The Mhurni healer carefully made his way along the partially
paved path that led to the edge of the forest. As he neared the shady area
beneath the trees, he stopped suddenly, stooped briefly and picked a small
plant from the side of the path. He studied it for a moment before dropping it
carefully into a small ceramic pot, closing the lid and putting it back into
the satchel that he had removed it from a few moments before. The Mhurni smiled
peacefully for a moment before looking at the tree-line and breathing in the
fresh morning air. He briefly looked at the sky with a contented look on his
face before continuing along the path into the forest.
The forest was perfect. The sunlight shone through the
spring-green leaves and filled all of the open spaces with glorious yellow
hues. There was a gentle breeze that carried the scent of a thousand flowers
among the trees and the Mhurni felt the healing power of the earth spirit as he
slowed his walk along the path so that he could breathe in the glorious
morning. He stopped for a moment before opening his satchel and removing a
selection of small ceramic pots. He laid a small cotton cloth on the ground and
placed the various pots upon it before placing his satchel beside it. The
Mhurni patted his pockets before retrieving his pipe and tobacco. He filled the
pipe with the specially mixed tobacco and lit the pipe whilst puffing on it to
get the air flowing. Moments later he was surrounded by aromatic smoke as he
wandered about the clearing studying the herbs and plants that grew there.
Occasionally, the Mhurni would pick a few leaves from a plant or pick the cap
off a mushroom before returning to the pots to deposit what he had collected.
After a short while, his progress slowed to a point where he felt the need to
sit down. The tobacco had worked its magic and the glazed look on the Mhurni’s
face was testament to the journey he was about to undertake. He breathed
heavily on his pipe and watched the smoke swirl and dance in front of his
dilated pupils. He hummed deeply and the patterns in the smoke coalesced into
the shape of the earth spirit causing him to smile contentedly. The Mhurni sat
heavily on the forest floor amongst the leaves and mulch and stared blankly
ahead.
Every scent was as potent as smelling salts. Every sound was
like the chiming of bells. Every sight was as sharp as looking through a
magnifying glass and the slightest breeze sent shivers through the Mhurni’s
body. He closed his eyes and reached out with his mind and he found the smiling
face of the earth spirit.
Time passed and the light grew dim in the forest. Evening
was drawing in and the Mhurni was still sat where he had sat for the better
part of the afternoon. Momentarily, his eyes opened and it was plain to see
that the soporific effect of his tobacco had worn off as his eyes had returned
to normal. He carefully got to his feet and stretched before walking out of
the clearing and into the forest. He walked directly to a rather inconspicuous
looking plant and pulled it from the ground with its roots intact. He smiled
broadly before thanking the earth spirit, returning to his pots and placing the
plant carefully into one of them. He did this another couple of times before he
was satisfied that all of his pots were full. He tidied everything away and
picked up his satchel before kneeling and kissing the ground with spoken thanks
to the earth spirit. He then got to his feet and hurried along the path from
the forest and back to his home. When he left the forest he was greeted by a
party of four Dwarfs and they were all wearing chain-mail and carrying spears
and shields. They lived next to the Mhurni village and had become concerned
that the healer may have been injured so they had gone to investigate. The
Mhurni greeted them cordially before walking past them and off to his dwelling.
He looked back and had a quiet chuckle to himself as they tried desperately to
keep up with his loping gait. When he returned to his dwelling he raced inside,
dropped off his satchel and returned to his doorway with four wooden beakers of
fluid for his escort. He had to wait for a moment before they appeared,
sweating and breathing heavily at his doorway, before he proffered the drinks
in their direction with a bow. The Dwarfs accepted the kindness and drank the
cups dry. They knew that a glass of Mhurni brew was as strong and refreshing as
many of the Dwarf brewed ales and they were not disappointed. The Mhurni bid
them farewell and returned to his satchel. He fished out all of his pots and
selected a large mortar from his shelf. Carefully he selected leaves and
components from some of his plants and began to mash them into a pulp with a
sturdy, granite pestle. He added a small amount of water and poured the
contents into a copper pan and placed it onto the hob. He then turned over an hour
glass before applying pressure to the power-stone in the oven; creating intense
heat beneath the pan.
Later that night, the Mhurni healer left the safety of the
village and quietly made his way along the path that led to the Dwarf keep near
the base of the mountain. When he arrived he was quickly welcomed inside and
ushered to see the ale-man’s daughter. He entered her bedchamber and found her
beset by a terrible fever. The Mhurni removed her bed clothes and lifted her
nightshirt before laying his hand on her stomach. He hummed deeply and called
upon the earth spirit for her blessing before removing his hand and re-covering
her. Quickly, he reached into his satchel and withdrew the medicine that he had
brewed that day. He selected a small, sweet wafer from a wooden tube that hung on a leather strip around his
neck and dipped it into the medicine; soaking up a draft of the medicine in the
process. He then opened the girl’s mouth and placed the wafer beneath her
tongue before closing her mouth and holding it tightly shut.
The girl shook all over and began to convulse so the Mhurni
held her down. Her mother cried out and her father stepped forward before the
Mhurni turned to them and reassured them that it was to be expected. Seconds
later, the girl became still and her body relaxed. The Mhurni removed his hands
and made sure the girl was comfortable before turning to the two Dwarf parents.
“She will be fine in the morning. The earth spirit helped me
to select the herbs and told me how to prepare the medicine. She will bear two
children for her husband when he is chosen. The earth spirit has made a
prophecy that her first born will be a girl and will lead a revolution in the
art of sword-craft. The second born is to be a son who will follow in his
grandfather’s trade and will be proud to represent the keep at the Leavensbrook
Ale Festival” said the Mhurni healer.
“Thank you master healer” said the two parents and they
bowed low in appreciation. The father dashed off quickly and returned with a
small cask and an even smaller wooden box “for your trouble” said the father.
“It was no trouble but thank you for the generosity” replied
the Mhurni and he also bowed low before tasting what was in the cask “you are a
master of your trade, master Dwarf” he said. He then opened the small wooden
box and inside was an inch-long effigy of the earth mother, made from red-gold
and threaded onto an intricately linked, white gold, chain. “You do me the
greatest honour... this is the work of George Hendrikson... a fine hobbyist!”
said the Mhurni and he bowed again before fastening the pendent around his neck
whilst grinning broadly; he was acutely aware of the embarrassment that the Dwarf would have endured to even enter a hobbyists shop. Both the Dwarfs were full of pride at his words and
they took his advice to watch their daughter over night to make sure that she
was comfortable. They were also warned to listen to her, should the earth
spirit speak through their daughter and pass on some wisdom.
