disappearing. The people in them vanish. Families have lost fathers, sons, mothers and daughters. Other travelers speak of horrible deeds, of villages massacred with no one left alive. They say that villages are red from the blood that has been spilled. I do not know what to believe, but we have heard the rumors enough times to know something is wrong."
Moriko shook her head. If what the old woman was saying was true, something was happening in the Southern Kingdom, something besides an invasion. Her mind raced, but couldn’t come up with an explanation for the rumors.
"How long have these rumors been spreading?"
The old woman shrugged. "It has been a moon, maybe a moon and a half since we heard the first rumor. At first I dismissed it as the ravings of a lone traveler, but more and more we've heard stories from different sources, and now there are no travelers in this area. Whatever is happening sounds as though it started further to the south and is working its way north. We have thought about leaving the village and heading to New Haven. But it is hard to leave the land, and harder still to carry the supplies we would need for winter."
The old woman had said her piece, and a silence settled over the room. Moriko pondered what the old woman had said, but couldn't decide what was happening. It had to be related to the Azarians, but she wasn't sure how. Regardless, it wasn't why she had come.
"I'm sorry to hear such ill tidings, but I must be on the road again by tomorrow. Is there anyone who needs healing?"
The old woman nodded. "A fever has taken one of the older women, and one of our boys has broken a leg. Your services would be appreciated."
Moriko's presence in the village drew people from their homes, if only for a little bit. Children, tired of being cooped up in their houses, ran around the village freely, although Moriko could see their mothers kept a watchful eye on them to ensure they didn't leave the village, not even to play in the adjoining fields.
Moriko did what she could for the people of the village. The older woman's fever concerned her the most. They had already been doing everything they could to break the fever. Moriko gave them some herbs she hoped would help, but as she examined the old woman, she feared she had come too late and that the old woman would rejoin the Great Cycle soon. The young boy was a different matter. The break was almost brand-new, and Moriko was able to set the bone and splint it. Her work with the young man made her think of her time with the Azarians. In their culture, such a break could've been fatal. But here the boy would live to hopefully see many more days.
When she was done, Moriko went back to the old woman and bartered for some food. She wasn't able to get as much as she would've liked, but it was enough for now, and she could see the fear in the eyes of everyone she met. She couldn't bring herself to push for more.
They begged her to stay. In their eyes, being on the road was tantamount to suicide, but she was able to convince them that as a healer she was honor-bound to stay on the road and provide what help she could. It was clear they didn't agree, but they couldn’t force her, and as the sun set on that day, Moriko left the village with a heavy heart.
Moriko was loath to admit it, but her visit to the village had made her nervous. There was no doubt in her mind something was happening in the Southern Kingdom, and if she had to guess, the Azarian hunters had something to do with it. They were the only warriors she knew of with the strength to eliminate entire villages and disappear without a trace. She thought about General Toro. Had something horrible happened down in the pass? She felt a twinge of guilt. Perhaps she should have stayed there.
Moriko shook her head. If the Three Sisters had fallen, there was little she could have done to prevent it. She was strong, but there were far more hunters than she could handle, and if the general had died
Moriko shook her head. If what the old woman was saying was true, something was happening in the Southern Kingdom, something besides an invasion. Her mind raced, but couldn’t come up with an explanation for the rumors.
"How long have these rumors been spreading?"
The old woman shrugged. "It has been a moon, maybe a moon and a half since we heard the first rumor. At first I dismissed it as the ravings of a lone traveler, but more and more we've heard stories from different sources, and now there are no travelers in this area. Whatever is happening sounds as though it started further to the south and is working its way north. We have thought about leaving the village and heading to New Haven. But it is hard to leave the land, and harder still to carry the supplies we would need for winter."
The old woman had said her piece, and a silence settled over the room. Moriko pondered what the old woman had said, but couldn't decide what was happening. It had to be related to the Azarians, but she wasn't sure how. Regardless, it wasn't why she had come.
"I'm sorry to hear such ill tidings, but I must be on the road again by tomorrow. Is there anyone who needs healing?"
The old woman nodded. "A fever has taken one of the older women, and one of our boys has broken a leg. Your services would be appreciated."
Moriko's presence in the village drew people from their homes, if only for a little bit. Children, tired of being cooped up in their houses, ran around the village freely, although Moriko could see their mothers kept a watchful eye on them to ensure they didn't leave the village, not even to play in the adjoining fields.
Moriko did what she could for the people of the village. The older woman's fever concerned her the most. They had already been doing everything they could to break the fever. Moriko gave them some herbs she hoped would help, but as she examined the old woman, she feared she had come too late and that the old woman would rejoin the Great Cycle soon. The young boy was a different matter. The break was almost brand-new, and Moriko was able to set the bone and splint it. Her work with the young man made her think of her time with the Azarians. In their culture, such a break could've been fatal. But here the boy would live to hopefully see many more days.
When she was done, Moriko went back to the old woman and bartered for some food. She wasn't able to get as much as she would've liked, but it was enough for now, and she could see the fear in the eyes of everyone she met. She couldn't bring herself to push for more.
They begged her to stay. In their eyes, being on the road was tantamount to suicide, but she was able to convince them that as a healer she was honor-bound to stay on the road and provide what help she could. It was clear they didn't agree, but they couldn’t force her, and as the sun set on that day, Moriko left the village with a heavy heart.
Moriko was loath to admit it, but her visit to the village had made her nervous. There was no doubt in her mind something was happening in the Southern Kingdom, and if she had to guess, the Azarian hunters had something to do with it. They were the only warriors she knew of with the strength to eliminate entire villages and disappear without a trace. She thought about General Toro. Had something horrible happened down in the pass? She felt a twinge of guilt. Perhaps she should have stayed there.
Moriko shook her head. If the Three Sisters had fallen, there was little she could have done to prevent it. She was strong, but there were far more hunters than she could handle, and if the general had died
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