The wanderer, p.24
The Wanderer, page 24
part #1 of The Nogud Legacy Series
Susan jumped and said, “Oh, the door! We have guests!”
We all hurried to the front room and Paul opened the door to invite Grayson inside.
Grayson had brought another woman, in addition to Linea, and he introduced her as Mirea. Paul introduced me and the girls.
After the introductions, Grayson said, “Well, it’s wonderful to meet you and to welcome you new young friends to the village. Paul, shall we do business now, or later?”
Susan said, “Oh, I don’t know what business you men have, but supper is ready and we should eat. Take care of business another time. If not tonight, then tomorrow.”
Grayson and his women smiled at Paul and I, suddenly understanding that the purpose for their visit was going to be a surprise. It shouldn’t have been a surprise to anyone, since Grayson was the Jeweler and Linea was the registrar and everyone knew that I needed both licenses and tokens. Well, I guess it would have been a surprise for the girls, because they didn’t know who Grayson was, but the rest did. And, I guess that it would be a surprise for Paul’s house even if they suspected that Grayson came with licenses and tokens for me, but I supposed that they had no idea that Paul had arranged tokens for them. On the other hand, maybe they didn’t expect it at all because normally Grayson wouldn’t be making house calls.
We sat for dinner and as the conversation started, Grayson said, “Well, that was some excitement in the market today, but first, I want to ask about this. Paul, you and our friend Joshua seem to be wearing lounging tunics. And, I’ve never seen anything quite like what Amanda and…is it Lark? Like what they are wearing. But I take it that they are lounging tunics, but for women. Are you bringing back an ancient fashion as a way of increasing sales at your shop?”
Amanda said, “It’s a hero’s welcome. We thought that after saving the village from a thief, that our men needed a little relaxation before our meal.”
We laughed.
Grayson said, “Ah, very appropriate.”
Susan said, “Grayson, since you ask though, not only will we start to sell the lounging tunics again, if anyone wants them, but we have reestablished the practice of preparing for dinner in our home.”
Mirea said, “I heard about that at the school, but it was already pretty much out of fashion. What are you doing? I mean, what is the practice?”
Susan said, “Thirty minutes before dinner, or even an hour before, when our husband is home from his work, one of us will be chosen each evening to take him away and comfort him and help him relax and put the day behind him. We put on the comfortable tunics and enjoy our meal in peace. We were in a hurry this evening and only found tunics for the men and for Amanda and Lark, but from now on, we will all wear the lounging tunics every evening. If we had enough, we would have asked if you, as guests in our home, would like to get comfortable and lounge with us for the evening meal, but we’ve only started this again tonight because we wanted a way to have the men relax after the confrontation. But we decided that we want to do it every day if possible. Lark is very familiar with the custom and she is planning to teach us several secret practices for relaxation and peace and welcoming a husband home. If you want to, if you’re interested and want to learn about it, we’ll be inviting women who want to hear about it to come and she’ll teach all of us together. Of course, we will have the tunics available at the shop if anyone wants them.”
Grayson looked at Paul and Paul said, “Ask Joshua about it. Amanda ministered to me and I enjoyed it very much, but it’s Joshua’s Lark who’s the one who really knows how it’s truly meant to be done. She calls it the evening ritual. Ask Joshua.”
The eyes of everyone turned to me now and Mirea said, “I am very intrigued by this. Learning a new thing is always exciting.”
Tanya laughed and said, “Then you will be happy to know Joshua and these beautiful girls who have become our daughters! There are so many wonderful new things that it’s like getting wedding presents every day! Did you know that Lark is Yuki’s daughter?”
Linea said excitedly, “Yuki! Is that true? This morning you came for a license and now this is your daughter, living in your own house?”
Yuki smiled and said, “It’s true. Joshua brought my daughter to me and I’m very happy. And now Viola and Raven are daughters to me as well. In my old age! Can you believe it?”
