Memories and Shadows [Rune Factory 4]

Sustenance

I didn't want him to go, but I had no choice—no say in the matter. Things had taken a turn for the worse, and because he loved all of us so much, he fought to protect us, to protect all that he held dear. I couldn't help him this time—I wasn't strong enough to protect the one that I loved most of all. But he was.

**************

"Piers?" I called nervously, as he darted through the courtyard.

He came to a quick stop, turning to look questioningly at me. "What's up, Clori?"

"I... I know that with everything that's happened lately, you're really, really busy, and that you're worried about the Emperor's threats, and about Venti getting sick again, and Doug, and...."

He smiled at me, with a hint of exasperation. "Clori... I'm sorry, but I'm late for a meeting with Arthur. Can it wait?"

"I-I-I just wanted to give you this, to... well, it's all I could think of to help you," I stammered, blushing bright red. I ran up to him and pushed a parcel, carefully wrapped in thick brown paper and with a bright red ribbon tied in a bow, into his hands. Then, hesitating for a just a half-second, I stood up on my tip-toes and gave him a quick kiss before turning and fleeing back to the safety of my room.

I wasn't good at much, not in my opinion anyway. Piers was so good to me, so patient and kind and considerate, and it grieved me that I couldn't do more for him at this time, when he was so worried about everything, and when everyone was looking to him for answers and depending on him—even Arthur, the real Prince.

Then I remembered that I can cook—and pretty well, too, even if I do say it myself. So in my free time, I got to work, and I cooked a pot of thick, hearty stew. I dished up a portion of it into a container and wrapped it to give to him right away, but the rest of it I stored to reheat and give to him later. I couldn't actually help him fight... but I could wait for him, to feed him when he came home, exhausted and possibly wounded and in need of nourishment. I knew that, as easy as it sounded, it would really be very hard for me to do this, because I knew there would probably be times he didn't return until late—maybe even very, very late. And I was not very good at staying awake. But for him... for him I could and would do it.

My resolution was put to the test just a few days later. He had completed his preparations and departed in search of the secret research facility the Sechs Empire had installed within the Kingdom of Norad—a violation of our borders that amounted to an act of war, the townspeople whispered fearfully.

He took with him his boon companions—Dylas, the surly horse-tailed man he had rescued from the ruined water shrine to the east of Selphia, and the cunning fox-eared man he had rescued from the tower of Leon Karnak, who also bore the name of Leon. Together, they were the three strongest, most capable men in all of Selphia, if not all of Norad. They were our one, our only hope.

That first day, they left as early as they could, long before anyone else had awakened, and I prepared myself to greet them upon their return. I went about my daily duties as usual, though I found it difficult to concentrate. But the entire town was nervous and apprehensive that day, so although I performed well below my abilities, Volkanon never said a word of reproach.

When my day's work was done, I pulled a generous quantity of the stew out of the refrigerator, and I went to Piers' apartments to await their return. I placed the stew in his refrigerator, set out a large pan to heat it in as soon as they returned, then I sat down with a book by the crackling fire and waited.

And waited.

And waited....

Finally, dragons only know how much later, a sudden flash of light and a crash startled me from my doze—for despite my resolve, I'd slipped into a light sleep at last.

Staring at me in surprise were Leon and Dylas, filthy with sweat and dirt and... and blood... and they were supporting Piers between them.

Stifling a shriek, I ran towards them. "Piers!" I cried, tears filling my eyes.

"Shh, calm down, Clorica. It's not as bad as it looks," Leon assured me. "He's had a rough time, but he'll live. Dylas and I owe him our skins. We'll see to him. You should get some rest."

"I... I made stew..." I mumbled, wiping tears of relief from my cheek.

Leon gave me a tired smile. "Good girl. Then if you'd be so kind to bring it to us, we'll be all the more grateful to you."

I nodded and ran into the kitchen, and by the time I returned a short while later with bowls of piping hot stew and tankards of strong ale, they had undressed him and gotten him into bed, where they were bathing and bandaging his wounds.

"Just leave the tray there, would you? We'll get him fixed up, then we'll be off to our own beds," Leon said around a tremendous yawn.

"If... if you would like, I could make up beds for you here, and you could stay the night here rather than having to return to your homes?" I asked, shyly.

Dylas and Leon looked at each other, and Dylas shrugged. "Sure, why not? I'm beat, and I'm not looking forward to climbing all those stairs to my bed."

Leon chuckled. "Same here. Thanks, Clorica. We'll take you up on that."

So while they ate their stew, I ran to get blankets and pillows and featherbeds from the storerooms and proceeded to make up beds on the floor for them.

When they were done, Leon knelt next to the bed and placed a hand on Piers' forehead. He muttered an incantation, a blue light flared up briefly beneath his fingertips, and a moment later, Piers' eyelids fluttered and opened. He sat up quickly, then groaned and clutched his side, and looked around in a daze.

"Where... where am I? Where did it go?" he asked, his voice cracking as if his throat was completely dry.

Dylas grabbed the third tankard and held it up to his lips, and after a moment of confusion, during which he struggled to push the drink away, he relaxed and took a long swallow of the cool brew. Wiping the traces of foam from his lip, he looked around, more sensible of his surroundings now, and his eyes softened when he saw me standing there, as close as I dared, anxiously watching him.

"Clori," he said, and he smiled, and my heart burst into a thousand pieces, I was so glad to hear his voice and see his smile, and I threw myself at him, sobbing into his chest as I clung to him.

"Whoa there, take it easy, girl," Dylas exclaimed sharply, and I quickly drew back, catching a fleeting look of pain flickering across Piers' eyes.

"Oh, I'm so sorry! I..." I blushed, mortified by my thoughtlessness.

"It's okay, Clori. I'm fine, really, so don't worry about me. I just need to rest," and he sank back down, wearily.

"I... I brought you some stew... if you feel like eating. It's okay, though, if you don't," I said, backing up out of the way. "Should... should I go get the doctor?"

He shook his head. "No, you don't need to wake Jones. I'll be fine by morning. Stew sounds great. You're a wonderful cook," and he smiled again, and the tears sprang again to my eyes. I quickly turned and grabbed the still-hot bowl of stew and passed it to him, blinking hard to wink away the tears before he could notice them.

"Piers..." I said as he finished the last spoonful and handed me the bowl, sighing with contentment.

"Yes? What is it?" he asked, his head nodding with exhaustion. Leon stepped over and helped him lie back on his pillows, and I could see that he was struggling to keep his eyes open.

"Just... be safe, dear Piers," I whispered as I leaned over and kissed him goodnight on his forehead.

He reached up and caressed my cheek. "I'll always return to you, Clori. Never fear. I promised... to pro... to protect... you...." he murmured as he fell asleep.

As I left through the door to Lady Venti's reception chamber, I looked back at him, already sound asleep, and I thought to myself, I'm counting on you to do just that.