Chalondra's parents had disappeared, leaving her all alone in the world. No one in the village she had grown up in knew what to do with her. For she had only one living relative other than her parents and she didn't even know where he lived. She only knew of her mother's brother in the foggiest way – having never met him before and only occasionally heard him mentioned.
So, for a few years she was living in others' houses, helping with children and other domestic tasks for food and board.
She tried not to be bitter about the circumstances she found herself in. But there was some trepidation that her life might continue being like this. Because she had no money, no one to support her, and lacked opportunities.
At least she always had a roof over her head, and the families in the village were generous with their food, so long as she didn't slack around. They couldn't abide laziness – not in a small village like this that required everyone to work together to get the harvest in.
Not to say they worked her to the bone either. No, the village was kind to her. If she was sick, the women would take care of her as if she was their own child. She was overall rather lucky – a small village like rather than a large city was more of a tight knit community and they wanted her to make it.
No one took what little her parents had left behind for her away from her. They had helped her to sell the house so that she would have a bit of money for when she was old enough to be on her own – she was too young to live in it all alone and the village folk had worried.
More than that, some of the men had been trying to get in touch with her uncle as it was only proper that he should be given the chance to take her in.
Overall the village was kind to her. Which made it easier not to be bitter. And the women took the time to teach her things that her mother would have been teaching her.
When she was sixteen they managed to get a hold of someone who knew her uncle and the message finally arrived. A letter was sent by post from her uncle.
"My dear niece,
I am so sorry about leaving you all alone for so long. I had no idea that anything had happened to my sister and her husband – your parents. I would take you in, if you would allow me. I am unfortunately not capable of fetching you myself at this time but I will see if I can get a friend to do so in my stead. I look forward to finally being able to meet you, and hope that we can be on good terms henceforth.
With Fond Regards, Your Uncle Nathaniel Sullivan."
Chalondra was not sure how to feel from the letter. On one hand, she was fond of her home village. On the other she was glad to have someone to call her own again. She wondered what her Uncle Nathaniel was like. Was he married?
It was a week later, when a black carriage rolled into the town. It wasn't common to see such a nice carriage in a small village like this so everyone of course took notice.