To Be Chosen by John Buttrick

opportunity to give whatever name you chose. We would have accepted it, respecting your anonymity,” Jared explained.
    “No, a person cannot turn into a Condemned by being bitten or scratched by one, but there is danger of infection,” Daniel replied.
    Marcus actually smiled, a little, just a crack. “I admit to being more than a trifle worried about that,” he said and then stared into the fire the way a man sometimes does when he broaches a delicate subject and does not want to look anyone in the eye. “It is said that you have been Silenced by the Grand Maestro,” he mentioned while rubbing his leg.
    Jared frowned at the former chief as if not believing the man dared bring up the fact.
    “That report is true,” Daniel replied. “Even so, maybe you should let me take a look at your wound. We mountaineers have enough knowledge of plants and poultices that I could do you some good.”
    Marcus nodded and stripped to his shorts. The gash started just above the knee where the trousers had been torn and continued half way down his lower leg. The cut was not deep but it was puffy and full of infection. If not treated soon, Marcus would lose the leg, if not treated at all, he would die. Daniel turned and searched his saddle bags, looking for something that would pass as an ointment, but found nothing. Since discovering his ability to summon potential and being taught to focus it, he no longer carried things associated with healing or the tending of wounds.
    “I have some aloasious ointment,” David volunteered.
    Of course, Daniel smiled at the juggler. The Teki people had many ointments for healing. “Please, get it quickly,” he told him.
    David went to his saddlebag, removed a small jar and several strips of white cloth, and brought them to Daniel. The Teki winked; likely he realized what Daniel had in mind.
    “Healing is far from my field of expertise, but I think that substance is for minor scratches and burns,” Jared commented, and he was correct but that did not matter.
    “Aloasious is also good for infections and it helps to ease the pain,” David told him with such conviction Daniel would have believed him had he not known better.
    Daniel rubbed the ointment along the wounded area with one hand while placing the white cloth with the other. He was also casting the spell, Make Well, and focusing the potential through the hand applying ointment into the wound. The infection was eliminated, the healing was immediate, and he had the strip of cloth in place quickly enough to keep the others from seeing the results. He wrapped the area in a cloth, binding the strip to the leg and Marcus let out a sigh of relief.
    “The Teki is right, the pain is gone,” said the former chief. “You both have my sincere gratitude,” he added and then put his trousers back on.
    David took the jar of ointment and gestured with it toward Jared. “I can rub some onto your head. That burn looks painful,” he offered.
    “It would be most appreciated,” Jared replied and leaned toward the Teki.
    David applied the aloasious in a gentle circular motion. There was no instant healing with that but the natural properties of the ointment were adequate for the account keeper’s needs. He leaned back with a sigh of relief, thanking the Teki and Daniel even though he had nothing to do with it. David deserved whatever gratitude was earned.
    Jared sat with both legs stretched out in front of him and the heel of his left shoe hanging down, exposing his sock, which had holes in the dark fabric. The man could not be left in such a state, Daniel wanted to do something to help, but decided it was not necessary for him to summon potential to fix this problem. He went to his saddle bag and brought two items he never thought he would ever consider parting with, and gave them to the former account keeper. Ruth’s word came back to him, “Walk away, stand and watch, or take action,” well he chose action, but only because it was the right thing