Read Nevermor for Free Online Page A

you know
how often we get to move children out of here,” Nora said reasonably.  “This is
for the best.”
    “He’s my brother.  Don’t I get a say in this?”
    “It’s a courtesy that I’m telling you first,” she said firmly.
    Wren looked back
at her, hardly able to believe this harshness.  Miss Nora was not usually cruel
– distant, perhaps – but this all seemed particularly cold to Wren.  She stared
at the woman until finally Miss Nora sighed, looking so aged in that moment
that it was frightening.  Wren saw a reflection of herself beyond the hard life
that awaited her.
    “Wren, I know
how you feel about the three of you staying together, but let us face the
facts.  You’re growing up to be quite an attractive young woman and you can’t
hope to hide it forever.  Despite your effort, you’ll eventually be bought off
to be someone’s wife – if you’re lucky enough to even get a commitment like
that.  Who’s going to protect them then?  Henry, with his attitude, may never
get out of here, and this could be Maxwell’s only chance before it’s too late
for him as well.  Would you rather him be on the street?  Down a mine shaft
somewhere with Henry?  You need to think about what is the best thing for Max;
not for you.  He’s young.  There is no future for him if he stays here.  Be
reasonable.”
    Wren was trying to be reasonable, but all she could think was: I’m going to lose
both of my brothers now.  All of this struggling to stay together, and for
what?
    “The Ausbrooks
are wealthy,” Nora said as a way of consoling her.  “They have an estate in the
country and have traveled out to prepare the house for him.  He’ll be well
taken care of, will have a good education and will grow up to be a fine young
man with the love of a family, like he deserves.  How could you ask for more
than that?”
    In her heart,
Wren knew she was right, but yet it was a lot to swallow at once.
    “How long?” she
wanted to know.  She heard her own voice breaking up, but she swore she wouldn’t
cry – not now.
    “Several weeks
yet.  They hope to be back by the end of the month,” Nora explained, her voice
full of finality.  “Plenty of time to say goodbye.”
     
    2
     
    After that, Wren
didn’t have much to say to anyone.  She was irresponsive to any verbal attempt
as she carried out her chores and helped to prepare supper for the rest of the
children.  By the time she sat down with her brothers to eat, she was like a
ghost, drifting about, transparent and with no purpose.
    The meal was one
of their more conservative.  It was an oatcake with onions and a small amount
of potato, which outshined everything else, despite it being such a little
chunk.  They did eat better than this on occasion, but it seemed that Nora’s
displeasure had affected the menu.  They were all being punished for it.  She
had lost the income from two workers and intended to make up the difference
somewhere.
    Wren stared
blankly at the table, beyond her plate of food, not paying attention as Max
pushed his oatcake off onto the floor.  Henry tore his into little pieces,
stirred them around on his plate for a bit and then finally put one morsel past
his sore lips.  He had only just tasted it before he spat it back out onto the
plate and shoved all of it away from him across the table, making several of
the others look up from their own food in surprise.
    “I don’t want
this,” Henry muttered sullenly.
    Wren snapped
back to herself.  She could see that look on Henry’s face – the way he stared
down at the table, lips clenched.  She suspected that something else was
bothering him instead of the food, but decided to feign ignorance.  She hardly
had the energy to deal with his issues right now.
    “What’s wrong
with it?  Is your mouth sore?”  He was still swollen from the beating he’d
taken.  There was no denying that.
    “It tastes like
shit.”
    “Henry!”  She
didn’t like to hear him say