Chapter Two

During the nice lunch of Atreal crepes and a warm cup of Geltoffee, an interesting drink made from the Geltoff bean, Remi told me a bit about Escya. She told me about the city-guard that protected the town diligently, the 'slums' where the criminals lurked, and about the market that was built right in the middle of the town. She told me of the many different stores, and shops, and people. She spoke fondly of the library, and the church. She told me of her outings to Gallagher's Grocery, and said there was even a college here.

We talked through lunch and soon it was time for her to go back to work.

"It was nice talking with you, Erin." She said with a gentle smile before walking off to attend to her duties. I was about to leave and explore the town and find a dependable job when I heard someone clear their throat behind me. I turned to see a older woman, who vaguely resembled Remi.

This must be her mother, I assumed. She was slightly pudgy, but with the same delicate looking hands as Remi. She had the same eyes and hair, but hers was pulled back into a simple bun, and her clothes consisted of a simple brown dress with an apron.

"It seems my daughter has finally made a friend," She said with a kind smile, her eyes shining with such a look of joy that I couldn't help but smile back. Yet the joy in her eyes somehow mixed with a darker emotion. Longing, maybe? Or perhaps irony. It could have easily been both, yet the mystery of it intrigued me. "It's just too bad that your just winding through, though." She frowned for a moment and then the light returned to her face.

"Forgive me, my dear, my name is Isabelle O'Conner, Remi's mother." She said after a moment, "And you would be?"

"My name is Erin Levine," I said with a small nod of my head. "It's nice to meet you."

"Aye, and you as well Miss Levine." She said, I could hear a hint of an accent. I had heard it before, one of Raina's sisters had an accent like that. She had got it after spending a few years in the Earldom of the Twenty Mercies. "So how long will you be staying with us?"

"Oh, I'll be staying for two months at the least." I said with a broad smile. Mrs. O'Conner turned and eyed me with a look of shock.

"You are serious?" She gasped. I nodded and the next thing I knew I was wrapped in her arms, crushed by her embrace. After a moment she released me and gave me such a look of relief and joy and admiration, that I felt my heart swell at the feelings she gave off.

"Why are you going to be here for so long? Oh! Not that I don't want that! I love that your staying here! Oh sorry, look at me rambling at you like I do my own daughter." She laughed.

"I'm actually planning on living here is Escya for awhile, I arrived only this morning." I said with a laugh. She may look like Remi, but she had more of an upbeat nature than her daughter.

"Are you really?" She asked amazed. I nodded again.

"Yes," I replied contentedly, "I'm actually about to go look for a job." When I said that, she gave me a sly smile, but the good nature in her eyes assured me she was genuine.

"Then, how would you like a job here?" She said. My face lit up with gratefulness.

"I would love that, Mrs. O'Conner!" I exclaimed.

"Then you can start today, if you'd like." She said brightly. I nodded and she led me to the counter. She explained how much a night costs, with and without board, where the keys are kept, and where mail is kept. She showed me where to put the money, and told me how to greet guests. Before she left she told me if I had any questions to ask her or Remi. I nodded my understanding and stood behind the counter waiting for my time to shine.

I stood for a while, but no one came. An hour passed and still no one. Another hour, and by this time my feet started to hurt, but being the determined person I am, I stood still, and finally my efforts were rewarded. A haggard looking man ghosted in, and up to the counter.

"I would like a room please." He groaned. His clothes were dirty, but seemed that once were very handsome and well worth the money it cost to get them, and his skin was grey with sickness. His hair was probably white, but because of the dirt it was a grayish green color and it fell limp, the grime slicking it to his scalp.

"That will be 10 Riyal Pieces sir." I said with a forced smile, trying to hide the pity behind my eyes. He looked at me distressed for a moment before turning away.

"Ah, sir, where are you going?" I asked worried. He turned to look at me pitifully.

"I only have 6, not 10 Riyal Pieces." He said wistfully, "I cannot afford to stay here." He turned again, almost dragging himself to the door.

"I will pay for you!" I called after him, making him turn around, seeming to be unsure whether or not I was serious.

"Would you really do that young lady?" He asked touched at the offer. I nodded and he walked back to the counter. I reached under the counter and grabbed the key to an empty room and showed him the way upstairs. He seemed to become weaker and weaker as we reached the door.

Feeling bad for him, I unlocked it and opened the door for him. He took one step inside and collapsed onto the floor the next second. I gasped and fell to my knees beside him, checking his pulse on instinct. After a second I could feel it, but very weakly. Summoning all of my strength I pulled him up and onto the bed. All of my training from back in Erycana kicked in all at once. I felt his forehead, and noticed that he had a fever. His breathing was raspy, and his eyes were glazed over. I had treated this before, I knew what I was dealing with. It was Necrosis Fever. I sighed relief and began to work. This illness was fast working and deadly, but if I treated it soon he would be okay, hopefully. The only treatment for this type of fever was Nasirir, a small round azure pill made from the wild blue flower native to the outer islands.

