The Lord of the Crows

Part 8 - Fever

The fever held me in its tight grip for the next three days. As in a sleep, I recognized how someone patiently changed my linings, sat next to me, and comforted me when I was babbling.

And I was ranting, I knew that. It would recur every time I had a fever. The world would lose its frames, the boundaries of time would be erased, and then, in that madness, I would pay for all my sins. Screaming and shouting.

The fever passed abruptly as it had occurred, in the morning of the third day. The old woman was sitting by my headboard, leaning against the edge of the bed, sleeping. I felt sorry to wake her up, but she jumped as I moved.

"I'm hungry," I muttered.

"That's a good sign," she smiled and hurried to the fireplace.

"Do you have anything stronger than this porridge?" I murmured, accepting the steaming bowl.

"Eat. I grated you some old, goat cheese into it, it's not quite bland. And if you don't get sick again, I'll give you something stronger for lunch."

I nodded and grabbed the spoon. Porridge was not so bad, and I was definitely hungry. I wanted real food, something strong, fragrant, greasy. With meat. And spices. And potatoes, grilled, hot and with a grain of salt.

"Thank you," I muttered, returning the bowl.

"It's nothing, really," she replied with a smile, pleased that I had eaten everything.

"Actually," I murmured, getting up, "it is. You nursed me all these weeks, suffered from my whims and anger... "

She turned completely to me.

"And you didn't run away when you found out who I was." I concluded.

Her face became very soft. She smiled and stroked my cheek.

"Son, this is a Sanctuary. Everyone is safe here. You are far from the greatest evil that these old eyes have seen and that these ears of mine have heard of."

I sighed.

"This place is so strange, Lela. So strange."

"I've already told you. Everyone here is equal and here no one will ask what kind of trouble brought you in."

She turned and added the wood to the fire.

"Are you still thinking of leaving?" Her voice was soft and a little sad.

"No ... I don't know. How can I contribute to the Sanctuary?"

She finished with the fire and stood up slowly.

"Stay, and you'll find out."

I sat on the bed again.

"Lela, what is this place, really? And please don't say the Sanctuary again. Where are we, or more precisely, whose land is this?"

"We are on the southern slopes of the Cursed Mountain. All the way beyond the forest, it is the property of the Sanctuary. "

I nodded. I found myself a few days riding further east than I had estimated, on the very edge of the Strife Mountain range but still too far from the heart of the Mount Strife itself and the army that guarded this place. The old woman seemed to read my mind.

"Are you worried about the Lagrenian guard?"

"You could say I am not at good terms with their king. And they are too far from the Stone City for me to feel carefree."

"You don't have to worry. They are the guards and do not enter the village itself unless there is some great trouble. "

"How many are there?"