When Blindfolds Fall

28: The Blindfold

A full day later after the miscarriage, Josiah wasn't doing any better. To outside spectators though, he was completely fine. Even in the presence of his mate he was as calm as the very mountains that surrounded Lamia.

No trace of the trauma he haf faced alone was discernable.

Winter, just like time, was unforgiving this year, blasting the territory with endless aggressive storms of white. On this early evening, Josiah was preoccupied away from Viktor tending to his duties as ambassador.

Likewise, the royal doctor was working, however, he in turn had to venture out into the storm in search of ingredients for a medicine he had to make.

Dr. Bloodfern scurried as fast as he could towards the nearest herb shop after climbing off his carriage. He held his thick wool trench coat tightly as well as his scarf whilst running towards the entrance.

A small bell rang as soon as he opened the door and the shop owner shouted from the back:

"Quickly, shut the door! I just cleaned the front entrance!"

"Sorry." Viktor scowled at the rudeness and closed the door behind himself.

He sighed in relief as the warmth of the nearby lit chimney touched his cold face and melted away the icicles on his beard. He dusted off some snow from his gloves and settled his breathing as he began searching for what he came for.

A few other shoppers were making their selections as well. Some amateur potion brewers, some alchemists, and some fellow doctors like himself.

While Viktor had grown used to his personally grown herbs, he had to admit some plants were just impossible to grow in a pot.

Back in the Stronghold of Asphodel, the shop he met Artemis in was the only place he trusted enough to purchase pharmaceutical-grade ingredients for his medications. However, when he moved here, it was rather unreasonable to travel a whole six hour ride to-and-from just to purchase herbs.

Therefore, this larger chain shop had to do. It was as good as capital merchandise gets.

Viktor was looking for Holy Crown branches, a burgundy colored olive-like plant native to the east meadows of Lamia. This was a crucial ingredient in making anti-nausea medications such as those he had been administering to Josiah for his evening sickness.

"Hm, it's strange. Josiah has been my second time for many things, but he makes them feel like the firsts at the same time." Viktor thought as he examined today's selection of Holy Crowns residing in a basket. "Marrying him was one of those, but now expecting a baby. I know at first I wasn't onboard with it. Truth be told, I only agreed to it to make him happy even though I've never been the nurturing type. But over time . . . I guess he changed my mind. I'm actually excited for this, and I'm more than happy to take care of him while he's pregnant."

A gentle smile grazed across the doctor's lips at his thoughts as he picked up his final choices. He made his way to the line to pay and continued reflecting, although, now on a much darker note.

"I wonder what became of Gwyneth's file. If they never found a culprit, then did they label her death inconclusive? Probably not, I'm sure they still wrote murder as the cause of death and yet kept the murderer portion blank."

With the thread open about Gwyneth, Viktor stared off into the past momentarily. Recalling how upset Josiah and his sons were.

"I wonder . . . how they dealt with it. They haven't even had a funeral for her yet. God, just thinking about Josiah attending that is making me sick."

"And whose fault is that?" Artemis Swans' voice poked his brain.

"Not now Artemis. I know it's mine."