...
Ashes spends a long time at the dead woman's house, unsure of how to cope with her brother's death and her failure to help someone else in dire need. Thinking that perhaps if she wasn't so clumsy at the bridge, they might have managed to arrive earlier, that maybe she could have prevented her brother's death, if she were much more persuasive, that she could have convinced him not to go.
Finding nothing else other than guilt, that maybe that man was right, maybe it was her fault after all. If she wasn't such a burden in the first place, her brother might not have tried so hard to lift her up. That it would have been better if she was the one who got left behind on the ocean. That maybe if she-
''Oy, Ashes. Ye're doing it again.'' - A friendly voice sparks her out of the thoughts.
Phi'lip walks towards her, waving with one hand, holding a cup with his other hand.
''And what do you mean by 'It', Stone?'' - She completely turns to face him, scraping dust off her now tainted white dress.
''Ye see, sometimes, ye lose yerself some'ere else. I'm afraid ye micht not come back some day''
He tries to play it cool, but she can see the slight changes when he speaks of that. Averts his eyes, grip on the cup tightly, frowned eyebrows.
''Aha... I do not think that will happen. I merely think too much.''
''Hope ye're right.''
''So... tell me Phillip. Who is Mai'steer Ewan exactly? What is it that he does?'' - She says his name with a certain despite.
Her sudden question confuses him. He sips on his drink and looks up, trying to find an answer.
He chuckles - ''Máistir Ewan.'' - He's the one correcting her this time, and he seems proud of it - ''He's our pellar'' - He replies and takes another sip of his drink.
She lets out a large sigh.
''Pray, what is a pellar, then?''
''So ye're a city rat afterall. The Pellar is our spiritual protector, of sorts. E's the one that buries the dead, that 'elps the sick, cure diseases. Ye'd think 'es to us what preests are to ye.. Whyd'ye ask?''
''Just curious. Is he an outsider? As myself?''
''Nae, but he did study in Chambéry academy. Erblism, or somethin'. Most Pellars don't study from the big cities, they's learn from the Pellars before 'em.''
''HER-ba-lism, that is. Something about him unsettles me, and i feel he doesn't like me either.''
''No bother, we's all feel that sometimes, but he takes care of us. Wards off bad omens and whatnot''
''I see..'' - She glances over his wooden cup - ''What are you drinking?''
''Ale. Come on in, I get ye a cup!'' - He says while signaling for her to follow him to the main block, around the well, where all the houses are centered around.
From where she stands, closer to the southernmost exit, she sees a group of people finishing the placement of tables, chairs and other wooden structures she doesn't understand, and despite the recent deaths, the people there seem to be quite happy.
''I have never had Ale before'' - She says with curiosity.
''We's goin' to change that today, come on now.'' - He approaches her and pushes her gently towards the well and the preparations.
As she gets closer, she sees the women are setting up everything, and the men are removing the skin and fur off the animals they have, Boulder is preparing the huge boar he brought. They are the ones doing all the work when it comes to food. She finds it... odd.
''Shouldn't the men be setting the heavy work, the tables and chairs... And the women the food?'' - She asks, in genuine curiosity.
''HA!'' - He loudly laughs. - ''That micht be how ye lot do things, aye. But in here, to let a woman cook, is like eating poison berries.''
''Do you mean to say women cannot cook?''
''Sure they can, poorly at that, we's rather not risk it.''
''Unbelievable..''
...
''It's it true yer' Án oirthear?'' - A girl suddenly walks up to her, standing in her way to the tables. She's younger than her too, though not by a lot. She speaks in segments, as if she's constantly piecing out the words as she speaks, some pieces are spoken quickly, while other are done so slowly.
''I am not sure that i even know what that means, Miss.'' - Ashes replies, as she looks and leans to Phi'lip, as if he should tell her what that it.
''Meaning ye're from the East.'' - He says and casually takes a few steps away while the girls talk.
''I might be... Why?''
''Only ye've lot have golden hairs.'' - The girl speaks while caressing her own hair, a bit tangled, dark brown, curly. - ''And blues eyes''
''I very much doubt it. I'd wager lots of folk have golden hair and blue eyes.''
''Aye, micht be. But surely none prettier than ye are. Were ye a princess? Lived in a-fancy castle? Did ye've princes fightin' over ye?'' - The girls questions, though amusing, begin making Ashes feel suffocated.
''I am sorry to disappoint you, but i was not a princess.''
''But how can'ye know? Artháir Phi'lip said ye lost memories or somethin'.''
''Had i been a princess, they'd've sent someone to find me.'' - She says firmly, though the words feel hollow.
She looks around to find Phi'lip, yet he's already sitting at the table with some other people, glancing at her and playfully waving his hand - ''I can't believe he told that to you! When did you two even had time to talk about me?''
''Ye've spent lotta time medi'taetin' or whatever it is that ye lot do over Oirth.''
Ashes looks up, trying her best to make it seem she's not checking the sky. It's already dark.
She's sure she could see perfectly just now, but since looking down again, it's barely lit by the rudimentary torches and cooking fires set up.
''Meditating.'' - She quickly corrects the girl - I see. Well it was a pleasure meeting you, Miss...?'' - She raises her hand gently to invite her to tell her name.
''Iris... M'lady?'' - Iris does the, so far, worst formal bow Ashes has ever seen, or at least that's what comes to mind. But she doesn't blame the poor girl, might have never left the village as far as Ashes knows.
''Miss Iris. Beautiful name.''
''Aye, but not a dreadful one. None of'us can beat'ye at that. Ashes...'' - She repeats the name in whispers. ''Aight, 'let ye go back to ye'boy.''
Ashes leans her head slightly and turn away to meet with Phi'lip. On her way past the people, all of them stare at her. Some seem angry, some seem curious. Some seek... something else.
''You told thegirl-'' - Ashes whispers furiously as she sits by his side.
''She my friend too, ye'know? Now stop complainin' like a girl and take this!'' - He slides a cup into her hand. The people around her suddenly stops talking, all glancing at her. As if they're just waiting for her to make a mistake, to slip and fall.
She closes her eyes and looks into the cup. A dark red liquid, with some fruity aroma, though she can't say which exactly. With a very thing foam on top of the liquid. She leans it into her mouth and nose, the smell is-
''Sweet?'' - Most of the people looking around let out a muffled ''Oohhh'', starting to look at her with a newfound anticipation.
This must be a trick, she thinks. With all the people awkwardly waiting for her to drink it. But she trusts Phi'lip would not give her something harmful.
Ashes closes her eyes and starts drinking. She almost turn the cup upside down as she drinks it. In one go, the cup is empty. Their eyes move to the cup as she places it at the table, than back at her.
''It's rather enjoyable, i figured it'd taste bitter.'' - She looks back at Phi'lip - ''What is it with that face?''
''Och fuck me...'' - He abruptly smashes his face into the table.
The village people jump out and commemorate. Screaming out their lungs, as if the biggest thing ever had just happened. Ashes is confused, startled, but keeps herself calm.