Nannade was dashing through the forest, retracing her steps to where she had seen a patch of mallows, by the shallow brook, she remembered them. She arrives at the spot and immediately saw them, fringy leaves and white flowers with red centres. She immediately took one of her throwing knives and started to dig to harvest the entire plant, including roots. The knife was the same as the ones Teacher Garetas used; its blade was broad and double-edged, its tang was wrapped in cord and its end shaped into a loop big enough for her finger. Together with the cord around the tang, she could find a hundred uses for them; spear tip, tent pegs, trap components and for now, shovel.
She gathered a few of the mallows and washed them off in the brook, then she dashed back to the two boys. She hoped that a few bits of fresh, undried mallow would be enough to quell pain and infection. She would have to make the best of what she got.
She made it back, but when the place where she had left them came into sight, she saw a figure by the two boys. All she could see for now was that the figures was clad in a green cloak. As the figure turned to face her, she could see more. It was a man, not the tallest, but lean, with black hair that began to grey, on his shoulder sat a bird that could have been a small crow. Apart from the green cloak, he wore sturdy clothes and a hardened leather cuirass with a sigil embossed upon its chest, a raven amongst trees; the sigil of the Striders, keepers of the deepest forests and scouts of the Lodge.
“Oh, there is the brave girl witch!” was the first thing he said when she arrived. “If it isn’t Nannade the crolachan of Sturreland. I was informed that someone was causing quite the ruckus in this part of my range, but I am glad to see someone capable already has everything under control.”
“I am sorry for intruding upon your forest, Ser...”
“Strider Captain Osewald, glad to make your acquaintance, this is Skriri!” he gestured towards the bird on his shoulder, who greeted Nannade with a quick bow.
The name seemed familiar to Nannade but before she could remember, Ruediger spoke up full of hope and vigour. “He’s the Jackdaw! He’s a hero!”
Osewald chuckled. “Yes they call me the Jackdaw, the druids seem to like reading stories of my accomplishments in their lessons. But enough of me, Apprentice Nannade, you have a wound to tend to.” Captain Osewald took a step aside and let Nannade through to Tobias, who had calmed down.
“I already inspected your bandages, and they seem sufficient for the boy’s immediate health.”
Nannade was still sorting everything in her head. Of course she had heard of the Jackdaw, famous hero of the Lodge, known by every boy and girl for his heroic deeds such as defending the good people of Sturreland from Beric the Bear and finding the long-lost Helm of Sight of house Hitollarn.
“Go on! Help the boy!” Captain Osewald urged, beckoning to Tobias.
Nannade had arrived back in the here and now and got back to the injury. She took one of the mallow's roots and gave them to the boy. “Chew on this!” she said. She undid the bandages and cleaned the wounds again. She took a few of the mallow’s leaves, rubbed them between her palms to turn them into a coarse paste and undid the cork of the flat pot. In there was a fatty ointment, a good base for everything, Nannade herself used it most for scrapes and burns. She mixed the leaves with the ointment in her hands and applied it generously around the wound. During the entire ordeal, Tobias was much braver than before, maybe out of shame to show tears in front of the hero, maybe because the mallow root started showing its effects, maybe because he had gotten used to the pain, either way, it was much less stressful on Nannade, too. Finally, she wanted to put on new bandages, but Captain Osewald interrupted her by handing her a roll of proper fresh bandages, not the sorry scraps she had.
“Your effort to make do with scraps and cord are admirable, but we shouldn’t forget the boy’s health.”
When she turned to thank him, she saw a smile on his face that seemed deeply genuine and affectionate, in a fatherly way.
“I thank you, Ser.”
She used the bandages to finish up the treatment, layering more leaves and ointment above the wound in with the cloth. When all was done, Captain Osewald took the boy on his back.
“Come on now, I'll lead you out!”
Nannade took a moment to calm down. Her task was done. She packed all her stuff back together, then quickly caught up with Osewald and the boys.
The journey to the edge of the forest was filled with questions by the boys about the Jackdaw's exploits and heroics, as well as what it took to become a Strider. When they heard that the Mystic Gift was one requirement, they seemed to lose hope for a moment, but instead urged Nannade to become a Strider. In another life, where she owed her freedom and life to no one, it could have happened, but not in this.
They arrived by the nearest village and gave the boys back into the care of their parents, who insisted on treating the two heroes of the Lodge to a meal as thanks, but both of them refused; they still had places to go.
