Six Pillar's Oath

Chapter 3 - Lila

The short woman breathed in the damp air as she stood overlooking the village before her. The thick heavy stench of hops, filled her lungs. This was the village of Hopsley. “Huh, imaginatively named” she laughed and patted the large rock beside her, before carefully choosing her way down the muddy hillside. She was Lila to the people here, she recalled, preparing her persona, for this town. They were fond of her and she was well received, friendly but kept her cards close to her chest, they had no interest in her background, they were used to enough travellers to welcome her in and wave her goodbye without much fuss. She didn’t stand out too much with her muddy brown hair, and simple travelling clothes, she worked hard to pass unnoticed most places. She passed for a travelling woman, late twenties but an old soul in her weary hazel eyes and a resting frown on thin lips. Her stays were longer than most here and she was trusted to birth babes and see the old to their graves peacefully. Lila liked Hopsley, despite some of the miserable memories it held, some of the best ones were made here too.

Lila trudged into the village pulling her oiled cloak around her. The rain began to drill hard into the ground, splashing her worn boots with even more mud, it was making it hard to see much at all. That was probably how the little girl managed to run into her. She slammed hard into Lila’s left leg and bounced straight off into the mud. The girl dropped the parcel she was carrying. Lila leaned down to help the little girl up off the ground and the girl looked up into her hooded face. The girl clearly didn’t recognise her and looked afraid. She jumped up and ran off, leaving her parcel in the mud. Lila picked it up and strode quickly into the tavern and out of the rain.

The Willow Wood tavern was the only inn Hopsley had to offer, it did fine business through locals, travellers and Blessed Knights on leave from Nerving’s Keep in search of the famous Willow Wood Mead. There were always good rooms and warm food to be found at the inn, and the Innkeepers of each generation had always welcomed Lila as an old friend.

The inn was busy in the poor weather and Lila saw the old men by the fire wince at the cold wind as she opened the door. Shutting it quickly behind her Lila hurried to the only table she could find and hung her cloak off her chair. She would have loved to remove her boots and warm her feet but she was not rude, not here anyway. The inn was filled with cheery conversation and laughter, smells of bitter ale and salted pork warmed the air. Upon seeing her take a seat a portly man with an old apron and slicked back hair approached her table and set down a steaming tankard.

“Nice to have you back, and in time for winter, Miss Lila. A good hot cider should warm your bones from your journeys.” He smiled down at her and nodded to her to drink. Lila complied. “Let me know how you like it?” The man, Bart, watched hopefully.

The warm liquid had a pleasant syrupiness to it, the apple taste was strong but not too sweet, instead it was rich and smooth.

“ It’s good, Bart” Lila took another sip “Very good, I’d venture a pinch of cinnamon wouldn’t harm the taste. Is your father about, I’d like a chat?” she looked around for signs of the huge man with a booming laugh. Bart’s face rose then fell at the mention of his father.

“I’m afraid he’s no longer with us Miss Lila, summer pox took him and quite a few of the old, and the babes, month or so ago. The kids were saying lady death stalked the village at night, in her dark cloak, her black hair like snakes in the wind taking lives cursing any who crossed her path.” He wiggled his fingers mysteriously” You know it’s rough when they spin that ol’ tale again. Still Pa got to smell my little lad’s head ‘fore he left us. His eyes got such a glow when we told him his name, Godfrey, for my grandfather. So now it falls to me to welcome you to the Willow Wood. In this duty I’m bound to ask you how long you’re staying for?” Bart finally came to the point, despite the sad news of Simeon’s passing it was a comfort to know the ability to spin a simple answer into a short story had not been lost to the world with him.

“I’m sorry to hear about your father Bart.” Lila offered, and she was. Lila had seen each generation of the Wildwood innkeepers in and out of the world for as long as she could remember, but the sickness had made her late to the area, she would normally be further south by now. “I plan to stay just two weeks this time, but will of course provide my services while in town. I’m sure if I see my patrons here they will eat and drink while they wait. If I could have my usual room and the use of the kitchen? I’m sure they will bring in enough to cover my food and accommodation.” Lila offered, knowing full well she would not get all that for nothing, but aiming high had always worked well with Simeon, and Bart was the spit of him in every other way. She leaned back in her chair so as to not seem too eager and make Bart push back too hard.

