Chapter 3: Farmhouse
Within the hour, the group had departed from the inn and had begun to make their way towards Ostia. Morale amongst the group was mixed; some felt a bit invigorated after their success at last night's battle, whilst others felt disheartened and worried for the state of the severely ill Florina, who was limply sat atop her pegasus, being carried along with the rest of the convoy. Lyn and Fiora, who appeared to be the most concerned for their safety, flanked her at either side.
Lucius was at the back of the convoy with Raven, trying not to catch his robes on the ground. Throughout the entirety of their journey, Lucius couldn't take his eyes away from Florina. He was busily trying to think of ways to ease her pain and sickness, realizing that they were far away from any form of civilization.
"Lucius…" Raven said quietly. "…Hey, Lucius!'
Lucius suddenly heard Raven's impatient voice as it shattered his trail of thought. He looked towards Raven blankly.
"What?" he asked drearily.
"What's wrong, Lucius?" Raven asked quietly. "You haven't said anything all trip. You're usually nagging to me about something…"
"Oh, nothing…" Lucius said quietly, not feeling the need to divulge his thoughts to his companion. "Just a bit tired"
"So am I, but that's no excuse for talking…" Raven countered. "You look as if something's on your mind"
He supposed divulging a little information couldn't be too harmful.
"I'm worried, Lord Raymond" Lucius revealed. "About Florina"
"You mean her sickness?" Raven asked. Lucius nodded his head, to which Raven shot a glance towards the heavily guarded center of the convoy, where Florina was. "It's weird how this is worrying you so much. I haven't seen you freak out over anything like this before"
Lucius frowned, regretting he ever brought the topic up.
"I'm not freaking out" Lucius parried. "I'm simply worried for her safety. We won't find medicine for quite some time and I'm unsure how she'll cope without it"
"You don't get worried when I get hurt, do you?" Raven asked, a little sourly.
"You can take care of yourself, I know that fully well" Lucius responded. "I've been acquaintance you long enough to tell that"
"I guess so…" Raven said quietly. "Well, you're a bishop now, don't you know anything that'll help?"
"Well, I have a good idea on using staves…" Lucius thought. "Problem is we haven't got any restoring staves with us. If I had one of them, then everything would be fine. I could rid of Florina's ailment with one lift of the staff"
"Any other ideas?" Raven asked.
"…When I was in the process of becoming a monk, I learnt a little about first aid and medicine" Lucius said quietly. "If I had the necessary materials, I could make an antitoxin that could help Florina, only if it was to sustain her until we reach Ostia"
"You mean like herbal remedies?" Raven asked. "You do make a killer herbal tea"
"Something like that, yes" Lucius said, humored a little by the comment.
As night drew over, the convoy slowed to a stop and the tents had been set out. It was a lovely warm night, and the campfire only served to light the area. As Lucius and Raven set up their respective tents, Lucius took a good look around him. The entire convoy had been arranged in a circular fashion around the campfire, with small makeshift wooden platforms set up outside the circle for the night watch to use. Scanning the rolling fields around him, his eyes coincidentally fell on Florina again, who was helped into her tent by both Oswin and Hector, the two strongest men in the convoy. Lucius noticed her recoil somewhat as she was put onto her feet before being lowered by the two into her tent, lying on her side. Hector stood up and turned to Lyn, speaking. Lucius could just about hear the conversation:
"She's complaining of a bad stomach now"
"Oh…she's getting worse and worse. Not only is she feverish, but queasy too"
"I'll talk to Eliwood and see if we can double time it to Ostia. Mind you, Eliwood's not in the best shape of his life either. We mustn't forget his father died merely a day or two ago"
"Such a complicated situation…if only someone had an antitoxin"
"We're doing all we can; I relinquished my tent for her so she can have more room to breathe. These tents do get cramped sometimes"
"I know you're doing your best, Hector…I'm just worried"
"She'll be fine. I suggest you set your tent next door to hers so she has easy access to someone she trusts. Say if she vomits during the night"
"Yes, of course"
"Right, I'll go chat to Eliwood. Later, Lyn…hey Oswin! You make sure that fire's burning brightly now! You, me, Marcus and Merlinus are going to take a count on weapons and stuff once that fire's up!"
Lucius turned away from the conversation, noticing something in the distance. There was a faint light on the horizon, just bright enough to notice. It didn't seem to be a torch, but rather the light coming from within a building.
"Lord Raymond…have you got your map on you?" Lucius asked. Raven gave Lucius a skeptical look before grunting and reaching into his rucksack, pulling a map out.
