True North [True North series book 1/3]

We stumbled out of the forest and down the grassy mountain side that led to the village.

“We’re back!” I called out as we entered our house, and waited for Tophyn’s response.

Instead, Elysora popped her head around the corner. She was standing in the kitchen, preparing some bone broth for Tophyn.

“Ely!” I exclaimed, hanging my satchel over the back of one of the chairs. “I didn’t know you were coming to visit.”

Elysora poured the broth into a cup and stirred it. “Did you find anything?” she asked, nodding toward the satchel.

I dug out a bunch of blue Starvine and some Mitlock grass, and joined Elysora in the kitchen.

“You can’t keep leaving Tophyn alone like this,” Elysora said as she ripped the Starvine leaves of their vine, “he’s getting too weak. Let me know before you go out next time — I’ll come watch him.”

I nodded as I cut the tubular Mitlock grass into tiny ringlets. Elysora put the Starvine leaves into a mortar and mashed them into a paste. She would have added the paste to the broth as it was, had I not caught her in time.

“Ely,” I warned her, “you can’t just add it in like that. We need some of his saliva in order for his body to be able to break it down properly, or else he will be vomiting all night.”

We loaded everything onto a wooden cutting board and ascended the creaky, wooden stairs that led to the attic, which was were Tophyn stayed. We found Nysander lying with him, telling him about our day in the forest.

“Serin!” Tophyn called out, setting off another coughing fit.

We settled down, putting the wooden board on the stool by the bed. I held Toph’s hand as he collected himself.

“Did you really catch a squirrel?” he asked, when he had finally stopped coughing.

I held up three fingers with a faint smile on my face. “I’ll prepare them later,” I said, “drink this first.”

I added the Mitlock grass to the broth, and stirred. Then I held the mortar up to his face.

“Spit into this,” I ordered him, and Tophyn, who was used to my odd requests by now, did so without question. I stirred the saliva into the paste, and added it to the broth.

“Go on,” I coaxed, as Tophyn sniffed the cup and grimaced at me.

He took a small sip, and I could physically see his stomach disagree with him as he swallowed, sending the liquid right back up. I took his cup from him just before he could empty his stomach contents into it. It ended up in the mortar instead. I handed it to Nysander.

“Go fetch him some honey,” I said, as Nys took the mortar from me reluctantly.

I rubbed Tophyn’s boney back, and adjusted his blanket. Nysander came back with the entire pot of honey, and I cursed him silently as Toph perked up immediately.

“Can I have two spoonfuls?” he asked, his mouth already watering.

“Fine,” I said, narrowing my eyes at Nys, “One now, one after the broth. And you have to keep it down!”

“But it’s so bitter,” Toph whined, but he shut up when he saw the fire behind my eyes. He finished every last drop, and earned his honey.

We went back down to the kitchen to wash up and prepare supper. I was skinning the squirrels Nys and I had caught earlier when Elysora took my arm.

“I’m serious, Serin,” she said quietly, “Tophyn’s health is declining faster than expected. Maybe you should try taking him to the city again—“

“He’s too weak,” I snapped at her, before taking a deep breath and collecting myself.

I wiped my hands on my apron as I turned to her. “He would not make it. But I’ll go further into the forest tomorrow — look for some seed of Solvan. It’s bound to disperse any day now. That should buy him some time.”

Elysora furrowed her brow hesitatingly. “I don’t know if you should do that, Ser,” she said, “you know what lurks in those woods — you have had great luck so far, but maybe you shouldn’t push it.”

I rolled my eyes at her. “With all due respect, Ely,” I said, “what other choice do we have?”

Elysora sighed and refocussed her attention on the vegetables she had been chopping. I roasted the squirrels and cut the meat off the bones, setting them aside to make some more bone broth with later. The pelts would make great gloves for the winter.

We went upstairs again to eat supper with Tophyn. He and Nys shared the attic, like they had since Tophyn was born. I had stayed there too, once, but I had moved downstairs to claim my parent’s room once they had passed. I was the only girl anyway, and I needed my privacy as I aged. It was also easier for me to leave the house quietly in the mornings this way, without waking Tophyn.

After supper, Nysander stayed upstairs to watch Toph while Elysora and I had some tea sitting on the threshold of our front door, overlooking the winding path that led all the way down to the watermill.

“I talked to Tharyn today,” she started, clutching her cup in her hands, “his son would be honored to take your hand in marriage.”

I nearly choked on my tea. “I’m not interested,” I breathed, after having gathered myself, “please, don’t you start too. I don’t have time to think of marriage — I have my brothers to worry about.”

Elysora shook her head in disdain. “People are talking, Serin,” she said, “Nysander is of age now — he should be able to take care of himself. And you can take Tophyn in once you have a husband, have him do the heavy lifting for you. There’s no need to risk your life out in those woods, and frankly — it’s wrong for a lady your age to be unmarried. You don’t want to end up a spinster, do you?”

I drained my cup and put it down between my feet. “I’ll get married later,” I said reluctantly, “it’s the farthest thing from my mind right now.”

Elysora huffed. “There won’t be anyone left to marry,” she said, “you’ll miss your window. The time is now — you have plenty of suitors, just… pick one.”

“I can’t just pick a husband, Ely,” I said, “I want to love the man I spend my life with. I want a love like my parents’s.”

Elysora got up, her face cold as ice as she put her empty cup down next to me. “A love like that is rare, Serin, I hope you realize that. There are plenty of good men out there, that will provide you with a good life. You’re too picky, and it’s going to cost you. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”