Chapter 36 Questions
The inhabitants of Narul were not that many. And those who were sick that stayed home numbered even fewer. The rest of them probably went to the Temple of Inrog for healing, Misara thought.
They managed to visit a dozen more homes before dusk finally came. She had been able to heal all of them. But she did not feel tired. On the contrary, she felt rejuvenated.
As they journeyed back to the inn, she wondered about Beret who was riding alongside her. She did not dare glance at him. She had resolved to dismiss once and for all her feelings for Beret, which she believed may have added to her confusion.
But she could feel Beret’s concern for her growing. And she continued to feel safe simply knowing that he was by her side. But that was as far as she would let things go, she told herself.
Her faith was growing each day. And each sick person she healed was an affirmation of this. She needed to heal them for she desired to forget the helplessness she had felt when Master Ladris died.
She kept recalling the encounter with Juro and the Temple of Balkir. Although she did feel she had defeated whatever it was that came over her, she believed that an even greater challenge may lie ahead. And her faith had to be strong when that time came, she thought.
But as they were on their way back to the inn, she remembered the old woman and the young boy. There was something about the boy that seemed familiar.
“I’d like to visit the old woman’s home,” she said to Kort.
“It is getting dark,” Kort replied. “We should proceed to the inn. We could visit the old woman tomorrow before we continue towards Kestalon.”
Kort made sense to her. But there was something she had to know. And the boy held the answer.
“It won’t take long,” Misara said.
Misara could see Kort and Beret exchange glances.
“Alright then,” Kort said.
Misara led them to where she remembered the house would be. But upon reaching the area, she could not find it. All she found was a cabin that seemed to have been abandoned for years.
Misara dismounted and kept searching for the house.
“Where is it?” Misara asked in frustration. “We must have taken a wrong turn somewhere,” Kort replied.
“No. It was here. I am sure of it,” Misara said in exasperation.
“It is getting dark Misara,” Beret said in a gentle manner. “We must get back to the inn.”
Misara finally stopped searching. Perhaps Kort was right, she thought. Most of the roads looked the same. She mounted her horse and they continued back to the inn.
Misara still kept wondering about the young boy with the lantern. She was certain she had seen him somewhere before. But it could not possibly be that same boy, she thought.
They arrived at the inn as the sun was setting. When they entered, they saw Aisha seated in the dining hall by herself.
“Where is Revik?” Kort asked her.
“He is in his chambers resting,” Aisha answered.
Misara could see that Aisha was shaken up about something.
“Did you find anything interesting in the forest?” Misara asked her.
“Y-yes,” Aisha answered. But she appeared to hesitate. “Maybe teacher would like to be the one to tell you.”
“Please ask the inn keeper to prepare food for us,” Misara said to Aisha.
Aisha nodded respectfully. She then stood up and went to where the inn keeper stayed.
“Wait here,” Misara told Beret and Kort. Misara proceeded to Revik’s bed chambers.
The door was closed. She knocked but there was no answer.
“Revik, it is Misara,” she said. “May I come in?”
But there was still no answer from inside. She found that the door was unlocked. So, she entered and left the door ajar. A lamp was lit beside the bed. She saw Revik lying down. He appeared to be sick. She worried that it might be this plague that had afflicted him.
Revik began to stir.
“Are you well, Revik?” Misara asked him.
Revik gazed at her. He seemed to be pleased with himself. She had never seen him smile this way. It was a smile of victory. But what was it that he was smiling about? She wondered. As Misara surveyed the room, she saw something that she did not expect to see.
It appeared to be a white colored staff made of wood. It was covered by some strange design. She thought her eyes were playing tricks on her as the staff appeared to glow slightly in the shadows.
Revik then began to cough violently. It took a while before he stopped. Misara approached and sat beside him. She felt his forehead with her hand. He did not feel warm to the touch. But what she saw alarmed her. Something red was on Revik’s hand. He was coughing blood.
“I will be alright,” Revik said. “Give me a full night’s rest and I will be good as new.”
Revik still smiled despite his coughing episode. He then turned his head and tried to sleep.
Misara finally left Revik alone and closed the door behind him. She kept wondering what had happened in the forest and how he came to possess that staff. Perhaps the answers will come tomorrow, she told herself.