Page 7 of The Lost Guard's Healer

“Old blood,” I say. “Old ways. Change can be difficult.”

She gives me a knowing look with a small smile. She seems like a smart one, with quiet intelligence and a calculating way about her. I’ve always thought I could read people well, and can see that same quality in others who share it.

“I agree,” she says. “One thing you should know is that we are not Wildland folk. We are the Shanti People. Very different, I assure you. I believe many across the land think of us as savages, but that is because they do not know us. They confuse us with the real savages out there.”

I’m getting used to the slow, controlled manner of speaking these people have. And Magdalena’s low voice has a soothing quality. It feels odd to have them both standing over me while I’m sitting.

“Shanti People,” I repeat. “I’m afraid we do not know of your people.”

Aldus nods. “We prefer to keep it that way. Stay out of others’ affairs and keep to our own.”

“There is so much conflict in the world,” Magdalena says with a frown that creases her brow. “Terrible wars. Many deaths. You’ve seen your fair share, I imagine. All know the warring between The Kingdom and the Oathlands.”

“I’m relieved to hear there is still an Oathlands to return to,” I say. I don’t tell them the particular circumstances how I had left the Oathlands and ended up washed up by a riverbank, although I see the question in their eyes. It’s not something I’m ready to think about, and especially not something I want to talk about. With strangers. Who may or may not be bad people.

I’m having a hard time deciding.

“And we will get you back there,” Magdalena says. “I must go help the sister wives for now. Please, Tarin, if you need anything, please ask. I’m happy to help. I will return with some food that I’m sure will satisfy you.” She pauses and adds, “You eat mucus and fish eyes, correct?”

My face freezes.

Magdalena and Aldus both break into laughter.

“I’m sorry,” she says. “Just teasing. I couldn’t help myself.” She chuckles, holding a hand against her stomach.

What an interesting sense of humor.

I nod my thanks as she leaves us.

“Is there more to see?” I ask Aldus. “I have the strength to keep walking now.”

Aldus seems to consider that. “I will continue the tour, yes. If you’ll follow me.”

I take a deep breath and sigh as I rise to my feet and begin walking with the crutches. Magdalena was right. I have lost some weight and muscle. My arms still have some shape to them but they’ve lost their fullness.

Children’s laughter carries in the wind, mixing with the low hum of conversations and people mingling about. Many eyes are on me, I notice. They all want a good look at the foreigner in their midst. One small child whimpers when she sees me and hides behind the legs of her mother.

“What is a sister wife?” I ask Aldus.

“What you call a widow,” he responds. “They devote their time to care for the village, as they would care for their husbands.”

“Is that a common thing here? Losing husbands?”

“We have hostility toward no one, and none to call our enemy. But the Wildlands, as you call it, can be a dangerous place. There are few laws and rules out here, and no one to maintain order but ourselves. And I believe you’ll find there are more diseases and ailments in these less civilized parts of the world.”

“You seem very civilized to me.”

Aldus nods. “And yet there are those who would look down upon us, and our way of living.”

“That’s The Kingdom folk you’re thinking of. Us Oathlanders are far more welcoming and open to others. Well, compared to them, anyway.”

He stops and eyes me firmly. “I used to think that was the right way of thinking. ‘Us’ and ‘them’. Which folk are better, and which are worse? But, as I get older, I see how futile that way of thinking is. I’d like to see us all as one people. All living in the same world, with the same desires to live, to be warm and fed, and to find some semblance of peace in our lives.”

“Well said.” I’m impressed. “If only others had some of your wisdom.”

We round a fence and head towards a collection of vegetable patches. The ground is more even here, and walking on the short grass is better than the rocky earth.

“You said you are a… keeper of books?” I remember what he’d told me earlier.

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