Chapter 2: Dusk

Marille continued to ask her mother questions all during lunch. It had been so long since they had talked about the adventure of Marta's youth that the young girl had forgotten much of the story. Now that she was older, she realized her child's understanding of the events had kept her from seeing some of the most important moments of their journey.

"…but by then it was too late and Alice lost the only man who ever loved her," Marta finished.

Her daughter tilted her head to one side slightly, imagining what Alice must have looked like when she died beside Decus, but as her eyes drifted upward they suddenly fastened on the clock above the stove.

"Is it really 1:30?!"

Marta's head whipped around. "Oh, I'm so sorry! Do you need me to—"

"No, I'll make it if I leave right now."

"Marille, stop," the command in her mother's voice brought her up short. "How is your side?"

Although she was itching to get going right away, the girl paused long enough to let the woman feel along the left side of her ribcage. The little bump there pinched a little and Marta saw her wince.

"I'll need to give you another dose of healing when you get back."

"Can I go now, Mom?"

The second Marta nodded Marille shot out the door, shoes slapping the ground as she pelted down the street. She took a shortcut through an alley and startled a cat that had been minding its own business. She ignored its yowl as she took a flying leap over a trashcan that had fallen down and several minutes later she skidded to a stop in front of the Weapons Guild.

The moment she entered she knew her absence had been noted. Sasha and her father, Teran, completely ignored her while they showed the other three students how to hold a rapier properly. She knew she was in trouble so she lowered herself to her knees by the door where she was to wait for the verdict.

As soon as each student had a rapier and was practicing some beginner swings Marille saw Sasha's eyes flick over to her. She made a quick motion with her head and walked to the back. The Castagnier girl followed slowly, wishing she was sick enough to warrant an excuse that Sasha and Teran would accept.

She was given a rapier. "You will be practicing twice the number of exercises as the others."

Marille groaned inside, but accepted it without a word, and took her place. After nearly an hour of grueling exercises, they were all permitted to claim their usual weapons. The girl picked up the heavier long sword. The difference in weight was almost a shock for the first minute, and her muscles were already sore from handling the light rapier.

Teran motioned to her and she obediently stepped forward. "You will be first today. Challenger?"

A boy by the name of Kentin volunteered. He lifted a long-handled ax and held it like a warrior.

Even though all the training weapons were dull-edged, they could still break bones easily if enough force was behind them. Marille seldom came home without bruises. She poised, waiting for the signal.

"Begin."

They flew at each other, striking one hard blow to test the defenses of their opponent and then backing off a step or two. The ax was usually a simple weapon to beat since its head was large and weighty, but Kentin prided himself on being able to flip the weapon upside-down and use the handle to block attacks, then in the same movement flip it back into attack position.

Still, Marille knew his tricks. He was vulnerable in the brief second between one end of the ax and the other. She caught him mid-turn and his parry was weak at best, but then suddenly their weapons slid apart and Marille found herself disarmed.

For an instant the only sound was the clatter of her sword against the stone floor, then Teran made comments on Kentin's technique. Once the boy had regained his seat with the others, the trainer turned to her.

"You twisted your wrist to get a better grip on the hilt when you should have tightened all your arm muscles and spread your feet to hold your ground. That's why the lower end of the ax head tore the sword from your hands."

Marille didn't need his critique to know what she had done wrong. In fact she had done that very thing on purpose because she thought the fight would be easy.

She sat down and stared at the other two students as they fought, but without seeing much. She was too frustrated at her own failure. It seemed like she was always making mistakes these days. A few minutes later the four students stood and bowed to their teachers, but before they left the guild Sasha called her name.

The girl walked over. "Yes?"

"I am disappointed in your lack of improvement lately, Marille. When your parents first asked us to teach you, my father was flattered. He is not so flattered anymore."

"Sorry…"

"It is obvious you have great talent, but you don't apply yourself the same way you did in the beginning. You seem to be bored. Why is that?"

Marille could only shrug a little. The real reason she didn't appear to be 'applying herself' was too humiliating to admit to anyone. Even her parents. After another few seconds of silence Sasha said she could go home.

Marille has earned the title Lazy Novice
Hey, it was just one time! Now it's practically tattooed on my forehead…

%*%

Marta Castagnier's eyes slid over her daughter with a trace of worry. "Are you sure you feel alright now?"

Marille stretched a little, massaging her side and trying to shake off the tingling sensation that always accompanied healing spells. "I'm fine."

Her mother sighed and turned away. "I just wish we could figure out why that complaint keeps coming back. No matter how many times I heal you, it doesn't fix the problem. But your father says it's under control, so there shouldn't be any need to worry. Still, I wish..."

