Authors: Kathryn Fogleman
He shifted his gaze and looked up at the young lady that was approaching them and raised his eyebrows. “Really, Susun? Has this lad been growing that much?”
The young lady smiled and flipped a long brown braid behind her shoulder. “Yes. I am afraid so.” She stood on her toes and planted a kiss on Keegan’s cheek. “Welcome home,” she said.
Keegan smiled at her softly and stared at her sparkling, intelligent brown eyes. “You’ve grown, too, Susun, into a beautiful, fine woman,” he said.
Susun waved her hand dismissively. “Perhaps I have, but I still have much growing to do.”
Arden coughed sarcastically. “Yeah. Into an old woman.”
Susun swatted at her brother who ran behind Ardor and to the other side. “Can I take Ardor to the stable for you, Keegan?” he asked, grabbing Ardor’s reins.
Keegan let the boy have the reins with a nod of his head. “Yes. You may take him.” He grabbed his packs from Ardor’s back and watched as the boy led the golden stallion away.
Four smaller children, two girls and two boys, began jumping and dancing around Keegan. “We are so glad you’ve come at last!” a little girl with long, sandy blond hair said with a giggle.
Her twin bounced up beside her and looked up at Keegan with big brown eyes. “Yes! Did you bring anything to show us?” she asked excitedly.
Susun waved the little children away. “Back to the house with you! Give Keegan a chance to settle in first!” She looped her arm around Keegan’s and began to lead him to the house. “You’ve come in time for supper. It was nearly done last I checked,” she said, smiling up at him.
Keegan returned her smile then stooped down and grabbed a little boy, hoisting him over his shoulder with a chuckle. “And which one of the little monsters did you cook Susun?” he asked, tickling the little boy. Another little boy latched onto Keegan’s leg, holding tightly and making Keegan drag that leg.
“Ah! It doesn’t look like you cooked enough of them!” Keegan laughed as he reached down and tickled that child in the ribs, as well.
Susun took a step back and put her hands on her hips. “Telek! Marlek! Let Keegan in the house! How do you expect him to do anything if you are latched onto him like a ball and chain?”
With mischievous laughter, the twin boys wiggled away from Keegan and scampered back into the house. Keegan chuckled then looked at Susun, his face slowly growing solemn. “Where is your mother?” he asked.
Susun looked down, her smile also fading. “Oh, well... she isn’t feeling well. Father is in with her now,” she said, dropping her arms to her side.
Keegan put his hand gently on her shoulder. “How long has she been ill?” he asked.
Susun looked up at him and bit the inside of her lip. “For two months now,” she said, looking back down. “Maybe three,” she added with a mumble.
Keegan sighed and removed his hand from Susun’s shoulder. “May I see her?”
Susun looked up at him, her eyes brightening. “Oh, yes, you may! She will be so glad to see you!” She smiled weakly. “No doubt the sight of you will make her perk up.”
Keegan smiled. “Let’s hope so.”
Susun led Keegan into the tiny house where five little children, the twin girls and three boys, played and ran around. The house was surprisingly clean for so many people living in it. Herbs hung in the ceiling rafters and under the loft, drying for later use. A warm fire burned on the other side of the house, giving the whole room a glow of light and filling it with warmth. A large pot hung over the fire, and Susun walked over to it and pulled it away from the fire. She lifted the lid and began to stir the ingredients, filling the place with the wonderful smell of a thick herbal chicken stew.
Susun smiled as she stirred the mixture and looked back at Keegan. “It’s finished,” she said as she pulled it all the way from the fire. “But I think you had better see mother and father first. They are in the addition.” She pointed at another door at the back of the room.
Keegan nodded and set his things down then walked to the door. He knocked softly on the door, and instantly all the children became quiet. They stared at Keegan in silence until the door opened. A man with silver-streaked brown hair looked at Keegan through exhausted eyes. He smiled and his dark brown eyes lit up slightly.
