Post by Solana on Apr 7, 2024 7:38:18 GMT -5
Chapter Seven- Pyrrhic Victory
Leo awoke at dawn, surprised he'd gotten any sleep at all. He glanced up at Ronfar's bed, but it only held the man himself sleeping.
Mauri was sitting at the table, a book open in front of her, and busily making a list. When she met Leo's questioning expression, she shook her head with a sad smile. "I made coffee already and have porridge cooking."
"Coffee will suffice for now," Leo replied. He poured himself a mug, a little puzzled at the scent. After trying it, he realized it was spiced and quite good. "What is this?"
"A special blend from Zulan. They like adding certain spices to enhance it. Bronn always called it 'Thunderbrew'," Mauri explained.
"It's very good. If there's anything worse than the Corps' food, it's their mudwater excuse for coffee. I've had to learn to do without," Leo said, taking another grateful sip.
Mauri's smile quirked a little. "Leo, the last time you tried to make me coffee, you almost set the beans on fire. I'm still not quite sure how."
Leo's face reddened. Neither was he. "Perhaps learning swordsmanship depletes one's skill in cooking? How many do you know who can do both?"
Mauri chuckled a little under her breath. Leo was glad that she was able to laugh yet and came over to look at her list. "You seem to have a new strategy. What is all this?"
"A gift from a very talented young herbalist in Zulan. She made a wonderful cooling potion that was an effective remedy for horseradish vodka-"
"WHAT?!"
"Ah, it's a long story," Mauri replied hurriedly and changed the subject. "I thought I'd see if the fever and pain respond to herbs since my recovery magic is... not available right now. I also sent a fast pigeon to Pentagulia this morning detailing everything from last night, and another to Balse."
"Is there anything I can do to help?" Leo asked.
Mauri hesitated, then slowly shook her head. "Just keep an eye on Ronfar for me. I'll be in the nearby meadow. If anything happens... if he needs me...."
"I'll run faster than the Destiny can move or a dragon can fly," Leo promised.
Mauri gave him a weak smile, but a smile nonetheless, and grabbed a basket and her little knife. With a loving yet sad look at her beloved, she turned and left the house.
Leo sighed, hating feeling useless yet again. He noticed that they had tracked dead leaves into the house when coming in last night, so he picked up the broom and began sweeping at least.
After Leo had gotten the house cleaned up, Ronfar woke up. His color was better than it had been last night, but he was still drained from the failed healing. His head was aching as if his own mace had been taken to it a few times, which was new. "Mauri?"
Leo brought him over a tray with a bowl of porridge on it. "She went to go find some herbs for you. Are you hungry? Don't worry, she made it before she left."
Ronfar blinked. "Herbs?"
Leo wasn't quite meeting his gaze. "Yes, apparently she met an herbal healer in Zulan and wants to try one of her recipes." A pause. "After you eat, are you up for a card game?"
Oh, this was bad. Leo abhored gambling and normally had to be cajoled into playing cards even if it wasn't for money. If he was suggesting it, he may as well have been carrying a huge sign that said, "I have bad news that you don't want to hear."
Ronfar's stomach suddenly growled. The bad news could wait until after breakfast, at least. That porridge smelled very good- Mauri had made it just the way he liked it with crushed walnuts and dried currants mixed in.
The men ate in silence and started a game of phalanx. Ronfar managed three hands before flinging his cards down on the tray. "All right, Leo, spill it. You only ask me to play cards if you have bad news to share or you're drunk, and the only liquor in the house is that Goddess-forsaken vodka that Mauri was given for some reason."
Leo nodded and set his cards down as well. "How much do you remember about last night's healing attempt?"
"Let's see... Josam brought me out. Mauri recited her part, I did mine, you and the villagers were chanting, and then.... burning. Lots and lots of burning," Ronfar answered. He thought he had heard deep laughter, too, but didn't want to bring that up.
"I'll fill you in on the rest," Leo said grimly. He relayed what he had seen and heard from Mauri, finishing with her loss of her healing abilities.
Ronfar's eyes went wide. "What?! No! That can't be true!"
"I'm afraid it is. I was hoping it was due to fatigue, but it was the case even after giving her a starlight and this morning as well. Have you ever heard of this happening?"
"Never." Ronfar stared down at the cards in disbelief. "Goddess, Leo, what have I done to her? She's lost her healing and who knows what Lauryl will do to her after this? I should do her a favor and just end this all now-"
"NO." In a flash, Leo's sword was out and the flat was tapping Ronfar's hand. "Do you still hold true to the vow you made to Mauri as children, to always protect her?"
Ronfar's face flushed red with anger. "Of course I do!" He paused, then looked ashamed. "Oh."
"'Oh' indeed," Leo repeated sarcastically. "Don't you dare belittle Mauri's sacrifices for you with such cowardice. Stop feeling sorry for yourself and think of the woman you love. If she were ill, how would you feel if she killed herself when there was still a card in play? How would you feel for the rest of your life?!"
Tears appeared in Ronfar's eyes. He reached in his pocket and pulled out the engagement dice that Mauri had had made for him, that she had blown on for him to give him luck. He tossed them onto the breakfast tray.
Double sixes.
"You're right, Leo. What the hell was I thinking?! I can't... I would never.... " Ronfar groaned and buried his face in his hands.
Leo sheathed his blade. "You weren't thinking, brother, because illnesses make people say ridiculous things. Things that they don't mean and would never, ever do."
That touched Ronfar. Leo wasn't always demonstrative of his affection (except for Mauri) and it was rare indeed to hear the epithet 'brother'. "We'll be brothers in truth in almost three years," Ronfar promised. "You'll be my best man at the wedding and our babysitter for your nieces and nephews. Mauri and I worked it all out."
"I look forward to dancing at that wedding and holding those babies," Leo replied, a few tears in his own eyes. He wiped them impatiently before fishing a few silver coins out of his pocket and throwing them on the tray. "Now, deal. I think I've worked out a new strategy for this game."
Ronfar found himself grinning as he grabbed his own coins. "The next bottle of ale will be on you."
The next bottle of ale was on Leo.
As was the one after that, and the one after that.
It wasn't until the fifth hand that Leo finally won, and Ronfar insisted that he hadn't let him win. Leo wasn't sure that he believed it, but Mauri coming in with a basket of herbs cut off any discussion about it.
The priestess looked rough and had red, puffy eyes, but she was relieved to see Ronfar awake and came to kiss him good morning. "How are you doing, love?"
"A bit of a headache this morning but taking Leo's money seems to have helped with that," Ronfar replied, winking at Leo and jingling his noticeably fuller moneybag. Leo grumbled a little under his breath, making a note to check the cards later.
"I think this recipe of Leyla's is good for headaches as well as a fever. We can try a separate potion for the pain in two hours. With recovery magic making things worse, I thought we could go into a new direction-" Mauri began.
"Leo told me, sugarplum," Ronfar said gently, taking her hand.
Mauri looked down, obviously trying to beat more tears. When she had control of herself again, she wore the look that Ronfar recognized as her 'triage' look- when things were going to hell but it was time to make a plan and get to it. "Yes, my magic is still gone, but it wasn't helping anyway. I'll look into that once we have you better, love."
"What's going into that potion?" Leo asked curiously.
"Wintergreen, peppermint, a touch of ginger, chamomile, and lavender," Mauri explained. "I helped Leyla make potions many times and she taught me a number of tricks. It won't be long."
