Anaria's astonished response was drowned by the yells of the village children as they finally tracked down their new favourite adult. The pair were swarmed as the children, fresh from the bath house, clamoured for stories. Anaria checked what preparations Sarah had intended for dinner, then promptly traded two stories for the group's help in …
Sarah was the only one there, and she looked over in sympathy, "If it helps at all, I think you've made the right decision. Best to keep going and make improvements now you've started, get a bit of momentum as it were. Maybe let him take you out for a day in a week or …
On the advice of the women around her, she added the apron to the tub, gratefully accepted the loan of a spare drying cloth to wrap around her front instead, and got to work. First on getting the worst of the dirt from the sheets and then moving both them and Maggie's washing through the …
Learning started as soon as they walked back through the front door of the cottage, Sarah directing her through the steps of full breakfast preparation. Sorting through one cupboard for plates and mugs, Anaria happened upon a couple of dishes that were either small bowls or large mugs without handles. She pulled them out with …
After another twenty minutes or so of conversation, during which Anaria was conscious of being kindly but thoroughly questioned and assessed, Ingrid and Samuel made their farewells and the household settled in for the night. The next morning, following Sarah's instructions, Anaria gathered fresh clothes, donned the previous day's outfit and joined her in the …
Anaria smiled gratefully at the burly forester, it was nice to not be seen as the one at fault for a change. Still, old habits run deep and she stepped in to defend her father, "Sebastian is a toad, but I'm afraid it was my behaviour that goaded father. I was very rude to a …
Anaria felt Liam leave the bed the next morning and reluctantly decided to follow suit. This was her life and she needed to get on with living it. She started sorting though her bag for fresh clothes, surprising Liam when he came back through the door moments later with a large jug of water and …
It was a relief to see lights and buildings after the hours of nothing but trees. On the other hand, buildings meant people and she was in no state to meet anyone. Liam's family lived elsewhere, she knew that much from the day's conversation. Tonight she would be meeting the senior forester, John, and his …
Anaria sat quietly for the first part of the ride, thinking through the events of the past night, it hadn't even been a full day and her life had been turned upside down several times over. Eventually though, her ever-curious brain took control. Her questions started slowly, but soon came thick and fast. The compost …
Anaria looked around, puzzled, "It's not terribly messy, surely it can wait until the caretaker arrives." "We are the caretakers and it's simple manners to make sure the next cold, tired little town girl through that door has enough wood for the fire and dry blankets to sleep on." She flushed and mumbled, "I don't …
The DNA of Stories 