Things could always get worse. And so they did.

At the beginning of the second week of Frostire my grand mother fell ill. She was struck with a fever and a bad cough.

Our parents forbade us to go near her, fearing we might get sick too.

The house was freezing, we had little food for the diseased and since she wasn't able to work any longer things were going to degenerate as fast as her precarious health.

Affording a priest or a healer was outside our wildest dreams, even an herbalist or mender were above what we could afford.

This had to stop right now.

I barged into Patiyar's office, beaming with rightful wrath. The man was kind and nice but this wasn't going to be enough. “My grandmother is sick! Please, we need an intervention from Shifa.” Shifa was our local Fusaad priestess. Her powers would help my grandmother, she could cure her infection. I would grovel in front of her if need be but the Temple had to save my kin.

The bearded man was frowning at my request. I knew I was in no position to make any more demand but this was a matter of life and death.

“I'm sorry Telerios but Shifa isn't here at the moment. She's been sent to the western district to help there. They also have many ills and she couldn't refuse the assignment.” He apologized.

I understood what he meant. With the dearth and shortage in wood many were falling ill everywhere in the city. The western district was wealthier and could afford to hire our priestess. The Temple was doing some charity work but in time of crisis the wealthier had priority. I fell into despair this was as good as a death sentence for my grandmother.

“Let me accompany you. I'm no healer but I have some knowledge in simples and medicinal herbs. Just let me gather my things.” Gently proposed Patiyar. His compliance took me by surprise.

I bowed in apology for my earlier rudeness when I barged in and thanked him profusely, not every man of his status would take the time to look after a simple commoner. He was fond of justice and about doing the right thing but this was going further than what common Jaleites would do.

His diagnosis was dreadful: Crimson lungs.

A disease in which the infection slowly consumes the lungs, making patients cough clots of blood before killing them by drowning them from the inside in their own blood...

This reminded me a bit of tuberculosis but it was described as much more aggressive. Tuberculosis could take years to kill someone but this crimson lungs disease also euphemistically called widow's poppies, looked far more aggressive.

In folk's tales Otik would come during the winter (actually this month is his celebration month) and gift red poppies to the widows mourning their recently lost husbands. These poppies would guide their souls to his realm where they could reunite again with their lost lovers.

As usual the legend is probably born out of real facts: widowed losing their living standard and falling ill in the following winter. Only to die quickly after their lost husband. Far less romantic.

Patiyar didn't fear the disease either because he was a fool or because he was confident in his Chi or Jalea's protection. He spent some time alongside my grandmother and I don't know what they talked about. In the end he gave her some expectorant balm and an hibiscus looking tea supposed to help replenish one's blood.

I knew some herbs can be effective, even more so in a world with magic, so who knows what these plants are capable of? But this didn't look enough for me. Even if the plants worked, how long until she falls sick again? Or my little sister? Or even me or my parents? We couldn't take this much longer.

On the morrow I met with Nutusi to clarify things.

“This can't keep going on. If cardinal Fortmo isn't willing to help us,” I despised the egg man now, “I'll have to take things in my own hands. I'm going to surrender to blade Duarch.” I confessed. “I'll negotiate with him. I'll be the only one to end up a serv and this will spare my family.”

I had time to mull this over. It was the only way to save my grandmother and spare the rest of my family from servitude. My mother especially was frightened to lose her commoner's rights and fall back in servitude.

Giving myself away couldn't be that bad. If I explained to the first blade what I had in mind, alphabet, calculus and even chemistry it could even take a good turn. The man was powerful and could help me implement some things. At least it would be better than becoming a slave for the Typhoon, I would get to stay in the city where my family lived and servs could buy their freedom if they worked enough.

But the old priestess was disagreeing, her white eyes were burning with indignation. “No, no, no. You can't do that. Not after all our efforts. Just give me some more time to find a solution or convince Fortmo.” she ordered more than she asked me.

“You already had two months to solve the issue. I can't wait any longer. My family can't afford to wait any longer.” I decisively cut her. “My grandmother is dying because of this. I had enough of your childish play. I don't care about Fortmo's honour or self esteem or whatever scheme he may have against Duarch. The lives of my family matter more.” This last argument struck a chord in her. I could see the anger in her cloudy eyes recess. She was an elderly herself and maybe sympathized with my grand mother's condition.

Her face was now gentler, very much unlike her steel cold usual self. Even under the hiding of her shawl we could always sense her harshness. Yet right now her tone was as gentle as Patiyar's: “I understand but I still plead for 3 more days. I'll definitely have a long term solution by then. If not I will also turn myself as a serv to accompany you. That, I will swear it on our god. Is that enough of a promise?” She looked sincere. I know Shinpiloites are rumoured for being good liars but I wanted to give her a chance. The last nudge was the slight burn around my right eye. Shinpilo was somehow telling me that he took her pledge in consideration. She' better not lie to me nor to our god.

