Just An Errand

Maxwell Ryder wasn’t used to the sun being so high up as he stepped through town. There were others roaming around the streets already, slowly trekking in the same direction as he was. As he stepped out of past the last ring of homes, he reached town center. Most of the shops were already wide open. Except his, that is.
It had been a few days since some of the traders from Novus came in to the marketside. The frantic business it brought in to their town every two weeks was always a lot to keep up with, and the past weekend was no different. He found himself at his shop before the sun rose and stayed well after, combing through his woodwork inventory for the Novus tradesmen.
Maybe it was his upbring here in Veteris, but the capital people always rubbed him the wrong way. It was how narrow their gaze was, calculating and assessing. Their smiles were too sweet for comfort. Just remembering their nasally, sharp voices started ruining his day again.
Max shook his head. It was over and he was back to his normal routine. The shop was basically empty the next few days after the the bi-weekly tradesmen visit. It gave him a chance to sleep in, kiss his wife in the morning before he left, and even play a bit with Luce and Max Jr. in the yard, guilt free.
As he rounded the last corner to get to his shop, however, he was shocked to see a young girl standing patiently outside his door. Her head was buried in a book, reading to herself as she swayed gently back and forth.
“Aren’t young ones supposed to be in school by now?” She startled a bit at his voice, he always forgot how loud his voice echoed, and she turned around to face him, tucking her book under her arms.
It was little Bernice and the corners of her mouth perked up as Max jogged the last few paces towards her. She stepped away from the door as he reached behind him for his keys, peering through the windows as he swung the door open.
“Mother sent me here for something.” She followed quietly behind him as he switched on the lights. “I’ll go after this.”
“Isn’t she usually with you?” He made his way behind the counter, dusting off the surfaces before setting down his lunch and satchel. Max rested his arms on the counter, smiling down at her, “Well I suppose it doesn’t matter all that much. What can I get for you?”
Bernice reached for the pocket in her worn blue dress and slid an envelope across the counter. “She wouldn’t tell me and said just to give you this. But I looked at it anyway and it’s she wants some Aeris wood.”
Max picked up ripped envelope, laughing to himself as he undid the tape she put back on it. “Haven’t they taught you to read yet at school? Why would your mother need any Aeris?”
Bernice shrugged, flopping her arms on the counter with her head following soon after.
Max squinted at her mother’s rushed script. There wasn’t any doubt. She wanted 12 boards of Aeris. He looked over the envelope at Bernice, who was staring intently back at him. Her dark eyes were always curious, watching and absorbing anything she could.
Max had started seeing more of her in the last couple of months, close to her mother’s side whenever they came in. It was a little strange, he had to admit, that he saw them so often. Bernice’s mother worked from home, picking herbs and vegetables for a handful of the farmers around town. Her husband worked odd jobs. There wasn’t every any reason for them to poke around here so often, asking about the enchanted woodworks he sold. They’d never have a need for it, much less the signes to pay for it.
“This is quite a bit of Aeris, Bernice. Can your family…?” He drifted off, awkwardly looking back at the note in front of him. Max heard the jostling before he looked up.
Bernice pulled a hefty cloth purse from her shoulder bag. The signes rattled against each other heavily, a sound he wasn’t all too used to hearing from customers in his store. She set it on the counter and popped the flap open. There were more than a few large golden signes nestled in the bag, all 100 signe coins.
“Mother said to keep the change.”
For once, Max was at a loss for words. This was a lot, more than he could have ever imagined their family having.
As if sensing the onslaught of questions he’d ask if he started, Bernice pushed the coins closer to him and cleared her throat. “I brought a wagon out to the back. If you can load it up for me, I’ll bring it back home.”
“Okay, sweetie.”
Max went out to the back, a deep gnawing sitting in the pit of his stomach. Bernice’s mother always seemed more different after every visit. She’d huddled closer within herself and the bags under her eyes darker and heavier than the time before. She was always on edge, looking over her shoulder. The markings hidden under her long sleeves were harder to hide.
Max barely had enough to fulfill their order, but he hauled six boards at a time to his back door, stacking them in the wagon that creaked under the weight.
Bernice stood by patiently, eyebrows creased.
“Your mother…” He started but as she gazed at him, he felt himself falter. “Bernice, has your mother been…? Do you know what the Old Relig--?”
“I know what Praxism is, Mister Ryder.” Bernice’s voice was clear. She watched him stack the last few boards before reaching for the wagon handle. The silence between them was almost tense.
“I can take these back home for you, Bernice. It’s not busy today.”
“Mother told me stop by at the Apothecary too.”
“I thought you were going to school after this.” His voice came out much firmer than he intended.
Bernice smiled sheepishly. “After I head to the apothecary, I can go.”
He couldn’t help but frown.
“It’s just an errand, Mister Ryder. I’ll be done and off to school before you know it.” She waved cheerily at him, the wagon creaking and jostling as she dragged it along the stone road.
Max watched her grow smaller in the distance.
What were they getting themselves into?