NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1.17
«How do I look?»
Nene didn't answer. She didn't know how to. Was Oto expecting someone raised in a monastery and trained in the virtues of faith to give him fashion advice? The boy had purchased a new, bizarre, cylindrical canvas hat and was showing it off in front of the fireplace at home. He had got it from a merchant from afar and meant to wear it at the banquet organised by the mayor.
The entire village of Kumhar knew what had happened a few days earlier. The nightmares and the restlessness of the livestock had significantly decreased, but not completely disappeared. Adanara was still out of control, but having freed her, she was no longer attempting to use her sorcery forcibly, as the Emissary instructed. Furthermore, the mayor wanted to formally welcome the two sisters and Nene as citizens. Thanks to the ritual invented by Eidelhan, the city no longer had to fear the Furies as it once did.
«I bet everyone will be jealous. Imma start a new trend»
«Agreed», she said. «I’ve never seen a hat like that»
«The merchant said they are fairly common where he’s from. He had one too»
«Oto, I don't think I can help you. I... I've never even owned any clothes»
She grabbed her silver-embroidered cloak and wrapped herself in it. The boy looked at her in confusion.
«Aren't those yours?»
«No. They belong to Mother Superior. She is responsible for providing everything necessary for the cadets»
«What about non-cadets?»
«Well, when an Inquisitor gets old, they usually become masters of the Order and teach the young. Sometimes the Prince gifts them some land where they can retire»
«The Prince?!»
«Yes. The Prince… of the Principality, you know?. He rules... In short, he is kind of a mayor»
«Ooooh. So one day you will own a farm?»
«Maybe»
«When I was little, Grandpa and Jiriel took care of me. I miss my grandpa sometimes... Do you miss your mother?»
«She's not my mother! Mother Superior is… she takes care of all the cadets. Like in an orphanage. You know those at least?»
«Nope», the boy admitted. «Principality sounds like a weird place. Uh, maybe I need a cloak like yours?»
Oto went back to admire his clothes. Nene sighed: she had agreed to assist him out of gratitude, but she was so out of place. She had always thought that only nobles would care so much about their appearance, yet that was not the case. At the monastery, she had been taught that vanity distracts people from the threat of the Evil One and instils desire, through which it can tempt them. The teachings she had received over a lifetime, however, were being challenged before her very eyes, over and over, by the joint work of an angel and a witch. She had no idea what to believe in anymore.
«I wanna try it»
She took off her cloak and handed it to him. After a few moments, the boy finally managed to put it on and was satisfied. He struck a stiff pose and brought a hand to the hat.
«My name is Master Oto, a landowner and a rich man from the Principality»
Nene laughed. Wearing the bizarre cylindrical headdress, his usual practical clothes and the silver cloak of the Inquisition, he looked more like a clown than a landowner.
«You look like the Gentleman Thief»
«Does it mean it suits me?»
«No», she said amid laughter. «The Thief is a fictional character, from a play. He wears a black cloak and a mask to hide in the night»
Oto sprinted towards her and stuck the hat on her head. Then he took a few steps back and pretended to look her up and down, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
«What about you? You look like a jester»
She shoved him, and he did it back. Nene was caught off guard and fell to the ground, on her butt. She bursted out laughing.
«You are the one to talk? Did you think you would impress My Lady with that ridiculous hat?»
Oto sat down in front of her and smiled. He handed her the cloak and reclaimed his hat.
«Am I that stupid?»
«No, I didn't mean it. In truth, I don't think the Emissary would mind how you look»
Her childhood memories resurfaced, about scuffles with that unpleasant brat, Liaria. She used to bully Elora, and Nene always came to her aid. Usually, they ended up being punished by Mother, all three of them. They had cleaned a lot of pots, pans and clothes due to Liaria's misbehaving. Oto seemed to read her mind and smiled at her again.
«I'm glad you are here. I feel like I have a sister now»
She blushed. She was used to being called "sister" by the other cadets, but Oto didn't mean it the same way. She didn't consider him a brother, but it was pleasant being around each other. She was happy to share the roof with him and Jiriel. It wasn't every day she got to have a friendly brawl with someone while laughing.
