28 – Consequence

Sophia didn’t make a sound.

She walked to Marick. He lowered Ed slowly, carefully, until Sophia could take him, and she did, both arms going around her son, pulling him against her chest. She sank to her knees on the wet road. The rain came down on both of them.

Nobody moved.

“She did this.”

Everyone turned to John, then to Alexandra.

Marick stepped in between John and her. “It was a Silvershard. Ed attacked it, I found his axe lying next to him, and a trail of dead goblins leading to the site.” He shook his head. “I suppose he’s always wanted to be a warrior. I should have been more attentive.”

“It doesn’t change a thing.” John tried to step past him. “That woman has been rilin’ up the floral monsters. It wouldn’t have happened otherwise.”

Marick stopped him. “We’re all devastated by what happened, but it’s not a valid reason to throw baseless accusations around. Even with an Yshant’s compulsion in place, Silvershards are still passive.”

“There’s nothin’ baseless about what I said.” John turned to the crowd. “Don’t you all find it suspicious? Look at her. Her hair, the way she hides them, the scars on her face! Pact with a demon, if I’ve ever seen one.”

Murmurs rose in the crowd.

“I assure you Alexandra has nothing to do with demons.” Bamir was rubbing his eyebrows.

John didn’t say anything. He looked at the villagers. They looked at him.

As for Alexandra, she wasn’t listening. Her eyes were fixed on Sophia who was hugging her dead son on the muddy road. She’d never seen a dead person before. Shouldn’t Bamir do something? He was a priest of the god of life, wasn’t he?

Perhaps it was too much to ask. Reviving the dead couldn’t be simple, if it was at all possible.

The murmurs didn’t die down.

A man near the back spoke first. She didn’t know his name. “I don’t think she did it. But John’s not wrong that things have gotten worse since she arrived.”

“That’s the Yshant,” Marick said.

“Maybe.” The man didn’t back down. “But the Yshant was here before and we managed. This is different.”

Another voice, a woman this time. “My husband won’t let our children near the fields anymore. That’s not normal for this time of year.”

“It’s not normal,” Marick agreed. “It’s the Yshant. It’s growing.”

“Then deal with it,” someone said from the back.

Marick turned toward the voice. “I’m trying.”

The rain came down. Sophia hadn’t moved. Bamir had crouched beside her, one hand on her back, not speaking. The crowd kept its half-circle shape, shifting slightly.

John was watching Marick. He wasn’t pressing anymore.

“She’s been here a week,” the first man said. “In that time, Ed died. The infestation got worse. Floral monsters started appearing close enough to the village to threaten us.” He paused. “I’m not saying she’s the cause. But we can’t be sure.”

More murmurs. Agreement, mostly.

Marick looked at the crowd for a long moment. Then he looked at Alexandra. Then at Bamir, still crouched beside Sophia. His eyes bore on the back of the priest for a long time.

He rubbed the bridge of his nose.

“Fine.” His voice carried over the rain. “Alexandra. You’ll remain inside for the next three days. Stay put. Keep quiet. Don’t cause trouble.” He looked at the crowd as he said it, making sure they understood it was for them. “It will change nothing. But I hope it will show you she’s not the source of our issues.”

The crowd absorbed this. It wasn’t everything John had wanted. It wasn’t nothing either.

John looked at Alexandra. “Three days. What a joke.“ He turned to Marick. “Why are the Wardens not here already?”

Marick turned to him. “You’ll come with me on patrol tomorrow.”

John’s jaw tightened. He said nothing.

The crowd began to move, slowly, people peeling away in ones and twos. Some looked at Alexandra as they left. Most didn’t. Those who did were at best uncertain, a few hostile. Others helped Sophia up, and brought her home.

Mira was the last of the crowd to leave. She passed Alexandra without speaking, but their eyes met, and Alexandra saw anger in them.

Marick waited until the road was nearly empty. “I’m sorry it has come to this. But showing some goodwill will appease most of the village. You must understand, losing Ed is a shock for everyone.”

Alexandra didn’t look at him. Her streak. Her precious streak.

If there really are gods in this world, please make my next quests achievable.

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

Confined home, she was certain it was over.

“It’s not fair,” Lara said. “We all know it.”

Marick shook his head. “Indeed, it’s not. But please cooperate. The punishment is light, even if it’s not warranted.”

Lara and Therion escorted a listless Alexandra home. They sat her at the table, and served dinner. She ate in silence, her hand struggling to even lift her spoon.

When she lay down on her bed, she fell asleep almost instantly.

She checked her daily first thing in the morning.

Quest Journal

Daily Reset: 06:00 | Streak: 7 Days | 0% All Stats

Next Milestone: 10 Days

Daily Quests:

• Gather twenty Aetherveil (0/20)

Her face fell. Well, she was done for. She wasn’t allowed outside and—

“What’s the matter?” Lara asked.

“I can’t complete today’s quest.” Alexandra lay back on her bed, explaining what was asked of her.

Lara blinked. “You can do it.”

“How? I’m not allowed to go out.”

“Think about it.” Lara teased. “I’m sure you can come up with a solution.”

Alexandra sat up, and scratched her head. “I guess I could wait for nightfall, sneak outside, and quickly pick the flowers.”