*** Author's Note***
Got called for an emergency meeting yesterday and have to do work in the weekend which sucked.
Anyway, here's today's chapter!
Enjoy!
***
"Sister, can I help?" Lilya offers while sitting by the table. She is applying unguent on her sprain to alleviate the pain and hasten her recovery. It is a mixture of herbs taught to us by our mother when she was still with us. Whenever we are hurt, be it cuts, sprains, or bumps, she applies this unguent on our injury and the pain lessen tremendously. The memory of her scolding us while relieving our pain warms my heart. A warm and caring mother, an important part of us that I will never forget.
Peeling potatoes as quickly as I can, then cutting them in half then quarters, I tasted the broth that I am boiling over the fire and adding some salt and herbs. "No need to push yourself Lil. Your sprain doesn't look good. Better rest and wait for dinner to cook." I put more wood in the stove and stoke the flame. While waiting for the meat to soften, I started a fire inside the over and proceeded to knead the dough that I am going to bake for our bread.
Jeez, father. You could've at least chopped some wood before going to look for us. From the looks of it, we won't have left for tomorrow.
I can hear Lilya sigh heavily by the table. Silly little sister. We usually cook together. Doing nothing must've made her impatient. "If you really want to help, you could start setting the table. I reckon you want to have a hearty meal for Cloud so we are having pork stew, roasted quail, and bread, and if father is feeling generous to share, maybe even a pitcher of his fruit wine."
"As if father would allow us to drink. Not after Mathew and Daniel snuck in and drank a whole jug and made fools of themselves." Hehe. Daniel and Mathew barfed all over their room. Father and Mother could smell the rancid smell as soon as they entered the house and found the two passed out in a pool of their own vomit. Father spanked them so hard that he broke a rod or two. "Want me to go to the coop catch the quails and prepare them for roasting?" My sister quickly stood but sat down again. Probably from the pain from her sprain. Even if the unguent relieves pain, the injury is still there. She will still need rest for the medicine to take full effect.
"Silly Lil. I said don't push yourself. Otherwise your sprain will not heal fast." Sigh… I don't know what the girl have seen from the man. Cloud is indeed skilled enough to deal with those bandits easily, but I don't think he could stand up to Henry's group. He is brave to put his body on the line for us. But bravery can only get you so far. I just couldn't see him being the one that the Goddess Luna sent to help us, if she indeed answered my little sister's prayer.
I shook my head at the thought. It is not good to doubt the Gods. They have already blessed us with so much, a roof over our head, a farm to grow our food from, and a loving family. Any problem that comes our way is now our responsibility to face however we can. After all, in the end our fate is in our hands.
Leaving the dough to rise, I went to the coop and picked 4 quails. Using the torch to for light, I cut of the quails' head, plucked their feathers, and took out their guts. I glanced at the back of the house and see my father putting some firewood to warm the bath water. My father is a protective man when it comes to his family. I thought he will be against in letting Cloud stay and I will have to convince him harder, but I guess Cloud saving us put him in father's good side.
No matter, even if it is just me, I will keep my eye on that man. He might've saved us, but we don't know his character just yet. I must be sure he doesn't do anything to harm our family, especially Lilya. That girl is already attached to that man since she believes that he is the answer to our problems.
After cleaning the meat, I went back and saw Lilya preparing the herbs and spices that I was going to use for the quails. "Here sister. I am already done with the table and I am also finished with the spices. Want me to clean the oven of sooth so that you could bake the bread?" She said while smiling.
I smile back at my little sister. I must protect her at any cost. If something happens with Mathew and Daniel, then Lilya will only have me and father left to stay by her. "Stubborn little sister. I told you to rest. Leave dinner preparation to me. Go on… Take a seat and rest. Dinner is about done."
"Smells yummy." I heard father's voice coming from the rear door. Walking towards the kitchen and opening the lid of the pot, he stated. "Looking good sweetie." Taking the ladle and taking a taste of the stew. "Tastes like how it looks. It seems that you are ready to take a husband Miya."
I sighed as I took the ladle from his and added the vegetables in the stew. As I stir the stew, I replied to his teasing. "Marrying is the farthest in my mind right now father."
"You are old enough. Both you and Lilya actually. Don't you want to settle down and start your own family?" He continues as he enters Mathew and Daniel's room.
"I told you before father. I don't have plans on marrying just yet." I said as I cleaned the oven of soot and placed the doughs to bake.
"Nonsense. How about you and Lilya go to the town this weekend to sell our produce? Who knows, you might meet someone you fancy there." He said as he came out of our brothers' room with a set of Mathew's clothes.
Lilya laughed at the side and added to the teasing. "Oh please. Sister might beat up any men that tries to approach her with romantic goals." I faced her with an angry expression and she coiled in mock fear before continuing. "Wait! I am just telling the truth! Remember how you beat up one of the travelers who passed our farm? You broke his nose when he tried to make a pass on you."
"That was a well deserve punishment little Lilya. That is no way to approach a lady and if your sister didn't do that to him, then I will." Father told her as he placed the clothes in front of the bathroom door. "If someone wants to woo my daughters, they will need to be respectful. Not only capable of providing food and shelter but someone who can protecting you from harm."
