“It has been more then a year now, I still miss you dear, what our life would have been like with our chil-” he could not finish that thought, “Utu why did you let this happen?” He ragged into the sun, the symbol of his all but forgotten god. Not expecting an answer not this time not after the other thousand times he called out sobber, drunk, in a rage and in reverence peace, no answer nothing”

I could not help, she was giving birth I watch all that occurs and pass judgment upon the dead, but I cannot help those that are not of my order. I am sorry I was not able to help her, but I was their with her, she is at peace waiting for you along side my wife Aya where we will meet once we set our burdens of the day down.

“Utu,” falling to my knees, “why know why after all of this time have you come back to me?”

Child I never left you, you needed your time to morn, to greave but I have need of you if you will head my call once again?

Bowing my head, “I, Timothy Evans, hear do by swear to follow my tasks and duty as presented by my god Utu, and those he puts above me.”

Thank, you my child, there is a girl she will seek you out in the next few days asking for training asking for revenge, trainer her as you will, she is needed in this world, receive my blessing,

I could feel a warm creasing touch the crown of my head and the what could only be called a father’s love embrace me. And ephemeral plate covered my body.

Arise my paladin

*****************

She knew where she was going although she never thought she would go here, she was going to visit the witch, she sold potions, curses, and was rumored to help with some problems, her house was past the edge of town out past the tanneries house. The house was old but in good repair. She took a deep breath and told herself, “You can do this.” She walked towards the door and the door opened.

“Come in deary” Standing in front of her was a hunched old woman, with black and gray streaked hair, worn but well patched clothing. The hut was small, looked like everything was in one room, she could see a bed in the back of the house, and a line of herbs hung up drying throughout the house. She walked in to the hut and said, “I need your help.”

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Over a cup of tea, she explained everything that had happened last week, everything, things she could not tell to Mr. Soper, although his eyes said he knew, she broke down crying halfway through, and in the end, she showed her the brand on her chest just below the collar bone.

The witch, looked at the brand and said, “In service of Inanna, I take it this was not done willingly?”

“No, it was not!” Katie said taking a deep breath, “I apologize, I do not mean to take this out on you. This was definitely not done willing, nor was I prisoner that offered to serve Inanna, to get out of my sentence, that-that was the story I was supposed to tell anyone that asked!”

“What do you want me to do, deary?”

“I want him dead; I want him cursed; I want him to suffer the way he made him suffer”

“I can do that will you pay my price?”

“How much?”

“I do not seek money for what you are asking, I need an apprentice”

“I am already an apprentice to Mr. Soper”

“I need an apprentice, what you are asking me to do will cost me greatly, it will cost me years of me life, and this place needs a witch.” The old woman, changed in front of her becoming a younger woman, with some signs of crow’s feet at the edge of her eyes and some faint wrinkles on her face, not to the degree that they were before. “Will you give up your name? You will be changed, you will learn about herbs, potions, and curses, you will be given the ability to cast a glamour like what I was wearing when you first arrived, and another to make yourself unrememberable. You will take over this place from me, I will do what you ask, if you accept my offer, if you do then you will be bound to this house you may leave to hunt and gather herbs, fish and meat, you can go to town, but you will know when you need to be back to the hut for those that seek you, you will not die, not until you find someone to replace you, I have been un-aging for the last 60 years, I was-well that name has been forgotten-I took over for the previous witch when she took upon my request, you will know the cost of all of the tasks that you will be asked for and you will know what a fair price is you can ask for more or less, but know that it will cost you to do so.”

“But my life, I am meant to take over for Mr. Soper”

“Dear, I do not think that life is going to happen anymore, take my offer, or do not, but I will not help you without my price being met.”

“I need to think about this, but can you help with…”

“Yes that is easy enough, you had a baskets of soaps with you, I will take one as payment for the potion take it right before bed, and you will be back on cycle in the morning, their will be discomfort, but you will be fine in a day or two, only take the potion if you decide not to take my offer, if you do come back I will need… well come back and we will talk about how to do curses, it will be your first lesson.”