Order only: Bronwyn Gwyneth

[alt_kingsley]

I'm in Cardiff, Wales, to bring Bronwyn Griffiths to Moddey Dhoo. And a merry chase I've had of it the past three days, too.

Arthur, the state of records here is appalling. Bronwyn's parents are nowhere to be found, but after three days of hard searching, I found Bronwyn herself. I admit I made a mistake: I asked to see Bronwyn's mother, and was introduced to Morgan Griffiths, so I assumed she was the mother. I launched into my explanation about the Sanctuary and only found out belatedly that she's Bronwyn's fifteen-year old sister.

It turns out that Bronwyn's been left in her care, and Morgan has no idea where her parents are. The girl insists that we take her sister. And it's not as if she's urging this because she's eager to relinquish the responsibility. On the contrary, it's clear that she's bonded to the baby well, and that giving her up will be a wrench. But she has quite an adult head on her shoulders, I'd judge, and she understands the risks that Bronwyn faces if her magic manifests before we come back. I don't like to take her without the parents' permission.

I'm going to devote today to see if I can determine from local records where they've been assigned. But if we can't (and I doubt we will; as I said, the local records seem to be utterly haphazard): what do we do?

These decisions just don't get any easier.

Comments

[alt_alice]

Goodness. If you can find out, that'd be ideal of course. My first impulse is to take both Bronwyn and Morgan with us. Fifteen and alone in the world. Bless.

I know, if we aren't able to track down the parents right away, they'd have a horrible shock if they were to return and find both children gone, and it'd have been without their permission, but we could... find out a way to leave word in case they were to come back?

Oh dear.

No easy answers on this one.

[alt_arthur]

Could you take them both? I confess I hadn't thought of that when I first read Kingsley's message, but that solution would make the whole thing more palatable.

We have had difficulties in Wales with records. I don't know if it's a sort of resistence toward the Protectorate (who can blame them, really) or just incompetence. One advantage is that it might make it that much easier to make both girls disappear.

The real risk is, if we take them and the parents come back and raise a ruckus before we can find them. We don't want to draw official eyes to our activities.

[alt_bill]

If they go looking, they'll come up with smoke. Kingsley's cover persona, 'Joshua Sinclair,' is a one-off, and I'm confident they won't be able to trace anything.

[alt_bill]

If you agree, Dad, and Alice thinks the sanctuary can absorb two new kids, I'd say yeah, take them both. And keep trying to find the parents. And yeah, it's not following our protocol. In this case I say nuts to the protocol.

If the kid's telling the truth about the parents being missing/unavailable, of course. Kingsley?

[alt_kingsley]

I can confirm that neither parent has been seen since shortly after the birth, yes. It's clear that local authorities are indifferent to keeping families together.

Arthur: more research since I wrote this post has led me to hints that one of the parents may have been sent to that game preserve. Not clear which one, or if it was both. Transfer forms are missing and records are a nightmare.

In other words, they might not come back. And/or one or both may already be dead.

[alt_bill]

Damn.

I say take 'em both.

[alt_arthur]

Yes, I'd agree, if Alice does, too. And if the older girl agrees to come too, of course. Kingsley, I can send you the parchmentwork for a work requisition transfer for Morgan--she'll just never arrive at her new position.

And yes, I'll keep trying to find the parents. Send me what you've discovered so far, Kingsley.

[alt_alice]

Yes. I agree. Let's take both.

[alt_kingsley]

Went back to see the girl this morning. She burst into tears when I made the offer, clearly overcome with joy. We're on our way to the rendez-vous point outside Sanctuary, now.

Alice, I think Morgan might be a good choice for helping in the nursery, and she'll deeply appreciate the chance to be near her sister.

[alt_alice]

We'll manage.