Rain Glade by John H. Carroll Page B

for so long and the thought of
a dress made by a seamstress was overwhelming.
    “You won’t get in trouble?” Fancy was
surprised.
    “No. I made these myself.” Rain shrugged.
    “Won’t your parents be mad for not bringing
home money?” Fancy frowned in suspicion.
    “No. My mother died years ago and my father
drinks all the time. There isn’t very much money in Cothbern. Old
Widow Ulga gave me the three coppers to spend as I like.” Rain
lifted the chimes a little higher. “I made these with items from
the forest, so I can do as I like with them.”
    Fancy frowned. “So you have no one to care
for you?”
    Rain shook her head.
    “I don’t know whether to feel sorry for you,
or jealous of your freedom.” Fancy rubbed her chin in thought.
    Rain shrugged. She didn’t know either.
    “Let me take that chime. I know exactly where
to hang it.” She plucked the feathered chime out of Rain’s hand and
moved to the front of the store. “You put the other one away and
then we’ll put you in the dress.”
    Rain put the chime back and then grabbed the
three coppers from her pouch. When Fancy came back, Rain handed the
coppers to her.
    “I feel bad for taking these, but I have to.” Fancy clenched them in her fist, a rueful
expression on her face.
    “I don’t mind.” Rain really didn’t. She had
been staring at the coppers nearly every day, but they did nothing
for her. They were worn bits of metal a peasant girl shouldn’t
have.
    Fancy put the coppers in a pouch on her belt,
and then she grabbed a candle and Rain’s hand, leading her into a
back room. More clothes were on racks and cloth on shelves in the
dark, musty room. “This is where we keep extra supplies.” Fancy set
the candle on a small table in the middle of the room and grabbed a
dress off the rack.
    Rain gasped. Even in the candlelight, she
could see the colors dyed into the white cloth. Blues, greens and
yellows swirled throughout the simple material. “It’s so
beautiful.”
    Fancy smiled. “I think so too, but Lady
Greffen didn’t like it for her daughter Relya. They said it was
messy and much too colorful for a proper lady.” Fancy made a
disgusted noise. “They told everyone in town and now I’m laughed at
for it. The only reason anyone still comes to me for clothing is
because there is no one else capable of making the quality that I
can.”
    “I’m sorry they were mean to you. The dress
is the most beautiful I’ve ever seen.” Rain traced one of the
swirls with her fingertips. “Do I really get to keep
it?”
    Fancy beamed at the compliment. “You are now
my best friend ever. Yes, you really get to keep it. Now get
out of those rags so I can put this on you.” Rain stripped, only to
hear Fancy gasp. “You have a tattoo!” Fancy leaned down and ran
fingers over the butterfly.
    Rain took a step back as the fingers tickled
her. “Verna did it for me. It’s a butterfly.”
    “Well I can see that it’s a
butterfly.” Fancy straightened. “I’d never be so brave as to get
one. Do you have any others?”
    Rain reached down and took off the oiled
bandage covering the flower on her calf. “Verna did this one
yesterday. It’s not healed yet and I need to keep the bandage on so
no one sees it.”
    “Wow! I’m so jealous. You said her name is
Verna? Does she live in Cothbern too?” Fancy studied the flower
thoughtfully.
    “Outside of it. She doesn’t like people
normally, but I think she’ll do a tattoo for you.”
    “I could never be so brave.” Fancy nibbled on
her fingernail. “How much does she charge?”
    “I don’t know. We’re friends, and she
insisted on doing these. I didn’t think to ask if she charged
normally.” Rain had never considered whether Verna charged anything
and suddenly felt guilty for not asking.
    “Let’s put this dress on. I think it’s long
enough to cover the flower on your calf.” Fancy slipped the dress
over Rain’s head.
    Rain inhaled slowly as the feel of the cloth
slid down