He was gone.
Gradually, Amriel’s eyes adapted to the dimness of her cottage. The soft afternoon light filtered through the lead panned windows. The faint aroma of burning wood from the fireplace mingled with the drying herbs. Silence hung heavy in the air. The only sound was the faint thumping of her heart resonating in her chest.
The wounded man who had crashed through her door in the middle of last night’s storm was gone.
Initially, a wave of relief washed over Amriel as she discovered her home empty. It meant that the man had finally regained consciousness.
Earlier this morning, when Amriel saw how much his wounds had already healed, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of surprise that he was still in a deep asleep. Most others would be awake by now. That was when she had worried.
As she ventured further into the empty cottage, Amriel’s tense fingers relaxed their grip on the blade. With each step, she scanned the room, her eyes darting from one corner to another, searching for any visible indications of a struggle. But there were none. In fact, there was an unexpected serenity that permeated the space. Even the blanket she had used to cover the man was folded with care and placed neatly at the end of the cot. Every detail left her with the impression that he had departed of his own accord.
Her relief soon gave way to an unexpected wave of disappointment. She was happy to see that he had awakened and seemed well enough to continue his journey. But she felt a twinge of regret for not being there when he woke.
Suddenly, a noise at the door startled her, causing her to spin around. Meeko, the forest cat, gracefully entered the cottage. His purrs filled the cottage, creating a soothing sound.
Amriel reached down and her fingers softly stroked the forest cat’s tan and black cloud-patterned coat as he wound around her legs. She could feel the warmth of the sun on him. I imagined Meeko perched in the sun-soaked tree behind the cottage, patiently waiting for her return.
“Hey buddy,” Amriel murmured softly to the cat. “Did you see him leave?”
Meeko chirped softly in response, his sleek back reaching just above Amriel’s knee. The touch of his coat against her skin was comforting.
“Don’t get too comfortable. We’re expected at Simon and Maeve’s for dinner,” said Amriel to the cat as Meeko settled down before the dying fire, his loud paw-licking filling the cottage with sound.
***************
As Amriel circled the outside of the cottage, she found no further signs of the man. The cloak she had hung up to dry was gone, along with the armor she had carefully removed from his body. To her surprise, even the arrowheads she had extracted from his torso had vanished.
A soft sigh escaped her lips, a sound heavy with resignation. She had no choice but to accept that he had left. Yet, despite the clarity of that thought, a sense of disappointment curled in her chest, nagging at her like an uninvited guest. She couldn’t quite pinpoint why she felt this way. After all, she didn’t know him—not in any meaningful sense. He was a stranger, a wounded man she had briefly cared for, yet that didn’t alter the pang of loss that gripped her.
Perhaps it was for the best. The thought of the man’s strangely rapid recovery lingered uneasily in her mind. Such speed was unnatural, typically achievable only with the aid of magic. Yet, he hadn’t exuded the powerful energy that magic users usually carried; he had felt almost… ordinary.
As she opened the door to the cold storage beneath the cottage, the old hinges groaned in protest, the sound echoing in the stillness. Bracing herself, Amriel pulled open the heavy oak door, and a musty scent wafted out, mingling with the chill that seeped into the air.
Descending the steps into the cramped storage space, her eyes swept over the neatly arranged shelves filled with jars of preserved fruits and vegetables. She quickly retrieved the rabbit she had placed there earlier, then grabbed a jar of preserved berries. Something sweet for the twins tonight, she thought, and perhaps a little for herself and Maeve.
With the rabbit wrapped in cloth and the jar of berries safely stowed in her bag, Amriel closed the cold storage behind her. She stepped back into the crisp air, her heart a little lighter, and set off with Meeko toward Maeve and Simon’s house.
Meeko trotted ahead, his fluffy tail held high, swaying like a flag as he led the way across the field.
*****************
Even though the man may have left, Maeve and Symon were insistent that she still spend the night. Just in case.
Simon arrived shortly before sundown. The small house filled with the sounds of delighted children as the girls rushed in to greet their father as he walked through the door. Despite his exhaustion, Simon made sure to welcome his girls with open arms.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Soon after, they all gathered around the table to enjoy the stew that Maeve had prepared. As they sat there, Simon’s eyes met Amriel’s, conveying his concern for her safety. “Maybe it’s for the best, Riel. You don’t know who that man was or what he was capable of.”
Amriel could only nod in response as she shoveled another spoonful of stew into her mouth. She savoured each spoonful. The rich flavours of leeks, onions, and carrots tantalizing her taste buds. The occasional nibble of rabbit added a touch of gamey delight to the meal.
She knew that Simon and Maeve wouldn’t understand her disappointment. Especially since she couldn’t even explain why she felt that way. But that was a conversation for another time. So, for now, she simply ate.
