“I am most thankful.” I grab the jar, pausing before exiting the hut. “Asha wished you to have this.” I take the thread she gave me from my pouch and hand it to Orvell, who grumbles his thanks.
I exit the hut, finding Grixis, Asha, and Elena waiting close by, faces red from trying to suppress their laughter.
Asha’s hair is a wild golden halo around her head, which Arwin jokingly wove as her crown, because after word got out that she was a Penticari princess, people have taken to calling her that.
I still do not understand how my Little Vaeyark has eyes only for me when I was so foolish as to mistreat her, but I vow to spend my every waking hour bringing honor to myself so that I might be worthy of her.
And that included me honoring my trip to the cleric’s hut.
When I told Asha about the injury I had to fake for Kairi, she told Elena, who then told Grixis. They were all too excited to watch.
“My debt is paid,” I deadpan.
“We heard you wailing.” Elena chuckles the words out.
“If you are done laughing, let us eat,” I scoff.
We head to the cauldrons and smokers, which is now called Cook’s Row, and grab midday meal. Asha and Elena have started to spice their meat more, which is good, as they are adapting to the bounty of the land.
From the northern edge of the village, Araelya and Fiona trudge toward us, hauling back an endergulf with Elric and Ulof trailing them.
They get stronger with each day that passes, exceeding my people’s expectations, and even their own.
A huffing catches my attention. I turn to see Nori rushing over, threads overflowing her hands. Dogan follows behind.
She stops in front of Asha; her face red, sweat pouring down her forehead.
“I saw it!” she pants, her chest rising and falling in quick bursts. “I saw what’s making the dye look like it’s moving!” She shakes the threads.
“What?” Asha and Elena say in unison.
“There’s something on it—something alive—super tiny, moving, changing, somehow.”
Grixis and I exchange worried glances.
“You mean bugs?” Elena says with a gasp.
“Too small. Back on Penticar, there was talk about tiny things you couldn’t see with the naked eye that could only be viewed by lenses. I saw them a time or two, myself, but I was always so busy wondering about other things that I never got around to researching them.”
“How did you see them?” Grixis asks in an accusatory tone.
“Dogan helped me find a bunch of lenses, and I was able to place them so that—” She sighs, then leans forward, catching her breath. “Never mind. Sorry, I know I over-explain. And I’m sorry I said I’m sorry—I know it’s weak?—”
“It’s fine,” Elena rushes out. “Just tell us if there’s a point to this.”
“I think whatever I saw under the lenses is…I don’t know…adapting.”
Sweet Tempest…
“Adapting to what?” Asha asks.
“The—”
“The land?—”
“Enough,” Grixis grumbles, casting a stern look at Dogan. “Whatever you have found should not get in the way of our chores, for there is much to be done. If you have so much free time, perhaps you should help in some other way.”
“Grix—” Elena begins, but he casts her a stern look.