Mauri went to the kitchen to light a fire and start chopping the herbs she had collected. She heard Leo say something about a rematch and some jingling of coins and had to chuckle a little. No one could beat Ronfar's luck when it came to gambling.
By the time the potion was ready, Ronfar had a large pile of coins in front of him and was laughing while Leo was checking every card in the deck for marks.
"The potion is ready. Ronfar, do you need anything to help with getting it down?" Mauri asked.
"Probably a basin. When I tried healing herbs and dover nuts on the other patients, they just threw them up," Ronfar replied. Unnoticed, Leo threw the cards he'd been examining down in disgust.
"This doesn't have any of the purely healing herbs in it. Are you sure you still want to try it?" Mauri asked cautiously.
He thought a moment. "Get me that basin and I'll drink it."
"All right." Mauri grabbed one that was normally used for holding soapy water for mopping the floor. She handed it and the potion bottle to Ronfar and got a wet cloth ready just in case.
Ronfar winked at her. "Bottoms up!" He tossed it back in a few gulps and everyone waited.
After a few seconds, Ronfar's smile vanished. His face took on a slight green color, and he grabbed the basin and brought it to his lips just in time as he threw up.
"NO!" Mauri screamed in frustration. She started wiping Ronfar's face as Leo went to get him a cup of water to wash his mouth out. As soon as she was done, she sank to her knees and buried her face in Ronfar's lap. He leaned over and held her close as she sobbed. "I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry.... everything I've done has only made you worse..."
"No, you've asked me before trying anything.... that's how this has been, my love...."
Leo quietly took the basin outside to dump and clean it, trying to hide his own tears.
Ronfar was going to die.
His best friend, his sister's betrothed, was going to die.
And there wasn't a damn thing he could do to prevent it.
Even after the basin was clean, he didn't have the strength to go back into the house. Instead, Leo stared out to sea in the direction of Pentagulia, mentally cursing the High Priestess Lauryl and all of the other useless Chosen. The cowards who were huddled in the Holy City, keeping themselves isolated and pure and away from the people they had sworn to serve.
Ronfar and Mauri were worth more than all of them. How could Althena allow this?
As if in answer, Leo suddenly spotted a faint shape on the sea from the northeast. It grew bigger and clearer every second, clearly moving quickly. His heart gave a lurch as he recognized it.
The Dragonship Destiny.... coming from Pentagulia!
Could it possibly be....?
It felt like years had passed before the ship came up on the beach from the Minea Sea. Leo ran to meet it, his heart pounding in anticipation. Was this the miracle he had prayed for, had bargained for?
"Sir Leo!" Smythe was coming down the stairs from the deck, waving and smiling widely. One hand held onto a small package as if it were as precious as a dragon diamond. "Sir! News from Pentagulia! You won't believe it! I can hardly believe it myself, but it's true!"
"Smythe, report," Leo ordered, a tiny smile on his lips.
Smythe automatically straightened his posture and saluted. "Yes, sir. The Chosen have found the reborn Goddess Althena and brought her to Pentagulia."
"What?! The Goddess... has seen fit to come among us again?!" Leo gasped. His thoughts started racing. "Then we can petition her in person! Smythe, you must bring us all to Pentagulia immediately-"
Smythe laughed happily and shook his head. "No need, sir! Althena met with all of her high priests and priestesses in person to thank them for caring for Lunar in her absence. She also said that they could ask a boon of her, and Balse asked for a cure for Ronfar." He held out the package. "She said- she said that she gave him two accolades for a reason, and she has much work for him to do!"
Leo stared at the package as he accepted it, then at the healing cut on his palm.
How could he have ever doubted his Goddess? He had called out to her, and she had answered in his greatest hour of need. Ronfar's life would be spared, and just in time.
He would never doubt again.
"Thank you, Smythe! If you'll excuse me..." Leo didn't even wait for a response before he took off running, cradling the precious, precious package to his chest.
He burst through the door of Ronfar's house like a madman, laughing in delight. Ronfar and Mauri were still embracing and wiping each other's tears and stared at him as if he had lost his mind at his entrance.
"A miracle! Althena has come back to us and heard our pleas..." Leo quickly explained what Smythe had told him as Mauri opened the package.
Inside were a letter and a bottle of a blood-red potion. The letter was in Balse's familiar handwriting, and it warmed her heart to see.
My dear children,
I am sure that the members of the Corps will have told you, but our beloved Goddess has come back to us. She is dwelling among us in Pentagulia along with her most trusted members of the Chosen.
On the day of discovery, she called the most highly ranked members to come before her for her blessing and a boon. I will never forget her beauty and benevolence- what an unexpected and unearned blessing to experience it in person!
As for a requested boon, there was no hesitation in asking it for you, Ronfar. She nodded and told me that you had been given two gifts for a reason and that she has a very special destiny planned for you.
The included potion is that cure. Take it immediately, no matter your current state. It will erase any trace of the plague from your body.
Dear daughter Mauri, I have requested an audience concerning the loss of your healing abilities and am told that any answers or meetings must wait for now. A returning Goddess has much to concern herself with. I am very sorry.
With our Goddess back and Ronfar to be cured- I see a very bright future ahead for our Chosen and our beloved Lunar.
By the grace of our most benevolent Goddess,
Balse
Mauri opened the top of the bottle of potion, which smelled a bit metallic. The coloring was odd and murky below the blood red. She had a very strange feeling just holding it.
"Not as inviting as your potion, is it?" Ronfar said casually. His eyes were slightly narrowed, as if he too had his misgivings.
"Does it matter?" Leo couldn't believe that Ronfar was looking at the potion first. "A gift personally given from the hand of our own Goddess? Ronfar, drink it down now!"
Ronfar nodded and took a sip, then nearly spit it out. "NO! Ugh, that's nasty!"
"Ronfar?!" Mauri gasped. "The taste shouldn't matter so much-"
Ronfar shook his head. "It's not that. Something's not right here, sugarplum. I've got a very, very bad feeling about this. Every instinct is screaming to keep it away."
Mauri bit her lip. Her own said the same, but this was Ronfar's life on the line! Everything they had tried to do had made him worse and he was almost out of time.
"That's nonsense!" Leo exploded. "Ronfar, this is the miracle that we've prayed for! Your instincts are going to lead you to the grave!"
Ronfar looked up at Mauri pleadingly. She didn't want to lie to him, but... "Ronfar, whatever your instincts say, we can fix it after you're better. Please, please drink it. For me, for our life together, for our future children." She gripped his hand tightly, gently moving it and the bottle back to his lips.
Ronfar let out a long breath. "For you, my love. Just for you." He lifted the bottle once more and downed it in a few gulps. Leo had the basin ready in case.
Ronfar groaned and managed to keep the potion down by strength of will alone. Mauri was still gripping his hand and could feel the changes in his body as the potion entered it. It gave off a murky feeling as the power in it shot into his bloodstream and was carried everywhere.
Suddenly, the ever-present fever began to drop. The pain that Ronfar had been living with for weeks trickled down to nothing. Sweat appeared at his hairline. The gray tinge to his complexion shifted to a healthy, vibrant pink. His eyes seemed to sparkle again.
Ronfar felt his forehead, then shifted his body experimentally. Then he grinned in relief, the familiar, no worries grin that had stolen Mauri's heart years ago. "It's gone," he confirmed, then let out a loud whoop. "It's GONE! I'm cured!" He reached out to Mauri and pulled her tightly into a hug and kiss.
