《The Unseen Weight》 The Turning Point Every society needs rules, without them everything eventually falls into chaos. There are governmental rules - Don¡¯t kill, don¡¯t steal, don¡¯t cheat on your spouse. Then there are social ones such as don¡¯t lie, don¡¯t mistreat your loved ones, don¡¯t be rude to strangers. It was the third kind that Helena couldn''t handle. Laws that only she was expected to uphold: Stare at exactly two centimeters above a person''s eyes to avoid looking directly into them, always smile so as to never appear intimidating, talk in a low voice so that people could not hear your opinion, and try your best to not stick out - something near impossible at 6 feet 3 inches. To make things worse, there were always new rules to learn. New opportunities to screw up - and all those screw-ups liked to congregate in her mind, staying rent free and making noise until the late hours of the night when she would toss and turn in bed, tense and sleep deprived. All in all, when Helena took a tumble over the hill near Saint Serenity''s orphanage one early morning and realized that she was probably going to die, she didn''t really care. Well, she cared that death seemed to be taking its sweet time getting there, and that meanwhile she was stuck laying motionless on an assortment of jagged rocks and horse manure. But she felt ready - relieved almost. But as predictable as ever, fate decided to screw her over just one last time, because when she finally began to doze off, a tall, dark shape appeared in front of her. ¡®Great.¡¯ She thought to herself, praying that the stranger wasn¡¯t one of the boys from the orphanage. The man drew closer, and at once she changed her mind. The unknown was scarier, she decided. Who was this man? What did he want? She tested the strength of her limbs, finding she couldn¡¯t as much as lift a finger. Almost everything hurt, and what didn¡¯t was completely numb. She was not going anywhere anytime soon. ¡°Stay away,¡± She groaned, her last resort. Not that she had much hope for it, begging never helped her in the past. The stranger paused, and for a second it seemed that by some miracle he¡¯d actually heed her plea, but then he reached over his shoulder to grab something - a bag, which he set down in front of her. Her heart began working in earnest when she saw what he pulled out of it. ¡°Please, go away,¡± She begged. ¡°I¡¯m going to have to clean and dress those wounds. Most of it will require needlework, and your left leg needs to be set. I¡¯m sorry, I don¡¯t have Yinroot on me, so this is going to hurt,¡± Helena tried to move again, but her body refused to comply. When the stranger laid a hand over her leg, his other wielding a needle aloft, she felt her vision blur with tears. The helplessness she felt threatened to knock all the air out of her lungs. ¡°Here, drink this. It won¡¯t be as effective as Yinroot, but it¡¯ll numb the pain a little.¡± A bottle was pressed against her lips, and she tasted the bitterness of alcohol on the rim. She could refuse it - the one and only rebellious act at her disposal, but if she was about to be poked and pricked with a needle for the foreseeable future, she would rather not do so sober. ¡°Good. More of it. Now close your eyes, see if you can find something else to focus on. Your happy place, if you will.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have a happy place.¡± The stranger laughed. ¡°You youngins are so dramatic.¡± He said. He had a deep, baritone voice that would be comforting under any other circumstances. ¡°You can have my happy place then. Imagine you¡¯re in a clearing in the woods,¡± He began, gently arranging her leg into the position he wanted. ¡°Surrounded by green as far as the eye can see, and there¡¯s a small hut in the center,¡± Helena screwed her eyes tighter as he prodded and pressed into the length of her leg, checking the extent of her injuries. When he dabbed alcohol onto one of her wounds without warning she yelped in pain. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°Shh,¡± He gave her unharmed shoulder an encouraging squeeze. ¡°The hut, can you picture it?¡± ¡°Screw you!¡± She snapped, her entire body hazy with pain. It was probably the first time she had broken the ¡®Don¡¯t be a bitch to strangers who are trying to help you¡¯ rule, but she couldn¡¯t help it, the alcohol wasn¡¯t working as quickly as she hoped. ¡°Concentrate, child. This will be over sooner if you get your mind off the pain,¡± At a lack of anything else to do, Helena took a deep breath and tried to focus on his voice. Sensing her efforts, the stranger continued where he left off. ¡°The hut is covered with vines. Been abandoned a while, you see? But that¡¯s fine. It means nobody else is there but you, and all is peaceful and quiet.¡± Doing her best to ignore the pain, Helena tried to picture herself standing next to the abandoned hut with marginal success. ¡°There¡¯s a stream running nearby. You hear the sound of the water as it brushes against the pebbles. Birds are flying overhead, and one of them lands on your shoulder,¡± ¡°I hate birds.¡± She complained. It was a ridiculous thing to say, she knew that. ¡°What animal would you prefer then?¡± Taking the question as a challenge, Helena searched her muddled mind. ¡°How about a big, slobbering blood-warg?¡± The hand stitching her up paused. ¡°A blood-warg?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± She replied, satisfied with the disbelief that had slipped into the stranger¡¯s tone. ¡°It¡¯s your choice, I guess,¡± he said, and then pressed the needle into her skin again, and any sense of victory she felt disappeared in an instant. ¡°So - a big, slobbering blood-warg makes its way over to you, his breath stinking of rotten flesh. He looks at you with piercing, terrifying eyes, and when he opens his cavernous mouth you spot the dismembered arm of an unfortunate victim. Who knows, his next victim might be you,¡± ¡°Hey!¡± She protested, but the stranger only chuckled. ¡°Careful what you wish for, child.¡± She wanted to tell him to stop calling her a child, that she was already fifthteen, but the part of her brain that wasn¡¯t fuzzy with pain warned her that doing so would probably only convince him of the opposite. Besides, people usually mistook her for being older because of her height, and being older as an orphan wasn¡¯t a good thing, so she decided she¡¯d let it slide. He worked for a while, continuing to describe the small hut and its surroundings, (thankfully leaving out the blood-warg), and Helena bit her bottom lip to stop herself from crying out. He was being gentle, she could tell, but there was no pleasant way to sew up flesh, and it seemed an eternity before he stopped. ¡°I¡¯ve set your leg and stitched the most worrisome lacerations. I¡¯m going to move on to your right arm now,¡± The man announced. Relief flooded her. Her arm was completely numb, so maybe she wouldn¡¯t feel the needle this time. She listened to the sound of her sleeve being cut open and let her mind drift. At least until a sharp inhalation of breath snapped her out of it, and she opened her eyes, blinking into the early morning sun. When her vision cleared she looked at the stranger¡¯s face properly for the first time. He was middle-aged and severe looking, with frown-lines like deeply-cracked stone and eyes that would make even the most confident of men unsure of themselves. Spectacles hung from the bridge of his nose, lending him the air of a stern librarian. If it weren¡¯t for the pitying way he was looking at her she would have been intimidated. Instead she found herself annoyed. ¡°What?