With nothing else stopping her she finally went inside for that which she longed for. Breakfast and a nice hot bath. She set two eggs on the counter in a small bowl and began to arrange the others into a basket that she kept nearby. Nodding approvingly she pulled a small bucket and filled it from one of the water barrels, bringing it back over to the counter so that she could wash her hands, once she was done she tossed the water out the window and set the bucket back where she’d found it. With the extras put away and her hands clean she began to gather up the rest of what she would need for her meal.
Going over to a chest made of a heavy oak wood, worn metal latches keeping it shut tightly while gentle blue runes glowed along the edges. Opening up the chest breathed out a lungful of cold air and she reached in to grab a package and within it took out two slices of bacon. Nestling the package back down where it belonged she closed the chest, the runes sealing it once more and letting the cold return. She laid the bacon down onto the cutting board and began to chop the bacon into small strips and dropped into a pan. The loud sizzling scouting the home for the wonderful smell of the meat cooking. Turning back towards the window where an array of dried herbs were hanging, humming thoughtfully for a moment before she shook her head and went back to the bacon. Maybe when she was preparing supper she could use some of them.
The bacon now fried she set that aside on its own plate and cracked both of her eggs into the same pan, letting them soak up the grease and add just a little smokey flavor to them. While the whites lost their more goopy and clear appearance she sprinkled some ground pepper onto them, salt would be too much, the bacon would already be salty enough. A careful flip and soon her meal would be complete. Oh right, she nearly forgot, cutting a slice of bread she laid it down in the space on the pan where the two eggs weren’t taking up. Waiting until it was a crispy golden brown on both sides before plating it next to the eggs, those having finished before her bread.
Just as she was about to dig into her meal, the sound of a knock at her door shattered the silence of her home. The wind rushing through the pines surrounding the grove heedless of whoever was outside. She glanced to her plate, and to the door. She kept the front curtains drawn for a reason. Chill entered her body as she stepped to see who it could possibly be, relaxing only a touch when she saw a familiar face.
“G’mornin’ Pyra!” The rather chipper woman said. A post woman, in her uniform with a letter. “Actually got somethin’ for you today.” She handed it over, the paper was high quality and the wax seal bore that of the council in the valley proper.
“Oh,” Pyra said softly, carefully taking the letter. “Is something going on? Council elections isn’t for another six months.”
Pyra’s gentle tone and confusion didn’t sway the smile to leave the post-woman’s face, she began to wonder if it was stuck like that during work hours. “Nah nothin’ like that, but if ye ask me? Think Dietrich is gonna kick it any day now. Man’s older than the mountains.”
“I don’t think its anything like that,” Pyra snickered, and then abruptly remembered. “Oh! Bella! Have you had anything since you set out?”
Before the post-woman could answer Pyra took off back inside, grabbing a cheese cloth and starting to pile in some food. “Oi! I’ve ate let it be!” And Bella followed her in, playfully smacking her shoulder. “And so has my mule.”
Unfortunately for her, Pyra had already cut her some cheese and included a decent amount of bread and fruit. “Here.” Pyra said in a tone that brooked no argument. “This way you’ll at least have lunch today.”
Stolen story; please report.
Bella rolled her eyes but took the bindle full of food regardless. “Mighty kind Pyra, do take care now, that cold snap is supposed to be clearing up soon.”
As the door closed softly behind the post-woman Pyra looked at the letter once again, feeling the paper in her hands. The richness of it, the seal so carefully pressed into the wax as it had cooled. What could it be? She so infrequently needed to even look at her mailbox that Bella more often than not just brought it to her directly. She turned it over and over in her hand, her thumb flicking at the fold under the seal. Pyra sighed deeply and set it on the table. Whatever it was it could at least wait till she’d gotten a chance to eat her food before it got cold. So she haphazardly tossed it onto the table, paused, and then lightly put the table lamp on it to make sure that a stray draft didn’t make off with it.
Sitting down in front of her breakfast she kept casting glances towards the letter. The food was at least still lukewarm and filling her belly made sure that she could try to think about something other than the letter. Though even as she used her toast to sop up the last of the yolk the letter’s presence in her home still stared at her nearly in offense. If it had been something else then maybe it wouldn’t have been so bad. The local tavern wanting Pyra’s “special reserve” for an occasion, a blacksmith needing her heart flame, one of the healers needing her to come down to test to see if she was compatible to one of their patiences. Though if it had been that last one Pyra was certain that Bella would have just told her and offered her a ride down to town.
Meal finished, dishes washed, Pyra stared at the letter once more. No more excuses, time to acctually address whatever is going on in town. It was clearly important enough to get Bella to actually come up this way, she should just do it quick. Like a bandage. Breaking the seal she held it up so that she could read it.
Residents of [COUNTY],
The council has been made aware of the most grave news.
Fantastic, she thought, a wonderful start.
Despite wildfire season still being months away, a fire has broken out in the valley. Volunteers are valiantly working to put it out and create fire lines. Be prepared in the event an evacuation is called.
Pyra slid into a chair, rubbing at her eyes. Just what she needed. She looked out the window, out to her chickens and her crops. There was no way for her to take all of the chickens, and she didn’t have enough money to buy new seed to try to restart when she got back.
Due to the extraordinary conditions, all citizens are asked to report what will be lost during the blaze and pitch in to help their fellows get to safety.
The forest provides. Councilor Dietrich.
She set the letter down. Staring out the window once more. There it was. There was the excuse for the council to start fleecing people again. There was no way that this wasn’t made to find excuses to raise the taxes again. With a heavy sigh she put it back on the table, not caring if a draft blew it away this time. There wasn’t enough time or energy in the world to really dedicate her mind to this. Especially not so early in the day. And as such she got up, heading over towards the bathroom where her earlier work showed itself well.
The steam rose from the tub, the bathroom already warmer than it was in the kitchen but only slightly. She slid off her chemise and tossed it haphazardly towards the doorway. Stretching as she walked towards the tub and cupped a handful of it, yes perfect. Nearly hot enough to melt the skin right off of mortal bones. Letting it fall back into the tub she took hold of a bowl that she kept nearby, dipping it into the tub so that she could toss the water onto herself, repeating the process. The ritual of cleaning herself outside of the tub wasn’t necessarily a long one, but it was one that she felt was needed. What was the point in going through all the effort to have this nice bath only to sit in filthy water? No this was better, letting the nastiness drain away outside the tub while she washed herself. The effort of cleaning her long silver hair was a bit much, but it was about that time too. Combing the solution through her hair and rinsing it shortly thereafter.
The moment that she was clean and certain that she’d gotten the last of all the soap off of her she stepped into the tub, her skin already red from the intense heat. She leaned back into it, letting out another deep sigh. Her other projects for the day will just have to wait, this was much more comfortable than dealing with the council’s letter.