«I'm happy too», she admitted.
«Do you still want to go back to the Principality?»
«I'm not sure... First I need to get some answers. By the way, Oto…»
«Yes?»
«How am I supposed to make a living here? I shouldn’t keep going like this»
«Like this?», he asked, confused.
«Yes, I mean… You provide food for everyone, and I don't help in any way»
«Really? I thought you were the one cleaning everything around the house, lately. No, wait... It must be you, Jiriel’s way too lazy»
«What?! What are you talking about?»
«It’s true. Jiriel never does anything. She's been busy with you lately, but usually, she spends her time at the tavern or bathing in the stream»
«You said she looked after you!»
«She used to. When I was little she taught me to hunt, to cut wood... Then she became lazy»
Nene refused to believe him. An angel was supposed to be a paragon of virtue. She knew that Jiriel was very different from what she imagined, but every day a new scandalous detail about Her Lady would come to light. It was too much.
«I'm sure there’s a good reason»
«Is there?», the boy laughed. «You should see her room. It’s full of toys. She spends every night playing games»
«Wait, the noises I hear at night... It’s her?»
«Yup. I scolded her in the past. Since then she tried to be less noisy, at least. When she plays with toy soldiers she makes all the sounds of a battle, screaming and all»
«You're making things up! I don't believe you»
«Go and see, then. If she lets you in. You know, I think she's a bit ashamed»
Nene rose to her feet, indignant. She was certain Oto wasn’t trying to defame the Emissary, yet he was. Even worse, given Jiriel's peculiarity, she couldn't be sure he was lying.
«I'll go right away!»
«Wait, take this», Oto said, retrieving a bottle from a cabinet. «Maybe this will bribe her. I'll take Lemon and go into town. The mayor asked everyone for help with the banquet»
«I’ll be there, as soon as I have spoken to the Emissary».
«Okay»
Oto headed towards the exit but turned around after a few steps. He tossed the top hat onto an armchair and ran a hand through his hair.
«Nene, you could call her by name, you know? I think she would be happy»
She didn't answer. It would have been extremely disrespectful to call an angel by name. Yet she seemed to be the only one to think that way. Some people in the village even called her nicknames or made fun of her. She was considered an equal by them. Inconceivable.
Nene grabbed the bottle and headed for the small door that led to the basement. She knocked. A noise came from inside, like objects falling over and someone stumbling.
«Oto?»
«It’s Nene, my Lady»
«Oh, Nene. Is something wrong?»
«I was wondering... Oto said... Can I come in?»
«No! There's... lotta stuff in here. You could get lost!»
«I have some wine for you»
«You’re so nice. We can drink it upstairs, though. Let's go to the stream! I'll show you my favourite spot!»
«Actually, I'm pretty curious about your… living quarters?»
That phrase caused a moment of silence between the two. Nene was disappointed in herself: she had given in to the urge of curiosity. Still, the Emissary had repeatedly encouraged her to do so, so she thought she was finally on the right path. After all, the Evil One had not manifested despite her moment of weakness.
«Okay. But just this once!»
The lock clicked and the little door opened. Jiriel welcomed her in her usual pink dress, hunched over due to the narrow space. Her light illuminated a narrow wooden staircase that led underground.
«Careful. Archers»
The Emissary took the bottle from her hand and led the way. Nene followed her light. She paid attention to her steps and noticed with disappointment that there were some toy soldiers carved out of wood left on the stairs. Perhaps Oto wasn't lying after all.
«Archers take advantage of high ground, so their arrows can fly further», the angel explained. «You’re quite clever, you humans. You don't understand how the world works, but you often still manage to take advantage of its ways»
«Are you interested in war?»
«Oh, no, silly. I invented a strategy game. Well, actually I’m not done with the rules, yet. When it's ready I'll show it to everybody. Can you imagine? Maybe it’ll become famous! Cards and dice will be obsolete!»
