Lucian finished stacking wood in his father's woodshed when he began to really look forward to the next day. He found comfort in thinking of the forest's cool protection and the still, green scenery that he would take in during the journey, in contrast to Coriander's varying shades of browns and lifelessness.
"It'll be a great opportunity," he told Maleah, hovering near the doorway and watching him haul wood from the floor to the peeling sides of the shed. She had her fingers in her mouth, and Lucian smiled reassuringly at her.
"I'll be fine, Maleah. And I will come home with lots of wonderful things for you,"
Her eyes brightened and she smiled coyly, a rare sight in their household. He continued piling the logs and speaking to her.
"Some of the men are saying it'll take a little over two and a half weeks to reach Crell, since the trees get thicker beyond our woods. There's also a number of them hauling carts and wagons that will be full of surprises when we start back for the village!" His voice rose with anticipation. Maleah's eyes glazed over in thought as she remembered the seasonal treks the villagers made to major cities throughout the continent.
"And, the man I'm going with, he's from Hai-Lan. That's waaaaay over on the opposite side of the continent. Actually, it's not even on this continent. It's on an island. I hear it's so beautiful," The words practically poured from his mouth as he kept on and on.
"An island?" Maleah repeated.
"Yes Mally, something you've never really heard of before. It's a small chunk of land with a, a prosperous and wealthy nation living on it. Right beside the water! The ocean! Can you imagine that?" He watched his little sister's nose crinkle in frustration as she tried to. His heart ached with sorrow for one fleeting moment and then a wave of giddiness engulfed him again.
"I can't believe Father introduced me to him. I can't wait to depart. I'll see so many things, speak to so many new people…" He trailed off, realizing Maleah was more preoccupied in drawing pictures in the dirt with her brown toes. He continued smiling anyway.
After the wood was piled, Lucian threw off his gloves and cheerfully took Maleah by the hand and led her back into the house for their noon-time meal. Father had returned and has taken his place at the head of the table, and Mama was practically dashing from the oven to the table in efforts to produce an early dinner. Lucian seated Maleah in her chair and took his place opposite from her. He felt ravenous.
"I should expect you to enjoy this dinner, especially you Lucian, since it will be your last here at home for a few days," Mama said, crouching and drawing bread out of the oven.
"Like a good wife, you are always thinking of ways to feed your family," Father praised, but his voice was mechanical. Lucian knew he was just as hungry and impatient as he was.
Mama laid a fresh loaf of bread upon the table and Lucian nearly cried out in delight. "Butter! Mama, how…how did you get this?"
She cast him a pleased, tight lipped smile and said, "Laia's cows have been unusually healthy, lately. She churned all of her milk into butter and put it up on the market this morning,"
Father shook his head and replied, "I never really did understand her train of thought. Why not keep it all for herself?"
Mama lost no time in responding, "She knows that she needs to provide for the village before she provides for her family. And besides," she chuckled and pointed a gloved hand towards her husband, "you know she made a fortune's worth in gold by selling it," Father grunted in annoyance and the room fell silent as Mama went about preparing the last of the food. An air of envy fell upon his family and Lucian suddenly felt repulsed. He couldn't bare to look at the wide, hungry eyes of his sister, no doubt imagining such good fortune.
Mama placed a pan of thin, salted meat in front of them all, and a modest sized bowl of white rice. Father filled his plate first, then Mama, and then finally Lucian and Maleah. As he stared at his dinner, Lucian licked his lips hungrily and then looked up, saying, "Wait, Laia? Isn't that Platina's mother?"
He saw his Father and Mama stop chewing their food and eye each other.
"If Platina is the girl that is always bothering you while you work, then yes," They resumed eating.
Lucian's gaze lowered sadly to his plate, his balloon of happiness long gone. For the first time that morning, he thought of Platina and how she would have to stay behind as he moved on to grander things.
At least for a little while.