“Literature on herbalism and the art of nature’s cure.” She threw her arms up once Willow was out of sight and smacked her head lightly against its cover. “Mother’s making me read it, though I don’t know why. I know it already.”
“Seems like it could be quite interesting,” I said, plonking down beside her.
“Oh, it’s absolutely fascinating, but at the same time it’s very, very boring.” Lavender rubbed an impeding tiredness from her eyes.
“Why do you have to read it?”
“I’ll be tested later.” She shivered at the thought. “The last time I got a few answers wrong I had to take over the home visits for all of Mother’s most stubborn and miserable patients. I’d rather not relive the experience if I can help it…at least not until I have to.”
“Home visits?” I peered at the words and pictures inside. It seemed like the entire thing had been written by hand. Granted, the printing press was a fairly new invention but it took off like a lightning fire back home.
“Mother’s the finest healer in many, many miles, I guarantee you. Though obviously there are some illnesses and wounds no one can mend,” Lavender sighed. “Those are the worst cases we take. The families all stand around waiting for us to do something; like snapping our fingers would magically stitch a person back together or bring the dead back to life.”
“Surely they understand-”
“They do, eventually. People know that when Mother can’t fix it, it’s time to say their goodbyes and wish their loved one luck for their judgement. That’s usually after a lot of crying, begging and threatening,” Lavender said sourly. “The doctors all hate her, of course. They learn the skills to be a healer but Mother has a gift, a way with these things. She’s always said: ‘if the earth gave us the sickness, it will also give us the cure’. Most of the time it does.”
A smile touched my lips. “It sounds like she’s a good teacher.”
Lavender nodded. “I just hope some of her gift got mixed in with my blood somewhere. Though, knowing my luck I’ll get stuck with my father’s clumsy hands.”
There was a short silence between us as a flash of pain swept across Lavender’s face. “Was he a good man?”
She caught my eyes and smiled sadly. “He was the best I’ve ever known.” After a deep breath she put her book down and turned to me. “What about you? What’s your family like where you come from?”
“Father,” I started, trying to find the words. “Father is truly loving and kind and selfless, but he’s been…broken for years. My mother passed before I reached my tenth year. After that it was like he snapped; suddenly teaching me how to run the farm, manage money and how to protect myself.” I clutched the locket around my neck. “Then he would disappear for near months at a time, and reappear with new scars, fewer words, and no stories to tell. It was actually quite lonely, until my brother was adopted into the family.”
“How long has it been since you last saw him?”
“I…actually don’t know.” My forehead creased as I thought. “The first snow hadn’t fallen so possibly four – or five months.”
Lavender was quiet for a moment before nudging me off the sofa with a socked foot. “Well, he raised a big bag of trouble.”
I chuckled. “I can’t disagree with you there after everything that’s happened so far. Without him pushing me to be the troublesome lady I am, I probably would have been Matched a year ago.”
“Really? You’re hardly older than a child, though.” Lavender had sat bolt upright. “That’s very strange.”
“Excuse me, we're the same age.” I grabbed her foot as she tried to shove me again and tickled it. “It’s the tradition in Wetherdon. We throw ceremonies, or auctions, each half-year, but Father always told me I wasn’t meant for Matching. He probably knew I would end up in a chaotic mess like this.”
Willow entered the room again and Lavender hastily picked the book up, making a face at me.
“Speaking of chaos, do either of you know where Ethan is? I’ve barely spoken to him since…er…I haven’t actually thanked him.” Better to say that he’d been avoiding me.
“He and Ric are outside doing – something – non-intellectual things,” Willow said before disappearing into the kitchen.
Lavender whispered to me, “They were never that bothered about medicine. It was a very awkward few weeks when Mother tried teaching them.”
We laughed together before Willow’s voice floated in. “Laughing doesn’t help with learning.” Lavender grimaced and I waved to her silently before heading out the back door.
The lush, new spring grass flattened soundlessly under my feet as I looked for the two boys. Around me, the promise of life sprouted in the nooks of old, rotting trees and up past the skinny blades, awaiting their first flower. A rise of unusual birdsong accompanied me as I made my way over fallen bricks and through the first few rows of trees to where the grass wasn’t quite so abundant. There was a sound that rose above all others. A strict thunk – thunk – thunk that rang out, getting louder with each step. Laughter found me not long after and I saw the two of them from a short distance away, shooting arrows at targets they’d pinned up on trees. I’d never seen Ethan really laugh before. The force of it made creases in the corners of his eyes, overlaying the lines left from years of whatever had made him age before his time. He seemed younger. My heart shuddered a little and I slapped at my chest.
“No, no,” I mumbled to myself. “We’re not starting that now. Get a grip.” I pushed through the knot of old roots and entered the final lot of trees. It was clearer than most other places in the forest around us, but not as much as a glade.
Ric was the first to notice me and held up a hand in greeting. “Hi,” he said. “How – uh-” He stopped suddenly, still trying to be gentle about the way he spoke.
I narrowed my eyes, trying to decide whether what I was about to do was a good idea. “Make a promise with me,” I said, extending my hand out to him. We’d been polite with each other since the night I ran away, but it didn’t feel right and frankly I was exhausted with the strain of conversation.
Ric pushed himself up from his lounging position and grabbed my hand. “Okay, what?” he asked.
“I get to punch you once,” I started. “After that there’ll be no more secrets, okay?” I held up a finger on my free hand when he started to answer. “And if you lead me to my death again I’ll come after you – in this life, or in Sembeia.”
“I’m afraid I’ll be going to Gehn, after this life is done.” He laughed, “But I accept. One hit; no more secrets; hunted in the afterlife: wherever we may be.” He shook my hand firmly and let go.
“Alright then,” I said, moving into my fighting stance. “Come on. Arm up and let’s get this over with.” Ethan shifted to get a better view as Ric turned to the side, pulling his arm out in front of him.