The farmer's child: The soothsayer

The forest was thick and full of game. The edges were continually cleared for settlements, as people gathered to live off the bounty from the forest.

Being the tallest tree in the forest, he could see the village at the end, the people milling around and going about their daily life.

"Aah the world tree. You have much power, old tree. You can lend me some, can't you"

An old woman had hobbled up. With modern medicines and knowledge, I had lived well into my 80s, and aged well and gracefully. But this was a much more medieval time, and although she looked like she was just 60, age had not treated her well. Her wispy white hair was dry and thinning, and her face was as wrinkly as my bark. Her figure was shrunken, and her back was hunched under the weight of her luggage. She was clothed in a crusty robe that had once been blue, but had since been dyed by soil and dirt. Her shoes were worn and holey, she had travelled a long way. Although she was decades younger than I was, I would have given my seat up to her on the bus. I was sorry that she had to travel such a long way on foot.

"Aye, may I? Thank you, great tree. This makes my journey worth it." Saying that, the crone took out a small ceremonial knife, and quickly shaved off a few peels of bark.

The blue robe was a sign of a magic practitioner. For those who knew how to, my bark is helpful for a multitude of spells and potions.

" I may be resting mine feet here a while. There's work to be done. I be maybe seeing you around."

Carefully putting the bark in a small pouch, the old woman hobbled off, making her way to the village.

At the village, the farmer Skarl was surprised to see the old soothsayer making her way to his house. The village was far from the main road, and visitors do not come often.

He was even more surprised and uncomfortable when she made eye contact with him.

"Are you Skarl? Son of Timor the hunter?"

"Yes... Yes I am, ma'am!" Skarl's father was a hunter in a village 5 days north, renowned for his strength and skill with the bow. Alas he died on a hunt when Skarl was young, ambushed by a pack of wolves, and Skarl never had the chance to learn shooting from his father.

" Your father saved me life before. Shot a wolf through the eye he did. You are needing helping eh? Your wife, she's expecting."

Yes.. Yes his wife was pregnant. The midwife expects the baby to be born in the next few weeks. Having a magical practitioner around will be useful.

" You have a room for an old woman here to help? "