If you haven't read part 1, there you go : High Fever - P1
Later that night
The cottage in the middle of the woods was calm. There was supposed to be no fear of wild animals and there was plenty of water supply. Everyone was seated around a fire, toasting marshmallows and singing together. Even me. But there was this trouble at the back of my head. I mean, just look at what I'm going through.
Everyone was here, except my mom and my brothers.
And the creepy calm lady. She wasn't here either. She claimed to be tired and went to sleep early. Fair enough. It was a long day for all of us. I had asked how hard it was to find this herb. She had said that it was pretty easy. You just needed to know how to find it, she said. Also, apparently, there was only a little of it left. Ok, pretty simple, we can get it. We have all the time in the world. Easy. But there was this constant nagging in my head that something was going to make things harder. I didn't know what, but finding this herb seemed too easy.
She tiptoed quietly. She walked for ten minutes, her hand on her emerald necklace. She stopped in front of a small hut. It was messily made of straw and hay and heather. She entered. The fireplace was still on. An old man was sitting in front of it on a mat on the ground. He had a long , white, flowy beard and white hair that touched the ground.
"A late visit, I see. How are you doing? I haven't seen you for almost a decade." He said.
She replied. "I'm back to take what is rightfully mine. The throne is mine. I have waited all these years, hiding, growing my powers. I'm ready to take the Test of Power."
The man smiled. "Yes, I expected that. My senses warned me of your coming. I have everything prepared. There are three stages to this test. First, a test of wisdom, and second, a test of power."
"What about the third stage?"
"You'll see."
She finished the first two stages perfectly. The man continued. "Now, for the last and most difficult stage. The test to see if you have what it take to be a ruler. A test which makes you worthy of the crown. You sure you can do it?"
"Yes. Absolutely. Bring it on."
"Okay, here is what you need to do. Two old men in our kingdom have caught a disease. There is the juice of a specific herb that can help them. Are you ready to bring that herb?" He asked. The lady nodded, her eyes shining. "Just describe the herb to me. I'll be done in a couple of days."
The man smiled ruefully. "You know the herb. You were going to help someone else find it. A girl and her brother."
The woman's smile vanished. "I can't do that. I promised to help them. I'll do anything else. Just not that."
"You'll have to do it if you want to be queen." The man said. "Remember, all those years ago, I predicted that you'll be a great sorceress and queen. I still stand by what I said. I believe in you. You can do it."
The lady stared at the man for a minute. Something very important depended on this. Something other than the crown. Those sparkly blue eyes... the laughing mouth...
She snapped out of it.
She made her decision.
"I'll get those herbs for you."
To be continued...
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