A Place To Bloom

The Miracle

In a room barely enough size for the rough-hewn wooden table, Father Gerson sat in the middle with the two boys from earlier on each side. At the opposite corner was a young girl with an odd look to her. Her head was too small for her body, her face was unusually flat and round, and her eyes were narrow. She might have been older than six, but she was probably stunted.

Anyanna bid me sit next to the girl, across from the fat friar, and sat down to my left. She'd changed into a long, loose black dress that came down to her ankles, simple wooden sandals, and a gray shawl of knitted wool. Her hair had a refined, silky texture and hinted of lavender whereas before it had been frazzled and unkempt.

Six spun-wooden plates with spoons and rough-ceramic cups surrounded a large iron pot that leaked the strong scent of cooked garlic. Next to that was a glass pitcher full of something orange that had a layer of foam on top, a carving board with a steaming loaf of bread, and a small ramekin of oil.

At the very center of the table stood a thin, clay vase dented by the fingers that crafted it and painted in bright reds and yellows. This was home to a single, long stem of a small yellow flower that tilted its head to one side and was missing a few petals.

The friar had a large, wooden mug as well.

"Let us bow our heads," Father Gerson spoke in Herali, rolling his Rs and holding his vowels too long. "Father in heaven, ve thank you for bringing Caleb to us today. His help fixing up your house has been a blessing beyond anything ve could have asked for. Ve hope this simple meal should restore his strength, and ve ask that you keep him safe on his journey. Ve thank you for helping Trunlia to find this beautiful flower for the table..."

I peeked to my right. The little girl beamed with joy.

"... Ve ask that you guide Roederek to find the strength and courage to deal vith the boys in the neighborhood so that he may find respect vorthy of the great man I know he vill become. Ve ask that you help Valren to find the vords to speak to you through his heart. I know that you hear him even as he does not speak. And ve ask that you help Anyanna find her answers so that she vill know peace vithin her heart. Ve thank you that you have graced us vith provision for this meal and humbly ask that you show us how you plan to provide for us in the coming vinter. Forgive us our sins as ve forgive those who have sinned against us. Lead us not into temptation. All honor and glory be in your name, Amen."

In the pot was a glistening brown stew dotted with morsels. Walren tore off a chunk of bread and passed it to Trunlia.

"Hand me your plate, Caleb." Father reached in with a large spoon and dug up a generous, semi-solid mass with chunks of potatoes, carrots, bright green peas, and scraps of meat. It wanted salt, and there was a hint of something sweet laced throughout along with a chorus of herbs led by lavender, a large sprig of which stuck out on my plate. Anyanna poured some of the drink into my cup when Father stood.

"Please excuse my manners!" he said. "Caleb, vould you like some ale?"

Not after what happened in the bath. "I'm good, thank you. I still have to make it back to Falcon Plaza this evening."

"Hmm," he grunted and sat back down. "That's far. Let me ask you..."

"Why do you have to go to Falcon Plaza?" Anyanna tore off a chunk of bread. She still didn't meet my eyes with her own.

"A friend took a fall and got hurt real bad. I want to make sure she's OK."

"She?"

I nodded. "Yeah."

"Oh."

"She's the reason I came here to pray. I don't think she's going to make it."

Father Gerson studied me, but it was the little girl who spoke. She had an unusual slur to her words, as though she didn't engage her tongue to form them. "What happened?"