Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 142916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 715(@200wpm)___ 572(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 715(@200wpm)___ 572(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
“Can you make the weave strong enough that the demon will succumb as well?”
I hope so.
Part Two
(Left) Soul-searching. Introspection and guidance.
(Right) Out of sync. Strained communication. Hold on to your honor.
Chapter
6
“Silke,” Gesina Laninga said, “we’ve had an influx of tourists. They want the garden tours, and your home is included on the tour.”
Silke had made her way from the village, across the meadow to the forest, where she was once again working on transplanting medicinal plants to much more advantageous locations. She had slept in, exhausted from the all-night fight with the sea monster. She worried that Tora hadn’t had enough time to conceal her resting place and that Raik might wake and the demon would gain control before Silke could figure out how to draw him from the body of his host.
Plants and soil were soothing to Silke. She found it relaxing to garden or work with the wild plants. Although she enjoyed her interactions with the villagers, she needed solitude after a prolonged battle with a demon. The breeze in her hair, touching her face with a delicate wisp of wind, gave her badly needed solace. The sound of the wind playing through the leaves on the trees, the continuous creak of branches, and the scurrying of lizards and mice through the vegetation on the ground acted like a symphony of music, calming her. She recharged when she went to her beloved forest. When she had her hands deep in the soil. When she was surrounded by nature.
Silke sank back on her heels and looked up at Gesina. “This isn’t the best time of year to show off gardens.” She wished they hadn’t fixed the road so quickly after the storm. Nachtbloem didn’t have an airport to fly into. Visitors traveled by car to get to them. They were remote. They had all the modern amenities, but as a rule, they kept to themselves, other than to sell goods to the closest towns and cities.
“Unfortunately, on the website, we did advertise the garden tours. I hoped we could include your home and maybe even this garden?” The last ended on a hopeful note.
Silke shook her head. “This shouldn’t be on the tour. I don’t want to take the chance of anyone stepping on my plants. We need these for medications.” She didn’t add that many of the plants were poisonous. They needed those for defense. “We also like to keep strangers from our forest. It’s best if we stick with the homes and estates in the village.”
Gesina sighed. “I knew you’d say that. It’s just that they’re paying quite a bit for the tour, and I don’t want them to be disappointed because so many of the plants are not blooming right now.”
“They should expect that if they know anything at all about flowers,” Silke said.
“What time will you be home? Fenja said she wasn’t up to showing the gardens to anyone.” This time, there was concern in her voice. “What’s going on with her, Silke? She loves to show off the gardens.”
“Her arthritis is becoming a problem for her,” Silke admitted, unable to keep worry from her tone. It was more than that. Fenja’s heart, despite Tora’s repeated healing sessions, was wearing out. She often was short of breath and shaky. She never complained, but Silke watched her carefully and could see that Fenja’s health was slipping downhill.
“I’m sorry, Silke,” Gesina said immediately. “I know how close you are to your mother. It’s evident anytime I see you together. You look at her so lovingly, and she looks at you the same way.”
“She’s the best,” Silke said simply, meaning it. She pressed a palm over her aching heart. The thought of losing Fenja was too much to bear, so she tried never to think about that probability. She knew it was inevitable. Fenja was up there in age, and despite her knowledge of natural medicine, and her careful diet and exercise, she had always had health problems. Not that she ever complained. She didn’t. Silke had never heard her complain, even when she knew her adoptive mother was quite pained.
“Spread joy,” Fenja had told her. “It costs you nothing to be joyful and kind. Give back to others. Always spread joy.”
Fenja had always lived by her mandate. Everyone who knew her loved her. She was an example of serenity and calm. In any situation, no matter the crisis, Fenja could be counted on. Silke had big shoes to fill. Fenja was such a great example of what a kind human being could bring to the world. Many times, Silke had watched Fenja deescalate a volatile situation, whether it was adults arguing or children fighting. She tried to emulate her, staying calm in the middle of a storm. She’d always felt lucky having Fenja for a mother.
“Will you be able to do the tour at your house around five this evening? We could end at your gardens. That will give you some more time here before you have to deal with the group.”