¡± She asked, following his gaze to her arm, but he quickly maneuvered himself in such a way that she couldn¡¯t look at it directly. But then he gritted his teeth, shook his head and pulled back, returning to his original position. ¡°I¡¯ve always maintained that one should be made aware of the truth, even if it¡¯s painful. But I don¡¯t relish being the bearer of bad news either,¡± Heart pounding, she turned to look at her right arm. The unobstructed view wasn¡¯t pretty, to say the least. It was mangled and twisted unnaturally, bone poking out at the elbow. She swallowed thickly, feeling nauseous. ¡°I¡¯ll try to set it, see if it can heal properly, but I can¡¯t make you any promises,¡± She wasn¡¯t listening anymore. The life of an orphan was harsh. The life of a cripple even more so, but the life or an orphan and a cripple - She choked back a sob, then looked at the stranger resolutely. ¡°Kill me.¡± ¡°Youths these days...¡± The man said, lips twitching into a half smile. Helena scowled at him, anger heating her cheeks. ¡°This is my decision. My life.¡± ¡°No actually, it¡¯s not your decision.¡± His voice was firm, almost cold - despite the smile still on his face. She tried to appear unbothered by it, but she couldn¡¯t tell if it was working because his expression remained the same. Time to try a different tactic then. ¡°Leave me then. My head is woozy, I know I lost a lot of blood. I¡¯ll die eventually,¡± she reasoned. Instead of arguing with her, the man caught her eyes with his. ¡°Here¡¯s what we¡¯re going to do,¡± He said, grabbing a few bandages out of his bag. ¡°I¡¯m going to set your arm, then tend to the rest of your injuries. When I¡¯m satisfied that your condition is stable enough, I¡¯m going to take you someplace where you can recover.¡± ¡°Stable enough?¡± She snorted derisively. ¡°I can¡¯t move. At all. I¡¯m a lost cause, what on earth makes you think you can fix that?¡± ¡°What¡¯s your name, child?¡± The question caught her off guard. No one had asked for her name in ages. ¡°What?¡± She asked. ¡°Your name.¡± He repeated. ¡°Helena. What¡¯s it to you?¡± ¡°Well, Helena,¡± He reached for the alcohol again. ¡°lost causes usually don¡¯t have the energy to argue as much as you do.¡± Unexpected Guests Elbert rarely brought patients home. He would treat them where he found them. There was no reason to do otherwise. Carrying someone all the way back over to Merchant Road would take twice the time and strength - both of which Elbert did not have as a busy book-seller in his late fifties. Which was why when he came back one day carrying a half-dead looking girl in his arms, Sophie took notice. As he stepped through the front door his hold on her was overly gentle. It was as if he feared he might break her if he handled her too recklessly. On closer look, it really wasn''t hard to imagine, being that as he turned to walk towards the sofa, she observed she had broken at least two limbs already. ¡°Bring me a bowl of water and some clean linen.¡± Elbert requested as he laid his patient down, setting her broken leg on a couple of pillows he''d stacked one atop the other. Sophie nodded, but not before trying to steal a closer look at the girl. ¡°Sophie. Now.¡± The teen stomped off in the direction of the kitchen, nose held defiantly in the air. Elbert let out a tired sigh and turned to face his patient. She was mottled with injuries from head to toe. The fall she took accounted for most, but some of her wounds were clearly inflicted by fists and the soles of particularly pointy shoes. The sort the clergy was so fond of, though he took no enjoyment from arriving at this conclusion, being a man of faith himself. But he¡¯d learned long ago that people had vastly different ideas of what it meant to be religious. Some people used their piety like a compass, some wielded it as a sword. Others wore it like a shining ornament - blinding those around them to the ugly truth of their true natures. His patient must have known that all too well. He didn''t want Sophie to see anyone in that condition. That was his first thought. His second, however, was that there was no utility in shading her from it. This was part of the world she lived in, even if the part she knew faced blissfully away from the shoddy, decrepit buildings that housed the less fortunate down in Lower Lakeside. ¡®This is extreme though. Elbert thought, frowning as his careful prodding uncovered yet another wound he missed when he examined her earlier. ¡°Here.¡± Sophie¡¯s voice startled him out of his thoughts. She peered over his shoulder, bowl of water pressed to her stomach, strips of fabric laying over her right arm haphazardly. The look on her face was merely curious. He felt himself frown. Even after a whole year, Sophie was still a mystery. Her memory loss didn''t leave them enough clues to piece together a story of any kind, only moments like these that left him wondering if either of them really wanted to know the details of her past in the first place. Choosing not to linger on the subject, Elbert nodded to the small table to his right and Sophie placed everything down. ¡°Is she going to be ok?¡± She asked, dipping the cloth into the bowl. She squeezed most of the water out, then placed it in his open palm. ¡°Too soon to know,¡± he replied. The girl twitched in her sleep, stirring. Not a good sign. He thought he gave her enough Yinroot to keep her under for at least another hour. ¡°Yinroot?¡± For a second he thought he had spoken his latest thought aloud. He looked at his young helper with surprise. She gave him a self satisfied smile, then scuttled over to the herb patch on the opposite side of the room, her short unruly curls jumping up and down with the movement. She returned a short moment later with Yinroot in hand, grabbed a wooden set of mortar and pestle off the nearest shelf, and set it all down on the table. ¡°Thank you Soph,¡± he said, picking a handful of leaves and setting them down inside the mortar after clearing the table of some pamphlets that were passed around during the last Veilbreakers meeting. There was going to be a raid on the granary soon. If it wasn''t for his age he wouldn''t just be reading about it. Instead, it seemed every new day now he discovered a new part of himself that began to creak and groan like a rusty door. He worked at a brisk pace, worried Helena might wake too early. The girl needed all the rest she could get. ¡°Where did you find her?