Page 8 of The Lost Guard's Healer

“I did say that. I am someone who cherishes the past dearly and holds on to it. I have a grand collection of books which I hope will educate the next generations, so they know the past and can use it to shape their future.”

“If we do not know our past,” I say, “we cannot learn from our mistakes.”

Aldus raises an eyebrow, clearly just as impressed with me as I am with him. A small smile curves his mouth upward. “Exactly. Some tease me for my collection, and it has earned me the title Keeper of Books.”

“We call it a historian,” I say.

“Yes. We have that term, as well.”

As we walk, Aldus points out notable people and places to me. He points to the tops of the larger tents over the huts where many families live. Up on a hill is where they pick flowers. I learn that flowers have many benefits and purposes here. They add them to their food, their tea, and their medicine.

We pass a group of elderly women who seem lost in their own worlds as they pick seeds from fruits and pop beans from their shells.

A young man with flowing long hair is coming out from a collection of trees. He is bare-chested and has a muscular physique, but a softness around the edges that makes him look more like a boy than a man. A wet sack is over his shoulder.

“Freddick,” Aldus says. “How are the fish today?”

“Bountiful,” Freddick says with a beaming grin. There is a bounce to his step, and he seems to brim with energy. The wet stench of fish is coming from the sack over his shoulder, and beads of water on his torso are glistening in the sunlight.

Freddick’s eyes widen when he sees me. “Oh, it’s you. I mean, you’re… I didn’t think you were…”

“Our guest, Tarin, is awake and moving about, yes,” Aldus says. “I’m sure at this point you’re the last to know.” He gestures to the young man and says to me, “Freddick here is our newest hunter.”

“What do you hunt around here?” I ask.

“Whatever the land provides,” Aldus says. “Rabbit. Wild boar. Fish. Frogs. Birds. The occasional snake, when we find edible ones. We used to have chickens, but they died off.”

“And crickets,” Freddick says, scrunching his face. “The worst.”

I figure he must barely be out of his teens. I can’t imagine him taking down a wild boar. That must be why they are having him catch fish.

“I was just going back to hand the fish to the sister wives,” Freddick says, “before I head back to the fishermen. But I can find a cup of water for you.”

“Oh, that’s okay, really,” I say, but my words go unheeded.

“It’s no trouble at all. It would be my pleasure. Here, I will be right back before you know it.” He flashes an infectious grin.

Freddick rushes off before I can stop him. Some water does sound good, though. I’m regretting not drinking that tea Aldus’s daughter had made for me.

“Freddick is untested, but eager to do well,” Aldus says to me. “He is hungry to do as many Tasks as he can. He should make a formidable hunter when he’s older.”

I stretch my shoulders and my neck when my muscles cramp up. I’m still getting used to my arms doing most of the work while walking and my muscles have started to burn.

Aldus leads me to a small hut where an old lady is sitting outside. Beside her is a log that has a cushion draped over it. I sit on the cushion with a heavy breath, feeling sweat beading on my forehead. The woman is staring at me, but she seems unbothered. Her deeply tanned complexion has a strong red hue to it. I nod and smile at her and she goes back to knitting something that looks like clothing.

I’m still adjusting to how these Wildmen live. No, not Wildmen. I should stop thinking of them like that. The Shanti People. They seem so peaceful and cultured.

Aldus looks away when I catch him watching me closely.

“Why are you helping me?” I ask him, growing serious. “You could have left me for dead. You didn’t have to bring me all the way out here to your village.”

He takes a second to answer, as if he’s wondering what to tell me. “It is our way. Our way of life means we will help others, if it does not endanger us.”

“I could be a threat to you,” I say.

“You were hurt and in need of medical attention. And you were close to our borders. Our ways say we should help you, whether or not there are negative consequences because of it.”

I feel like there’s more he isn’t telling me, but I don’t press the matter.

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