fighting each other when so much was at stake? When Ruby came back and served the breakfast, Andreth began to talk.

"This is not just the Prancing Pony Inn. It is also my home, and I welcome you here."

Then she surveyed the circle of parents and children and sighed, "Sometimes I think our children understand things better than we do. Hamson is right. We have to help each other to make this work."

"First, I've sent a letter of warning to the father of the lad who was responsible for all this havoc, the peas shot through the window of the school and the attack on the children who were going home. I've already received a letter of support from the Mayor. The shopkeepers and merchants in Bree will be forbidden from dealing with this family, selling them goods or buying provisions from them, until the father swears to keep his son under control."

There were a few murmurs of surprise at this announcement. Mausi shook her head, "All well and good, but how do we know that others won't do the same?"

"We don't, so we must be prepared. I promise. Every child who participated in that attack will be punished. Every one," she repeated with emphasis. "I've already sent notes to the other families involved and they are being cooperative."

"I've also asked the Mayor to find a suitable job for these older lads to keep them out of mischief."

Andreth did not mention the talk she'd had with Edmund earlier that morning, how he would be writing notes of apology to each of the children who'd been hit with eggs or peas, or the other ideas she had for trying to get her son back on the right track.

Hamson raised his hand and asked, "What about the helping part?"

"If this school is going to succeed, not just now but even after the bandits leave, we're all going to need to pitch in and help. I promise you that the Inn and surrounding schoolyard will be safe. The Mayor has agreed to send over one of the watchmen to patrol the area in the morning and chase off any disreputable folk. What I can't do is safeguard your children on their walk here in the morning or the way home in the afternoon. Only you can do that."

"All it would take would be one parent accompanying the children to and from school to scare off any hooligans. These lads are too cowardly to strike when there is an adult nearby."

Mistress Comfrey shook her head, "I'd like to help but I can't make two trips twice a day for five days."

Andreth shook her head, "You don't need to do that. The children must come to school in one or two large groups. You would share out the responsibility so that every parent need only come here one or two times a week."

"And I promise you this. Your children will be given a hot breakfast and lunch at the school. Very simple fare but nourishing and hearty. And whoever brings the children here or walks home with them will be welcome to share in our small meal. This isn't just charity. It's a practical thing. Several of the lads who work for me are being assigned to dig ditches so I can't depend on them for now. I need the children to help with simple things like gathering firewood, sweeping the common room, or listing the supplies that are going to be brought in from the surrounding area."

As she sat back in her chair, she suddenly caught a glimpse of Mayor Harald standing in the corridor and trying to catch her eye.

[ November 05, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]