Leo shouted in joy and ran out of the house to alert Josam and the other villagers. Mauri pulled Ronfar tighter, feeling his heart pounding against hers, feeling the plague completely gone from his body.
Her own heart sang the most joyous prayer of thanks of her life.
That night, Raculi threw an impromptu festival for Ronfar's cure and the return of the Goddess. What they lacked in numbers and fancy supplies, they made up for in sheer joy. The supplies that Leo had brought from Azado were cracked open and the guards of the Corps were treated as heroes for bringing both news and potion.
Ronfar insisted on helping with the cooking, as he had had enough of bed and wanted to celebrate feeling alive again. Fish was frying, boar was roasting, mountains of salad were assembled and fresh bread baking all day. Mauri helped a group of women that were turning out dozens and dozens of cookies. The men of the Corps had offered to assist, but Leo asked them to help set up tables and chairs to eat outside instead.
The meal was magical. Ronfar and Mauri led the blessing before the people tucked in. Mauri hadn't had much of an appetite while trying to heal Ronfar and was surprised at how much she was able to put away. Ronfar, too, was grabbing slab after slab of fried fish and enough salad to feed a horse. Leo was putting them both to shame.
The best part of the night, everyone agreed, was during the dancing. Leo and Ronfar had been talked into performing one of the Shepherd's Staff dances. Every child of Raculi was taught the basics of staff and sling to protect their herds. The dances were ways to build both strength and speed while wielding the staff, and Leo was the best that Raculi had ever seen.
"Do you believe that you can keep up with me?" Leo asked jokingly.
"I'm superpowered now. You don't have a chance," Ronfar replied with a grin.
Leo smiled back and poked him with his staff. "This is where I get my payback for the phalanx losses."
Potion or not, Ronfar was soon left in the dust as Leo swiftly moved through the remembered steps of the dance. His staff whirled in his hands as smoothly as butter, and he spun and ducked and traded blows with Ronfar with ease.
Then the dance shifted to a cooperative dance, and Leo slowed a bit to trade first staff taps with his best friend and then the staffs themselves. They stomped and jumped in unison, tossing their staffs from hand to hand before trading them again.
They finished with a flourish. Mauri was the first on her feet clapping and shouting her praise. Ronfar bowed to Leo as the finer dancer, but Leo grasped his forearm and pulled him up and into a hug.
---From Mauri's diary---
It's kind of funny how the very worst day of my life was the predecessor to the very best (so far). To see Ronfar and Leo dancing and smiling like we were all teenagers again was a blessing from Althena herself.
After the dancing was over and we cleaned up the meal, Ronfar asked if Leo would mind sleeping in our old house for the night. We renewed our love again with so much joy this time. The future we've dreamt of is within our reach again.
If only my magic would come back, though. I know very well that I will face penalties for my actions towards the Mother High Priestess Lauryl, but it was worth it. If losing it forever is the price for Ronfar's life, I would pay it again and again and again...
---
This morning, the Corps handed over orders from the upper Chosen. Leo was to rejoin the Corps and go give a report in person in Pentagulia. I know he is sad to be leaving us again, but grateful to be going back into service the way he knows best. We all knew that the lives we chose would lead us to where the Goddess needs us, not our own desires.
Ronfar is ordered to stay in Raculi a bit longer to be sure of his recovery. I am ordered to stay as well until my fate is decided and continue looking after Ronfar. It will be difficult to wait for my punishment, but remaining with my love was an unexpected mercy.
Ronfar has been buzzing with energy and excitement like a bee in the springtime. He's been writing sermons and pouring through our books. His life was a gift from the Goddess, he says, and he means to pay it forward through service.
I have seen this before when the healed have taken on new exuberance in their love and service to Althena. He's planning on giving a ceremony tomorrow night for the whole village! I imagine that it will be full of thanks for their help, joy for life, and a call to help take care of each other.
I must remember to make sure our robes are newly washed and pressed.
---
Ronfar's service was not what I expected....
... but no one reads this but me, so I can be truthful here.
The service started with singing, which Ronfar quickly cut off. Several of our friends looked at me, but I had no idea why he had done this. He read from the Chosen's revised version of 'The Lore and Laws of the Goddess' and began a sermon that chillingly reminded me of some of High Priestess Lauryl's.
We had strayed from the path of the Goddess. Singing and dancing had been banned by the Chosen for years. The party we had thrown to celebrate new life and health had been completely inappropriate, and Ronfar himself would be fasting as penance. We needed to worry less about pleasure and entertainment and more about the Goddess' laws.
Then Ronfar offered as proof the fact that an unfixable plague had killed so many and so needlessly. He alone had been spared that he might save them all, to bring them back to the fold as Althena's chosen children.
`Angry murmurs were audible from our friends, and some of the glances towards me were less than friendly. I was completely flabbergasted. Ronfar had NEVER agreed with this interpretation- he had talked openly about recreating the Goddess festivals of old from Dragonmaster Alex's time. I had no idea what to say to this.
But Josam did, and that's when things got much worse....
"Ronfar, my boy, you can't mean all of this," Josam said kindly. He smiled at the other villagers who started nodding. "We've been using music to celebrate the Goddess here forever. Legends say the Goddess herself was a singer beyond all earthly beauty."
"That was disproven by the Chosen five years ago, Grandfather," Ronfar replied curtly.
Josam snorted. "Nonsense! Listen, lad, I know you've been through a tough time, and it's natural to want to cling to certainty after that. But you can't throw away the beauties of life-"
"Don't patronize me!" Ronfar shouted.
Dead silence met the outburst. "Ronfar, perhaps we should take a break and go take a walk," Mauri suggested, grabbing Ronfar's arm entreatingly.
Ronfar shook his arm free and stepped away from Mauri. He glared at the crowd, all of whom were refusing to meet his eyes. "I'm trying to save you all, don't you see that?! We've spoken so long only of love and mercy, but we've missed the retributions of the Goddess! A mother must love AND punish her children to set them on the path to righteousness!"
"Retribution? Punishment? That's not how Althena's ever operated." Josam's eyes narrowed as the murmurs began again. "What's gotten into you?"
"Don't think you're safe from the Goddess' anger, old man," Ronfar snarled, and the villagers gasped. Mauri was horrified as Ronfar continued. "None of you are! The plague proved that! We've fallen so far that not even the priesthood could drag us back to life."
Mauri stepped forward, her eyes flashing with anger. As much as it hurt to have her failure weaponized like this, it was the implied threats to their friends that she would not tolerate. "Ronfar, that's enough. You've made your points, so let us allow our friends to think it over."
Ronfar seemed to realize he had gone too far and tried to backpedal. "I'm speaking for everyone's good. I don't want any more lives lost, or any more disasters! There's still time to turn back to the true light of the Chosen!"
"All of us will pray to avoid more disasters. I thank you all for coming, and may the Goddess keep you and yours safe," Mauri cut in.
"And yours as well," came the ritual answer, but from far fewer of the villagers than expected. Several of them still looked confused, while a few had angrily approached Josam to ask him questions. He just shook his head.
It was the custom for a priest or priestess to be available for questions, counsel, or to arrange for a healing after a sermon, but Mauri was afraid of what else would come out of Ronfar's mouth this evening. In between a few short greetings and reassuring smiles, she all but dragged her beloved home to ask what was going on in privacy.
I had thought that we could talk things out at home, away from an audience. But...
