Page 40 of A Curse So Vile

This was true, and the Den cared even less about it than most, because her Denithian blood left her immune to its effects.

“When I was in southern Heartlands, it was better, but here…” Dorthea frowned. “I’m not long for this world.”

“Oh,” was all Brenna could say. She knew Gryndari didn’t tolerate waste from the blight as well as Mainlanders, but since they weren’t very close to the Rift, she hadn’t realized Dorthea was suffering any effects. She could smell it now. Dorthea was thick with the scent of the blight that she’d always thought belonged to sickly Fiona.

“I’ll get Fiona where she needs to go, then I’ll find my way to my last adventure.”

“What about purifier?” Brenna asked. Purifier was taken throughout the Mainland to rid the body of the poisons of the land.

Dorthea snorted. “That only helps so much. It’ll never get me truly clean. Not on my insides.”

“Why did you stay? Why put yourself at risk? You could have lived in Maritimas, where very little waste is found.”

“There are slavers there and I detest slavery. And, also, because I made a promise. When I came over all those years ago, I had no friends. I was offered places to stay as lords do love to boast of their court’s ‘Toggler,’ but I was afraid if word of me got around, my sister would catch up to me. So I set up a little shop in a southern Heartlander town, but everyone treated me like an other. Not Jean, though. The first time I met Cole and Fiona’s ma, she cussed me up a storm. I wasn’t used to such crassness, having been raised as a Gryndaricrat. I was offended, a little afraid even. But after I got used to it, I was intrigued.”

“So…you weren’t friends with their mother?”

“Not in the way you might think. I took one of my guards to bed. We had children together, my youngest being around Cole’s age.”

Brenna’s brow raised, she hadn’t expected Dorthea to be a mother.

“Oh, don’t look at me like that. I was young once, and very presentable. My children would have been the death of me, if not for this blight.”

“Where are they now?”

“One’s determined to sail to Gryndar to see her ancestral home. The other two are wild.” She sighed. “But let us not speak of them.”

Brenna was more than a little curious about Dorthea’s kin, but she knew not to push her. If Dorthea wanted her to know more, she’d tell her.

“Jean worked a farm but had a shop set up where we’d see each other every day: morning, noon, night. We were true enemies, until I found her crying. She broke down, telling me about some wasting curse, and I thought that surely there could be no such thing. Fiona did look sickly, though, so I brought her some Gryndari delicacies to fatten her up. It didn’t help, and eventually, it got to where the only explanation that made sense was just what Jean had said. I moved in with them, helping in any way I could. When Jean grew ill, I promised I’d always be there for her children. I knew I had to see it through to the end.”

Brenna filled with newfound admiration for the Gryndari woman. It was a shame she was not long for the world. “I bet as a child you would have never imagined your life bringing you here.”

“I would have laughed if someone had told me my future, but look at me now.”

“Have you thought of going back?” Brenna asked. “To Gryndar?”

“To Gryndar? I don’t even know the political situation. I stay far away from my kind, just in case someone has it in their head to claim a reward.”

Brenna folded her hand over Dorthea’s. “My people are going to welcome Fiona. You’ll never have to worry about her. You’re free of any vow you have made.”

A commotion rose from the direction of the inn. Looking out the tavern window, Brenna saw a crowd had gathered.

“I think we’d better go,” Brenna said, her voice thick with worry.

Dorthea nodded. “I have a feeling I’m not going to like this.”

Brenna pushed past the crowd and entered the inn to find Fiona huddled in a corner. Cole was shielding her from the townsfolk.

“Back away!” Cole growled at the angry patrons.

An aged man pointed towards Fiona and Cole. “Ye heard what happened up north. A whole town wiped out by beasts. Ye saw what happened with the girl?”

The crowd murmured in agreement.

“Enough of this!” Brenna shouted, pushing her way toward Fiona. The scent of fear and anger laced the air like a strong perfume, making it hard for Brenna to maintain control. “If you want trouble, I’ll give you trouble. But I think you’ll find that it’ll go better for you if you just back off and let us leave.”

The people looked at each other, confused. She’d seen this type of situation before, and it never ended well.