At some point after the group has left king Ilceros’ statue and pillar dedicated the Crimson Calling. The group is walking up the road and Alexis sidles up next to Gustav.
“Care to share about Mrs Eggertson? What’s she like? Good woman?”
4 thoughts on “Forester Lineage, Part 2”
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Gus pauses and looks hesitant.
“Mmm, She fed us, she cleaned, she told us what to do.
But she was a…. difficult woman. She mostly complained when her children talked, made noise, or moved. She thought children should be seen and not heard. She was the boss and my father didn’t talk much. When we asked him questions, he would usually say ‘ask your mother’.
Because of this, I spent a lot of time with my Grandmama in her cabin which was further out in the woods. Other kids were afraid of her because of the magics she could do. Called her a witch. But I liked her. She was kind, she taught me things and wanted to talk to me.”
Then Gus halts quickly.
“Sorry I am talking too much. My mother was fine.”
“Your grandmother was an old crone? Watching over you in your time of need?”
“Mmm, that is one of the things the kids would yell. That and ‘Old Hag’, ‘Ugly Spinster’, and ‘Evil Witch’. She wasn’t even a spinster, she had children. I sometimes would run after them, but they were too quick and just ran away. They would throw eggs and dung at her cabin the little shits.
Yes, she was my shelter… ”
Gustav looks into the distance his mind far away. Then he gains his faculties again and shakes it off.
“Grandmama was a good woman. She taught me knots and small game traps too.”
“Do you ever send her a thank-you from the road?” He shrugs. “Getting called an Avv witch taught me one thing. Respect for our elder women. They know things the rest of us forgot, and they look after us anyway.”
Alexis waits to see Gustav’s answer to his question.