Mauri was silent, trying to gather her thoughts as she hung up her ritual robe at home. Josam's words kept echoing in her head. What has gotten into you? What has gotten into you?
"This is going to be harder than I thought, getting everyone back on the right road," Ronfar commented casually as he removed his own robe. He turned to Mauri with a smile. "Luckily I have you to back me up, sugarplum."
"Back you up how, Ronfar?" Mauri asked, crossing her arms. "Threatening the friends that came to help with calling up power to heal you? The ones that we grew up with and helped look after us when we lost our parents?"
Ronfar laughed, waving her concerns away. "Of course not. But you didn't think that joining the Chosen meant coddling people, did you? Just making their boo-boos go away and go back to breaking Althena's laws without a care in Lunar?"
Coddling?! Mauri closed her eyes, remembering the relief in Wuta's face as Mota's illness was cleared out. Healing Bronn's leg in the middle of battle and shooting a wyburn to protect his back. Going from patient to patient and healing them to the point of fainting. The happiness in everyone's eyes after their water was made safe and treats shoved into her hands and being pulled into dance after dance.
Ronfar took her silence as agreement. "Just like our kids one day. We'll teach them the Goddess' ways early so they'll stay clear of her retribution. It'll be the best way to keep them safe."
Mauri felt sick at the image he painted- teaching their children to fear Althena instead of loving her and choosing to come to her on their own. "Never."
"Come again?" Ronfar asked in puzzlement.
Mauri's fists clenched. "You will NOT be using fear and punishment to teach our children the ways of Althena. I forbid it!"
Ronfar stared at her as if she were a stranger. "You're 'forbidding' me to teach our kids right from wrong? You've fallen too." His voice lowered menacingly. "Or do you believe that it was an accident that you lost your healing powers after threatening the High Priestess?"
Mauri reeled back as if she had been struck. She almost wished she had been as it would have hurt less. The cruelty in that line was something she had never heard from her beloved's lips.
Ronfar's eyes went wide and he came to embrace her, but Mauri stepped back. "I didn't mean that, Mauri! Goddess, I don't know where that came from! I'm sorry, I just want to see you happy and able to heal again."
Mauri swallowed hard and fought her tears. "I know that. I'll pay the penance for that eventually, but the Chosen hasn't decided my fate yet." She sighed, wanting this conversation to be over. "It's been a long day, so let's go to bed."
She went towards her trunk for a nightgown, but Ronfar hadn't moved. "There's something else we should discuss."
Mauri stopped and turned. Ronfar's eyes looked haunted, and his tone had sounded defeated. "Very well," she said cautiously.
"You know the law of the Chosen as well as I do. We can't get married for two and a half years yet. But we've been living and carrying on as if we have exchanged vows already," Ronfar began.
Mauri let out a soft laugh. "There is no law against that even for the clergy, beloved. Althena takes great joy in the love of her children. And we have exchanged vows of a sort already." She held up the locket that hung against her heart.
Ronfar looked down. "I shouldn't have done that yet. We're setting a bad example, Mauri. How can the people turn to us for counsel if we're so close to crossing a line ourselves?"
Mauri stared at him incredulously. "You mean it."
"I do. I think that we should live separately until we're able to marry," Ronfar finished.
Once again, Mauri felt as if she had been struck by a man who would never dream of uttering a harsh word to her. What had happened to him?
"We've always respected each other's boundaries, Ronfar. If that's how you feel, I can move into my and Leo's house for now," Mauri said slowly.
"I just really think it would be for the best," Ronfar replied, still staring at the floor.
Mauri waited a few moments, but Ronfar didn't move or meet her gaze. He meant it.
She couldn't keep back the tears as she gathered her things to place in her trunk. Certainly they had occasionally needed a bit of space or not been in the mood or place for intimacy, but never had it been so blatantly a rejection before.
After grabbing her trunk and heading to the door, Mauri looked back once more. Ronfar was facing away from her, his head still down and still silent. "I love you," she said simply before leaving.
There was no reply.
My thoughts are still racing. To be sent away like this- why? What could Ronfar be thinking? Why has he changed so much in such little time? I am afraid of what is to come, and where this originated.
I sit here wrapped up in Bronn's quilt, a gift of friendship. I am trying a nighttime brew of Raculi's wildflowers, staring at my statue of the Goddess. Nothing is bringing me peace, nothing is bringing me answers.
There's only the eternal 'why?'
"Fire! Fire!"
Mauri was snatched out of her fitful sleep by the screaming. She jumped out of bed and paused only to grab a bucket and the box of herbal remedies she had begun putting together from Leyla's example.
Once outside, she followed the screams and scent of smoke to a nearby house that was up in flames. The house was familiar, one that she had spent many hours playing in as a child with Leo and Ronfar.
It was Josam's house.
"Josam! Oh, Goddess, where are you?" Mauri shouted, picking up her pace.
"We have him, Mauri!" the mayor called back. He and a few other villagers were carrying Ronfar's grandfather out of the house. Others were busily carrying endless buckets of water from the sea to quench the flames.
Mauri passed off her bucket to a villager and came dashing up to where Josam had been laid down on the grass. He was coughing from the smoke and had terrible burns on his legs. "Josam, lie still. I'm going to try to heal you," Mauri said strongly. She held her hands at her heart. "Holy Mother, this man has been as my own grandfather. I beg of you, lend me your strength that he may be restored!"
As she had expected, nothing happened. Instead, Mauri opened her box of herbs and selected a few aloe leaves. She slit them open with her little knife and began applying the juice to his burns. There were also a few ready-made concoctions of various healing herbs, one of which she gave to Josam to drink to help clear out the smoke damage.
"What happened, Josam? Do you remember anything?" the mayor asked kindly.
Josam shook his head, looking dazed. "No, I had banked the fire and was already in bed. I tried to get out, but a beam fell from the roof and hit my legs."
Mauri got to her feet. "I'm afraid that's all I can do for now. I'll go wake up Ronfar and see if he'll finish healing the damage."
Josam stared at her for a few moments before nodding. Mauri frowned, knowing there was something that Josam wasn't saying but also that this wasn't the time. Instead, she picked up the skirt of her nightgown and ran back to Ronfar's house.
"Ronfar! Wake up, please! Josam's house has burned and he needs you!" Mauri called out, pounding on the door with her fist.
Ronfar opened it in seconds. "What? Is he badly injured?"
"Yes, he had to be carried out. Please, Ronfar, I can only do so much with herbs now," Mauri explained.
Ronfar went for his robe without an argument. "A fire? How did it start?"
Mauri blinked, wondering why that was his question instead of more about his grandfather's injuries. "He doesn't know, he was in bed. But a beam fell and struck him and he has terrible burns."
Ronfar nodded solemnly. "A tragic accident, then. The Goddess strikes swiftly."
"What?!" Mauri froze, unable to believe what she had just heard.
"I tried to warn them, Mauri. Bad things happen when we turn away from Althena," Ronfar explained. "But even an accident can serve her purposes." His face turned grim. "Let's see how he's doing."
An awful, cold suspicion gripped Mauri's heart as she followed him. No. No, it can't possibly be. Not to his beloved grandfather. It was just an accident.
Wasn't it?
Ronfar seemed like his old self as he knelt by his grandfather's side, weeping a few tears as he chanted prayers to heal the damage from the fire. Josam MUST stay with him until he was recovered and a new house could be built, and he would accept no arguments.
