At the same time that Dara was re-learning how to fly, Breen had his boots firmly on the ground.
The hard baked earth had been churned up by the traders and villagers haggling for wares and a plumb of dust had settled itself upon the houses and village folk.
The traders lay all their wares upon thick embroidered blankets which they spread out on the ground. It was considered especially rude to stand over the product, and so the prospective buyers all sat cross legged around the blanket and appraised the merchandise with practised eyes.
He spotted Miss Maiden gently coercing a roll of brilliant green fabric away from an enchanted younger trader and grinned at her behind the boys head, her eyes flicked to his and the edges crinkled slyly. He saw Noals father, The blacksmith angrily demanding a lower price from a sweating trader who appeared to be motioning to his ignorant son that he might need some help. Breen's stomach clenched and he turned away from the rapidly escalating argument, carrying a small pack of specialised herbs Justyna had instructed him to purchase.
They had an agreement; she would allow him the freedom to pursue any one he wished and all he had to do was do 'husbandy' things such as this.
He carried the herbs carefully, his knowledge of herbs and plants merely included which berries, fungi or roots were good to eat and little further, he had more than once paid for his ignorance with minor burns and sore eyes from mishandling various plants for his wife.
His youngest sibling had contracted a nasty cough and Justyna was worried her chest might fill with fluid. His wife stubbornly refused to ask The Witch for help, held onto her last iota of pride and despite her studying under the old woman she loathed to admit that anyone, even a miracle worker like Dafne, was more versed in herb craft than herself.
So he delivered the packet to her workshop, a trap door under the stairs that housed a smokily warm sub structure, half the size of the house but more cluttered, the walls were packed earth filled with little alcoves containing glass jars and phials of liquids and solutions, every other surface housed shelves lined with books, dried herbs packed the ceiling until it resembled the forest canopy and the only empty floor space surrounded the large wooden desk, on which a strange assortment of instruments allowed for the mixing and diluting of ingredients to make medicines and remedies, of which he had little knowledge.
Justyna poured over a large book by the light of the single large wick candle she allowed in her haven. Breen touched her elbow and placed the packet next to her on the desk, she grunted in thanks, her eyes skimming the text as quick as she could, her forehead was beaded with sweat and she had nibbled so hard at her lower lip that it was swollen. He kneaded her shoulders a little to release the tension and she sighed before waving him away,
"Take this to you mother will you" she said, holding out a small phial filled with cloudy green liquid,
"Tell her to dab a little on a cloth then lightly hold it over Myriam's nose, letting her breath it in, if she does with for an hour twice a day for the next week it might help, I'll check by with her in a little while to see if there is any improvement"
Breen nodded, "Was there anything else?" he asked,
"No..."Justyna replied, but then her attention became focused back on her book and he took that as his cue to leave.
As he climbed out of the workshop he heard someone come down the stairs and saw Sebastian. The other man hesitated then continued his decent. Breen made sure the trap door he had just exited was closed tight.
"How are you?" he asked, quite redundantly, he may have kept his distance but Justyna kept him appraised of Sebastian's recovery.
"I am well, thanks to you...wife" he said cautiously. He did appear better, a little thinner and with a streak of white marking his dark hair but one would not be able to tell he had been close to death not long ago.
"Good" Breen said, and after a hefty pause asked, "Where are your constant companions?"
Sebastian shrugged, "The tavern most like"
"Oh good, I was about to make my way there also, would you care to join me?" he asked, jumping at the chance.
Sebastian's eyes flickered from side to side nervously,
"Uh, the...Marcie said it would be better if I stayed away from prying eyes"
"No, I believe she said not to bring attention to yourself, not being seen for so long out and about will no doubt bring much attention, word is you have been ill but you are lucky the town has much to discuss other than yourself" he said,
"What is being said?" Sebastian asked curiously,
"Come with me to the tavern and I shall tell you" Breen said,
Sebastian considered for a moment then nodded.
