Nature's Peril Part 1 (The Nature Mage Series) by Duncan Pile Read Free Book Online Page A

said, taking the seat. His voice was a harsh rasp in his throat. “I was watching you heal today. A noble pursuit - especially for one so young.”
    “Sorry, I didn’t catch y our name,” Shirukai responded.
    “ Ossthak,” the stranger said.
    “I’m Shirukai.” He extended his hand in greeting. Ossthak took it and shook it briefly, his grip hard and knobbly.
    “Shirukai,” Ossthak re peated, and turned back to watch the breakers. They sat in companionable silence for a moment before Ossthak spoke again. “I have come to ask for your help,” he said without looking away from the ocean.
    “ Oh? What kind of help?” Shirukai asked. It wasn’t uncommon that people saw him work during the day and approached him privately later on. Usually they had some kind of embarrassing condition they didn’t want anyone to know about. 
    “My people need of the services of a healer,” Ossthak said. “We are isolated from the mainland, and though our warlocks are powerful, our race does not breed healers.” Shirukai’s curiosity was pricked. This was a much more interesting prospect than he’d anticipated. An indigenous magical tradition that didn’t focus on healing? He’d never heard of such a thing.
    “Tell me more, ” he said.
    “A plague is running rampant through the villages. It starts with what looks like a simple fever, but over the course of weeks it becomes dire, and only the strongest survive. The elders have sent me to find help, but I fear we do not have much time.”
    “Where is your home?” Shirukai asked. It certainly sounded like these people were in desperate need of his services.
    O ssthak hesitated before answering. “The Isle of Mists.”
    Shirukai drew in a sharp breath. “Skelka?”
    “I see you have heard of it,” Ossthak responded tautly.
    “Who hasn’t?” The Isle of Mists, otherwise known as Skelka, was a huge island several days sail off the southern coast of Antropel. The tribes-people who lived there were said to worship a dark deity and engage in perverted acts of worship involving the consumption of exotic poisons that induced an ecstatic state, and which culminated in human sacrifice.
    “ Whatever you have heard about my people is false,” Ossthak said, visibly angry. “They are a fiction, made up to scare children!” The Skelkan was agitated, his face flushed with unchecked emotion.
    “Ossthak, I’m sorry!” Shirukai said, holding up his hands. “I really am. I should know better than to believe everything I hear.”
    Ossthak took a few deep breaths, calming himself down. “I should be us ed to hearing such things, but having seen your healing skill today, I couldn’t help feeling hopeful for my people. If you will not come, then I fear all is lost.”
    Shirukai heard the desperation in the man’s voice. “I will come,” he said, unable to make any other choice. As a healer, he felt compelled to relieve the suffering of others, and as a person, he felt guilty for offending Ossthak.
    “ Thank you so much!” Ossthak said, relief written all over his face. “I have a boat, and we can leave as soon as you are ready.”
    “I have no ties here ,” Shirukai responded. “We leave on the morning tide.”
    “ Again, you have my thanks,” Ossthak said, touching his breast as he rose from his seat. “Rest well, and I will meet you here after sunrise.”
    “You too ,” Shirukai responded. He watched the Skelkan depart, wondering what had just happened; it seemed like his plans had changed almost without his consent. One moment he was looking forward to returning to Helioport and the next he had committed himself to a trip into one of the most ill-reputed places in all the known lands.
    He sat back and considered what he’d committed himself up to. Yes it meant he’d have to wait a little longer before seeing Chloe again, but as a healer he couldn’t look Ossthak in the eyes and say he wouldn’t help his people. Besides, it meant one last trip into the unknown.