Mother Knows Best, Johara

[Evyleen Karalis]

It was colder than she realized. Perhaps it was the lack of sunshine outside, the gray clouds seemed to cast a chill on the earth that not even the winter could master. The lack of sun meant there wasn’t anything to help heat the home…from the outside. It meant that the bleak bitter air was pressing in all the wooden cracks and crevices that led into the home. In honesty, Evyleen was surprised that the house wasn’t colder than it was. But still…it was freezing.

Even wrapped in two pairs of wool trousers, two shifts, and her thick wool gown, Evyleen was chilly. Her body continued waves of goose-flesh that made every hair on her frame stand on end, then settle only to repeat the vicious cycle. She had been sorely tempted to find her shawl, but she was more concerned with getting a nice roaring fire going in the rather drab fireplace than keeping herself warm. She had a child to consider in the house, and Johara’s health was more important than her current comfort levels.

As she stoked the slow-growing flames, she pushed another log into the hearth, sighing as she heard the tell-tale cracking as the flames licked hungrily at their fuel. It was a comfort to know her shabby little home could at least still warm up somewhat, in no time this part of the house would be toasty warm. The small bedrooms where her and Johara slept were another story entirely.

Maybe she should purchase some more blankets?

The thought lingered as she wandered over towards the small counter and cabinets that made her kitchen. It wasn’t the size she would’ve wished in a real home of her choosing. After-all, if she had her choosing she’d be living in some grand palace with a massive kitchen, fire-places in every bedroom, and enough sheets, blankets, clothing, food and toys to make her and Johara feel like royalty.

But those were wistful dreams and thinking…though she often prayed that one day she could work in that palace, cooking for the Queen and King. But those were hopes that not even the clouds above could touch.

You dream too big Evyleen She scolded herself as she set about fetching fixings for a simple breakfast. Eggs, some greens, and a few slices of pork would have to do. She had plenty for the thick stew she would make tonight for her and Johara…and Brody if he ever visited again. But breakfast tended to remain simple, at least to Evyleen.

She was an amazing cook, there was no doubt there. She was skilled in the art of turning the blandest stew into a feast for lords and ladies across the country that they would drool over. It wasn’t something she openly boasted about, but she wasn’t afraid to tell people if they asked that she was very good at it. After all, all one had to do was taste her food to know she had some sort of gift with it.

Moving back towards the fire, Evyleen placed an iron skillet on a rack over the flames, before returning back to a small table to gather the eggs and greens and return to her cooking.

While the food lingered in the heat Evyleen went to Johara’s room, tapping on the door lightly. If there were things she tried very hard to instill in Johara…courtesy and respect and privacy were the main ones. She understood well enough that as her mother, Evyleen could walk in unannounced, as it was her home. But giving her growing daughter some sense of her own space was healthy.

Besides, Johara wouldn’t hide things from Evyleen.

“Johara…come help me finish breakfast.” Evyleen’s tone was light, as it always was with her daughter. She had given two light raps on the door before returning back to the kitchen-dining-living space of the small home.

Johara would come shortly…

[Johara Karalis]

Cold

So very cold, Johara had successfully cocooned herself in the blankets but for some odd reason she could still feel the cold. It was much colder then yesterday and even colder then the day before that. She really hated this weather, so dreary and some old man in town said this is what death felt like. Johara needed better protection from this chill of death, perhaps she would go visit the women her mom said was crazy. She found the loony women interesting and she would probably know some spell to bring back the sun.

Johara could see the sun but she could no longer feel it, she knew that it had been the same last year but that didn't mean she had to like it.

The smell of food drifted into her room and not just any food, her mother’s cooking and it reminded her stomach that she was hungry. Johara loved her mother’s cooking, nothing could ever compare to it which only made her desire to stay in her shelter that much harder. The sound of her mother’s soft voice drifted into the room, she would know that voice even in her sleep. Struggling under the blankets and sheets she popped out into the cold air with a yawn.

With practiced ease she changed out of her pajamas into a long sleeves dress and slipping on a pair of pants as well before buttoning up her coat. Johara rushed over to a drawer putting on two pairs of socks before dashing across the room to the closet pulling down her old pink blanket that she tended to save for Brody when he stayed over. Wrapping it around her shoulder she only took one step before she remembered her hat. Not really a hat, more like a pot that she had turned into a make shift helmet. Johara had found it the other day after she listened onto some people talking about a town disappearing, Kettlemanish or something like that.

