Page 13 of Inferno
“It all happened late last week,” Helen said, fluffing out her skirts again and smoothing her hair. It was long and brown, pulled back in a fancy yellow clip, and she’d clearly taken some time to style it that morning. For all her distress, she seemed to be enjoying having the attention of not one, but two young men fixed on her, regardless of how far below her station she probably considered them both to be. Was Yorin being unkind in his assessment of her, he wondered? Or was that experience talking? He’d seen far worse in terms of shallow and self-serving behaviour from the serving women.
“Calium’s parents both died of Friday fever.” The news was dropped into the middle of the shop like a small boulder, without preamble or any hint of context.
“Friday fever?” Yorin said, standing up straighter and looking over at Nerik in alarm. “I hadn’t heard there was an outbreak.”
“I’d heard of a couple of cases in Red Hill,” Nerik said. “But nothing about it having come all the way to Minia.” Friday fever was so named because if one fell ill with it on Monday, they were likely to be dead by Friday. It began as a simple rash on the arms, but rapidly progressed to a high fever, vomiting, unconsciousness, and finally, death.
“I’ll ask around,” Nerik said, ignoring Helen’s attempts to continue her story. “The other messengers might have heard something. Or the hospital. But I saw Gosta just yesterday. If she knew something, surely she’d have told me?”
Yorin shook his head. “I don’t know. Probably best to tell the pubs and the post office, though. They usually warn their customers that anyone with a rash or a cough should stay home.”
“I’ll get onto it,” Nerik promised, then turned back to Helen. “Okay, so Calium’s parents died of Friday fever. But Calium’s okay, right?”
“Yes, he’s fine,” Helen said dismissively. Calium was one of the younger warriors, but according to the rumours, he was turning out to be highly talented; quick thinking, fast on his feet, and with a dedication to his cause that went far beyond the material rewards that came with the role. “But he has a younger sister, Faye,” Helen went on. “She’s only five. And now that their parents aren’t around, Calium has to look after her. He’s getting his neighbour to watch her while he’s away at the gate for this cycle, but he came to talk to me last night. He wants…” Helen stopped talking and shook her head, her tears drying up all of a sudden. “He wantsmeto look after his sister.”
Yorin glanced at Nerik, not entirely sure what to make of the sudden turn in the story. “Uh… Well, you were going to marry him, correct?”
“Well, Iwasgoing to,” Helen said, sounding affronted.
“And if you married him, I suppose there might have been the expectation that you and he would have children of your own in the not too distant future?”
Helen looked vaguely revolted at the idea. “Well, I suppose so. I hadn’t really thought about it, to be honest.” She shook her head, dismissing the idea. “I can’t look after a five year old. I’m marrying a warrior! I’m supposed to be hosting parties, and decorating my new house, and having new gowns made… Oh gods, it was such a beautiful dress! And now I can’t have it because everything’s fallen apart!”
The dress Yorin had been making for Helen – had finished making, as of just a few days ago – was not her wedding dress, but rather a long, flowing summer dress, in a pale lavender with white highlights and a thick white sash around the waist. It was indeed a beautiful dress, but…
“Calium must be heartbroken,” Yorin said, feeling the conversation sliding sideways. “I mean, he must be shocked about his parents, to begin with. But what did he say about the engagement?”
Helen grimaced in distaste. “He hardly blinked when I told him I was breaking it off. For the last three days, he’s done nothing but fuss over that silly little girl. Faye’s going to be fine. Like I said, Calium’s neighbour is looking after her. But she just cries all the time and wants to be with Calium all day and all night. He’s had no time for me whatsoever!”
“It sounds like it’s been difficult circumstances for everyone lately,” Yorin said, maintaining a strictly diplomatic stance. “But if you love Calium, then surely you can understand why he’d ask you to look after Faye?”
“Well, I don’t know if I do, after all this,” Helen said with a pout.
“Okay, well… the dress is nearly finished,” Yorin said carefully. In fact, it was finished and paid for, Calium being one of the few warriors who didn’t try to haggle on price. “Perhaps you could just give it a couple of days and think about it.”
Helen sighed. “I suppose so. I mean, Calium’s probably in shock about his parents. Maybe it’ll take him a few days to realise that he shouldn’t be asking me to look after his sister.”
Nerik looked like he was about to say something, and Yorin could easily guess what it was going to be, so he subtly held up a hand, silently advising Nerik to hold his tongue. “That’s all I ask,” Yorin said, gently plucking his soiled handkerchief out of Helen’s hand. “Just think on it a few days and let me know. The dress isn’t going to run away in the meantime.”
“Okay. And thank you,” Helen said, hopping off the stool. “It’s so nice to have someone just listen, for a change.” She let herself out of the shop with a wave and a watery smile, leaving Yorin and Nerik staring at each other in bemusement.
“So… not that it’s really any of my business,” Nerik said, after a moment, “but why are you so interested in her taking the dress?”
“I’m not. I simply want her to take a few days to reflect on Calium.” Yorin shook his head. “It feels kind of surreal, to be honest. I can’t believe how selfish she’s being.”
“If that’s the way she feels, Calium’s probably better off without her.”
“You could well be right. Good grief, some days this seems like a very strange town.”
“You’ve got that right,” Nerik muttered, moving the stool back to where it belonged, beside one of the work tables. Was it telling that he knew the layout of Yorin’s shop just as well as Yorin did? “So, um… You said yesterday that you might have a delivery for me today?”
Ah, yes. And now that Helen was gone, it was back to just him and Nerik, the awkwardness of the day before suddenly a tangible presence in the room.
Feeling nervous all of a sudden, Yorin went to fetch the delivery that was ready. “This is a shirt for Mr Green and a blouse for his wife,” he said, handing the package to Nerik. “Sixty-four River Lane.”
Nerik nodded. “I know the place.” He accepted the copper coin from Yorin that was his delivery fee and headed for the door, without the slightest hint of his usual flirtation or attempts to chat.
“Wait, I… um…” Yorin blurted out, gaining courage from the knowledge that he had this one brief chance to fix things between them, and if he missed it, he’d regret it forever.