No, Mauri had been mistaken. She was tired and heartsick from the day, that was all.
Just an accident.
Leo awoke at dawn, surprised he'd gotten any sleep at all. He glanced up at Ronfar's bed, but it only held the man himself sleeping.
Mauri was sitting at the table, a book open in front of her, and busily making a list. When she met Leo's questioning expression, she shook her head with a sad smile. "I made coffee already and have porridge cooking."
"Coffee will suffice for now," Leo replied. He poured himself a mug, a little puzzled at the scent. After trying it, he realized it was spiced and quite good. "What is this?"
"A special blend from Zulan. They like adding certain spices to enhance it. Bronn always called it 'Thunderbrew'," Mauri explained.
"It's very good. If there's anything worse than the Corps' food, it's their mudwater excuse for coffee. I've had to learn to do without," Leo said, taking another grateful sip.
Mauri's smile quirked a little. "Leo, the last time you tried to make me coffee, you almost set the beans on fire. I'm still not quite sure how."
Leo's face reddened. Neither was he. "Perhaps learning swordsmanship depletes one's skill in cooking? How many do you know who can do both?"
Mauri chuckled a little under her breath. Leo was glad that she was able to laugh yet and came over to look at her list. "You seem to have a new strategy. What is all this?"
"A gift from a very talented young herbalist in Zulan. She made a wonderful cooling potion that was an effective remedy for horseradish vodka-"
"WHAT?!"
"Ah, it's a long story," Mauri replied hurriedly and changed the subject. "I thought I'd see if the fever and pain respond to herbs since my recovery magic is... not available right now. I also sent a fast pigeon to Pentagulia this morning detailing everything from last night, and another to Balse."
"Is there anything I can do to help?" Leo asked.
Mauri hesitated, then slowly shook her head. "Just keep an eye on Ronfar for me. I'll be in the nearby meadow. If anything happens... if he needs me...."
"I'll run faster than the Destiny can move or a dragon can fly," Leo promised.
Mauri gave him a weak smile, but a smile nonetheless, and grabbed a basket and her little knife. With a loving yet sad look at her beloved, she turned and left the house.
Leo sighed, hating feeling useless yet again. He noticed that they had tracked dead leaves into the house when coming in last night, so he picked up the broom and began sweeping at least.
After Leo had gotten the house cleaned up, Ronfar woke up. His color was better than it had been last night, but he was still drained from the failed healing. His head was aching as if his own mace had been taken to it a few times, which was new. "Mauri?"
Leo brought him over a tray with a bowl of porridge on it. "She went to go find some herbs for you. Are you hungry? Don't worry, she made it before she left."
Ronfar blinked. "Herbs?"
Leo wasn't quite meeting his gaze. "Yes, apparently she met an herbal healer in Zulan and wants to try one of her recipes." A pause. "After you eat, are you up for a card game?"
Oh, this was bad. Leo abhored gambling and normally had to be cajoled into playing cards even if it wasn't for money. If he was suggesting it, he may as well have been carrying a huge sign that said, "I have bad news that you don't want to hear."
Ronfar's stomach suddenly growled. The bad news could wait until after breakfast, at least. That porridge smelled very good- Mauri had made it just the way he liked it with crushed walnuts and dried currants mixed in.
The men ate in silence and started a game of phalanx. Ronfar managed three hands before flinging his cards down on the tray. "All right, Leo, spill it. You only ask me to play cards if you have bad news to share or you're drunk, and the only liquor in the house is that Goddess-forsaken vodka that Mauri was given for some reason."
Leo nodded and set his cards down as well. "How much do you remember about last night's healing attempt?"
"Let's see... Josam brought me out. Mauri recited her part, I did mine, you and the villagers were chanting, and then.... burning. Lots and lots of burning," Ronfar answered. He thought he had heard deep laughter, too, but didn't want to bring that up.
"I'll fill you in on the rest," Leo said grimly. He relayed what he had seen and heard from Mauri, finishing with her loss of her healing abilities.
Ronfar's eyes went wide. "What?! No! That can't be true!"
"I'm afraid it is. I was hoping it was due to fatigue, but it was the case even after giving her a starlight and this morning as well. Have you ever heard of this happening?"
"Never." Ronfar stared down at the cards in disbelief. "Goddess, Leo, what have I done to her? She's lost her healing and who knows what Lauryl will do to her after this? I should do her a favor and just end this all now-"
"NO." In a flash, Leo's sword was out and the flat was tapping Ronfar's hand. "Do you still hold true to the vow you made to Mauri as children, to always protect her?"
Ronfar's face flushed red with anger. "Of course I do!" He paused, then looked ashamed. "Oh."
"'Oh' indeed," Leo repeated sarcastically. "Don't you dare belittle Mauri's sacrifices for you with such cowardice. Stop feeling sorry for yourself and think of the woman you love. If she were ill, how would you feel if she killed herself when there was still a card in play? How would you feel for the rest of your life?!"
Tears appeared in Ronfar's eyes. He reached in his pocket and pulled out the engagement dice that Mauri had had made for him, that she had blown on for him to give him luck. He tossed them onto the breakfast tray.
Double sixes.
"You're right, Leo. What the hell was I thinking?! I can't... I would never.... " Ronfar groaned and buried his face in his hands.
Leo sheathed his blade. "You weren't thinking, brother, because illnesses make people say ridiculous things. Things that they don't mean and would never, ever do."
That touched Ronfar. Leo wasn't always demonstrative of his affection (except for Mauri) and it was rare indeed to hear the epithet 'brother'. "We'll be brothers in truth in almost three years," Ronfar promised. "You'll be my best man at the wedding and our babysitter for your nieces and nephews. Mauri and I worked it all out."
"I look forward to dancing at that wedding and holding those babies," Leo replied, a few tears in his own eyes. He wiped them impatiently before fishing a few silver coins out of his pocket and throwing them on the tray. "Now, deal. I think I've worked out a new strategy for this game."
Ronfar found himself grinning as he grabbed his own coins. "The next bottle of ale will be on you."
The next bottle of ale was on Leo.
As was the one after that, and the one after that.
It wasn't until the fifth hand that Leo finally won, and Ronfar insisted that he hadn't let him win. Leo wasn't sure that he believed it, but Mauri coming in with a basket of herbs cut off any discussion about it.
The priestess looked rough and had red, puffy eyes, but she was relieved to see Ronfar awake and came to kiss him good morning. "How are you doing, love?"
"A bit of a headache this morning but taking Leo's money seems to have helped with that," Ronfar replied, winking at Leo and jingling his noticeably fuller moneybag. Leo grumbled a little under his breath, making a note to check the cards later.
"I think this recipe of Leyla's is good for headaches as well as a fever. We can try a separate potion for the pain in two hours. With recovery magic making things worse, I thought we could go into a new direction-" Mauri began.
"Leo told me, sugarplum," Ronfar said gently, taking her hand.
Mauri looked down, obviously trying to beat more tears. When she had control of herself again, she wore the look that Ronfar recognized as her 'triage' look- when things were going to hell but it was time to make a plan and get to it. "Yes, my magic is still gone, but it wasn't helping anyway. I'll look into that once we have you better, love."
"What's going into that potion?" Leo asked curiously.
"Wintergreen, peppermint, a touch of ginger, chamomile, and lavender," Mauri explained. "I helped Leyla make potions many times and she taught me a number of tricks. It won't be long."
