More
Ell awoke to the croaking of a rooster. Although she desperately wanted more sleep, she knew that she had better make some calls. She dressed and hurried downstairs. The inn wasn’t too busy this time of year, and since she was late in coming down, she didn’t expect anybody to still be eating.
Ell headed to say goodbye to Hanner, who was cleaning up after breakfast. Ell had lived with Hanner since her parents had perished from an accident. She had helped over the years with the inn, but since her nursing duties took over most of her time these days, she had found little time to help Hanner.
To Ell’s surprise, she saw that Hanner was helping a customer. Someone new to town evidently. She had never seen him before. His dark hair matched his cloak and scabbard at his side.
She waved to Hanner and started for the door.
“Wait a minute, Ell, would you.” Hanner stopped her. Ell nodded, watching as Hanner finished up with her customer.
Hanner walked over to her. “Ell, did you eat breakfast, already?”
“No. I’m heading out for my rounds. I’ll have to run to Dorcy’s place as well to restock my medicine.”
“Well, you’d better eat, darling. You won’t last long out there without some food in your stomach.”
“Thank you, Auntie, but I’m really not hungry. And I don’t want to bother you with more dishes.”
Hanner gave her the look. “I’ve already got some oats on. Besides, you’re not the only one late for breakfast.” She lowered her voice and nodded to the stranger. “He came in just after you went to bed again. Said he just got here from all the way across the Meriid Sea. He prepaid for a week. Said he wasn’t sure how long he’ll be staying.”
Ell nodded. She was too tired to be very curious about this stranger from Meriid Sea. The pain of Grandfa’s death sinking her heart, she sat down in her usual spot near the kitchen.
Hanner left to go get the cooked oats for her needy friend. Ell accidently let out a deep sigh, but immediately wished that she had been more careful because the sound brought the stranger’s eyes to her face.
Embarrassed, she turned from her head and pretended to be studying her outfit. Silence pervaded the dining room.
Hanner came in and quickly broke the silence. Ell was glad that Hanner always had a cheerful spirit, even when things didn’t look so good. She somehow knew how to keep her emotions intact. The night before when Ell had told Hanner the news about Grandfa, Hanner had taken in her arms, both of them weeping. They had held each other for half an hour. And apparently, when Ell had gone to bed, Hanner had stayed up to help a new customer. That took a lot of strength to bear the weight of such a death and still be able to serve with a heart full of joy. Ell desired that so earnestly. She wanted to be strong like Hanner. She wished she had the strength to do it.
Hanner quickly set down two sets of oats at her table and carried the last one to the lone stranger. She came back to her table and plopped into the chair across from Ell.
“Now, eat up, darling.” Hanner gave her a tired smile, which Ell returned a still weaker one as she nudged into the food which she had no desire to eat. “You know, dear, that you don’t have to make calls today, if you’re not up to it. Nobody blames you. Especially as someone who just started.”
“People are dying, Auntie. I can’t just quit because I’m tired.”
“But you’re so tired that it seems that you might catch the influenza yourself.”
“People are dying. Besides, if I save one life in expense with my own, will it not be a worthy sacrifice?”
Hanner didn’t argue, but slowly nodded, knowing that she could never convince Ell to quit.
They ate in silence for a few minutes, before Ell rose from her chair to gather the plates, hoping that Hanner wouldn’t notice that she had left more than half of her food on her plate. She just felt too sick to her stomach to eat. Although Hanner did notice, she let it pass.
“Bye, Auntie,” Ell gave her a quick hug. “I’ll see you tonight for the service.”
She left to her errands. Much of the village was still sick. But it appeared as if everyone was finally coming over the hump.
About an hour before the funeral service for Grandfa, she went to Darcy’s to resupply her medicines.
Dorcy’s, the most popular shop, had merchants who came bimonthly to fill the market with new items and new medicine.
Ell stopped by. She stepped inside to find Mr. Dorcy serving the stranger. He turned to her when she walked in and nodded. She tilted her head in reply and came in line behind him.
“Hello, Ell. I’m sorry about Grandfa.” Mr. Dorcy said over the stranger as he wrapped something up for him.
“Well, I guess we knew it would happen someday. It’s just I didn’t expect it to happen so soon…” She trailed before her voice choked up even more. With the stranger done, Ell stepped up to the counter.
“I would like all the usuals, please. Has the Elventree gotten here yet?”
As he reached to grab her order, he said, “Yes, I’ve got a small bottle of Elventree, and a large pamphlet on how to apply it, which you probably already know how considering your knowledge gained at Elderingber.”
“Yes, I do recall several lectures I had to listened too about it.” Ell smiled.
He handed her her packet and wished her a good day.
She turned outside to see the stranger eyeing some merchandise shelved on the porch side.
“I completely missed this section.” He turned to her. “Well, I’ll have to come back sometime later for it. Are you heading to the inn?”
“Yes.”
“Do mind if I walk with you.”
She shook her head and began in the direction of the inn.
“So, you’re new around here?” She asked to break the silence.
“Yes, I’ve just come from Lodems in Opla. I’m visiting here for a while. Name’s Radan.”
“Ell.”
They reached the inn, where they parted to their rooms.
Ell raced upstairs to dress for the service. She tossed her dress on, combed through her hair, and stared at the purple circles under her eyes in the mirror. She actually looked rather stunning in her black graduation dress.
She spun from the mirror, her dress flaring, and proceeded from her room. As she turned down the hallway, she nearly ran into Radan.
“Excuse me.” She said with a blush. She thought she spotted a smile on his face as she stole quickly away down the hall.
Hanner was waiting for her when Ell got there.
“Are you ready my dear?” Her brown eyes reflected deep sorrow. “I’m so sorry about Grandfa Perny. He was a good man. He helped me get on my feet after my Stayven died.” She sniffed. “We’ll all miss him more than he ever realized.”
They carried on silently to the cemetery. The service was quiet, with only a few others, considering most who knew him were down with influenza.
The body was laid gently inside the fall ground. Ell felt a shiver of sorrow wash over her. It registered more clearly. He was gone. Completely gone. Just like mother and father. All she could do was sigh. Hanner took her hand and squeezed.
