Little Red for Mr. Rydding Hood: The Lost World of Agartha 1

Chapter 10

And he’s gone!

Mr. Hood was nowhere in sight as if the figure Princess Loaisa saw minutes ago was only an illusion. She was rushing to get to him but made sure not to stumble upon the trees’ roots and stones, or thick sands. If she had only kept her eyes on him, she would have known where he went. But that might have caused her trouble if she accidentally fell.

But Princess Loaisa could swear knew what she saw, and it was Mr. Hood!

How he was suddenly nowhere and out of sight even after looking around in search of him was a question to her. He looked uncomfortable earlier. Even in pain. With such discomfort, no one could make a quick move and be gone. Besides, where else would he be when…

As the wind blew from behind her, she was dumbstruck by a force pushed upon her chest and the abrupt pain erupting from her back as she hit the tree behind her ― from which Mr. Hood was leaning earlier. Little gasp managed to escape her lips before a strong, huge and rough hand clamped down over her lips.

Her eyes widened to the darkened blue eyes scowling at her, a circle of dark shadows underneath them. She knew instantly it was Mr. Hood. But when her eyes traveled around his face and his neck, he looked like a completely different person if not for the eyes. Although it should be a clearer color of blue and not darkened.

His quivering lips were too dry and too pale. Like a drying cement. Little cracks were forming. Her eyes traveled farther down to his neck, and a gasp vibrated in her throat. From his jaw to his neck and down, being covered by his gray jacket, his skin was white, almost greyish, and dry. They followed the lines of his protruded veins. They looked like they would pop out anytime soon, and this frightened the hell out of Princess Loaisa.

She pushed Mr. Hood off her. He must have been really weak because she barely put enough strength and he was already off her. He stepped back, almost stumbling back in fragility. He would have fallen if Princess Loaisa did not get a hold of his shirt in time. She fisted her hand around it and pulled him back.

He threw her a threatening glare towards her, but the pain was taking over his body. It showed on his crumpled face.

“What’s wrong?” she asked as she gently laid him on the ground and leaned on the tree. She knew she was not supposed to panic at times like this, so she tried to calm down, although she did not know what to do. It was not every day she encountered situations like this and people in the palace…

She’s not in her palace! She exclaimed to herself and focused on the situation at hand. She gasped as his hand grasped his wounded arm and knew instantly it was because of the poison.

“I should ask for help,” she said and was about to rise when his hand grabbed her arm. He barely made a shake of his head. His voice trembled for difficult words.

“Don’t,” he rasped.

“But we need their help? You’re not supposed to be affected by the arrow’s poison.”

His jaw clenched as he pursed his lips shut and deliberately shook his head to make a point. Biting her lower lip, Princess Loaisa had no choice but to listen to him. They were only meters away from anyone who could hear them. She could scream for help, but she did not want to put the already suffering man into distress.

“What should we do then?” she muttered more to herself and started looking around for anything that could help. She recalled herbal medicines were abundant in Mindanao alone.

Northumbria already had modern and processed medicines you could just gulp or sip, but most of the products used herbal plants. They naturally grew in Mindanao, but as time passed by and not everyone could travel all the way down here on a daily basis to get them, the supply decreased, making them too expensive in the market of Mercia as the demand rose.

Princess Loaisa did not bother to familiarize herself with it, not knowing she would be needing the knowledge in the future. Now, she hoped she did. But all she could do now was remember how they looked in the picture and hoped to see them around.

“What are you doing?” asked Mr. Hood in a strained voice. His eyes were hooded due to the heavy eyelids. His chest heaved heavily to keep up with his breath.

“Plants? Leaves?” she answered without looking back as she was busy checking all the leaves and grasses, and literally anything that had leaves and grew around them. “Medicinal plants? They should be around here. The Book of Tales said they are common south and they grow naturally on this land…” She picked all that was familiar to her and it amazed her to see them abundant around. But she did not stop looking for one particular plant that could help her with the poison. “I can’t believe they are all really here! The palace’s physician would be so amazed to know about this. But please, wait patiently as I can’t find that very one. It should be around here too, but― found it!” she exclaimed the moment she saw the one near the tree roots.

She rushed back to Mr. Hood, put down all the plants she retrieved, but kept the one for the poison on her hand, and presented the yellow-green leaves to him.