They came to the dark basement. Jiriel spread her wings, casting much more light, and Nene could observe her bizarre refuge. It was an old cellar dug into the bare earth, the walls and floors roughly boarded up. The place was full of junk messily piled up. There were clothes, dolls, everyday tools, animals carved in wood, an old oval mirror, some books scattered on the floor, a rocking horse... That room was a child’s dream, even if it didn’t belong to one, but rather to someone with a morbid curiosity for everything related to humans.
«Oto was right», she sighed.
«I'll get you a glass!»
The Emissary rummaged through a trunk, inside which Nene saw more clothes and shoes. She took out a wooden cup and handed it to her. She poured some wine and then sat down on the ground. Nene did the same.
«My Lady, what are all these things?»
«Things I like. When I like something, I hoard it»
«I see lots of toys…»
«Exactly! Toys are fun. Why don’t they make more of them?»
Nene brought the cup to her mouth. The aroma of the wine made her want to puke. She took a sip. The slightly sour taste disgusted her.
«I never thought you were the conceited sort», she smiled.
«Am not»
«I apologise. You have a mirror and a lot of clothes, so I thought...»
«Oh, ah, you mean those…», she laughed embarrassed. «Oto is so silly…»
«You mean these are all gifts? From Oto?!»
«Most of them. I don't mind, but I would like something different, sometimes. I don't even use them!»
«How does he get so many?»
Jiriel looked extremely annoyed. Her white light faded to blue. She took a huge gulp of wine.
«There's a seamstress in town who gives him huge discounts»
«And that’s... bad?»
«Of course it is! Who does she think she is? Just ‘cause Oto is cute, she treats him like a lil’ kid! She’s always nice to him. Every time she sees me she asks about him!»
The light became increasingly blue and the bottle contents began to run low. It was a touchy subject, so Nene tried to change it.
«I was wondering if you could help me. I think I should find a job for as long as I'm here»
«Why that?»
«Because… Oto provides food for all of us. I want to help him. What do you think?»
«Oh, didn't I tell you? The mayor wants to give you an assignment. He didn't tell me the details, but I think he will ask you, Adanara and Nila to join the city guard»
«The guard? We're not soldiers. Also, the two of them don't even know how to fight»
«You might be the “Fury Hunters”. Do you like the title? I made it up right now»
«Would you approve?»
Jiriel shook her head. She drank the last sip of wine and shook the bottle, sadly realising that it was empty.
«Do as you wish, Nene»
«To be honest, I don't know what I want...», she confessed.
«Is something wrong?»
«I... I don't understand anything anymore! Are you sure that that... thing the witch did can save the damned? If so, I... we... My Lady, why doesn't the Archangel know about it?»
«Well, there are things Oroel doesn't know, others he doesn't want to admit he does. Hard to say…»
«What does this make me?»
Adanara's words rang in her mind. "Murderer". Was she sound? Had Nene and her entire Order been nothing but murderers for centuries?
«You’re Nene!», the Emissary answered naively.
«You don't understand... I... I purged a man...»
Tears arose in her eyes. Jiriel caressed her and wrapped her in her iridescent wings.
«You must choose what you want to do from here on out, Nene», she whispered. «You can't change the past»
The angelic embrace made her feel safe, protected and comforted. She wiped her eyes.
«There’s yet another matter»
«I'm listening»
«I... don’t think I want to associate with these two»
«Are you still afraid of them?»
She nodded: they had deceived her, involved her in a terrible experiment against her will and without understanding the possible consequences, they had almost killed her. It was only natural to fear them.
«I hate them!... But I don't want to»
«What do you mean?»
«I mean… Nila was very kind to me before her sister appeared. I would like… I would like…»
She blushed and hid her face in Her Lady's lap. Jiriel had read her like a book: she wanted affection above all else. She was so desperate to have some that she was willing to look for it even from the witch's accomplice. She often thought about Nila, remembering all the silly ideas that had crossed her mind, in the short time they spent together in Dena.
«Why don't you go and see her?»
«I'm scared... and ashamed...»
«Okay, end of the tour!»
