Rain Glade by John H. Carroll Page A

seamstress was a
little older and taller than Rain, with chestnut hair and
light-blue eyes.
    “I’ve never seen you around here before.” The
woman looked Rain up and down. “That’s a miserable dress and it’s
wet from the storm, I see.” A distant crack of thunder sounded and
the patter of raindrops began to fall heavily on the roof. “I’m
Fancy. My father thought it would be a perfect name for a
seamstress, so that’s what I’m stuck with.”
    “My name is Rain. My mother said the rain hid
her tears, so that’s the name I’m stuck with.” She gave Fancy a
bashful smile, surprised to find someone pleasant.
    “I love it!” Fancy took Rain’s hand. “And it
fits the weather outside. Where are you from?”
    “I’m from Cothbern.”
    “Oh! That’s not far at all.” Fancy began
walking around Rain, pulling at the tatters and threadbare
material. “What brings you to Seyten? Are you here to buy a dress?
Because you certainly need one.”
    “I couldn’t afford any of these. They’re so
fine and I don’t have any money.”
    “Oh.” Fancy folded her arms and looked around
the shop. “I can’t give anything away. Pa is serving with
the king’s army and I have to make money to pay for supplies to
keep the shop running. Business has been terrible.”
    Rain smiled ruefully. “I understand. It’s no
bother.” She decided not to mention the wind chimes.
    Fancy looked her up and down again. “You came
into my shop though. Surely, you have some business? Or did you
just come in to get out of the weather? If so, you’re more than
welcome to stay for a bit.”
    “I . . .” Rain gulped. She didn’t know what
to do.
    “You have a pack over your shoulder. Perhaps
you’ve come to sell thread?” A hopeful look crossed Fancy’s
face.
    Rain shook her head. “I was hoping to sell
wind chimes that I made, but none of the other stores would let me
in the door.”
    “Wind chimes? How wonderful. May I see?”
Fancy cleared a spot on the table for Rain to set the pack. “Father
bought me a wind chime when I was young, but it broke and I’ve
wanted a new one ever since.”
    Rain set the pack on the table and carefully
pulled out the chimes. After untangling them, she held them up so
Fancy could see.
    “They’re beautiful!” Fancy played with each
one to hear the sounds. “I like the one with the feathers added.
They make it prettier, plus I love the sound it makes. How much do
you want for them?”
    A knot rose in Rain’s throat. “One silver
piece each.”
    Fancy stood up straight and crossed her arms.
“I may be young, but I’m not a fool. How much do you really want for them?”
    Rain blushed deeply. “I was told to get three
to five coppers for them.”
    Fancy went back to looking at the one with
the feathers. “Your mother told you to get that much?”
    “No. My friend Verna. She taught me how to
make them.”
    “Do you have any money?” Fancy stood
straight again and tapped her teeth in thought. Rain noticed one of
them was a little crooked.
    “I . . . I have three coppers.” Rain didn’t
want to tell anyone about them, but she liked and trusted Fancy.
The seamstress stared at her for a long while. Rain didn’t know
what to say, so she just stood there holding the chimes.
    “I made a dress that no one likes,” Fancy
finally said. “People even mock me for it, including Lady Greffen
and her daughters. I want to get rid of it, but the materials were
expensive and father would kill me if I didn’t get anything for it.” Tears of frustration welled up in the young woman’s eyes.
“You would look nice in it, but I just can’t give it
away.”
    Rain stood there holding the chimes, not
knowing how to answer.
    Fancy gave a decisive nod. “I’ll trade it for
your three coppers and the wind chime with the feathers. If you’ll
get in trouble for the deal and can’t do it, I’ll understand.”
    “I’ll do it.” Rain didn’t even care what the
dress looked like. She’d wanted one