The Egg Quest

by Jo Fontana

  “We definitely must head out to the plains and hope we make it there in time," Morgan insisted.

  "It is good that Gil let us borrow the turtles," Yoshi noted.

  "I agree," Morgan conceded. "But I believe that Medicine Woman would be warned of any impending danger and she would make arrangements to stop it."

  “See, you’re worrying for nothing,” Reyden insisted. "It's good that she’s all knowing, isn't it?"

  Morgan nodded and Reyden wished they were already at the village so they could end this nonsense. He was glad that they had the turtles so he wouldn’t have to witness Morgan whining and wringing his hands for too long.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Morgan looked like he was on edge the entire time it took to get to the Panther Clan Village. During their approach to the village, Reyden noticed many of the village warriors standing at various points surrounding it.

  “This can’t bode well,” Yoshi muttered.

  "Oh no," Morgan cried in a very quiet voice.

  “What is it?” Reyden demanded.

  “The purple feathers hanging from their weapons indicate they’re in mourning.”

  The turtle stopped right outside the village and Morgan was the first one out of the carriage. He ran directly into Medicine Woman’s lodge while the others struggled to catch up to him. It was an ominous sign that no one stopped them from entering. Herb Gatherer greeted them when they entered.

  “Morgan. I am glad you finally made it. Your presence is a comfort,” she sighed.

  “What happened?”

  “Darkness happened—very bad darkness,” she stated ruefully. "The one you are chasing came with the sole intention of killing my husband.”

  Reyden swore a blue streak, got up, grabbed an egg, and released a blast of lightning that blackened a three-foot area of the adjacent wall.

  "He’ll pay for it dearly," Reyden promised Herb Gatherer. The others gaped at Reyden with astonishment. Reyden was so upset that it barely registered.

  "Yes, I know. One day he will. My husband did not survive," Herb Gatherer sobbed.

  "I'm sorry," Morgan said while he hugged her.

  When she had composed herself, Reyden questioned her. "Was this not foreseen? Didn’t anyone try to prevent it?"

  "Medicine Woman did, in fact, see it in a vision. This time she decided to try to intervene even though she knew that the consequences could be dire. It ended up costing her life. Sometimes even knowing about a problem does not mean you can prevent it.”

  "Then it’s useless to have such foresight.”

  "Not so, Reyden. There are times you are told in order to meddle, and then there are times you are told so you can prepare for the worst."

  "Did you know the elf king would die?" Reyden asked out of curiosity.

  "Yes. Although he lived longer than he was originally supposed to.”

  Reyden nodded. He wasn’t entirely convinced that Herb Gatherer had powers. She could have learned about it from Rafe. He thought that maybe she pretended because there were leaders in the past who had lost their power when it appeared that they had no magic.

  “How are you, really?” Morgan prodded her.

  “As well as can be expected. Now, I am completely responsible for my people.”

  “That has to be hard,” Morgan empathized.

  Herb Gatherer inhaled deeply. "I will admit the realization is daunting. I will have to choose someone suitable to become my husband and the new chief.” She placed a hand over her stomach. “At least until the new heir is born."

  “Does that mean what I think it does?” Morgan asked.

  Herb Gatherer nodded.

  "So, there’s some good news in all the bad?" Omaric asked her.

  “Yes, although I really wish I had someone to share this joy with,” Herb Gatherer wistfully replied.

  Suddenly, Herb Gatherer stared at Omaric.

  “What?” he asked suspiciously.

  "You will all be staying here a few days. There was a reason you came,” Herb Gatherer stated.

  Reyden noted that it wasn’t a question, and then guessed she knew he would only come back unless he needed something.

  “Yes. Omaric needs help," Reyden said reluctantly. He didn’t think that Herb Gatherer could really help Omaric. He had had a little more faith in the old woman, but she was beyond helping any of them now.

  “He does indeed,” she agreed. “I will need the day to prepare.”

  Herb Gatherer personally escorted them to the guest lodge.

  "There will be food and drink brought to you. I will send for Omaric when I am ready—and yes Reyden, if you wish to be there, you may."