“Ah, Keegan. I am happy to see you. Come in.” He opened the door wider to allow Keegan to step in. Keegan looked back to see that the children had now busied themselves with different things but still remained quiet. He stepped into the dark room and allowed his eyes to adjust to it while the man closed the door.
“Keegan?” a hoarse, silent voice asked from the other end of the small room.
Keegan slowly made his way to a bed where a woman lay. “Yes. It is I,” he replied.
The woman held up a frail, shaking hand. “Jormand, dear, please bring a candle. I wish to see Keegan’s face.”
Keegan took the woman’s hand, surprised to feel that it was so cold and thin, while her husband lit a candle and brought it near. The candle worked its magic and lit the room considerably. Keegan pulled up a stool and sat down then paused when the candlelight illuminated the woman’s face.
He forced a smile as he gazed at the woman. “Marthein. It is good to see you.” His insides turned, though, as he stared at her terribly pale face and weary eyes, noting that her hair was thinning and also pale, an oddity for a woman who was hardly mid-age.
She smiled at him and squeezed his hand gently. “Are you well?” she asked, her pale blue eyes looking him over. “You look a little thin but strong and handsome as ever.” She smiled and pulled her hand back under the blankets that covered her. She shivered slightly but kept the smile on her face.
Keegan rested his hand on the blankets. “I am very well. And any weight that I have lost in my traveling will no doubt be gained back as I eat Susun’s cooking,” he said softly.
The woman closed her eyes with a light chuckle. “I hope so. Otherwise, all of my hours of teaching her have been for naught.” She opened her eyes a crack and looked at him again. “How long are you to stay?”
Keegan leaned forward with a smile. “For a time,” he answered. “I will help Jormand with the farm, and I will help you to get well again.”
The woman nodded weakly. “And then you will become restless and start searching again.” She reached her hand out and took his hand with a sigh. “Someday, Keegan, you will settle down.”
Keegan smiled and leaned forward, planting a kiss on her head, allowing some of his energy to transfer from him into her through their linked hands. She sighed and pulled her hand back under the blankets. “Thank you Keegan,” she said, referring to the kiss he had given her. “It gladdens my heart to see you again.” With that, she closed her eyes to rest.
Keegan turned and looked at Jormand who opened the door silently, and the two of them stepped out into the main room. Susun looked at Keegan anxiously, but when her father cleared his throat, she turned and handed a bowl of food to each of them with a smile. “Where will you be eating?” she asked as Keegan and her father took their bowls of soup.
Jormand raised his head. “We’ll be eating outside, Keegan and me. Thank you, dear.” He smiled at Susan warmly before striding to the door.
“Daddy! Will you tell us a story tonight before bed?” the twin girls asked.
Jormand smiled at them. “Certainly I will, but you must help your sister now. Go help her serve the others,” he said and watched as the two little girls scampered off toward the pot of food and Susun. With that, the two men stepped outside and closed the door behind them.
Jormand led the way around the house to a hitching post that was near a shuttered window. Light streamed through the cracks in the shutters, illuminating the post enough so that the two of them could eat their meal. Keegan looked at his delicious soup, suddenly not feeling as hungry as he thought he would be. Jormand chuckled. “Eat lad. You’ll wish you had by the morning.”
Keegan smiled and then slowly took a sip of the thick, creamy liquid, savoring the well-seasoned flavor. “Susun has outdone herself,” he said as he chewed a piece of tender meat that had been in with the hot, creamy liquid of the soup. Jormand chuckled again, nodded his head in agreement, then lifted his own bowl up to his lips and partook of the contents. When Keegan had drained the bowl half way, he paused and looked at Jormand. “Susun told me that Marthein has been ill for two months now. Is this so?” he asked, not believing the girl to be a liar but just wanting to make sure that something had not been exaggerated.
Jormand sighed and lowered his bowl, looking at the remaining food. “Three months would be more exact…or longer,” he said, glancing up at the starry sky. “She gradually started growing more tired, having less energy, and losing weight. Then one day, she just couldn’t get up again.” He looked down and shook his head. “We’ve tried everything, Keegan. I don’t know what else to do,” he admitted.