¡± Sophie asked. ¡°Near Saint Serenity.¡± His young helper walked over to stand behind the sofa Helena lay on, crouched beside it and rested her cheeks on her hands. Her eyes glued themselves to the patient¡¯s mangled arm, her expression betraying nothing. ¡°Why is that place called Saint Serenity anyways?¡± Elbert furrowed his eyebrows. He didn¡¯t spend so much of his free time teaching the girl about the holy five for her to ask a question as basic as that. He opened his mouth to reply, but Sophie caught him off. ¡°I¡¯m not stupid, Elbert. I mean,¡± She brought her eyes up to meet his. ¡°Why did someone make the decision to name that place of all places after Serenity? Endurance fits much better, don¡¯t you think? Seems like a cruel joke naming that shit-hole-¡± Elbert gave her a warning look. ¡°-that hole, after something none of its residents have.¡± Elbert picked up an empty glass bottle and drained the ground Yinroot into it, before diluting it with water and shaking it around to get the contents to mix. Once the water turned a murky greenish hue, he held the bottle over a brass strainer and transferred the liquid into the barrel of a syringe ¡°Perhaps Serenity is what they aspire to,¡± he said, carefully inserting the needle of the syringe into Helena¡¯s unharmed left shoulder. Sophie frowned, clearly dissatisfied with the answer. ¡°Do you truly think that?¡± Elbert removed the syringe and set it on the table. He considered Sophie¡¯s question for a while, then shook his head. ¡°No. I think we have a tendency to pin good or evil on things when more often than not we make decisions based on convenience.¡° Sophie tilted her head in confusion, so he elaborated. ¡°Merchant Quarter has Patience, Noble Quarter has Wisdom, the barracks have Volition and the clergy has Endurance. Serenity was just the one left over after everyone had their pick.¡± ¡°That makes Serenity sound like the least important virtue to aspire to,¡± Sophie pointed out. ¡°No, just the hardest one to grasp.¡± Before either of them could say anything else, a loud knock on the front door made them turn around. Elbert got up first, his back aching from being hunched over for as long as he had been. Carrying Helena all the way from Lower Lakeside wasn¡¯t easy on his muscles either. He cast one last look towards her - at least she seemed peaceful now - and hurried towards the door. Despite his rapid pace, Sophie still beat him to it, gliding past him to open it with an enthusiastic pull. A soldier stood in front of them - a highly decorated one, wearing the showier armor of a higher-ranking officer and holding a commander¡¯s shield in his right hand. His expression was solemn, making his young face look older and more authoritative. ¡°Elbert Humphreys?¡± he asked, his voice lacking in emotion. Elbert felt himself stiffen. He caught Sophie¡¯s gaze and wordlessly indicated that she should go back inside with a brief movement of his chin. She looked annoyed, but nevertheless did as he asked of her. If he could convey more complex wishes he would also add that she hide the Veilbreakers¡¯ pamphlets, but since he couldn¡¯t, he closed the door behind her and tried to appear calm. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°What brings you here so early in the morning, Commander?¡± ¡°I am,¡± A second, cheerful voice came from behind the statue-like Commander, and Elbert watched in surprise as Ollie pushed his way in front of him. The well maintained composure of the soldier broke. ¡°Ollie, I told you to stay behind me! Why do you always have to do exactly the opposite of what I tell you?¡± the commander scolded, looking at his subordinate with annoyance, then he took a half step in front of him. Ollie rolled his eyes. The young man was a frequent attendee at Veilbreaker meetings - and against all sense if he was friendly with a decorated warrior of the crown. Elbert always thought there was something a little off about him. His reckless nature only fit the stupid or the mad, and he was neither. Maybe his knack of talking himself out of trouble gave him a false sense of security. ¡°He¡¯s not what they¡¯re making him out to be, haven¡¯t I explained that already? Besides, look at him! Do you really think he could hurt me? even if he wanted to?¡± Ollie asked. Elbert tried not to look offended. When he was in his prime people were afraid to come within ten feet of him. ¡°Anyone can hurt you if they wanted to.¡± The quip seemed to irk Ollie, and he glared down at his superior, making thorough use of the single inch he had on him. ¡°Are there any misunderstandings I should be clearing up for you gentlemen?¡± Elbert asked, putting on a pleasant, polite smile. ¡®Nothing out of the ordinary here.¡¯ it said. ¡®Just an old man preparing to go to work.¡¯ He prayed to the five that Ollie¡¯s presence meant nothing serious was on the table. Something like an arrest. He tried thinking back to all interactions he¡¯d had over the past week or so that may have given him away, but he couldn¡¯t think of any. He had only been to one meeting, and he made sure he wasn¡¯t followed, he was certain of that. The Crown might¡¯ve been harsh in dealing with rebels, but they didn¡¯t arrest anyone off of rumors alone. And besides, talk of him being the once feared Soren the Merciless was considered by most to be nothing more than conspiracy theories. It did help him sell books though - which was nice. ¡°We¡¯re not here on official business, Elbert. I just needed to visit you, and Commander Maxwell over here heard about it and insisted on tagging along,¡± Ollie hurried to explain, having noticed Elbert¡¯s discomfort. The two young men were clearly close. Perhaps they truly didn¡¯t come here to drag him off before a judge. Perhaps this really was just a man concerned for his friend¡¯s safety. ¡°In that case, what is it I can do for you?¡± He asked. ¡°Well,¡± Ollie started, looking slightly anxious. ¡°I¡¯m on the lookout for reposeweed, and you¡¯re the only one I know has some in stock,¡± His eyes kept flicking back to his friend. Commander Maxwell on his end didn¡¯t seem to notice anything unusual with the squire¡¯s words. ¡®He¡¯s quite dense.