Jiriel pushed her away, jumped up and headed towards the exit. Nene followed her wondering if she had said something wrong. Was it inappropriate to talk about her personal feelings to the Emissary? Her past self wouldn't have talked about such things even with Elora. What had happened to her self-control?
«My Lady, wait!»
«I wanna go out, I'm bored!»
«Have I offended you, perhaps?»
The Emissary looked at her, confused. She led the way out of the basement and locked the door.
«No, not at all. I don't know what you're talking about»
She stood staring at the angel. She felt restless, confused and indecisive. Never in her life she had to choose what to do, what priorities or principles stand for. It would have been much easier if Jiriel had given her some direction, but, for some reason, she seemed against it.
«You promised to guide me…», she whimpered.
«I will, Nene. You have to learn to make decisions for yourself, or you will never be happy»
«I am happy»
«Nene…»
The Emissary's tone startled her: she was about to be scolded. She cringed and looked down. She tried to figure out what she was doing wrong, but couldn't.
«Nene, if you miss Nila, go talk to her. Why won’t you?»
«I don't miss her at all!», she lied.
«Come on!», the angel laughed. «Come on, just go! She and her sister are at Sevika’s»
She nodded. It was hard for her to admit it, but hope was crawling among her feelings: the hope that Jiriel was right, that Adanara's magic was something for good, that it was possible to leave the past behind. Ever since they freed the sisters from the manor's cell, there had been a part of her that wanted nothing more than to re-establish her relationship with Nila. She felt like a fool. She felt vulnerable but decided to give it a try anyway.
The main street of Kumhar was in turmoil. Wall-building was suspended and people were going back and forth carrying baskets and carts. The entire community was working to set up two long, huge tablefuls in the centre of the city. Tables of all shapes and sizes were being gathered for that purpose, dozens of chairs, stools and even wooden crates. There were hundreds of seats. All around town farmers, peasants, shepherds and ranchers were stockpiling food supplies of all sorts, lighting hearths, preparing cauldrons and spreading lovely aromas along the way. The city guards, responsible for supervising the festival, were gathered at an improvised bench on the side of the road, a temporary open-air tavern. They were sitting there, drinking beer together with the construction workers. The past insomnia epidemic had exhausted everybody, guards above everyone else. The city was noisy with cheerful chatters of people celebrating the end of a nightmare.
Nene spotted Oto among the crowd, helping other people as they set up a stage between the two tables in the centre of the fair. She had offered to help. She prayed that he could forgive her tardiness. It was hard to muster the courage to face Nila, so she had to do so, before she could chicken out.
She made her way through people, took the side street to the well, and then proceeded to Sevika's tavern. The noises from inside confirmed that she was in the right place. She took a breath and walked in through the doorless entrance. Nobody paid any attention to her. She found the four men she had met a few days earlier at their usual table, laughing out loud. Sevika was serving them dishes with appetising contents. Nene didn't recognize what kind of food it was, but it wasn't the owner's terrible fried eggs at the very least.
At the counter, sitting on a stool, dressed in local clothes, Adanara frowned at her. Her appearance was unusually normal, no one would have thought she was a witch or a stranger. Her raven black hair was pulled back in a ponytail. The signs of hardship had disappeared from her sharp face, similar to Nila's, albeit thinner as her whole body, and frowning in an everlasting expression of annoyance. She was wearing a white shirt, simple canvas breeches, and a pair of oversized boots. Her gloomy gaze, those dark eyes as dark as the hair around her face, made Nene sick. The feeling seemed to be mutual.
«Hey there, kid!» Sevika shouted.
«It’s the kiddo!», a customer said.
«Hey, nice job! Thanks to you, good food is back!»
«My name is Nene…», she complained.
«Pranav! Come out. Come and say hello!»
From a room behind the counter came Pranav. He was wearing a stained apron, his face was sweaty and he looked exhausted. However, no signs of damnation were to be found. The prolonged illness had undoubtedly affected him, he had little to no hair and teeth left and he looked twenty years older than he actually was, but other than that, he was in good shape.
«What?!», he shouted to his cousin.
«You ungrateful pig! She’s the one who healed you!»
«She just did her part», the witch commented.
