Conversation

Wary about the unknown person, the captain ordered his men to set up a camp as far away from the stranger as possible. The stranger had a helpless smile, closed his eyes and started to play the instrument again. This time the tune was a soothing and calming one. It made the guards carryout their tasks with a calmness that they never thought was possible to have during their journey inside this forest.

After playing the music for almost 30 minutes the man stopped playing and sighed.

When he opened his eyes, he saw a gorgeous young lady sitting a few meters away and watching him curiously.

" Who are you stranger? Whom did you learn to play music so well from."

Smiling, the man bowed his head slightly before speaking. "My aunt was my first teacher and then I was lucky enough to get a few pointers from one of the great musician at our place."

" And where that place is? What is it's name?"

" For now, let me just say that, it's a far away place, my lady. How come you ended up being in this forest at this time."

" Lets just say that, we were held up by an unexpected thunderstorm this afternoon." Gregory spoke from behind the young lady.

The man sniffed the air a few times and looked at the young lady curiously. " Why do I smell the rare hurb, 'Wood Betony' on you, my lady? Are you not feeling well? I don't feel anything wrong from your aura?"

The young lady stiffened at the casual comment from the stranger and the Captain tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword and pulled it out. Simultaneously all the guards drew their weapons.

"Who are you? Who sent you? Are you here for the Wood Betony or for me?" The young lady asked seriously in a commanding tone.

A deep growl started echoing in the clearing and the boulder behind the man started to move.

"What the....!!!" The Captain was stunned for a moment then, pulled the young lady behind him in a protective manner.

Even though all the guards had weapons in their hands, it felt like a tooth pick infront of this huge, muscular beast and shivers ran down everyone's back making them gulp audibly.

"Wha..... what is.... what is this thing!!!?" The young lady stammered in fear.

"Relax Blacky. Go back to sleep. They are no threat. They seems good people. Sleep now you silly girl." The man stood up, scratched the huge Black beasts jaws and like a submissive house kitten, the beast purred with content and curled up again. Looking like a boulder in the dark.

"Sorry about that. She is Blacky, my travel companion along with this big boy." The man patted a huge War horse's neck.

Which neighed and tried to push away the man's hand, who laughing out loud scratched it's neck. " Alright my lord you are a grown man. Are you happy now?" The horse snorted and sat down nibbling on the grass infront of it.

Everyone, relax. They will not harm anyone as long as we are at peace here. And my lady, I am not here for the rare hurb and for that matter, I don't even know who you are. How can I harm you?"

"As I said earlier, I just smelled the pungent fragrance of the herb and asked about it." The man shrugged his shoulder.

The lady signalled everyone to lower their weapons. Then looked at the stranger curiously.

"How can you small the herb when it is safely sealed inside a box wrapped in layers of silk cloth?"

" At some point, you might have touched it. That's why I can smell the herb from you." The man shrugged.

"Do you know the use of Wood Betony?"

"I know a bit, If it is as old as the one you posses, it can cure many illness and sickness."

"Are you a healer stranger?" The young lady asked curiously.

"I do know a few things about healing." The man replied back.

The herb is for my mother. She is ill since a long time. Almost 5 years now. Her condition started to deteriorate since a few months and that's why we came all the way here to buy this, one and only 100 year old Wood Betony that's available as we know of."

" Don't you have magic healers in your city?"

"We do have many. Alas, no one was able to provide a cure or heal my mother." The young lady almost looked like she was about to cry.

" May I have a look at your mother's health condition? I do have some ability in magic healing."

The girl felt extatic. Before she could speak anything. The captain spoke. " Why do we believe whatever you say? What if, in the name of curing, you harm our lady? How could we even believe you?"

"For that, I don't know how to answer my friend. As I said, first of all I Don't know who you guys are. Secondly, I felt you guys are good people and I wanted to help. It's your wish to believe me or not. And till my friend is here, don't worry about the beasts in this area. They will not bother you for the night. Good night." The man shrugged his shoulder and pulled the hood of his cloak and leaned back onto the beast and closed his eyes.

After eyeing him for a few more seconds the others started to prepare to take rest after having a cold meal.