Early in the morning Waithe gathered their things and saddled the horses to continue their journey. The air held the fresh dampness of last night's rain. He gazed again in wonder at the lush landscape that only yesterday stood deathly blighted.

Ceres held Jad in her arms and cooed to him, then was rewarded with a smile that spread through his whole body. She handed the boy to his mother.

Turning to Kane, she pressed a small purse into his hands. "This should help you begin anew."

Kane knelt at her feet with his head bowed. "My Lady, you have done so much for us, far more than I could ever repay. My life is in your service."

Ceres took his hands and raised him up. "Then two things I would require of you. Take care well of your family, and live a life of compassion and honor. One day I would like to return to see how little Jad grows."

"Our door will always open to you, my Lady."

*****

They rode back to the main road, mostly in silence. Waithe reviewed the events of the last few days in his mind, so much unexpected. She turned her head back to him as they came to a fork in the road.

"Take the right, Ceres," he replied to her unasked question as the horses clopped along. "We veer west toward the Grand River. There we may find a barge captain that would take us down the river to Delta. Quite willing be they to take on passengers to earn a few extra coin. And I hope we might avoid any more encounters with bandits."

"Aye, my valiant protector. I have not fully thanked you for saving me from what surely would have been a terrible fate. Your fighting skills were truly amazing." She paused. "But still, I wish death had not fallen to those two men."

"Your heart be truly good, my Lady. But in the reality of the world, sometimes it be kill or be killed. I know which one I prefer. Those men made their choices."

She sighed. "I fear you speak truly. I still have much to learn. I was happy that you spared Kane."

"Agreed. I be humbled by it all, for if not by your request I may have killed a good man and then his family with him. I have things to learn from you as well, my dear Ceres. What you did for that family be wondrous, and I am grateful to have been a part of it."

Ceres paused for a moment. "Waithe, your daughter appeared to me again through your vision, this time older. And again your joy filled me. Would you tell me of your family?"

"It be difficult to speak of them, but in a way, you already met my daughter. I shall if you would tell me of your past. A story for a story?"

"Agreed."

He turned his head to the path and thought for a moment. "I met my wife, Fera, when I was but a young officer. I had not believed in love at first sight, but so it was for us. She was actually a Shaman in the service of Lord Berne in the Lake Lands. Disgusted she became of her craft and left it to be with me, but she would not tell me why nor speak of the Magic. Soon she came to be of child, and our daughter, Aala, was born. This was the most joyful time of my life, that you sensed in my visions."

His face darkened. "When she was almost four years old I left again for war, but when I returned I found my wife dead and my home in ashes. Never did I find Aala. I searched for years until my hope faded away. I know this not to be true, but on rare times in the still of night, I think she may still be alive, somewhere."

He bowed his head. "I know not who would harm my family nor why. Whoever it be, chose just my household, touching no other. To this day I wonder if it was something I did, an enemy provoked, a sign missed. If only I would have been there."

Ceres rode up close beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You could not have known, my friend. Even in my limited years, I have seen that often tragedy happens and we know not why. All we can do is carry on."

"Aye, so it be. Still, it haunts me. So thus I did carry on by selling my services as a mercenary to those causes I felt noble." He turned to Ceres, his eyes still moist. "How be it that such clear visions of Aala arose when you call on the Spirits?"

She shook her head. "Strange this is and I know not how or why. There is a special connection of sorts. Perhaps that is why Phy led me to you."

They rode on in silence for several moments through the tall grass, then he said, "Time for your story."

"Aye, my protector. I remember nothing of my parents. I was sold into slavery to a wealthy family near the city of Ashe in the Ley Lands. We may pass not far from it as we float down the Grand River. They treated me well enough, but it was so lonely. Phy came to me then to help me through the times. Always had I loved plants and gardening, perhaps that was why she chose me.

"When I was near thirteen years old it became known my connection to Phy and I was sent to the Order of Medice in the Lake Lands, likely in exchange for considerable coin. My training began. I became friends with the gardener of the estate and came to live with his family in a pleasant cottage. A foster father he was to me, for which I am grateful.

She took a deep breath. "I became disillusioned that the Order did little to fight the Taint. Then I learned of their plans to sell me yet again to the despicable Lord Scias and his Shaman Raste in the lands of Kust. As I told you, I would have nothing of that, so I stole away. After some journey, I met you, my brave protector."

"And here we be, my Lady Ceres, on a grand quest to end the Taint. You have made my life interesting once again."

She smiled. "Interesting it is."

Waithe held his head up and pointed ahead. "There in the distance, a roadhouse. I would look forward to a pint of ale, a soft bed, and perhaps a warm bath."

*****

On the third day of the journey, Ceres offered her healing services to a landowner along the road. A fever gripped the household, which she cured with a selection of healing herbs and Magic channeled through Myr, the Spirit of small living things. The Taint had taken hold of a small section of the land, which she excised with the assistance of Phy. 

The overjoyed landowner paid her generously and offered room and board for the night. During dinner, he spoke of the Taint slowly taking more of the lands across the realm, and of rumors that it had already decimated with famine the Sage Lands to the southwest. It was said that Lord Millo struggled to maintain order among desperate people and skirmishes broke out, even spilling into neighboring Kust and Ley Lands. 

*****

Days later, they spoke to a crusty barge captain who was happy to give them passage in return for the healing of a festering leg wound. Waithe continued to be amazed at Ceres' healing powers.

The long flatboat, partially laden with grain, floated with the lazy current down the wide river, guided by two polemen. Only a small wheelhouse rose from the deck, so a tarp was erected into a crude awning at the bow to provide shade for the passengers and their horses. One young crewman seemed to be smitten with Ceres, much to her awkward discomfort, but made up for it with cheerful music played on his fiddle.

Waithe reclined against the bow beam, listening to the gentle lapping of the water. He caught Ceres' eye. "Have your travels ever taken you to Delta?"

"Nay."

"Although the air be thick with water, I think you shall enjoy it. The food and wine be exceptional. And they know well how to throw a party, any excuse will do. I have no doubt the arrival of a wayward woman of the Order would be reason enough."

She asked, "Have you met Lord Eudus?"

"Nay, but I have heard much of him. A fair and just man be the Lord of Moeras, a skilled negotiator, and worthy of his title. But woe to any man who would cross him. There be rumor that he would take over as Overlord should the ailing Lord Hagen of the Ley Lands step down. You would meet your friend, a fellow woman of the Order, as I recall?"

"Aye, Lady Sharm, a very dear friend. She was assigned to the Lord almost two years ago, and a fortunate turn it was for her. In her letter to me, she said that she fell in love with Eudus and they were married."

Waithe said, "Much of Moeras be swamps and river bottom, but strategic be its location at the mouth of the Grand River. No warship or freighter may travel past but by the blessing of Lord Eudus. Much income comes from docking fees and taxes on the ale and wine served at the seedy taverns near the docks, rough places we should well avoid lest I would seek another bar fight. They have thriving fishing, lumber, and shipbuilding trades. And what ground lay above the floods is rich and fertile."

Ceres nodded. "I very much look forward to our arrival."