“One keenly felt the value of even a single day more as one grew older and older, unlike when one was young, and the days seemed to just fly past. When one reached near the end of one’s age, every moment felt longer, counted for more, to be cherished as much as one could.

It was but the benefit of youth that one squandered time, the most precious of all resources, as one had not yet truly grasped its value, its importance and greatness. Only when one grew older would one learn to appreciate what little time they had left…

Often it was already too late for some by then.” - Final words of Shaman Fronds-in-the-Lake, of the Western Isles, circa 108 FP.

“Hooh… most intriguing… child of man…” said the old shaman as he laid a hand on Aideen’s wrist and pulsed his magic - of a rich and pleasant nature affinity that gently probed - through her conduits. When the old shaman had asked to check on her out of curiosity, Aideen had simply acquiesced, as she had nothing to hide to begin with. “I could sense the great power within you… yet this vitality… is most odd… you are one of the everlasting, are you not, child of man?”

“Is that what you call them here? We call ourselves the Unliving where I’m from,” replied Aideen relaxedly as she in turn checked the old orcish shaman’s condition after he gestured for her to do so. “Glad we got that out of the way early on, honestly. One thing we in the south have no idea about is how you people this far north look at the unliving, or everlasting as you called them.”

“They are ones whose purpose was not yet finished… and thus granted more time by the deities to walk on the earth, beneath the skies…” said the old orcish shaman with a measure of awe in his voice. The shaman spoke entirely and fluently in the old speech, which allowed Aideen to easily understand his words. “It is not for us to question the whims of those beyond… nor to judge the ones so blessed… Those whose existence became everlasting were free to do as they should… as the deities willed…”

“As such… Everlasting child of man… we welcome you and yours to our humble clan… may your stay serve the will of the deities…” added the old orcish shaman as he nodded with his eyes closed in reverence. Aideen absently noted how Celia fidgeted with some nervousness behind her, and how Orica listened and gawked somewhat at what the shaman said.

“I am not the only one, honored elder,” said Aideen as she gestured towards Celia with her free hand. “My companion is another, and we gratefully accept the hearth and home you have kindly offered us.”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

“As for the offer we gave, please allow me to repatriate some of it as we speak,” she added as her magic coursed through the weathered conduits of the old shaman. Aideen’s healing magic immediately went to work, as she fixed up what she could of the old shaman’s conditions. The last years of Artair’s life had given her plenty of experience in dealing with the ravages of age, and she made full use of that experience to improve the shaman’s condition as much as she was capable of.

The old orc stared at her in surprise with suddenly clear eyes, and after Aideen released his hand, lifted his now thinned hand and flexed his fingers a few times. While orcs were known to drastically worsen in condition in the last years of their life, it was mostly a case of their bodies no longer able to support itself the way it could when they were younger.

As such, Aideen’s treatment was especially effective, and that single treatment alone might have bought the old shaman as much as six months to a couple years of time. When it came to dealing with the vagaries of old age, Mortality affinity was the best-suited to tackle the issue, as they could simply fix what age had deteriorated to an extent, whereas the natural regeneration boosted by nature affinity healers and the natural state that life affinity healers returned their patients to were both directly affected by age as well.

“I do not have the power to return you to the days of your youth, but I can at least make your old age more tolerable, and perhaps grant a few more years if the deities willed it,” said Aideen to the now surprised and nearly worshipful orcs in the large tent. “And this I offer in exchange of hearth and home amongst your kin, for a time as yet undetermined. Do you accept, honored shaman?”

“Your generosity is our blessing, Everlasting child of man,” said the shaman, now with a more firm and certain voice as he sat straighter on the pile of cushions. “Warchief, let it be known to the Clan that the pale everlasting child of man and hers will eternally be welcomed guests amongst us, for they brought blessings that warded off the worst of age with them, and arrange for a welcoming feast as well.”

“As you bid, honored Shaman,” replied Orica with a nod and a bow before she departed the tent. From the conversation Aideen had caught on that the middle-aged orcish matron was the current warchief of the clan, the one in charge of the warriors, hunts, and wars. The Bloodfang clan seemed to be one where the shaman was held in the highest regard though, considering how she listened so easily to the shaman.

While they waited in the Shaman’s tent, Aideen took the time to explain to Celia what she had talked about with the shaman. The younger woman was naturally surprised that the orcs had so easily accepted their presence, though the fact that their being unliving played a role seemed to help her gather her thoughts somewhat. The old - now rejuvenated shaman - had bid them to wait in his tent while Orica arranged for a welcome feast, and his caretaker, the rather old orcish woman, had poured them cups of thick tea, along with plates of dried fruits.

The tea was thick and strong, with an oddly salty, buttery taste to it, which took some getting used to, but turned out pretty enjoyable and filling to drink once they had. Aideen made some small talk with the shaman while they waited and partook in the offered hospitality, until a couple hours later, Orica returned to the tent and reported that the feast was prepared and awaited the honored guests.