Bart took the seat across from Lila and poured himself tankard of the mulled cider, he leaned forwards resting his large hands around the tankard. “We’re passed the end of summer now and well into harvest, there isn’t that much illness outside my regulars to make that worth my while. You can pay for the room, but you can have the meals, and I’ll take a copper on the silver for what you make.” Bart offered. “I’m a father now. Got my family to think of.” He took a sip of the liquid but kept an eye on Lila. Bart had clearly learned well from his father and would not take Lila’s reputation as any guarantee.

Lila gave herself a moment to think by rummaging in her satchel for the cinnamon and adding a pinch to each cup. “If you take a portion of my earnings then I could be paying for room and board twice over, I may as well take my work door to door and pay your standard.” Lila leaned forward now too. “Or you could take the copper on the silver, give me my room and board and I’ll look over your wife and Godfrey for free? You know I’m one of the safest pairs of hands that will pass through here for a while, my experience and knowledge is hard to come by.” She sipped from her cup and looked around, she could see some signs of some patch work, a few rags as bandages and things, seemed Hopsley hadn’t had a healer come through for a while. Bart followed her eyes and then quickly hid behind a sip of cider. He seemed pleasantly surprised by the new flavour.

“You’re right Lila, you are the best healer we ever have in town, but you don’t stick around and normally we have you for at least a month. Two weeks will handle a few ails here and there. My people deserve better, we could do with you wintering with us, we lost too many over summer, can’t take another ..”

“You know I can’t stick around Bart.” Lila interrupted, refusing to meet his pleading eyes.

“There are three women due in the next few weeks, our surviving old are still recovering. Harvest comes with accidents and winter with illness. We keep you well here, just try settling for once.” Bart reached out his huge hand and clasped her tiny one. “I’d house you here on reasonable lodgings, you could have real friends and maybe even a family. There are enough residents and travellers here to keep you in business. Nerving’s is close enough you could even do a good trade with the Blessed..”

“No knights Bart.” Lila hissed through gritted teeth. “Your father never questioned me on this. I thought I could expect the same courtesy from you.” Lila narrowed her eyes and furrowed her brow before she saw the sadness on Bart’s face. He had just lost his father because she was late, she kicked herself. “I wish I could have and do all those things you said Bart, but I cannot. It’s not safe, and it wouldn’t be fair of me to ask your people to hide me” She placed her other hand on his. “I will stay long as I can though, and see what medicines I can prepare for you ahead of winter.” She tilted her head to look into Bart’s downturned eyes.

Bart sighed deeply his huge shoulders rising before resting back into his chair. “I suppose that is better than nought. I shall give you room and board, in return for a copper on the silver, the medicines you mentioned and one more thing.” Bart extracted his hand from Lila’s and waved over to a hidden corner of the room. A slight young woman, long wheat gold hair coiled in a plait behind her head weaved through the crowd to their table. She had an earthly beauty to her, concealed in a crooked smile and freckled nose. She did not seem naive to a few of the looks she was getting and Lila could tell she could grow to be fierce. “This is Daisy, my sister by marriage, it was she who delivered my son, she has a gift.” Bart took the pitcher the girl was carrying and gave her his seat “Daisy will shadow you while you work, show her how to make the medicines and share some of that rare knowledge you possess.” Bart seemed ready to walk off as Daisy sat down, a look of excitement plastered across her face.

“Well I’m not sure that..” Lila began aghast at the sudden change in negotiations.

“Very well, we have some fruitcake in store and I’ll get Issy to whip one up for you to take south. Deal?” Bart looked down at Lila daring her to say no, however his father had clearly shared that fruitcake would seal any deal with Lila.

“Deal.” Lila replied still a little shocked.

Bart fished in his pocket and laid a key upon the table.

“Don’t be late again Lila.” Bart strode off into the crowd and Lila was left to get to know her new apprentice.