“So, I am sort of well-known?” Nannade asked the Captain as they left the village for the hills.
Captain Osewald nodded. “A crolachan in Sturreland is rare, and one with the Mystic Gift even more so. And then there is this mysterious figure by her side, that many mistake for a Strider, but I looked into it and found him to be none of my comrades. His aura is so much different upon closer inspection.”
Nannade wondered how much more the Striders knew about her. She was glad her friend from afar had not been with her all this time.
“Yes, he teaches me these things, letting me out into the wild to learn surviving and fending for myself.”
“You seem to be doing well. Although I never heard of such a training by the Lodge outside of us Striders, of course.”
“He’s... a specialist in some things.” Nannade had not really paid attention to where they were walking on the paths along the fields, but now she saw that they were heading towards another forest on the other side of the valley. “But this time he was being mean. My fourteenth name day is coming up and he knows I want to celebrate with my friends, so I have to hurry. Normally I take my time, as a sort of vacation. He doesn’t like that.”
Captain Osewald laughed. “The forest really does grow on you, doesn’t it?”
“Yes. Out here, things just make sense. No one to chase after you with stupid chores. Just what is necessary.”
“I wouldn’t want to stay anywhere else.”
They continued their chatter until Osewald decided to open with a different issue. “So tell me, Apprentice Nannade, is it true that you were once a slave, rescued by the Lodge?”
She felt an itch on her neck. The scars were still there, fresh and pink as if the skin just got done healing, a consequence of the sigils being burned onto her very lifeforce itself, scarring the body deeper than just skin and flesh. These scars would never fade, would never let her forget. “Yes. That man saved me and brought me to the Lodge because of my magic gift.”
“I see. I am glad you found a better place here.” They kept walking in silence until they stopped at the edge of the forest. “Here I will let you go back on your test, I hope I have not interfered with it too much already. Good luck with it and stay safe.”
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Nannade crossed her hands above her heart and bowed her head. “I thank you, Captain.”
“Don’t mention it. But if you should ever feel that you belong with the Striders, simply call for us and we will be glad to consider you.” He too did the bowing gesture, as did Skriri, who followed it up with a “Farewell, child.”
Nannade walked on the path with a brisk pace, hoping to make up for the lost time. If she hurried, she could still make it in time. She noticed that this forest had a strong current of life force – a ley-line – running through it. As she crossed it, she changed her course to walk along it. Soon, that distant friend of hers was drawn to her. This friend only came to her when she was alone, asking about her health, her training and her resolve. Teacher Garetas and Elissa had tried to keep this friend away for a long time, but never succeeded, at least not since she was allowed to take off that stupid ward. Still, being seen with this friend by another mystic could spell trouble, foreign spirits in Sturreland were not well received. The two of them had taken precautions that nobody would tear them apart. Nannade enjoyed those visits, as short as they might be. She decided to get back on track home.
With fast steps she made her way back. She foraged on the way, her rations having run out the day before, and managed to get by. The direction the Jackdaw had set her upon was good enough for now. By night, she could correct her course with the help of the stars, by day she could see distant landmarks; significant hills or ridges, sometimes a familiar stream. Within three more days, she stood on the slopes above Heimeden.
The sun was still long before setting, but it was the last day before her name day. It had been a narrow time schedule she had to keep, but it had paid off and she decided to reward herself with a visit to Carsten and his family.
Carsten and Frederick were the sons of Elissa’s best friend Melanie. Their farm was among the bigger ones in Heimeden and by this time, they would probably have dinner. Nannade didn’t like intruding, but all this time eating squirrel, hedgehog and the occasional herb had harried her tongue and stomach. When she arrived on the farm, Carsten was just carrying a ball of hay to the mews.
When he saw her, his face lit up with joy. “Nannade, what brings you here?”
Nannade decided to be honest with him. “Your mother’s cooking.”
It got a laugh out of him. He put down the hay and came to hug her. “You’ve been in the wilderness again, haven’t you?”
She nodded. “Teacher wanted me to return as quickly as possible, so I made it just in time for tomorrow.”
“Well then I'm glad you made it. I'm sure my mother has a bowl of stew extra for you. Just help me with the cows and we can go inside.”
They brought the hay to the cows and after that had been taken care of, they went inside to the rest of the family. Apart from Carsten, who was three years older than Nannade and Frederick who was a year younger than her, Melanie also had three younger daughters ages nine, seven and four. Together with their father Carolus they made a happy big bunch that was always open to Nannade. She was a welcome guest at their table, as they felt graced by the presence of an apprentice of the Lodge.