“Fine. In three days either you have a solution to offer or we will both become servs.” I sternly concluded.

* * * *

Three days passed quickly.

My grand mother started coughing blood. I could see the stained sheets and hand cloths my mother was washing.

I tore some of the remaining pages of my textbook. What little money I could make out of it was just enough to buy some fuel for a small brasero in her chamber. It wasn't warm but at least the cold should be less cruel on her damaged lungs.

She kept saying she was fine but her face was clearly one of someone in pain. The cold and the lack of oxygen turned her lips blue as well as the tip of her fingers. Emaciated and blue like that she was looking as if already dead.

During these nights I often dreamt of having oxygen to help her, antibiotics or even just painkillers. Those were vanishing as I was trying to put an IV on her. When I'd woke in disarray, I would find the calming stare of the purple gems of Gelcaria. She knew how bad things were for my family and was coming more often despite the risk of getting sick herself. Her warmth was welcomed but I felt guilty, her house must have been warmer than our attic and she was taking risks just by being here.

On the third day Nutusi had, she finally exposed her solution.

“The first blade is a powerful man. Few in the city can oppose him and coerce him to stop this, not even the city council or the Temple. At least not in the time available.” she exposed. Apparently she wasn't going to try to find the money but instead will have us work around the problem: finding the adult in the room to come silence the unruly children that he and Fortmo were. “Of those who could oppose Duarch, only a few are reachable in the short term. In this city only the head alchemist, the president of the league of merchants and the Shieldlord should be able to impose their will on him or convince him to back down.” she listed.

I had heard about some of them. Our lord of course. Who never heard of our ruler living in the castle atop the mountain in the middle of the city?

I knew little about the alchemists. They have a headquarter in the western district, I though of paying them a visit one day when I would have managed to put my hands on some chemicals to have some interesting enough reactions to expose them.

The merchant league I only knew they existed, nothing more.

“The head alchemist is married with a cousin of Duarch, so we shouldn't have much hope on this side. The president of the merchant league is from a minor house, so he could be open to negotiations if we had enough money to offer.” We had none left. I already gave everything I could to my parents and Patiyar and Nutusi already put their savings on the line, I doubt they had enough juice left to bribe a rich citizen.

“That leaves us with the Lord is suppose? It should be easy.” I cheekily said with my eyebrow raised in doubt.

“Yes” calmly answered the old woman, not reacting to my sarcasm, “But discussing it directly with the lord will be even more difficult.” She confessed.

You don't say... we might as well go turn ourselves to Duarch's foreman right now.

“What about Fortmo? Can't anyone convince him to back down on this. I don't care about his honour, I just want Duarch to leave us alone.” I voiced what looked like the simplest solution, the cardinal knew both of us, couldn't he just land us a hand?

She scoffed bitterly at that. “Even less likely. He is quite stubborn and too proud to accept a loss when it comes to scheming. The people that could have influence on him are more or less the same and would be less likely to want to help us, Fortmo is scarier than you might think.”

Not scary enough for Duarch to back away thought.

“But.” she kept the suspense going “There might be a workaround for Duarch.” She was teasing me. “Have you ever heard of the old shieldlord?”

I hadn't. What was an old shieldlord? Wasn't the position hereditarily inherited after the former lord died? “No I haven't. Who is this and how can he help us?”

She was wearing a victorious smile making her look like some mischievous witch. She could look like some random old lady when calm but this smile was definitively nightmare's material. “Hehe, I supposed so. The former Shieldlord is the father-in-law of our current Shield. He retired to let his son-in-law take rule and avoid any conflict of power.” she was giving me a short lecture on the political situation. “He is now famous for roaming idly in the castle. There are rumours going around about his drinking habits, laziness and eccentricities but I'm old enough to know better.” she stated with pride, “In my younger days I worked as scribe and informant in the castle. The old lord is eccentric but I also know that he is smart, diligent and well learned. And he has a soft spot for new and exotics things.” She finished with a victorious tone like all was good in the end.

I didn't see how this would help us? Was I to expose my work to him? How?

“So what? I am to ask for a meeting, get an appointment in the next days and expose him my alphabet system?” I briskly countered.

She had a mocking laugh sounding like a rusty hinge in need of a good oiling. “Something like that. If you become a serv Duarch will have access to your alphabet but also all your “cypher” things. So I'd rather have the old lord learn about it than Duarch.” She spat on the carpet, which I found quite a nasty habit and unlike her, “If you can expose your work to the old lord that will definitively catch his attention. Then he'll petition for us to the Shieldlord and calm down Duarch on the taxes. Do not repeat this to Patiyar, but Jalea will be on our side on this one.” She even made a prayer gesture to Jalea. I would really have liked to see the look on the old priest if he saw her right now.