¡¯ Elbert thought. ¡®Reposeweed¡¯ was a commonly-used nickname for the emotion-numbing drug so popular in the poorer sections of Giria. It was outlawed because the side effects could lead to mania and even death. Some of the younger members of the Veilbreakers were known to use Reposeweed right before going through with one of their ¡®patriotic¡¯ suicide missions. The finer intricacies of reconnaissance and subterfuge were lost on the newer generation. Elbert observed the young commander silently for a long moment. Upon closer inspection, the man might¡¯ve been a bit tense after all. He was, however, quite adept at hiding it. Elbert promised himself to not underestimate him. ¡°Would you mind waiting outside for a moment? I apologize, but my house is in complete disarray,¡± ¡°Can¡¯t be any worse than my men¡¯s tents. Ollie can attest to that,¡± Commander Maxwell was quick to reply. ¡°I must insist,¡± Elbert said firmly. ¡°I took in a new patient yesterday. She¡¯s been through a lot and is quite skittish. It took a while for me to settle her down and I¡¯d rather not have to go through that again,¡± The squire laid a hand on his friend¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Come, Max. Let¡¯s go wait over there. I can tell you all about the argument I got into with the cook before we left. You won¡¯t believe the way she spoke to me!¡± The commander thwacked Ollie¡¯s hand away as one might brush off a stubborn bug. ¡°Dear Serenity, no. You will not subject me to another one of your insipid stories, they always end the same way - with you at fault.¡± Ollie took a step back, mouth opening and closing in indignant shock. ¡°How could you say that? And after I told you about how that brute of an innkeeper nearly did me in yesterday?¡± ¡°You lay with both of his daughters, Ollie. And they were already promised to someone else. What on earth did you expect?¡± ¡°That¡¯s unfair, I didn¡¯t know they were sisters at the time, they looked nothing alike!¡± Commander Maxwell pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. ¡°It didn¡¯t seem odd to you that they both had a key to the Innkeeper''s private rooms?¡± ¡°Well since you brought it up - no. Lillian¡¯s room was on the complete other end of the building, and Jannika was bragging about how much money she''d made on her last gambling excursion. I simply assumed she had the means to lease the guest room. You should¡¯ve seen it,¡± He sighed dreamily. ¡°Velvet everywhere, and those sheets!¡± ¡°Ollie, I don¡¯t have all day. Finish your business here and let¡¯s take our leave, you have chores to attend to,¡± The squire seemed to find his friend¡¯s annoyance amusing. ¡°Yes mother,¡± He said in a drawn out, petulant tone. The commander¡¯s eyes widened, then flickered nervously to Elbert. ¡°It¡¯s Commander to you,¡± he corrected. Ollie¡¯s thoughts were easy to read. Something along the lines of: ¡®Should I torment him further?¡¯ Surprisingly, he chose not to, obediently lowering his eyes and repeating his friend¡¯s title in a rather convincing show of remorse. Maxwell breathed a sigh of relief, to which Ollie reacted by biting down a smile. ¡°Right,¡± Elbert cleared his throat. ¡°As I mentioned earlier, I¡¯d ask that you wait outside while I fetch the reposeweed. Would you like me to whip you a cup of tea while I¡¯m at it?¡± ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary.¡± Said the commander, shooting Ollie a warning look when it seemed he was about to protest. Elbert turned towards the door. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back." He pushed the front door open again. As he re-entered his home, he noticed that the window he''d closed the previous night was now open. The wind that came through it made a mess of the papers on his desk. "Sophie?" He called, slightly miffed. A yelp, then a loud crash came from the pantry. "What did I tell you about the honey buns? They''re for guests only!" Elbert scolded. Sophie appeared at the pantry door, sheepishly brushing crumbs off her skirts. "And don''t open the window near my desk, the wind always ends up scattering my work." Sophie looked confused. "I didn''t open it," As if to underline her words, a suspicious thud, followed by a rustle of leaves came from outside the window. Elbert caught a glimpse of dirty blond hair from the corner of his eye, but by the time he got the chance to look out the window there was nothing but his now crushed dandelions staring miserably back up at him. "Give the gentleman outside some reposeweed and let them know I had an urgent matter to attend to." He said, then awkwardly maneuvered himself over the window sill, taking great care not to trample any more of his precious plants. ¡°And hide the pamphlets,¡± He added over his shoulder in a hushed voice. In the back of his mind, he recognized that jumping out of his own window with a commander outside his door would look all kinds of suspicious to anyone who might be looking. Unfortunately, he couldn''t seem to order his body back inside the house. He scanned the streets in front of him. It was the usual hustle and bustle of the Merchant Quarter; booths being set up, baskets of fish and vegetables brought out of carts, and the occasional yawn of a tired salesman arranging his wares. He made his way through the crowd, ignoring the suspicious looks some of his fellow tradesmen were giving him. An elderly woman in a knitted shawl stepped out from behind her booth. Mary - an old friend he''d made when he first opened his bookshop twenty years ago. "Elbert, is everything alright? Why is there an army official at your door?" She asked. "I don''t have time to explain. Did you see a young girl pass through here? Tall, blond?" Mary nodded. "Injured, right? One of your patients? She went that way." She pointed towards a side alley, and Elbert quickly walked in its direction. It didn¡¯t take him very long to find his wayward patient. She was leaning up against a wall, taking in big gulps of air and looking like she was on the verge of passing out. He was shocked she was able to stand, much less walk. When she noticed his presence she tensed. "Leave me alone. I don''t need your help!" The bandages on her injured leg were gradually turning red. All that hard work cleaning her wounds and sewing her up - she was very close to undoing it all. He tried to temper his anger. He didn''t want to scare her into taking off again. She''d only end up injuring herself more. "Child," he started, trying and failing to soften his tone. "If you don''t let me help you now, your leg will end up rotting and you''ll have to have it amputated," Of course that was a complete lie, but the horrified look on her face told him it was a believable one. She wiped cold sweat off her forehead, but still gave the other end of the alleyway a desperate look. "Believe me, you don''t want to know what that feels like when it starts. Your skin will become black and stiff and-" "Ok, ok already! I''ll come back with you," She snapped, big, horrified eyes darting to her injured leg, as if to check that the rotting process hadn''t already begun. He tried not to feel too guilty about it. "You better lean on me. Direct pressure won''t do you any good," She nodded. Once he reached her, he offered her his shoulder. "Why are you so keen on running?" He asked, keeping a slow pace. She shrugged. "I have long legs." "Yes, and one of them is badly injured." She didn''t reply, busy staring at the ground and trying not to look miserable. As they neared his home again, he could see the townsfolk murmur and gesture surreptitiously in their direction. It wasn''t unexpected, but it was unpleasant. Mary looked up from her work - a single friendly face in the crowd. Good friends were hard to come by, he would need to invite her over for some tea someday soon. Miraculously, Ollie and his commander friend were gone by the time they set foot at his front door again. There was, however, a note. It was hidden clumsily under his entrance mat - further proving his suspicion that the young man was sorely lacking in survival instincts. ¡®You should come to the next Veilbreakers gathering. They¡¯re choosing a new general. P.S. You should bring some of your famous honey buns. Just because you¡¯re old doesn¡¯t mean you can¡¯t contribute in your own way.