Mauri went to the kitchen to light a fire and start chopping the herbs she had collected. She heard Leo say something about a rematch and some jingling of coins and had to chuckle a little. No one could beat Ronfar's luck when it came to gambling.
By the time the potion was ready, Ronfar had a large pile of coins in front of him and was laughing while Leo was checking every card in the deck for marks.
"The potion is ready. Ronfar, do you need anything to help with getting it down?" Mauri asked.
"Probably a basin. When I tried healing herbs and dover nuts on the other patients, they just threw them up," Ronfar replied. Unnoticed, Leo threw the cards he'd been examining down in disgust.
"This doesn't have any of the purely healing herbs in it. Are you sure you still want to try it?" Mauri asked cautiously.
He thought a moment. "Get me that basin and I'll drink it."
"All right." Mauri grabbed one that was normally used for holding soapy water for mopping the floor. She handed it and the potion bottle to Ronfar and got a wet cloth ready just in case.
Ronfar winked at her. "Bottoms up!" He tossed it back in a few gulps and everyone waited.
After a few seconds, Ronfar's smile vanished. His face took on a slight green color, and he grabbed the basin and brought it to his lips just in time as he threw up.
"NO!" Mauri screamed in frustration. She started wiping Ronfar's face as Leo went to get him a cup of water to wash his mouth out. As soon as she was done, she sank to her knees and buried her face in Ronfar's lap. He leaned over and held her close as she sobbed. "I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry.... everything I've done has only made you worse..."
"No, you've asked me before trying anything.... that's how this has been, my love...."
Leo quietly took the basin outside to dump and clean it, trying to hide his own tears.
Ronfar was going to die.
His best friend, his sister's betrothed, was going to die.
And there wasn't a damn thing he could do to prevent it.
Even after the basin was clean, he didn't have the strength to go back into the house. Instead, Leo stared out to sea in the direction of Pentagulia, mentally cursing the High Priestess Lauryl and all of the other useless Chosen. The cowards who were huddled in the Holy City, keeping themselves isolated and pure and away from the people they had sworn to serve.
Ronfar and Mauri were worth more than all of them. How could Althena allow this?
As if in answer, Leo suddenly spotted a faint shape on the sea from the northeast. It grew bigger and clearer every second, clearly moving quickly. His heart gave a lurch as he recognized it.
The Dragonship Destiny.... coming from Pentagulia!
Could it possibly be....?
It felt like years had passed before the ship came up on the beach from the Minea Sea. Leo ran to meet it, his heart pounding in anticipation. Was this the miracle he had prayed for, had bargained for?
"Sir Leo!" Smythe was coming down the stairs from the deck, waving and smiling widely. One hand held onto a small package as if it were as precious as a dragon diamond. "Sir! News from Pentagulia! You won't believe it! I can hardly believe it myself, but it's true!"
"Smythe, report," Leo ordered, a tiny smile on his lips.
Smythe automatically straightened his posture and saluted. "Yes, sir. The Chosen have found the reborn Goddess Althena and brought her to Pentagulia."
"What?! The Goddess... has seen fit to come among us again?!" Leo gasped. His thoughts started racing. "Then we can petition her in person! Smythe, you must bring us all to Pentagulia immediately-"
Smythe laughed happily and shook his head. "No need, sir! Althena met with all of her high priests and priestesses in person to thank them for caring for Lunar in her absence. She also said that they could ask a boon of her, and Balse asked for a cure for Ronfar." He held out the package. "She said- she said that she gave him two accolades for a reason, and she has much work for him to do!"
Leo stared at the package as he accepted it, then at the healing cut on his palm.
How could he have ever doubted his Goddess? He had called out to her, and she had answered in his greatest hour of need. Ronfar's life would be spared, and just in time.
He would never doubt again.
"Thank you, Smythe! If you'll excuse me..." Leo didn't even wait for a response before he took off running, cradling the precious, precious package to his chest.
He burst through the door of Ronfar's house like a madman, laughing in delight. Ronfar and Mauri were still embracing and wiping each other's tears and stared at him as if he had lost his mind at his entrance.
"A miracle! Althena has come back to us and heard our pleas..." Leo quickly explained what Smythe had told him as Mauri opened the package.
Inside were a letter and a bottle of a blood-red potion. The letter was in Balse's familiar handwriting, and it warmed her heart to see.
My dear children,
I am sure that the members of the Corps will have told you, but our beloved Goddess has come back to us. She is dwelling among us in Pentagulia along with her most trusted members of the Chosen.
On the day of discovery, she called the most highly ranked members to come before her for her blessing and a boon. I will never forget her beauty and benevolence- what an unexpected and unearned blessing to experience it in person!
As for a requested boon, there was no hesitation in asking it for you, Ronfar. She nodded and told me that you had been given two gifts for a reason and that she has a very special destiny planned for you.
The included potion is that cure. Take it immediately, no matter your current state. It will erase any trace of the plague from your body.
Dear daughter Mauri, I have requested an audience concerning the loss of your healing abilities and am told that any answers or meetings must wait for now. A returning Goddess has much to concern herself with. I am very sorry.
With our Goddess back and Ronfar to be cured- I see a very bright future ahead for our Chosen and our beloved Lunar.
By the grace of our most benevolent Goddess,
Balse
Mauri opened the top of the bottle of potion, which smelled a bit metallic. The coloring was odd and murky below the blood red. She had a very strange feeling just holding it.
"Not as inviting as your potion, is it?" Ronfar said casually. His eyes were slightly narrowed, as if he too had his misgivings.
"Does it matter?" Leo couldn't believe that Ronfar was looking at the potion first. "A gift personally given from the hand of our own Goddess? Ronfar, drink it down now!"
Ronfar nodded and took a sip, then nearly spit it out. "NO! Ugh, that's nasty!"
"Ronfar?!" Mauri gasped. "The taste shouldn't matter so much-"
Ronfar shook his head. "It's not that. Something's not right here, sugarplum. I've got a very, very bad feeling about this. Every instinct is screaming to keep it away."
Mauri bit her lip. Her own said the same, but this was Ronfar's life on the line! Everything they had tried to do had made him worse and he was almost out of time.
"That's nonsense!" Leo exploded. "Ronfar, this is the miracle that we've prayed for! Your instincts are going to lead you to the grave!"
Ronfar looked up at Mauri pleadingly. She didn't want to lie to him, but... "Ronfar, whatever your instincts say, we can fix it after you're better. Please, please drink it. For me, for our life together, for our future children." She gripped his hand tightly, gently moving it and the bottle back to his lips.
Ronfar let out a long breath. "For you, my love. Just for you." He lifted the bottle once more and downed it in a few gulps. Leo had the basin ready in case.
Ronfar groaned and managed to keep the potion down by strength of will alone. Mauri was still gripping his hand and could feel the changes in his body as the potion entered it. It gave off a murky feeling as the power in it shot into his bloodstream and was carried everywhere.
Suddenly, the ever-present fever began to drop. The pain that Ronfar had been living with for weeks trickled down to nothing. Sweat appeared at his hairline. The gray tinge to his complexion shifted to a healthy, vibrant pink. His eyes seemed to sparkle again.
Ronfar felt his forehead, then shifted his body experimentally. Then he grinned in relief, the familiar, no worries grin that had stolen Mauri's heart years ago. "It's gone," he confirmed, then let out a loud whoop. "It's GONE! I'm cured!" He reached out to Mauri and pulled her tightly into a hug and kiss.