Mirea said, “Yuki, you deserve this happiness. But this evening ritual? What’s it like?”
I winked at Lark to let her know that I would explain it.
I said, “It’s an amazing thing and we should let the women learn it from Lark in private, if they’re interested. But I will say this: Grayson, I hope that you will learn to trust me and know that I will not lie to you. If you value your life on this earth, and want to be happy, even if Paul charges two month’s wages for each tunic, pay it and let your women listen to Lark, and I swear that you’ll think that you got a bargain.”
Grayson smiled and said, “Ah, a salesman!”
Paul said, “Grayson my friend, my son is not a salesman and has no intention of selling clothing. And the more that I come to know him, the more I would discourage him from it. Joshua is a skilled treasure hunter.”
Grayson and his women all looked at me in surprise.
Grayson said, “Really? A treasure hunter? We said that before, but it’s true?”
Paul continued, “Tobias told you himself. A successful treasure hunter. He has a skill for it and some of the treasures that he had when he first came to me are clearly genuine and very valuable. But, Joshua is skilled at seeing treasure that other men will not see even if it stands in front of them. Viola and Raven and Lark are proof enough for me. They are treasures that must have hidden in plain sight until he found them. I can’t say where they’re from, and I am certain that Joshua won’t tell us because why should he tell other men where to find the treasures that he wants to keep for himself. He says many things like that to me. He looks around and says to me that I should pay a hundred coins for this or that, and that I’ll be happy if I do. For the same thing that I have overlooked many times and have never considered until he points my nose at it. And every time, he has told me the truth. It’s his way of talking, but he’s telling you what he knows. We won’t charge a hundred coins for a tunic, but only what’s fair as always, and you will have them if you want them, but we have a new saying and it’s very serious for us and you would be wise to learn it yourself.”
Grayson looked puzzled and asked, “And what saying is that?”
Susan said, “Linea and Mirea, you are friends of ours and you will be happy if Grayson takes this to heart. The saying is that if Joshua says to go mountain climbing, then we will all put on invisible underwear and go mountain climbing. Our son says impossible things, but we are learning to do them.”
Grayson laughed and said, “Well, I did see things that I didn’t understand this afternoon when Joshua paralyzed a thief by touching his hand and then made him drop to the ground like a sack of flour by whispering in his ear. Linea and Mirea, if you want to learn this evening ritual, I will reserve these magic tunics for all of us right now!”
Paul said, “So Grayson, you start to see how it works? It’s not the tunics that are priceless, but the changes that come from so simple a thing. It isn’t the cloth that’s valuable, but the blessing that comes to your house from practicing Lark’s ritual. Joshua says that a blessing is nothing if it’s only words, but a blessing is only a blessing if it has the power to change our situation.”
Grayson asked, “How can pronouncing a blessing be anything more than words. It’s what you hoped for another person, but it’s just a hope. A blessing is just a sadness expressed with a smile.”
Paul said, “Grayson, my friend, what business brought you here tonight? Don’t say it, but consider it. Look at my Yuki. Look at her daughter. Joshua came to my shop yesterday and said to Susan that he hoped to bring a blessing to my shops and to my house and to our village. It seemed like a nice gesture and it made us like him. But the blessing is not words. My shop will sell lounging tunics and I will make money. The men who buy them and learn the ritual that comes with them and they will be happy at home. Last night, Joshua spoke to me and my house at dinner and this morning, I took Yuki for a license that was long overdue. Yuki will say that she has found a new youthfulness and grows younger by the minute.”
Yuki said, “And I have been washed of a sour nature that I’m glad to be rid of.”
Paul continued, “And she has her daughter and my house has new children. You have benefited already yourself in two ways at least. From the tokens that you sell…”
Amanda broke in, “Is that why you’re visiting us for dinner? Have you brought tokens for Joshua’s bedmates? How wonderful.”
Grayson and the women with him smiled and Paul went on.