“This is Arcangelisia Flava. This should help with the poison, and the rash on your skin and…”

His skeptical look demanded more explanation, but she doubted they had more time for that. Besides, she feared telling him it was trial and error and that this was the first time she would do and use them. But Princess Loaisa wanted to trust the Book of Tales. Raw, herbal plants should be easy to use.

Pressing her lips together, she untied the bandage around his wound, ignoring his painful groans no matter how harder the sound tugged inside her. After finally untying the wound, she almost choked at the look of it. It was slowly rotting! Although there was no foul smell, the unpleasant look was enough to turn her stomach upside down. It was like something invisible by the naked eyes was eating up his flesh every second passed.

It was such a disturbing sight to see, and the princess had never witnessed such an illness in her life.

She swallowed the disgust. Her pity for his sufferings was greater that tears formed in the corner of her eyes. Mr. Hood noticed it, making a strange look on his face. Princess Loaisa immediately dismissed the emotion. She put out the drinking plastic for the wine and poured it on a few drinks to disinfect before gently putting them flat against his wound. She used the same clothing to wrap around his arm and kept the leaves on the wound.

She did not ask him about her silk handkerchief either.

Expecting him to cry out loud from the pain, she offered her arm to bite again and suppressed the sound. But Mr. Hood gritted his teeth and looked away from the offering, seeing how his bite had left a red mark on her wrist.

Her lips trembled to witness his struggle.

“Please, tell me if there're changes. Should you feel uncomfortable or if the pain worsened… I’m really sorry, but this is my first time using these plants. This is the second time I have helped with the wound. The first was this wound, too… but with the wine.” She grimaced at the realization of how strange her medication was. But herbal plants should not be as strange as centuries-old wine from her bag.

Mr. Hood had been trying to keep his emotion hidden from her as much as possible as she kept on inclining her head towards him with careful sympathy. But his head spun around to her at the revelation.

He should have known she was too young to have knowledge of medicines! He knew too well there were lots of poisonous plants around. Now, if she somehow found something that could worsen the situation… considering it was already worse as he was on the edge of his self-restraint. Any minute now and he would be…

“Oh! I think someone’s coming here…” Princess Loaisa attempted to rise to get their attention, but Mr. Hood pulled him down. His blazing eyes reminded her of his demand. But her startled gasp already caught the on-comers' attention. They glanced in the direction of the sound. Princess Loaisa quickly ducked down to hide her head, and when she closed her eyes, it was as if the wind struck her directly to her face, but she had no idea where it came from.

When she opened her eyes, Mr. Hood and her had changed position… and place. They were no longer to the tree, but moved on the lower land and leaned on the tree further from the approaching men. Their footsteps could be heard hitting the dried leaves.

Princess Loaisa’s lips parted. She tried to look back to see the distance of the prior tree from this one, but Mr. Hood tightened his hold on her. She blinked, suddenly becoming aware of her hand laid flat against his hard chest as his arms wrapped around her to keep her from moving. His warm breath directed to her skin, and she had never felt such electricity traveled in her system. But she believed it was the aftermath of the shock of how he had moved swiftly to change location when she barely felt either of them made a move. It was just a blink of an eye and…

“You’re changing!” she exclaimed in surprise, but whispered a voice as the men were already walking away from them. Mr. Hood’s eyes widened a fraction. He was a little drastic when he pushed Princess Loaisa off him, but the latter did not notice it as she was pleased by what she was seeing. “I mean, you’re healing! Look, your eyes are lighter again and your skin is normal.”

Absent-mindedly, her fingers reached out to feel his warm skin and made sure he had really healed. However, when her caress went up to his jaw and her thumb was about to touch his lips, Mr. Hood grabbed her wrist and stopped her.

Realizing what she did, Princess Loaisa gave him an apologetic and shy smile before backing away from him. “I’m sorry― but look, you’re really fine now! The plants can really help.”

They both glanced down at his arm. But in contrast to her pleasant face, Mr. Hood’s face hardened. This slowly made her smile flattened. His eyes directed at her.