Leo shouted in joy and ran out of the house to alert Josam and the other villagers. Mauri pulled Ronfar tighter, feeling his heart pounding against hers, feeling the plague completely gone from his body.
Her own heart sang the most joyous prayer of thanks of her life.
That night, Raculi threw an impromptu festival for Ronfar's cure and the return of the Goddess. What they lacked in numbers and fancy supplies, they made up for in sheer joy. The supplies that Leo had brought from Azado were cracked open and the guards of the Corps were treated as heroes for bringing both news and potion.
Ronfar insisted on helping with the cooking, as he had had enough of bed and wanted to celebrate feeling alive again. Fish was frying, boar was roasting, mountains of salad were assembled and fresh bread baking all day. Mauri helped a group of women that were turning out dozens and dozens of cookies. The men of the Corps had offered to assist, but Leo asked them to help set up tables and chairs to eat outside instead.
The meal was magical. Ronfar and Mauri led the blessing before the people tucked in. Mauri hadn't had much of an appetite while trying to heal Ronfar and was surprised at how much she was able to put away. Ronfar, too, was grabbing slab after slab of fried fish and enough salad to feed a horse. Leo was putting them both to shame.
The best part of the night, everyone agreed, was during the dancing. Leo and Ronfar had been talked into performing one of the Shepherd's Staff dances. Every child of Raculi was taught the basics of staff and sling to protect their herds. The dances were ways to build both strength and speed while wielding the staff, and Leo was the best that Raculi had ever seen.
"Do you believe that you can keep up with me?" Leo asked jokingly.
"I'm superpowered now. You don't have a chance," Ronfar replied with a grin.
Leo smiled back and poked him with his staff. "This is where I get my payback for the phalanx losses."
Potion or not, Ronfar was soon left in the dust as Leo swiftly moved through the remembered steps of the dance. His staff whirled in his hands as smoothly as butter, and he spun and ducked and traded blows with Ronfar with ease.
Then the dance shifted to a cooperative dance, and Leo slowed a bit to trade first staff taps with his best friend and then the staffs themselves. They stomped and jumped in unison, tossing their staffs from hand to hand before trading them again.
They finished with a flourish. Mauri was the first on her feet clapping and shouting her praise. Ronfar bowed to Leo as the finer dancer, but Leo grasped his forearm and pulled him up and into a hug.
---From Mauri's diary---
It's kind of funny how the very worst day of my life was the predecessor to the very best (so far). To see Ronfar and Leo dancing and smiling like we were all teenagers again was a blessing from Althena herself.
After the dancing was over and we cleaned up the meal, Ronfar asked if Leo would mind sleeping in our old house for the night. We renewed our love again with so much joy this time. The future we've dreamt of is within our reach again.
If only my magic would come back, though. I know very well that I will face penalties for my actions towards the Mother High Priestess Lauryl, but it was worth it. If losing it forever is the price for Ronfar's life, I would pay it again and again and again...
---
This morning, the Corps handed over orders from the upper Chosen. Leo was to rejoin the Corps and go give a report in person in Pentagulia. I know he is sad to be leaving us again, but grateful to be going back into service the way he knows best. We all knew that the lives we chose would lead us to where the Goddess needs us, not our own desires.
Ronfar is ordered to stay in Raculi a bit longer to be sure of his recovery. I am ordered to stay as well until my fate is decided and continue looking after Ronfar. It will be difficult to wait for my punishment, but remaining with my love was an unexpected mercy.
Ronfar has been buzzing with energy and excitement like a bee in the springtime. He's been writing sermons and pouring through our books. His life was a gift from the Goddess, he says, and he means to pay it forward through service.
I have seen this before when the healed have taken on new exuberance in their love and service to Althena. He's planning on giving a ceremony tomorrow night for the whole village! I imagine that it will be full of thanks for their help, joy for life, and a call to help take care of each other.
I must remember to make sure our robes are newly washed and pressed.
---
Ronfar's service was not what I expected....
... but no one reads this but me, so I can be truthful here.
The service started with singing, which Ronfar quickly cut off. Several of our friends looked at me, but I had no idea why he had done this. He read from the Chosen's revised version of 'The Lore and Laws of the Goddess' and began a sermon that chillingly reminded me of some of High Priestess Lauryl's.
We had strayed from the path of the Goddess. Singing and dancing had been banned by the Chosen for years. The party we had thrown to celebrate new life and health had been completely inappropriate, and Ronfar himself would be fasting as penance. We needed to worry less about pleasure and entertainment and more about the Goddess' laws.
Then Ronfar offered as proof the fact that an unfixable plague had killed so many and so needlessly. He alone had been spared that he might save them all, to bring them back to the fold as Althena's chosen children.
`Angry murmurs were audible from our friends, and some of the glances towards me were less than friendly. I was completely flabbergasted. Ronfar had NEVER agreed with this interpretation- he had talked openly about recreating the Goddess festivals of old from Dragonmaster Alex's time. I had no idea what to say to this.
But Josam did, and that's when things got much worse....
"Ronfar, my boy, you can't mean all of this," Josam said kindly. He smiled at the other villagers who started nodding. "We've been using music to celebrate the Goddess here forever. Legends say the Goddess herself was a singer beyond all earthly beauty."
"That was disproven by the Chosen five years ago, Grandfather," Ronfar replied curtly.
Josam snorted. "Nonsense! Listen, lad, I know you've been through a tough time, and it's natural to want to cling to certainty after that. But you can't throw away the beauties of life-"
"Don't patronize me!" Ronfar shouted.
Dead silence met the outburst. "Ronfar, perhaps we should take a break and go take a walk," Mauri suggested, grabbing Ronfar's arm entreatingly.
Ronfar shook his arm free and stepped away from Mauri. He glared at the crowd, all of whom were refusing to meet his eyes. "I'm trying to save you all, don't you see that?! We've spoken so long only of love and mercy, but we've missed the retributions of the Goddess! A mother must love AND punish her children to set them on the path to righteousness!"
"Retribution? Punishment? That's not how Althena's ever operated." Josam's eyes narrowed as the murmurs began again. "What's gotten into you?"
"Don't think you're safe from the Goddess' anger, old man," Ronfar snarled, and the villagers gasped. Mauri was horrified as Ronfar continued. "None of you are! The plague proved that! We've fallen so far that not even the priesthood could drag us back to life."
Mauri stepped forward, her eyes flashing with anger. As much as it hurt to have her failure weaponized like this, it was the implied threats to their friends that she would not tolerate. "Ronfar, that's enough. You've made your points, so let us allow our friends to think it over."
Ronfar seemed to realize he had gone too far and tried to backpedal. "I'm speaking for everyone's good. I don't want any more lives lost, or any more disasters! There's still time to turn back to the true light of the Chosen!"
"All of us will pray to avoid more disasters. I thank you all for coming, and may the Goddess keep you and yours safe," Mauri cut in.
"And yours as well," came the ritual answer, but from far fewer of the villagers than expected. Several of them still looked confused, while a few had angrily approached Josam to ask him questions. He just shook his head.
It was the custom for a priest or priestess to be available for questions, counsel, or to arrange for a healing after a sermon, but Mauri was afraid of what else would come out of Ronfar's mouth this evening. In between a few short greetings and reassuring smiles, she all but dragged her beloved home to ask what was going on in privacy.
I had thought that we could talk things out at home, away from an audience. But...
