The sun started moving east as the sky darkened, gaining a crimson hue, while a cold breeze filled the air, signalling the arrival of night to the people of the port city Kamieniec Wodny.
All the while, merchants in the weigh house argued and bickered about their trades and products. In the midst of it, a young woman on the second floor of the building argued with another merchant.
The woman wore a long-sleeved dark blue linen shirt with an ornate twin swirly pattern woven in white threads along its sleeves.
Over it, she wore a black, buttoned, long-sleeved jacket. Her pants, a light shade of brown, were bound around her waist by a simple leather belt, with a waterskin tied to it. Her leather shoes, slightly worn, were clearly of good quality.
Her hair was short, with brunette curls that gave her a boyish look. She had a small button-like nose, thin lips, and light brown eyes.
Around her neck was a loosely tied yellow scarf, and hanging on her right shoulder was an arquebus tied to a leather belt.
The two have been negotiating prices long enough for other merchants to finish their deals and watch them as entertainment.
Her frustration was clear as she contorted a forced smile while quietly saying to herself, “You should be grateful I'm even selling you anything…”
“Grateful? Are you serious?” the merchant replied angrily, before taking a step forward and quietly saying, “You need me, you need me to buy from you because you know that no one else will even look at you!”
Her forced smile was quickly erased from her face and replaced with a look of absolute contempt.
While trying to keep her composure, she quietly said, “Maybe we should just finish here for today and talk about it tomorrow,” while attempting to force a smile again so as not to show her contempt.
“Maybe,” the merchant answered hesitantly before quickly adding, “After your rude behaviour just now, I might need to reconsider dealing with you again.”
“Listen, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you,” the woman said in a slightly sheepish yet agitated tone, “We should probably calm down and talk about it tomorrow.”
“Come back with a better offer, and I'll consider renewing it,” the merchant replied snarkily.
“Of course,” she said, feeling an intense amount of humiliation as she noticed the other merchants smirking and quietly chuckling as they passed near her.
“May fortune be at your side,” the woman said, quoting the merchants' guild motto. “You as well,” replied the merchant before the two started walking away from each other.
She took a few steps before hearing the merchant say under his breath, “Zio.”
She stopped for a single second before continuing to walk, now with a feeling of despair in her heart.
As she walked out of the weigh house, a gentle breeze from the sea passed by her. She turned towards it and saw the water reflecting the stars that had started dancing across the sky.
A faint smile spread across her lips and disappeared as quickly as it appeared.
She continued walking, observing the shops and restaurants closing their doors as she passed by.
The faint smell of the sea slowly faded away as she continued marching. She glanced at the sky; the bright crescent rose from the north, bringing with it a gentle cold wind.
The city's streets were wide, allowing horse-led caravans, merchants, and civilians to traverse them with ease. Built between homes and shops, the alleys were spacious yet barely noticed by the city's inhabitants. The streets were gently lit by moonlight, and as she walked along their paths, the woman's heart filled with a slight yearning and disdain.
Before long, she arrived at the walls of the Edenite ghetto. The stone walls stood at around one and a half times the woman's height. Despite their age, the walls were clean, with only a few cracks showing.
The walls connected through two tall metal gates, the one in front of Esterka providing access to merchants coming from the city, with the other leading to a small graveyard in the city's outskirts.
At the ghetto's front gate stood two guards employed by the church.
Each of them carried a spear and wore a simple gambeson jacket, painted in white and yellow.
She waved towards the guards, who returned the gesture, before turning right and arriving at her home.
The house stood two stories high, made from stone, with a roof adorned in red clay tiles, and a chimney sprouting up from its back.
Its front was adorned with birch frames planks, lending it a gothic appearance akin to the neighboring houses.
As she approached the wooden door at the front of the house, she lightly tapped a small wooden box, which contained a prayer scroll, nailed near the hinges before touching her lips.
She then took a deep breath before attempting to force another weak smile.
Upon entering, she immediately heard a voice saying, “I told you not to dress like that.” making her smile drop instantly.
She quickly replied in an irritated tone, “You know that it doesn't matter what I wear, so I might as well wear what I want,” while putting her arquebus against the wall.
Walking into the living room, at the back stood a hearth, heating the small house. In front of it lay a wooden table with four chairs around it.
