“That’s cool.” Evi was enthusiastic all over again. “They’re very smart plants.”
“You have no idea,” Silke agreed. She indicated the next basket. “These are tiger lilies. Gorgeous Egyptian tiger lilies. They are edible and taste like pineapple. They can be used to heal mouth sores and help with coughs. They can be used for skin problems and have even been an ingredient used in cosmetics. The flower is beautiful and very delicate. The leaves are long and narrow. Unlike the dragon lily, the tiger lily has a wonderful scent that can be used in aromatherapy. Originally it was grown for food and medicine. Now people grow it because it’s gorgeous.”
“I think I choose the tiger lily over the dragon lily,” Evi said staunchly. “The tiger lily helps us in so many ways.”
“Don’t underestimate the use of the dragon lily,” Silke cautioned. “If I was stinky, I still could fight our battles, couldn’t I? The dragon lily has a purpose for us, just like the tiger lily and all the other ferns and trees in our forest. This is the place that you can come to if we’re ever attacked by outside sources. The forest will protect you, including the dragon lily.”
Evi frowned. “You believe we’re going to be attacked, don’t you? I heard my mom and dad discussing the possibilities. When they realized I could hear them, they stopped. I’d rather know and be prepared.”
Silke had been preparing the children through stories and the games she set up for them to play. The elders in the village aided her. Where most schools and parents dissuaded their children from learning to use swords, machetes and small throwing knives, they encouraged the children through play to learn those weapons as well ashand-to-hand combat. It wasn’t normal in any other town or city, but they knew war was coming. They were the first line of defense. If they could defeat Lilith’s army, they could prevent an all-out war. How did one explain that to children?
Silke regarded Evi carefully. She was an exceptionally bright child, as many in the village were. Most were direct descendants of those who had fought off the Romans in AD 28. They seemed to grasp the reality of their responsibility to the rest of the world. It was on them to stop Lilith’s slow takeover. It wouldn’t be a war against another country this time; it was her army of demons they would be facing.
“I like those tiny little flowers.” Evi confessed. “Especially the red ones with the dark centers. They look so beautiful when you have the different colors planted close to each other.”
“They were originally designed to be container plants, but they’ve proven to be hardy and make great borders. This color is actually burnt orange with dark maroon centers. They have their own little secrets as well. They call them shadow lilies, and for us, they make excellent sentries. That’s why I plant so many around the outside of the forest. It isn’t just because they love the light—it’s a warning system to everything in the forest.”
Evi nodded solemnly. “Like the moss maidens and the forest dragons.”
Silke laughed. “Those dragons don’t like to be called forest dragons. You know how testy they get.”
“Cranky,” Evi corrected, her eyes laughing. “Like me when I get sick. They live in the forest and look like little mini trees on a log. What do they want to be called?”
“Wood dragons. They have cousins, rock dragons. Wood dragons can live in any wooded area, not, apparently, just a forest.”
Evi keeled over laughing, heedless of the pretty blue dress she wore. “Woods. Forest. Aren’t they the same?”
Silke laughed with her. “Not to them. They were very indignant about it when the moss maidens and shadow lilies weighed in on the subject. I didn’t dare laugh.”
“You’re laughing now,” Evi pointed out, sitting up again. Her face was streaked with mud and there were clumps of dirt in her hair. The beautiful dress that always made her look like a fairy was smeared with green and brown from the soil and vegetation. With her eyes alight with laughter and her little rosebud of a mouth curved into a bow, the streaks on her dress and face only served to make her look like one of the cute fairies or moss maidens she believed in.
Silke loved being around Evi, although at times, it made her sad. She knew she would never have the chance to have children. Her life had been predestined. She wasn’t ever going to be the fair princess waiting for her prince to come along. She dealt in strict reality. That was her world. She might talk about the fantastical, but underlying every myth, every legend, there was the sober truth of her life.