After dinner, came the slices of fresh bread smoothed in sweet preserved berries. The girls’ eyes widened with delight as they devoured the dessert, their faces, hands, and clothes quickly becoming covered in berry juices. Maeve sighed at the sight but couldn’t help but smile as she remarked, “Well, it looks like some of us will need a bath before bed.”
Both women laughed as the twins immediately looked at their father.
Forge work was tough, honest work, but it also left Simon smelling of sweat and ash. Even from across the table, Amriel could detect the lingering scent.
“Why are you all staring at me?” Simon asked innocently, his eyes wide as he licked his fingers clean.
********************
Amriel woke before dawn, the soft glow of twilight barely illuminating the room. The rest of the family lay peacefully asleep upstairs, their rhythmic breathing filling the air like a gentle lullaby. All except for Simon; his snores reverberated through the loft, a thunderous backdrop to the morning stillness.
Gingerly, she rose from her makeshift bed beside the crackling hearth. Her bare feet brushed against the cool wooden floor as she fumbled in the dark for her boots.
How on earth do Maeve and the girls sleep through that? Amriel wondered with a smile, shaking her head at Simon's loud symphony.
She settled on the table bench closest to the door and quietly slipped on her worn boots. As she tied the laces, Meeko, her loyal companion, uncurled himself from the end of her bedroll, stretching lazily before trotting over to her side.
The mornings during this season remained cool, and before she left, Amriel stoked the fire back to life. Simon and Maeve always took such good care of her, and she wanted to repay their kindness by filling the house with warmth before they woke. It was the least she could do.
With Meeko leading the way, Amriel stepped out of the house and into the crisp morning air. She closed her eyes for a moment, savoring the familiar scent of dew-kissed earth and blooming wildflowers. The cool breeze brushed against her face, invigorating her senses as she took a long, slow breath. Sunrise was less than an hour away, and this was the time of day she treasured most.
In the stillness of the land, the only sounds were the gentle chirps of early birds, their melodic songs weaving a tapestry of tranquility that wrapped around her like a warm blanket. After a moment of soaking in the peace, Amriel set off for home.
*******************
“The Candara Plant has leaves coated in an oily substance that can cause skin irritation. This often leads to a rash and itching.” Her mother's words, spoken in Vhars, reverberated in her mind. “What can be done if someone touches the leaves?”
“The remedy for the rash brought on by the Candara plant is the juice from the leaves of the Yaris vine. It grows in abundance here in the forest. They live in a symbiotic relationship with the sentinel trees.” Replied a young Amriel.
“Leaves of the Yaris vine,” Amriel murmured to herself as she stood alone at her kitchen counter.
The wooden counter in Amriel's kitchen served as both a workspace and a hub for her herb preparations. Against the wall, her assortment of jars and containers stood neatly arranged, each one a testament to her careful organization. Labels, penned in her mother’s elegant handwriting, adorned the jars.
The Yaris plant was a hearty breed of vine. It could withstand the few months of winter that came to their lands. Its needle-like spines deterred rodents, preventing them from climbing and damaging the precious leaves. With a stone pestle in hand, Amriel pounded the resilient vines, their fibrous texture yielding to her efforts. She then added powdered Hawthorn root to the thick green mash, knowing its anti-inflammatory properties would help reduce swelling.
Once the paste was to Amriel’s satisfaction, she carefully scooped it into two small glass jars and placed them gently into her small backpack, the weight pressing lightly against her shoulder as she prepared to set off once more.
As she made her way into town, vibrant bands of crimson and orange streaked across the horizon, painting the sky with a breathtaking display. The closer she got to the market, the stronger the irresistible scent of freshly baked bread grew, its warm and comforting aroma enveloping Amriel’s senses, guiding her towards Lonny’s house.
As a baker, Lonny was usually one of the first awake in town. A joyful grin illuminated the older woman’s face as she creaked open the door, revealing Amriel standing on the other side. “Oh, good morning, my dear!” Lonny exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine delight as she welcomed Amriel inside.
Returning the greeting, Amriel stepped across the threshold, her eyes immediately drawn to the display of delectable treats lining the shelves.“Good morning, Lonny. I have that paste for the rash,” said Amriel. She unslung her backpack and retrieved the two jaws inside. “There should be enough for your granddaughter too.”
“Thank you, my dear! Turns out she’s covered even more than myself. Poor thing. They will be happy to have this lotion,” said Lonny.
With a heartfelt smile, the baker extended a copper coin and a freshly baked loaf of bread, its crust still warm to the touch. The tantalizing aroma wafted through the air, beckoning Amriel towards its irresistible allure. Unable to resist, she broke off a hunk of bread, savouring its softness and the comforting taste that enveloped her senses, even before she had left the market square.