In front of her sat the source of the voice: a teenage boy lounging in one of the chairs. He wore a long-sleeved green linen shirt and brown trousers. His short brown hair framed dark green eyes that were focused on a book, while his button-like nose shifted slightly with every breath he took.
He averted his gaze from the book before saying, “Ester, listen, I'm just trying to help you. It wouldn't kill you to dress a bit nicer.”
She yelled, “You don't help with anything! And my name is Esterka, EsterKA! Goddamnit, why do you keep calling me that?! You know I hate it, so why don't you just stop?!”
The boy looked at her in silence, his face betraying his nervousness.
She stopped, took a deep breath, and looked at him before saying in a calm yet irritated tone, “Sorry, it’s been a really long day. I’m going to bed.”
The boy cautiously replied, “Sure…” before heading to the kitchen and starting to make food, feigning busyness.
She began walking up the stairs before pausing and taking one last look at him, quietly murmuring, “Gott helf mir…”
She walked down the short hallway before opening the door to a small room.
Inside, a chair was positioned in front of a wooden desk placed underneath a small window. The desk stood between two beds, each stationed on opposite sides of the room.
Near the door sat a large wooden bucket filled with water, with a cloth towel beside it, used for washing one's body.
On the desk lay a few sheets of paper and a charcoal piece wrapped in linen that appeared to have been recently used. A small candle stood at the left corner of the desk near the wall.
Near the door on the opposite side of one of the beds stood a wardrobe filled with messy clothes.
Esterka lit the candle before lying in bed and staring at the ceiling.
A dozen thoughts ran through her head, yet she couldn't focus on even one of them.
Her heartbeat calmed as she breathed more serenely, feeling her eyelids grow heavier with each passing second.
She got out of bed, stripped down to her undergarments, then tossed her clothes into the wardrobe.
After blowing out the candle, she returned to bed, focusing on a single thought before drifting off to sleep.
Tomorrow will be better.
After the night passed, the sun rose from the west, signalling the morning's arrival, its brilliant light shining across the sea’s surface.
It shone through the window illuminating the small room, waking Esterka up.
She tossed from side to side before reluctantly waking up.
She walked to the other bed where the boy still slept and lightly shook him, waking him up while saying, “Nadab, wake up. You need to make breakfast.”
He mumbled before uttering in a half-awake tone, “No... just do it yourself,” before turning on his side and attempting to go back to sleep.
Esterka sighed with slight frustration before snatching the blanket away from him and angrily saying, “Just do it already! I'm already so tired, and I'm busy today. So stop pretending to be tired and get up!”
He raised his voice and said, “Fine!” before getting up and walking out of the room.
She walked back to her bed and fell upon it, seemingly drifting in and out of sleep every few seconds.
Only a few minutes passed before she heard her name called.
She reluctantly got out of her bed and yelled, “I'm coming!” as she walked out of the room and descended the stairs.
She entered the kitchen, took a tin pewter cup filled with water, and quickly rinsed her mouth before grabbing a small linen rag to clean her teeth with.
She placed the cup and rag on a cupboard beneath a window illuminated by the morning sun.
Esterka walked over and took a seat at a table in the middle of the kitchen, directly across from Nadab. Placed before each of them was a spoon, a bowl of porridge, and a small pierniki.
As the pair started eating, Esterka said in a dim voice, “Sorry.” Nadab looked up, replying, “Sure,” and continued eating.
After finishing her meal, she left the table and ascended the stairs while yelling to her brother, “Nadab! I'm going out! Do you need something?”
He yelled in return, “Andruty and kabanos!” while starting to clean the table.
As she reached the second floor, she once again raised her voice and said, “There's some coins on the table in the living room so you can get it yourself!” before entering the room and closing the door, not letting him add even a word.
Taking off her clothes, she dipped the cloth towel into the water-filled bucket, quickly washing her thin body and hair before drying herself with her night shirt.
She quickly put on the previous day’s clothes and waterskin before grabbing the yellow scarf, a wave of disdain washing over her as she looked at it.
She shoved it into a small backpack as she left the room, descended the stairs, and reached the door.
She slung the strap of the arquebus over her shoulder and yelled, “I'm leaving!” before opening the door and exiting her house.