  Reyden nodded. "You know I will be."

  “The ancestors will allow it, this time,” she forewarned.

  Reyden didn’t care—he’d go whether the ancestors allowed it or not.

  That evening, just before dinner, a boy came to fetch Omaric and Reyden to bring them to Herb Gatherer’s Lodge. There were many new markings added to its exterior. Omaric suddenly looked extremely nervous.

  "Relax kid. She's going to figure out why you keep blacking out and forgetting things," Reyden lied. He really didn’t know what to do at this point. Maybe if the kid thought she could help him, then Omaric would help himself.

  Omaric took a deep breath before entering the lodge. Reyden immediately followed. They noticed additional markings on the walls inside as well, including over the scorch marks left by Reyden’s lightning.

  "Have a seat," she motioned to Omaric to sit in front of her.

  Reyden crossed his arms. “I’ll stand.”

  “As you wish. Now Reyden, I need to ask you not to say or do anything unless I tell you because it could interfere with the process," she warned him.

  Reyden indicated that he understood. He was grateful for learning patience from Master Levik, even if he didn’t always choose to exercise it. Herb Gatherer sat knees to knees with Omaric, took his hands, and looked directly into his eyes. She began speaking in her native language and then directed a question to him.

  “You once had a brother, Omaric?”

  Omaric hung his head. "Yeah, Kerric. He died like my parents and left me too."

  Reyden looked surprised and then saddened, but uttered not a sound.

  "Oh no Omaric, your brother never left you—in fact—he has been with you all along.”

  Reyden raised an eyebrow at Herb Gatherer's assertion and he began to feel very nervous. He was waiting for Herb Gatherer to ask questions about Omaric’s family, and maybe request some sort of payment or item in exchange for contacting them. However, Herb Gatherer just continued to look into Omaric’s eyes.

  “Kerric, you must come out of there,” she announced.

  Herb Gatherer paused a moment and seemed to do nothing. Reyden was about to put a stop to this nonsense but hesitated due to Morgan’s unexpected appearance in the lodge.

  Morgan sat down next to Herb Gatherer.

  "What do you need me to do?"

  "You need to be here, thinking of me, and mentally calling to me. Do this only for as long as Kerric is in my body."

  "I’ll do what you need me to," he responded gravely.

  "I know you will Morgan.”

  “There’s two of them in there?” Reyden blurted out in horror.

  Herb Gatherer addressed Reyden. "Exactly. He’s not sick; his body houses two souls. The brother is there solely to look out for him. I believe it is what helped him survive all this time.”

  “Please help him,” Reyden pleaded.

  Herb Gatherer then turned her full attention back upon Omaric. "Kerric, come out. You must speak with Omaric and explain to him what has happened.”

  A moment later, the air around Omaric seemed to pulse and quiver. It looked much like the air hovering over the hot dry ground in summer, or surrounding a flame. Reyden watched warily, ready to cast if necessary. The shimmering floated away from Omaric and towards Herb Gatherer before melting into her.

 
; Herb Gatherers eyes changed from brown to green and a young man’s voice said, "Hey kid, what's up?"

  “Kerric?” Omaric cried.

  "Who else would it be? I promised that I’d never leave you. Did you think that I’d break that promise?”

  "That's an odd way of not leaving me," Omaric replied wryly.

  "I know, I'm sorry, I just didn't know what else to do. I was afraid if I didn't jump in I would move on even though I didn't want to.”

  “You could have let me know you were in there!”

  "I've tried. You can be really dense sometimes," Kerric answered with affectionate frustration.

  “At least I know I’m not crazy,” Omaric muttered.

  Herb Gatherer tilted her head a moment and then Kerric spoke again.

  "No brother, you’ve never been crazy. Herb Gatherer said there’s a way to make us both aware of the other—if you still want me around. Otherwise she says I have to move on."

  "Be warned, trouble’s coming," Reyden said, hoping this would give the brother second thoughts about sticking around.

  "Always the practical one," Kerric muttered, and then addressed his brother. “It’s your choice, Omaric.”