“I do appreciate the help,” he started. “I’ll be forever in debt to your kindness and willingness to help, young lady, but I hope next time, be mindful of your actions. You may have saved me. This may be a great thing for me, but what if you chose poisonous plants instead of the one for healing poisons? You’re too young and―”

“You think I’m stupid because I’m young?” she asked in disbelief. She was so transparent that he was able to witness the pain that crossed her delicate features. He had not said such a foul word against her, but it was what her comprehension of his words led her to. That because she was young, she was mindless of her actions that might create further danger. Silly to think she was smart enough to play doctor.

“I meant your recklessness might―”

“My apologies, sir, but I know the plants. I regret paying little attention studying them before but I can recognize them that’s why―”

“You picked up all the plants you touched because you’re too delighted to see them?” he interrupted with a jerk of his head towards the leaves they left beneath the first tree. “They could all be poisonous ―or dangerous with your bare hands.”

She swallowed hard and lowered her head as her fingers fidgeted with each other. Why did she feel like it was a sermon? A lesson to be learned and was spoken as to how the King would have said it? She was really glad the plants helped, and although he was not as thankful as he claimed. She understood what he meant. Even Northumbria had dangerous plants growing on the edge of the cliff or near the river. He had a point, but she couldn’t put a finger on why she was embarrassed to hear him say the word.

He could have at least been a little nicer, right?

“Are you mad?” she whispered, refusing to look up at him.

The innocent, almost painful question startled the man. He quickly realized his mistake and should have spoken to her with gentleness. But he was distressed with the thought of her mistakenly picking dangerous plants and not only worsened his situation but also her safety.

He sighed heavily and raked his fingers through his hand. The young lady saved him. He should be grateful.

“I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings,” he said with sincerity coating his hoarse voice. “My apologies, young lady.”

“Loai―” she cleared her throat, aware of the close mistake of revealing her identity she almost made. “Red. You should call me Red, Mr. Hood.”

He nodded and frowned as she continued to keep her head on the ground. “You know my name?”

“Nana Sora mentioned it.”

“I got worried you’d put yourself into danger picking up random plants.” His voice was solemn. “I thought you knew what you were doing, but your admittance indeed shocked me. I apologize again for the hurtful words.”

She barely shook her head. Her head raised but could only look at his wound. “You said no single hurtful words. I thought you were mad and I miscomprehend your intention to lecture me.”

“It wasn’t lecturing. I want to prevent such incidents from happening again. You know, wild plants could be dangerous. What you learn from books can be a lot more different from real life.” She nodded with understanding, but he was not satisfied not to see her innocent smile again. He believed he had really offended her. “I do apologize, Red.”

She blinked and finally looked up at him. Her eyes reflected awe as she wondered how her real name would have sounded on his lips. The thought startled her, so she blinked rapidly. “Forgiven,” she whispered, and Mr. Hood showed her his perfect smile. She refused the urge to blink again or she would have looked dumb in front of him.

“Can I ask you a favor, Little Red?”

“Little Red?”

He chuckled, and it was music she had never heard before but wanted to be hearing again and again from now on.

“Please, let’s spare everyone the worry. You see, I’m all good now, thanks to you. But can we keep this one a secret to everyone?”

“Would that be okay? If they learned the arrow poisoned you, they could work to be a little careful next time so as not to hurt any of us again. And the wolves! They eat meat wolves because they thought the poison only affected the animals. We could save them from trouble if we tell them now.”

Mr. Hood stared at her for a little longer, and she patiently waited for his opinion.

“It was my fault I got struck by a stray arrow yesterday. I can guarantee you the poison doesn't affect anyone who eats the… the meat. They’ve been trying them for years now so…”

“You just don’t want them to worry?” she asked to clear things out. It was the mere reason he did not want to tell them, right?

He both nodded and shook his head. “I don’t want to frighten them. Besides, my wound might have gotten infected after I took a bath in the stream last night.”

Understanding his point, she nodded and smiled at him. Mr. Hood smiled back at her. She couldn’t tell what was with the smile making her heart warm. She had seen so many people smile genuinely at her, but nothing of them flattered her the way this smile did.

When his hand lifted to gently stroke her head over the hood, she was reminded of how she caressed Magellan’s hair. The thought of her stallion made her miss home, but she had to dismiss the longing before it registered on her face. Little did she know, Mr. Hood had noticed the emotion that was all familiar to him.