A Conversation
- Location
- Canada
I didn't even hesitate. "Why are you doing this?" The question had been in my mind constantly ever since my escape. I doubted she saved me out of the the goodness of her heart. Blind faith is foolish, but so is blind paranoia. I'll withhold my judgement until after I hear her out.
She responds instantly, as if she knew I would be asking such a thing. "Because if you are sacrificed, I will bear witness to the end of an entire people. I will watch as the men, woman and children I have healed and cared for these past three years lose their humanity because of a damn prophecy."
"You mentioned the prophecy before." I say, the words somewhere between a question and a statement.
She shrugged. "It was before my time. The Tiö came to the Gän, asking for help. They had been attacked by adult wolves, a mated pair. To scare away curious pups is something even children learn how to, but this attack was deliberate, as if they were seeking revenge. They lost many in driving them off. I was sent to aid them, to heal what I could. I was still green then, still unknowing of how cruel the Island was, but I learned quickly. I saved some, mainly the strong and young, but I couldn't save any of the elders. If I knew what I know now, I may have poisoned them myself."
She took a deep breath. "I assume you are aware of the concept of a judgement day, Nameless One? It is a common belief in many people, so I've heard. For the people on this Island, judgement day has come and gone. The only ones who remain must eke out a living here, pushed to the very fringes. There is no reward for this, just continued existence. Not many accept their lot. Some try to overcome the Island. Others try to rebuild. The Tiö were more practical; they simply sought to survive. They were a people who wrapped themselves in the present, gave no thought to grand ambitions or plans and instead focused only on what was in front of them."
Her fingers had resumed their slow tapping against the ring, but her eyes were distant. "I was enraptured with that perspective. It was a manner of living I hadn't seen before, to stop worrying about the future or obsessing over the past and just live. Mourn when you want to, laugh when you wish and love as your heart demands." Her eyes darkened now and refocused on me.
"Then I heard about the prophecy. Some fool elder must have said it in a fever dream or during his death rattle. That's the only explanation I have for it. They believe that one day a Lamb will appear, of dark skin and white fleece. They will hunt and consume it, and thus become one with the island."
She raised a hand to forestall my question. "I do not know what becoming one with the island would entail. I didn't even believe the prophecy, it was more of a rumor. But yesterday, young Mav found you, you with dark skin and white hair and well, here we are."
"Well it's nice to know it's only my appearance and not my personality that set them off." I responded dryly. "Are there any other fashion statements I should be aware of? Would having yellow eyes or green hair cause me to become a Pig? Or perhaps wearing the wrong color rags make me into a Fish? Please, I just wish to be a conscientious guest."
Her eyes glinted sharply. "No. No other prophecies that I know of. Aside from the usual dangers of living on this Island, you're safe."
Her eyes found their way back to the ring again. "But make no mistake: I bear no love for you. I also bear you no ill-will. I intend to use you as dangling bait for the Tiö, keep them distracted while I work on fixing them. I will heal this stupid notion of theirs, just as I heal their physical bodies. I may have only been their Healer for a few years, but I do not intend to do just my duty."
I raised my eyebrow. During that talk I had equipped my machete once more. The weight was comforting. I left the jerky in the bag, which hung at my waist. "Rather frank of you. You do know you haven't shown me any proof of any of these claims?"
She stuck her tongue out at me."I don't lie. Now, is that all Nameless One? I must be off, before the Tiö start worrying. They're a hospitable people, when they're not trying to eat you."
I chuckled, then grew serious. "Just one. Have you seen a man running around wearing a skull? He took something of mine."
She started, looking surprised for the first time during the conversation. "You've met the Shadow Walker?"
"Doesn't he have a name?" I asked in curiosity and with no small amount of irony.
"It's a woman", the Witch corrected. She chewed on her nail thoughtfully while I sputtered at this revelation. She then looked up, her eyes intent. "I can't say that she is no danger to you. In truth, you will never suffer a wound from her, for that is not her way. But you will lose things. Your shelters will be damaged, your tools broken and your weaves undone. She is like a spirit of mischief; you will not die by her hands, but you will die all the same if you're not careful. If she is focused on you...I must leave now, unless you have any other pressing question?"
I shook my head dumbly, my mind still reeling. She smiled encouragingly at me, a smile any family doctor would be proud of, and then broke the ring she had been fiddling with. She dissipated, her skin evaporating to reveal a figurine of sticks and leaves. I stared at the effigy for a few seconds, then shook my head in wonderment.
