1st of Ashan 721
The weather was beginning to warm, finally after the first Quarter of Ashan. So late that it almost made Woe wonder if it would ever begin to show signs of spring. But surely enough shoots began growing out of the ground, in the garden, and all across the newly greened lands of Scalvoris. He was sitting in his garden, on his hand, a ring of paradigm locking away those troublesome sparks that bedeviled him. While he found he was less capable of living life without magic as time went on, every once in a while it was nice to take a break without worrying whether one’s sparks would cause him some deleterious effect, or prompt him to do something unnatural.
He sipped some soup that Gloom had made for him, from theri stock in the kitchen. It was spiced barley, with carrots and minced greens and onions. Woe didn’t know how it was made, but glad that Gloom was around and willing to whip something up. He had to admit it beat eating rice or millet mixed with some water or a trace amount of milk.
He set the bowl to the side, on a table. A few flies buzzed about, which made his wolf spider familiar happy, as it pounced upon the larger of these, consuming them for its master.
Once the bowl was on the table, he drew out a notebook, and began tapping the empty page with a spare piece of graphite, unsure of what he was going to do. Normally he’d use this time to practice his runic script, but he wasn’t in the mood. Perhaps due to the Umbral Arachnid’s current state of slumber. So he just stared into the distance, while his hands held the notebook and graphite.
From the front of the house, the sound of a door opening and then shutting issued. He saw out of the corner of his eye, his former slave Soraia. She came around, wringing her hands as if she was nervous. Once she got in front of him, she stopped, and turned on her heel to face him. Her hands were still being wrung.
Woe looked up at her, and nodded, ”Something the matter Soraia?” He spoke in Vahanic, as she couldn’t yet speak a single word of common. He meant to have her learn, and send her to the University or else teach her himself, but these days moments that offered him such a diversion were fewer and farther between.
She responded in kind, ”Mas… Mister Morandi, I was wondering if… Perhaps I’d be allowed… Could I see about joining the Order of Adunih?”
Woe looked at her face, searching for signs of distress. When he perceived nothing but perhaps anxiety over asking what she perceived to be a great favor, he shrugged, ”Yes, you’re free to go anytime you like… But the Order has an Outpost only in Scalvoris and I think Almund, from what I gathered…”
She shook her head, ”I saw some cloaks the other day, right here in Egilrun. They looked like they were gathering funds and looking to recruit people. I saw them throw green cloaks over a few…”
Woe brought the stick of graphite to his lips, tapping them for a few times. The Order would have an outpost or following in Egilrun? It wasn’t unheard for the members to travel far afield from their various headquarters. But perhaps they were gearing up for potential conflict with Slag’s Deep…
Woe nodded to her, and set his journal and graphite aside. The spider stayed put where it was, and retreated into the bare brambles, that were only starting to show green.
”I suppose you’ll need a translator then, if you wish to go with them.” He murmured, and then sighed. ”You’ll be missed around the house, but I suppose we’ll see you from time to time.”
Soraia bowed her head to him, and bobbed awkwardly on her knees, ”Thank you, Woe.”
Their walk together took them all the way to the Lemon Messy, where the Order members, where Soraia had last seen the Order members. Sure enough, as they entered through the large pavilion that comprised the roof of the establishment, Woe saw a man with gold cloak, and a straw hat, preaching to the populace. Standing on a soap box as it were.
”People of Egilrun! Come to the Order, and bring healing to the lands!” Not much of an orator this one, but if anyone had an interest in learning healing, Woe supposed it’d attract a following.
”Learn the skills of the healer, and improve your own personal health and fortune. We will shelter any who are willing to serve the world in the capacity of a true healer!”
Woe himself had done work for the order on occasion. Moonlighting as a therapist in Ne’haer. Of course, he’d been banned from that outpost. Surely the ban would’ve expired. If not, he wondered if the ban extended to other outposts. He had to admit, the idea of helping people and casting a wider web that way appealed to him. He could serve Sintra and the people of Scalvoris simultaneously, and have a faction at his back so long as he served them well…
The gold cloak continued to rattle off in much the same terms as before, while Soraia drew up next to Woe, tapping him on the shoulder. Woe turned to look at her, and she pointed, nodding. ”Let’s introduce ourselves, Woe? Speak common to him?”
Woe nodded to her, and then wrapped his arm along with hers in a gentlemanly fashion, and drew closer to the gold cloak. ”Hello.” Woe began, drawing the gold cloak’s attention. ”I’m Woe, and this… is Soraia. She wishes to join the order, but doesn’t speak any common at all… Yet she is a healer with surpassing expertise, and a tireless worker. I was wondering if I might offer some Patronage in exchange for taking her on?”
The Gold Cloak smiled at Woe, and nodded to Soraia. ”Yes of course, I am Jan Khoro, Gold Cloak of the Order of Adunih, and would be honored to welcome another Green cloak into our group. Yet no patronage needed. We will take any who wish to learn. If she’s as good a healer as you say, she’ll fit in well, regardless of her ability to speak Common.”
Woe nodded to Soraia, and the Gold cloak reached out a hand, welcoming her. She left Woe’s side, and then was rather swiftly gifted with one of the Green Cloaks, wrapping it around her shoulders. Woe was happy for Soraia, she was taking her first steps in freedom, and she chose to do what she always did, helping the sick. He almost regretted not freeing her from the first night they met, but he was a different person then.
”And what of you sir?” Jan asked after gifting Soraia with the cloak. He reached out a hand to him as well. ”We can always always use more trainees, if you have no healing skill? Whatever you have to offer would be welcomed mightily by the Order.”
Woe thought about it, and then again remembered his short stint moonlighting as a therapist in the Order of Ne’haer. That had not gone as well, but again he was a different person then. He looked to Soraia, who nodded at him, as if encouraging him to take the dive as well.
Well, Woe supposed he could always leave if it didn’t suit him. But come to that, he had questions. ”I’m afraid my itinerary doesn’t allow much time for leaving Egilrun… Do you have a base here yet?”
Jan shook his head with a slight smile, ”No, friend. Not yet, but we have scouted several locations. And are currently raising more funds to make up the difference…”
Woe shrugged, ”Have you considered the old Slave Pens, to the southeast? I think they would make a fine hospital, once repurposed… I can offer half of whatever nels you need to purchase that place.”
Jan Khoro’s eyes widened at the generous offer, and he came off his soap box to clasp the mortalborn’s hands. ”What a generous offer, but… Will you be joining us then? Your wealth is commitment enough, but I see in your eyes that you have a healer’s soul…”
If Woe was a more sanguine man, he might’ve laughed at the assertion. But ever phlegmatic, he merely smiled tightly, and shrugged. ”I was interested in joining, if only to give my friend Soraia company in her service… Am I welcome to?”
Jan said nothing, but slapped him on the back, and then threw another green cloak over him, unceremoniously as he had with Soraia. ”Well, no need to stand on ceremony. Your willingness to help is enough, and we will teach you what we can of the healer’s arts.”
Woe nodded at him, and then to Soraia, who smiled back at him.