¡¯ Elbert¡¯s hands itched to hold his old sword again - and perhaps sink it into something substantial and human-shaped. Echoes of Rebellion Two weeks had passed since Elbert took Helena in, and they had passed fretfully. She was confined to her bed for most of the day, and when she wasn¡¯t, she wasn¡¯t allowed to wander far. It was a pity because the bookseller¡¯s home seemed vast and full of secrets. Her injuries were slow to heal, but Elbert didn¡¯t fuss over them, so she assumed that it was normal. He was gone for the majority of the day, leaving early and returning late. Sophie was there, though, and she took her nursing duties very seriously. She administered doses of Yinroot three times a day, changed Helena¡¯s bandages, and brought her meals. The food wasn¡¯t special, but it was a significant improvement over the bland porridge served once a day at the orphanage. In between meals, they talked. Sophie explained that Elbert had taken her in about a year ago and had been mentoring her ever since. She wanted to become a physician, and he was teaching her the basics on his days off. From her stories, he seemed like a kind man. Helena was still undecided. Her father had pretended to be a decent man plenty of times in the past and she fell for it each and every time. She trusted kind people about as much as she trusted her own judgment. Still, for now he was letting her use a spare room with a little window overseeing the market - and she was determined to appreciate every minute spent in it. To savor the quiet chirping of the birds in the mornings. The sound of Sophie preparing breakfast downstairs. The absence of threats and doors being slammed on their hinges. ¡°Thank you,¡± she told Sophie one afternoon when she came to collect her empty plate. The other girl paused in her tracks. Helena rarely contributed to their conversations or talked at all. She mostly listened, so Sophie was not used to being addressed by her unprompted. ¡°Sure, I don¡¯t mind,¡± Sophie replied, taking a seat on the edge of the bed, interpreting Helena¡¯s words as an invitation. ¡°I¡¯ve been stuck binding books and organizing shelves for weeks before you came along. I thought I would die of boredom.¡± She added. ¡°Does he do that a lot? Look for injured street urchins to take care of?¡± Helena asked before she could stop herself. She remembered that when Elbert found her, he was carrying a bag of medical supplies. Not to mention that he lived in a wealthier part of Giria, and she couldn¡¯t imagine why else he would be in Lower Lakeside. Sophie didn¡¯t seem surprised at the question. ¡°Pretty regularly, yeah. The past few weeks have been slow though.¡± She said, then added - ¡°Just before you we were treating a pregnant lady, and there was also a young boy that managed to chop his finger off working at the butcher¡¯s. You should¡¯ve seen it - there was blood everywhere. It was real gross.¡± ¡®And yet it¡¯s only the two of us in this house.¡¯ Helena thought to herself, ignoring the gory image that Sophie so casually painted. ¡®I need to be prepared for when he decides I¡¯m well enough to leave¡¯ She felt a pang of jealousy in her heart. Sophie clearly had something the rest of his patients did not - including herself. Xxx When Helena was eight years old, she found herself at a wedding. It was her father¡¯s betrothal to what must have been her third or fourth or fifth stepmother. She always got them confused. Looking back on it now, she couldn''t really blame herself. He had a very specific taste in women; Overly perfumed, recently widowed and in possession of more gold than he knew what to do with. She remembered trying her best to be excused from the whole ordeal - promising her father that she would attend his next wedding. She¡¯d said so entirely innocently. Unfortunately for her, third or fourth or fifth stepmother didn¡¯t see things that way, and she went to bed with a ringing cheek and no dinner. She made sure to be extra behaved and obedient when she was around from then on. Especially on the day of the wedding, when she let her new maid tug and pull her fair into a bun so tight it was giving her a constant headache. "Little miss Bowbridge," A lady with a mouse-like face approached Helena, who didn''t realize she was being addressed until she was nudged harshly by her father. After all, she''d been a Little Miss Harlow, Beckham, Goldsworth and another two surnames she couldn''t quite recall in the past three years alone. "Ah, yes. Pleased to meet you my lady," She gave the woman a feeble attempt at a courtesy, but in the dress that was chosen for her even sitting down would be considered an achievement. The wedding progressed well, but Helena made sure to stay out of the way as the evening set in. She knew once the newlyweds were alone and her father had to answer very basic questions like ¡®Where is our new house?¡¯, things would get ugly. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. She didn¡¯t know how he managed to trick women so easily. ¡®I mean what do they talk about when they go out? The weather? How do these things not come up?¡¯ She pondered. Either way once the women he tricked found out, they had a few months of living in luxury until the divorce proceedings were completed. In that time, her father made sure to spend as much of his new wealth as he could get away with. It was strange, wearing beautiful dresses one day, and the next repurposing them into blankets to keep them warm in the winter. What was left when they were back living on the streets was all spent on Reposeweed. There was probably nothing she despised more in this world than the red, foul-smelling powder. When he was on it her father would sit unmoving for days, always with a dreamlike smile on his face. He didn¡¯t react to the cold, his own hunger or her voice. He only stirred when the effects were starting to wear off. Then the paranoia would hit. He would spend days believing that she had stolen his supply, or had money he could use to buy more. No matter how much she assured him, he never believed her. The kindest thing he ever did was leaving her at the orphanage. Of course, he couldn¡¯t have predicted that the place would