The man brightened up. He laughed out loud and ran towards her. Nene stood still, embarrassed. The smell of the kitchen suffocated her when the man wrapped her in a hug.
«Thanks, kiddo! I’ll be forever grateful to you guys!». he spitted through his toothless mouth.
«Glad to see you safe and sound», she answered.
She did not sense any trace of the Evil One within him. In front of her stood a happy man, safe and glad to be back to his former life. The four guys at the table gave her a round of applause, Sevika smiled at her. She had only once purged a damned in the past, and had received gratitude mixed with tears of despair and sad prayers for the soul of the deceased. What was happening then was much more pleasant for sure. Applause and hugs made her feel good.
«Are you hungry? Today’s on me»
«You don’t have to»
«Don't worry, he sure knows how to cook!»
«Hey, are you tryna say something? I was doing fine on my own!»
Sevika slapped the brave customer in the face. He burst out laughing, together with his friends. The sense of humour in that tavern was something else. Nene couldn’t understand, but she had other things on her mind.
«Thanks, maybe another day»
«As you wish. Next time, then. You’ll always be welcome here»
Nene headed towards Adanara. The witch pretended to ignore her. She was sipping the local potato liquor and there was a hint of redness on her cheeks. She sat next to her to get her attention.
«What do you want? Still hunting me down?», she asked.
«I’m not here for you. I'm looking for your sister»
«Oh, what did she do? Let's hear it»
«Nothing. I... I would like to talk to her...»
Adanara's distrust and aggressiveness made her hesitate. While she understood her feelings, her Inquisitor's mind couldn't help but assume that, as much as that woman complained about being persecuted, it was ultimately her fault. Had she never given up her soul to the Evil One, had she never become a witch, the Church would not have bothered her at all.
«She's upstairs»
«Thank you»
Nene climbed the stairs to the room where Pranav had been locked up. The idea of returning there wasn't appealing, but she was told Sevika had fixed up the place and offered it to the sisters, to repay her debt. Hoping that the stench of the damned no longer lingered in there, she knocked.
«The door is open», Nila said from inside.
She went in. She felt no nausea other than the one caused by Adanara's proximity. The room had been cleaned and the scattered pots and pans were no longer there. The marks left by the nails and teeth of the damned had been hidden under heavy carpets. The bed was gone. Two mats were lying on the floor in its place. It was a decent arrangement, considering that a monster enslaved by the Evil One was locked in there for the past two years.
Nila was facing the opposite direction. She was bent over a trunk at the back of the room. Other than that, the mats and rugs, there wasn't much else in the room. The young woman stood up, holding a long white coat. She turned towards her and became pale.
«W-w-what…»
«Um… Hello»
«I-I thought it was Ada… What do you want?»
Her expression and her stronger-than-ever stuttering suggested that she was frightened. A lot had happened between them, so Nene rushed to clarify.
«I just came to talk. To see how you are faring»
«Oh… I’m... f-fine?»
Nene was about to close the door, but Nila flinched. She gave up to avoid scaring her further.
«I'm serious… I… I’m not looking for revenge. Nothing of the sort»
She took a step forward. Nila sighed. She put the coat back in the trunk and walked towards her.
«Shall we take a stroll? I-I’d like to talk outside»
Nene heard footsteps coming from the stairs, then hasty footsteps, as if someone was rushing down.
«Okay»
She followed the herbalist downstairs. Nila, unlike her sister, wore clothes similar to those she was used to, a long yellow dress and leather boots. After their release, the mayor had returned their belongings, or what was left of them. Nila headed to the tavern counter, where Adanara was still drinking and ignoring her.
«Ada!», she scolded her.
«What?»
The witch was drunk. It was hard to understand whatever was coming from her mouth. Nila snatched the glass from her hand, and silence fell over the room, except for the whispers of the four men sitting at the table.
«I bet on the blondie», one of them said and dropped a coin on the table.
More bets followed. Adanara turned slowly, her face enraged. Nene was used to seeing her like that, but she usually softened in Nila's presence. Was it the alcohol?
«Give it back!»
