WILD CLOAK PACK
SOPHIA’S POV
I held Lalic tightly to my bosom, fearing that he was going to breathe his last. My little son was dying in my hands and there was little I could do to save him. No, there was absolutely nothing that I could do to save him and make him live.
The door opened with a crack and Athena entered. He looked at us and sighed. “Is he still breathing?” he asked quietly.
“So long as I have him with me, nothing will happen to him” I retorted, though quietly.
I hated the thought of ever losing my son, even when the inevitable fact of such an occurrence was glaring and staring me in the face.
Athena is my husband and a father to Lalic and even he is as worried as I was over Lalic’s deteriorating condition, but sadly, he had long given up on seeing our dear son back on his feet.
“You are not going to hold on for long,” he said quietly.
“But I want to” I replied and held my eyes shut for a while.
“He is not getting any better and you will have to accept that someday” he murmured.
“Where is the medicine that you went to get?” I asked and stared at his empty hands.
“Madame Tyson lost her children” he revealed indifferently. He found his way to the couch and collapsed into it. “They died while I was there”
My world came shattering before my eyes. Madame Tyson’s children were doing just great yesterday. She found a drug for them and we thought it was effective. I had sent Athena to her to get a little of the drug for Lalic, and now this news.
“The two of them…?” I murmured absentmindedly.
“It was a pity sight” he murmured.
“I will go to her…” I mumbled.
“You must be out of your mind” he retorted, his voice slightly raised.
“What worse can happen than sitting here all day and watching my only child die in my arms” I cried.
My eyes were dry by now, there were no tears left to shed.
“And do you think that I don’t care one bit about, Lalic, you think I don’t want our son to live or that I would not do whatever it takes to see him hale” his eyes fumed with bitterness.
He has done all he could, he has done all a father could do and now he just has to let me do this my way.
“Let me do this, Athena, what more can go wrong” My voice was coarse and weak.
“He would be gone before you get there. And if he doesn’t, it will be on your way back. No one will attend to you” he said hopelessly.
“This is a mother’s agony, Athena. I can’t bear to sit back and watch my son dry up like a bunch of frail vegetables, take me to Pixolands” I begged.
He stood up in anger and turned his back against us. “I won’t want your hope raised only to be dashed at the last minute” he muttered.
I could tell that his eyes were filled with tears and he did not want us to see it.
“Ma… m… a” Lalic groaned.
“It will be over soon, Lalic, all the pains will go away” I consoled him and held my hand over my mouth to stop me from crying.
He was looking so weak and frail. He has not taken anything for over a week now. He throws up once anything touches his mouth. His face is so small while his eyes have become over twice their size.
“He is suffering. I can’t bear to see him like this. I failed him, we all failed him” Athena grumbled.
“We did all we could, Athena, we fought and tried to hold on for as long as we could” I replied.
My cough started again, and this time, the pain was overbearing. As soon as I began coughing endlessly, Athena rushed to me and leaned towards me.
“Have you taken the drug this evening?” he asked with a worried look.
“No… n… o I did in the…” I coughed again. “Morning. I was waiting… hoping you would return…” I stopped and coughed again.
A frown appeared on his face and he stood up with his hands at akimbo. “I could not get any food. Even the farmers are dying of starvation” he revealed in regret.
“But I thought some deliveries are expected to arrive this week, it should be…” I coughed again. “today?” I asked.
Lalic started coughing, and I tried to pacify him by rubbing my hands on his back.
“A war is coming. Nothing can come into Wild Cloak at this time” he replied and returned to me.
“But then, we would all die of starvation. Hunger would kill us even before this strange sickness does” I was extremely worried at the news. “How about you, you haven’t said anything about your drug?” I inquired.
He moved his gaze away and then moved it back to me. “There is no hope, Sophia, can’t you see?” he asked.
“Please take me to the queen” I requested.
“And what do you have to offer the queen of the Pixies in return for such a huge request?” he asked in pain.
I remained quiet. Going to the queen with an empty hand was unheard of, but what can a helpless mother do in such a precarious situation? All I want is to save my son, my family, and even my land.
“And how are you even sure that you would be allowed to speak to their queen? You might be sent back even before you arrive at the palace gate” he murmured.
“Please don’t talk that way, Athena. What do we stand to lose? If we remain here, we risk being consumed by hunger or sickness. Look at my son, Athena” I request but he quickly moved his gaze away.
I know it hurts him to see our little boy like this, but he must come to accept it and look for a way forward. I pulled his face and brought it to our son. “Look… look at our son. Please let’s do this for him” I cried.
“M… a ma…” Lalic cried weakly.
I placed my hands over his head and held it.
He struggled with himself for a long time. I did not bother him, I let him carry on with his thoughts.
When he was done, he looked directly into my eyes and asked. “Is this what you want, Sophia?” he asked softly.
“Yes, Athena” I nodded with a faint smile. “Let’s give it a try” I replied with a gleam of hope.
He got up and made for the door. “We will be on our way tomorrow, let me go get everything ready” he walked out before I could respond.
I turned to Lalic and smiled. “It will be all over soon, son”
He blinked and I thought I saw a smile appear on his thin face.