He said, “You have benefited in two ways…so far. You have sold several tokens in one day and you did not suffer the loss of several valuable items at the hand of a thief. All of these things flow from the blessing that Joshua brought and promised to Susan yesterday. Do you know what? When he came, he asked for help in a very small matter that was nothing for us, but he swore to bless us whether we helped him or not. A man will promise all kinds of things when he needs help, but Susan was struck by his promise to bless us regardless.”
Susan said, “What he told me was that if I refused to help him, that he would bless me and that he would not hold it against me and that he would try to become more worthy of my friendship as a result.”
Linea asked, “So, why did you help him? Of course you’re kind and you said that it was a small thing, but it sounds like a strange encounter. Some would have turned your new son-in-law away simply because they’re nervous of strangers with strange requests.”
Susan said, “His manner made me curious. I didn’t grant his request immediately. First I called Paul and we listened to him together. He treated the request like it was very important to him, but it was trivial to us. When he came to me, Viola’s dress was torn, and she needed a new one, but Joshua hadn’t been able to conduct his business yet and he didn’t have his coins yet. He left a pledge worth a small fortune for a simple dress that was worth very little. And a very short time later, he returned and paid us a very fair price. But more than that, I thought to myself that Joshua is somehow a magician, and we have found out that it’s true. How many times in my life will a magician and treasure hunter come to my door? And I made the right decision by inviting him in and giving him food and drink.”
Grayson said, “But, Paul, he’s your son-in-law. How was he a stranger?”
Paul said, “We didn’t know him and he didn’t bring Lark to be reunited with her mother until noon today.”
Grayson said, “This is a wild story. A young stranger comes to your shop and asks a favor. He pronounces a blessing and you take him home for dinner. Before morning, you have taken Yuki as a bedmate and go for a license. At noon he brings your daughter to you; though she was not your daughter the day before. After lunch, he saves me, and the rest of the village, from a thief. And besides that, I see a change in your house with my own eyes.”
Susan said, “Linea, if a wizard comes to you, open the door and offer him sandwiches and do not let him leave until your house has his blessing.”
Mirea asked, “And be prepared to go mountain climbing? Well, if that’s how it must be. But Lark, oh, first, let me say, you and these sisters of yours are all very pretty and gracious. I don’t think that I have ever seen three women quite as beautiful, but I’m not sure why. All three of you are very striking in some way. Um, but can you teach us this ritual? Is it difficult?”
Lark beamed, “Oh no! It’s the most easiest thing. Paul learned something like it this afternoon and performed it easily. So I’m sure that this can be learned easily as well. Oh, but you have to love your husband and he has to love you and trust you, because it won’t work if you don’t. But if you do, then it’s very easy. It’s just making the love that you have for him wash away the day that he has had. I can show you how.”
Susan said, “But, like Joshua says, we’ll have a time, maybe at the women’s shop, for us to learn it. Joshua’s girls will be learning to make clothing and we’ll get lounging tunics ready and we’ll sell them soon.”
Grayson said, “OK. I’m sold. I will reserve the first ones that you have ready. One for me and one for each of my pretty women.”
Linea raised an eyebrow and said, “Pretty women? Mirea, how long has it been since he’s said something like that?”
Mirea said, “Too long I think. I’d forgotten how hearing something like that makes me feel.”
Amanda said, “And if talking about an evening ritual makes us feel like this, how much more will doing it be?”
Linea said, “My goodness! She’s right! A hundred coins does seem suddenly like a small price. Pretty women, indeed.”
Chapter 24 Business with Grayson
We’d been eating the entire time and had now pushed back our plates for the most part.
Yuki was starting to clear the table and said, “Raven, Viola, help me clear. Lark’s place is beside her master this evening and the others have taken their turns for many years.”
The two girls sprang to their feet and did as Yuki showed them.
Susan said, “But Yuki, let me do it. You have as much right to rest as I do.”
Yuki smiled and said, “No. I have never done this before. This evening I am clearing the table of my master and bedmate. Let me do it and I will be happy.”
