“They’re stunning,” I breathed. “And wildly out of budget.” I gave her an apologetic smile. “Your Lord was generous enough to fund the basics, but I think magical owl earrings might tip the scales a bit.”
She returned my smile, entirely unfazed. “Come back if you change your mind,” she said and maybe I’d actually do that as soon as all of this was over.
The sun was high up in the sky when I left the shop, tinting the colorful houses of the main street in a golden light. I started walking back to the Lodge, stopping in front of shop windows here and there, admiring the beautiful bouquets at the florist and watching children play in the street. I left the town behind and walked past the fields again, the farm helpers still out in the sun, their hands tanned from being outside all day.
A little girl came running across the field towards me, a small basket in hand. She stopped a few stretches away from me, unsure of whether she should approach or not. Her eyes were a light blue color, but her skin had a deep green hueto it. Her hair was dark and curly, hanging loosely into her eyes and framing her pretty face. There were little horns sticking out of her head, almost hidden by the mass of curls.
I crouched down and smiled at her. “Hello there, what’s your name?”
“My name is Lirael. My mother said to give you these.” She jerkily stretched out her arm and offered me the little basket, full of a fruit I had never seen before.
“Oh, what a beautiful name. I am Mae. Thank you so much for the fruit, but I have no money to pay for it.”
A female walked up behind Lirael and smiled at me, “It’s a gift, my lady, no need to pay for it. We wanted to show our appreciation for you coming to our aid.”
She was absolutely gorgeous. The kind of pretty that was effortless and had nothing to do with silks or powders. Her eyes were as blue as her daughter’s, her hair dark, her skin the color of lush forest canopies.
“Well, thank you so much for this gift. Although I have to admit that I have no idea what kind of fruit this is or how to eat it.”
Lirael smiled brightly at her mother. “Can we please, please, please, show her?”
“Sure, darling. We could all use a break, I think.” She gestured for the other farmers to join us beside the road.
I learned that her name was Sylwen and she belonged to the Nyruni Faeries. Their magic lay in growing and cultivating fruits, vegetables and flowers. Her family had lived here for thousands of years, tending to the fields around the Lodge. The other workers arrived and brought a whole cask of the fruit, and we went to sit down on a little patch of grass.
“Have you truly never eaten a Zerquin?” Lirael asked withbig eyes.
“No, I can’t say that I have. Where I come from, this fruit does not exist. But I am excited to try it with you today,” I said laughing. The little girl’s excitement over a fruit was simply adorable.
Lirael beamed with pride and grabbed a Zerquin for me and herself. The fruit had a thick purple skin that was rough to the touch.
“You need to grab it between two hands and twist it in opposite directions. Like this, you see?” Lirael showed me.
“All right, let me try. Like this?”
With a clicking sound, the fruit was broken in two, revealing the vibrant yellow flesh on the inside. It was nearly glowing in comparison to the dark exterior of the fruit and was divided into soft, fibrous segments.
“The first thing you have to do is to drink the juice, that’s thebestpart,” Lirael excitedly explained and raised half of the Zerquin to her mouth.
Well, there was a first time for everything. It wasn’t like they had any reason to poison me, right? Everybody was watching me intently. The moment the juice touched my mouth, I knew why they were all waiting for my reaction. The first sensation that hit me was the sour taste, making me want to scrunch up my nose and let out a little squeak. But then the tingling started, like little sour balls of fireworks exploding in my mouth. The farm workers around me started laughing before opening up their own fruits. The fizzing in my mouth subsided and all that was left was a wonderful fresh taste of summer and sunshine.
“After sipping the juice,” Lirael explained, “you have to scoop out the yellow flesh with your teeth.” The texture ofthe Zerquin was tender, comparable to a ripe mango, each bite giving a burst of the sour-sweet flavor that left a pleasant tingle.
“It’s a very popular fruit among the children in the summer, mostly eaten as a cooling treat on warm days. It is known for its energizing properties. Some even say the fruit has mild magical qualities, with the juice believed to sharpen the senses for a short while after consumption,” Sylwen explained.
Most of the workers returned to the fields with a big smile and a wave shortly after, so only Sylwen and I remained. Lirael was already off, playing with her friends.
“Have you met Auretheos yet?” Sylwen asked me with a little side glance that I couldn’t quite decipher.
“Yes, I met him when I arrived. He seemed nice, even though a little… odd maybe? Formal?” I didn’t know how deep the devotion of him went in the community, reminding myself that he was in fact a God and I probably shouldn’t speak ill of him.
“Auretheos is a complex person. Everybody thinks as a God he is untouchable, but he hasn’t led an easy life. He is odd, but he is fair and kind. It would be easy for him to use his knowledge for personal gains, but he is selfless to a fault. Everything he does is for his people and in return we try to make him proud.” I had not expected such kind words from Sylwen, but it was apparent how loved Auretheos was around here.
“What happened to him that makes you think he has had a hard life? He is a God after all, how bad can that be?” I asked, but Sylwen shook her head.
“That is not my story to tell. All I can say is that his lifehas left him with few choices, always in service to everyone else.”
I had assumed that being a God came with a lot of responsibilities, but I had never factored in the aspects of duty and sacrifice that went into being a God. Was that why he was being so earnest and level-headed?
