More Than Meets The Eye

As Arerto and her party rode closer to the village they passed the village graveyard. Arerto noticed a grave that was much further away from the others. Once the group reached the edge of the village they stopped and dismounted, up close they could see how rundown the village was, and with barely anyone outside. Nova volunteered to go in first, saying Simetra's blessing would protect her if the curse didn't act as exactly as they were told it did. Arerto reluctantly agreed and Nova entered the village proper.

After a few minutes she returned with a peasant woman by her side. "My Queen this is Mildred." Nova introduced.

"Your Highness" The peasant woman immediately bowed to Arerto, on lifting her head she gave the queen a nice smile.

"Well met" Arerto nodded to the woman and found herself returning the smile. Despite the red rashes on her left cheek and on both arms, Arerto thought Mildred to be an attractive woman. Mildred wore a rust colored linen bandana over top her chin length dirty blonde hair. The queen found Mildred's round face, violet eyes, and soft kissable looking lips very appealing. A cord necklace with some kind of wooden pendant hung around her neck. She had on a brown sleeveless hemp dress, tattered from age and ended at her knees. The ragged dress didn't hide her figure, but flaunted it instead. Showing off wide shoulders, a broad back, and her large breasts. Mildred had a bit of a tummy, but it looked good on her. With slightly toned arms, calloused hands, and long legs ending with bare dirty feet.

"My Queen I have seen and spoken with a few villagers and confirmed what we already know about the curse, as well a few things we did not know. I tried healing some of the sick and their rashes and boils disappeared. Then they magically returned, we are dealing with a very strong curse. Mildred is one of the few not bedbound and strong enough to move around. I'll let her explain more. " Nova spoke drawing the Arerto's attention.

"My Queen first let me tell you about this village, it was founded many moons ago and was just as in a bad state then as it is now. Things changed when somehow the founder of the village got a naiad to bless the village. The Naiads Blessing turned the village's fortunes around and the village prospered for many moons until recently. That very same naiad still lives today and makes her home not far from here. When misfortune came to the village we tried to contact her, but all who tried returned back to the village in some kind of haze. Many villagers believe that the one who cursed us is the water hag who showed up a few months ago."

"A water hag? The letter sent to us said nothing about a water hag or about this naiad" Arerto spoke up.

"I don't know why that wasn't mentioned your highness, the one who sent the letter was the village elder and he is currently too weak to even talk." Mildred shrugged her shoulders and continued. "The hag lives not far from here as well, but after learning of her presence none dare confront her. As for the curse you already know most of it, except for one part. That is that some are cursed worse than others. Most in the village have the bleeding boils and rashes and become very weak. While all the children and some of the adults like myself just get a itchy rash here and there, but besides the fact we can't leave the village were mostly fine." Mildred finished explaining.

Arerto took a moment and digest all that she had learned before coming to a decision. "We will rest outside of the village tonight just to be safe. Tomorrow Mildred you will tell us where to find this naiad, I will see what we can learn from her before we confront the water hag." Arerto informed them. "Lets make camp and rest, we have been riding hard." The amazons nodded at their queen's order and lead their horses off to the side to make camp. "Thank you Mildred for the information."

"It was nothing your highness."

"By the way Mildred I saw a grave further away from the rest. Why is that?" Arerto wondered.

" That grave is that of a young man who threw himself into the river, the village elder thought it was a bad omen and had him buried further away. The elder was right as the curse came soon after." Mildred solemnly spoke.

"I see, thank you for sating my curiosity. Good night Mildred"

"Good night my queen." Both women turned away, Mildred back to her home and Arerto to help the others make camp.