July 18 -Original-"Do or Die"

[ginnekomiko.livejournal.com]

Title: Do or Die
Prompt: July 18th-with ink stains on her fingers.
Series: Original
Words: 224
Rating: PG
Summary: In which a little girl has to change her life.

Do or Die

There was a knock at the door.

“Excuse me; is this the home of the Retias?”

 Cautiously, the little girl opened the door. “Yes?”

“I’m from the castle; I’m a tax collector, you see, and your parents left this world with a considerable amount of debt.”

Their parents had been burned at the stake by the same castle officials.

“Is it just you here?”

The girl shook her head. “No, our eldest sister, Aya and older brother, Soren, are both fighting for our kingdom in the war. I live here with my twin sister. She’s still sleeping.”

“And you are?”

“I’m Esme. Rue is upstairs.”

“I see and how old are both of you?”

“We just turned twelve, sir.”

“Got any magic?”

“We do, but it’s not fully developed, it may take a few years.”

Time, time, she had to stall for time.

“Hmm, I really don’t want to cart away a couple of kids, especially potentials. Do you know anything about business, little lady?”

What?

“I have some sense for it, yes.”

“Tell you what; why not make this place a shop of some sort?”

“A shop?”

 “I’ll come by every week and you can pay off parts of the debt. Okay?”

She couldn’t believe her luck!

“Yes, that would be good!”

“Okay, tomorrow I’ll come by with the paper work and collars of service. But first I want you to sign this consent form.”

Esme sighed at the ink stains on her fingers. Oh well, at least she saved the house.

“Rue~ Get up! We have work to do!”