After turning to close the door, she saw an elongated hexagon with a circle in its center painted on the door. A religious symbol for Edenites, used by others as mockery and a marker to identify them.
An ill feeling washed over her entire body, making her feel slightly sick as she stared at it.
She quickly opened the door and yelled, “Nadab! They marked us again! Clean it up before you go, and I'll go talk to S?awomir!”
She then quickly shut the door and started walking toward the guards stationed at the opening of the ghetto.
She walked towards the guards standing at the ghetto's gate while calling out with a slight anger in her voice for the younger of the pair, “Mir!”
The young guard quickly turned his head toward her and smiled lightly.
His short blonde hair and slightly fleshy nose gave the impression that he was more mature than his age. His lips were slightly full, and his dark brown eyes carried a quiet happiness.
His gambeson was thin yet sturdy, unfit for the coming winter, its yellow color slightly faded.
His kettle hat helmet was lazily held in one hand, while the other used a spear to steady himself.
His kind eyes turned toward the woman closing the distance between them, and a bright smile spread across his lips.
Esterka clenched her fists as she stood in front of the guard while he greeted her. “Good morning, Ester! How are y-”
“They marked us. Again,” she cut him off coldly before adding, “And I told you not to call me that.”
“Right, sorry,” he replied, looking slightly downwards and quietly saying in a tone tinged with shame, “I'll tell the others about your house and try to get another one to stay here at night.”
Esterka sighed, a mix of slight comfort and annoyance in her voice, and thanked him before entering the ghetto.
He nodded in return before continuing to talk with the other guard.
Linked to the city's southern wall, the ghetto was considered a forbidden area to the town's people.
They sought to contain the Edenite population yet keep them at a sword's length.
The ghetto’s elaborate and confusing streets were narrow, built between homes stacked upon homes. Untouched by the sun's light, the paths between them felt suffocating.
The woman passed by the ghetto's shops, which were built beneath their homes—some completely submerged into the ground—lit only by torches and hearths that funneled their smoke above the cramped houses, away from the people.
She walked past houses with small rooms used as temples, immediately recognizing the hidden entrances tucked between the alleys. Concealed from the church and other city folk, frequented daily by the Edenite population.
She hurried beneath washing lines strung between houses, water dripping slowly onto the streets as if imitating the early winter rain.
The streets, often used as waste disposal by the city's residents, were just as frequently cleaned by the ghetto's inhabitants.
As she continued on her path, the growing anxious sensation inside her intensified. Esterka waved to the people passing by, who in turn warmly greeted her before striking up small conversations between themselves.
Eventually, she reached a tailor shop near the ghetto's center, standing between artisan shops and small food vendors.
As she stood in front of it, Esterka felt a growing sense of comfort and familiarity.
She opened the door and entered.
The shop was a small room with a wooden chair and a large desk in its center. Near the walls were racks filled with clothes sewn in various patterns, shapes, sizes, and colors.
An old man sat on the chair, working on and sewing different clothes. His expression was one of concentration and slight somberness.
He wore a simple brown long-sleeve shirt, pants tightly hung at his waist, and cheap leather shoes. His eyes were a dark shade of brown, and he had a slightly large nose.
A skull cap was laid over his bald head, and on his belt was a small pouch containing tools for sewing and repairing clothes.
A smile spread across her face as she walked towards and loudly called, “Lev!”
Looking up towards her, the man got up from his chair and embraced Esterka in a warm hug.
A warm feeling spread over Esterka as she hugged him in return, saying, “I missed you.”
“I missed you too, sweetheart,” he replied, his eyes warm, before kissing her on the forehead, “Do you still need to pay them? Do you even make enough for that?”
A slight feeling of annoyance came over her, tainting her happiness, “Yes, Lev, I do. If I don't, I'll have to live here… and you know I can't do that.”
“And I make more than enough money, thank you very much,” she said, giggling playfully, her tone full of pride.
The old man sat back in his chair as a stern look spread across his face, “This isn't funny. You shouldn't be paying the priests at all.”
She took a step back and crossed her arms, “Do you seriously think I don't already know that? I can't live in a ghetto, Lev… I can't do it. I don't care how much I have to pay them; I'm not going back here.”
