Chapter 7

When I got to the Community Hall, I saw the other triallists seated on chairs on the little stage. Resigned to my fate I went to join them and chose an empty chair next to them.

When Matra Glandira and Patra Albertrin appeared on stage, the hubbub died down.

“Where’s Lizbet?” I whispered to Matra Glandira.

“Don’t worry, she’s fine. She’ll join us when the time’s right,” Matra Glandira whispered back.

I was keen to know what she’d planned. I had a momentary image of Lizbet being brought out tied to a stake, then being subjected to death by torturous evisceration.

Patra Albertrin brought the meeting to order. “I called a village meeting here tonight to make an important announcement. Matra Glandira decided now would be an appropriate time to start passing on her lifetime’s knowledge of the art of healing to an apprentice. Today the cream of the village youth...”

At that point he stopped and cleared his throat, as though endorsing me as one of the cream was sticking in his craw. “ ... the cream of the village youth, who you see sitting before you, participated in a day-long trial to decide who that apprentice should be.”

I could see many of the audience bore surprised expressions at the sight of me being on the stage.

Patra Albertin continued, “I will now let Matra Glandira explain the nature of the trial and announce the results.” He ceded his place at the front of the stage to Matra Glandira.

“Each of the four triallists was allocated a direction at random,” said Matra Glandira. “Thyrhonda got South, Sharilla got East, Phyllendra got West, and Eloyin got North. The task I set was both very simple and yet very difficult. They had to leave the village following their assigned directions and spend all day in the forest. Their objective was to show they could think like a healer, then return to the village by the start of the fourth quarter.

“First to return was Thyrhonda, bearing a stack of firewood.”

There were a few nods of approval from the audience.

“Second to return was Phyllendra with a selection of mushrooms ... all poisonous.”

I noticed several of the audience shake their heads at how anyone could be so stupid as to pick poisonous mushrooms.

“Third to return was Sharilla, bearing a selection of wild herbs and vegetables.”

This time most of the audience nodded their heads appreciatively. It seemed they had made their choice.

“And lastly, Eloyin failed to return by the deadline and was therefore automatically disqualified.”

Not unexpectedly, the audience broke out in laughter and jeers and catcalls.

“So now my verdict. Thyrhonda, your stack of firewood was a good choice and shows you are a fine asset to the village, but it does not show the mind of a healer.

“Sharilla, your selection of wild herbs and vegetables was an excellent choice and you too are a fine asset to the village, but again it does not show the mind of a healer.”

Now there were looks of consternation on the faces of the audience. Their obvious choice of winner had been wrong.

“Phyllendra, your selection of poisonous mushrooms was inspired, and shows wisdom beyond your tender years. I am very proud to offer you the position as my apprentice.”

Well, that certainly surprised the audience, but they accepted Matra Glandira knew what she was talking about and there was a warm round of applause as she and Phyllendra hugged.

It took a while before the audience realised there was more, but Matra Glandira waited patiently until they settled down. Eventually they realised Matra Glandira was still at the front of the stage and waiting to say more, whereupon a wave of silence swept across the hall.

Matra Glandira took that as her cue to resume. “While out in the Northern Forest, Eloyin came across a young woman in distress. Two days earlier she witnessed her family and friends being slaughtered. She was alone in the world and had nowhere to go. Eloyin offered her Sanctuary in our village.