42nd Winter 515AV
Jillene Ironside’s breath floated before her, an unpleasant reminder of the bitter coldness that gripped her home city. But what was even worse than the iciness outside was the almost equally cold chill that was running riot throughout her orphanage. Almost all of the children were bundled with extra layers of clothes during the day and thick blankets at night, but still little teeth chattered and little bodies shivered uncontrollably.
Something needed to be done. Walls and ceilings needed to be patched up, clothes needed to be mended, extra blankets needed making. Perhaps even more importantly: the children’ spirits needed to be improved. Some were ill from the cold, with nasty coughs and sniffles, whereas others simply needed a distraction for the day whilst their digs were improved. All in all, every aspect of the orphanage required some work and dedication, even in the kitchens where the children were growing bored with the same warming recipes of soup and stew.
And so Jillene had opened up her orphanage to the good people of Sunberth. Over the past few days, she had spread word that any and all efforts would be appreciated by her young charges. Though she was blind, she believed herself a good judge of character and the matron of the orphanage was not shy to turf out an individual if she she believed they had less than honourable intentions.
Sighing, Jillene prepared herself for a long day. The orphanage would be even more hectic and busy already, and the few volunteers who had arrived early were already scrubbing floors or kissing better scraped knees. She could only hope that more people would arrive, and that her trust placed in Sunberth had not been a mistake.
Jillene Ironside’s breath floated before her, an unpleasant reminder of the bitter coldness that gripped her home city. But what was even worse than the iciness outside was the almost equally cold chill that was running riot throughout her orphanage. Almost all of the children were bundled with extra layers of clothes during the day and thick blankets at night, but still little teeth chattered and little bodies shivered uncontrollably.
Something needed to be done. Walls and ceilings needed to be patched up, clothes needed to be mended, extra blankets needed making. Perhaps even more importantly: the children’ spirits needed to be improved. Some were ill from the cold, with nasty coughs and sniffles, whereas others simply needed a distraction for the day whilst their digs were improved. All in all, every aspect of the orphanage required some work and dedication, even in the kitchens where the children were growing bored with the same warming recipes of soup and stew.
And so Jillene had opened up her orphanage to the good people of Sunberth. Over the past few days, she had spread word that any and all efforts would be appreciated by her young charges. Though she was blind, she believed herself a good judge of character and the matron of the orphanage was not shy to turf out an individual if she she believed they had less than honourable intentions.
Sighing, Jillene prepared herself for a long day. The orphanage would be even more hectic and busy already, and the few volunteers who had arrived early were already scrubbing floors or kissing better scraped knees. She could only hope that more people would arrive, and that her trust placed in Sunberth had not been a mistake.
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