"There is nothing wrong with trying to save people, especially those who aren't capable of saving themselves," said Vraela, getting up from her chair with more energy than she normally exhibited. "I just need you to realize the real reasons behind your actions because once you start down a path, it is very difficult to change your ultimate destination."
Mira nodded and watched as the old woman gave herself a shake and moved to the kitchen counter. Reaching up to the rack that the cooking pots hung from, she brought down a small leather pouch.
"I have one last question to ask you before we continue," paused Vraela, clutching the bundle gently.
Mira's eyes were glued to the leather pouch. What could possibly be inside that could fix all this mess?
"If Cael were no longer in the picture, would you still wish to help the village?"
Mira's eyes finally raised up to meet Vraela's eyes.
"Why would he not be in the picture?" she asked softly. Panic fluttered in her chest and she struggled to hid the urge to throw up.
"Child, you must answer my question."
Mira closed her eyes and took a large breath, taking the time to fill her lungs completely and then let the air out slowly, focusing on how it felt leaving her nose as Vraela had taught her to calm herself. She needed to focus on the question because it wouldn't have been asked if it wasn't important and freaking out wouldn't help her think. After a second breath she opened her eyes feeling much calmer and thought carefully about the question.
She studied her feelings about the situation, poking and prodding at it like a bird attempting to crack a nut. Anytime she felt herself growing anxious she would back off and force herself to calm down.
"I care greatly about Cael. He's the only one who has really shown me affection after my aunt died, other than you and his mother. The townspeople are scared. There's so much they don't understand and they do the things they do out of that fear. They have no one who cares about them. No king to call on, like these awful Yegg seem to claim."
She spoke softly to herself, trying to work through the issue out loud so Vraela could hear her thoughts.
"I am the reason they are alive, because of the herbs you gave me. I am the reason the Yegg are here because they believe I am some sort of witch. It's all from not knowing how things work. I could give the Yegg the herbs and tell them how to use them, but they would be back wanting more. The townspeople already might not survive the winter because of the greed of the Yegg and I feel a little responsible. But only a little. If the townspeople hadn't told the Yegg about me, they would have been frustrated and left instead of staying. I don't think I could honestly do anything to change the way the townspeople are. But…"
She paused to think about how to say the next part, like it was a knot she needed to carefully unravel before saying.
"Just because the people are stupid and mean doesn't mean they don't deserve salvation. They deserve the right to be able to try and survive the winter. Just because they don't trust me now, doesn't mean they won't remember that I tried to help. I mean, after I healed them, those who would have been really mean were only a little mean, and everyone moved out of my way when I ran from the Yegg, instead of trying to force me to stay to protect themselves. And Cael says none of the villagers have tried to help the Yegg get into the forest to hunt me down, which I think is maybe their way of paying me back for the kindness I've done them. If I can help them even more it can only help their opinions and maybe a day will come when they aren't scared anymore."
Vraela was silent for a moment, as if waiting to see if she was done, then Mira sighed. She still hadn't answered the original question.
"If Cael wasn't in the picture, I would still like to try," she finally answered. "But why wouldn't he be in the picture?"
Hefting the small bag, as if weighing it in her hand, Vraela turned and grabbed a satchel hanging on the wall. It was the one that Mira often used to collect herbs.
"I need you to gather the same herbs that you had gathered before to cure the sickness from the people. I will not answer your question about Cael, because I cannot see where this path you choose to travel goes in relation to him, but I do caution you. He is frail in body but not in spirit."
Mira took the bag. She knew he had so much life in him it hurt her heart to see him struggle with the limitations of his body. The frustration on his face that he tried to hide whenever she was around him made her work all the harder to try and help him, especially because he didn't ask for it.
"Once your bag is as full as you can get it, return here and I will give this to you," she said, lifting the pouch a little. "There are some things I can not teach you, no matter how well I explain them. Some things must be experienced in order for you to learn them."
Mira moved to the door, her mind darting a thousand different directions. She knew where to go to get the herbs but it would be a long trip and she wouldn't be back before dark. Would Cael show up and not find her? Slipping her cloak on over her shoulders, she decided there was nothing for it. If this was what she needed to do to help the town, then she would do it.
***
"Did you ever find out why Vraela asked you that?" asked Ava, slipping her now dry clothes back on.
"She never sat down and explained, no, but I grew to understand on my own. However, understanding isn't always good enough. The heart is tricky and doesn't always agree with the mind. It took me a long time to understand enough and even now, I still have days when I struggle with it."
"What do you mean?" asked Ava, tilting her head to the side and running her fingers through her hair to get some of the tangles out.
Mira didn't answer. She was lost in thought.
***
The moon was high in the night sky when Mira finally returned to the cottage, her satchel almost overflowing. She had traveled far and wide through the forest, looking for the herbs so that she didn't over collect from any one area. Her feet dragged but the excitement of accomplishing this first step had her stepping into the cottage and presenting her satchel triumphantly.
Vraela was ready, holding the leather pouch.
"The next step to accomplish your goal of protecting the villagers from these Yegg, is not going to be easy."
Mira nodded.
"Those herbs are to go to the Yegg, as you proposed earlier, to get them to leave the village. We both know the herbs will only do so much, and they will be back demanding you. They see you as not just a fix for the problem, but a potential source of vast wealth."
Nothing had been said to Vraela about what the men had said when she was almost snatched by them, but by this point Mira didn't question Vraela's wealth of knowledge.
"I'm sure you can get Cael to take the herbs to them, as I'm sure the Yegg have noticed his daily trips into the forest. You should ask him what they ask him and what they demand of him."
Mira opened her mouth but snapped it shut. She hadn't thought of that. She had always assumed he snuck into the forest, but with his condition, he wouldn't have been very good at it. Nodding hesitantly, she made a mental note to ask him that.
"Once they have left, you will take this pouch of seeds to the villagers and convince them to help you plant them. If anyone feels as if they are being forced against their will, the magic will not work. Once you begin planting, you cannot stop until you are done, or the work they do will not save the village."
"Where are we planting them?" she asked, taking the pouch reverently and peeking inside. The seeds looked like normal oat seeds, plain and unremarkable, but she could feel something about them as she held them and it was enough.
"They will grow to form a great wall. A barrier to keep all those who wish harm upon the village out. Which is why you must not stop until they are all planted."
Mira's eyes grew wide.
"Remember, the magic will only work if everyone who helps believes they are helping of their own wishes and you must not stop until the entire wall is planted from one end of the forest to the other. There is only the one gap leading to the village. The forest itself will keep those out who wish harm, but this will help to bridge that gap."
Mira thought carefully about the area that Vraela was talking about. The village she once called home was in a type of hollow, surrounded on all sides, save one by the forest she now called home. If they could form a wall to close off that gap, as Vraela said, there would be no way into the village.
"I understand," she replied, taking the satchel of herbs back and turning towards the door. She was tired but she could sleep after she found Cael. There was only one place they met up and she could only hope he would be there soon.