Chapter 5: Methods

Evelyn followed behind Elder Issac as he led her through the village. The provision house, library, trial hall, herbalist’s hut, and the handyman’s longhouse all fade into the background as the sun sets on The Cradle. The village goes completely dark as most people turn in for the night. A bit late for a visit, isn’t it? Looking past the Elder, she admired the pride of the village as they closed in on Mother’s Hearth. Sitting on the hill, a large cobble-lined building stood that dwarfed even the longhouse. The path leading up to it had flowerbeds connected to the garden. She inhaled a deep breath of the cool night air. The scent was familiar, like the herbalist’s perfumes. She stepped up beside Elder Issac as he knocked on the door.Mother’s warm voice reached them, slightly muffled through the door.“Come in.”The Elder opened the door for her to enter, closing it behind her as she stepped inside. He isn’t coming? The fireplace had the room toasty as Evelyn stepped toward the figure that sat before the flames. Mother was draped in a rose and ivory colored shawl and had opal pearls that sat upon her neck. Her nails were flawless, and her wrists had gemstone bracelets that caught the light and one’s eyes. Still beautiful. Even at her old age, her movements were smooth and graceful. Her jewelry gave a little clack as she stood to greet Evelyn.“Ah, my Child. It is good to see you. Little Emily can’t keep your name out of her mouth; she’s always bragging on you.”Evelyn lowered her eyes and stepped closer and hugged her. The soft fabric and firm hands were a contrast she couldn’t reconcile. She smiled. Em is so sweet.“Yes, um… Right. It’s an honor. Mother. I mean. It is good to see you too. You look… healthy. Yes.”Mother chuckled at her awkwardness, rubbing circles on her back.“Relax, Eve. Can I call you Eve?”Before Evelyn confirmed, she continued, turning and guiding her toward the stairs with a gentle pressure behind her.“I heard tales from Em. She told me how you get stuck in your head, and I have some of my own questions. I think you’d be the perfect young lady to help me out. What do you say? Will you help me?”“Of course. I don’t think anyone would turn you away, Mother… But… Why me? Is there truly nobody better suited?”She takes the first few steps down, leading into the basement. Her smile lacked all the usual judgment given by her sisters when she asked questions like that.“I’m working on a project, and I’d like to get your perspective on it.”Evelyn followed close behind and watched as Mother opened the door. She was led into a dark room. She swore she heard water running. She saw the flash of a jeweled arm and a dozen lanterns ignited all at once. The sudden flare of so many flames with only a wave took her breath away. She had so much control. If she had half as much- she stopped that line of thought. Smothering the envy before it took root.Instead, she looked around the room, focusing first on all the plants decorating the room. Dozens hung from planters, mushrooms grew in a dark corner, and the variety of strange colors kept her from keeping her attention on any individual box. In the center of the room lay a fountain. Its stone was carved into the shape of a large serpent that sprayed water into a large channel set into the floor. Brother Karn’s masonry, no doubt. There was a small bridge that would allow someone to cross over to the other side. Mother ran her hand through the leaves of the colorful plants, occasionally bending to check something on them. After Evelyn had time to take in the room, Mother spoke.“Tell me Eve, do you like plants? When Emily was here, she wouldn’t stop asking me for the name of every flower. Such an excitable young lady, so eager to learn. Something she got from you, no doubt.” Evelyn smiled. Her sister was getting answers. That’s good.“They are pretty… but I can’t say I’m drawn to them. You may be right, I love learning… we have been joined at the hip since birth, I assume our personalities rubbed off on each other.”Mother moved through the plants, her green thumb showing as she cared for her personal garden. Finally, she stopped before a yellow leafy thing with bright orange petals sprouting from some of the leaves. She plucked two, handing one to Evelyn and kept the other. “I mentioned a project. Would you help me?”Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.Evelyn nodded and followed to the channel’s edge, directly downstream from the fountain’s spray. What was she supposed to do with a leaf? The water joined the water already in the channel, creating ripples that cascaded a dozen or so steps to the bridge.Mother knelt to the water and set her leaf atop it as she turned. She walked away from the leaf and crossed the bridge to the other side. When opposing Evelyn, she spoke.“Emily told me you struggled to get out of your head. That you approached the trials in different ways, resulting in failures. Such as your tumble in the sandwalk, and your hesitation through Issac’s Illusory daggers.”Evelyn’s attention was locked on Mother’s leaf. The water vanished into a light mist as they neared the boat. The water completely avoided the leaf without sinking or pushing it away. Where is the water going? That shouldn’t be possible. Her leaf crossed the stream without missing a beat, as if the never-ending ripples weren’t even an inconvenience. The leaf practically swam across for as little good the waves did to deter it. Grace moves for her, just like it does for Em. She watched as Mother bent once more and lifted the leaf on the other side.“My child, Eve. Can you get the leaf to the other side as well? I’m curious about these… methods your sister spoke of.”Evelyn twirled the leaf in her hand as she walked to the water’s edge. She crouched and set it into the water, holding it by the stem. She could feel the current pushing it downstream. If she copied Mother, it would be swept away as soon as she let go. Mother crossed back over the bridge. She watched the leaf as Evelyn held it. She offered Evelyn advice.“Do what comes natural.”Evelyn reached her hand into the water and stabilized the small area by stopping the water. She used her intent to shape the Grace, creating a safe zone around the leaf for it to float in the calm. The water was held at bay. She smiled, blowing gently on the leaf to start its voyage. It spun in circles as it began to cross. The waves rippled in front and behind the leaf. She would prove herself. She will not be a burden, and now she has the most important person here to see her. Mother’s footsteps approached from behind as she left the bridge. Focus. The leaf is stable, but she can’t let herself get distracted.The leaf twirls as it continues to the midway mark. The water from the serpent’s spray was directly in the path now. The pressure battering her shield was growing. It was rising faster than she could divert it. What can she do? She was so close. Just a bit more, and she would be past the worst of it.The waves began to spill over her small shield. As a final gambit before Grace abandoned her, she angled the back part of the shield. The wave that was spilling over stopped. Instead, it trailed the leaf, pushing it forward. Go. Go. Go. Evelyn bounced in place, both hands out in front of her. Mother will be proud of her… just like she is with Emily.SHINKEvelyn turned her head to the snipping sound of shears. Mother stood in front of a purple plant that had openings like a mouth with teeth. One of the dozen heads was blackened and rotten. The extra head needed to be cut before it caused harm to the rest of the plant. Mother wasn’t watching. Does she even care? Did it matter if my leaf made it across?Evelyn’s eyes flicked back to the yellow leaf. She watched as the waves descended on her lifeline. It was a pack of wild beasts before its chosen prey. This was supposed to be her moment. She reached out to the descending water. Don’t do it! Please… Stop… The leaf didn’t stand a chance as water spilled over and buried it. It was pushed under, then washed down under the bridge, following the channel out of the room.Evelyn lowered her hands. Her throat tightened, and her vision began to blur.“I..”“I thought…”She reached out, lifting Mother’s leaf off the floor. It was just one leaf. This room is full of leaves. She set it down in the water to try again. Her hand dipped into the water to halt the flow from reaching the leaf. This time… She will do it right. Mother will accept her.Mother turned her back to Evelyn. Mother walked to the stairs and began her exit. She paused at the midway point for her parting words.“Exactly. You thought.”The door closed behind her, and Evelyn was left standing in Mother’s basement. Alone.