“And how are we supposed to meet an old lord lazying in his castle?” I asked with incredulity, “We knock at the gates until he deign meet with an old priestess and a kid?”

“We could if I had some fine spirits on hand but we don't have enough time for that road.” Her smile came back more crooked than ever. “So it wont be we but You!” she exclaimed. “I know a way in the castle but not fit for an old lady like me. If possible you should bring some of your friends to use as decoys and diversions too.” she added.

This stunned me: what was she expecting a bunch of kids to do? “You have someone in mind?” I probed.

Her milky eyes were mocking me: “Yes. That purple eyed lass for one. But your two other friends will be more than welcomed too.”

I don't know how she knows about them but I am not that surprised. She is a spy after all. It is not unexpected that the temple kept a close watch on a blessed one and might even made some backgrounds check on my friends. They had made a thorough search on my family's background after all.

“Will it be dangerous for them?” I worriedly inquired.

“No” she immediately answered. “The fact that you are all kids, commoners even more will help. They'll get caught but it can be blamed as child prank. At most they'll risk a few latches before being released. I checked their backgrounds in the files. Even your purple eyed girlfriend has a clean sheet.”

Two infos: they have files on us, what kind of dystopian city is that? And “a few lashes” aren't an issue? We are talking about using a whip on children, on my friends.

“I can't accept this. Too risky. They are just children.” And I didn't knew how much I could trust her here but that I didn't tell her.

“And so are you.” she retorted. “Yet you are about to become a serv to save your family. Ask them for help, let them make their choice for Nasibor's sake. At least the Akolai touched one should have enough ambition to follow you wherever.” she exclaimed. “The cat girl looks brave enough too and I heard reports that the fat boy killed a monster barehanded already. A few latches shouldn't scare him.” She stated.

I'm surprised by the depth of her intel on us. Even knowing things from before I became a blessed one. I don't know how she knows about Balout's feat in the cellar? Did the tridents somehow find out and made a report about such a minor detail?

She has a point when she says they should decide for themselves. I still consider them like kids, mostly because of my Earthling prism of vision. But in the past year both Melodi and Gelcaria grew and Balout is far stronger than I am. In this world kids shoulder responsibilities earlier and have to make their own decisions earlier. I don't like the idea of abusing their goodwill though nor of putting them in needless danger.

“What would you have them do. Aren't there anyone more fit for the task? Shinpilo's priests or acolytes should be trained for this kind of things.”

“Impossible. If they were to get caught you can only imagine the diplomatic headache to explain why our spies are creating a ruckus in the castle?” she complains, “Whereas you children won't risk much nor will bring political commotion with you. I'm even willing to compensate them. After all if you fail, I'll also end up a serv for Duarch.” again she spits on the floor.

“Fine I'll ask them. How do you intend to have us enter the castle?” I query.

She wave a bony finger in front of her, “tsk, tsk tsk, I'll explain it to you all at once. Gather your friends, the more the better and come back here tomorrow. We'll act immediately.” I do not dig the secrecies but we are strained for time and I do not have much options available.

Worst case my friends will get a couple lashes, they'll resent me but I'll let them choose after honestly presenting them the risks.

* * * * *

I first asked Gelcaria, to probe their reactions. She agreed to help even before I could expose the purpose, the risks or explain what she was going to be tasked with. She just accepted it all with zealous fervour burning in her lilac eyes. This isn't a gallant comparison but the loyalty she was showing was on par with a dog's one: not asking any question and ready to unquestioningly follow you through hell and beyond.

Melodi didn't hesitate much. If anything I'm the one that had to calm her down and ask her to lower her voice. She was leaping around me while chanting “I am on a secret mission.” which was defeating the purpose of “secret”. When I explained that she was risking a good whipping it brought her back on earth. This time she wore a more serious face, looking like one of those enigmatic cat judging your soul from above. After pondering it for a short while and silently conversing with Gel through stares she renewed her will to help me.

Balout hesitated. Clearly the idea of getting punished, first by the lord himself and then by his parents was scaring him. And I approve of this: he is the only one thinking long term and considering the consequences of his decisions, clearly the most mature of all.

After pondering for a while what made the balance tip was Melodi's teasing: calling him a coward. This hit the nail and he accepted, just to shut the catgirl up. He regretted it I think when he saw Melodi's smug winning smile. The girl knew how to ruffle him up and was more sly than her childish taunt let think.

Now that my team was gathered I just had to find an excuse for them accompanying me tomorrow. I had to lie to their families which I do not like doing, especially to Peterell.

I said there was a special ceremony at the temple, that sister Sunyeo requested our presence and that there would be food for all attending. I'm working for the temple and they know it, the temple is held in high esteem and food is scarce for all, so they didn't question further. They were glad to give their respective children a day off and a good warm meal.

A-team was ready to go.