Serving Lant Agriche

Chapter 12 - She's Not Afraid of Dion

Dion was learning to endure through all weathers. In the past, he had stayed overnight in the monster-infested forest near his home but only for brief periods; three days at most.

Now after his boots were soaked through from rainstorms, he had to work barefoot until the soles dried. He had to shower in the field, particularly in the groin area and feet to prevent infection, and always had be aware of where a water source was in case his canteen ran low.

Food was easy to obtain. Dion had always been an adept hunter but Wally constantly craved meat. They never stopped moving through the long nights in order to find game, taking care to also avoid humans and road traffic since the village debacle. 

After the twentieth day from the start of their journey, Dion became attracted to a well. Like most boys his age, something about staring into a dark abyss, whether it be a construction site or a cave, drew Dion toward it. The well looked like it went straight to the centre of the earth. He could not see the bottom through the dark shade.

Wally leapt into the hole and the echoing thud of its hooves meeting solid ground told Dion that the well was dry. Wally gave a satisfying huff before its goat legs stopped scratching the ground. It seemed like Wally was going to relax for the rest of early morning in its new quarters. That wouldn't do. The owner of the well was going to come if Wally made noise.

Dion peered into the well, wondering how he would get his toy out.

                                                aaa

The young lady had a name, but everyone besides her husband simply called her "Mina," which meant kindness. Initially, it was a joke among her old charges since she acted like a teacher all twenty-four hours of the day. She had been too strict in her lessons which discouraged the children from learning.

However, taking care of the knight's children had softened her personality in the last few years, and soon the children came to call her Mina affectionately than out of ridicule. She had now retired early from teaching after getting married and had formed a habit of touching the small bump in her stomach, reflecting over the second love of her life to be born soon.

The couple had decided to stay in a somewhat desolate part of the county despite the husband's anxiety about the wife staying home alone while he worked. Mina felt safe since she had lived in the area since birth and knew her way about.

How funny. It took only one sharp noise outside to make the young lady doubt herself.

It was a manmade noise of metal clinking against stone. Mina hesitated at the door, clutching the doorknob with both hands before going out.

Her lips pursed as cold air rushed into the house.

She walked towards the direction of the metallic sounds, her arms crossed over her chest since she had left her coat.

What she saw next made the breath catch in her throat.

A beautiful boy almost as tall as she was, was lifting a metal chain up and down the well as if he were fishing. His flat cap had fallen off his head to reveal raven-coloured hair and a small, alabaster face. His empty blood-red eyes looked at her when he heard her approaching.

It was lightly snowing and the boy had been out long. Fresh snow was piling on his hair and shoulders.

Mina immediately thought that the boy was a noble. His thin, black clothes were of a rare quality. More so, he was waiting for her to announce herself as if he were the master and she were the servant.

That can't be right though, the young lady refuted herself. It is only Sir K- who lives in this domain. This boy must be a merchant's son. He's very lost if he's made his way here.

Regardless of his supposed peasant status, Mina decided to treat the boy like a nobleman's son anyway. She knew that humouring children was the easiest way to form a bond with them.

The young lady bowed her head and gave a deep curtsey.

"Good Morning, Master," she said.

The boy cocked his head but released the metal chain in his hands. He stepped away from the well and came closer to her.

"There is something in the well that you must not see," the boy said. "I will retrieve it after dusk."

"Yes, Master---."

"Dion," he said. He did not give his surname.

Mina was sure that the boy had dropped a book or other article he had stolen from his parents. He must be thinking of retrieving the article when she wasn't looking.

"I promise I won't go near the well. It's abandoned anyway. I've never seen anyone use it," Mina said. "Please come inside, Master Dion. Your father will punish me if I let you catch cold."

Dion's eyes trailed over her face as if deliberating whether the woman really did know his father.

"You are pregnant and frail," he said bluntly. He did not seem impressed by how thin the young lady's arms were.

"Let us go inside, Master Dion," she pushed him by the shoulders.

 

The boy blinked at Mina's touch and did not oppose her assertive hospitality.