The Hollow Root - Chapter 24
First time? Here’s the table of contents:
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8
Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23
Amy sat staring at the TV in silence. Kavin and Fasaani leaned into the moment unwilling to make the slightest noise. They knew better than to push Amy, even if she was a diminished version of herself. Amy unfocused her mind and let herself drift as Bob explained how to repair ornate crown molding that time had forgotten.
As she sat there silently the calm let her nerves fall flat. And deep breaths heaved in and out of her lungs naturally. She was experiencing near calm for the first time in... How long had it been she thought? Never mind it didn’t matter. She laid back on the bed slowly as the credits started to roll. She was looking up at the ceiling and noticing all of the stains and dirt that had accumulated through the years in this hotel. Her mind molded the blobs and scratches into a wide variety of shapes until she noticed a small smudge on the ceiling. It caught her eye and attention so vividly. She stared deeper into the rectangular smudge letting her mind move the shape around to try and find why it was so interesting.
Fasaani and Kavin exchanged a quick look at the remote wondering if Amy would notice a change in channel, the follow up program was an infomercial for a new cleaning towel. As they looked back at Amy they had noticed her eyes were no longer open and she was seemingly very much asleep. Kavin quickly switched the channels until he found Rambo playing at about 22 minutes in. Fasaani looked at him and smiled knowingly, and the two sat silently to watch the film.
Amy had in fact drifted to sleep while looking at the small smudge. Her mind morphed it slowly into the shape of an ornate rug before it clicked that it reminded her of the rug of her throne room. Amy fell into the memory caught in some state of consciousness that was neither fully awake nor asleep. She fell into the memory of a better time. She had only recently taken over the rule after her then-husband had the poor fortune of some tea spiked with one of Fasaani’s concoctions. Amy had never really intended to stay with this man and used him solely for ascending to Queen regent. It was expected that she marry again, but Amy had no intention of doing anything to speed that process up. She had attained a high level of power and was going to use it to create the world she wanted by hell or high water. In her memory Amy found herself in her chambers sitting patiently as her handmaids applied a variety of powders, and adorned her with jewelry and a wig fitting for a queen.
“My Queen! Your royal Leech requests an audience. Shall I let her in to your chamber or would you like to meet her elsewhere at your leisure?” A young man who had just entered the room said professionally while making every effort to avoid any eye contact with Amy.
“Fasaani? Lovely send her in.” Amy felt the words leave her mouth as if on auto play.
Moments later Fasaani was led into the chamber. She was old and withered. Her skin wrinkled just as Amy had always remembered it. Amy stood and walked over to Fasaani and looked her in the eye.
“Leave us! Everyone!” Amy said forcefully.
Her handmaids and attendants left everything in place and scuttled out of the room like crabs fleeing seagulls on the beach. Amy leaned close to Fasaani and whispered “Thank you” with a wry smirk.
“Anything for the queen.” Fasaani said, “Now how about payment?”
“Remind me Fasaani, what did you want this time? Coin, titles, a goat for sacrifice?” Amy said flicking the end of her wig in the air and turning towards the window.
“Amy, you know what we talked about, don’t be... I mean do you need a reminder, my Queen?” Fasaani said trying to hide her frustration.
“OH that’s right, you wanted me to grant you that small farm house just outside of the city wall? I believe it is currently occupied... is it not?” Amy said regally.
“Yes... my queen. It is occupied my queen but the land is perfect for some of the herbs I need for my salves. It would be a shame to not have it under my watchful eye.” Fasaani said through grinding teeth.
“And where would the current occupants go?” Amy said playfully.
“I don’t ca... I mean I am not certain but I will happily put them to work and let them build their own housing on the property if they wish?” Fasaani said as her knife began to vibrate hidden in her robe.
“I knew I could get you buzzing. I’ll grant you title over the land. Do house them they have done nothing wrong other than having the misfortune of being on land that you want. This said you will still be my Royal Leech so don’t forget your place here in the castle. I need you close.” Amy said waving her hand in the air signaling that it was time for Fasaani to leave.
“Thank you! I will let the current occupants know of their new employment. Thank you for your grace.” Fasaani said as she trudged out of the chamber.
Amy sat back in her chair and rang the tiny bell signaling for her attendants to return. Her mind drifted from this scene as Amy relished in her former power. The way Fasaani groveled to her. Her mind wandered through her reign. Flashes of subjects begging and fires burning bright all at her command. In the room Amy’s face pulled a slight smile. Through all of this she had nearly forgotten how powerful she once was. She drifted for a moment in the thought of her current state. Alone in a crappy hotel room with a newly fair skinned Fasaani and a half mad Kavin. They used to fear her and now they relied on her. Amy sighed with her next breath, she’d always be the care giver. She thought of all the years she had hoped to find someone as old as she was. Someone who could be her equal. She had taken lovers for status when times required it, and often had them fall to some concoction from Fasaani when they annoyed her. She had found a way to ruin anyone and anything that had ever crossed her... except them. Kavin and Fasaani had crossed her more than anyone else had the opportunity. Yet she never truly hurt them. Deep down they were the closest connection she had. Siblings of some unknown parent.
Then something tingled in the back of Amy’s mind. A spark of a thought that grabbed her. The family in the house she gave Fasaani... They became her serfs. Fasaani dangling the carrot of freedom if they just worked a little longer... a little harder. In their time under her charge they would gather ingredients, brew, distill, and boil them all into a wide variety of tinctures, snake oils, and the occasional poison. They learned quickly that anger always finds a place to rest and Fasaani’s anger is always tired. They would eventually have a child. A child Fasaani would ensure knew how to use a shovel by the time it could pick it up. Eventually this child found they could take no more of her violent mood swings and they plotted an escape. A new land had been discovered, even though it had people living there, and every new land always needed people who were willing to work it. The child having just entered their teens found a ship bound for that land in need of someone who could brew once they arrived. This had to be connected. Her mind wasn’t just washing over her with sweet tales of her past achievements. It was connecting a dot. This child. This child had something to do with what had happened. They would have the knowledge, they would have a grudge that only generational trauma could grow, and what if that child had made it to North Falls?... Amy’s eyes snapped open.