  Omaric looked at Reyden for a minute then asked his brother, “If I ask you to stay, does that mean you’re stuck with me until I die, or can you leave when it’s all settled?"

  "Herb Gatherer said I’d have to stay until your time comes or be forced out. But if I’m forced out, it wouldn’t be good for either of us.”

  "You don't have to do this. We’ll protect you," Reyden promised Omaric.

  "Herb Gatherer also mentioned that if you chose for me to leave now, it won’t be painful for either of us. You’ll just feel like something is missing for a while because I've been here for so long," Kerric continued.

  Omaric mulled it over a few moments. "Reyden, I think we still need him. I can't fight and with what's going on, you may need Kerric."

  "As long as you’re okay with this," Reyden cautioned.

  "I am. I feel like he needs to be around, and not just for me—I can't explain it."

  "It's your decision kid. You're the one who’ll have to live with him.”

  "Reyden?" Kerric called.

  “Yeah?”

  "I just want to thank you for looking out for Omaric when I'm not in control, you and the guys. Can you relay the message to them?"

  “I could do that, but I think it would be better actually coming from you.”

  Kerric smirked. “Yes, I guess you’re right.”

  "So are you going to hug me once before I jump back into you?" Kerric asked his brother.

  "I want one too," Reyden demanded after Kerric had hugged Omaric.

  There was a momentary look of surprise on Herb Gatherer /Kerric’s face.

  "Why not?" Kerric/Herb Gatherer leaned over and hugged Reyden as well.

  "Later kid!" Kerric said and the shimmering air rose out of Herb Gatherer like steam and reentered Omaric.

  "So what happens now?" Reyden asked Herb Gatherer.

  Herb Gatherer sat for a moment recovering.

  "Now I rest, and tomorrow morning we will finish it,” she said as she laid a hand on Omaric’s shoulder.

  “Do you know where Rafe was headed to after he left the village?” Reyden asked.

  “I will find out for you.”

  “The sooner the better. We need to get rid of him once and for all.”

  “Please be careful Reyden. And Morgan, thank you for your help,” she said

  "I’m not going underestimate him again," he vowed.

  Reyden helped Omaric up and they left Herb Gatherer’s lodge with Morgan following behind them. Reyden saw that Herb Gatherer watched them with a worried expression on her face.

  As soon as he entered the lodge, Reyden addressed everyone..

  “Apparently, Omaric’s dead older brother Kerric never left him. Herb Gatherer did some strange conjuring and had the brother enter her so he could speak to Omaric. Omaric has chosen to let his brother stay with him,” Reyden paused and looked darkly at Omaric for a moment. “It’s his decision and I hope you all can honor it, even though you may not like it.”

  The men appeared stunned and confused by the news. Illithor was the first one to recover.

  “So that is why he has memory lapses,” he reasoned.

  “I guess,” Omaric answered.

  “Interesting. Are you two able to communicate now that you know he’s with you?”

  “Not yet. Herb Gatherer is going to help me with that. She said she needed to rest and will finish whatever else she needs to tomorrow morning.”

  “Well she needs to do it quickly. We have a thieving, murdering, weasel to apprehend,” Emory stated with conviction.

  “We have to be smarter. I don’t want Rafe getting away this time,” Glynn growled.

  “Oh, he won’t. I’ll make sure of that,” Reyden swore.

  “We all will,” Yoshi agreed.

  “We need a plan. Do we know where he went after he left the village?” Deverick asked.

  “No, I questioned Herb Gatherer about it. She told me she would find out for us. If it wasn’t for Omaric needing her help, I would say we form a scouting party and leave now,” Reyden grumbled.

  “Yes, but as it is, Omaric and his brother need help, and we need to mourn with our friends, so we aren’t going anywhere yet,” Morgan said as he walked into the lodge.

  “I know, I was just speaking out of frustration,” Reyden admitted.

  “And I was just reminding you that she has to recover. What she does is tiring and after she regains some strength, she will see what the ancestors know.”

