Chapter 45 Chapter 43

Chapter 45 Chapter 43
“Prevention has been seen to be better than cure, but sometimes a cure is all we need for events we dare not prevent.”

Marina.

The market center had been redecorated. The large open space in the middle was now filled with tents.

From afar, the bubbling excitement rumbled through the soil and reverberated in the air. The carriage almost developed a sudden burst of warmth as we passed by.

I stared in awe as the colors from the various tints of lights littered the sky. It was almost exactly as I remembered it from years ago. The thrill brought a wide smile to my face.

“Hundreds of people would be here today. I hear sometimes, people from the Eastern lands ferry over for the event.” Saliel said. Looking as amazed as I was.

“You talk like you’ve never been to the festival.” I had come to terms that he was a very privileged child.

“Oh, I have. About thrice or there about. But there’s just something about it every time. It always feels new. I had an aunt who sold anything she could cook at each festival. The first I knew of her, she sold Brimberry pies.”

“Brimberries? Pardon me, but are those not poisonous?” They sometimes caused sudden death. Immediate frothing in the mouth and seizures.

“Yes they are. She said something about boiling it to a certain temperature and keeping it that way in the batter to neutralize its toxins. Anything below or above that temperature and the toxins would awake.”

“So she boiled the poison to sleep?”

“Exactly. The funniest part? She didn’t tell anyone she had that in her recipe. She sold the pies. Won an award among the top ten for best meal, probably second or third place and even gave a speech. It was during her speech she revealed her secret ingredient. I’ve never seen someone get stripped of their award so fast.”

I released a chuckle at the turn of events. “To win an award meant it tasted great. They should have left her with the prize.”

“All it would have taken was a degree Fahrenheit change in her recipe and half of the population at the festival would have been medical emergencies. I personally felt she deserved to be stripped for such a risk she put all of us through.”

The conversation came to an end there, because I had caught sight of my alley. Scelnia hill. The time should be a little past seven pm. So the town was getting dark.

Very few at Scelnia could afford to set up the street lights in front of their homes. Just a few candles and lamps burning here and there to illuminate the path but it was still dark.

There was a faint awful smell as we passed. Probably the drainages had gotten filled up again and they were awaiting the entire neighborhood to pay up so they could hire the uncloggers.

A slight embarrassment filled me as we got further down the road. I lived in the last house to our left and it was only a matter of seconds we arrived.

My grip tightened on Hilra’s basket and the radiant blue of Lanthernia’s dress called out to me in a mocking way.

“Dear gods, if you can hear me. I hope things changed for the better.” I whispered my little prayer and took in a deep breath. 

“We’re here.” Saliel said as he placed a hand on my shoulder and raised two tickets to my face.

With an awkward smile, I collected the tickets and mentally prepared myself. Then I got down from the carriage.

I heard Saliel follow behind with each step I took closer to the door of my home. There was a lamp burning dimly in front. It looked like it had run out of oil.

A knot in my belly twisted at the thought of them not having enough oil to burn the lantern overnight. I came to a halt in my movement.

But it was too late to turn back now.

Summoning the last courage in me. I got near enough and knocked on the door. 

There was no response the first time, and I delayed but I knocked again. 

From behind, I could hear someone shout that almost made my heart leap for joy.

“Lanthernia someone is knocking!” Jepheeth yelled.

“You no longer have hands!?” Lanthernia screamed back but at the same time, the door opened and revealed a lighter Lanthernia. In a dress I couldn’t recognize.

She bought a new dress.

I had not gotten enough time to register her presence when she jumped on me and pulled me into a tight hug.

“Hey sister. I got you a dress and a ticket for the festival.” I murmured into her hair that smelled of citrus and vanilla.

Later on…

“I was quite occupied two days ago. That was why I couldn’t take Jepheeth to his final appointment. But it had been rescheduled for tomorrow and unfailingly, either I or father would make it.”

