The Book

It was a book I sought, one left at the springs by mistake, I having forgotten it amongst so many readings. I had read for a man, a Physician, and oddly enough, he had picked from my deck the Physician card. His reading went well, two coppers paid, and I had gone home for the night.

It wasn’t till morning I remembered the book, but by the time I got back to the springs, it was gone, much to my dismay.

I would have to tell Silas, when I saw him, that I had lost his book. I wasn’t looking forward to it.

I found him again, the Physician. He is an odd man that speaks little and collects insects in little wire cages. He had me read for a slave. Master’s often have me read for slaves. He also told me he had my book and that the next time he saw me, he would see that it was returned.

On the third day I purposely sought him out, hoping to retrieve the book he had promised me he’d secured. I found him, just where I thought I might, near the edge of the lake collecting specimens. My book was returned to me, just as he had stated it would be, and all was going so well. The arrival of the slave from the previous evening was noted, a drunken man carrying her leash in the fist of his hand. The Physician had asked me to go see if the handler needed headache powders, so the book was set to the side, in lieu of performing this task.

There was immediately the sound of wings storming in the air above me, a tarn and rider. I had seen such before, but this one was different. I quickly hid within the cover of trees, but instead of flying over and past, the tarn landed.

I needed the book! While he was dismounting, I was heading back in the direction of what I had left and I could hear the Physician yelling for me to run. The tarnsman had thrown a spear at the book, but missed, and by the time I had realized this, he was already in pursuit of me. He yelled for me to stop, and in a way, I did, but I was only stopping to change direction. He could have the book! I ran as fast as I could into the cover of trees and hid.

Again I have lost the book