A Place To Bloom

The Miracle

As I got dressed, I heard a knock on the door. Not long after she'd finished doing... whatever it was she did to me... Anyanna was back. She'd changed into a long black dress that hung loose over her body and came down to her ankles, simple wooden sandals, and over her shoulders she wore a gray shawl of knitted wool. I also noticed her hair fell smoother than it had before and hinted of lavender oil reminiscent of Sarina.

Her dark green eyes studied me as I tied my boots, never once meeting mine.

Then she led me down the hall towards the back of the church and took a left turn to the far side of the building where dinner had been laid out.

In a room barely enough size for the rough-hewn wooden table, Father Gerson sat at the center adjacent to the two boys from earlier. On the opposite corner was a young girl with a rather odd look to her. Her head was too small for her body, her face was unusually flat and round, and her eyes were set narrow. She might not have been more than six, but by her look she might have been stunted.

Anyanna bid me sit, then took the seat directly to my left.

Six spun-wooden plates were set out along with a spoon and a rough ceramic cup for each. The center of the table hosted a large ceramic pot with a wooden lid that leaked out steam and carried the strong scent of cooked garlic, along with a glass pitcher that was home to something orange that had a layer of foam at the top of it.

The friar had a large, wooden mug as well.

There was a large, dark-wooden carving board atop which set a loaf of bread along with a small ramekin of oil, and at the very center of the table stood a thin, clay vase dented by the fingers that had crafted it and painted in bright reds and yellows, and 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.

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

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

"... We ask that you guide Roederek to find the strength and courage to deal with the boys in the neighborhood so that he may find respect worthy of the great man I know he will become. We ask that you help Walren to find the words to speak to you through his heart. I know that you hear him even as he does not speak. And we ask that you help Anyanna find her answers so that she will know peace within her heart. You have crafted her into a remarkable and courageous young woman, and we ask that you continue to guide her as you have done so far. We thank you that you have graced us with provision for this meal, and humbly ask that you show us how you plan to provide for us in the coming winter. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us. Lead us not into temptation. All honor and glory be in your name, Amen."

We all repeated the Amen, and the friar opened the wooden lid to the pot. I leaned in and saw a glistening brown surface dotted with chunks while little Walren tore off a chunk of the bread and passed it to Trunlia.

"Pass me your plate, Caleb." Father reached in with a large spoon and dug up a healthy, semi-solid mass of brown stew with bits of semi-congealed sauce along 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, whose large sprigs stuck out on my plate. Anyanna began to pour some of the drink into my cup when Father stood.