Page 2 of Daman
I nodded.
“Fill it halfway with water and drop two to three of these stems inside it. Cover the pot, and bring the water to a boil. Let it steep. Use a ladle to strain out the herb, and while it’s still hot, have Lycus drink a cup.”
“What will it do?”
“It should help rejuvenate him,” Morys explained. “Make the tonic for him once a day. Do you remember where ironwort grows? I’ve only had you gather it for me once.”
“Near the ridge at the edge of the forest.”
“Yes. When you need more, you know where to find it. But always be careful.”
“I will.”
After leaving his shop, the vial of ironwort tucked into my satchel, I took a path around the agora to avoid the crowd and walked to the bakery. Normally, I could only afford cheap, stale bread, but with the coin I’d stolen, I would be able to buy something nicer.
Lycus deserved a good meal to break his fast. Maybe it would help his appetite return.
I bought a fresh loaf that was still warm and soft as the baker wrapped it for me. Then, I purchased salted meat from the butcher and cubes of cheese.
“Make way!” a man shouted.
I rushed to the side of the street as warriors passed by, their armor clinking and the bannerman proudly flying Draco, the battle flag of Dacia. I smiled at the sight. Draco was depicted as a wolf’s head with a dragon’s mighty tail, and when the wind blew through the material, it sounded like a howl.
One of the warriors looked down at me. I beamed at the attention. He gave a subtle nod before focusing back ahead. Our military force was renowned for the aggressiveness of the warriors who were said to fight like wolves.
Before Lycus fell ill, we’d grab sticks and pretend we were warriors wielding falx swords. And then, we’d howl up at the sky like a pack of beasts. That felt like a lifetime ago.
While the surrounding people were distracted by the army passing through, I skirted behind the merchant stalls. A wooden toy caught my eye. With the fine finishing touches and smooth craftsmanship of the wood, it was the type of toy only nobles could afford. I grabbed it and kept walking, coming upon a wall of trees moments later.
Home.
I jumped over tree stumps and fallen branches, my heart light. Being around people wore me down and brought out emotions in me I didn’t quite understand. But the forest? Walking through the trees, leaves crunching underfoot, and losing myself in nature?
It made me happy.
Our one-room hovel was made of wood with stones at the base. The roof had several holes, but it protected us well enough from the elements. On one side was a wood-woven fence that looked like it had once surrounded the house but had been broken and weathered throughout the years.
“Ly?” I asked, walking inside.
A pile of blankets was in one corner where we slept, and we used wooden stumps as stools. A small table had been left behind when I’d found the shack, along with an assortment of pots. I had stolen or bought everything else—cups, candlesticks, two cushions with some tears in the fabric, and a few toys.
“Daman?” a small voice croaked from the makeshift bed. Lycus sat up, rubbing at his eyes. His long blond hair was messy and a little tangled in the back from sleep. He was the same age as me—in his eighth year—but he looked a lot younger because his body was so tiny.
“Look what I’ve brought for you.” I knelt in front of him and brought forth the bread and cheese. “It’s fresh too! I have salted meat to go with it.”
Though it was weak, Lycus smiled. “A feast fit for a king.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” I said in exaggeration, bowing my head. He giggled before breaking off into a coughing fit. “Careful.” I stuck a cushion behind his back to help prop him up before tearing off a chunk from the bread loaf and handing it to him, along with two cubes of cheese and meat. “Morys gave me herbs to brew you a special tonic. It should make you feel better. I’ll prepare it while you eat.”
After finding a pot, I rushed out the door and to the stream beside our home, rinsing it out before filling it and returning. I started a fire in the cooking pit and hung the pot over it before adding three stems of the ironwort and covering it with a lid.
“Aren’t you hungry too?” Lycus asked.
“No,” I lied. I wanted him to eat his fill first. I’d eat after he finished. “I have a surprise for you.”
“Another one? You’ve done enough.”
“Not nearly enough. Now. Hold out your hand.” I waited until he obeyed and placed the wooden toy on his palm.