Susan smiled and Yuki and the two girls cleared the dishes cheerfully.
Paul said, “Let’s stay at the table for our business. Linea, shall we start with registrations? Joshua is that OK with you?”
I said, “Absolutely. Lark, are you ready for a license of marriage?’
Lark grabbed my hand and said, “Of course! Yes, of course! Raven, come here!”
Raven came into the room and I said, “Raven, we’re getting the licenses for both you and Lark.”
Raven smiled and said, “I know. Let me clear another few dishes and I’ll be here when it’s time,” and she left again.
Linea smiled and said, “She is an odd girl in a way and I like her. Here, let me get my bag and my book and we’ll do this. Joshua, do you have the fees?”
I assured her that I did and Linea opened her book on the dining table and found the page. She looked at it for a second and said, “Joshua? And Viola? You had your registration yesterday afternoon? I remember a young man, but I paid no attention because you were a stranger. I assumed that you came from another village for the event. But then I didn’t see you at the event so I thought that you must have come afterward. But no matter. Well, but where were Lark and Raven yesterday?”
I said, “I arrived in the village early with Viola, but Raven traveled with Lark to meet her mother today.”
I hoped that this cryptic explanation would be enough.
Linea said, “I see. Well that makes sense. Here, let’s get this out of the way so that we can do even happier things. I think that you’ll be pleased with what we’ve created for you. So, woman’s name: Lark. Lark has already said that she consents, enthusiastically it appears, so I won’t ask again. Man’s name: Joshua Jensen. That’s right, I thought that the name was different. Sign here please. Good. And I’ll fill out the certificate.”
Linea finished the paperwork for Lark and handed us the license. She said, “There you go. Now the next. Woman’s name: Raven. It’s a pretty name. She should be here for this, just because we must do it that way.”
Raven said, “I’m here.”
Somehow even I hadn’t noticed that Raven was now happily sitting in my lap. You know how sometimes adults are talking and a child climbs up into a lap and no one bothers to notice? It was like that. She was just there and I didn’t quite remember how she got there.
Linea said, “Oh, good. OK, Man’s name: Joshua Jensen. Let me get this ready. Sign here as before. Fine. And the license…OK, all done, now just the fees.”
I handed Linea the four coins required for the two licenses and it was all done and official.
Grayson said, “Well, and now?”
I said, “Paul, you have to go first.”
Paul smiled and called out, “Yuki, are you done with clearing? Can you come back and finish in the kitchen later?”
Yuki and Viola reappeared and Yuki said, “If you like. Are we going to visit some more?” and she and Viola took their seats again.
Paul said, “Well, Grayson came for dinner as an excuse for our business. Grayson, show us what you have.”
Grayson smiled and Mirea reached into the bag that they had brought and pulled out four collars with the crest that Paul had selected and laid them out on the table in front of her.
Paul said, “My loves, these are for you and long overdue. When Susan came to me, for various reasons, I neglected this, and then I neglected it with each one of you. Please let me remedy it now.”
Susan said, “Paul, they’re beautiful. Can we see them before they are attached?”
I said, “And may my girls see theirs while we take care of Paul’s house?”
Mirea handed one of the collars to each of Paul’s women and then retrieved the tokens for mine. I handed one to each of them.
Raven was still on my lap and when she took the token and examined it she gasped.
She exclaimed, “Joshua, this crest! Where is it from?”
Linea said, “He designed it himself. We made them custom. It is very unusual, isn’t it. It’s very unconventional, but as we made them, it struck me as quite beautiful. I find it very attractive and even…well, a little bit sensuous in a way for some reason. Joshua, is it what you wanted?”
Raven exclaimed, “It is perfect! My whole life is perfect!”
She looked at Lark and Viola and didn’t see the reaction that she was looking for and said, “Oh for goodness sakes! Come with me!” and she jumped off my lap and dragged the two other girls to the living room, taking the collars with them.
