How to cure a Dark Lord

I weaved my way through the crowd at the market trying to get to my favorite stall on time along with the hundreds of people that also were trying to get to one place or the other.

It was now evident that autumn was setting in as the winds became slightly chillier and the trees began to shed their leaves.

I made a mental note to myself to not only get what I needed for the Dark Lord's medicine but also for Mirabel's little brother, Jared.

Jared had regained consciousness yesterday morning and Mirabel was so relieved when she came to give me the news. I made some medicine for him to help him get stronger and I advised her to not let him stay in the sun for too long and to also watch his temperature and keep it from going high.

By evening time, the little boy was already playing like he normally did only not so vigorously and his mother wouldn't let him out of her sight.

I tried to remember the last time when I had been sick. I had a fever once and it was due to the fact that I was stressed out. Papa couldn't scold me for not resting enough even though I knew he wanted to. I was the only helping hand at the infirmary, he didn't really trust anyone to be capable of the job.

 He had taken care of me and made me eat hot soup that didn't taste so great. Even his medicine tasted better or maybe he made a combination of soup and medicine?

Either way, Papa treated me like a child and didn't let me do any work until he was sure I was capable of it.

I smiled at the memory of Papa going to the woods by himself at his old age to get the firewood we would need because he didn't believe I was well enough to do it. Asides that, I didn't fall sick much as a child. I miss my Papa.

 And that was why I was doing what I was doing. To avenge him. Papa was a good man, he saved lives and this was what he got in return.

 Walking further and deeper into the market I felt someone bump into me. I looked to the side to see who it was and the person apologized quickly.

 "Pardon me, milady."

I took a good look at the man. He was slightly large with a huge black hat and a black cloak that covered his face and body so much it seemed he didn't want to be recognized.

The only reason a person wouldn't want to be recognized is if he was up to something shady. With the way the man bumped into me, maybe he was a pickpocket.

I suddenly became alert and checked my belongings to make sure they were secure. Nothing was missing. Hmm, maybe I was wrong.

 "Good morning, milady." My favorite stall owner chirped.

 "Good morning ma'am." I greeted back.

"Here for the usual?" She asked and I nodded.

"Just a moment." and she got a piece of parchment so she could wrap my order up for me.

 "You're such a pretty lady. Are you married darling?" she asked me. I was surprised by the question. This was the first time she asked me something so personal.

I shook my head, not sure I wanted to know where she was headed with the question.

 "Oh, I have a handsome son who isn't married either. He's a responsible boy really but all his work in the royal castle does not let him have time to woo ladies." she told me with a smile.

 So she was the one doing the wooing for her son now?

 I smiled sweetly. "Your son does sound quite nice ma'am. But I'm not really someone he'd like to marry." I took the parcel from her and put it into my basket and gave her a slight bow.

 I hoped I didn't sound rude to the lady. What she was doing wasn't wrong. I didn't see myself getting married to anyone. All I wanted to do was go back to my village and take over my father's infirmary.

 Did she say her son worked in the royal castle? That means I probably knew the person.

 Back at the infirmary, I took out all the herbs from my basket so Avery and I could start preparing them when I found a piece of parchment that I was sure wasn't there before.

I opened it and I was clean cursive writing, I couldn't read it now that Avery was in the room so I hid it in my sleeve, hoping to read it later when I was alone.

 I made the medicine for Jared first as his medication didn't require much stress to prepare. After brewing it and putting it in a tiny ceramic jar, I walked to the servants quarters at the back of the castle.

Mirabel had described their house to me so I had no difficulty locating the place. There was a bit of distinction between the houses. There was a dorm like housing unit for the unmarried servants and little detached houses for the senior and married servants.

 I knocked on Mirabel's door. Her mother answered the door.

 "Good afternoon ma'am."

 "Miss Frieda." she smiled delightfully. "Come on in."

Unlike two days ago when Jared had fainted and Mirabel's mother, Monica had been shocked to the core that she couldn't speak, she was actually a cheerful and outspoken person just like her daughter.

 I walked into the small house that the castle provided for them to live in and noticed how clean the small spaces were. I didn't have to look so hard to find little Jared who played battle with his wooden toys in one corner of the room.

 "How is he feeling now?" I asked Monica and she smiled.

 "He's okay. He's been playing all morning. And his temperature has been stable too."

"Then I think it's safe to let him out of the house for a little bit. Just for a bit." I suggested and she agreed.

 "If you say so."

"I made some medine for him. He'll take a cup now and then in the evening. Afterwards, he doesn't need it anymore." I said handing the warm jar to Jared's mom and she received it gratefully.

I went over and knelt beside Jared who was still playing battle. Ruffling his hair up a bit, he looked up at me and smiled.

"I hope you're having a lot of fun now that you're better."

He nodded.

 "Make sure not to stay in the sun for too long, okay?" I advised and he nodded with a smile making the freckles on his face so obvious.

I stood up to take my leave, Monica thanked me again.

 "It's no problem."

"Wait, Miss Frieda. I've always wanted to ask, did you come back to take your father's position as royal head physician?"

I shook my head.

 "Oh." she said sounding disappointed. Why was she disappointed? "I thought you were. Your father was a good man, the best there is. The kingdom needs someone like him right now."