First Bargains

JP with Cindy, Winteroak and Zeeke.

Islana had heard of people who could do such magic but truth be told she had never witnessed such a thing before this moment. Questions still came to her mind but she would not ask all of them.She was more than intrigued by the offer, forgetting some of what had come before in her life sounded very enticing.

Addressing the old woman once again, "Would the memory we give be of our choosing or yours?"

The old woman looked at Islana and a sad expression crossed her face quickly. "Alas, no. The memory is of my choosing." She replied.

Hendrik was getting more and more frustrated with this talk of visions and memories. His hand moved to his hip and he grabbed his baton. He was considering jumping her and bashing her witch brains out. As soon as the thought crossed his mind the three blind men stopped drumming and turned their ruined visages to the older warrior.

"Careful veteran. You are far from home and a guest at my fire..." She warned.

He opened his mouth and spoke carefully, "Grandmother, I worry that the cost could change a person in ways they do not know. You know I want to know,"

He did not want to say his future and most specifically magic. "But what you take in return could make me someone else than I am."

Islana weighed the options in her mind. She had no actual memories of her mother but she had stories of the woman. What of her sister and brother? Islana wouldn't want to forget either. Lord Vasant's wife had been kind. She had no reason to allow some memories of the woman to vanish from her mind.

But what of Lord Vasant, himself? The thought of the man gave her a chill despite the warmth of the fire. How she would like to have it be a memory of him that was purged from her mind. Yet, would she forget why he was hunting her or how she ended up with such a despicable human in the first place?

Her train of thought then led to her father. The one who she remembered mostly as drunk, the one who had been drinking when her brother got killed, the one who sold her and her sister off.
Yes, there were certainly memories of her father she would care to forget. Still, there had been brief glimpses occasionally of someone who had been different from the man Islana had known growing up. Those glimpses she held on to tight like rare precious jewels.

"Grandmother, it is a very precious gift you offer but what if the cost is too high and we choose to not accept?" Islana interjected

"That is often the case, Little Bird. The price is often too high. But sometimes the rewards..." She left it hanging in the air.

"And do we pick what we want to see?" Asked Jiyn growing more and more curious."

The old woman nodded. "Yes, you can ask one question of me. Any question."

A thousand questions raced through Wim’s brain as he thought about that he wanted to ask. Most of them were selfish and self serving. Much of his life had been that way. One pebble stuck out in the sands of thoughts shifting in his brain.

Magic.

Wim thought, magic that could help people. Like helping crops produce a better yield or even make something that glowed like a candle and let off light. Even healing magic would be good.
All selfish he thought.

“Grandmother, how can I help bring peace between the peoples and my people so that all our children do not grow up going to war with each other?“ He asked.

He knew there were going to be bandits and thieves, he knew people would fight as they always do. He knew people, like himself, would always be trying to get an advantage and to make money.

The old woman was surprised. "What you ask..." She paused searching for the right words. " Will bear a very heavy price. And you might not be happy with the answer." She gave him time to think. "Do we have a bargain?"

He spoke softly and calmly, “Most of the decisions in my life have come at a cost. It is the most compassionate thing that I can think of…” he paused for a moment, “And a noble should be willing to give his life to protect their people. We are building walls that magic most likely can destroy, we prepare for war without understanding.”

He paused again,looking at the others, “Hendrik can beat me with his baton later, throw me in a cell. Have me stand before the inquisition, but I would like to know the path to the best possible peace for the peoples.”

He swallowed and said, “I will take your deal,” and closed his eyes.

Islana sat there in silence. She had to wonder if the answer to Wim's question might just be there is no path to peace. Maybe, war was inevitable. Would the man have given something precious for what amounted to no answer? The young woman was surprised that Wim had been the first to take the offer or really that he took it at all but it was done now.

Omen looked at the young man and beckoned him to her. The young always saw the world in black and white, good Vs evil, it was both folly and hope that drove that. Something that life eventually beated out of you.
The drumming grew louder. None of the others dare moved. Everyone could feel the power in the air around them. A sense of excitement and doom came upon those watching in equal measures. The old woman placed a hand in Wim's forehead and whispered: "Your mother. I will take the memory of her love for you..." She closed her eyes and whispered words that none of you had ever heard before. They sounded... Primordial...

Wim closed his eyes as tears rolled down his face. In his mind eye he saw that war was inevitable between his people and the natives. War had always existed in this land and it would always exist while Men drew breath. He could not stop what was coming but he could influence its outcome. What matter in life usually were ones own actions. War was coming, there was no stopping it but Wim got a glimpse of how it could shift the focus of the conflict. He saw a land beyond the desert. A land covered by a terrible shadow. A land that was rising to sweep the continent and one day the world. A common enemy.

The old woman pulled her hand back and Wim fell back with a groan but conscious.

"It is done. Our bargain is completed." She said looking past Wim to the others.

Islana watched the interaction between Omen and Wim. She couldn't hear what had been said but she saw the tears that rolled down the man's face. A thought suddenly occurred to her; what if the memory taken was her compassion, her ability with animals, the things that had kept her from becoming bitter, the things that had kept her grounded and which she considered as gifts more valuable than gold. No, that price would be too high. So, she silently declined the offer by not accepting it.

Jiyn looked at the young noble who seemed to be shaking. He didn't think twice and blurted "Is she here? Is Shalia in Arcadia?" he looked at a glaring Hendrik.
Omen smiled. "Ah, to be young and in love again..." Jiyn walked and moved to the woman as she reached out to touch his forehead. "I shall want the memory of your trip to Arcadia."

She touched him and the same eldritch words echoed in the small camp as the blind men beat the drums faster and faster. He understood why the price was not as high immediately. Deep down he already knew Shalia was here in Arcadia somewhere in the mountains of Fang. The old woman was simply showing him his visions were true. A vision of her slender and tall figure dressed in furs, her back air flung around her head wildly and her green eyes flashing as she muttered what sounded like incantations to Jiyn. His eyes locked with the old woman. ~She's of Erewhon's blood. As are you...~ a chill went down his spine and he collapsed where Wim had been before.

Islana had decided to not take the offer but the feeling of the moment overtook her. She found herself having to catch herself before blurting out what she wanted to know in front of everyone.
Two questions really weighed on her mind, would she see her sister again and Lord Vasant so many questions about him.

She stood up and moved closer to the old woman and whispered in Omen's ear. "Will Lord Vasant find me?".

If she could have some clarity on that things would be different for her. She had been so tired of being afraid everyday that the man might get to her. Even if the answer was yes it was better than not knowing.

The drums kept banging louder and and louder. The old woman turned her eyes on Islana. "I'm glad you are taking the bargain little bird." She nodded and Islana came to her. A shiver went down her spine as the woman's calloused hand touched her young skin. "It's only fair that the price is the memory of Lady Vasant's kindness."

Islana sighed as the woman's touched stole her memories. In their place a memory of something to come. She was being hunted. Across the great plains of this new land. A stalker was coming for her. Her and someone else that ran with her. But their chaser was implacable. Relentless. She knew she would try take her life before being dragged back to that man.

Islana pulled back as the woman's vision engraved itself in her own memories. She slumped slightly as if the experience drained her.

The old woman stood up. "I know I have nothing to offer you Veteran," she said looking at Hendrik. And with that Omen stood up and walked away into the night with her 3 blind servants. Leaving the 4 companions to ponder exactly what had just happened.