The Anxious Rendezvous

                    Chapter 1

“Drink this herbal licorice root tea to relieve your headache. Drink it while it is warm. These tea leaves are freshly picked from the fields by the local farmers this morning. I will give it to you for free. Take this after eating your meal to avoid stomach upsets. Don't eat spicy foods while you are drinking this.” the herbalist said while mixing other dry powders and seeds with lukewarm water.

“Yes, Miss Elizabeth, I will do what you said. Thank you and may God from above bless you all the time for your goodwill. Here are the newly-baked bread my wife made. Take this.” the man handed her a paper bag full of breads.

“Thank you, Mister. I won’t refuse your offer; I haven’t got that much money to afford eating breakfast. I truly appreciate this.” Elizabeth smiled sincerely towards the man.

The man found himself walking towards the wooden door. Elizabeth began eating the warm bread. She is so hungry.

The herbalist is a young woman in her late twenties, with smooth, fair skin, long wavy blonde hair, sharp chin, round eyes, aquiline nose, long eyelashes, red, luscious lips, and a smile that can light up a whole room. Her eyes are shining with glee. She is the leader of herbalists in France, and her abilities range from using unpopular plants growing in murky waters and even utilizing some medicinal contents from soil that an ordinary person think is poisonous. Being an adventurous woman herself, she experimented a lot of things, and tried everything to help the poor people who cannot afford the expensive healthcare of French cities. Growing from a fortunate family owning hectares of farmland, she learned a lot of things, like the suffering of the poor ones and their demise, that’s why she chose to live the life of a peasant. She believes that everything has a purpose; nothing is such a waste. Nothing in this world exists without a certain purpose. Otherwise, it would not have been created by God. She is a religious woman herself, dedicated to helping people and serving God.

Her vision to help the needy became widespread in France in an instant, and other young and reserved women wanted to help her and be the change needed in French society. Housewives, young and old women, educated or illiterate, joined her in her practice. They studied traditional medicine with the guidance of Elizabeth, the pioneering herbalist of the French people. She then organized a union for the traditional medicine that consists of women. Men are not that into medicine, they are much more interested in business. Together, they travelled all parts of France-the suburban zones, cities, and remote areas to reach out to the sick ones. Every nook and crook of France was travelled by the union. Their union became famous, as all women in French cities joined her. The French society never did know that women have so much potential like venturing into the world of medicine; they just thought that women are just holes for reproduction, and house makers, also, tending to the needs of the children. Women doctors became common in every French city.

This news made the men of the elites’ rank angry. They felt that their fame is endangered by these happenings. Both national and local newspapers have news about the union; men’s achievements became outpaced. People applauded the women’s works, not like the capitalists’ doings in the French society that is all about money and politics.

Businessmen, politicians, and priests had a meeting in the city hall, the year after the union was organized. They had an idea that will control the recognition and image of the women. And this idea is not for the common good. It is for money. It is for their pockets and wallets to be stuffed with the money from the masses needing urgent healthcare.

To employ and exploit the knowledge of the women herbalists, they want to sell the medicines and services the women offer. This way, the laymen will think that the women are also money-makers, and are not really into public service. Their good image as herbalists will be tainted in the eyes of the poor people. This will spark outrage in the areas covered by the union.

 “Lady Elizabeth, come here! The local governor and priest visited you!” her apprentice shouted from downstairs.

She rolled her eyes in disgust.

The local governor wants her service. Not only for medicine.

But also, her body. The local governor has a huge crush of Elizabeth ever since she and her organization snatched the limelight.

The local governor is a bearded old man with noticeable wrinkles in his face, crooked nose and a bad breath. He is notorious for being a womaniser, flirtatious, abuser, corrupt, and is also, at most, a criminal. It is of gossip in the town that he makes his female maids wash him once every week. He stinks and is not that fond of bathing and washing himself.

He kills and disposes anyone who opposes him. Even the teenage local garbage collector is killed because of him.

He just saw the poor garbage collector roaming the streets doing his job. Dirty as he is, as is expected of his job, which is also keeping the streets clean, the governor saw him and labelled him as an eyesore. He ordered the poor, young boy hanged in public. The public just watched passively the execution. At first, they pitied him, and as the time passes by, they just left him and forgot the injustice that happened.

The reason for hanging the boy? FOR DISRUPTING PUBLIC ORDER.

The townsfolk trembles at the sight of him, not only because of fear, but the cringe feeling that comes from his smelly body. But they cannot do anything to overthrow him, so they just stayed silent and submissive. He’s got paid militia, money, guns, and influence. The governor also controls the church. He has money to burn, and the church needed it for the clerical activities to survive. With finances, he pulls some strings to be acquitted of his wrongdoings.

He wants to possess Elizabeth. So bad. To.. Be. His. Lawful. Wife. He is so fond of the law that he uses and distorts it for his own benefit.

In addition to his other women of various ages, including minors he coerced into marrying him. He collects women as toys, then tosses them away if he already got used to their presence.

He does not love people at all, much less a woman. Thus, he also does not love his constituents.

“Elizabeth, how have you been? I missed you. These days, you are so busy roaming the streets of France. What are you up to? the governor said flirtatiously. He winked at her.

Elizabeth felt horrified at the sight of the man.

“Mr. Honorable Governor, where I go, or what I do, does not concern you. You are not my family, nor a friend, to ask me how are things going in my life. Would you just please excuse me? I am busy with making my medicines, I will give these tomorrow to the local people. I need to distribute this to other herbalists in other French towns. I am busy, as you can see.” Elizabeth is vigorously mixing the mixture in the transparent glass, on the verge of almost breaking it. A crack appeared in the ceramic.

“Miss Elizabeth, I know that you know why I am here. Don’t you really want to explore or try some things? You know, I can give you one that can truly change your monotonous life.” he is caressing her neck.

