Page 14 of Father of the Wolf

“Hello.” She started to hold out her hand to shake his but pulled back without touching him. “I’m sorry. I don’t think we should shake hands.”

Her action puzzled him. She didn’t want to touch him. Usually, people welcomed the mind touch that came with physical contact, especially with him. Some claimed it left them feeling more positive about life. He tried again to read her to find out why she avoided it.

“Please don’t,” she said, brushing her fingers over her temple. “It’s somewhat painful to have to shield myself from you. You are very strong.”

“I am sorry.” He was shocked by her statement. “I did not mean to hurt you.”

No one had ever felt his intrusions before. It made him very unsure of himself. He looked to Athair for support, and suddenly realized he and Rath had abandoned him to join the man playing billiards.

“It’s all right.” She smiled. “I know you meant no harm. I am Sandulfr’s sister, Maura. Domari said you wanted to talk with me, but she didn’t say why.”

“I’m Dàn.” He suddenly felt ambivalent about asking for her help. Despite being an oracle and sister to an Alpha, she seemed very young. Of course, age was usually not obvious to the eye with his people, but he had expected someone else. Perhaps someone who did not look so innocent.

“Do you still wish to talk with me?” she asked quietly, making him wonder if she could read his thoughts.

“Yes, I do.” Who was she? How was she able to block him and know so much? Sandulfr had said only that she was his sister and the youngest oracle. Dàn suddenly wanted to know more about her. Everything about her.

“What was it you wanted to talk about?”

He hesitated before answering. “I was hoping to talk with someone who could help me control my sight.”

“And you aren’t sure if that person is me,” she said, again showing insight.

“I don’t know.” He found that lack of knowledge embarrassing. He knew so much, and yet his sight failed him when he wanted it most.

“Well, let’s sit and relax for a moment. We’ll talk about less important matters until you decide,” she suggested reasonably. She settled herself elegantly with her calf length gown flowing softly over her crossed legs. She looked up at him with a raised eyebrow when he continued to stand looking down at her.

“Sorry,” he mumbled. He sank into the seat across from her.

“It’s okay. Please, tell me what brought you to our little town.” She folded her hands on her lap and looked at him with patience and confidence.

He started to tell her about their situation. Awkwardly at first, then more openly, as he became more comfortable talking with her. Before long, he had spilled out that he was a strong seer and that he feared what was coming that he couldn’t see. “I can usually see what will happen, but this time there is a dangerous black void I can’t see through.”

She watched him thoughtfully while he talked. “I believe it is as you think. You can’t see into the void because it involves you.” She gave him an understanding smile at his frustration. “Do you really need to see what will come?”

“If I could see, I would use it to protect my family.” He answered more honestly than he’d intended. “I cannot see what will happen to Rath, either. Not knowing makes me uneasy.”

“If you can’t see, then you can’t. Why worry about what you won’t be able to change?” She frowned at him.

Now he was puzzled. “What do you mean, what I cannot change?”

“A seer may see what will come, but he or she is not able to use that knowledge to change the future. I find it so frustrating that I often wish I didn’t have the gift at all.” Maura looked down at her clasped hands.

He stared at her in astonishment. He had often changed the future and had never thought of that ability as being unusual. Now it had become just another talent that set him apart.

“Why are you staring at me like I’ve suddenly grown a second head?” Her head tilted slightly, and she blinked her slanted eyes in curiosity.

“I can change things,” he said quietly, afraid of her reaction. Of her rejection.

“You can change the future after you have a vision?” She leaned forward to study him as she awaited his answer. Her intense stare made him feel as though he was an interesting experiment she had yet to figure out.

“Yes,” Dàn said simply.

She leaned back into the soft cushions again and mulled over his simple answer. Then she asked, “Are you sure? What have you done?”

“I have kept people from being hurt, stopped arguments before they happened, and other things,” he said vaguely. In truth, he had done so much over the last three centuries that listing everything would be impossible. His visions were as common as drops of rain and he always felt the need to help wherever he could.

She was quiet as she pondered that. Almost to herself, she said quietly, “If I could change what was to come, I would spend all my days in meditation.” She gave her head a little shake. “So, how do you do it? How do you keep from seeking visions all the time?”

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