“Why are you talking to me like this? I didn't do anything to you. What happened?” he asked in a somber tone.
“They marked us, again.”
“I see…” Lev said as he shifted in his chair with a slight discomfort. “Did you talk to S?awomir?”
She yelled in frustration, “Of course I talked to Mir! They don't care! They aren't doing shi-”
“Don't,” Lev said, cutting her off. “You will not talk like this here. You will not talk like them.”
“Right… sorry,” lowering her head in shame.
Leaning against the table, she faced Lev, a feeling of guilt growing inside her.
Noticing her expression, Lev took her hand and said, “I'm not mad; I'm just worried about you.”
“I know. I’ll be better next time,” she said, lowering her head, her sheepish tone tinged with shame.
“I know you will.”
Esterka smiled and walked around the room, checking and measuring the fabrics, trying to calculate how much she could sell each of them for.
A passing thought went through her head as she pondered her dinner for the day, debating what she should eat.
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After quickly finishing her thought, she scribbled the size of each fabric on a small note she found on the table with a charcoal piece wrapped in linen, slightly inflating the price of each.
She went towards the door before hearing Lev calling for her and turning around.
In his hands was a small leather pouch she strapped to her belt before shoving her scribbled note into it.
His other hand held a sandwich filled with onions, pickle slices, and salted pieces of meat, which she quickly took and ate in delight.
After thanking him, she quickly hugged him before turning to leave the store. She opened the door and said, “I'm going to visit Grandpa today. I'll tell him you said hello,” to which Lev nodded and smiled.
Closing the door behind her, she stared at the leather pouch, noticing its expert craftsmanship as she started walking once more in the ghetto's narrow streets.
The bright sun stood above her, slightly leaning east, as if urging Esterka forward.
She walked for a couple of minutes before changing her direction and quietly passing through the ghetto's southern gate, away from the town.
After waving to the lone guard standing at the gate, she continued on a short dirt road that led to a small cemetery.
Surrounded by a square brick wall, the cemetery's tombs were organized into rows of three, with a small prayer room placed in its center.
An old groundskeeper sat on a wooden stool near the cemetery, reading a book while scratching his beard. Hearing the sound of Esterka’s footsteps, he raised his head and waved towards her.
She nodded in turn and entered the cemetery.
She took a small chair that lay in front of one of the graves and dragged it alongside her, careful not to go over the other graves.
She reached the prayer room and placed the chair in front of a grave before sitting on it.
The headstone read: Jonas, beloved grandfather, father, husband, and brother.
Esterka took a deep breath and with a slight tremble in her voice said, “Hey Grandpa, I'm back.”
“…”
“I really missed you. I have a lot to tell you,” she said, slouching in her chair. She looked directly at the headstone's inscription, yet not focusing on any word.
“…”
“I'm fine, thanks for asking,” she giggled and added while looking at the bright blue sky, “I already told Lev and S?awomir we got marked, so there's that.”
“…”
She raised her voice slightly. “And of course, S?awomir and the other one don't know anything about it because why would they?! I mean, it's not like they're paid to watch out for us, right?” she laughed quietly.
“…”
I really need to learn his name… she thought to herself and sighed. “Anyway, I got a haircut again. I thought you'd like it; it's kind of shorter than what I wanted.
Also, I'm going to the guild later. I got some fabrics from Lev, and I finally have a good feeling about it.
He also told me to tell you hello and that he misses you too.”
“…”
She waited for a moment, thoughts running through her head, yet not concentrating on any of them. Then, for a split second, she managed to focus.
“I forgot to tell you, I finally finished that book I told you about. It was nice. Kind of reminded me of the ones you wrote. I think you would've liked it.”
A warm feeling spread in her chest as a memory of her grandfather teaching her poems and prayers resurfaced in her mind.
“...”
“How was your day? Anything interesting?”
“…”
“I guessed so. Not much to do here, right?” she giggled nervously and sighed.
“…”
“Why aren't you saying anything…” she said in a near whispering tone.
“…”
She once again lost herself in her thoughts for a brief moment before saying, “Thanks for the talk, I appreciate it. I'll come back later and tell you how it went.”
She then got up from her chair and turned it backwards towards the gate of the cemetery.