Finally dressed to battle the cold and the monsters who made the town disappear she exited the room. Holding tightly onto her blanket she ran the short distance down the hall making a right turn into the kitchen. "Morning Mum"

[Evyleen Karalis]

Having returned to the kitchen, Evyleen made her way back to the fire and the skillet that was cooking the morning meal. The eggs had taken to thickening, and she stirred them loosely with a wooden spoon. The greens and spices she sprinkled in mixed with the hardening yolks, and she took a deep breath of their pleasant smell. Sure, it was simple, but it was still delicious. She rose upright from her slightly hunched position and turned as she saw Johara come into the room. She smiled softly, the corners of her lips pulling up into just a sliver of a smile before fading away. “You seem to be prepared for battle my dear.” Evyleen walked over to the table, setting the meat on a thick wooden board and unwrapping it from the wax paper and picking up the knife she had placed there as well and began to cut it into thinner, smaller pieces.

“Is it the cold that’s your enemy or something else?” Evyleen turned, patting Johara’s helmet lightly with her nails, making a gentile ‘tink’ sound. Her sliver of a smile returned, and lingered longer this time as she rose her eyebrows and gave a glance at her daughter.

She knew that Johara loved to play games, and most of all had an impeccable imagination. It was amazing to see sometimes what this little rugrat found or came out of her room with. Her helmet was a perfect example of her imagination and spirit. Evyleen envied it sometimes, but in all the same she was glad her daughter had a free spirit and mind, unafraid to show it as well.

It was little things like that that reminded Evyleen how blessed she was to have Johara. Even if Brody seemed to cause more trouble than her child could.

“Fetch the bread and jam from the cupboard dear.” Evyleen nodded her head in the direction they were in. “Can you cut us a few pieces and put the jam on?” Evyleen turned back to the skillet, now simmering its near completed meal. She spooned the eggs again, and dropped the pieces of meat on, letting them heat up and cook on the pan.

“How did you sleep Johara?” Evyleen kept her eyes on the cooking, knowing very well that everything would be done very soon. In the midst of Johara’s talking however, She lifted her head and nodded towards a cabinet. “Set the table will you?” Her tone was light, even though the command could’ve been taken as harsh. Johara would know that Evyleen never spoke in a demanding tone to her daughter unless her safety was at stake. Such a command was more of a request, something that Johara was no doubt used to by now.

“Have you seen Brody recently dear? He hasn’t come by in a while.”

[Johara Karalis]

That’s because she was!

Fighting off the cold was a challenge enough but throwing in monsters powerful enough to make a town disappear. Johara was quite happy when her mother asked what she was fighting because she probably wouldn’t have been able to hold her excitement in anyways. ”Mum, some men in the marketplace were saying that a town called Kettlegarsh vanished into thin air. The boys in the neighborhood said that their parents said that only the monsters of the sea could do such a thing!” It was hard trying to contain her excitement around her mother because she loved telling her stuff like this, ”They are apparently scared of their own reflection, which is where my helmet comes in handy”

Running out of the kitchen to do as her mother said, she left her blanket on the floor but out of the way. She had no desire to make her mother slip or herself for that matter; going to the cupboard she grabbed the bread and jam. Johara carried them somewhat awkwardly to the table pushing them a safe distance from the edge before returning to the kitchen for a dull knife. She loved helping her mother cook, even something simple as cutting bread was fun because it was something she did with her mother. She was praticly bouncing around the kitchen area as she finished her first task and went to set the table.

Once done Johara went back to the kitchen where her mother was to wash the knife that she used to spread the jam. ”Good, Mum is always so warm” She always snuggled her to her mother because…that’s what she had always done. At the mention of Uncle Brody she frowned, he had told her but not her mother. Her uncle was such a coward sometimes, but she loved him boat loads regardless. ”He told me to tell you that he was going on vacation” To where she did not know and it sounded like a bad lie in her mind but she had kept that part to herself. Johara missed him terribly; she wished that the two of them could have gone with him. ”Mum, do you think…he’ll come back”

[Evyleen Karalis]

Evyleen turned to listen to her daughter, and for a time her smile lingered. Then it slowly faded as she listened to what her daughter was saying. Kettlemarsh? Vanishing? Her brows rose slowly up her forehead, and she snapped them back in place as she turned towards the foot cooking over the fire. She kept her gaze there as she thought about the situation, before pulling the sizzling skillet from the rack. She slowly walked the food back towards the table, where she gently shoveled portions onto two plates. She had remained silent the entire time, thinking over what her little daughter had said. Sea monsters? Surely not, with the navy that this place had…and she had remembered her rather rude entry thanks to the sailors, there was no way a sea creature of any kind would be able to get onto shore, and an entire village, vanishing? That alone was a joke. Clearly these children’s parents had let their minds wander into horror stories far too much. At least Johara was playing along in a brave manner. “Now Johara..those boys are just trying to scare you, and you don’t need that helmet in here, this house is mighty safe.” Evyleen gestured with her chin to the object on her daughter’s head, a silent command to remove it.

