The puddles of water on the slippery road was an evidence of the heavy rain from day before.
It was early in the morning but there are many people on the road already, there was not any smile on their faces and it was like everyone was a stranger as everybody mind his/her own businesses.
Even though there were small kids around, there was no liveliness on their childish face.
A thin girl of age eight walked on the street with a large sack that make a clank clank sound on her head, her face was pale and lips were pursed together and there was not any emotion on her childish face.
Her long brown hair was braided roughly into two, her clothes were small and sleeveless simply not for her to wear and they were patched too which allows the cold wind to find their way into her petite body.
Her sandal was also a little small, not enough to fit her feet.
The girl stopped in front of an old and dilapidated building in which water gathered all around the house.
The little girl walked in, stepping on the water since there was no way to avoid it and then place the large sack on her head to a corner.
Low cough sounded from the house and the little girl expressionlessly walked into the room.
There on the mat was a frail and thin woman lying, she was thin and haggard and was also coughing incessantly.
When Lady Sophia saw her daughter, she tried her best to calm down her coughs and after a while she stopped coughing.
"Daughter, you are back". Lady Sophia's voice sounded as if it could break anytime.
"Yes mama". Cora walked toward the water pot and drink a cup of water.
"Are you still coughing so much?" Cora asked, her voice a little gentler, she walked towards her mother and crouched down, she then placed her small and rough palm on her mother's forehead and then said with a small smile;
"Your fever is gone"
Lady Sophia smiles weakly and nodded.
"All thanks to baby"
Cora glanced at a corner where an empty bottle was placed and her gaze flickered.
"I want to go and cook now" She stood up.
Lady Sophia smile and warned;
"You must be careful"
Cora nodded and leave the room.
....
In another old courtyard.
In a room full of darkness was a boy, sitting with his back pressed against the wall and his knees was against his chest and his face was placed on his knee as he wrapped his thin arm around his legs.
His black hair felled on his knee and he was shivering from the cold, his clothes were also tattered and white from washing.
A knock sounded from the door and boy looked up, his face was pale and he looked to be twelve years old.
He walked to the old door that look like it could break if any knock sounded again on it and open it.
Cora was standing outside with a plate of hot food in her hand, she smile gently at him and he shifted his body slightly so that she could entered.
"I brought you some food" She said after entering the house and sit down.
Zachery Scott mouthed a thank you and sat in front of her, he walked to a corner where a bucket of water was placed and washed his hands.
He walked back to where the food was and started eating.
"How is aunty doing?" He asked with a mouthful of food in his mouth.
"Like before" with a sad smile on her young but immature face, Cora answered.
"What did the doctor say?".
"He said that as long as she takes her medicine, she will be fine" she explained softly.
Zach glanced at her and when he saw her worried face, he questioned,
"Has the medicine finished?"
"Yeah, and the doctor said that he can't sell the medicine to us anymore without any money"
"Then what are you going to do?"
"I am going to sell the junk metals to the black smith this afternoon, maybe he can buy it with 50 silver coins"
"I will accompany you when you are going" Zach offered.
Cora smiled and then nodded at him.
~~~
100 silvers is 1 gold coins.