Chapter Three

Fern opened her eyes to the intense glare of the sun shining through a nearby window. 

“Ah ha! There, see! I told you she’d be fine!” 

She winced at Jous’ booming voice. “Would you mind being a bit quieter?” she noted her voice was cracked and dry. 

“Fern! Fern!” Avanne ran to Fern’s cot and took her hand.

“Move back, give the poor girl some room!” More shouting. 

“Could someone please draw the curtains? I can’t see.” Fern croaked once more.

There was a rustling and the room dimmed. “That will just be your eyes re-adjusting to the light. Not to worry.” 

Fern’s head was pounding, and she reached up to what she assumed was a bandage. 

“Oh no you don’t. I have just changed your dressing, and I won’t have you getting it all dirty. You are not to touch it.” 

In the dimmer light Fern was surprised to see the voice belonged to a young girl, not the old, craggy woman she had imagined. She tried to sit up and Avanne helped her.

“What happened?” Avanne asked, concerned.

What had happened? Fern thought back. “I think, I think I fell. I wanted to get back to the tent quickly, so I made a shortcut through the guards’ barracks and I tripped on some loose cobblestones.”

Jous cleared his throat. “Oh.” 

Even in her dazed state, Fern could tell it was more of an ‘uh oh’ than just an ‘oh’. 

“What?” She asked Jous, suspicion in her voice.

When he did not reply, Avanne butted in. “He accused that new guard, Kissik of attacking you.” 

“What?!” 

“It’s not my fault, he was the one who brought you here. I just thought it was a bit…guilty looking.”

“Kissik brought me to the infirmary?” Fern asked, surprised. 

Avanne nodded. “And he’s been back to check on you, well, I’ve seen him through the window. He never actually comes in.”

“Because he knew if you didn’t die, he’d be in trouble for attacking an off-limits prisoner.” 

“Jous, why would he have bothered to bring me here if he was the one who attacked me?” 

Jous opened his mouth and closed it again. “Ah.” 

“You absolute idiot. Do you know how much trouble you could get in? Are probably already in? And what about Avanne? What would have happened if I’d died and you’d been carted off to the gallows?”

“Alright, alright, yes it was stupid.” He huffed. 

“You know, I’m not a baby, I can look out for myself.” Avanne said indignantly. 

“I know, I know-.”

“Look out for yourself? You’ve been an absolute mess since this happened.”

“Jous that isn’t helpful.”

“Oh, well it seems that nothing I do is helpful!”

“I was upset and worried! I still managed to do all my shifts! You don’t need to treat me like I’m stupid.”

“Well everyone treats me like I’m stupid.” 

“That’s because you are stupid!”

“Fern’s right, you are lucky Kissik just walked away when you accused him. I would have socked you one.”

“Well, it’s just as well you’re not a guard then isn’t it?”

“THAT’S ENOUGH!” The healer, who had been busying herself in the corner came over to Fern and shoved a stack of fresh bandages in her hand. 

“Every day after your shift, go to the lake and take off your bandage. Wash your wound in the water and get someone to re-apply one of these over your head. You need to do this for seven days and then you can leave it off.” She put up a finger and wagged it in Fern’s face. “Do not pick or scratch it. Just leave it to heal. Now, all of you, get out of my infirmary. I’ve had enough of these two over the last five days, and that guard who keeps pestering me.”

Fern took stock for a few moments. “Wait…five days? I’ve been in here for five days?”

“Yes, and four days too long if you ask me, but that blasted guard insisted you stay until you’d gained consciousness.” She pulled the sheets from Fern and grabbed her pillow. “Come on now, off you go. You’re not the only prisoner in the camp who needs a cot.” 

Jous helped Fern off the bed. 

“Blimey. Someone needs to work on their bedside manner.” He said just loud enough for her to hear. 

“OUT!” 

The three of them scrabbled out of the infirmary. Fern was once again blinded by the sunlight. 

