Warm Flame - Chapter Six

Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five

She didn’t want either to sleep or eat. She wanted somehow to take away the pain of her mother. She just wanted fell asleep painlessly forever. Mother always said that she spoils Siala’s life. But the girl didn’t think so. Those days when her mother got better, when they laughed together and fooled around, when together they planted flowers in the spring, and then stood on the square and sold them were the happiest moments of Siala. Those flowers were the most beautiful; they were perfect for her mother.

She had no tears to cry. The girl fell asleep in memories, leaning her elbows on the table. And terribly long hard days began. Mom became worse, anesthetizing tinctures helped only a bit. Mom stopped walking, she could no longer keep her balance when walking. Her head hurt day after day. Siala went to the doctor several times every day, but there were no supplies. The old man only gave her anesthetic tinctures and looked with pity at the young girl, who faded along with her mother.

Meanwhile, the news about the war spread. Men and women signed up for volunteers and went to the border with the Northern Empire. The North attacked Sanhad Empire, trying to take the fertile southern lands. They had long threatened to do this, but no one believed that it would happen. The city was deserted, all who could go to war to protect their children, parents, brothers and sisters have gone. Pyrstat wasn’t too far from the border, the war could come here too.

It's been about two weeks since the girl lost her job. No one else wanted to take her to work, saying that they also have no money. Supplies of food have become less frequent, hunting has become the main method of subsistence. The girl spent the last money to buy a small piece of meat to at least boil a broth. She has strongly grown thin for the last time. Sometimes Mrs. Lilith came to them, bringing some hot bread.

In one morning Satina didn’t wake up. Siala spent almost twenty-four hours sitting by the bed of her cold mother, not knowing what to do next. Regrets and bitterness eclipsed the rest of her feelings.

Upon learning of Satina's death, Lilith said that she at least has to be burned. Having bought some flowers, Siala and Lilith put them into the mother's hands. Praying, the elf decided to set fire to the old shack. The girl wasn’t sorry for her home. A lot has happened here. Mom's laughter, the singing of songs before bed, the joint teaching of the weave, the first mother's ailment, the cultivation of berries on the windowsill and many other such ordinary, but such warm memories. The girl buried them with the most precious person. The wind will smash the ashes around the neighborhood and my mother's spirit will remain forever in these lands.

Lilith took the girl to live with her.

The elf-girl didn’t cry, she had long been crying when her mother was sick. Now there was emptiness inside.