"Maybe she could marry Mr. Cloud. Then he could stay here with us forever." Lilya interjected, which earned her another angry look from me. I don't even know the man. Who knows if he is a hooligan, and even if he's not, I am in no way attracted to him.
"Perhaps. We'll see." Father answers with a solemn voice.
"I will not marry and that is final. Stop shoving marriage to me father. I will not leave you two behind here to fend for yourselves. This conversation is over. I will not hear any more of that marriage stuff." I then realized that I was violently stirring the pot, spilling some of its content. Ashamed of my behavior, I gently took the pot and slid it aside the spit. I then took the quails which have been rubbed with herbs and spices and placed it over the fire.
"I don't envy your husband sister. Anyone you marry will be whipped." Lilya added before taking a plate and using it as a shield.
"Now, now Lilya. Stop bullying your sister." Father admonished her before looking at me. "It's fine if you don't want to make a family of yours right now. Just know that I only want you two to be happy. If you find someone you fancy, as long as they are respectable, then I will not stop you two from marrying. Also, don't worry about me. I can take care of myself. Your father is strong as an ox see?" He pats his biceps. True, father is strong. But that is physically. I saw him break down when mother died and became inconsolable for months. If we leave, we might break his heart.
I just scoff and continued cooking.
After 20 minutes, dinner was done. Father have also agreed on taking out a pitcher of his fruit wine, on the condition that Lilya and I only drink a single cup. We both agreed and now that the table is set. The only thing that is left is to call on our guest.
"Hmmm… Cloud hasn't gotten out of the bath yet? It has already been an hour." I murmured.
"Maybe he fell asleep? We had an eventful day after all." Lilya interjected.
"That is no good. The water must've already gone cold. I will go and call him." Father declared and he stood up and was about to walk towards the bathroom door but Lilya stopped him.
"Let me call him father. After all, he saved us. I want to be the one to invite him to dinner." Father want to reject her idea but ultimately relented to my sister's wish. I stood up and supported her as she wobbles towards the bathroom door. Once she is in front of it, she yells. "Mr. Cloud! The dinner is done! I placed a towel and fresh set of clothes outside the bathroom door!"
It took a few seconds before we heard an answer. "Thanks! I will be there in a minute!"
"Ok. You've called him, let us go and sit by the table now. You wouldn't want to be seen wobbling around by Cloud would you?" I whispered to Lilya's ear. She embarrassingly nodded before leaning on my shoulder as we slowly walk toward the dining table.
Cloud opened the door slightly to grab the towel and clothes from the ground and closed the door once more. We wait for Cloud to come out of the bathroom but as minutes pass by, he is still not coming out.
"What is taking him so long?" I mutter in annoyance. He is not the only person in the world. We are all hungry and I want to take a bath before I sleep. I am sweaty from all the running we did at the end of our journey back here and I will not go to bed sticky with sweat.
As soon as I finished my thought, he finally came out.
"Sorry I took so long." He apologized, and when I saw his face, I forgot my annoyance and started laughing.
He is the first man I have met who is so bad at shaving that his face is filled with multiple cuts.
"What happened to your face Mr. Cloud?! You do look younger but those cuts…" Lilya said, her voice full of concern.
"It does look bad doesn't it?" He said while running his hand over his face. "Took a little while to stop the bleeding, that is why it took me so long to come out of the bathroom."
"Idiot… Don't you know how to use a razor? What kind of man are you?" I teased him. Even Mathew and Daniel knew how to shave back when they were 16.
"A man who usually shaves his facial hair before it become so thick that it became hard to shave." He smiled. "It is harder, I tell you. Put not enough pressure then it will not be able to shave. Put too much and you'll be cut. The angle also plays a part—" He is going on and on, on how hard his beard is to shave off.
"Yeah, I believe you. It is hard shaving beards. Now, no more shaving talk and let's eat." I interrupted him before he goes into a tirade on shaving.
"Come Mr. Cloud. Sister Miya cooks delicious food. Try the stew first." Lilya started as she filled a bowl and handed it to him. "By the way, don't listen to my sister. You look better than before Mr. Cloud. You look younger now."
"Thanks. Maybe I will cut my hair next time. It is also gotten longer than desirable." He replied as he accepted the bowl, then grabbed one loaf of bread and munched on it. "Delicious bread. Compliments to the chef." He said while smiling at me.
Scoffing at his remark, I replied. "You say that but that is just plain bread. Much more delicious bread can be bought in town."
"I am not kidding. This is the first time I've eaten such delicious bread since I came here." He added before taking a bite on the quail and looking visibly pleased. "This quail is also very tasty. The flavor of the meat and spice fills my mouth with deliciousness all the way down to my throat." He claimed.
Annoyed by his compliments, I answered. "Stop talking and just eat. I just want to eat in peace, take a bath, and go to sleep."
My father who has been cheerful at the start of the dinner suddenly paused. "Don't take it badly my boy. My daughter here just doesn't get complimented by other people often and doesn't know how to respond. Please forgive her rudeness." He bowed his head apologized.