“Come on, let’s go to the mess hall and get your something to eat, you must be starving.” 

Erna was so glad to see Fern up and about she gave all three of them a double serve of bread with their stew.

“Now, you be careful from now on. Who else is going to keep me company every morning? You think it’s easy finding a friend at my age? Now eat up, you need to get your strength back.” 

“It must be nice to feel so wanted.” Jous said as he plonked himself down. 

“Well maybe if you weren’t so annoying.” Avanne mumbled under her breath.

“Please, please, I don’t want to argue anymore, I just want to relax and eat…and why aren’t you at your shift?” Fern suddenly realised it was the middle of the day and Avanne was with them. 

“I finished the dressed for Lady Ilydia and Lady Tilli, so they let me go early. I must go back tomorrow and help with the last few garments for the Winter Festival. I think they felt sorry for me. Or they were scared that you would find out they didn’t let me visit.” Avanne smiled “You do terrify them.” 

“Them and me both.” Jous said, still sullen 

“Oh, come on. I’m sorry I called you stupid, but you must admit, it was reckless picking a fight with a guard. You are lucky he’s new, he could have had you killed.” 

“I know, I know. It was stupid, I was just so angry. You were really hurt, Fern. And we didn’t even know about it until you didn’t show up to your shift and I went looking for you.” 

Fern was touched by Jous’ concern, he’d never been one to show such emotion and it warmed her heart. 

“Thank you. Both of you. But I’m fine. I have a massive headache, but aside from that, I feel fine. I am a bit shocked I was there for five days though. I will have so much catching up to do to make Lestian’s twins’ swords.”

“I could help?” Jous offered. 

“No, he’d find out, and I don’t want you to get in trouble. He’d punish you to get to me.” 

“He really knows how to hold a grudge.” 

“He’s never forgiven me for not denouncing my father.” 

“Do you sometimes think it would be easier to just give in?” Avanne asked, tucking into her second piece of bread. 

“No. Not ever. My father did nothing wrong.” 

“I know, but maybe your father would have liked you to have an easier life. It would get you out of here.” 

“No. I don’t know why it’s so important to Lestian, but it is, and I am never going to give it to him.” 

“What shall we do for the rest of the day? We hardly ever get to spend the day together.” Avanne asked as they headed out of the mess hall. 

“Good question. How about we all go for a swim?”
Avanne and Jous looked at Fern as though she had two heads.
         “Well, it was just a thought.”
         “It’s true you could use a wash; you were unconscious for five days.”
Avanne laughed and Fern elbowed Jous.
         “How about I go for a quick swim and meet you both at our tent. Todd has a deck of cards we could borrow.”
Avanne looked at Jous and he quickly shook his head. Fern was looking towards the lake and did not notice.
         “Good plan. You wash and we’ll be at the tent.”
Fern nodded and started off for the lake.

