It was already dark when Eris and her party had arrived at Murkborr.
"Let's find a place to stay the night," Eris said.
"I.. can't.. walk.. any further. BLEEEEEGH!" An explosion of Lili's previous meals escaped her mouth, as she clutched her stomach, struggling to keep her head up. Straf's tonic had lost its effect.
"I'm out of tonic, Lili. Just hold a little longer. Maybe there's an herbalist in this village," Straf reassured the distressed girl. He placed his hand on her back, trying to steady her wobbling frame.
The swamp village felt like a place forgotten by time, hidden deep within the dense, mist-wreathed forest. Between its wooden walkways, rope bridges and stilted huts, small boats glided across the dark waters like slow-moving wagons, carrying goods, mostly fish, and people to and fro. It stood in stark contrast to the bright and bustling town that was Bridgetown.
"Excuse me sir," Eris approached a merchant unloading some crates from his boat, his boots sunk beneath the muck. "We're looking for some medicine for our friend. River sickness."
"Aye, travelers are we?" the merchant replied, his voice gravelly yet kind. "Ye'll find the Crone's Hut in the square. Just hop on that boat o'er there and ask 'em to take ya."
Lili's knees buckled, her eyes widened as they became enitrely white. For an instant, her very soul had slipped from her body at the thought of another boat ride.
"Lili!" Pell screamed.
"Can't you use some healing magic on her!?" Karan suggested.
"I'm afraid this is out of my expertise," Pell cried out, her voice cracking like glass.
"Let's go! We should get to the hut!" Eris exclaimed.
They quickly boarded the boat and set off toward their destination, a sense of urgency driving every movement.
Hold on, Lili! We're almost there!
The merchant cast a long look at the scurrying adventurers, he assumed based on the weapons they were carrying—although one was particularly large. "Ah, must be nice t'be so young," he rasped, a crooked grin spread across his mouth, revealing gaps where teeth had once been.
After getting off the boat, they followed the twisting boardwalk deep into the heart of the swamp. They asked around for directions and finally reached the Crone's Hut. Ahead, half-hidden beneath a tangle of drooping willows and mossy vines, stood a weather-beaten hut that had an ominous doorway—it looked more like a warning than a warm welcome. Strung along its sagging roof were long straw charms adorned with bones, feathers and tarnished coins. An eerie gust howled through the swamp and rattled the dangling trinkets, it made the fine hairs on their neck and arms stand on end.
"Is.. Is this it? Are you sure it's this one?" Straf nervously asked, his voice trembling.
"Well, it's worth to try. Let's go. For Lili," Eris replied, mustering enough courage to force her feet to move into the creepy hut.
For Lili!
Inside, the air was heavy with the scent of herbs, bitter smoke and damp earth. Bundles of withered plants covered the floor and rows of clay jars filled with strange substances were set beside the walls. The shelves were lined with all manners of concoctions and charms—from elixirs to potions, and tonics to talismans.
"Um.. excuse me," Eris murmured, lowering her voice just enough to be heard from across the room, careful not to aggravate the woman hunched by a wooden table at the other side.
The woman's skin was pale, almost grey, and thin. Her face was mottled with age spots and wrinkles that spoke of the many years she had lived. Brittle silver hair desperately clung to her skull beneath a ragged hood, framing her marble-like eyes that gleamed a faint clouded glow. With her frail body, she shuffled slowly toward the crew, each step creaking against the wooden floor.
She raised her arms, revealing her long, bony fingers and sharp nails. Eris and the others were stunned. A wave of terror froze them in place.
And then..
"Bloop," her right index finger tapped Straf's forehead lightly. The crone cackled. "Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Just look at your faces—completely terrified, are we? And here I thought you young ones are adventurers. Can't put down an old woman, eh?"
The mood in the room completely shifted—tension melting instantly. What had first seemed to be a menacing hag now looked like nothing more than a mischievous granny.
"What do we have here?" the crone's surprisingly keen eyes darted to the pale, sweaty girl, her discomfort evident in every shallow breath.
"River sickness. It's our first time riding a ferry," Eris answered.
"I see. You're in luck, then. I have just the thing for it," she said, preparing a cup of medicine and handing it over to Lili.
The potion oozed in the cup, a slimy, bubbling, green sludge that seemed like it was alive moments ago. It released an acrid gas that clawed at the nose, hinting at its more than likely revolting taste.
"That should get the job done. Not like those watered down tonics that'll work for only a few hours," the crone remarked, certain of her work's efficacy.
Lili, having no other choice left, lifted the cup to her lips. The green liquid flowed like murky swamp water into her throat. Eris and the others watched in uneasy silence as they witnessed their friend consume the potion in one thick gulp, the sound of wet gurgling was enough to make their skin crawl.
"She needs time to digest the medicine. I have a spare room where she can rest," the old woman, together with Lili, retreated to the room upstairs, leaving Eris and the others to gather their thoughts.
"That.. went well," Karan's words breaking the silence that hung in the air.
"I hope Lili will be alright," Pell added.
"I'm sure she'll be fine, she's a fighter after all," said Straf jokingly.
"It's getting late. We should find some place to eat," Eris suggested.
A short while later, the crone reappeared, a faint rustle announcing her arrival. "Come on, then. We should eat while your friend rest."
They exchanged puzzled glances at the sudden invitation for dinner. Confusion flickered in their faces as they tried to make sense of the woman's offer.
"What? You're going to leave your friend here by herself? That's no way to treat a friend," the old crone chided softly. "Besides I've made my famous Hesta's frog and eel broth. Ha! Ha! Ha!"
Eris and the others looked at each other, their eyes locked in an unspoken regret—we should've left sooner!
It's going to be a long night.