"This island is fucking crazy." I said, as I turned into a crow and flew away.
She responds instantly, as if she knew I would be asking such a thing. "Because if you are sacrificed, I will bear witness to the end of an entire people. I will watch as the men, woman and children I have healed and cared for these past three years lose their humanity because of a damn prophecy."
"You mentioned the prophecy before." I say, the words somewhere between a question and a statement.
She shrugged. "It was before my time. The Tiö came to the Gän, asking for help. They had been attacked by adult wolves, a mated pair. To scare away curious pups is something even children learn how to, but this attack was deliberate, as if they were seeking revenge. They lost many in driving them off. I was sent to aid them, to heal what I could. I was still green then, still unknowing of how cruel the Island was, but I learned quickly. I saved some, mainly the strong and young, but I couldn't save any of the elders. If I knew what I know now, I may have poisoned them myself."
She took a deep breath. "I assume you are aware of the concept of a judgement day, Nameless One? It is a common belief in many people, so I've heard. For the people on this Island, judgement day has come and gone. The only ones who remain must eke out a living here, pushed to the very fringes. There is no reward for this, just continued existence. Not many accept their lot. Some try to overcome the Island. Others try to rebuild. The Tiö were more practical; they simply sought to survive. They were a people who wrapped themselves in the present, gave no thought to grand ambitions or plans and instead focused only on what was in front of them."
Her fingers had resumed their slow tapping against the ring, but her eyes were distant. "I was enraptured with that perspective. It was a manner of living I hadn't seen before, to stop worrying about the future or obsessing over the past and just live. Mourn when you want to, laugh when you wish and love as your heart demands." Her eyes darkened now and refocused on me.
"Then I heard about the prophecy. Some fool elder must have said it in a fever dream or during his death rattle. That's the only explanation I have for it. They believe that one day a Lamb will appear, of dark skin and white fleece. They will hunt and consume it, and thus become one with the island."
She raised a hand to forestall my question. "I do not know what becoming one with the island would entail. I didn't even believe the prophecy, it was more of a rumor. But yesterday, young Mav found you, you with dark skin and white hair and well, here we are."
"Well it's nice to know it's only my appearance and not my personality that set them off." I responded dryly. "Are there any other fashion statements I should be aware of? Would having yellow eyes or green hair cause me to become a Pig? Or perhaps wearing the wrong color rags make me into a Fish? Please, I just wish to be a conscientious guest."
Her eyes glinted sharply. "No. No other prophecies that I know of. Aside from the usual dangers of living on this Island, you're safe."
Her eyes found their way back to the ring again. "But make no mistake: I bear no love for you. I also bear you no ill-will. I intend to use you as dangling bait for the Tiö, keep them distracted while I work on fixing them. I will heal this stupid notion of theirs, just as I heal their physical bodies. I may have only been their Healer for a few years, but I do not intend to do just my duty."
I raised my eyebrow. During that talk I had equipped my machete once more. The weight was comforting. I left the jerky in the bag, which hung at my waist. "Rather frank of you. You do know you haven't shown me any proof of any of these claims?"
She stuck her tongue out at me."I don't lie. Now, is that all Nameless One? I must be off, before the Tiö start worrying. They're a hospitable people, when they're not trying to eat you."
I chuckled, then grew serious. "Just one. Have you seen a man running around wearing a skull? He took something of mine."
She started, looking surprised for the first time during the conversation. "You've met the Shadow Walker?"
"Doesn't he have a name?" I asked in curiosity and with no small amount of irony.
"It's a woman", the Witch corrected. She chewed on her nail thoughtfully while I sputtered at this revelation. She then looked up, her eyes intent. "I can't say that she is no danger to you. In truth, you will never suffer a wound from her, for that is not her way. But you will lose things. Your shelters will be damaged, your tools broken and your weaves undone. She is like a spirit of mischief; you will not die by her hands, but you will die all the same if you're not careful. If she is focused on you...I must leave now, unless you have any other pressing question?"
I shook my head dumbly, my mind still reeling. She smiled encouragingly at me, a smile any family doctor would be proud of, and then broke the ring she had been fiddling with. She dissipated, her skin evaporating to reveal a figurine of sticks and leaves. I stared at the effigy for a few seconds, then shook my head in wonderment.
"This island is fucking crazy." I said, as I turned into a crow and flew away.
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