78, Death

Collecting the samples was a slow task. The amount of wells now effected meant they had to travel all across the city. Everywhere they went, the carriage brought attention. People followed it, wanting to catch a glint of Ayya, wanted to know what they were doing. At each well, Tenac would bring up a bucket of water and Ayya would carefully fill a sample bottle with the water and wrap the bottle in straw and place it in one of several wooden crates that were kept in the carriage. Then she would talk to the soldiers guarding the well. Asking how the people reacted to the wells being closed and if someone had insisted on using it. They started with the wells closest to the castle and worked their way outwards. In the more well off neighbourhoods, the soldiers had nothing to report. The ones that lived in the area didn’t have a long walk to the closest open well and they were taking it in stride. The farther out in the city they went, this changed. In the poorer parts of the city, more wells were affected, and the people had to walk far to get their water. The soldiers reported agitated mood from the population, and Ayya understood. It was they that had suffered the longest and they had always had to make concessions for the richer parts of the city. This could be seen as the king being more restrictive towards them yet again. Ayya didn’t know what to do about it. She would suggest to the king that he arranged water to be brought to the parts of the city that were affected the worst. But it would only go so far. It was almost time for dinner as they finished the last well. 

“To the castle?” Tenac asked as he helped Ayya into the carriage. 

“I don’t know. Do you think this work will be best performed in the castle?” she asked, referring to the analysis of the water.

“Yes, we have riders there. It will be safe and we can limit the access of people,” he said. Ayya nodded. It made sense. 

“Okay, let’s pick up Firlea on the way. There is no need for them to walk to the castle,” she told him. He nodded and off they went. As they got to the facility for the ill, Tenac sent a rider in to fetch Firlea and her escort. They came out a couple of minutes later. Ayya could see on her friends face it had been a rough day. As soon as she sat down in the seat next to Ayya, she sighed.

“The little boy you took to the orphanage yesterday,” Firlea started. Ayya nodded and had a feeling of where this was heading. “His mother and sister passed away today. I’m sorry,” Firlea said. 

“It’s okay. Thank you for telling me. And his father?” Ayya asked. She had asked Firlea to keep an eye on Jason’s family so she could keep him updated. 

“He is getting worse by the day. Sister Agatha told him about his wife and daughter today, but I’m not sure he understood,” Firlea answered. Ayya nodded again. She remembered the fever state her parents had been in. They stayed silent the rest of the way to the castle. As grey riders unloaded the wooden crates, Ayya walked up to Tenac. 

“I need to see Jason, his mother and sister have passed away,” she told him. 

“Ayya, it’s late,” Tenac objected. 

“If we take Addon and Estrela, it won’t take long,” she said. He looked at her and then nodded.

“Start getting them ready and I’ll talk to the guards at the castle gate,” he said. Ayya had finished saddling Estrela and was putting the saddle onto Addon when she saw the horse’s ears flip back. 

“Where are you going this late?” Zerden asked as he came walking up to the box. He stayed out of reach of Addon, Ayya noticed and smiled. 

“We have a quick errand we need to take care of. It won’t take long,” she told him and made sure the saddle was secure, then she waited a minute until Addon exhaled and tightened it. Addon liked to trick you into thinking everything was secure by inflating his chest. But Ayya knew him well enough not to fall for it. 

“The gates will close in half an hour,” Zerden pointed out.

“I have talked to the guards. They know Ayya and I might be late and they will let us in,” Tenac said as he came walking. Ayya smiled at him and handed him the rains to Addon. She then collected Estrela while Zerden stood to the side, looking at them. As they led the horses out to the courtyard, Zerden followed and walked up to Ayya as she was getting ready to mount. Addon snorted and his ears lay flat on his head as he scraped his hoof and tossed his head. 

“What?” Ayya asked Zerden.

“I’m helping you up, as no one else seems to do it,” he told her. 

“Step back before Addon takes a bite out of you. The reason no one is stepping up to help me is because it’s insulting to think I would need it. I can get up perfectly fine on my own. The only time someone has needed to help me onto a horse was the first time my father took me riding,” Ayya said, and she heard a soft chuckle from Tenac who was already sitting on Addon, trying to make sure the impressive horse didn’t do something to Zerden. Zerden mumbled something Ayya couldn’t hear, but stepped away and Ayya could mount Estrela. They set off towards the orphanage in a trot. It was hard to move faster through the city streets. The sister that answered the door looked at them with surprise. 

“We are sorry to bother you this late, but we need to talk to Jason,” Ayya explained. The sister let them in and showed them the way.

“Bad news?” she asked.

“Yes, I’m afraid so,” Ayya confirmed. “How has he been doing?”

“He has adapted remarkably well for only being here for a day. He has found some boys who he plays knights with and he is eating well,” the nun told them. They walked into the dining hall where the children were sitting along two large tables, eating. Ayya could see Jason talking to a boy his own age, laughing at something. It broke her heart, knowing she would make him sad in a moment. Tenac and Ayya waited by the door as the nun went to fetch Jason. As Jason looked up and saw them, he first seemed happy, but then his look turned serious. 

“You can use the classroom just across the hall. It’s unlocked,” the nun offered as she walked up to them, followed by Jason.

“Thank you,” Ayya said. “Hi Jason.”

“Hi,” he answered, looking at both of them.

“Come and let’s have a talk,” Tenac said, holding out his hand. Jason took it and they walked over to the empty classroom. Tenac picked up Jason and sat him down on one of the desks, and he and Ayya stood in front of him. 

“It’s my mother and sister, isn’t it?” Jason asked.

“Yes, honey, they passed away today,” Ayya said, placing her hand on his shoulder. He nodded and drew in a big breath and the tears started running down his face. Ayya drew him into a hug and gently rocked him as he cried. Tenac walked up to them and placed a hand on Jason’s back. They stood like that until Ayya was sure Jason wasn’t crying anymore. “I’m sorry, Jason,” she said as she looked down at him. He was rubbing his eyes. 

“It’s okay. Thank you for telling me. What about dad?” he asked. Ayya felt her heart ache as she prepared herself to make his day a bit worse. 

“He isn’t doing so good, he is getting worse,” Tenac told him. Jason nodded. 

“At least I have somewhere nice to stay,” he said. 

“I heard you had made some friends,” Ayya said, smoothing out his hair. He nodded.

“They have been really nice to me. And the food is better here,” he said. Ayya smiled. He was almost as obsessed with food as Jontak, she thought. They talked a little more and made sure Jason was okay. Ayya and Tenac promised to come by in a day or two and took him back to the dining hall. 

“He’s a good kid,” Tenac said as they walked back outside. 

“He is. I just hope this won’t be too much for him,” Ayya told him.

“He will get through it. He is strong, and he seems to be adapting.” Ayya nodded.