Everyone went to the capital.
It was a nice place. It wasn't built in the trees like the other cities they had traveled through. Their buildings floated on top of the water, anchored in one place by the branches above them. People traveled through the water between the buildings.
Street vendors offered their wares from large flat boats tied to the roots of trees. Just like all the other cities, many of the citizens noticed Lucina, but they didn't stare. There were only passing glances and soft whispers to their friends.
Lucina caught the eye of a few, nodding curtly in greeting.
They were about halfway through the city when a large man jumped into the water and swam towards them. Lucina raised a hand and Zaizon stopped moving the boat they were in.
The man grabbed the edge of the boat, but he didn't move to get in. "Daughter of Eirlys."
Lucina dipped her head with a small smile, "Do you need something, sir?"
"Your help. My daughter, she's fallen ill. The healers have tried everything. They can't help her."
Lucina smiled sweetly, "Where is she?"
"She's at my home."
"Lead the way."
The man smiled immediately letting go of the ship and cutting through the water. They followed.
Andrew frowned, "How did he know we were coming?"
Nathaniel hummed, "I might've gone ahead to spread the word."
Andrew looked at him oddly, "How did you get here and back quickly enough for nobody else to notice?"
Nathaniel's lips quirked, "I have my ways."
"Well... whatever you did, it clearly worked..."
"Thank goodness."
The man led them to a small inn and climbed out of the water. Knox climbed out and tied their boat down when they got there.
The man ran inside and came back with a young girl wrapped in blankets. She was as pale as a ghost, with dark purple bags under her bloodshot eyes. Her entire body trembled as she choked out hacking coughs. The man stood in front of Lucina, holding the girl out towards her, "Help her, please."
Lucina smiled and took the daughter's hand in both of hers. She rubbed her thumbs over the girl's fingers. Zaizon stood a short distance away, watching the girl intently.
Lucina glanced at Zaizon who nodded slightly. She leaned forward and kissed the girl's forehead, "May Eirlys bless you."
She stepped back and the man looked down at his daughter and then back at Lucina. "She doesn't look any better, isn't there anything you can do?"
"It's already been done, sir. She's no longer ill."
The man looked back down at his daughter, "Do you feel better, Jasna?"
The girl nodded with a wobbly smile.
Zaizon approached him, holding his shoulder, "I would suggest a good night's rest. She's probably exhausted."
The girl nodded again, slower this time.
The man smiled, looking at Lucina, "Thank you. I wish there was some way to repay you."
Knox perked up, "We need a place to sleep."
Nathaniel nodded in agreement.
The man beamed, "You can stay here. There's plenty of room in my inn."
Nathaniel frowned, "We don't have any way to pay you."
"You saved my daughter's life. That's enough."
Lucina smiled warmly, "Thank you, sir. You're truly kind."
"The friends of a Daughter are friends of mine." The man gestured towards the door, "Come in, I'll get you something to eat."
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