I feel bad for father apologizing to this man, I know I am in the wrong, being too confrontational with the man. But I can't help it. There is something with this man that I just don't find agreeable.
Alarmed by father's sudden apology, Cloud tries to make father lift up his head. "Please raise your head sir. There is no need to apologize."
"Yeah father. Miya is just grouchy because she is hungry. Let's just eat." Lilya added. "Mr. Cloud. You haven't touched your stew yet. Do you not like stew?" She asked.
Noticing that she was right, I narrowed my eyes at the man. I worked hard in cooking that stew, and he doesn't like it?
"Of course I do like stew. I just want to taste the other food first and save the stew for last." He answered defensively before eating a spoonful. He continued to chew the stew with an empty expression on his face.
"Is something wrong Mr. Cloud? Is it not to your liking?" Asked Lilya.
Cloud shook as if he was surprised by our presence. "Sorry. I was lost in thought for a moment there." He apologized before taking another spoonful. After gulping the food in his mouth, he spoke once more. "The stew is delicious. Thank you." He said in a sincere tone.
"Are you sure you're not just saying that to not get me angry?" I asked the man.
"Of course not. It was truly delicious. It's just." His voice wanders off.
"Just what?" I asked once more.
His eyes look out the window into the darkness of the night. After a second or two, his gaze returns to us. "It just made me remember of the people I've been with for a while. We used to eat stew all the time." He declared.
"Are those people your friend Mr. Cloud?" Lilya curiously asked.
My father placed his hand over Lilya's shoulder. "It is bad to pry other people's past Lilya." He said causing my sister's shoulder to slump.
Cloud just shakes her head and answered. "No… It's okay. It is not like that it is a secret." He smiled at Lilya, earning back a smile from my sister. "Yeah, some of them can be considered my friends. We haven't been travelling together for a long time, but in those short time, we have been through a lot. If I haven't met them, I don't know if I will be sitting here, partaking of this delicious meal with a wonderful family such as yours." He paused and gazed out the window once more. "I owe them my life."
"Friendship is not measured by how long you've been together. You might be with a person for years and not call him a friend. While you can meet a person and in an instant, you become friends forever." All of us stay quiet as we listen to father's words. His eyes are locked at the cup of wine in front of him as he become lost in reminiscing about his past. After a few seconds he chuckled and took a cup, filled it with wine and gave it to Cloud. "Cheers for friends. They may come and go by the years, but the memories we shared together will stay in our hearts." Father raised his cup.
"Cheers for friends!" Cloud replies and toasted with father's cup before downing the entire contents of his cup in a single go.
The dinner continues as Cloud shares some of the stories he had with his friends. It is indeed short but full of action. It seems like they met while he was lost in the forest. As they were heading back to the town, they were ambushed by bandits who took away one of their companions. They then took off on an adventure to save him which led them to assault a bandit camp and fought their way to where their friend was held. As they were escaping, they became surrounded. Fights ensues and Cloud faced off with the leader of the bandits and while they fight, he unfortunately fell off a cliff. That is when we found him.
"Are you worried about your friends Mr. Cloud? Do you want to seek them?" Lilya asked the man.
"Of course I am worried. But I believe they are safe. The fighting was at its climax and we were clearly winning before I fell off a cliff. The bandit boss will surely get defeated, after all, those guys are stronger than me. Not even close." He stated. His face tells that he believes that it is true.
"That is a wonderful story lad. I too believe that those friends of yours have escaped safely. By the way, it is getting late. There is a bucket of water by the kitchen where you can wash your hands and face." Father points at the bucket of water.
After we wash our hands and face, father escorted Cloud to my brothers' room while Lilya and I proceeded to the bath room. I filled the tub with water and after that we stepped in. The water was cold since we don't have any more firewood to light up a fire and warm the water. While at the bath, Lilya continued to talk about Cloud and how strong he seems to be in his stories. I think he was only boasting like men often do, but I keep it to myself as to not disappoint my little sister. We continued to talk for 10 minutes before we get off the tub and get ready for bed. As we walk towards our room, we saw father sitting in a chair by the door.
"Good night sweethearts. We have work tomorrow so rest." He kissed Lilya on the forehead before motioning for her to go in. I step towards father to also bid good night but he stopped me and look me in the eyes. "Take care of your sister okay? Cloud might look decent, but it is better to err in the side of caution. If something happens, just yell and I will come right in."
"Are you going to sleep on this chair?" I asked him.
I see his sword leaning by the wall beside him. "For the night, yes. Now go on and sleep. Just remember. If something happens, yell." He then kissed me on the forehead before I came inside the room.
As I slipped in the bed, I hear Lilya's voice from the bed beside me. "What did father tell you?" She asked.
"Nothing. Just rest in order for your ankle to heal for we have a long day before us tomorrow and I don't think father and I will be enough to harvest our crops if you are not well." I told her before blowing the candle light off.
As I lay in my bed, my mind continued to wander. Cloud. I don't think what he told us is the complete story. Good or bad, I must protect my family, especially Lilya who seem to be attached to him already.
Either way, sleep will be light tonight so that I could react to any sound that he may produce if he tries to slip inside here.