be even worse than living on the streets at time. Xxx Elbert trudged through the dark, rainy streets of Lower Lakeside, his boots sinking into the wet gravel, slowing his progress. He missed Peanut, his old horse. Looking back, he had no idea what possessed him to choose such a name. It must have made things very difficult for the bards who had the unfortunate job of immortalizing him in song at the time. "Soren the Merciless, the terror of the land, on noble Peanut, his mighty right hand" just didn''t quite fit with the tales of his savagery. He changed his route again, this one bringing him under the bare laundry lines that connected Saint Serenity¡¯s orphanage and the building across from it. Dim lights flickered in some of the windows, but the place was silent as a graveyard. It didn¡¯t sit well with him. It was unnatural for a place with so many children to be this quiet - even at this time of night. He frequently altered his routes on the way to Veilbreakers meetings, but deep down, he knew he had chosen this path on purpose. Helena never mentioned the orphanage, but it didn¡¯t take a genius to figure out that it was her former residence. He was never any good at keeping his curiosity in check. It was why when he was no longer fit to serve on the front lines he switched to reconnaissance. A door opened, and Elbert maneuvered himself into the narrow space between two buildings. A young girl of about ten stepped out. There wasn¡¯t enough grime in the world to hide the terrified expression on her face as she whipped her head around in every direction. When she concluded that the path was clear, she took a hesitant step outside. She tiptoed around the building for a few long minutes, peeking inside barrels and behind bushes. Whatever she was searching for wasn¡¯t there, but it didn¡¯t seem to slow her down. Every so often, she cupped her hands to her mouth to whisper something into the night air. As she completed her third lap around the building, a light flickered on in a window on the first floor. He heard footsteps slowly descending towards the door, but the young girl seemed completely unaware. Elbert cursed himself and his curiosity - he was already going to be late to the meeting. He glanced around, quickly assessing his options. He spotted a small stone on the ground, carefully picked it up and then tossed it in the direction of the door. The girl¡¯s head snapped towards the sound. She managed to hide behind a bush just as the nun stepped outside. Fortunately, the woman was more focused on lighting her pipe than on her surroundings. If she had been paying closer attention, Elbert was almost certain the girl would have been spotted. Letting out a breath he didn¡¯t realize he was holding, he finally headed in the direction of the old watchtower. Xxx ¡°Settle down, everybody,¡± A young man in elaborate fancy clothing stood at the podium, looking distressed. Elbert couldn¡¯t recall seeing him before. Back in his day, the rebel army mainly consisted of farmers and fishermen, but in recent years, he¡¯d noticed more and more middle-class and even nobility joining the fray. It perplexed him. In the early days of the revolution the movement wasn¡¯t exactly kind to people with means. Sometimes wrongfully, brutally so. And even if things had changed since then - he didn¡¯t see what a man like the one standing in front of him could possibly benefit from enlisting. He looked around the room. Unsurprisingly, he spotted Ollie in the crowd. The squire waved at him cheerfully when he noticed him in turn, munching on a sweet potato. A few other young men seemed to be treating the situation like some sort of celebration too, all of them talking loudly between themselves. When it didn¡¯t seem like things were going to quiet down any time soon, the man at the podium pulled out what looked like a makeshift megaphone made of a hollowed-out horn. If the watchtower wasn¡¯t in the middle of abandoned wheat fields, someone would¡¯ve needed to knock some sense into him. It still seemed like a risky choice to Elbert. ¡°People, please quiet down, we have a lot to discuss!¡± The man said, this time achieving the results he was looking for. ¡°As you all know, we¡¯re gathered here tonight to choose our next general, who will guide us through these trying times.¡± Elbert couldn¡¯t pinpoint exactly why, but the words sounded rehearsed, as if practiced several times in front of a mirror. ¡°Our cause is righteous,¡± the speaker added, his voice laden with self-importance. ¡°For too long, the Crown has waged its cruel tyranny upon the simple folk, crushing their spirits beneath the iron heel of its oppression. They, in their ivory towers and gilded halls, turn a blind eye to the suffering they sow. Their taxes bleed our people dry, their decrees shackle us with endless toil.¡± Elbert wondered if the man saw the irony in his own words - standing there wearing the latest fashions made by Giria¡¯s best tailors. He found himself growing increasingly annoyed. ¡°Tonight,¡± The speaker continued after pausing dramatically. ¡°We stand not merely to select a new general, but to affirm our defiance against their heartless rule. We will cast down their false idols and usher in a new era of justice and freedom. Let it be known that our struggle is not in vain and our resistance will not be forgotten!¡± It seemed Elbert wasn¡¯t the only one who found the speech overly theatrical, as the ensuing applause was subdued. He wasn¡¯t pleased with the ¡°false idols¡± line either; he didn¡¯t see what the Holy Five had to do with this. The speaker left the podium, allowing two other men to step forward. One appeared to be in his early twenties, dressed modestly and wearing a dark cape, while the other was a severe-looking middle-aged man. The speeches they gave were just as long and dramatic as the first, and Elbert left the meeting feeling deeply concerned about the future of the cause to which he had dedicated most of his life. Xxx Elbert entered his home quietly and made his way to the living room, intending to warm himself with a nice cup of tea - when he noticed that his favorite spot on the sofa was already taken. Sophie and Helena were fast asleep, his thickest winter blanket covering them from their chins to their toes. He tucked the blankets more snugly around them with his free hand. Then he snuffed out the candle beside them and went to drink his tea in his bedroom instead. Dandelions The scent of fresh ink and soaked leather filled the air as Sophie worked, her tongue poking out in concentration. ¡®Maybe that¡¯s why he lets her stay,¡¯ Helena thought - allowing a smidgeon of hope into her heart. There was no denying that the girl was industrious. Talented, even. There was a careful precision to everything she did. From the way she punctured perfectly aligned holes into sheets of paper - to meticulously smoothing down the leather as she glued it to boards. And all of that she did working in the dim light that came through the single window in the shops¡¯ back room. ¡°Can you teach me?