The Green Dragon Inn - Part 9

[Memory of Trees]

Flyte stared openmouthed at the smoke rising above the treeline, her blue eyes wide with wonder. "Granny!" She called into the tiny white cottage behind her. "I can see smoke! There must be have been a fire!" Her voice was high with excitement - it wasn't every day something of this sort happened.

"What did you say, Flyte? A briar? Come inside so I can hear you, dear." Flyte's granny was a sweet old lady, and half deaf, too. Flyte ran back into the house, her tiny boots sending up puffs of dust. It had been very dry that year.

"What I said, Granny," she said as sat on the arm of her grandmother's chair. "Is that there was a fire. I saw smoke, and I think it's coming from down the road. There isn't much now, so it must be over, right?" Her little brow was furrowed with concern.

The old woman smiled and patted Flyte's hand, her face wrinkled like ancient parchment paper. "I don't know, dearie. I'll go out and have a look, if you'll bring me my cane. Ah, thank you," she said, and pulled herself stiffly up from the old rocker. The colder weather didn't sit well with her.

"It's over here, Granny. See? I said I saw smoke!" Grandmother and granddaughter stood watching the thick grey clouds roll up from behind the trees where the ground that must be screaming in agony.

"Yes, I see it." Granny's voice was very somber, which frightened Flyte a bit. "Now, you have to listen to me carefully, child. I can't go and see what's going on myself - my old bones won't hear of it. I want you to go down there for me. Help out if you can, if not, run back here quick and tell me the news. You can take the loaf of bread I just baked, and give it to those who need it. Hurry now, Flyte! And be careful please, dear!"

Flyte, her face serious with the importance of the mission, ran inside to fetch the bread. It smelled delicious, making her stomach rumble dicontentedly. She had the fleeting thought that if they gave up this loaf, there would be nothing but thing broth for their own supper before she was tearing down the road as fast as her little legs could carry her.

Her grandmother watched her until she dissapeared around a bend in the path, then turned and went back into the cottage.