Mauri was silent, trying to gather her thoughts as she hung up her ritual robe at home. Josam's words kept echoing in her head. What has gotten into you? What has gotten into you?
"This is going to be harder than I thought, getting everyone back on the right road," Ronfar commented casually as he removed his own robe. He turned to Mauri with a smile. "Luckily I have you to back me up, sugarplum."
"Back you up how, Ronfar?" Mauri asked, crossing her arms. "Threatening the friends that came to help with calling up power to heal you? The ones that we grew up with and helped look after us when we lost our parents?"
Ronfar laughed, waving her concerns away. "Of course not. But you didn't think that joining the Chosen meant coddling people, did you? Just making their boo-boos go away and go back to breaking Althena's laws without a care in Lunar?"
Coddling?! Mauri closed her eyes, remembering the relief in Wuta's face as Mota's illness was cleared out. Healing Bronn's leg in the middle of battle and shooting a wyburn to protect his back. Going from patient to patient and healing them to the point of fainting. The happiness in everyone's eyes after their water was made safe and treats shoved into her hands and being pulled into dance after dance.
Ronfar took her silence as agreement. "Just like our kids one day. We'll teach them the Goddess' ways early so they'll stay clear of her retribution. It'll be the best way to keep them safe."
Mauri felt sick at the image he painted- teaching their children to fear Althena instead of loving her and choosing to come to her on their own. "Never."
"Come again?" Ronfar asked in puzzlement.
Mauri's fists clenched. "You will NOT be using fear and punishment to teach our children the ways of Althena. I forbid it!"
Ronfar stared at her as if she were a stranger. "You're 'forbidding' me to teach our kids right from wrong? You've fallen too." His voice lowered menacingly. "Or do you believe that it was an accident that you lost your healing powers after threatening the High Priestess?"
Mauri reeled back as if she had been struck. She almost wished she had been as it would have hurt less. The cruelty in that line was something she had never heard from her beloved's lips.
Ronfar's eyes went wide and he came to embrace her, but Mauri stepped back. "I didn't mean that, Mauri! Goddess, I don't know where that came from! I'm sorry, I just want to see you happy and able to heal again."
Mauri swallowed hard and fought her tears. "I know that. I'll pay the penance for that eventually, but the Chosen hasn't decided my fate yet." She sighed, wanting this conversation to be over. "It's been a long day, so let's go to bed."
She went towards her trunk for a nightgown, but Ronfar hadn't moved. "There's something else we should discuss."
Mauri stopped and turned. Ronfar's eyes looked haunted, and his tone had sounded defeated. "Very well," she said cautiously.
"You know the law of the Chosen as well as I do. We can't get married for two and a half years yet. But we've been living and carrying on as if we have exchanged vows already," Ronfar began.
Mauri let out a soft laugh. "There is no law against that even for the clergy, beloved. Althena takes great joy in the love of her children. And we have exchanged vows of a sort already." She held up the locket that hung against her heart.
Ronfar looked down. "I shouldn't have done that yet. We're setting a bad example, Mauri. How can the people turn to us for counsel if we're so close to crossing a line ourselves?"
Mauri stared at him incredulously. "You mean it."
"I do. I think that we should live separately until we're able to marry," Ronfar finished.
Once again, Mauri felt as if she had been struck by a man who would never dream of uttering a harsh word to her. What had happened to him?
"We've always respected each other's boundaries, Ronfar. If that's how you feel, I can move into my and Leo's house for now," Mauri said slowly.
"I just really think it would be for the best," Ronfar replied, still staring at the floor.
Mauri waited a few moments, but Ronfar didn't move or meet her gaze. He meant it.
She couldn't keep back the tears as she gathered her things to place in her trunk. Certainly they had occasionally needed a bit of space or not been in the mood or place for intimacy, but never had it been so blatantly a rejection before.
After grabbing her trunk and heading to the door, Mauri looked back once more. Ronfar was facing away from her, his head still down and still silent. "I love you," she said simply before leaving.
There was no reply.
My thoughts are still racing. To be sent away like this- why? What could Ronfar be thinking? Why has he changed so much in such little time? I am afraid of what is to come, and where this originated.
I sit here wrapped up in Bronn's quilt, a gift of friendship. I am trying a nighttime brew of Raculi's wildflowers, staring at my statue of the Goddess. Nothing is bringing me peace, nothing is bringing me answers.
There's only the eternal 'why?'
"Fire! Fire!"
Mauri was snatched out of her fitful sleep by the screaming. She jumped out of bed and paused only to grab a bucket and the box of herbal remedies she had begun putting together from Leyla's example.
Once outside, she followed the screams and scent of smoke to a nearby house that was up in flames. The house was familiar, one that she had spent many hours playing in as a child with Leo and Ronfar.
It was Josam's house.
"Josam! Oh, Goddess, where are you?" Mauri shouted, picking up her pace.
"We have him, Mauri!" the mayor called back. He and a few other villagers were carrying Ronfar's grandfather out of the house. Others were busily carrying endless buckets of water from the sea to quench the flames.
Mauri passed off her bucket to a villager and came dashing up to where Josam had been laid down on the grass. He was coughing from the smoke and had terrible burns on his legs. "Josam, lie still. I'm going to try to heal you," Mauri said strongly. She held her hands at her heart. "Holy Mother, this man has been as my own grandfather. I beg of you, lend me your strength that he may be restored!"
As she had expected, nothing happened. Instead, Mauri opened her box of herbs and selected a few aloe leaves. She slit them open with her little knife and began applying the juice to his burns. There were also a few ready-made concoctions of various healing herbs, one of which she gave to Josam to drink to help clear out the smoke damage.
"What happened, Josam? Do you remember anything?" the mayor asked kindly.
Josam shook his head, looking dazed. "No, I had banked the fire and was already in bed. I tried to get out, but a beam fell from the roof and hit my legs."
Mauri got to her feet. "I'm afraid that's all I can do for now. I'll go wake up Ronfar and see if he'll finish healing the damage."
Josam stared at her for a few moments before nodding. Mauri frowned, knowing there was something that Josam wasn't saying but also that this wasn't the time. Instead, she picked up the skirt of her nightgown and ran back to Ronfar's house.
"Ronfar! Wake up, please! Josam's house has burned and he needs you!" Mauri called out, pounding on the door with her fist.
Ronfar opened it in seconds. "What? Is he badly injured?"
"Yes, he had to be carried out. Please, Ronfar, I can only do so much with herbs now," Mauri explained.
Ronfar went for his robe without an argument. "A fire? How did it start?"
Mauri blinked, wondering why that was his question instead of more about his grandfather's injuries. "He doesn't know, he was in bed. But a beam fell and struck him and he has terrible burns."
Ronfar nodded solemnly. "A tragic accident, then. The Goddess strikes swiftly."
"What?!" Mauri froze, unable to believe what she had just heard.
"I tried to warn them, Mauri. Bad things happen when we turn away from Althena," Ronfar explained. "But even an accident can serve her purposes." His face turned grim. "Let's see how he's doing."
An awful, cold suspicion gripped Mauri's heart as she followed him. No. No, it can't possibly be. Not to his beloved grandfather. It was just an accident.
Wasn't it?
Ronfar seemed like his old self as he knelt by his grandfather's side, weeping a few tears as he chanted prayers to heal the damage from the fire. Josam MUST stay with him until he was recovered and a new house could be built, and he would accept no arguments.
No, Mauri had been mistaken. She was tired and heartsick from the day, that was all.
Just an accident.