¡± Helena asked, hoping she didn¡¯t sound as desperate as she felt. ¡°What, how to work a printing press and bind books? Why would you want to learn that?¡± The younger girl busied herself with peeling dried glue off her fingers. ¡°It¡¯s super boring, and you have to be super focused. Like, that¡¯s the worst combination!¡± She said, then paused, taking stock of Helena¡¯s injuries. Her expression turned serious. ¡°Are you even well enough? Elbert would kill me if he knew I let you out of bed. He would be even angrier if he knew I was making you do my chores for me,¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. And he doesn¡¯t need to know, I won¡¯t tell if you don¡¯t,¡± Helena had it all planned out. She would learn how to print and bind books - even better than Sophie, and then when the time came and he decided she was well enough to leave - she would dazzle him with her knowledge. He would surely let her stay then, or at the very least hire her. She knew she could do it. She had to do it. Opportunities like that never presented themselves twice. ¡°Ok, I guess. But you have to wear one of those first,¡± Sophie crossed to the other side of the room and retrieved an old apron, which she dusted with her free hand. She then returned and gingerly slid it over Helena¡¯s head. ¡°Lucky this doesn¡¯t have sleeves,¡± She added as she tied it around Helena¡¯s waist, being careful not to touch her injured arm. Her injured right arm. She was going to have to be extra careful not to mess anything up. ¡°Ok! I think it¡¯s best if you watch me first,¡± Sophie took her through the whole process. She explained how the printing press worked, where to insert the paper, and how to switch up the letter stamps. Then, while the paper they printed was drying, she moved on to the binding process. How to make glue from boiling animal bones, how to evenly cut the wooden boards that served as base for the covers. Despite insisting that the process was boring, she spoke every word with enthusiasm. She even allowed Helena to jot everything down on a scrap of paper that didn¡¯t pass Elbert¡¯s quality inspection - pleasantly surprised that she knew how. ¡°I couldn¡¯t read or write when I first started, Elbert taught me.¡± She said, then frowned. ¡°He¡¯s a pain in the ass when he teaches though. Everything has to be perfect.¡± She led Helena back to the massive wooden printing press, waiting patiently as Helena limped after her with the help of her crutches. ¡°Alright, your turn¡± ¡®I can do this.¡¯ Helena repeated the words like a mantra in her head. ¡®I can do this.¡¯ Even though she had a decent idea of how the thing worked now, the sight was still intimidating. There were so many moving parts, and each letter stamp had to be placed just right or the entire page would have to be discarded. The words ¡®Everything has to be perfect¡¯ rang through her mind. She took a deep breath and glanced at her reference - an already printed page of the book she was going to be working on. She picked up her first letter stamp. Her hand shook. ¡°Want me to show you how to slot it in again?¡± Sophie asked, eyebrows creased in concern. Helena nodded, and the younger girl took the stamp from her and repeated the process. ¡°Like that. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not Elbert. I wasn¡¯t born with a stick up my ass,¡± If the nuns at the orphanage had ever heard Helena speaking in such a manner, she wouldn¡¯t have been allowed to leave her room for weeks. They weren¡¯t here though, so she allowed herself a quiet giggle. ¡°Doesn¡¯t Elbert mind when you talk like this?¡± ¡°He minds.¡± Sophie replied, but didn¡¯t elaborate. Helena picked up the next letter stamp, her hand steady. They worked in tandem for a while, Sophie correcting her mistakes and stepping in to help with any action that required the use of a second hand. It was the most pleasant afternoon that Helena had spent in - probably ever, if she was honest with herself. ¡°You¡¯re a really good teacher,¡± She told Sophie as she was locking up, struggling with the heavy iron padlock on the back door. She wanted to say much more than that, but the words were stuck in her throat. ¡°I know,¡± It didn¡¯t feel like her gratitude was properly conveyed, so Helena laid her hand on her shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re a really good teacher,¡± ¡°I know,¡± Sophie repeated. Xxx Elbert inspected Helena¡¯s leg for signs of inflammation or misalignment. All in all, it seemed like it was healing well. He gently pressed along the length of the leg. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Pain level?¡± He asked, raising his eyes to meet his patients¡¯. The girl¡¯s expression changed from slight discomfort to exaggerated hurt in seconds. ¡°Nine out of Ten,¡± She said, scrunching up her face. He raised an eyebrow. ¡°I don¡¯t appreciate being lied to,¡± Back on the field, soldiers only ever lied about health related issues to avoid their duties. Helena had no duties other than staying put until she was healed, and she didn¡¯t seem the type to manufacture drama for sympathy. He observed her face for clues and was surprised to find sudden, full-blown panic. ¡°Hey, deep breaths. What¡¯s the matter?¡± He asked. She didn¡¯t reply, but her sharp, uneven breathing told him all he needed to know. He put a comforting hand on her shoulder. ¡°I need you to do something for me,¡± he said, meeting her eyes. ¡°Can you tell me five things you can see in the room?¡± He could tell his words confused her, but still she did as he asked. Her pupils dilated as she surveyed her surroundings, her breaths coming in quick, shallow bursts. ¡°You,¡± ¡°Yes,¡± He smiled. ¡°I¡¯m here. I¡¯m not going anywhere. What else?¡± She took a deep breath, her eyes darting to the wooden table near the window. ¡°Table,¡± she whispered, her voice gaining a bit of strength. ¡°Good. What else?¡± Her eyes moved to the old wooden chair by the table, then to the embroidered pillow on the couch. ¡°Chair, pillow,¡± ¡°Excellent,¡± he said. ¡°One more.¡± She looked at his old blade, mounted on the wall. Her heart rate must¡¯ve slowed down enough, because her eyes had a glint of curiosity in them. ¡°Sword,¡± She said, but it sounded more like a question as her eyes flitted from it and back to him. Elbert tried not to feel hurt that the thought of him wielding a sword seemed shocking to a teenage girl. Then again, he had lost a lot of muscle over the years - something his old comrades never failed to point out whenever he risked meeting with them. ¡°Good, you¡¯re doing very well,¡± He said, trying to keep the bitterness from his voice. His praise, he noticed - seemed to work even better than the exercise. ¡®Ah,¡¯ he thought, ¡®That¡¯s what caused it.