Tiny green leaves dotted the bare tree branches. Spring was at last returning. It was late afternoon. Fand crossed the newly plowed potato field. As she neared the Holz property line she saw Zolla tending the graves in her family's cemetery. The older woman looked up. She saw Fand and shouted, "You, come here! NOW!" It was the first time Zolla had spoken directly to her since she had refused Pyre's proposal. Quickly, but fearfully Fand went to her. Zolla's face was tear stained. Her red rimmed eyes held rage With bitterness she spat out, "I knew the day you were born you'd be a curse on us all."

Stunned, Fand asked, "What?"

"You killed Stella getting birthed." Zolla shook her head and continued, "I knew the minute I looked into your peculiar colored eyes you were a bad seed."

Fand felt anger and hurt rise inside of her.

Zolla's voice trembled as she said, "When Stella died, Zurruck weren't never the same. With in weeks he took his own life."

No! This could not be! She had been told her parents died in the Fever that taken her Aunt Hedda. "What are you talking about?"

Zolla wagged her head. "Tis true. Wert thought it best to keep the secret. Since they died during the Fever, it was convenient."

Had Zolla been drinking or had she lost her mind? Fand said, "Don't talk like this."

"Aye, now your poison has worked on my son. If you had accepted his proposal he would be home safe in my house instead of almost dead."

"What?"

Zolla pointed her finger at Fand and bitterly said, "If he dies, when he dies I will lay his death at your door. Dr. Kran doesn't think he will make it."

Frightened Fand asked, "What happened to him?"

"He bobbled his first Transferrance. His entire left side is burned. He's in terrible pain. I want to be with my boy, but Jerue won't let me go to him." Zolla spit on the ground and turned away from Fand. She strutted across the field to the house. When she disappeared inside, Fand turned her attention to the gravestones. Several generations of Gewordens were buried here. Pyre's stone must not be added to this cemetery until he was a very old man. She could not loose Pyre. There had to be a way to save him. How? Her thoughts eddied and swirled. She felt like she was drowning. Zolla's words, Zolla's hateful words echoed and re-echoed inside of her. Were the words true? Why would Zolla lie?

Her heart began to beat hard. She spun around and broke into a run, a hard run. She had no idea where she was headed. Sweat formed on her forehead and streamed down her face. No matter how hard she ran she could not out distance the pain inside her. Was she a bad seed? Had she been always been a bad seed? Was this why her selfish prayers had destroyed the lives of those she most loved? How could she fix this? How could she stop this evil her life had unleashed? Abruptly she stopped. All she could do was offer restitution and pray that the Keeper would accept her offering. She dropped to the soft earth. She bowed her head and prayed, "Please, wash the evil out of me. Please reverse my prayers. Please I will do anything if you will only spare Pyre's life, anything if you will only gather Zog back to you."

For long while Fand sat hunched on the ground. Day light started to fade. Uncle Wert would want his supper. She stood and went home.

Outside the house was a cart. It looked familiar but in Fand's current state she could not recall whose it was. When she pushed through the front door she saw to whom it belonged, Gregor Zwart. His father was with him in the front room. Uncle Wert was smiling at the two men when Fand entered. When he saw her disheveled appearance he frowned and motioned for her to go make herself presentable.

Fand went to the kitchen to wash her face. After she combed out her hair Uncle Wert called to her, "Fand, come in here."

The instant she entered the room she was aware something was up. Gregor smiled stupidly at her. She did not return his smile. His father eyed her as she had seen her uncle eye a prized heifer. Mr. Zwart said, "Aye, she is a fine looking lass. Not too narrow in the hips. All right then, we have a deal." Mr. Zwart and Uncle Wert stood and shook hands.

Fand asked, "What?"

Mr. Zwart said, "You and Gregor are to be married after summer planting."

Fand wanted to scream no, and then it hit her. This might be the thing she must do to save Pyre and Zog. Restitution was not a pleasant or easy thing. She looked at Uncle Wert. His face was tense. He was waiting for her to pitch a fit. A heavy sense of resignation settled over her. This had to be the thing. Sacrificing her dream for those she loved, yes, this must be what was required. She mumbled, "All right."

Uncle Wert was stunned. It took a several moments before he found his voice. "Good girl."

Silently Fand thought, No, I’m not. Aloud she said, "If you will excuse me, I need to make supper."

After the Zwart's left, Uncle Wert came into the kitchen and patted her shoulder. "I didn't expect you to be so agreeable."

Fand kept her eyes focused on the rabbit stew in the pot. She didn't answer.

Uncle Wert asked, "Is something troubling you girl?"

So much was troubling her. Careful to omit the words, The Council, she said, “I saw Zolla, she told me Pyre had an accident and is likely to die.”

Uncle Wert did not ask what sort of accident. Instead he said, "Poor sot. I bet Zolla's frantic. I knew no good would come of his entering the Council. Doesn't have the brains for it."

Fand scolded, "Don't talk about Pyre like that."

Uncle Wert was silent a few moments, before he asked, "So, you finally regret you refusal of Pyre?"

Softly she said, "I regret a lot of things." Zolla's words about her parents still hammered in her mind. She knew she needed to ask her uncle if the things Zolla said were true. She wasn't sure she really wanted to know. It took all the courage she possessed to lift her eyes to meet her uncle's. In them she would read the truth. She asked, "Is it true my father took his own life?"

Uncle Wert looked as if he had been struck. He sputtered, "Who-who told you that?" He shook his head. "Nay, don't tell me. I know. The bitch. She swore she wouldn't say a word. Only she and Rehn knew."

"Why did you keep it a secret?"

"We had enough trouble living down Petran's execution. Our family couldn't bear another blot."

"If I had never been born my mother would still be alive, and so would he."

Unexpected compassion filled Uncle Wert's eyes. In a gentle voice he said, "My Zolla was certainly full of venom this evening. No Fand. That fever took someone from every family. Your mother must have caught it. She was dying when Rehn pulled you from her womb. It was a miracle that you lived. I lost my Hedda to that fever."

"But you didn't kill yourself."

"Nay, I loved Hedda like a woman, not an angel, not a savior. You father was a romantic, and no good come of it. Never does. Sides, I had to carry on for you and Zog." Uncle Wert then did something he rarely did, he opened his arms to Fand.

She had never thought about what the Fever had cost him. Never once had she considered that so many losses so close together had made him bitter and prone to drink. For a long while Fand clung to him. His arms soothed the ache inside her. Uncle Wert awkwardly patted her back. When he released her, he took two steps back and said, "You are growing into a fine young woman." This brought tears to Fand's eyes. He smiled at her and said, "Now don't go getting all soppy on me. You have my supper serve."

*

After Fand had gone to her room for the evening Zog came home. Fand heard Uncle Wert tell him the news of Pyre's accident. Zog exclaimed, "Damn that bloody Council. Will he live?"

Uncle Wert said, "We don't know."

Stronger curses came from Zog. When he had quieted down a little, Uncle Wert said, “Fand is to marry Gregor Zwart after summer planting.”

Zog shouted, "What?"

Fand heard Zog's boots cross the floor. He was coming up the ladder. Zog's head popped through the floor. He smelled funny, like singed hair. He climbed into the room. Fand noticed the left sleeve of his shirt was unrolled and burned. She asked, "Have you been playing with fire?"

For a brief moment Zog looked as if she had discovered some secret. He said, "I was out burning brush. Now, tell me Little One, is it true you have agreed to marry Gregor Zwart?"

Fand nodded.

Zog said, "I never expected you to agree to such a match."

Fand whispered, "A lot of unexpected things have happened."

"Have you given up on true love?"

"Yes."