Elizabeth turned around from the table and gripped the governor’s hand away from her body. She is turning red, furious. The man has made many sexual advances with various women in the past.

Including herself. And now, she is the latest target.

She won’t give in. She will never, ever give in, even if he will give him money and properties that many women want.

“Why won’t you just give up? I will never marry you, even in my next life. Why would I be with a filthy man like you all my life? That will be hellish, much more hellish that is described in the Holy Scriptures.” she responded with an annoyed tone in his voice.

The atmosphere inside the apothecary is so tense.

“I thought you are a smart woman. But it is like I have been wrong all this time. Oh, well, I have a proposal for you. Will you spare me some of your time and lend me your ears? This may be the answer to your daily prayers. Aren’t you asking for donations and sponsorships from the charitable families of every town? That is really a tedious activity.” the governor said while inspecting the medicinal mixtures in the wooden room. A sound of water dropping echoes the whole room.

“You need some fixtures and repairs in your room. There is a whole in the ceiling, water is leaking, and it is not good for the medicines, they might get spoiled easily because of the water, the moisture. Money is needed to support your inexperienced apprentices from neighbouring towns, travel expenses and your food requires some money. Just swallow your pride and come to me. I will gladly welcome you and be of a much help to you. Aside from that, your union have promising and amazing talents. If you will just allow me and the other business owners to buy your medicines and promote it to the masses, which includes both the rich and the poor people, there will be a huge amass of wealth that will stuff our pockets, and you can manage and sustain your medicinal works and teaching ventures to other women. This proposal is a win-win situation, isn’t it?” the man’s eyes are sparkling, like a puppy, and he is expecting a positive response from Elizabeth this time. He regularly visits Elizabeth in the past to ask her to date him, but the woman just won’t budge.

“I am sorry, Mister, but I dare to refuse your offer. My duty is to help the people in need, and not be a burden to them and to their everyday lives. Money is very difficult to obtain these trying times, and we all know that it is just made of papers and metals; I am happy with the humble meals and free accommodations the people offer to me in exchange of my service every time I rove areas. The vegetables and fruits are enough to relieve my hunger when I am walking to reach out and share my knowledge to people, expensive meat that rich guys always superbly eat in your fancy tables are just additional for my diet, for I am not so fond of them. Aside from that, priceless smiles that reaches from ear to ear of my patients who are relieved of their ills are the most expensive payment the people can give to me. You can just shove the papers and metals that came from the unjust taxes of the labourers and farmers down your throats until you are full. I don’t care. Just leave us alone in peace while doing our jobs.” Elizabeth is walking to the other side of the room to get some raw ingredients from the bottled jars.

A fishy odour instantly appears and surrounds the small room.

“I am making a medicinal potion for cough. The starting ingredients have an awful smell. If you cannot take it, just leave this place and never come back.” Elizabeth smirked at the governor.

He stared at her for a minute, and afterwards, walked angrily out of the room.

“I will come back with vengeance, Elizabeth. I never lose, and never been rejected. I will make sure that I will win and the end, and you’ll come running for me begging on your knees. Mine will be the last laugh.”

Lucas, the young local priest, is outside, waiting for the local governor to come out. Elizabeth saw him, they exchanged glances from each other, and Lucas looked away. Elizabeth is still staring at him until they left.

Elizabeth's eyes are welling with tears. But she shook it off and came back to what she's making-a new version of medicine for cough, and it is much less cheap, and for sure, the people at the lowest rank can get this.

The local governor turned to have provide a last gaze at the establishment, and rode his own horse carriage. The local priest did climb the carriage after him. The local governor whipped his servant, out of his whim, he wants to vent his frustration and anger out of the strained meeting few minutes ago. His servant had many scathe in his back and arms that he can barely control the reins of the horse. He cried a single drop of tear from his left eye, and whipped the horse. The horse galloped towards the official municipal home to get ready for a special occasion. The governor is late for the loyal gathering in the imperial castle, where superb meals are served every month for the gathering of the politicians and business owners. While the people outside the castle are cold and dying of hunger.

A cool wind gushed to the windows of the carriage, and something caught his attention-the majestic mountains covered in mist. It is deemed mysterious by the townsfolk, so no one dared to go there. There is a local legend that says the mountains shelter monsters and horrifying creatures, and the explorers who dared to go there did not made it back home alive.

“Catalino, ready the horses, we are going to go to the mountains tomorrow. Bring some convenient meals for my me and my friends to eat on our way there. Bring your own food and necessities, and also, water. Wake up early, or else I will beat you.

“We are not going to the loyal gathering, Sire?” the horseman asked while raising the reins.

“No, we are not. No more questions asked, or else you won’t have any meals this afternoon and evening.” the old man lazily responded.

The horseman did not dare to utter a single word; he just goes on with holding the reins.

They arrived at the old man’s mansion, the grandiose mansion beside the entrance of the mountains’ tracks. He looked up the scenery.

You are truly a work of art. Tomorrow, I will explore you, and, you will be an addition to my valued possessions.

He is wakened up from his daydream by the servant.

“Sire, what kind of meals do you want me to bring?” the servant got a pen and paper from his pocket.

“Bring anything sumptuous and delicious. I am going to bring my friends and I do not wish to disappoint them. Deliver and drop Reverend Lucas to the church. Now, disappear from my sight.” he said as he came out from the carriage.

 The servant hurriedly sprinted towards the mansion door. He proceeded to whip the horse and the carriage left.

 I am tired.” the old man threw his body to the luxurious king size bed and closed his eyes for a minute, then it opened;

Tomorrow, I will go there. Let us see if those gossiped monsters can harm me. I am the most powerful here, and no one can stop me from doing what I want. Just try to kill me, all hell will break loose.