System Break

The horizontal wind was biting. It wasn't snowing it just picked up ice from the ground and threw it in my face.

When you can see your breath, you know that a simple fur poncho is inadequate. Reyas was kind enough to put an arm around me as we waited outside the shaman's cave.

"Who is there?" a croaky voice called.

"Reyas daughter of the Staggan Clan. We request a reading on a visitor."

"Visitor? From where? I don't want any visitors."

I looked at her with a raised brow and she smiled weakly. "He is like this, be patient."

"From the forest, he is one of the tree-folk."

"Why would an elf want a reading from a mountain shaman? It makes no sense - go away."

"He doesn't. It's at the request from the three chieftains. You know, the ones who supply you with food and the odd woman."

Grumbling emanated from within.

"I hesitate to agree. How do I know it won't try and kill me?"

"I'm here," she said.

The shaman laughed. "You're a little girl."

"I can attest that she is well grown," I said.

"Quiet elf, I'm not talking to you. And what sort of elf talks like that? I'm not seeing it. It can go away."

"Please. I will be in trouble," she said sweetly.

The shaman sighed. "It must stand in the corner with its back turned. It cannot look at my secrets. The secrets I guard for the clans."

"I can blindfold the tree-folk," she said.

"Yes. Do that. And don't let it past the partition."

Reyas smiled apologetically at me and pulled a sash from her waist. She wrapped it around my head and all I could smell was her sweet scent.

"Mm, nice."

"Shh," she said. "Don't do anything to upset the shaman or he'll refuse and then I'll be blamed triple because I sent the others away."

I engaged my qi sight and was almost blinded. The land core was here. No wonder the shaman was reluctant to let a foreigner inside his cave. I looked away and could see Reyas' core and her streams. She always had qi body active to some degree in the mountains, it kept her warm and fought off frostbite.

I grabbed her hand and brought it to my lips which were uncovered. She yelped in surprise. I held her warm hand against them until my lips were warm too and then I let her lead me in.

She grabbed my shoulders and turned me away from the land core. Then her hand ran down my back as she traced my body down to my buttocks which she gave a quick smack.

"Is he turned?"

"Yes. You can come out. He is blind folded and turned."

"Is he tame?"

A giggle escaped her lips before she regained control. "I am sorry my dearest shaman, it is anything but tame."

The shaman's racking coughing reverberated throughout the cave. "It is not a good sign. The Svartalfar are wild creatures and for one to wander so far is a bad omen."

He knew our real name. I kept quiet and still. Despite the urge to run amok I didn't want to cause Reyas trouble.

The shaman threw some cold liquid on me and began to chant. I was glad for the blindfold because it covered my nose and partially filtered the noxious herbs he burned and waved around.

"This has to be an act," I whispered, and she squeezed my arm. Three quick squeezes made me imagine she was pleading with me to behave.

When the chanting finally ended the shaman shuffled away. It was quiet for some time.

"I sense great power in this one," he said. "And I fear it was a mistake to bring him here. Tell the chieftains of their folly and to ask my guidance next time. Tell them I said - they can work with the Svartalfar and their word is true. But this one is not one of them. He is an intruder. You must be wary of him. That is all my words and it is well for him to hear them as it is you. Do not return here intruder. You are not welcome."

Reyas bowed. "Thank you, shaman I will relay your words."

"Take him outside and come back for my words for you and only you."

She did as the shaman requested, and she threw her fur over me before she went back inside. I did not hear the words he spoke to her.

.

"Girl," the shaman said. "If you want to choose your own path in this life. And if you truly love him and he loves you - then you go with him."

She nervously pulled her ear and the shaman cackled.

"I am older than your father's grandfather girl and known you since you were a babe. You think I cannot see?"

"You are blind."

The shaman cackled. "Tsk, tsk to speak to me so boldly now you have what you came for. But what you really came for was my advice for you. That is why you came alone. Am I wrong?"

She shook her head and the shaman grinned. Half of his teeth were missing and what remained were crooked. He was blind and his face was a distorted mess of flesh hidden beneath his cowl.

"Girl, he is powerful, I can sense these things. You must have too. I can feel the way you touch him; I know you already have feelings for him. I am giving you the answer you came for. Go with him and be free."

She flopped down on the furs. "But…"

"But what? But you want to stay and be disregarded all your life? You want to wonder what could have been? Be bold. Take your life in your hands."

"You sound like him."

The shaman laughed and then his racking cough took over. When it subsided, he said, "We're not that different he and I."

He hugged her while she cried.