Omen & bargains

JP with Cindy, Zeeke and Winteroak

Timestamp: Ostiarium forests - Night

Deciding to ride with Wim, when they came across the camp Islana was unsure but Hendrick's decision to stay there was not one she would disagree with either. Islana looked at the old woman and the men with her, their appearance didn't make them suspect but she did wonder what had happened to the men and what the group was doing out there.

Islana made her way off the horse and thanked Wim for the ride. She has found a way to carefully transport the object in her pack by wrapping it some soft material and leaves she found lying around. Taking her pack carefully, the young woman decided in the morning she'd check, in the trees, for anything similar to what she had found early. The warmth of the fire was inviting and she moved closer to it and the old woman.

"Greetings, " Islana approached the woman with a friendly tone, "Thank you for your hospitality. May I ask, are you traveling or do you call these woods home?"

The old woman smiled at Islana. "I am travelling, little bird." She smiled looking deep at her green eyes. "Home is where we lay our firepit. Come eat." One of the blind men moved to the fire effortlessly and carved some pieces to all of you that he served in some broad leaves. You all couldn't stop wondering at how he moved purposely without sight.
Hendrik kept his eyes on the blind men. They were thin, almost emancipated, with thin blue lips. A shiver ran down his back.
Rumours already abounded in the city that magik was very much alive in Arcadia.

The drumming reminded Wim of the dream a bit and that made a bit of sweat appear on his forehead. Win gave an arm to Islanda to help her down. It was nice to act with some civility. Then he dismounted from the horse, giving Henrick a worried look. Then he tied the horse’s reigns off so the horse could not run away.

The blind servants gave him a feeling of ill ease. But he took a breath and turned around smiling to the woman. Islana gave her greeting and asked her question of the woman. He waited then he did his best to greet her as he had seen the native people do on the plains. The greeting came out close but not quite right. He did remembered to show respect.

“Thank you for the warmth and the food,” he said as he came and sat down.
He asked the big question on his mind.
“Were you calling for us, Grandmother?” he asked her.
He wanted to ask if she was calling him, but he did not Hendrick to hit him with that sword or worse ask more questions that would lead to the vials and how he got them. Us was much better.

The old woman smiled. "Calling you, young lording?" she asked amused. "No, it is not my voice echoing in the night." at her words the three bling men started to sniff the air. "We sense His Tears in you. Beware, knowledge and compassion cannot exist together." she told Wim as Hendrik shot a glance at the young man.
"Be at ease veteran. I mean you and your people no harm." the old woman told the city guard with a smile. It was Jiyn that broke the tension by pulling a little pouch from his belt and sprinkling some salt across his meat.

"Would you like some, grandmother?" he asked the old strange woman.
"No, my young dreamer. I don't touch the stuff. It's bad for your heart." Jyin shrugged and offered some to his companions. "Have you been here long? In these forests I mean?" he asked.
She shook her head as the beating of the drums resumed. Each beat felt like a drop of water hitting your mind and as it grew louder the brighter the fire seemed to burn, until they could no longer see the trees around the camp As if nothing else existed outside of the circle of light.
"I met some of your people before. Not long ago." she started. "I offered them a gift. A gift they refused." she looked at the four of you grinning.

Islana had taken the food offered to her. She did her silent ritual of thanking the animal that gave it's life so they could partake in the meal but in such away it looked more like she was looking at the fire; it only took a moment after all so she was fairly certain no one noticed. There was no being completely sure of what old women in woods accompanied by strange men knew or didn't know.
Taking some of the salt Jiyn had offered she thanked him for the seasoning and sprinkled it on her food. Between the beating of the drums and the brightness of the fire Islana lost her thoughts of eating and she found herself more focused on the old woman.
There was talk of a gift with an amount of intrigue to it. This made Islana even more curious. "Grandmother, I would think you would have many gifts to offer. " The young woman wanted to be careful with her words but she could never be sure until after the words were spoken if she had done well. "I have a little curiosity as what gift you could have offered that would be refused."

The old woman pulled a small leather bag from her belt, shaking it. A small rattling sound pierced the drumming, strangely. As if the woman and her words were the centre of everything. She opened the small leather pouch, tipping its content in the floor in front of her. An assortment of small charred bones spilled in a pattern. Some white, some black.

"The gift of foresight." The old woman replied. "All strands of fate are drawn back to your people and your city of stone, time and time again." She hovered her hand over the bones and the spiral pattern it had formed. She looked at the four people in front of her. "Two of them would have known the real danger they are in now, if they had taken my bargain..." She said ominously and her hand trembled above the bones.

Jiyn looked at the old woman and felt his heart started to race the beating of the drums. The others remained silence, possibly dubious of the woman's claims but to him this felt like an opportunity he could not let pass. He needed to find out more. "What type of bargain?" He blurted out, unable to control himself. This could be a great opportunity for him to find more about Shalia and why in his dreams he saw the mountains of Fang.
The old woman eyes glittered with the fire. "I give you a glimpse into your future. You give me a memory from your past. And once you do, you can never recall it again."