¡¯ ¡°I¡¯m ok,¡± Helena said after a long moment. She put a hand to her chest, feeling her own heartbeat. Elbert allowed her to calm down fully before giving her a cup of water. She gulped it down in seconds. ¡°You know,¡± he started, thinking of how to phrase his next sentence. The last thing he wanted to do was send her spirling into another panic attack. ¡°Sophie lies too sometimes,¡± He met her gaze. ¡°And while I don¡¯t appreciate or encourage it, I don¡¯t think it makes her a bad person.¡± Helena looked at him incredulously. ¡°Do you think it makes her a bad person?¡± ¡°Lies are from the devil,¡± Her words seemed to have come out on instinct. Elbert sighed. He knew exactly who taught her that. ¡°What does that mean, exactly - from the devil?¡± ¡°To speak untruth is to dance with the devil in the shadows of sin.¡± She answered without pause. Elbert¡¯s heard that one before. ¡°Try again.¡± He insisted. ¡°A lie is the devil¡¯s snare, ensnaring the soul and leading it to eternal darkness?¡± When he shook his head her face fell. ¡®That might be a good sign.¡¯ He thought to himself. ¡®She doesn¡¯t want to disappoint me, but it doesn¡¯t seem like she truly believes in this nonsense.¡¯ ¡°I¡¯m back!¡± Sophie¡¯s voice rang from the foyer, cutting their conversation short. She made her way over to them, balancing a variety of different potted plants. When Elbert¡¯s eyes caught the bright yellows of the dandelions his mood immediately improved. Most of his garden consisted of herbs for medicinal uses, but dandelions had a special place in his heart. ¡°Here, let me take these off you,¡± he said, rising from his seat. Xxx Elbert poured a bucket of water over the headstone and took a step back.It gleamed in the afternoon sun, standing out from the rest. ¡®Just like she did,¡¯ he thought. Kneeling, he arranged the dandelions on the grave. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my love. The past few weeks I have been so busy, I didn¡¯t find the time to come and see you,¡± Talking to her grave always helped ease his longing. Despite the years that had passed, part of him refused to let go. He spent the next few minutes with his eyes closed, sharing recent events as if she could hear him. An unexpectedly warm gust of wind tickled the back of his neck, and he imagined it was her gentle touch. A sudden rustle from behind him brought him back to reality. He opened his eyes. The sound wasn¡¯t loud, but it was distinct. He got back on his feet and dusted off his trousers. ¡°Can I help you?¡± He asked. A surprised gasp came from the bushes behind him. Then a feminine grunt as his not-so-stealthy observer got herself tangled up in some vines. ¡°Sorry, sir. I didn¡¯t mean to - that is, I only wanted,¡± When he turned to take a proper look at the girl he realized he¡¯d seen her before. ¡®From the orphanage. What is she doing following me?¡¯ The girl glanced cautiously around, her dirty hair staining her cheeks with mud. When she deemed it safe enough, she took a few more steps towards him. ¡°Do you know a girl called Helena?¡± She whispered. Elbert kept his expression neutral. ¡°Is she your friend?¡± ¡°Her friend? Yes, uh, of course. I¡¯m her friend. Can you tell me where she is?¡± She nervously scratched a spot on her wrist, peeling off a thin layer of skin. ¡°Did the nuns send you?¡± He tried to keep his tone non-accusatory - he didn¡¯t want her to run off. The girl didn¡¯t seem to find the question alarming, however. ¡°No. I¡¯m here because I¡¯m her friend, of course. I just want to see how she¡¯s doing,¡± ¡°Oh, well in this case I can tell you she¡¯s fine. No need to worry,¡± He watched desperation spread across her face as he turned to walk away. ¡°Wait!¡± She grabbed the edge of his sleeve. ¡°Won¡¯t you let me see her?¡± ¡®It doesn¡¯t seem like she was sent by the nuns, but she¡¯s clearly not Helena¡¯s friend.¡¯ Elbert studied the girl¡¯s face more closely. He might have misjudged her age at the orphanage. Despite her bony figure, her face still had a bit of chubbiness. ¡®Maybe six, seven years old?¡¯ ¡°Well, I¡¯m sure Helena would be happy to have a friend over,¡± The girl¡¯s shoulders relaxed a little. ¡°Follow me, I¡¯ll take you to see her,¡± He led the way through the large metal gates marking the entrance to the cemetery, with the girl trailing a few feet behind. She was jumpy, her wide eyes darting around nervously. The vine-covered gravestones seemed to make her nervous. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± He asked. ¡°Clover,¡± ¡°I see. How did you end up an orphan, Clover?¡± Clover¡¯s eyes were glued to the path leading back inside the cemetery. ¡°Dad didn¡¯t return from an expedition, and Mommy,¡± She paused, her hand subconsciously rubbing her stomach. ¡®Died at childbirth, maybe?¡¯ ¡°How close is your house?¡± She asked, changing the topic. ¡°Only a couple of minutes away,¡± He never admitted it to anyone, but proximity to the cemetery played a major role in choosing the land he¡¯d built his home on. They were at his front door before long, and Clover peeked curiously through an open window at his side. He turned the handle. Sophie was busy transferring another dose of Yinroot into a syringe, but she turned to face them when she heard the door creak open. ¡°One of Helena¡¯s friends is here to see her. Would you let her know?¡± Clover hesitantly stepped over the threshold, making a concentrated effort to avoid Sophie¡¯s gaze. ¡°Sure,¡± Sophie replied. Xxx Helena was memorizing the steps to making binding glue when Sophie burst through the door and shut it behind her. ¡°Elbert says a friend is here to see you,¡± The ingredients Helena was repeating in her mind instantly disappeared. ¡°I don¡¯t have friends. Is it a boy?¡± She tried to suppress her panic, but some of it must¡¯ve shown through because Sophie was quick to shake her head. ¡°A girl. She¡¯s coming up the steps now. Do you want me to-¡± Before Sophie could finish her sentence, three steady knocks came from the door. ¡°May we come in?¡± Elbert asked. Sophie gave Helena an uncertain look, as if asking whether she should send them away. ¡®Whoever it is, I can¡¯t just say no. It¡¯s his house, I¡¯m just a guest here¡¯. Still, the gesture gave her a bit of courage. For a moment, she didn¡¯t feel like she was alone. ¡°Yes,¡± She said. The door opened to reveal Elbert and a young girl she couldn¡¯t quite place. She had familiar features, so she must¡¯ve been from the orphanage. ¡®Why is she here?¡¯ ¡°Who-¡± She started, but the young girl¡¯s eyes widened with fear, so Helena replaced the rest of the sentence. ¡°Who told you I was staying here?¡± The girl gave her a grateful look and flicked her eyes between Elbert and Sophie. ¡°Can I tell you in private?¡± Sophie looked like she wanted to protest, but Elbert placed a firm hand on her shoulder and smiled reassuringly. ¡°Of course, we¡¯ll let you guys catch up,¡± He led Sophie out of the door. Helena turned around in her bed to face her visitor properly. ¡°I have a message from your father,¡±