A Coursing Passage (A Life of Magic Book 3) (10 page)

Chapter 2: In the camp

"Tulip, it is so good to see you returned safely from your trip." The oldest looking man stated this dryly as he hugged her. "We feared that something unfortunate might have occurred along the road." A few of the others in the group nodded sagely.

Tulip rolled her eyes while hugging the man. "I survived, in fact I had a pleasant time. Perhaps we should insist that all elders travel on occasion with a flock. I think it would be an exhilarating experience." She grinned when she made this statement. "How have things been while I was gone, Artimus?"

The man stepped back, "I believe we can go into that later, nothing of note occurred However, I hear that you are endorsing some strangers you collected from the roadside? This sounds much more interesting than what has occurred here in your absence." He looked over at us and sneered quietly. "Perhaps we should meet these people."

Stain had listened quietly to this, however I could see his posture stiffen. He was most likely getting annoyed at this fool of a man. He stood and walked over to Artimus. From his pocket he pulled out the same token he had shown to Tulip, which he handed to Artimus. "I greet you as a brother of the road and wish blessing upon your wheels and hooves." This was stated in an authoritative tone.

Artimus looked surprised at Stain's words and quietly took the token into his hands, "I see. Not so much strangers as lost cousins then." He looked down at the token. His eyebrows raised, "Very lost from the look of this token." He handed it back to Stain, "Then I believe there is no problem. Tulip has handled this matter in the appropriate way." He turned to the others with him. "If there is no other concerns I believe I have matters of camp that must be attended to at once." A few of people smirked at him while some nodded. I made a note of which people seemed to approve of Artimus. He turned and rushed away. A few of the people followed in his wake. A couple went off into other parts of the camp after hugging Tulip and offering a few words. Three stayed and settled themselves around the fire.

Tulip sat down and pointed at a short woman who had dark red hair, "My niece Amelia. She is water and earth." Amelia looked surprised and glanced at us in mild shock, but then she grinned shyly. Tulip pointed to the older woman who bore a strong resemblance to Amelia, "Amelia's mother, Ruth. My late husbands sister. Earth with a little fire mixed in." Ruth's hair had a more vibrant red, almost appearing to smolder like embers. Tulip pointed at the young man on the other side of Amelia, "Robert, fire and air." This man seemed quiet and reserved, yet his soft smile showed he had a good humor. "Robert and Amelia are betrothed, just like you two." She waved Stain to sit. "Sit down old man. Let me introduce you properly." Stain grinned and sat beside Tulip. She pointed at him, "Stain, brother of the road. Also, earth, air, fire, water." She smiled at the three other mage's shocked reactions to this simple statement. She then pointed over at Raven, "This is Raven. Knife juggler and also earth, air, fire, water. However, she is a harmonic mage." The three were obviously in shock at this also. Amelia's mouth hung open slightly while Robert had turned more serious. Tulip was grinning as she pointed at me, "This is Otter, called Ott. He is earth, air, fire, and also water." By now the color had left Ruth's face, making her shock much more obvious. "The rest we can introduce at a later time, beastly companions, the lot of them." She sat back and waited.

Robert was the first to recover, "Three full wheel mages traveling together?"

"Full wheel?" Stain posed this question.

Tulip grinned, "Our tribes talk about magic with the idea of different parts of a wheel. Each family of magic is a different part of the wheel. Earth makes up the bottom quarter. Fire and water are across from each other, while air rests at the top of the wheel. Someone who has one magic alone is a quarter wheel. Two magics makes Amelia a half wheel mage. Three magics would make a person a three quarters wheel mage. Mages like yourselves are full wheels. You have the full range of magic."

"What about someone like Ruth? With a main affinity and a minor affinity." Raven leaned forward. She always wanted to learn more about magic.

Tulip nodded, "She is called an earth quarter wheel with a fire spoke."

Stain commented, "The system makes sense. You can discuss it without getting into details that others might not need to hear."

Ruth nodded, "There are many enemies out there, more so if you can handle the wheel."

"Handle the wheel means working magic?" I posed this question.

Amelia nodded, "That is the general way of saying it."

We sat a moment and considered all of this new information.

"What is going on Aunt Tulip?" Amelia asked in a worried tone.

Tulip frowned, "I am sure many things are happening. Some are good, some not so much. However, we shall handle them as we always do." She stood, "Stain. You and I need to make the rounds and introduce you to those you must meet. Allow your two apprentices to stay here and visit with these three. They are more than capable of answering any questions asked."

Stain stood, "Very well, let us leave these younglings to their visit." He followed her out of our immediate campsite.

Amelia watched them go, "She seems happier."

Ruth grinned, "A women gets that way around a handsome man."

Robert smiled and looked fondly at Amelia, he then turned and addressed us, "What questions do we need to handle? After you ask we will ask our own."

Raven looked over at me and grinned, "I really do not have many questions. Tulip has been talking to me while I drove the wagon."

I nodded, "Stain took the time to explain things to me also. Tulip filled in the blanks."

Ruth nodded, "That is her way. Then perhaps we can ask some questions?"

Raven and I both nodded. "That would be fine with me." I stated calmly.

They sat a moment, considering what to ask. Finally Amelia spoke up, "Are you two betrothed? Aunt Tulip made that comment."

Raven blushed slightly and ducked her head. "We are."

Amelia grinned, "Good! There are no other women betrothed right now in the camp that I want to spend time with on a regular basis. We are just on the other side of the hedge. I think we will talk often."

Robert nodded, "So, does that mean you two harmonize in magic?"

