Arcus could think of one thing that might make living in such a location difficult. “It’s the water causing you problems, isn’t it?”
“That is exactly right.”
A change in the drinking water could be explained by a change in the soil. High-quality water was vital for good health, whereas poor water could lead to hives, unhealthy skin, and diarrhea.
“I don’t think that’s a problem you need me to solve,” Arcus said. “Your tribe could easily find a sizable territory elsewhere. Maybe even two.”
“I completely agree.”
Though the Heoga Tribe didn’t own any land itself, they were proficient fighters to the extent that their small population could rival the military might of a minor nation. Their leader was treated with the same reverence as a duke by various countries, with many of them working constantly to earn his favor in an effort to secure the tribe’s fighting potential for themselves. Lainur was no exception.
Ursula suddenly shook her head. “However, the territory and rank we might earn by fighting would be incompatible with our desire for peace. That is why we decided to wait for the one whose arrival is foretold in The Prophecy of Shadows.”
“So you already considered fighting, huh? I guess this is the less risky option.”
“Less risky, but highly discourteous. I can only ask that you accept our sincerest apologies.”
Arcus supposed it was a mark in her favor that she wasn’t trying to obfuscate that they were just using him. They wouldn’t even have thought to ask a boy as young as him if not for the prophecy, and he doubted it was a decision they would have come to easily.
“As I have said, we are well aware of how presumptuous it is to ask for your help, and yet I beg of you to help us. And of course, we wish to offer you something in return. You need only ask, and you will have the might of the entire Heoga Tribe at your disposal. As assurance, let us be bound by a vow of master and servant.”
“Wait, wait, wait! Remember what I said about this all being too sudden?”
Taking on that vow wouldn’t just guarantee their assistance; it would mean he was obligated to help them too. It would be like he was in possession of a powerful bomb. It wouldn’t matter if it exploded somewhere out of his sight, but if it exploded while in his hands, he would be directly in harm’s way. He would be undertaking a great responsibility. There was no way he could agree without thinking things through properly.
“You do not trust in my words?” Ursula pressed.
“Of course I don’t. You’ve told me The Prophecy of Shadows says all this stuff, but how do I know if that’s actually true? Can you give me the exact passage?”
She fell into an uneasy silence. Clearly, her knowledge of this account came from oral tradition, rather than her having sat down and interpreted the text herself.
On the other hand, she addressed him in the same way as Chain, and he did have that birthmark on his arm. He didn’t think what Ursula was saying was wrong exactly. It was just that there was a wary voice deep in his heart cautioning him against believing her unconditionally. Was it really wise to put such trust into something as indefinite as a prophecy?
Perhaps he wouldn’t be asking himself these questions if not for the heavy influence the man’s world had on him.
“Why have you come to me now?” Arcus asked the question that had just struck him.
“I first saw you at the order ceremony. I worried that, if I did not make contact soon, the opportunity to do so would slip away.”
“Why?”
“The higher your status climbed, the more difficult it would become to meet you.”
“You really think I’m gonna be that big of a deal?”
“It is not difficult to imagine what your future may look like, given you received an Order of the Silver Cross at your age.”
“So now was the only time you could approach me, huh?”
Arcus certainly wanted to make his name as a magician. If he managed to pull it off, it would indeed be more difficult for anyone to make contact with him. Even if the situation wasn’t so dire that Ursula couldn’t wait to speak with him any longer, he could understand why she had decided that now was a good time to do so.
So what was he supposed to do?
He certainly wasn’t about to agree to anything without due consideration. That would just be asking for trouble. On the other hand, refusing outright probably wasn’t a good idea either. It was hard to think that her addressing him as “Seer” could be mere coincidence.
The crux of the matter was the prophecy. In the man’s world, the same prophecy would be regarded with suspicion; here, it was truth. Arcus needed to be careful not to let his prejudices cloud his judgment.
“I’m not gonna say whether I believe your story one way or the other, but I won’t forget what we spoke about.”
“That is enough to satisfy me for now. Thank you very much for your consideration, Arcus.” Ursula moved to the edge of the path like a vassal kneeling down to allow their king passage.
I guess the title of Seer really would be that prestigious, if everything she’s said is true...
Arcus walked ahead for a bit, then took a moment to look back over his shoulder. Ursula was still kneeling, as still as a statue. Returning his attention to the road ahead, he made for home.
Once Arcus was gone, Ursula rose to her feet and gazed for a while in the direction he had disappeared. Darkness had overcome the alleyway, wedged between two buildings, leaving moonlight as the only source of illumination. If she stayed much longer, even that wouldn’t be enough to save this path from drowning in the black.
Ursula pulled out a lantern and lit the wick. The walls around her were bathed in an orange flame that elongated the shadows and deepened the darkness it could not reach. Then, she raised her head.
“I know you are there, Yahanni.”
At her call, a hooded figure slipped out from a shadowy corner beyond her lamp. They were shorter than Ursula and wore the same style of windbreaker cloak over their kimono-like attire. They kept half of themselves steeped in the coiling shadows as they replied.