Tears rolled down her cheeks as Evelda noisily ran through Skygget forest in a total panic. All the while holding the vial to her chest, the prize from her trial with the demon. Nothing jumped at her from the shadows, so she reached Douma’s open gate within 30 minutes. She didn’t stop running once she entered the village. Her feet took her through the dirt streets until she found herself at the Bryne estate. Valdis hurried over to her and started looking her up and down for the flowers.
“Where are they?”
“Later.”
“But-”
“Later!” Evelda ignored the distraught look on her friend’s face and pushed her way past some of her fellow villagers to get into the house.
“You, girl, what do you think you’re doing!?”
“I have medicine for Sigurd.” She blurted out. Pushing the guards off her and shouting across to the Elder. “Sana! I have the root of heaven’s grace!”
“Impossible!” The aged woman moved faster than she had for many years and barked at the guards to let Evelda through. “What is this?” Sana examined the vail, accepting it from the redhead.
“Ground up root from the heaven’s grace flower.”
“…if it is…how did you get it?” Sana removed the cork lid and sniffed it. “It smells right. Where did you find this?”
“Skygget.” Well, that’s not a lie. “Hurry. Before it’s too late.” Sana nodded and grabbed a bowl of water. She poured the dark powder into the bowl and the water turned purple.
Evelda stood there, staring as Sana lifted the bowl to the boy’s lips and helped him to swallow the liquid.
The scene before her played out quickly. The guards brought the Bryne family to come and see what was happening. By the time Talita arrived, Sigurd’s cheeks had regained the natural hue. In fact, his colour was already better than it had been in months. Lord and Lady Bryne sat at either side of their son. His temperature was going down, his breathing was less laboured, and his sweating stopped.
“It’s a miracle!” Talita embraced her mother slightly.
“No, it’s medicine.” Sana was the only person aside from Evelda who was not overcome by joy. “Now child. You will tell me exactly how you got this rare medicine, and already prepared?” Sana had never looked so intimidating in her life. Lady Bryne and Talita stayed with Sigurd, but Lord Bryne sensed the danger in Sana’s voice and came over as well. They stood as a trio in the doorway, and in a hushed voice, Evelda regaled her seniors about the events that brought her here. At first, they scolded her for putting the village at risk, but the final part of her tale worried them the most.
“…Turuk wants to renew the deal?” Lord Bryne stroked his grey beard. “That would mean our crop would be bountiful again, as would our life stock. Food. Actual food. Protection from bandits, trade with other cities coming through the forest…”
“In exchange for a virgin bride.” Sana hissed.
“A worthy exchange.” Lord Bryne surprised them all. “We are dying. Slowly and painfully, but dying nonetheless. This deal would save us all.”
“My lord.” Sana pleaded. “The last time the deal was in effect, Turuk asked for a Bryne bride.” Her tired blue eyes turned to land on Talita.
The lovely blonde was cooing over her brother and weeping in joy for his recovery. “He will likely make the same demand he was denied last time. You would have to part with your own daughter.”
Evelda clenched her fists. She was the one who had caused this to happen. She’d saved Sigurd, only to doom Talita. Her friend…
“…it is a price…we will have to pay. Or we will all die anyway.” He sighed heavily and turned to look at his family. “Noon tomorrow?”
“He said I had to take you to the glade. No one else or he’d massacre the village. Taking the children and virgins.” The words felt like poison in her mouth. “We should leave an hour beforehand. Better to be early than late.”
“Indeed.” He sighed again. “Thank you for your service to my family and this village Evelda. I will spend this evening with my family, and no one is to reveal the details of this deal until it is done. Let me…have tonight with my family. Before I must break their hearts.”
Sana and Evelda nodded. the elder put her arm around the red head and escorted her from the Bryne household.
“You were foolish child…but you meant well.” She rubbed her shoulders. “Hush now child. What you did came from a place of love. Talita is a good girl. I am sure…she will understand.”
Evelda turned to look up at the older woman and watched as Sana pressed a handkerchief to her face.
“When…did I start crying?”
“You were crying when you arrived, my dear.”
I…didn’t even know…I was crying… “Now you should go home and rest. Get some bread from the stores on your way, and prepare for tomorrow. You will no doubt need your wits about you.”
Valdis tried to join the conversation, but Sana dismissed her, rather bluntly, to mind her own business and leave Evelda alone. “There, now you won’t be bothered. Until tomorrow. And be strong, my dear. Be strong.”
Like a zombie, Evelda took her daily food allowance and ate the lump of bread on the way home. She crawled into her bed and stared at the back wall for a long time. Exhaustion finally took her to sleep hours later.
Somehow…she felt that Talita’s fate was her fault…and that tomorrow things would only get worse. I’m so sorry…how will Talita ever forgive me…or Valdis…or myself…
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