#snow5

Snow: “Aisa, as your friend, I have advice for you. If you want to spend time with your man, with a whole bunch of children in the house, who will not necessarily feed themselves ...”

Aisa: “Yeah?”

Snow: “Grab him, and run away as fast as you can, make sure they don’t know how to follow you and can’t ask anyone. Better yet. Feed them first. Then run away. Take a boat to the mainland or something, they shouldn’t be able to follow you there.”

Aisa: “You’re gonna be a great dad, Snowy.”

Snow: “It was a joke.”

Aisa: “... Wil said there was a funny smell in the pantry. That’s not exactly what you want to hear when you’re in bed, naked.”

Shade and Snow had their first son very late in their lives. Almost past childbearing age, Shade had worried that it would never happen. But then, in spring, Harmon was born. It was an unusually lucky time for them, the priestess’ divination had clearly favored them. A boat had come from the mainland, with interested traders. They had been interested in Shade and Snow’s hut, and eventually, things had started to fall into place. Trading them flowers, seeds, produce, decorated clay pots, bone combs, and other small items, as well as new ways to play and make drums, they had become rather wealthy overnight, and had gained new friends in the process. What to do with their fortune, however, was another question.

Shade: “... I think Kuneris wants to move out. He and Wysha get along so well, I’m sure they’ll marry.”

Snow: “We’re not ambitious enough for him, that is true. Wysha will prove an excellent wife. She’s the chief’s sister, after all, and everyone knows she’ll take over after he can no longer fulfill his duty.”

Shade: “Mh-hm. So we’re not going to talk about Irate dropping by every now and then, and the looks they are giving each other?”

Snow: “That’s his business. I want no part of it. Feared is not a kind man, if he finds out he’s being cuckolded, his response will be ... dangerous. Wysha isn’t going to let it slide either. If anyone asks then, it’s best to pretend we didn’t know a thing.”

Shade: “You’re right, that’s probably best. But I’ve been thinking about one other thing.”

Snow: “I know. It’s what Audawulfaz said about the mandrakes he bought from us, right?”

Shade: “You know me entirely too well, sun of my life. We have some stories about things that will help this or that disease, but it’s all very vague. He treated it like common knowledge, ‘a broth of mandrake alleviates pains and sets a man to sleep, even if his bone is broken and has to be reset’, that would be so useful! I think I’d like to gather this knowledge, and do some experiments of my own.”

Snow: “As would I, my sweet. On our travels, we have met wise men and women, who knew their roots and herbs, and could cure various ailments. It is something this village is sorely lacking. So it’s agreed. We’ll be herbalists.”

Shade: “Agreed, as always.”

“Would a broth made of vegetables not be more strengthening?”

“Certainly! But what use is it to strengthen the body, if it only feeds the parasite? No, he used this flower, to kill the parasite itself, then purging broths to expel it.”

***

“And I’ve thought of making the rounds regularly, to make sure I reach as many people in the village as I can.”

“That’s so nice! I love that you’re trying to help people. Makes life better for everyone.”

“Thank you! I’m elated! I can’t wait to get started!”

***

“Grip?”

“Yes?”

“... has he always had a tail?”

Shade likes staring at Snow while sleeping, envisioning their bright future in a large home, with their son and their new occupation. The very next day, she visited Grip and Secretive, to start on her journey of becoming a herbalist.

Shade: “Grip. How are you doing?”

Grip: “Oh, well, well ... I can’t quite manage to trust the peace, I’m afraid.”

Shade: “What? But we’ve been doing well. Even the chieftess had another baby! A healthy boy.”

Grip: “Spade died after we’d finally won our fight to be together. You’re his sister, you remember. I don’t take anything for granted. Least of all luck.”

Shade: “... I ... sorry. Yes. Of course. I ... I remember. Your recent loss must have you so distraught. Loosing a child is never easy, and harder still if it had already been born and alive. I only ever buried all the ones that didn’t make it so far.”

Grip: “Oh, of c- ... you have my sympathies. I’m very glad that young baby Harmon seems so healthy.”