Chapter Eleven

Marith

Marith wiped the sweat from her brow as she leaned on the hoe she held. She took it in both hands again and swung the iron down biting into the earth and ripping it apart. She tended to the farm she and her husband had bought with the money from his last adventure. She heard a child laughing and looked up and smiled as she saw her two children Aldric and Asma playing in the dirt in the shade while their guard goose watched over them protectively.

She stopped as the heard the clopping of hooves and a group of five armored men rode up to their cottage. One lone rider spurned his horse onward.

“Are you Marith wife of Darren Elmstar?” the knight asked removing his helmet.

“I am,” Marith said gripping her hoe although she knew it would be useless against the armor of this man should he try anything.

“I regret to inform you that your husband was slain on his adventure. As he is not here to pay the remaining price on your cottage the lord of these lands is reabsorbing it into his estate. I’m sorry for your loss but I and my men are here to escort you and your belongings back to town. You can stay with your family until you get this sorted out,” the knight said firmly but not unkindly.

Marith’s heart dropped into her stomach and she fell to her knees. The guard goose ran up the knight spitting but the knight's horse snorted and stamped its hoof and the goose retreated. Aldric ran up to her and threw his arms around her neck.

“What’s wrong mama?” he asked.

Marith forces back a sob. “Nothing, go play with your sister,” she choked out and stood back up.

“I don’t have any family the plague took them six years ago,” she said to the knight.

“I am sorry to hear that, but I have my orders. You are to vacate this cottage for new tenants. You have until this evening to do so,” he said.

“Could you tell me how he died?” Martha asked as tears fell down her cheeks.

“He was run through by a foul orc near the Spear Peaks. That is all I know of what transpired, you could ask the Adventures Guild they may know more,” the knight said than turned his horse about and rejoined his men.

Marith gathered her families few belongings and loaded them onto a cart pulled by their old mare. They would probably have to sell the horse for coin if they were to live, Marith hugged her children close to her with one arm her other gripping the reins tightly as she wept silent tears.

“Darren, you fool,” she whispered burying her face in Asma’s black curls.

Marith sold the horse and took the cheapest room at the inn she could she booked passage with a merchant caravan to travel to the Fells, the capital city. The labored by the cook fires taking in a few coppers and one of the merchants was kind enough to let her children ride on the back of his cart. Asma clutched her pet the goose in her arms looking around with wide frightened eyes.

Marith tried to keep her grief to herself and wondered how she could support her two children. She had no education or trade skills she only knew how to work the land and no farmer with good intentions would take on a widowed woman with two mouths to feed. Her husband hadn’t been the greatest of farmers and his skill with a blade had earned more money than the land. She had spent many days helping him train and knew as much of the sword as he did. She could join a mercenary band, many of them took on a woman, but still, she doubted they would let her join with her two children.

They traveled for two weeks along the road until they, at last, came to the southern half of Fells split by the river Fells. The clamor of the city grated on her nerves; Aldric and Asma clung to her in fear as they were jostled about. Marith made her way to the temple of Fesla where the kindly priests gave them a room to sleep in. Marith helped the priests in the kitchen and the temple quieted down as night fell.

Lying in the cot provided to them Marith breathed in the smell of the clean straw but still could not sleep. She got up careful not to disturb her two children and wandered down the corridor of the Temple’s dormitory. She came to a statue of Fesla, a woman made of waves stretching out her arms welcoming. The statue was made of dark blue stone marbled with lines of white. Marith knelt before it and pressed her head against the stone altar.

“Fesla of the Soothing Waters. I pray to you for advice and guidance, what am I to do? How can provide for my children who will look after them as I work?” she asked her voice breaking.

Water lapped from the brazier atop the altar and Marith felt dampness below her knees. She looked down to see water rising around her, it was clear and glowed with light small fish dotted about in it. Marith sagged as tension drained from her.

I will provide for you my child, but you must do my work, as long as you do your duty your children will be looked after here in my temple, came a clear gentle feminine voice.

Marith looked up at the statue tears running down her face once more. “What do you require of me?” she asked without hesitation.

You must go out and destroy evil, heal the sick and injured and give peace to the dying. There are dark times ahead and somehow you are at the center of it though even I do not yet know how, Fesla said to her. Go to my high priest and tell him all that you have seen.

“If I serve you will I see my husband again after I pass on?” Marith asked her heart wavering.

There was a pause. Your husband’s soul is unaccounted for. He has not yet passed on and I cannot tell you where it lies. If you meet him again you will have to put his soul to rest if you have a hope of seeing him again in the afterlife.

“Let your will be done,” Marith said and bowed her head in submission.

Rise, my priestess of war, Fesla said and then her presence vanished.

Marith knocked on the door of the High Priest’s study.

“Enter he called out,” his voice old and kind.

Marith pushed open the oak door and it swung shut behind her on its heavy iron hinges. “The last knight I could not sleep and went to clear my head. As I was walking when I came across one of the shrines to Fesla. My thoughts were troubled and as I prayed for guidance Fesla spoke to me,” Marith explained to the old priest.

“You are fortunate then,” the man said leaning forward, “Did she bade you speak anything else?”

“Yes, she told me that dark times were coming. She entrusted me to serve her by destroying evil, healing, and giving peace to the dying and then she called me her priest of war and to go and speak to you,” she explained.

Our lady always provides,” The high priest said smiling and sitting back. “At last we have our last member of the quest.”

“Quest?” Marith inquired.

“The Oracle of Fesla has given us a prophecy. If the Asternosis Tome is not returned to the Temple of Four Elements than a dark crystal will rise in the sky and the world will be sent into chaos as the dead are raised and enslave the living. You have been chosen from among those that Fesla have deemed the most likely to save the world.”

“There are conditions to my service,” Marith said and the High Priest raised an eyebrow. “I have two children, they must be protected, educated and cared for while I do Fesla’s will. And if I die you must give me your word that the temple will continue to feed, clothe and educate them and not turn them out or send them to an orphanage.

“Your terms are acceptable, you will be given armor, weapons, horse, and tools. Ride to Geesh to the Black Lion Inn, there you will meet the other members of your party.”

“As Fesla wills,” Marith said bowing and leaving.