«D-do you want to sit there and... g-get wasted all the time and spy on me?»
«I wasn’t spying on you!», she lied.
«I hate you when you act like that!»
Nila handed back the glass, slamming it on the counter. She motioned for Nene to follow her and rushed out. Nene cast one last glance at Adanara, who was growling at her.
«Wait, who won?», a man asked.
Nene left fearing that the situation would worsen. She gloated a little at the idea that the witch had gotten lectured, but Nila was in an awful mood. She was walking fast, her head hunched forward, and didn't say a single word.
«Where are we going?»
«Far from her…»
Nila led the way down the alley. They reached the crossroads where the well stood, and went to the next alley, where Jiriel had forbidden her to enter.
«Wait. The Emissary told me never to come here», she explained.
«Huh? Why?»
«I have no idea», she admitted. «There must be a reason»
«But I-I think you should see»
Nene took a deep breath. It was not her habit to break rules, especially when dictated by a divine entity. Still, she remembered the ruins near Dena, the sense of excitement at discovering that ancient, however blasphemous, place while in pleasant company. She blinked, realising she was daydreaming.
«Okay, let's go»
The alley didn't look any different than the one next door. It was equally dirty, dark and barely inhabited. Two-storey houses cast their shadow on the dirt road. Occasionally a voice or the cry of a child could be heard from inside them. After a few dozen metres, the road turned sharply to the left. When they turned the corner, they found themselves in front of a stone building, partially collapsed, but with some still recognizable features: a large wooden door and the base of a bell tower. Through the torn walls, under the rubble, an altar could still be seen at the bottom of the structure.
«A... church?»
«Yeah. I saw it a few days ago, while I was wandering around. Pretty weird, uh?»
Nene approached the building. She peered inside, but there wasn't much left other than desolation. Perhaps that area used to be under the rule of the Principality? She had never read anything about it. The historical texts of the Church mentioned nothing other than the slow expansion of its borders, not the other way around. She would have liked to find out more, but she would hardly have got any information from that pile of stones. Perhaps the Emissary could help her.
«What do you think?», she asked Nila.
The young woman kept her distance. Nene had come looking for her to clarify things between them. For a moment it almost felt like nothing had ever happened, which brought a smile to her face.
«Thanks for bringing me here»
«Y-you’re welcome. I guess»
«Nila, listen... I would like...»
«I'm so, so sorry, Nene»
Nila interrupted her abruptly. She was looking at the ground, her eyes clouded with tears and almost crushing her dress skirt. Her shoulders were shaking, her voice was cracking with sobs.
«I'm sorry. I-I don't blame you if you're mad at me. I lied to you, deceived you... B-but I never had anything against you, for what it's worth...»
Nene felt a sting in her stomach. She sincerely wanted to forgive her and start over, yet it was so difficult… She took a breath.
«I'm sorry I thought poorly of you and your sister. All of this… it’s hard for me as well. Everything that’s happening goes against everything I have been taught. I have always thought what I knew was the unequivocal truth...»
«I-I never wanted to hurt you. I was afraid of the C-Church»
«Do you think that... We could start from scratch, you and I?»
Nene blushed. Now she was the one looking away. Nila finally stopped sobbing. When Nene found the courage to look at her again, she saw her smiling.
«Yes. I’d love to»
She smiled back. She felt like she had let go of a tremendous burden. She had done something good for herself.
«Did you hear that… Well, this is embarrassing… They're throwing a party for us tonight?»
«Yes... It is embarrassing. I was choosing w-what to wear when you came»
«Could we… go together?»
Nila looked thoughtful for a few moments. Had she said something that had made her feel uncomfortable? Nene had no time to overthink before she got a response.
«Yes. It'll be fun. My s-sister will be sulkier than usual, tho»
They both held back a laugh. It was so pleasant to have that relaxed atmosphere back, reminiscent of the days before witchcraft, before an angel and a mysterious tree came into their lives. Nene tried to keep her hopes in check. She had already made a similar mistake in the past and, in doing so, lost sight of herself and what was happening in front of her. She swore to stay grounded, hoping that things would go smoothly that time.