As she started walking, she felt a gentle push from behind. She quickly turned around and smiled gently, thinking, I love you too Grandpa.
Esterka waved to the groundskeeper and quietly left the cemetery.
Waving to the south gate guard, Esterka pointed toward a small corner near the cemetery's walls, just out of his sight, receiving a simple nod in return.
Now sitting behind the corner, she dug a small hole to relieve herself. After finishing her business, she poured water from her waterskin over her hands, washing them and rubbing them on her jacket to dry them.
As she returned to the ghetto, her heart grew heavier. She looked downward as she marched forward, losing herself in thought yet instinctively navigating the perplexing streets. With each step, she gathered confidence, preparing herself for the approaching bargain.
Before long, she left the ghetto through its northern gate, breathing a deep sigh. Still lost in thought, she failed to notice the young guard nodding at her.
She took a few steps and entered a small alley near the gate, seemingly hiding from the townspeople.
Esterka took the yellow scarf out of her backpack, and as she wrapped it around her neck, a single word lingered in her mind: filthy.
A distinct marker that separated them from the Matronites, identifying them as those who rejected the holy scripture and continued to practice the old faith.
Walking back to the town's streets, Esterka lowered her head and took quick steps, trying to avoid the people's gazes.
She quietly moved through the town's streets and noticed the townsfolk's whispers and disdain.
The sun began setting, casting a crimson hue on the fading bright blue sky.
The weigh house that stood at the end of Esterka's path was seemingly engulfed in the sun's dying light.
A stone mural was carved into the front of its second floor, depicting a scale with coins weighing down against metal bars.
A four-story building stood tall, its walls made of cloud-grey stone bricks, now painted a dark blue. Its roof was adorned with red clay tiles, and a chimney extended from the back of the first floor, connecting to a central hearth.
Esterka opened the large oak doors, trying to avoid the guard's gaze.
As she walked through the merchants, a slight relief came over her as she saw most of them busy with their dealings, not noticing her.
The floor was filled with merchants yelling and arguing, their words nearly unheard to Esterka, who, in turn, seemed invisible to them.
The myriad of colors in which they adorned their clothes fascinated her. A yearning sparked in her mind, yet disdain grew in her heart for the merchants who wore them and refused to acknowledge her existence.
The walls were decorated with various paintings depicting the kingdom's folk tales, each intricately illustrated. Their tales were ancient yet ever-changing, with every retelling slightly different from the last, yet each conveying the same story.
Passing by a set of stairs leading downward, she instinctively knew they were barred to her. They led to the weigh house's basement, which contained a small yet crucial port for the city's merchant guild. Though inaccessible to ships, it allowed entry to small supply boats. Esterka, understanding its function, knew she wouldn’t be permitted inside—only allowed to store her cloths there for a fee.
She quickly went up the stairs and reached the second floor. As she did, she saw the merchant she dealt with the day before sitting at a table.
Wearing a deep red long-sleeved shirt tied around his waist with a leather belt, he carried coins from various kingdoms and duchies in the pockets of his light brown pants, which he traded with merchants from other guilds.
Atop his bald head rested a red silk beret, its mere possession signaling his elevated status to fellow merchants.
She called his name, “Edward!” and walked towards him as he turned his head to greet her, offering her a seat on the opposite side of the table.
Esterka sat and said, “May fortune be at your side,” while taking the arquebus off her shoulder and leaning it against the table.
Edward nodded and replied, “You as well.”
She pulled the note from her pouch and passed it to him, saying, “I think that's more than a fair deal.”
Esterka studied the calm expression that washed over Edward's face as he read the note, trying to find any indication of what his response would be.
After a few minutes, Edward broke the silence and said, “Seems fine,” breaking Esterka's concentration and causing her to freeze with only a single word coming out of her mouth, “What?”
“I said that it seems fine”, he answered before adding, “I noticed the price so don't think you got away with it.” Sliding her the note.
“Right…” She nervously took the note and quickly lowered the prices of the fabrics, yet keeping them slightly inflated. “How's this?”
He quickly looked over the note and nodded his head as a slight feeling of relief spread in Esterka's chest.
Edward counted coins in a small pouch, matching the price for each fabric and adding a coin for each type.
He tossed her the pouch, and Esterka counted the coins. He said, “Think of the extra as an apology for yesterday.”