Silke had been born already imprinted with the knowledge of her ancestors. Demons were a fact, not simply mythology. Every story read to her, the material of every book she studied to commit to memory, was about the various demons and how to defeat them in battle. She knew they were real, and they sought to kill her and everyone she loved. She had never felt safe. Not one single time growing up. Not now. She accepted that she would die young in the defense of her people. She was prepared for that fate. Just because she was pragmatic about it didn’t mean she didn’t have a secret desire for the things she couldn’t have.
Mostly, she wanted to feel safe. She’d never had that. As a young child, she had helped Fenja when anyone in the village needed care. The person sick or with broken bones would go to the local doctor but then call Fenja to help them. She always went. As the local midwife, she was called to every birth. Silke assisted her, even when she was very young.
Eventually, Silke began to take care of Fenja, noticing that thewoman was hurting quite a bit. Limping, walking much slower, having a difficult time breathing. The roles became reversed at a young age, although Silke didn’t mind. Fenja was so loving and kind to her. She couldn’t have asked for a better mother. While she didn’t mind the role of caregiver, she had never experienced feeling safe or having the kind of relationship Evi did with her parents. A part of her longed to find a man who would see beyond the exterior, beyond the demon slayer, and see that she might need care.
She loved her life. Loved Fenja and Tora as well as all the children in the village. She just always felt a little apart, as if she didn’t quite belong with anyone. She was a demon slayer. It wasn’t as if she ran into a hundred other women in that profession.
She glanced at her watch. If she was going to visit the Bootsma family, she needed to get moving. She didn’t want to wait on the matter. If there was something medically wrong with Raik, she would need time to persuade him to be checked out. If it was something else…
—
The Bootsma estate was midsized but gorgeous. Imka loved to garden, and the grounds were worthy of photos in magazines. Under places of interest, the Bootsma estate figured prominently. Tourists often came to see the extensive gardens, admiring the variety of snowdrops and daffodils and the many crocuses. The house was beautifully designed and handcrafted by several of the best carpenters in the village. It was a newer home, one Raik was proud to provide for his family. He made a good living off the sea, along with Finn Van Wieren.
Silke didn’t want to just show up for no apparent reason. Raik might become suspicious, especially if something was wrong. She’d hurried home and baked his favorite dessert, orange-cranberry scones. She also had Fenja write him a card, thanking him for stopping by to fix their little fountain. Fenja loved the water treatment, but it was old and often stopped working. Only Raik seemed to have the magictouch to bring it back to life. He always refused to take money for it, so she would often bake treats for him. It was known throughout the village that Raik had a sweet tooth.
Imka answered the door. She looked casually elegant as only Imka could look. She also wore foundation makeup, something she rarely did. Imka had gorgeous skin, just like her daughter, Julia. That makeup was barely covering the bruises on her face. Silke’s heart dropped. Evi had told her about the assault, and she should have been more prepared, but she hadn’t thought Raik would really hurt his wife. Had those blows landed on his daughter, Julia would have really been harmed. She wanted to rush Imka and Julia to a place of safety.
She smiled at Imka and indicated the package in her hand. “I brought Raik’s favorite scones. Fenja also sent a card for him. She would have come in person to thank him, but her legs were troubling her this evening.”
Imka blocked the entrance, clearly afraid to allow her entry. Behind her, an annoyed voice bellowed out in anger. “Who’s so rude to disturb us at this hour, Imka?”
At once, Silke stepped back with a rueful smile. “I’m sorry, Raik,” she called out. “I didn’t realize it was so late. I just stopped by to thank you for your excellent work and drop off the scones for you.” She kept her tone light and engaging. “I must have lost track of time when I was baking.”
Raik loomed up behind Imka and impatiently caught her by her shoulders to move her out of the way. “Why are you being rude to our guest, Imka?” The inquiry came out like a snarl. “You don’t leave important people standing on the doorstep.” He waved his hand toward Silke. “Come inside.”