With the food finally served, Evyleen sat down and pulled two pieces of bread onto her platter. She attempted to ignore the tingling at the back of her neck about this fanciful story her daughter was weaving, but something bothered her about it. She tried to rationalize that a soldier or sailor had probably been trying to spook the boys into staying home or in the city…but why bother with the refugees? Unless that was the entire purpose…to scare the people of this area.

The idea irritated Evyleen to no end.

The news of hearing Brody was going to wander off again caught Evyleen by surprise. ”He’s what?” She looked at her daughter suddenly, then sighed as a stone fell into the pit of her stomach. Again he was going to leave. Again he was going to leave them both hopeless and alone in this pit of a town. Johara was going to miss him gravely, and Evyleen was going to have to console her daughter as her heart was torn again and again from his escapades into the abyss. Why couldn’t the man just find a steady job and keep them company.

At her daughter’s question, Evyleen looked up, watching Johara’s eyes carefully before she feigned a sweet smile. “Of course he will dear. He always does eventually doesn’t he?” Evyleen gave Johara a gentile brush on her cheek with her fingers before tucking a lock of hair behind her ears. “He just likes to go on wild adventures. Boys are silly like that.” tapping her daughter lightly on the nose, Evyleen focused her attention back onto her food, trying to ignore the dread that was increasing.

“What are you going to do today darling?”

[Johara Karalis]

Johara frowned and removed her only protection, her mother was probably right that they wouldn't attack her in the house. She had only brought it out so she wouldn't forget it for later. Walking over to where she left her blanket she placed the put on top before slowly making her way to the table.

She fell silent after she mentioned where her favorite Uncle had gone, mostly due to her mind going over possible ways to convince her mother that her story may be off but was true. Picking up her bread she nibbled on it while listening to her mother’s encouragement at the return of the third member of their family. It helped and at the same time was not enough, someday he might return but it could be years from now and that was far too long. There was also the possibility that something could happen to him on one of his journeys, he could die and they might never find out. Then Uncle Brody would never come back home or at least not human....maybe as a ghost.

Even if she could she Brody as a spirit she much preferred him alive.

Johara returned her attention to her mother as she finished off her bread, "Going to see that crazy lady to see if she plans to bring back the sun" That was the women her mother had said was crazy, a very interesting woman indeed. "Some boy around here challenged me to a duel mum, I haven't decided if I'll accept yet"

Slowly but surely she began to eat her food at a faster pace, the taste of her mother’s cooking was always so good that she had trouble eating slowly. Once she finished she drank some of her water. "By the way, it's really true about that town Mum. The adults in the marketplace have been gossiping about it, they lost touch with the people in that town" Hence why it was obvious that Sea monsters were the culprits, they rose from out of the sea and dragged the people back down with them.

It was a fish revolution, humans have now become pray to the man eatting sea monsters!

[Evyleen Karalis]

Evyleen held in a shallow rumble of displeasure at her daughters confession of going to see the crazy lady. Crazy lady indeed, the woman was bat shit insane, but she understood Johara’s enjoyment of seeing the woman. The fanciful promises of sunshine and warmth and good health were sometimes all children had to keep them happy in such dreary days. Evyleen was more than glad that her daughter remained naïve of the realities of living in the Refugee quarter. While she had good enough sense to know her daughter wasn’t a complete innocent, she knew that Johara had her happiness and her dreams, and these alone were inspiring enough to Evy.

As if to mirror her mother’s thoughts of her lack of innocence, Johara mentioned a boy challenging her to a duel. Evyleen rolled her eyes with a soft chuckle, taking a bite of her food and chewing thoughtfully. After a moment, she looked to her daughter. “Ah, so that was what your helmet was really for? Preparing for battle aye?” Evyleen looked at her daughter from under her lashes, taking a brief moment to let herself go. “Well now, no proud daughter of mine will let such an outlandish challenge go unanswered?” Evyleen gave her daughter a wink before going back to her food.

She knew she was practically giving her daughter permission to get in trouble, but she knew that her daughter also had a reasonable-albeit young- head on her shoulders. Johara surely wasn’t going to get herself beaten up or any such thing. It was a child’s game, rough and tumble. And yes while she would love to keep her daughter cooped up in a room learning sewing and cooking…she knew that thanks to a certain male influence in their lives, Johara would never be that girly.

