Mary's Path

She stopped outside the door to the apartment and took a deep breather before knocking. It took a while, but then Zerden’s mother opened the door.

“Mary, how nice to see you, Zerden’s already left” she said. Mary thought she looked very tired.

“I know, I’ve already met him. I was hoping to talk to you, but if you want, I can come back when you feel better.”

“Don’t be silly, come in and I’ll put on some tea” Zerden’s mother said, turning around to go into the kitchen.

Mary stepped in and closed the door behind her. She hung off her coat in the hallway as so many times before and followed Anna into the kitchen. Mary got the cups and tried to find a place to start the conversation she knew she needed to have with Anna. They sat down at the table and Zerden’s mother poured them some tea.

“I guess Zerden told you his news” his mother said.

“Yes”

“He is not the most tactful man that God has put on earth,” his mother nodded. “He takes after his father. I love them both dearly, but the Lord knows that I have asked for some tact and sensibility for both.”

Mary smiled at the remark. It wasn’t the first time Anna had told her that the two men were blunt.

“That’s not why I came by” Mary said, trying to find the words. Zerden’s mother looked at her questioningly.

“I don’t know if Zerden told you, but I have been living with the Lady in the west tower” Mary began.

“He told me. His father told me how upset the Lady became when she found out you were working in the kitchen. Ken said that when they came down to the kitchen and you had a swollen cheek and a split lip, he was sure she would demand every head in the castle on a silver platter in retribution. When we didn’t hear from you for days, we were very worried,” Zerden’s mother said.

“I didn’t mean to worry you, I’m sorry” Mary said. “But as you said, the Lady is not exactly satisfied with the circumstances in which she found me.”

“I would think so, shameful is what it is, to treat a protégé of the Lady like that. I haven’t said anything, because I didn’t have the power to change anything, didn’t want to make things worse, but we all thought it.” Anna said, clearly upset, Mary smiled at her.

“The lady is about to leave Dermes, it seems that she and the king cannot come to an agreement” Mary continued.

“Ken has heard those rumors as well” Zerden’s mother confirmed.

“The lady has very kindly asked if I want to come with them when they leave. She sees that my options here are very limited. I’ve decided to say yes, so if nothing changes during the day, it looks like I’m leaving tomorrow.” Anna looked at her in astonishment.

“Are you going back with the lady back to Salamis?” she asked.

“Yes,” said Mary.

“And you’re leaving tomorrow?” Mary nodded. “Oh my dear, my dear friend. That doesn’t give you much time to say goodbye.”

“No,” said Mary, “It’s doesn’t. I’ve already said goodbye to Zerden, and you were the next person I couldn’t go without saying goodbye to. You’ve been so kind, and you’ve helped me so much” she told Anna.

“Dear child, it has been a pleasure. I’ve had dreams of a better future for you. This is not what I was hoping for. But I understand that you must follow the path that is best for you. I just hope my son won’t regret his actions”

Mary didn’t really understand what she meant, but she knew it was said out of kindness.

“Can you say goodbye to the castellan from me? He’s also been more than kind to me,” Mary said.

“I will, my friend.”

“If I get the opportunity, I promise to write to you, Zerden can read the letters to you, and you don’t have to answer.” Mary said.

“It would be wonderful, Zerden can write the answers for me.” Mary liked the idea of keeping in touch with Anna.

“I should go, there’s so much that needs to be done and you should be resting” Mary said.

“I’m going to let you go in a minute, but I’ll get something for you first” Zerden’s mother said, disappearing into the bedroom. She came out after a while carrying the little book of love poems.

“After you read me some, Zerden has read a couple more to me. Now I want you to have it,” she said, handing it to Mary. Mary looked at the little book.

“I can’t take it, it’s too precious” Mary said shaking her head.

“That’s why I want you to have it, you have the sense to appreciate it. Take it now, and one day, when you meet the one that is your Ken. Then I want you to read to him from it.” Mary reached for the book and took it whit reverence.

“I didn’t get anything for you” Mary said quietly.

“My friend, you’ve given me so much already, you don’t have to think about it. Now go and get ready for your adventure. If I can, I’ll go up on the wall tomorrow and wave you off. But whatever happens, promise me to be happy.” Zerden’s mother said, looking Mary in the eyes.

“I promise, and I’ll look out for you tomorrow” Mary said. The two women hugged before Mary left the kitchen and left the apartment for the last time.

She kept a firm but gentle grip on the little book as she hurried through the castle. There was so much she had to do. She ran into the living room and looked for Kopa.

He was talking to a group of grey-clad people, Mary went to her room and put the book in her chest. She also looked through the things she had left from her father’s workshop. She found what she was looking for and put the parcel in to the pocket of her cloak before going out to talk to Kopa.

“I’ll go with you,” she said when she approached him. It took a second or two before the information registered with him. But then he smiled on of his rare big smiles.

“I didn’t doubt it for a second,” he said, putting a hand on her shoulder. “Go pack, it looks like we’re leaving early tomorrow.”

“I don’t have time right now, I have a couple of errands to run. Kopa, what kind of money is used in Salmisara?” she asked.

“We use salir, merch and tivs” he replied. “But you do not need to worry about that.”

“Thank you Kopa,” she said, smiling, “I’ll be back before it gets dark.”

“You better, or I’ll send all the king’s soldiers out to look for you.” Mary laughed and walked towards the door.