“Thank you, I appreciate it,” she replied, feeling a sense of respect and slight trust growing within her.
A slight smile grew upon his face. “Of course, sorry for acting that way. It was out of place.”
“No worries, I understand,” she lied, while keeping the smile on her face.
“It wasn't fair to you, you're one of the good ones.”
Esterka's mind went completely blank in disgust and shame.
As Edward continued talking about the details of their deal, Esterka nodded in agreement, barely able to hear him.
She stared at him, seeing his mouth move, uttering more and more words, yet not understanding any of them.
As time passed, the light from the windows became dimmer and dimmer until eventually it faded away completely, leaving the weigh house lit only by its torches.
The pair finished their deal and shook hands. Esterka picked up her arquebus and started walking towards the stairs. Stopping right before them, she turned around, calling to Edward.
She clutched the arquebus’s leather belt before saying, “We're done.” Her voice, though quiet and shaking, was sure and resolute.
“What do you mean?” The trader's voice was full of confusion, tinged with fear.
“This is the last time we trade,” Esterka replied. Though her voice still trembled, it was no longer quiet—every word was firm and certain.
Edward then slammed his palms on the table as he stood up, yelling, “You're joking, right? You need me, and you know it! You can't just walk out like this—”
“I don't care!” She then took a long breath and coldly said, “I don't care how much you think I need you or the guild. I don't. And even if I am one of the good ones, I'm still just a filthy Edenite, am I not?”
A look of slight shock and disgust spread upon Edward's face before replying in the same cold tone, “You know what, you're right. You are all the same.”
Esterka quickly descended the stairs and left the weigh house, her mind completely devoid of thoughts.
She took brisk steps, as if marching through the town's streets, completely indifferent to her surroundings, and before long reached her home.
Noticing the door was mostly clean, with only a few spots in a faint shade of green where the markings were in the morning, she regained a small sense of composure and opened it, only to hear Nadab calling to her, “Everything's ready! We can start!”
In a monotone voice, Esterka thanked him and ascended the stairs before yelling in that same tone, “I'm going to get changed!”
Upon entering the room, she dropped her bag and arquebus before seemingly falling onto her bed.
She then covered herself with her blanket, assuming a near-fetal position, and began to breathe heavily, with small trembles that accompanied each breath.
I can't go there anymore, I can't go to anyone in the guild, I can't do this anymore.
Closing her eyes, she drifted in and out of sleep as tears streamed down her face.
Hearing her brother calling her, she quickly changed into a plain brown shirt and braies, and went down the stairs.
After descending the stairs, she stood in front of the table. On it were twin candles, a book of prayer, a wine cup, two bowls of porridge, a loaf of bread and a few kabanos.
Covering her face with her palms she recited a prayer in a near silent tone.
Nadab then passed Esterka a small piece of iron and a piece of flint, she struck them together making a small spark that lit the candles, staring at the small flames for mere seconds, finding their chaotic movements comforting.
Quickly she recited another prayer as the pair went and washed their hands in a small bucket near the hearth.
After returning to the table, Nadab took Esterka's place and ripped two small pieces from the loaf of bread. Sprinkling each with salt, he quietly recited a short prayer before passing one to Esterka, as they both ate their pieces.
Nadab lifted the cup of wine, opened the book, and started reciting another prayer. Barely reading through the book, he spoke as if the prayer was ingrained in him.
Finally, Nadab raised the cup above him, saying “Amen,” before taking a small sip and passing the cup to Esterka, who drank it nearly in its entirety.
After sitting across from each other, the pair started eating. After discussing the day's events, Nadab wearily asked, “So what are you going to do? We're not going back there, right?”
“We're not going anywhere. I'll find something.” Her tone was harsh, and her eyes stared blankly at the wine before her.
After finishing their meals and cleaning up, the pair retreated to their bedroom.
Esterka sank into thought while in bed, thinking about other merchants before turning over and calling Nadab, “I think we need to find you an internship.”
“Why?” Nadab asked before filling his mouth with porridge, his tone slightly surprised.
“It’s not good for you to stay inside all day. Plus, it’d be nice if we had a bit of extra money,” she replied while looking into her cup of wine, gently stirring it, watching the ripples move as serenely as ocean waves.
