A Wish To Grant

ch.2

Pov of the prince

It’s been 2 weeks since I've left the palace and all I have found so far are lies and criminals. At this rate I'll lose everything.
“Your highness, we are 30 minutes away from Rabbi village. Would you like to send a scout ahead to ask around?” a guard asks from outside the carriage.
“Yes, send one quickly” I say
I sigh knowing im just wasting my time. Im not going to find anything. I'll have to go back empty handed just to watch my mother die. I know I shouldn't but I cant help but to think about giving up so I can spend more time with her before she passes. The more I think of ways to save her the more I think of impossible ways. For instance selling my soul, but could I still see her, will I be tricked?
Time seems to be painstakingly slow because of my mind, but we do eventually get to the village. From the inside of the carriage I hear the scout say he found a lead. I swing the door open and start questioning him.
Apparently a young man asked a goddess to heal his father, and she came and healed him. The young man supposedly saw and spoke to her.
“I don't believe it” I say shaking my head
“But your highness I asked around and the people along with the village doctor said he wouldn’t have survived the night. They too are calling it a miracle. I have also heard more accounts of the lake goddess” the guard says
“Have you spoken to the boy?” I ask
“No, but I do have directions to his house” he says
“Take me there” I order
In the matter of seconds im in the carriage again and in minutes were there.
“We are here your highness” the scout says
I take a breath before getting out. Hopefully I look calm. One of my guards knock on the door and a young man opens the door.
“Hello- whats going on” he says releasing the men in front of him are dangerous
“I have important questions that need to be answered, and I  hope you have those answers” I say
He nods and steps outside and shuts the door behind him.
“I knew the moment I opened my mouth someone would come looking for me, but I didnt expect someone powerful” he says nervously
“Is it true the goddess grants wishes” I ask
“Yes, but not in the way you think. She has her powers and she uses them to grant the wish. So To her it’s more like completing a task” he explains
“So she has limits” I ask hoping distance isn't one of them
“Yes” he answers
“Could she heal a woman in the capitol” I ask
“I don't know, you have to be detailed about the directions or she might get lost.” he said
“Are you calling her incapable” I ask
“No of course not, I wouldn't dare to” the young man gets enraged at my comment
“Of course my apologies” I say
“I have things to do so if you don't mind can we wrap this up” he says looking displeased
“Yes, just a few more left. Where is the lake and how do I ask for the wish” I say
“She only grants wishes on the full moon, you need to write a note asking for the wish and the directions to wherever you need her to do it, then you ask her out loud. You then spill your blood into the water. You need to spill however much the wish would mean to you. Then you leave the letter and go home or do whatever” he says
“Could she potentially grant a wish that costs her to leave for more than a day or two” I ask
“I don't know, I didn't ask” he said upset
Hes getting irritated “im really sorry for being rude, how are you and your father now” I ask
He lightens up a bit “we are quite well tho its been a month we decided to clean out the house, sell a few things as well” he said
“Im glad, he must be a great father if you would go through so much to save him” I say
“Of course i would, he’s the only one who cares about me in this stupid village. Not only as a father but as a friend. What about you, don’t you have someone like that” he asked
I cant help but to feel hurt, my mother was the only one who really cared, but now shes dying. “No, my mother was the only one I could rely on, but only as a mother” I notice I have been giving a sad look and fix it.
He looks sad too, like he lost something.
“Well, I hope you and your father live happily from now on.” I say with a smile
“I hope so too” he says
“Oh, I almost forgot, where is the lake” I ask
“Oh, yea, its down the road, take the first left. Find a building that says The Pigs Bar and a little farther there will be a path, take the path and you'll arrive at the lake.” he says full of confidence.
“Thank you” I say with a wave
“Hey Mr. the goddess will decide if she wants to turn down the wish or complete it.” he says before I reach the carriage.
I nod and wave goodbye as I get in the carriage.
          
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I lay in a small hard bed staring up at a flat wooden ceiling. Turns out the Pigs Bar is a tavern as well as an inn. I look at the grains in the wooden ceiling thinking about what that young man said. What if she doesn't want to do it? The full moon lasts three days, we cant get there and back before its over. Will something bad happen if she dosnt make it. What will i ask her. What will the directions be like.

I think and think some more and before i know it it’s dinner time and a guard has bright me food.
“Your highness what are thinking about” he asks while setting the food on the table.
“Im just thinking of the goddess” i say sitting up
“I thought you might be, i did some more digging and found a few other people who had asked for her help and received it” he says
“Really?”words cant describe my surprise
“Yes, there are three of them that i could track down” he says
“Alright, what happened” i ask
“Well the first ones are a bit morbid,” he says, slightly conscious.
“It’s ok go ahead” i say
“There was a man that was abusive towards his family,after four-teen years of this, the daughter went to the river and asked for his death. She woke up to her mother in her bed and her father screaming in agony. It turns out she placed her mother in her bed and dragged the man to the middle of the village with a loud beast killing him. She then strung up the body. She then wrote a letter saying she cut his time short and he is now paying for the sins he committed.” he tells me
“She cut his life short, can she even do that, shes only the goddess of the lake” i ask
“I'm not sure, your highness” he says nervously
“Ok, well go on to the next” i say
“Well the next one was an older woman who lost her lover, she wanted to give up on life. The goddess took her out on her porch and sat with her, there are many witnesses of this. I guess the woman was get on forfeiting her life and the goddess respected her wishes and and peacefully killed her, keeping her body intact. The lady did leave a letter though, but the leader of the village has it, so i'm unsure of what it says.” he apologized for the lack of details on it.
“There's no need for apologies, please continue” i say
“Of course, the next one was of a poor man whos wife was going to have a child,and once she went into labor he couldn't shake a bad feeling. so he went to the lake goddess and asked for her blessing that the child would grow up healthy. She emerged from the lake and asked him to guide her there. He did and once there she walked in to the room and helped the woman. The baby was thought to be still born but the goddess smashed it up and slapped its butt. The baby began to cry. She then cleaned it and handed it to the mother, saying it’s a beautiful boy. She then walked out and broke the news to the poor man. She then disappeared without a trace.” he says
“So she will follow people” i asked under my breath
Pieces of the wish I need to ask for start coming together. I think some more and I believe I have perfected it.
“Your highness, the first day of the full moon is tomorrow. Shall I prepare everything to leave two days from now?” he asks
“Yes we will leave that morning” i say
“Ok anything else your highness?” he asks
“ yes could you find me paper and something to wright with” i ask
“Yes sir” he says and leaves
I think some more until it's perfect. I look at the food that was brought in and taste it, it's really good compared to the food the guards prepare when we are on the move. Sadly my stomach has shrunk in the past 2 weeks, and i’m only able to eat a half. I sigh and lay back down on the bed and look out the window. If this works I can see my mother again.