         It was only six days out from winter, so as predicted the lake was deserted. Exactly how Fern liked it. She was still wearing her uniform and she had to admit, she was disgusting. She didn’t want to keep Avanne and Jous waiting for too long so decided to just wash on the shore. She peeled off her uniform and dunked it in the icy water. She would have to get a fire going to get it dry in time for her shift, but it stank too much to leave it. Ice formed on the wet fabric as she wrung it out. Having spent most of her life in cold climates, she could already tell this winter was going to be blisteringly cold. She stood in the freezing water up to her knees and began to wash herself. The cold always grounded her. 
         Fern, please. You must help me.
The voice. She’d forgotten. It has called to her when she fell.
         “What do you want?”
         “I don’t want anything.”
Fern yelped, not expecting the reply to come from Kissik, who was standing just behind her on the shore. She stumbled and fell into the water with a splash.
         Fern.
Two strong arms clamped around Fern and pulled her from the water. She coughed and spluttered as Kissik dragged her to the shore.
         “Are you trying to get yourself killed?” He asked, exasperated.
Shaking Fern picked up her uniform to cover herself. “You snuck up on me. I didn’t know you where there.” She said defensively.
         “You asked me a question, I thought you knew.”
         “I wasn’t talking to you.”
         “Then who were you talking to?” He questioned, his hands over his chest.
         “I…no one, I was just, I was thinking out loud.”
He didn’t’ looked convinced but didn’t question her further.
They stood in silence for a few moments before Fern spoke.
         “Thank you. For taking me to the infirmary.”
He seemed surprised.
         “You’re welcome. I needed to get something from the barracks before going to the mess hall. Seemed a bit cruel to leave you there.”
In all her years at the Demoth Camp, Fern had never spoken to a guard for this long. It was bordering on a conversation.
         “I’m sorry Jous accused you of attacking me. He’s stupid and protective and…”
         “And you don’t want me to report him.”
She gulped, hoping she had not over-stepped.
         “Yes…but I real-.”
         “I’m not going to report him.”
         “Why?” Fern could not believe what she had just asked. All she had to do was say thank you and leave. “Sorry, I’m not sure why I said that.”
Kissik smirked. “Why do you think I’m not going to?”
Fern looked up at him. He stood a good foot above her and she had to get closer to see his eyes. He seemed unsettled at her actions and moved back slightly.
         “I don’t know. You’re not like the other guards.”
         “No, I’m not.” He turned on his heal and walked away. “Don’t be late for your shift, those swords aren’t going to make themselves.” 

         On her way back to the tent, Fern made a slight detour to visit Todd. She was shivering from head to toe but wanted to check up on him as no one else would have in the past five days.
         “Todd, Todd, just wanted to come and say hello.” She swept back the tent flap but inside there was nothing. No clothes, no cost, no little pile of old books that Todd had accumulated over the years. Maybe they had moved him to a different site since Missy had died. Blisteringly cold she ran back to her and Avanne’s tent. 

“Bloody hell, it’s getting so cold!” She grabbed some clothes which Avanne had laid out for her and stripped off. Jous instinctively looked at the floor. “Sorry, but it’s too cold to worry about that.” Fern said as she got into her slacks and undershirt.
         “I’m not looking.” He blurted out
         “I know you’re not.” Fern said as she finished and sat beside him on the bed. “I went to get the cards from Todd, but he wasn’t there, did they move him to another camp?” It was then Fern saw that Avanne was already holding the Todd’s cards. “Oh, you went to see him already?”
Avanne looked over to Jous once more and this time Fern saw his sad smile.
         “They found him hanging in the old storage building.”
Fern put her hand up to her neck. “He killed himself.”
Jous nodded. “He left a note for you. The guards opened it of course, but they at least gave it to Avanne when they found out you were in the infirmary.”
Avanne reached under her pillow and pulled out a small, folded note. 
         “I didn’t read it.” She said as she handed it to Fern.
Fern smiled, seeing through Avanne’s lie. She unfolded it gently. The writing itself told a story of an old man who was tired and alone.

Fern,
Forgive me for not saying goodbye, but you are wise beyond your years and would have known what I was planning, and I was afraid you would talk me out of it. Missy was the thread that tied me to this world and with her gone, my link is now severed. There is no place for me here - in the world of the living. I can never repay you for granting Missy her final wish, but as a token I can leave you the only possessions I have left, a few books from my childhood home in Repatha and my deck of cards, which I know you and your friends will make use of. I hope dearly that one day you are free from this hellish place and have to opportunity to live a life that you deserve. Unlike Missy who always had the utmost faith, I am unsure of what lies ahead, but what I do know, is that it will bring me a peace that I cannot obtain here. Be well.
Todd. 