After I had gone in. I met with father and Jepheeth who were as healthy as ever. Mother was still not very good but they had more than enough to pay for better healer sessions.

Apparently, the lamp in front had dimmed because Jepheeth had forgotten to refill it before turning it on. I had also learned that the castle paid three gold coins for twelve bundles of hay. That was more than what father would have earned in three weeks all by himself.

“Lanthernia, you said you no longer worked at the farmland and worked at the crocheting store. What had you so occupied to miss Jepheeth’s final appointment?” 

“I had to attend Segei’s funeral. Even though it had been long we spoke to each other. He was still one of the good friends I had while we were acquainted.” She answered and took a large bite out of the caramelized apple we had gotten from a stand nearby.

We had walked farther away from the festival and sat on a large tree stump near the woods. We could still see the event gyrating in front of us and Saliel standing to our right.

I jumped to my feet and turned to Lanthernia. Now, I was backing the entire festival. “Did you say Segei’s funeral?”

“Yes. How much information of the city do you hear in your castle?” She asked me, actually very curious.

Apparently none. I was still yet to confirm if Caraven was alive. Now Segei? I was sure we had left him alive that evening. We all got back together.

Did the King return to the pub after we got back?

“Do you know what killed him?” I asked, trying my best to believe my encounter with him was not the last and what led to his demise.

“Honestly, there’s a lot of tales around it. Some said he was sick and believed in some sort of weird fate that drove him mad enough till he committed suicide. Others say, he had an altercation with someone over money and got stabbed. All that’s really known was that he was found with a knife in his chest.”

I needed to change the conversation. I would confirm this later.

“That’s enough sad news for today. Tell me something good. Something happy.”

Lanthernia joined me on my feet and held me by the hand. She took a bite from her apple and tugged me closer. “Let’s go for a walk. I actually have a secret to share.” She smiled so bright, it was contagious.

Together, we walked slightly deeper into the woods. Not too deep that we could no longer hear the event. But deep enough to not see it anymore. Saliel trodded closely.

“Does your guard follow you everywhere?” She asked. I knew the question had been on her mind for a while.

“Sometimes. And he’s my friend. His name is Saliel.”

“That’s amazing.” She started and waved towards Saliel, “Hi Saliel.” She yelled.

I could hear him laughing under his helmet.

“Remember Mrs.Garla? Or Miss Garla? I never know if she is wedded or not. But you remember Mama’s friend from long ago?”

“Yes.” I don’t know why it suddenly sounded strange hearing that name outside my dream world.

“She came visiting this morning. Mama showed good improvement after her visit. We begged her to come again and frequently as well. Her response was not so positive but it was indeed hopeful.”

“I’m surprised she remembered mother after all these years.” And I was skeptical as well.

“Me as well. But anything to make mother happy and healthy? I would approve. But that is not what I wished to tell you.” Her smile returned again. “I am betrothed.”

I almost doubted the words I heard.

Lanthernia had found a partner.

I tossed my half eaten caramel apple on a stick and jumped into her arms in a hug.

“After all these years of worrying. Thinking if anyone would ever find you appealing enough because of the struggles. You finally found a partner? Who is he? Tell me!”

She blushed so much that even under the night sky, I could notice the tinge of pink on her cheeks. “Remember Wren? The son of the mason?”

“The boy you had a crush on for years? No it cannot be!”

“It be!” She screamed and jumped and I jumped along with her in excitement. 

This was the best news of the night after Jepheeth’s recovery.

“My apologies for disturbing your jubilee, but it is almost ten pm and my mistress should be brought back to the courts.” King Xanthanius’s voice met with our ears and called our attention.

I was surprised to see him out here tonight. How did he know where to find me? Where was Saliel? 

Yet, under the darkness of the night, he still looked as handsome as you could imagine. The faint hue of the moon cast light on his face on the right angles. He was indeed a man to admire.

Lanthernia leaned into my ear and whispered “Has he bedded you yet? How was it?”

I pushed her away so quickly before she said something else that he might hear.