I answered that one, "That is right. Raven's magic harmonizes with mine."

He looked at us and his eyes seemed to unfocus, "I see connections, minor ones but they are there." His eyes refocused. "You need some blocking amulets."

"Tulip was going to teach me how to make them once we arrived and had time to settle." I looked around. "I guess in a few days?"

Ruth grinned, "She will do it soon, knowing her. Most wheel handlers do not travel as such, what else do your master and you two do on the road?"

"Stain is trained fully as a healer. I am decently trained to be his apprentice. Raven is just learning the healing aspect. She is trained much higher as a knife juggler." Raven blushed at my comment. "You should see her perform at some point."

"Well, Ott is also trained to be a forester and can weave baskets out of almost anything." Raven quipped this quickly.

"It sounds as if you all are well versed in different areas. Does your master also do healing wheel work?" Ruth leaned forward and asked this quietly.

I nodded, "He does as do I at times."

Ruth's expression showed her surprise. "An apprentice able to do healing wheel work. I guess traveling as healers was a simply answer."

I nodded and grinned, "Stain has trained me in regular healer work and also how to add to it with wheel work. I can also do wheel work healings. Stain is better, being more experienced."

Raven posed her own question, "You seem to have to hide your abilities from most, what do you three do on the road?"

Ruth answered first, "I am a potter. I make all manner of pots, vessels, and such. I use clay and fire to create items both useful and beautiful."

Amelia smiled, "She really is fantastic. I grew up helping her. I worked with mixing the ingredients up for her clay. I make all manner of chemicals. The dyes people need, coatings for the wagons, even paints."

Robert shook his head, "Amelia always forgets to be proud of her skills. She could challenge most alchemist in abilities." Amelia blushed at his compliment. "I am a gleam smith. I work with all sorts of precious metals and gems. Mainly I make jewelry for decoration or ritual." He pulled out an amulet much like the one Tulip wore. "I also make things for other wheel workers."

Raven grinned, "That was one thing that Ott failed at completely. He tried to make some for us both."

I chuckled and nodded, "It was one of the ugliest things I had ever seen made. The only way you could tell it was an amulet was it hung from a chain."

Robert grinned, "Not many can do it. It is a greater challenge than most think."

Amelia beamed, "Robert's work is sought out by many. Both wheel handlers and others simply seeking a beautiful item."

Ruth grinned, "I think it is a good match. Robert's work calls for a lot of ingredients that Amelia will be able to create. A good strong partnership is based off of many things, one's work is one of them." She leaned back and stretched, "Another question. Will you two be in grafted into the people? If so that means you most likely will be living on the road for a long time. So you will need a good wagon. Most likely Tulip has mentioned this, we have a relative who has some good wagons. I think I saw a family one that was new, not yet finished out that might work." She looked at Amelia and Robert. "These two already have a wagon, they have been working on it for the past month to get it ready."

"I would love to see your wagon. We will be living on the road, probably for the rest of our lives. If what Stain says is true." I answered Ruth's question. "And I believe he did mention something about an in-grafting"

"Good!" Amelia exclaimed, "But that means we will have to get you some gifts. We can figure out what all you will need for your wagon and work from that list."

Robert nodded, "I bet you can expect that your wagon will be pretty much loaded for the road when you get in grafted It will be a fun day."

"Which will occur sooner than I anticipated. Stain's token is opening doors." Tulip entered the camp with Stain just behind her.

Stain nodded, "I think they are going to do an in-grafting celebration next week. After that you will be considered part of the large flock that is here, as well as the flock that wanders the roads." He sat down. "I do believe it is getting time to eat. Shall we fix a meal?"

We all agreed with this idea and set about putting a hasty meal together.

***

After the meal everyone pitched in to help clean up. We then sat around the fire talking. Asking questions and discussing what might lay in the future for all of us.

"What is this in-grafting that we will be doing?" I asked during one moment.

Stain answered, "It is a ritual that makes you part of the people. You get attached to a family who looks after you like one of their own. You have the same rights and privileges as someone born into the people."

Tulip chuckled, "You make it sound so serious and boring. You become part of us and we become part of you. We celebrate, as if you had just been born. There will be dancing, singing, and food. So much food. It is a large party. It is not every day that someone joins our family on the road. People will talk about it for years. There will be gifts given, expect to be embarrassed. Also since you are a young betrothed couple, most likely some people will gift you with things to help establish your life on the road." She looked at Ruth, "I think that I will in graft them into my family, as if they were my children."

Ruth looked surprised at this. "Are you sure? I figured you would ask someone else to be the vine."

Tulip smiled gently, "I think that with all things considered, I want to have the pleasure of bringing them into the people." She looked at Stain, "If that is alright with you?"

Stain nodded, "I am honored that you would be willing to put yourself forward for the vine. I had planned on doing so, however the situation has changed and I appreciate your offer. I do have contributions to make to establishing their futures. I have the funds to purchase the wagon and to obtain the pulling team."

Tulip grinned, "Good. We can settle that later." She turned and looked at me and Raven."You both will have minor things to do during the day. Most of it is simply a celebration of two new lives joining us on the road. Certain vows will be taken, however they should not interfere with any previous vows or promises." She looked at Amelia and Robert. "I expect you two to help them get used to life among the people."

Robert and Amelia nodded. "I think that is best." Robert commented, "We can provide introductions to others our ages."

"We need to make a list of details to pass around." Amelia stated, "Everyone will be wanting to make sure the gifts are suitable and the colors match."

Ruth grinned, "I will need to make a few new items for your wagon. Knowing what colors you two desire will make things much easier to customize."