She had her fill of good stew and bread. Elissa was no bad cook, but cooking for seven just gave Melanie the edge, even if her herbs weren’t fresh from the forest like Elissa’s. The family of course asked Nannade all sorts of things, how her training was coming along, whether everything was well in the forest, whether she would finally be doing the dance of Harvest Thanks this year. Nannade indulged them as much as she could, still having to keep many of her secrets, but she had grown accustomed to living a second life by now. It was getting late and she decided to leave. If she hurried, she would catch Garrett and Elissa while they were still awake. She was heading off the farm when Carsten came running, calling out to her.
“I wanted to ask you something? For tomorrow.” he said out of breath as he came closer to her than he usually would.
“What is it?” Nannade had to admit to herself that she liked it when he came close to her.
“Up in the forest on the other side, I found a pond with ducklings, do you maybe want to go there tomorrow?”
She liked the ducklings and she had little opportunity to the forest on the other side of the valley. “Sure, I’d be happy to spend my day with all of you.” She gave him a last hug and then was off down the road up to the hut. She wouldn’t be able to take a bath today any more, but Melanie’s cooking was worth waiting until to morrow to get the frowst out of her fur.
Her return did not spark as much joy at the hut as it did at Melanie’s table. Teacher Elissa stood at her work bench, labelling a last few pots in the light of her vial. “I’m glad you’re back safe!”
Teacher Garetas was reading some book at the table and merely remarked “I didn’t think you’d make it this fast.” Without even looking up from the pages.
“Thank you for your concern. I did get held up when some boy crossed my path looking for his brother. I decided to get the two out of the forest, and Captain Osewald helped me.”
At that name Elissa turned around. “Captain Osewald of the Striders? That Captain Osewald?”
Elissa's sudden interest sent joy upwards to Nannade’s face. “Yes. The Jackdaw.” She turned to Garetas with a smirk. “And he said the Striders would gladly have me if I were to apply. He was impressed with my work!”
Garetas finally shot a glance to Nannade, without lifting his head from the pages. “Sounds like I got competition. But I doubt he’d be able to deny me if I ever came to claim you back.”
Elissa rolled her eyes. “The Striders are not some two-bit Rangers. They’re knights you know? They may have no castles or courts, but still, bestowed nobility and all that.”
“Oh so they stride through the land and demand taxes wherever they set foot. I read the codices and such. They’re not that tough.”
Nannade sat down at the table, opposite of her Teacher. “You know, not all is measured in the ability to defeat another.”
This was the point when Garetas put that book down. “Sure, in a civilized society where people obey the laws, you are free to judge anyone by any measure you wish. Or not judge at all. But us, Nannade...” he leaned forward on his elbows, gesturing to the two of them. “...do not live in such a society. We stand at the outside, guarding and keeping it from those that would see it fall, corrupted or exploited. Without us there is no such society and so we will dredge deep in the crud of crime and corruption that is the ugly underworld hidden below every civilized city and pastoral people. Because those fine knights and nobles, they have standards, which means there is work that they believe beneath them. That's what we do. We do what they can-“
“What they cannot and we cut off their diseased flesh that they are incapable of reaching... Yes yes, you told me all this before. Stop the speeches and bring me out there. Let me do the deed finally instead of telling me how important it is!”
Garetas was deeply annoyed by Nannade’s ability to predict his carefully chosen words, but Elissa was amused by the display. “You know I can’t let you kill anyone until you have your first Mark of Approval.”
“But there are so many other deeds! You acquire evidence, interrogate witnesses, bribe insiders, you do so much but I never get to!”
“You’ll see action soon enough, just hold your tongue, Fleabag, and I'll se what I can set you on as a first mission.”
She decided to heed his word and held her tongue, lest he complain about its sharpness even more. Instead, she took off her clothes and got up in her hammock to get ready for sleep. Elissa had demanded Garetas stopped sharing a tiny bed with Nannade by the time she had turned eleven. Nannade's love of high places gave Elissa the idea with the hammock. Now she slept directly above Garetas and she got there via a thick rope with knots hanging next to the hammock.
She rolled into her blanket and wished the two of them a good night. Sleep quickly embraced her and the gentle swinging of the hammock reminded her of treetops beneath t