"I'll be right back." I whispered to the old man before running out of the room and down the stairs.

"Remi!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, "Mrs. O'Conner!" They came running to me within moments.

"What's going on?" They asked in unison.

"I need some Nasirir right now!" I said in between gasping breathes. They looked at me confused.

"Why? Is someone sick?" Remi asked frightened. I nodded and Mrs. O'Conner shook her head sadly.

"We don't have any, Erin." She sighed.

"Where can I get some?" I gasped.

"Down the street at Mr. Gallagher's." She said, but before she could say another word I was already running out the door and down the street. I passed three different shops before I came up to a store marked 'Gallagher's Grocery'. I ran inside without a second to lose.

"Hello, how may I-" The man behind the counter started to say before I cut him off.

"Nasirir!" I yelled at him, and he looked at me surprised. I repeated myself. "I need Nasirir, someone is sick." He pulled out a bottle and I grabbed it, running out the door.

"You need to pay for that!" He said running out of the store after me. "Come back here!" He followed me back to the Inn, as I raced inside and back up the stairs. All three of them followed me to the sick man's room.

"You're going to be okay!" I soothed, as he panted for breath. I opened the bottle and pulled out a pill. I opened his mouth gently and dropped it in, making sure he swallowed it as I didn't have anything to help him get it down.

I was so absorbed that I didn't notice Remi, her mother, and the clerk standing behind me, watching. After a moment the man's breathing began to go back to normal, and I sighed relief.

The last time I dealt with Necrosis Fever, the patient had died before I could get the medicine to her. I learned a lesson that day about this disease. It may not be contagious once it's penetrated the immune system, but it is deadly and kills fast if not treated. Thankfully this wasn't the case this time.

"Erin," I heard Mrs. O'Conner say, "How did you know what to do, in such short notice?" I turned to see the three of them standing there in shock. I picked up the bottle of Nasirir and handed it to the clerk before I said anything.

"I'm from Erycana," I said softly, "I was trained as a healer." The adults nodded their heads and Remi just stood silent, observing.

The clerk told me it was okay, and that I wouldn't need to pay for one pill, and then he left without another word. Mrs. O'Conner took one look at the man, and gave me a empathetic smile. Remi smiled at me softly before walking back to her work, but Mrs. O'Conner stayed behind for a moment to talk to me.

"You did well, Erin," She said kindly, "Taking care of a guest like that." She patted my shoulder before she too retuned to her work. I looked back at the man for a moment, and then I turned and left, shutting the door soundly behind me. I walked carefully down the stairs, and back to the counter. I smiled softly to myself. I had saved someone's life.

I stood behind the counter for the rest of the day, yet no one came. I was a bit glad for that, for a couple of reasons, but mostly because I didn't want to deal with anyone at the moment.

After a few hours, an odd feeling started to brew inside of me. I started feeling very alone. It hadn't sunk in until a few hours ago, but I was what felt like eons away from everything I had ever known. And treating that sick man was what set it in motion.

I remembered one of my best friends, Raina, and her hooded eyes the color of dark chocolate. She had fine, wavy hair that was ash gray. She was plump, but it was evened out with her height. She and I could talk for hours, but of course she would probably do most of the talking. I missed her proud nature, and how she could make me laugh. I remembered her artistic clothes that she made herself, and that were nearly always orange.

I thought of Lewis wistfully. Oh, how I longed to be with him again. He had peaceful eyes the color of varnished wood that glittered with an adventurous light. He had short black hair, that reminded me of the chimney smoke I saw when I arrived here. Which only made me miss him all the more. I felt my heart beat a bit faster, when I thought of his friendly nature. I had loved him, no, I still loved him dearly. Yet, what can you do when your thousands of miles away? Nothing, I suppose.

I could almost see Korin, my sweet little sister. She was a curious one, just like me, with large eyes the color of walnuts. She had fine, wavy, coffee colored hair, like my mother and I, which she wore in a ponytail. She was still only four years old.

Then there was my mother, who I look almost exact to. She, like me, has large dark eyes. Her luxurious, curly, coffee-colored hair was medium-length and was worn in a simple style, normally pulled back in a loose braid. She always had very pretty clothing, that was normally beige, or a light brown. She was smart, and loving, and I missed her strongly.

I remembered my father, a stern but gentle man. He often reminded me of a tree. He had almond-shaped brown eyes that were like two windows on the afternoon sky with curly brown hair that was worn in a style that often resembled to me a burning fire. He was a tall man and had a masculine build. His skin was cream-colored was a strong chin, like me. His clothes were simple and dignified, with a lot of white and gray.

I missed them so much, and I felt so lonely at the moment.

"Erin," I heard Remi call out to me, "Works over for today, come and have dinner with us." I smiled softly. I wasn't alone, I had Remi and her mother.

"What if someone needs a room." I called back. Remi paused for a moment.

"Then they would call for us." She answered back. I nodded to myself and went to join Remi for dinner.