Keegan put a hand on the older man’s shoulder in comfort. “I will see what I can do. Pharrgon has taught me much about the use of nature for the human body. Surely, I will find something.”
Jormand looked back at Keegan with a weak smile. “Thank you, boy. You are a blessing,” he said, placing his hand on Keegan’s shoulder as well. “Any help given is greatly appreciated.”
Keegan nodded, giving a kind smile. “She will get better. I promise.”
Chapter 10: Trouble at the River
Keegan let out a large yawn and focused on the growing light of morning. He held up a fishhook and stared at its single eye then ran a strong thread through it.
“Now pay attention,” he said to Telek who sat next to him on a cut off tree stump. “You tie it like so….” He slowly but skillfully tied a fisherman’s knot in the string just above the hook. “See? Now, if a fish breaks that knot, you had better employ a dragon for fishing, because that fish will be big enough to eat you,” he chuckled, handing the little fellow the hook and line.
The little, sandy-haired boy smiled brightly as he took the hook and line. “Thank you, Keegan!” he said.
Keegan tousled the boy’s hair. “Off you go then,” he said, helping the little guy down from the stump. Keegan stood and stretched his muscles as Telek disappeared around the house.
“Keegan! Please help me with mine!” Marlek cried as he came up then with a hook and untied line, holding the two objects out to Keegan with pleading eyes.
Keegan sighed and sat back down, pulling the little boy up on the stump with him. “Pay attention. You need to learn how to do this yourself,” he instructed, taking Marlek’s hook and line, beginning to thread it as he had done with Telek’s.
Arden came up then and crossed his arms, watching Keegan at work. “Keegan, why are you setting their hooks for them?” he questions.
Keegan looked at the older boy with a cock of his head and responded, “Because they asked for help.”
Arden chuckled, “They don’t need it! They set hooks better than I do!”
Keegan scowled and looked at the little boy sitting next to him. “Is this so, Marlek?” he asked.
Marlek wiggled his little bare toes and smiled shyly. “You didn’t ask if we could set a hook or not,” he said.
Keegan stared at him, trying to keep a smile from cracking across his face. “And why did you ask for my help when you could do it yourself?” he inquired.
The little rascal smiled brightly. “Just to see if you’d do my job for me!” he giggled.
Telek came bouncing up and began to dance around the stump with his hook and line. “And you did! You actually fell for it!” he giggled as he bounced around. “Keegan fell for it hook, line, and sinker! Hook, line, and sinker!” he started to sing.
Marlek jumped down from the stump, and the two of them danced around, singing the song like little nymphs, until Keegan jumped to his feet proclaiming, “Well then! I know who and what Susun will be cooking tonight! Tickled roast boys!” He reached out for them, but the two little rascals darted away with shrieks of delight and ran back toward the house.
Arden laughed and slapped his knee, pointing at Keegan. “Keegan, you are so gullible!” he said.
Keegan hooked his arm around the boy’s neck and rubbed his knuckles against Arden’s blonde scalp. “Oh, am I?” he asked through gritted teeth with a grin on his face.
“AYEE!” Arden yelled, grabbing Keegan around the waist and trying to push him off. When that failed, he wiggled free and glared at Keegan, his hair poking in all directions. “Someday, Keegan! Someday, I’ll be big enough and you won’t do that anymore!” he warned, trying to make his words sound like threats but with little success.
“Nah,” Keegan scoffed. “The day I stop doing that to you is the day you are able to put me on the ground,” he said, putting his fists on his hips.
“And that will never happen,” declared Arden as rolled his eyes.
Keegan chuckled, “Sure it will! You’re already almost as tall as me. Within a year, you’ll be big enough to do it.”
Arden shook his head and replied, “No. Not even then.” A smile slowly surfaced on his face.
Keegan shrugged as he demanded, “And why not?”
Arden ran his fingers through his hair, straightening his sandy locks. “Because. I like you too much to do it,” he replied. “And because you’ll be too old and frail by then.”