The Forgotten Field Novel - Chapter 103
## Chapter 103: THE FORGOTTEN FIELDS (NOVEL)
—If you do that, I will check the ingredients myself. This will also reassure His Majesty, right?
Talia waved her hand, signaling her to leave, without confirming or denying anything.
The woman bowed her head immediately and left the room.
Talia sat in front of the fireplace, watching the jumping embers, and then rose from her seat, engulfed in a deep sense of exhaustion.
As soon as she lay back on the soft sheets, the pain that had crept through her knees began to gradually ease.
It seemed that the effect of the ointment was beginning to work, as the stinging sensation on her skin slowly faded away.
However, as the sedative component of the medicine spread, her consciousness began to gradually fade into a mist of visions.
Talia looked with heavy eyes at the ceiling, stained here and there, and then shifted her gaze toward the glass window that glowed with a red hue.
The sky had transformed from a bright amber to a deep wine-red tone.
The fiery sunset would soon be devoured by absolute darkness.
At that moment, it would be easier to launch a surprise attack against the enemies.
Talia wished for this night to be deeper and quieter than ever.
That way, Varkas’s enemies wouldn’t be able to discover him, right?
Talia imagined in her mind a battle that would be fought in complete darkness, but soon dismissed those secondary thoughts.
Varkas had become commander of the knights before turning twenty, surpassing hundreds of Rum knights in his trials.
Wiping out a group of thieves would be nothing to him.
Talia pushed away her anxiety with an effort and slowly closed her eyes.
The sound of a bell announcing the end of the day filtered into her dying consciousness.
Talia listened to the distant tolling coming from the bell tower, until suddenly she fell into a sleep so deep that she seemed to lose consciousness.
She regained clarity again in a dark dawn, engulfed in shadows.
Talia lifted her eyelids due to an intense thirst and suddenly felt a lack of air, so she tugged at the collar of her fabric dress.
However, the feeling of suffocation did not disappear, so she crawled to the edge of the bed and stretched her hand toward the lamp.
At that moment, she caught a glimpse of a crimson flash slipping across the wall.
Talia followed the trail of the faint light with her head, discovered the fireplace fire that was about to go out, and breathed deeply.
She felt that that thread of dying light was like pure air.
Talia gasped heavily; then she got out of bed and headed toward the fireplace.
She saw a few embers glowing in the pile of black ash.
To revive the fire, she took a few pieces of firewood and placed them inside the fireplace, then pressed hard on the bellows that were on the floor.
The wood began to release smoke and then the flames began to burn brightly.
Talia exhaled a sigh of relief in silence while looking at the fire, but suddenly heard a strange sound coming from somewhere.
Talia turned her head in fright. After a few seconds, she realized it was the howling of an animal.
Had a wild dog appeared?
Talia approached the window and opened the glass with caution. A dry, cold breeze blew across her face.
Talia shivered at the gelid sensation and then followed the sound, which was becoming increasingly clear.
It was a mournful howl that resonated over a hill illuminated by the white light of the moon, but she could not make out the figure of the animal that was howling so loudly.
Was it a sound coming from the forest?
She shifted her gaze toward the edges of the plain when a knock on the door interrupted her. Talia looked there with caution.
—Who is there?
—Excuse me, My Lady. I felt movement and thought perhaps you were suffering from pain, so I came to make sure you are well.
It was a healer from the Seerkan family.
Talia narrowed her eyes and then responded in an annoyed tone:
—I haven’t slept well, that’s all. Go back.
Silence reigned for a few moments. The woman hesitated at the door as if doubting something, and then suggested prudently:
—If you don’t mind, shall I prepare a herbal tea for you so you can sleep comfortably?
Talia frowned. She felt a sudden annoyance because the woman had not obeyed her order to leave immediately.
—It’s not necessary…
Talia was about to refuse as usual, but closed her mouth abruptly.
She remembered that she had promised the healer from the Taryn family that she would hand over the medicine that had been prepared.
In reality, she did not suspect that the medicine was doubtful, but it didn’t hurt to be cautious.
After thinking about it for a moment, Talia responded with a sigh:
—All right. Come in.
Shortly after, the healer entered the room carrying a small package in her hand.
Talia observed her with an analytical gaze.
The woman, who seemed to have just gotten out of bed, wore a loose wool nightgown that looked like sleepwear, and over it she wore a gray cloak.
The woman walked, looking somewhat self-conscious as she tucked her messy hair behind her ears, and then headed toward the fireplace.
—Wait a moment, I will prepare the tea right away.
She hung a copper pot over the fire and then took several bundles of herbs out of the package.
She mixed some and put them in the pot, then poured warm water. Soon, the scent of chamomile and lavender began to fill the room.
—Here you go, it’s ready.
The woman offered the cup of tea carefully to Talia.
Talia took the cup and looked at it in silence.
From it emanated a honey aroma mixed with the scent of flowers.
While enjoying the aroma, the sound of the long howl cut through the night air again. Talia let out an irritated sigh.
It seemed it would continue howling all night long.
—Close the window, please. And draw the curtains too.
The woman obeyed the order immediately. However, even after closing the window and drawing the heavy curtains, the sound of the animal’s howling remained evident.
The healer looked at Talia with a apologetic face and said:
—It sounds like a wolf that sadly misses someone in the village.
Talia looked at her in astonishment:
—Are you mocking me right now?
The woman appeared bewildered by the severe reaction, but continued in a serene tone:
—I didn’t mean that… In the east, there is a superstition that says those who die without receiving baptism are reborn as wild animals. It is believed that the nightly howl is a song they sing out of longing for those they loved in their previous life.
Talia let out a sarcastic laugh:
—Souls that do not receive baptism fall into the abyss and vanish, that’s all. Don’t you know that basic teaching?
—Of course I know it well.
A hint of bitterness suddenly appeared on the woman’s lips.
—But isn’t it more comforting to believe that those we love have returned to us, even if in the form of animals, instead of thinking they have fallen into the abyss? Even the priests overlook this belief.
Talia’s eyes widened in surprise:
—Are there so many who die unbaptized?
—Like all citizens of the Empire, we in the east receive baptism within one hundred days following our birth. But children who are stillborn do not enjoy this blessing.
Talia perceived the nuance of pain in the woman’s voice and her body tensed.
Had this healer lost a child?
Talia didn’t know what to say and remained uneasy, but the woman smiled sweetly as if trying to dispel the atmosphere:
—The tea is going to get cold. Drink it now.
Talia looked at the woman cautiously and then took a sip of the warm tea.
The healer watched the scene in silence, then placed a few medicine bottles on the shelf and left the room.
Talia lay back in bed, listening to the sound of the howling that was beginning to gradually diminish.
Perhaps this woman was listening to a song that called to her. Maybe that was why she hadn’t been able to sleep until now.
Talia immersed herself in these thoughts for a few moments, and then expelled those fleeting imaginations from her mind.
Her own pain was already enough. She had no room to worry about the pains of others.
Perhaps the herbal tea helped her, as she slept deeply and without dreams.
Talia woke up with a refreshed mood that she hadn’t felt in a long time, and looked with still-sleepy eyes at the glass window that was beginning to brighten.
At that moment, she felt a movement nearby.
Had the nanny brought the water for washing?
Talia rubbed her stiff eyelids and turned toward the source of the sound, feeling slightly cold fingers touch her cheek.
Her eyes widened in surprise. It was Varkas, dressed in comfortable clothes, leaning over the bed. When had he returned?
Talia blinked flabbergasted and then sat up abruptly.
While she examined him from head to toe to make sure he had no wounds, she felt her chin being lifted and, immediately after, his lips descended upon hers without warning.
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