Breen grabbed a hat on the way out the door, a small woven thing meant to ward off the heat of the sun and placed in on Sebastian's head, he flinched, almost imperceptibly but clearly saw the wisdom in hiding the unexplained white streak in his hair.
The tavern was practically empty except for Marcie's father curled up in a corner snoring. Breen led Sebastian to the furthest corner away from the sleeping man,
"Wait for me" he said with a wink and hurried upstairs, he followed the sound of his mothers gentle singing till he found her in the end bedroom, the one with the large windows, cradling little Myriam who was wheezing painfully, her plump face screwed up in pain, red and blotchy.
He nodded to his father who nodded back and gave his mother a gentle kiss on the cheek, she looked more worn than he had ever seen her, taking care of the inn and a newborn were hard work anyway without the whole village's wrath being focused on her favourite prospective daughter in law. Marcie probably would never marry Merrick but Luce held out hope and she seemed to truly believe that marriage would be the end to all Marcie's problems.
Breen handed over the phial and recounted the instructions, Luce looked relieved and squeezed his hand,
"You tell your wife, she is a blessing" she told him sternly, he smiled and promised he would.
He hurried back downstairs, filled two tankards with ale from the bar and carried them over to the table where Sebastian still waited.
They both drank in silence.
Marcie's father fell off his chair and continued sleeping on the floor.
Neither Breen nor Sebastian were inclined to help him in any way.
"What's the story with him anyway" Sebastian said, nodding in the drunks direction,
"He is Marcie's father" Breen said,
"Yes, I gathered that, but why the contempt for his daughter?"
Breen shrugged, he did not particularly wish to discuss Marcie and wondered if this was Sebastian's way of gathering information on his 'enemy'.
"Marcie's mother died, he was overwhelmed with grief and drinks himself into a stupor so the sadness stops, because her brother also ran away Marcie had to take care of herself"
They both took swings from their tankards
Sebastian lowered his then said, "The village, they are worried about her? About Marcie?"
Breen sighed, he leaned his head upon his hand,
"Yes. Marcie has always been...different. And, as I am sure u can imagine, this village does not like things that are different"
"Different how?"
"Please. You know how she id different"
"I know why I think she peculiar, however I do not know why the village think her so"
Breen debated how much to tell him then decided he could leave out a few key details without upsetting the truth.
"First it was her eyes, as a child she was sweet and the people tolerated her but kept a respectable distance. Then everyone left her, her mother dying, her father drinking and her brother eventually running away. She was alone and instead of marrying as she should have done she refused and has supported herself ever since. That is it"
He took another drink,
"That cannot be the whole reason" Sebastian said,
"Why?"
"People, even isolated people such as yourselves, do not shun someone simply because they have different coloured eyes and refuse to marry"
Breen scoffed, wiping his mouth with his sleeve,
"I think you overestimate peoples goodness"
"I believe there is more to it than that"
"Well that is basis of their hate but recently it has gotten worse"
"I noticed"
"Kena, my sister has been spreading rumours that Marcie used magic and then, when we went to go find the traders, she may have...killed someone"
Sebastian drained his tankard then wiped his mouth,
"I would not wish to be in her boots at this moment"
"Nor I"
The conversation wandered from there. Breen grabbed them more drinks until they both staggered down the tavern steps and found a quiet, seldom frequented spot and made furious and passionate love in the dust before finding their way back to Breen's home.
At the door to his room, Sebastian gave Breen a hesitant kiss and invited him inside.
Much later, Breen slipped quietly into his own room and carefully climbed into his bed which he shared with Justyna. He rolled over and, in the darkness saw Justyna's eyes shining, he stopped moving feeling suddenly guilty.
"I want a baby" she said, before he could say anything.
He squeezed his eyes shut,
"I can't"
"You can"
"Jus..."
"I have done some research, there is a concoction, hard to make but...it will enable you to give me children"
"It is impossible"
She was quiet for a time and he prayed she would say no more,
"Regardless"she said finally, "You will give me what I want, or I will find someone who can"
She turned over and Breen, the glow of his copulation with Sebastian fading fast cried silently into the night.