Young Solace

Elara ushers me in with a smile that could melt the last frost of winter. As I enter the doorway I feel an embrace of savoury scents sway their way across my nose.

"Is Hakota not here?" I ask casually.

"He’s out on patrol." Elara replies, her cheerful tone not quite masking a subtle undercurrent of weariness as she wipes a stray dusting of flour from her apron.

"They’ve been extending the watch so he’ll probably be late." She spares me the details but I can see the slight tightness in her face. "But never mind that! I’m so glad you came to visit. How are you? Is your ankle holding up?"

"My ankle is much better now, thank you. I’ve just come from my lesson with Clovis. I’ve had a busy day learning about visualisation magic! What about you? Are you alright?” I feel a lump of excitement grow in my throat as I realise how natural it feels to be making friends with someone again.

"That’s wonderful, I’m so happy you’re staying in the village to learn from her. I’m ok, just a little worried about Hakota that’s all." She steps forward and pulls me into a hug that smells of flour just before I go to sit down.

She moves to a small cabinet. "He brought back this bottle from his last trip to Ineiba for me and I’ve been waiting for the right moment to open it."

She produces a small, dark blue bottle sealed with a wax stopper.

"I don’t know how strong it is, are you good with liquor?" Her words bounce off the wall as she turns away from me to retrieve two small ceramic cups. "It’s made from fermented solara plums and a blend of mountain herbs. It’s meant to warm you from the inside out."

I’ve never been a drinker. Alcohol is a social lubricant I never learned to enjoy. But here, it could be different? It might taste nice? And the idea of sharing this moment with someone new is too irresistible.

"I don’t usually drink. But I’d love to try it, it sounds nice." The urge to try something new is too tantalising.

Elara carefully pours a small amount into each cup as she hands one to me. I bring it to my nose, it smells sweet, like honey and baked fruit, with a spicy, cinnamon undertone. It’s the colour of liquid amber.

"To new beginnings," Elara says, raising her cup.

She doesn’t know how true that really rings.

"To new beginnings," I repeat, taking a sip.

A pleasant fever spreads from my tongue down into my chest. It’s sweet, but not sticky, with a complex, herbal flavour that lingers on my palate.

It’s a feeling to remember.

"This is lovely!" I say, genuinely surprised.

"Isn’t it?" Elara agrees, taking a satisfied sip from her own cup. "Now, an apprentice to Clovis! You must have caught her on a good day!" She says with a giggle.

"I guess I did!" A loose laugh overpowers my cheeks.

But I know the truth, Clovis doesn’t mean to be as erratic as she is.

We sit in comfortable silence for a moment. The liquor works its gentle magic, and I feel the carefully constructed walls I keep around myself begin to lower, brick by brick.

"Elara." I begin, setting my cup down. "Now that I’m going to be sticking around for a while, I really want to get to know what people do in the village?"

Elara looks momentarily surprised by the question, as if her own role is too obvious to warrant discussion. "That’s a good idea Shikara! You can start with me, I must’ve mentioned it before but I’m a seamstress.”

I try to recall if she has told me before but nothing is coming to mind. Although it does make sense since she is repairing my clothes.

“Typically I am mending the guards’ clothes when they get torn on patrol - which is often." she adds an eye-roll that I suspect is directed exclusively at her husband.

"I also make new clothes for the children when they have a growth spurt. And occasionally I’ll get a commission for a new dress or cloak if someone has money to spare." She gestures to a large basket in the corner, overflowing with fabrics of various colours and textures which I hadn’t noticed before.

“Oooh speaking of which I still need another day or so to finish fixing your clothes. I really enjoyed working on them, the colours are lovely!” Elara pays me a compliment but I have nothing tangible to actually pay her back with.

“Well your clothes are even more lovely, I really appreciate you letting me borrow them! I’m sorry I’m not able to return the favour at the moment, but I’ll make it up to you, you have my word!” I feel like such a bad person but what choice do I really have?

"Aw you’re such a dear, I made them myself. And please don’t worry about it, it’s really no trouble at all, you’re one of us now!” She responds wholeheartedly.

“Thank you, you’re so kind Elara. What do you do when you’re not working?” Maybe if I pay her enough compliments I’ll feel less guilty about being so indebted to her.

“Oh well, the rest of my time is usually spent preparing meals and keeping the house from falling into a state of disarray. Me and Hakota spend time with others in the village and dance and drink when we want to have a good time.” She sloshes her drink as she finishes her sentence.

"So, do all the women here take on duties like that?" I ask, with a genuine interest but on the inside I am hoping that women have much more autonomy in this world. Clovis certainly seems to.

Elara shakes her head immediately, a firm, decisive motion. "Oh, heavens no. The village would fall apart if we did. My life is one I chose with Hakota.” She pauses to have a sip of her drink before continuing.

“We have a few women on the Town Guard, Riel’s sister, Anya, is one of the best warriors in the village. A handful of others work the fields alongside their husbands. And of course there are our hearth mothers who look after all the young children while their parents are working. Every role is important and we all look after each other."

A community built not on rigid roles, but on mutual support and necessity, what an ideal to live up to.

"Well I can’t wait to meet them! Not only the women but the men too of course!” The liquor has unfastened my volume control.

Elara’s face lights up. "Of course! That’s a wonderful idea. It’s important for people to see you not just as the Chief’s guest or Clovis’s apprentice, but as Shikara."

She reaches across the table and gives my hand a gentle squeeze. "How about this? Tomorrow, I’ll take you on a proper tour. I’ll help with introductions. People are wary of what they don’t know, but once they meet you, they’ll see you’re not so scary."

For the first time, a future here doesn’t feel like a performance I have to maintain, but a life I can actually build. A real one, with real connections.

"I would love that, Elara. Thank you."

Just as I speak, the fragile peace of the moment is disturbed.

The front door is thrown open with a violent crash, slamming against the interior wall. A figure stumbles into the doorway, silhouetted against the deepening twilight. It’s Riel, the nervous-looking guard from the gate.

His face is pale and slick with sweat, his chest heaving with ragged, desperate breaths.

He clutches the doorframe in an attempt to stay upright. Elara’s smile vanishes.

"Elara!" Riel gasps for air amidst his panic. "Come to the front gate quickly! The evening patrol was ambushed."