“You mean money to pay their church,” Nadab retorted, looking down at his bowl, his tone laced with resentment and a hint of shame.
“Yes… but if we already covered that, we’d have money for something nice, or maybe even some extra cabanos every day…” A smirk spread across her lips as she answered, her tone slightly cheerful at the thought of cabanos.
Lifting his head slightly, Nadab met his sister’s eyes before saying in a flat tone, “Hilarious.”
“I know,” the smugness in her voice was obvious to Nadab, who in turn turned over, facing the wall. “I'll talk to Lev about it,” Esterka added before feeling a cold breeze coming from the window.
After closing the window, a shiver ran through her body as she stood in front of it. An idea sparked in her mind.
A smile spread across her face as she stared at the starry night skies, and a renewed sense of hope and pride filled her body.
Returning to her bed, she fully covered herself with her blanket, feeling warmth spread all over her body. As she fell asleep, a single thought lingered in her mind: Tomorrow will be better.
As morning arrived, the sun rose once again, its light dancing across the beach waters.
The room lit up with the sun's light, waking Esterka to a new day.
She walked to the other bed and lightly shook Nadab, waking him up and saying, “Nadab, vekn zikh. You need to make breakfast.”
“Fine, fine,” he replied, getting out of his bed, seemingly dragging himself out of the room before saying, “Stop speaking in Yichus, you know I don't understand it.”
“Maybe Lev could teach you a bit,” she added in a cheerful tone before closing the door.
Esterka grabbed a piece of paper from the table, writing another price suggestion on it. She slightly inflated the prices of the fabrics while marking a few of the listed ones with a little line before them. That should be enough.
She then took off her nightclothes before dipping a cloth towel into the water-filled bucket near the door, washing her thin body and hair, and drying herself with her nightshirt.
After quickly putting on her regular clothes, she descended the stairs and entered the kitchen. She took a pewter cup filled with water, rinsed her mouth, and used a small linen rag to clean her teeth.
After finishing cleaning her teeth, Esterka put the cup and rag on a cupboard underneath a window.
She then sat at the table in front of Nadab and began eating.
“Any new ideas?” Nadab asked, Esterka nodded, her mouth full of porridge before swallowing.
“What is it?” he asked, curiosity clear in his tone before taking a bite of his own porridge.
“I'll talk to Lev about your internship.” Her pride showed through her voice as she straightened her back, a smirk spreading across her lips.
“Maybe something else?” the boy asked in return, his tone sheepish as he slightly lowered his head, seemingly trying to sink into the chair.
“Whether you like it or not, you're going to start working, so at least try to get ready,” she said, as Nadab groaned and rested his head on the table.
After finishing the meal, Esterka quickly went up to her room and put on her clothes before grabbing the yellow scarf. A wave of disgust washed over her as she looked at it.
She folded the piece of paper and shoved it into the jacket's breast pocket.
After descending the stairs again she heard Nadab calling for her again from the kitchen, “You're not taking Chekhov?” referring to her arquebus.
“I don't need it,” she said while opening the door. “I have a good feeling about today.”
Taking a deep breath, Esterka closed the door behind her and started walking towards S?awomir, feeling more and more confident with each step.
After greeting each other, Esterka asked with a bright smile, “Do you mind calling your priest or one of the nuns? There's something I want to run by them.”
“I don’t mind… but is everything fine?” S?awomir asked, his confusion and slight worry evident in his tone.
After leaning against the ghetto wall, Esterka put her hand on S?awomir’s shoulder. She then replied, “Everything is great. I have a plan.”
“If you say so,” he said, then walked towards the church in the center of the city, returning a few minutes later with a nun.
Wearing a white veil over her hair, a worn robe covered her body from her neck to her ankles, tied around her waist by a cincture.
Tied around her neck was an iron pendant shaped like a wheel.
Seemingly in her late twenties, she let out a sigh as her brown eyes met Esterka's. Her slightly hooked nose twitched as she sniffed the air around her.
After greeting each other, the nun bowed her head and said, “I apologize, Father Jósef couldn't make it, but I promise I can take care of everything.”
