47th of Roalis, 2711
The rest of the children arrived, out of breath and laughing.
“He’s like a blur!”
“I didn’t even see ‘em, I was runnin’ I was but nae e’en a trace of ‘em!”
Catriona giggled at her other friends and siblings and hugged the little boy, “Naton, I don’t think you can be Kenser for a while, it’s just no sport if you’re already across the woods by the time we start running!”
The laughter continued for a few minutes but stopped abruptly at the sight of a well kept boy making his way into the woods. Hugh Feldwyn, the son of the Galdor man who owned several of the farms in Bad Aisling.
Catriona took charge quickly, “Can we help you, Sir? I was just playing with the little ones til dinner.”
Hugh was only just as tall as Catriona but at least three years older. “No no, I just...” He ran his hand through his hair. “I thought I’d come play too...I don’t get to do much on Summer break so...I could use some friends to hang out with.”
Catriona bristled at the thought. It was trouble. What if he got hurt? What if he hurt one of the little ones? But there wasn’t any way to tell him no and little Satina was already bounding up and grabbing his hand. “We can be your friends Mister! We’re playing Catch the Kenser! And it’s MY turn to be the Kenser, right Catriona? You SAID after Naton it was my turn!”
Catriona smiled politely at Hugh as he allowed himself to be pulled along by the five year old. He spoke teasingly, as if they were equals, “Yeah Catriona, come on!”
She shook her head and smiled. “Alright you guys! Satina is the Kenser! She has to make it to the red tree or she’s out! And the first one out has to go home and find out when dinner’s ready!”
The kids cheered. They knew it would be easy to catch Satina but they also knew how to let her have fun with the rest of them. As they all put their hands on the blue tree, Catriona was uncomfortably aware of how close the Galdor was standing behind her. Still she simply shifted her position and called out, “Kenser loose! 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Go!”
The kids were off. Catriona hung back for a bit, but took off as soon as she saw Hugh making a run for it. Didn’t he know to let a little kid get ahead? The rest of the kids would come just inches from catching her and conveniently lose their grip on her. Nobody actually wanted the five year old to be the one who had to walk home so she was going to make it to the red tree. Hugh looked like he was going to catch her but made eye contact with Catriona and dramatically ‘fell’ just as Satina reached the red ribboned tree. The kids cheered as the little girl jumped up and down. Hugh bounded up and lifted the girl onto his shoulders.
Satina was still celebrating as was Naton and the other younger kids but the mood had changed. The older kids, specifically Catriona 13 and Benny and Kristine, the eleven year old twins from the next farm over, were worried about her. Hugh was crossing boundaries that he definitely knew about and they could do nothing to stop him. Hugh noticed and carefully put Satina down. “Oh come on guys! I’ll tell you what. I’ll be Kenser next and I promise to be the best Kenser ever.”
Catriona gave Benny a look and tapped her fingers against her side three times. Time to pack it in. “Actually Benny, Kristine, and I have to get these kiddos home. We’re having a big get together at the farm though and you’re more than welcome to join us, Sir.”
Hugh leaned against the tree confidently. “How about Benny and Kristine take the kids and you and I walk for a bit.”
Benny gave his head a little shake but Catriona looked at all the kids who were already whining that it wasn’t even dark yet and why did they have to go home? “Sure. Let’s take a walk. I’ll catch up with you guys in a minute!”
Benny and Kristine gathered up the kids,
“Where’s your other shoe? No, stop we aren’t playing anymore! Satina put your hair ribbon back!” And as they walked away, Benny made eye contact with Catriona as he also tapped his temple three times, ‘Be careful.’