"Mom, I just need a healing every couple months and I'm good as new. It's not a big deal!" She stood up straight and crossed her arms the way she'd seen her mother do countless times. "Now are we going to get dinner ready or is Dad going to come home and eat leftovers?"

Some time later Marta looked out at the rain and gave a sigh. He would be wet through, but she'd be happy to see him no matter what state he was in. This time he'd been gone for two weeks to negotiate a "mutual aid agreement" with Vinata, the new village near Ozette. He was also on the lookout for any news on that rebel group, the Heralds.

Dinner was finished, but she left it in the oven to keep warm until he arrived. Emil would be so surprised. They had set out the wedding china and tied silver ribbons on the chairs and she'd even taken out the wine they'd gotten in the donation box last year. This was a special occasion after all.

She gave a youthful twirl in front of the mirror and then self-consciously smoothed down her dress. Marille would be wearing her best outfit too. They wanted to impress the man of the house, and maybe he would stay for a whole month this time…

Marta repressed that feeling of loneliness. It wasn't right for her to wish him home every day, especially when he did so much necessary work. His was a busy life, and the clinic only had an emergency once every few months or so. It didn't need his constant attention…but she did.

Once upon a time she would have spoken her mind…but he did miss them and all those places did need him. Especially the stables in Mizuho—he couldn't leave them for long. Every time he came home he said he was sorry for having been away so long. Every time he left he said he was sorry for going. Was it right to make him feel even more guilty?

It affected their daughter worse than it did Marta herself, at this point. Marille didn't even talk about Emil unless she absolutely had to. She was glad when he was home, but whenever he was gone, her disposition towards him turned so sour. Maybe Marta could convince him to take her along one of these days. The change might do her good and they could have more quality time together. Perhaps their daughter would understand better why he had to be gone so often if she accompanied him.

Her eyes caught sight of a bottle of perfume on the vanity table. Hadn't she left it in the clinic? Ah! Marille. The girl probably wanted her mother to be as nice as possible for tonight.

Marta twisted off the cap and dabbed some on her fingers, applying it to her wrists and neck. The scent was flowery, sweet and pungent.

She'd never tried a perfume this strong before. Maybe she used too much. The woman wafted her face to clear the air a little, but since it was on her hands she only managed to blow more of the overwhelming scent into her nostrils.

How odd… Marta put a hand to her temple as a headache began to pound behind her eyes. It really was too strong.

She stepped toward the window to open it despite the rain, but her legs seemed rubbery and she crashed into the vanity. The perfume bottle toppled to the floor and broke, sending out new waves of the scent.

She tried to call Marille, but her tongue was thick in her mouth and her eyes grew heavier until she couldn't keep them open any longer…

Down the hall, Marille was checking on the food when she heard the crash and glass breaking. "Mom? Are you all right?"

She walked to the hallway and saw the door closed, but her mother wasn't making any sounds at all. Not even a growl at having been clumsy enough to break something. She approached her parents' bedroom and stepped back suddenly as a sickly-sweet stench assaulted her nose.

"Mom, what's wrong in there?!"

There was no answer. She coughed and covered her nose with a hand towel then opened the door.

A flood of the strong smell came surging out. She pinched her eyes shut and tried to breathe as little as possible. Marille stumbled inside and felt blindly for the bedpost. Her foot touched something in the middle of the floor and she peeked down.

Through her watering eyes she could see her mother lying there without moving.

Ignoring the pulsing pain beginning to form in her head, she grabbed her mother's arm and pulled her toward the kitchen. She could only do it with one limb since she had to hold the towel to her face, but the girl refused to give up and slammed the door shut as soon as they were clear.

The air was cleaner, but she could still smell it...and her mother still wasn't moving. Marille dropped the towel and gripped the unconscious woman beneath the armpits, hauling her to the back door. The moment they were outside in the rain and wind she felt better. The headache was still there but ebbing now.

Worried about her mother, she propped her against the house and ran to the fence dividing their yard from the neighbor's. She clambered over, ripping her best dress and getting it muddied as she landed on the other side. Paying no heed to it, the young girl ran up to the door and pounded on it with all her might.

A few seconds later Cherry, the nine-year-old, answered. "Marille! What's wrong?"

"My mom! It's my mom! I got her out but she's—"

And before she could say another word, the sickly smell finally reached her stomach and she threw up all over her neighbors' porch before falling into their flower bed. She didn't remember anything after that.

Marille has gained the title Neighborly
A promise not to complain if Cherry or her parents ever lose their lunch all over the Castagniers' porch.

A/N: That probably means Marille isn't the one who put the perfume bottle there. But then, who did...? Oh yes, and as you can tell, I personally love titles. There's no such thing as self-restraint when it comes to this. The more, the better!