         Fern handed the note to Avanne, who pretended to read it for the first time, who then handed it to Jous.
         “I hate this place.” Jous said as he carefully folded the letter and placed it between one of Todd’ books. “I don’t even know why Todd and Missy were in here.”
         “Lestian’s guards found a young family from Princess Tressa’s realm hiding in their stables. Todd told me they didn’t even know the family were there, but they didn’t believe him. So, their farm was seized, and they were brought here.”
         “What happened to the family?” Avanne asked
         “No idea. He and Missy were arrested and taken from the farm the morning they were found. I guess the adults were either executed or sent to another camp and the children were sent to orphanages.” Fern shrugged.  “It’s hard to tell, in the early days of the take-over the guards didn’t have specific regulations and did as they pleased. If you got lucky you were sent to a camp or orphanage, if you were unfortunate enough to come across a sadistic unit of guards…who knows.”
Jous began to deal out the cards to hurry along the conversation as it was clearly distressing Avanne. 

“I call trumps.”

By the time Fern and Jous had reached the forge, Fern’s head was throbbing again from the exercise. Jous and Fern had taken a walk before going to the forge as Avanne had fallen asleep and they didn’t want to wake her.
         “Poor Avanne, she hadn’t been sleeping while you were in the infirmary.”
         “Thank you for looking after her. I know she couldn’t have made it easy for you.”
Jous laughed, “No, she did remind me daily she wasn’t a child, but I think she secretly appreciated it. She was very worried about you.”
         “I know. And I know you were too. It means a lot.”
Jous cleared his throat. “I speak to a lot of people in the camp, but truth be told, you’re my only friend here. Real friend. Someone I trust.”
Fern pulled Jous into hug and held him tight. “Maybe one day we’ll be able to be friends outside of this place too. I won’t lie, I wish a thousand times over that I never came here, but to have your friendship had made it less unbearable.”
         “I know you don’t think the same way I do, but I think one day we will get out of here. And you’ll be able to go back to Royan and swim in the frozen lake and do all that weird stuff you southerners do.”
         “You can’t swim in a frozen lake, idiot.” Fern laughed, “But whatever happens, I hope we will always be friends.”
         “Ah hem…I hope I’m not interrupting anything.”
Fern and Jous immediately moved apart. Despite there being nothing between them, Fern was still off-limits, and it applied to prisoners as well as guards.
         “No, no, I was just thanking Jous for taking care of Avanne while I was in the infirmary.”
Kissik nodded, “The young girl you share a tent with?”
         “Yes. She was upset I was injured.”
Kissik stood there, awkwardly looking at the two of them. His eyes glanced over Jous, looking up and down his body, before returning to Fern’s.

“Forging gives you strong arms, I would imagine?” He asked
Jous looked at Fern, completely dumbfounded.
         “Uh…yes. I mean, it’s not often you can beat a swordsmith in arm wrestling. Well, Jous can’t beat me.” Jous elbowed Fern indignantly, “but I’ve been making weapons since I was twelve.”
“Yes, with your father, Briad.”
Both Fern and Jous stood silent.
         “How do you know who my father is?”
         “Doesn’t everyone know?”
         “No.” Fern said flatly. “Not anymore.” 
         “Well I do. Now get a move on, you are both on shift.” Once again he turned his back on Fern.
Both Fern and Jous watched as Kissik walked towards the smaller of the forges.
         “There is something strange about that guard. You need to watch out.” Jous said with squinted eyes. “Bringing you to the infirmary, coming to check on you, making sure you got a cot and now talking about your father. Do you think Lestian sent him here to spy on you?”
         “Lestian doesn’t need to spy on me. No, this one is up to something else.”
         “Well he knows you’re off limits. A grudge against your father? It would explain why he know about him.”
         “Maybe.” Fern stared intently at Kissik’s back. “I don’t know.” 
         “Well you better find out what it is before he causes trouble. Remember all the trouble you had with Gyrun?”
         “Don’t remind me.” Fern involuntarily shivered at the mere mention of his name. Gyrun. “I’ll see you at the mess tent, I doubt I’ll be getting off early tonight.”
         “Oh, you will also notice the forge is nice and hot as I have been feeding her while you were being all lazy and unconscious.” Jous shouted as she hurried to the forge.