  “I’m tempted to agree with Reyden, but as much as I don’t like it, we need to rest and gather our wits,” Emory concurred as he settled down for the night.

  The next morning, one of the village women brought breakfast to them. Reyden was irritated that he wasn’t able to sleep in, and he knew there would be a long wait for Herb Gatherer. As it was, Herb Gatherer came much later than Reyden had expected.

  "Do you still wish to do this Omaric?" she asked him.

  “Definitely.”

  “Morgan will you please come with us? I’ll need your assistance.”

  She led them back to her lodge. Reyden followed them without asking. Inside a fire was blazing, fragrant from a special selection of herbs she threw into the flames.

  "These plants will help make the transition easier," she explained.

  "What transition?" Reyden asked brusquely as he barged into the lodge.

  "You still don’t trust me?” she asked, then without waiting for a reply, told Omaric, "You and Kerric both need to understand something. Omaric, once this is completed, you will lose all privacy. No thought or feeling will ever be only your own to know. Do you understand what that means?"

  "That we’ll share everything.”

  "Exactly. That may be difficult later on especially when you are ready to settle down.”

  "The right one will not care," Omaric stated naïvely.

  "True, but more than that, you will have to agree if both of you are to be happy," she stated then paused for a moment. “Kerric will be able to move on with ease if that is what you want.”

  “I don’t think I’d feel right without him here,” Omaric admitted.

  Herb Gatherer nodded. “I need to speak with Kerric again. Morgan, I must ask you to be my voice.”

  “Of course, Herb Gatherer. Anything you need.”

  “I knew I could count on you my friend. Omaric, come sit as you did last night.”

  Reyden hovered as they once again sat face to face to begin the ritual.

  Herb Gatherer patted the ground next to her. “Reyden, sit down, you are distracting me.”

  Reyden moved behind her instead. Once again, the air around Omaric seemed to pulse and quiver before melting into Herb Gatherer.

  Morgan turned to look at Herb Gatherer. “Kerric?”

  “It’s me.”
/>
  “Omaric would like you to stay, if you’re still willing to.”

  “That’s fine with me.”

  Morgan said, “Kerric, Herb Gatherer wanted me to reiterate a few things to both of you. Your thoughts will not be your own, but more than that, this is Omaric’s body. He ultimately has the final say and if he wants to override you, he will be able to. Will you be able to accept that?"

  "All I ever wanted was to help my brother. If I get to live a little through him, then that’s a bonus."

  Morgan appeared satisfied with Kerric’s answer. "Then we are ready to begin. Herb Gatherer, we’re ready for you.”

  Reyden saw Herb Gatherer’s eyes change back to her own as the shimmering air rose out of her and settled into Omaric. She picked up a bowl sitting near the fire and sprinkled a powder into it. She then mixed it while chanting a prayer in her native tongue. Reyden got up and stood quietly in a corner, watching every move she made.

  "Drink every drop of this," she instructed and handed him a bowl. "You will feel lightheaded and your vision will blur briefly, but do not worry, it won't last long."

  Omaric took the bowl, and drank the contents. He remained still while Herb Gatherer sang and chanted all the time while running her fingers on Omaric’s temples and his forehead, tracing words known only to her. Gradually, Omaric began to squirm.

  “I feel weird and now I think I hear him.”

  Slowly Herb Gatherer’s words began to lessen in intensity until she was done. She sat back down and looked at Omaric.

  "How do you feel?"

  "Whole," Omaric muttered.

  "Then it was a success. Does Kerric have the same color eyes as you?"

  “No, he has green eyes.”

  "It will be interesting to see people react when your eye color changes. When Kerric is the one in the foreground, your eyes will be green," Herb Gatherer explained.

  "Well, it won't be that noticeable unless we are really close to a person, so we aren't worried.”

  Herb Gatherer grinned at him. "I do believe you will adjust well."

  It was now that Reyden stood up and interrupted them. “You were going to tell us where Rafe was heading?”

  "Yes, but I do not have that information yet; preparation for what you just witnessed took part of the night and all morning. You will go have lunch, as you are both probably hungry. I will come to you once I have an answer.”