The Things We Want

CHAPTER 16 "PURE LUCK"

"I don't want iiiiit!" Iris whined, Lola, standing beside her bed with a tablespoon of medicine ready to pour down Iris' throat.

"Come now it's been minutes already, the longer you wait the worse you will get. You need to get better and I'm afraid 'it' is your only option," Lola commented snarkily, her patience growing a bit thin with her persistence of revolution against the medicine.

"B-But it's so... awful," Iris pouted, finally taking the spoon from Lola. She made a face, then swallowed it down.

"See? Was that so bad?" Lola said, patting Iris' back after she coughed.

"Yes."

"You're so strong and bold, yet such a child when it comes to meer medicine," Jared commented, a single laugh escaping him. Iris stared him down angrily.

"Okay then, I'll leave you two to it," Lola giggled exiting the room to fetch her book when she ran right into Andres. She dropped the bottle of medicine, the glass crashing on the floor.

"Lola!" Iris sprung from her bed and rushed into the hallway.

"I'm alright, it's fine," She smacked Andres arm hard, "Look what you've done now. Why must you frighten me like that!" She scolded, picking up the larger pieces of glass as Iris eyed Andres, skeptical of his presence.

"Who are you? I think I've seen you around town before," Iris commented offering her hand to shake.

"The name's Andres, I'm a messenger, and you?" he took her hand.

"Iris, I hunt small woodland animals and sell the meat and furs to villagers," She shook it then their hands fell, "How do you know this man Lola?"

"He is a family friend of ours, he helps us with errands when we can't run them ourselves. He also helped save your lives, I wouldn't have been able to do that on my own," She finished sweeping up the glass quickly and swept at Andres playfully with her broom.

"Well, thank you then," Iris smiled, and then returned to the other room where Jared was still relaxing on his bed, "You heard I assume?" Iris commented, crossing her arms.

"Yes, Andres, messenger, helped save our lives. I'm all caught up," He smiled back as she sat on her bed.

"We are very lucky... huh," Iris commented laying down and throwing her hands under her head.

"Agreed," Jared said simply, but the gears in his head were turning, thoughts growing but not escaping quite yet.

"I'm going to go home," Iris said, sitting up again. Jared stared at her wide-eyed.

"What?"

"I. am. Going. Home."

"Is that a wise thing to do right now Iris?" Jared inquired.

"W-We need to leave. Now!" Lola rushed into the room, still holding her broom, but her arms shook.

"What's wrong?" Iris asked, placing a hand on her shoulder. The shaking didn't stop, and her head was pounding. Lola winced, grabbing her head with her hand. Andres placed a hand on her back, causing Iris an odd spark of jealousy which she ignored promptly and focused on Lola.

"I-It's the people w-who attacked Ava... t-they are coming back..." She said slowly, eyes clenched tight, "We need to leave..."

"Okay, you heard the woman, forward march," Iris said, taking Lola's arm and helping her to the door, "Where are we headed exactly?"

"Should we return to Sop-"

"NO!" Lola yelled at Andres, "Have you learned anything working with us? We keep her safe. We keep my mother far from us," She demanded, and all of the party nodded in agreement.

"We should split up in the marketplace. It is public and there should be enough cover if we need it. It should be bustling by this hour," Iris suggested.

"Perfect let's go. I'll go with Andres for now to the east, and women go to the west. It'll be a great cover, good thinking Iris," Jared said, pulling Andres with him down the street opposite to them.

"Be careful!" Andres called to Lola, not even looking at Iris. With that Iris took Lola's arm.

"She'll be alright with me," she said confidently over her shoulder and with that, whisked Lola away towards the market.