"Here you go" he said. Lucius thanked him before opening the map up and ascertaining the convoy's position on it. He then figured out where north was before moving his finger on the map to where he surmised the light was coming from. It appeared to resemble some sort of farm.
"…Thank you" Lucius mumbled before handing the map back to Raven. Casting another glance at the distant light, he wondered quietly if it held the answer to his growing problem.
As the night grew deep, everybody retired to their tents to try and catch a few winks of sleep. The sun would rise early the following morning and everybody needed as much energy as possible if they could 'double time' it to Ostia.
Lucius, however, was wide-awake. Focusing on the sounds of the night outside of his tent, he could hear the sound of a conversation going on. The voices belonged to Oswin and Dorcas, the night's guards:
"So, have I convinced you yet?"
"…No"
"You would make a fine knight you know. Ostia these days seems to be running short of efficient and goodhearted, strong willed knights. These modern times bring complacency, laziness and a lack of people who will selflessly serve"
"The life of a knight sounds…kinda dull"
"As an Ostian knight, I have never witnessed a dull moment"
"Maybe you should settle down? Get a wife…you don't look as young as some of the others here"
"I have all the time in the world for love, Dorcas"
"Hah hah…very well then. Still, you won't convince me"
"Hmm…I suppose not. Maybe I'll let you think on it a little more"
"Let's talk about something else. This conversation is making me sleepy"
"Very well…can you cook?"
"Cook? Nah, Natalie does all the cooking when I'm around…"
The conversation seemed grab the two's attention fully. Lucius had also placed his tent directly behind Raven's, hidden from the firelight. Slowly, clutching his satchel underneath one arm, he snuck out of his tent and delved into the darkness. Strangely, after all the pre-travel planning Lucius made to ascertain he wasn't going in the wrong direction to the light's source, the light itself was still on.
Minutes passed as Lucius traversed the long, winding fields. The light grew brighter and brighter, and before long Lucius discovered the light was coming from inside the building. He also confirmed that it was a farmhouse; the bleating of the sheep he had awoken was enough to confirm this. Making his way towards the farmhouse, he stepped onto the harder, dustier ground and walked up to the door of the house.
He knocked the door.
There was a short silence before the sounds of footsteps could be heard from inside. The door opened, revealing a gruff, middle-aged farmer, slightly plump and balding, who wore a scruffy set of clothes expected from one of his profession.
"Who are you?" he asked, his voice rough from a hard day's work.
"I'm sorry to interrupt you at this hour, sir…" Lucius started.
"You look like a monk…" the farmer said quietly, opening the door fully. "You're not here to convert me?"
"N-no, not at all…" Lucius protested. "I-I wanted to ask if you had any medicine…"
"Medicine?" the farmer asked. "What for?"
"I have a friend who is really sick" Lucius explained. "She was struck by a poisoned arrow last night, and she's very weak from a procedure. What's worse is that the poison is spreading and she's getting more ill by the day…"
"Why have you come to me?" the farmer asked. "I'm just a lowly farmer, tilling the soil to earn my keep. Why do I have to help people like you, with your fancy robes and silly beliefs?"
Lucius started to become annoyed. It was one thing to be refused help, but to be mocked for his religion was another thing entirely.
"Sir, please…" Lucius said, controlling himself. "I'm simply asking if I could borrow some medicine, if only a little…"
The farmer looked to the floor and let out a large sigh. Looking back up, he focused his eyes.
"Sorry, ain't got none" he revealed. Lucius felt his heart sink at the revelation. He had walked so far, stayed up all night and risked fatigue just to get some medicine, only to be denied. He turned to his side, exhausting a crushed breath.
"Oh no…" he said quietly. "…What will Lord Eliwood think of this? I come out here, out of my safety, for nothing…he won't be very happy…"
"…Wait a sec" the farmer said suddenly. "Did you say Lord Eliwood? As in the Pheraean prince?"
Lucius turned around to look at the farmer, who seemed a bit skeptical.
"Yes, I did" Lucius said impatiently.
"…I haven't got any medicine" the farmer confirmed. "But I have an abundance of herbs you can take for free. I don't know if you're any good at your herbals, but I have a variety of different plants and herbs growing in my greenhouses. If you're truly with Lord Eliwood, then I may as well extend my services to him"
Lucius felt his spirit rise suddenly. He brought his hands together in glee.
"Oh, thank you so much!" he said. "Your kindness will not be forgotten!"
The farmer waved his hand as if to calmly swat the compliment away.
"It's nothing…" he said. "Sorry 'bout what I said before. I thought you were some freeloader. Now if you'd follow me…"
...No, they're not talking about weed.