Page 7 of Darik's Quest

“Darik, of the northern clans. Far northern,” he added hastily. “I’m not sick or wounded but I’ve been sent on a quest by the Great Mother and I need help to find my way.”

“The goddess didn’t give you details, eh?” The old woman cackled. “So like her. Mysteries and more mysteries. Well sit down, don’t tower over me like a damn tree, boy.” Turning to the fire, she used tongs to pick up a small pot and poured steaming water into two mugs.

Darik set aside the spear and folded himself into a cross-legged position across the table from her. “I appreciate your help, old one.”

“Best to wait and see if I can or will help,” she said with a sniff. Holding out one bent hand, she gestured impatiently with the other. “Give me your hand so I may read the lines.”

Not sure what to make of the request, Darik hesitated. “With all due respect, I don’t think I need my fortune told today.”

“You don’t know what you need and neither do I yet,” she said. “This is part of the process. You want my help, you have to do what I request.”

Feeling foolish, he extended his hand palm up and reminded himself sternly not to show any sign of his talons. Imgraye curled her fingers around his, hissed and snatched her hand away as if burnt. She studied his face for a long moment and then said, “Wait here.” She rose, went to an open trunk full of bottles and vials and selected one, rubbing a sweet smelling lotion vigorously over both hands before returning to the table.

“There’s something about you, northern warrior, which gives me the chills,” she said frankly as she sat and arranged the folds of her embroidered cloth dress. Awkwardly she fumbled one handed with a fur cloak and he rose to assist her, which she tolerated with a sniff. As he sat on the pillows again, she said, “I’m tempted to send you away but I feel the influence of the Great Mother and therefore I have no choice in this matter.”

“I’m sorry,” he said, “But my need is great.”

She snapped her fingers and he gave her his hand again. This time the protective lotion must have dulled or prevented whatever had caused her initial reaction to the touch of his skin. He could feel her power although there was no green glow such as his pack’s healers displayed.

Swaying side to side, she closed her eyes. “I see a wolf, big and black furred. I see pain, suffering, longing, and loss. Yet I see love too and brotherhood.” Imgraye dropped his hand and opened her eyes.

He hoped his weren’t glowing. It was harder than he’d expected to tamp down all evidence of his true self. The fact she’d seen his wolf was dismaying.

“You—you are one with the wolf,” she said as if in accusation.

Speculating whether these Badari could scent truth and lies the way he could, Darik said, “I’m just a man, old one.”

“A man with dangerous secrets. There are legends, old and mostly forgotten about a race of men who carried the beast in their hearts. Take my advice and leave this camp as soon as you and I are through, for our good and yours.”

“Such is my intention.”

“You’ll find no friends here, not if anyone else suspects your hidden truths. There are other healers here at the gathering, none to equal my abilities and standing but capable enough to see you for who you are. Why the goddess would send one like you to us I have no idea.”

“As I said, she gave me a quest and I need help.”

Now she shoved one of the cups in his direction. “Tea. Drink and when we’re done I’ll read the leaves before you go. There may not be much to be discerned, given who you are, but it’s part of my duty when assisting a supplicant or a patient.”

His kind of Badari were immune to poisons and since she was drinking from her own cup readily enough, Darik drained the small serving of what she termed tea and set the mug aside. “May I tell you what I need, my lady?”

“I’m not the high chief’s wife,” she said with a frown. “Healer will do for a title. First we need to discuss payment. You’re not of my clan so I don’t work for free.” Imgraye opened a box at her side, plucked out a clay pipe painted with colorful symbols and packed it with fragrant leaves before lighting it with a small stick from the edge of the fire. Puffing away, she gestured. “I don’t have all day, man.”

He'd never heard of a healer charging for their services but then little was truly known about the ancestors and their daily lives. Belatedly he remembered the pouch of shells and stones he’d found in his sack and dug for it. Drawing it out of the larger bag, he loosened the thong and spilled the contents on the table, where they scattered.

Imgraye froze, eyes wide. Setting the pipe aside, she leaned close to the table to study the pattern his offerings made. Whatever insight she gleaned, she chose not to share, which suited Darik. He’d had about enough of magic. Using her fingertips she separated out five shells, including the largest and three of the stones. “You carry riches, man from the north. Best not to be so free to display this to others. There are those who could be tempted. And how is it one from the far north has such an assortment of shells from the ocean and in perfect condition besides?”

Darik scooped up the items she’d rejected and restored them to the pouch, hiding it away in the pack. “The Great Mother provides.”

“You must stand high with her indeed.” Imgraye tucked the items she’d bartered for her fee into a small pouch at her belt and took the pipe up again. Leaning against her pillows, seeming completely at ease, she said, “Tell me the nature of this quest and describe the help you need.”

“My people have few children,” he said. “My—my wife and I recently lost a child in the womb. It was early days but devastating to us both. I asked the Great Mother for help and she told me there was a spring here on this pl—in this area where the water contained special elements my wife and the wives of my brothers would need in order to conceive children and carry them to term.” He fished out the tiny glass flask and Imgraye eyed it with great interest. “I’m to fill this and take it home. One dose for my wife.”

“And the second dose?”

“For whoever my chief deems most worthy,” he lied, there not being any way to explain the doctors would conduct a detailed analysis of the liquid and its trace elements and manufacture industrial quantities for all the Badari Warriors’ mates. Referring to Nicolle as his wife rather than his mate was upsetting but Imgraye was suspicious enough of him. “Does such a spring even exist?”

“Oh absolutely,” she said with a nod of the head, to his great relief. “The spring of Dalaimira. But why don’t you go to the Great Mother’s temple and purchase the water your wife needs? With the trade goods you carry, even after paying my fee, the expense shouldn’t be a problem.”

“There’s a temple?” he replied in disbelief. Why had the Great Mother sent him to find a spring if all he had to do was go to this temple and buy or barter for a few doses?

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