“I will,” she assured with her eyes fixed on the road.
As Son watched her walk off, he felt a saddening sense of separation between himself and his young ward. He cared for her deeply, and would risk his life to protect her, but she seemed to be no more attached to him than she would be with a stranger. He wondered what their lives would become in the future, and carried his sadness with him for the rest of the day.
As Maren rode Earl into Laor, she noticed straightaway that there was a large tent erected in the town square. She could hear music and laughter and saw people coming and going with drinks and plates of food. She hopped off of Earl, quickly tied him to a post, grabbed the contents of his saddlebag, and ran over to the table situated in front of the inn.
“Well hello, Maren,” the man with long, gray hair greeted her.
“Hello,” Maren returned as she held out her arm so the man could cut yesterday’s ribbon off. “Why is there a tent?” she asked.
“Well, today we have a special show,” he answered. “We have a magician performing incredible feats. It’s a marvel!”
“It’s a marvel!” the girl repeated quietly as laughter hid just beneath her words.
“What do you have for me today?” the man asked as he grabbed a pair of scissors and a roll of green ribbon.
“This,” she said as she set one of Son’s contraptions on the table.
The worn-looking man frowned. “Now, Maren, you’ve already brought enough of those toys. I told you that yesterday.”
“But I’ve already given up all my coins, my other dress, and my hairbrush,” she protested.
The man folded his arms and rubbed his whiskery chin. Squinting, he asked, “How about that mule over there? He should do fine as payment.”
The enthusiasm drained from Maren’s shoulders and a thick heaviness overtook her ability to move. She swallowed, and the man standing behind the table looked to be growing larger and smaller at the same time. Her thoughts, however, blazed through her mind like a raging whirlwind of pros, cons, debate, and rationalization.
That old mule is constantly getting me into trouble, she thought to herself. She needed to think it because she loved Earl and didn’t want to let him go. The pie that seemed only passable a few days ago was now the tastiest thing she’d ever put in her mouth, and she wanted more.
He’s so stubborn, and he never goes where I want him to go, she continued. The words in her head came easier now as she compared having the troublesome donkey to what she was going to get to enjoy inside of the tent. It would be best to let him go.
Suddenly, a familiar voice from behind interrupted her thinking. “Whatcha doin’?” Micah asked.
Maren looked back to see him holding a plate full of sweets. “He wants my mule,” she explained.
“That old thing? You’re better off without him,” he said as he stepped forward to stand beside her at the table.
Maren took her left ear and began massaging it. Now that her friend had confirmed that she should get rid of the animal, it made it easier to make her decision. She cleared her throat, held out her arm, and declared with a forced smile, “You can have him.”
“That’s a girl,” the man behind the table said as he tied the green ribbon around her wrist. “Now you go and have a wonderful time. I’ll take care of the mule.”
“I will,” she replied, and she spent the day marveling at the magician, filling up her belly, and forgetting about her faithful mule, Earl.
CHAPTER FIVE
A Business Transaction
Son swung the barn door open and shouted outside toward Maren, “Where is Earl?”
The girl was busy doing her chores while enthusiastically talking to herself and didn’t seem to notice him.
“Maren!” he called out her name as he jogged out to her.
The girl startled, then stood up straight. “Huh?” she replied as she immediately began pinching her ear.
“Where is Earl?” he asked again. “He’s not in the barn, and he’s not with you.”
The girl’s eyes darted back and forth as she continued working at her ear. Finally, she answered, “That stupid donkey ran off on me.”
“Ran off on you?” the boy said. He could hardly believe that the loyal beast would just run off. And if he did, he wouldn’t be difficult to catch up with.
“Uh huh. After the festivities yesterday, he was gone from his post,” she explained.
The boy thought for a moment. He knew the girl’s words couldn’t be completely true, but he didn’t want to jump to conclusions. She always seemed so attached to the mule, and he didn’t understand how she could let him go missing. “Do you think he was stolen?” he asked.
Maren looked upward in a thoughtful expression while she kept her hand on her ear. “Maybe,” she said unconvincingly.
“Do you think it might have been your friend Micah?” he continued to probe.
The girl’s thoughtful expression turned angry. “He’s not like that,” she answered. “He’s a nice boy.”
“How do you know?”
“Because he’s like me. He talks about pirates, and reads, and likes to draw,” she snapped.
Son could sense the tension rising in his young friend. He knew it would soon be difficult to continue the conversation if he didn’t find a way to settle her. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m sure he’s a nice boy. I was just thinking through what could have happened to Earl.”
“I don’t know!” she shot back.
The boy paused to inhale deeply. “I was planning to go to the village tomorrow to sell toys. Instead, I’ll go later today so I can ask a few people if they’ve seen him. Hopefully, we can bring him back.”
Maren seemed to be
