Page 108 of Beyond The Maples
Linden clears his throat impatiently, and I scowl at him.
"What's going on?" Willow asks.
I take a deep breath. "I have a lot to tell you."
Another excited squeal comes out of her as she leans in.
Just like with Linden, it all comes out rushed and out of order but she listens intently, her sharp mind soaking in all the details like a problem she can't wait to solve. I don't leave out parts like I would have before. She deserves to know the full truth.
"You're sure it was called Lether root?" Linden asks seriously.
"Yes, I'm sure. You've heard of it?"
"Yeah, I stumbled on it during our phytotherapy class last year... I got bored because we have access to so few herbs now, and it was part of an assignment to research outdated medicines and their preferred alternatives…"
"Spit it out."
"It can do a bunch of things, depending on the patient. It varies with severity. The research I was doing focused on the anti-anxiety properties of the root, but the side effects..." He pauses, letting out a deep breath. "It has a range of neurocognitive dysfunction when taken: brain fog, mood changes––mostly docility, decreased mental functioning, and commonly, long-term memory loss..." He purses his lips.
I nod. I had suspected, but anger still pulses through me at hearing it confirmed. I shouldn't be surprised, but somehow I still am.
"This is what Dad was trying to figure out," I mumble.
"What do you mean?" Willow asks, eyes brightening at the mention of our father.
"Dad was always going on about brainwashing and historical omission. Honestly, I thought he was going mad at the end. It was exhausting. But I remember more now. Before Sibs gave me those herbs, I only remembered the crazier bits, or the more dramatic bits, like my brain was clinging to the loudest memories."
Linden shakes his head, but he doesn't look surprised.
"So what are they hiding from us? Or trying to make us forget, exactly? None of this makes sense,"Linden groans.
"I'm honestly not sure. It's like they've tried to erase entire parts of our history, within a generation. I'm not sure why they'd lie about the new growth, or why they'd try to hide it. I have no idea why they'd alter the compass and change its narrative. Hiding entire deities... The most confusing part is why they claim the entire continent is in the same boat, when we now know Soland and Zaphira aren't. Why are we even fighting with them, when they could be helping us?"
Linden scrunches his face up.
"Can you get me some of these herbs? I don't think my memory loss is as bad as yours, but I definitely can't remember much from when we were kids... and I'd like to." Our eyes meet, and there's a longing in them that I recognize. It's hard when people you love are gone, and you don't have strong enough memories of them to comfort you.
"I'll try, but we don't have much time before we go."
"Where are you going?" Willow frowns.
"You mean where arewegoing?" I say with a smirk, waiting for it to click.
"Maple, what do you meanwe? I'm not joining the army now. Who will look after Willow?" He demands.
On the other side of the spectrum, Willow's eyes twinkle with excitement.
"You're not joining anything. You're not fighting for a country that would strip us of our basic human rights, who would starve us, murder us, manipulate us... keep us in the dark. And neither am I. We're getting out of here."
Linden's eyes narrow on me, as he folds his arms.
Willow's smirk widens into a deadly grin.
I lean forward, balancing my arms on my knees.
"We're going to Zaphira," I say, just above a whisper. "And we have a lot to go over before I leave tomorrow."
Over the next few hours, we fall into a familiar rhythm. I break down the journey for them; what they'll need to prepare, how long it will take, and how hard it's going to be.