Lost in her thoughts, Evyleen started slightly when her daughter spoke again of the town. At first she was going to dismiss the child’s rambling, before she actually took a moment to listen. So there was talk about this in the town among adults? A town gone quiet? Evyleen nodded, keeping her emotions to herself and remaining plaid faced. “I’ll see what I hear at the Inn today. Maybe it’s just a messenger gone missing, it is winter dear, I wouldn’t be surprised if he was turned around in the storm.” She wanted Johara to feel safe, to not fret or worry about monsters or bad things.

Being in the refugee quarter was bad enough…she didn’t need more on her shoulders.

[Johara Karalis]

Johara smiled quite proudly before speaking to her mother, "No way Mum, I'm strong like you! Much stronger than a bunch of stupid boys anyways" She always spoke proudly at being the daughter of Evyleen Karalis because she was. Her mother was the best mother in all of Escova, no, the whole world!

She loved her mother more than all the adventures in the world, no matter what she wanted to always see a smile on her face.

Some adults might say that she was too young to think of such things but Johara didn't think so. If her mother could think about her happiness than why couldn't it work the other way around. She still went out and had her fun but everyday she thought about how to help her mother out, even a little bit.

Johara nodded her head to her mother but said no more about it, if she wanted to convince herself that it was nothing then so be it. Johara knew the truth and her mother would find out eventually, which reminded her. "Mum can I come to work with you today? Please! I promise not to cause trouble today"

[Evyleen Karalis]

Evyleen couldn’t resist the grin of pride that touched her lips briefly. Her daughter was head-strong, that much was obvious. It reminded her of herself when she was younger, strong, brave, willing to take on the world. Johara wasn’t afraid, it was a good thing to see. In this refugee world where anything could be around the next corner Evyleen had been afraid her daughter would become leery, terrified of the world, and would coop herself up in the house. She was exactly the opposite, she was brave and adventurous. Perhaps that was help of Brody…perhaps that was Evyleen…or perhaps Johara was just her own girl.

Evyleen glanced at her daughter as she finished her food, amused. Once she had finished eating she went to pick up her dishes and move them over to the basin of water she would wash them in. She set them aside at first, collecting the rest of the dishes from the table. As she did, Johara piped up her question, and she laughed. “You’ll behave?” Evyleen gave her daughter a look,, a grin still on her face as she went back to the basin, and began washing the dishes. “Well…I know you’ll promise not to cause trouble…but…” She put the dish aside, knowing well Johara would go to drying them with the rag. “I might be busy today…would you be willing to help me this time?” She rose a brow, looking at Johara with a smile.

She would always let Johara play around the tavern when she wanted. The Barkeep loved her, and so did the Innkeep. They both thought she was just a ball of sunshine in the bitter winter, and the wives of both keeps…who also worked back in the kitchen with Evyleen, thought Johara was just ‘precious’.

[Johara Karalis]

Johara watched her mother with anticipation; it was mean of her mother to leave her hanging like this.

Jumping out of her chair she joined her mother by the sink to dry the dishes and putting them away once she finished drying them. She had just put the second plate away when her mother gave the official approval with a bonus that she could help. Practically leaping back she pounced her mother for a hug her arms circling around her mother’s hip.

"I'll help mom!"

She really loved being able to help her mother with anything, just being able to go with her to work and spend more time with her was the best! Johara would say it a million times but she loved her mother, she just wanted for her to be happy and to be close to her always.

Maybe the barkeep would show her some more tricks today, she couldn't wait. She would only break away to visit him when the tavern wasn't so busy.

[Evyleen Karalis]

Evyleen smiled at her daughter, finishing the dishes and trying her hands on a rag. "That's a good girl, go hurry up and get ready to go then, we'll head off in a few moments." Evyleen gave Johara a pat on the head as she went to wipe down the table. When she was done, she poked the fire until it was down to smouldering coals.

She went to dress herself then, changing out of her attire into her dark grey linen dress and the apron that she wore at the Inn. When she was done dressing, she pulled her hair up into a bun and got her cloak and gloves. Put on her boots, and stepped back out.

"Are you ready dear?"

[Johara Karalis]

Johara bounced off cheerfully back to the bedroom replacing her helmet and her blanket where they belonged. Quickly looking around the room she found her scarp and stuffed her pockets with random items that would amuse her during the quieter hours of the tavern.

Before leaving the room she picked a ribbon off the floor rushing out the door and over to her mother with a smile, "Mum, can you put my hair up too! Please!" She wanted to look just like her mother!