“Wait.” So far Appo had been listening attentively to Eevi’s story, but that name struck him. “What was that other man’s name again? The one who was there with you?”
“Amaren, I think.” Eevi had barely caught it after all that happened between the two. “I’m not sure, though. I haven’t seen him since then. I figured he left town - this is a year’s wage to desertfolk.”
Appo gulped. “Eevi, recently I just sat in on a meeting with the Heads. Boah confronted Mendalla earlier today. Said that her son had recently been killed by a guard. His name was Amaren.”
Eevi’s eyes widened. “That was Mendalla’s son? I find that hard to believe.”
In truth, Appo wasn’t sure how common the name was. But the man’s age and his description would have matched with Mendalla’s Amaren. The fact that Eevi hadn’t come across him again was as much evidence as he needed.
And there was the fact that Mikal had sprayed water on Amaren’s face. And in his mouth.
“Eevi, I need you to tell me with complete certainty. Did Mikal ever scratch Amaren at any point? Or get blood on him? Was his mouth bleeding?”
“I can’t say for sure but I don’t think so.”
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Thoughts raced through Appo’s mind. "Was this Mikal the first person to be infected? Was he the one who attacked Twol so many moons ago? The timing was almost too perfect. If that were the case, then would this contact have been enough to spread the disease from Mikal to Amaren?" If so, that would mean that this disease was more deadly than Appo had previously imagined. It wasn’t just transmissible by blood, but by any bodily fluid. Possibly even water.
“How does the town get its water? Is there a local supply? Is it all brought in from water traders?”
Eevi was perplexed. “There’s a couple of wells. Some people sell water locally. I don’t understand why you’d ask though.”
Appo had seen diseases ravage towns from little more than a spoiled well. But convincing the towns to give up their water was a daunting task. He couldn’t imagine trying to convince a town like Ash not to drink water. He considered explaining his thought process to Eevi but thought better of it.
“Eevi, if you can, try to stay indoors for the next few moons. Don’t get close to people who are sick. If you can, stick with the water you own. Don’t drink from any wells. Can you do that?”
Eevi nodded. She had a massive cauldron of water saved alongside her collection of spirits. She couldn’t follow exactly what Appo was going on about, but she could sense enough fear in his voice to listen to what he was saying. She was completely self-dependent.
Appo rose from his seat. “I need to find Isbibarra. If he returns, tell him to look for me. Otherwise, I need to have a conversation with Mendalla.” He turned and left the room.
Alone, Eevi pondered her situation. She looked at her crossbow, tightened with the one steel bolt she owned, the only one she owned for several years. She considered going to the armory to get some more.