“No worries, I just wanted to offer you something,” Esterka replied as she pulled the folded paper from her jacket's breast pocket. “My trades with Edward have... concluded for now. So I figured that since I already have business with Jósef, I thought making this bond stronger would help our relationship.”
She then offered the folded paper to the nun, who in turn asked, “What is that?” before arching her back as if imposing herself upon Esterka. “And it's Father Jósef. We have our titles for a reason.”
“Of course, I'm really sorry, Sister Joanna,” she then lifted her head slightly, meeting the nun’s imposing gaze. “This is a list of fabrics I can offer you.”
Getting curious, the nun asked, “Why is that relevant to us?”
Arching her back, Esterka confidently stated, “Well, since winter is starting, I thought that it would be beneficial for us if instead of trading with the guild and needing to pay their fees, I'd provide you with fabrics for your winter garments.”
Noticing Sister Joanna's interest, she added, “There's only so much your coin can do against the cold.”
Slightly lowering her voice, Sister Joanna said, “I understand.”
“I thought you would,” Esterka said, then pointed at the marked fabric names on the list. “And I can even give you one of those for free if you’re willing to... let’s say... ignore my living situation.”
A few seconds passed as the nun stayed silent, making Esterka's heart beat faster and faster.
Breaking the silence the nun spoke with a gentle smile, “I’ll inform father Jósef about your proposal.”
Esterka bowed her head, feeling immense pride and relief.
“Give me a few minutes, and I'll return with Father Jósef's answer,” the nun said. She then turned around and started walking towards the district's church, yet only took a few steps before being stopped by Esterka calling her.
“One more thing before I forget, my offer extends to S?awomir and the other guards stationed here.” the nun turned to Esterka, nodded her head and continued walking.
“Thank you, really,” S?awomir said while slightly bowing.
“Of course,” a gentle smile spread across Esterka's face as a wave of calmness washed over her. “Just remember to watch out for us.”
As each minute passed, Esterka's heart grew heavier. Endless thoughts rose in her mind in a fraction of a second and disappeared just as fast.
Eventually culminating with a single statement: They need me, they need me; I'm the best they have, and they know it.
Eventually the nun returned and looked at Esterka. “Father Jósef agreed to your terms. May the All-Mother bless you.”
“And may fortune lead your path,” Esterka replied, altering the guild's motto.
Once again, Esterka's heart beat faster. Walking into the ghetto, each step she took was filled with excitement.
Suddenly she turned, facing Sister Joanna. “If you're interested, I can talk to Lev about repairs,” she said, looking directly at the nun's robe's tethered edges.
“I'll give it some thought,” the nun replied, in a seemingly slightly shameful tone.
After taking a few more steps, Esterka looked back, making sure she was out of the guards' and Sister Joanna's sight. She immediately sprinted, each step filled with energy, and continued on her path until she reached the ghetto's center.
Upon entering Lev's shop, she quickly shut the door behind her and rushed to hug Lev, who sat on a chair working with fabrics, nearly knocking him over.
Noticing her excitement, Lev asked, “Did something good happen?”
After sitting on the table in front of him, Esterka told Lev about her meeting with Sister Joanna and the terms of their deal. With a warm look in his eyes, he took her hands and said, “I'm so proud of you.”
“I told you I'll do better,” a prideful smile spread across her face as she walked away from the table toward the shop’s door.
“I’m going to tell Grandpa about it.” She quickly hugged Lev again before leaving the store and returning to the ghetto’s narrow streets.
As she walked, she waved to her acquaintances, her heart beating faster with each step. A pleasant warmth spread through her body, growing with every passing second.
The early noon sun shone above her, leaning east, as if leading Esterka forward.
After walking for a couple of minutes, she quietly passed through the ghetto's southern gate, away from the town.
She waved to the lone guard standing at the gate before continuing on the short dirt road that led to the Edenite cemetery.
Hearing the sound of Esterka’s footsteps, the groundskeeper raised his head and waved toward her.
She in turn greeted him and entered the cemetery. After taking a small chair that stood next to the cemetery's wall, Esterka dragged it alongside her, carefully avoiding the other graves.
After reaching her grandfather's headstone, Esterka placed the small chair in front of it before sitting on it.
She took a deep breath and, with a slight excitement in her voice and a smile on her face, said, “Hey Grandpa, I'm back.”
