“Well?” Adalia prompted.
Shaking his head softly, the man sighed. “I’m so sorry, but I’ve seen nothing like this before. Even the smell of it is unfamiliar.”
Dropping her hands to her side, Adalia felt lost. Her skin was clammy and desperation was knocking on the door to her mind.
“Thanks anyway,” Adalia answered as she reached for the tube and headed for the front door.
As she turned, the man called to her. “Wait!”
Adalia spun on her heel, facing the man again.
“An elderly woman can be found beyond the trees at the end of this avenue. She’s known for dabbling in herbal remedies. She might help you,” he said.
Adalia grasped the man’s hands across the counter. “Thank you so much.”
Heart pounding, Adalia left the shop and ran in the direction the man had told her. Within a few moments, she saw a small white and green cottage nestled amongst some moonshadow oaks. Racing to the front door, Adalia rapidly knocked on the wood. The door creaked open, and a rosy-cheeked, round-faced woman greeted her.
“Hello ma’am, I am so sorry to bother you at this time of the evening. My name is Adalia. I desperately need some help. I have a friend who has been poisoned, but I don’t know by what. Someone in the village said you might help?” Adalia begged.
The woman smiled, her kind brown eyes crinkling at the corners. “Come inside, dear,” the woman ushered to Adalia.
“Can you describe the poison to me at all?” the woman asked as she closed the door behind Adalia and tottered over to the kitchen. They sat at her small wooden table, and Adalia pulled the poison line from her pocket. “This is all I have,” she said as she handed it to the woman.
With a stern face, the woman studied it in silence for a few minutes and Adalia grew restless. Every second that passed was a second closer to death for Matthias.
“Can you tell me any of the symptoms of the poisoned individual?” the woman finally asked as she sniffed the green liquid.
“Um, unconsciousness . . . possibly paralysis. I don’t know, he—he wouldn’t wake up—” Adalia’s voice broke.
The woman looked up and reached across the table to squeeze Adalia’s trembling hands. “All is well dear; I know what this is. It’s poison from a Lux Hyssop, commonly found in the woodlands up in the mountains. It’s a ground shrub that has small yellow flowers similar to gypsophila.”
Adalia felt her body relax slightly at the woman’s words. “How do I find the cure for it?”
“The poison is distilled from the roots and stems. But the cure is a tea made from its flowers,” the woman smiled at her softly.
The atmosphere in the room shifted and Adalia finally gave in to the emotion that had been tugging at her heart for the last few hours. Warm, salty liquid fell from their prison and ran down her cheeks. Adalia sobbed onto the wooden table.
The woman stood and came to her side, placing a gentle hand on her back. She rubbed it around in circles, her soothing touch a comfort to Adalias’ shaking body. “All will be well. You are a good friend. Find the Lux Hyssop, brew the tea, and your friend will behealed. But you must hurry. If your friend cannot wake up, I fear they are not long for this world.”
“Here take this,” The woman offered Adalia a lantern.
Adalia lifted her head, wiping the tears from her face. She stood from the table and took the lantern. “Thank you for everything.”
The woman nodded at her and ushered her outside. “Remember Adalia, all is well. Light guide you.”
“And keep you!” Adalia replied as she waved the woman goodbye, heading down the path from the cottage. She broke into a run as she neared the small village, concealing herself with her glamour once again. Her thoughts travelled to the soldiers gathering. She could feel the angst of the impending battle. As soon as she cleared most of the buildings, she took to the skies again. Hopefully Nik had received her message.
Spotting him at the fountain made her heart swell. He was always right there when she needed him. She dropped from the sky and ran for him. He must have seen her coming because he leapt from his horse, and she threw herself into his arms, finding comfort in his embrace.
“Is everything okay? The Lightners who found me were anxious about you.” Nikolas exclaimed as he held her at arm’s length.
“It’s Matthias. He’s been poisoned. I’ve got to get the antidote before it’s too late, Nik.” Adalias’ words came in short gasps.
“Woah, slow down, Ada. Tell me what you need,” Nik reassured her with a calm voice.
Adalia took a few deep breaths. “I need to go to the woodlands up in the mountains to find some flower called a Lux Hyssop. The blossoms are the cure for Matthias, who is . . .” Adalia shook at her own words. “Slowly dying. In a cave by himself in Oscuro.”
Nickolas nodded, moving from brother to general in a swift moment. “So we fly to the mountains. You’ll fill me in on the way?”
