Ceres's body twitched as she slept. Periodically a breathy mumbled utterance escaped her lips, all under the concerned eye of her protector. But he felt so helpless. There were no blades nor fighting skills that would defend her from this. He only hoped that the Spirit Phy was as good a friend as she believed.

The green light reappeared above her, faint at first, then brightening. At once Ceres jerked up with a gasp, her hands grasping frantically at the air, and her eyes wide and unfocused. She narrowed her eyes at Phy as if scolding her.

"Be at ease, my dear Ceres." Waithe spoke gently and helped her lie back down as her eyes begun to focus on his. "You be safe now. For but a moment, I had concern that my employment had come to an abrupt end."

She put on a small smile. "Ah, my gallant protector, I am overjoyed to tell you that I still have need of your services."

"You may wish to reconsider. I was not much of a protector against... the gray light, whatever that may have been."

"Not at all, you performed with valor. I shared your wonderful visions. And after Phy was wrested from me, she returned at your request. Had you not done these things, I feel I would have fallen into madness. You have more than earned your pay this day."

He bowed slightly. "I be truly honored, my fair Lady. But what nature of beast befell you?"

She frowned. "A beast indeed. The Spirit Ker."

"Ker?"

"Aye. Ker, the Spirit of Death. She is loathsome, true, but never before has she resisted my actions. Even Phy was surprised." Ceres looked up at the green light and smiled. "Weren't you, my friend?" She shook her head. "That should not have been. I feel this event somehow important, but I understand not what it means."

Waithe shook his head. "I understand much less of the Spirits. Perhaps you would tell me of them at some time? For now, rest yourself, as still your face be pale. I will have food and drink brought in so that you may regain your strength."

"Very well. Thank you, my dear Waithe. But I must ask you one thing now. In your thoughts, I felt your deep joy and love as you held a baby girl, your daughter perhaps? I cannot tell you how much it warmed my heart, still, it does. Do you have a family?"

Waithe dipped his head and took a long breath. "Once I did..." His words dropped off.

His sadness spread to Ceres. "I am sorry. I did not know."

He gestured as if brushing aside her apology. "Worry not. It happened so long ago." He put on a forced smile and stood up, then walked out the door with head bowed.

In about an hour he returned with the innkeeper's wife. They bore steaming bowls of a stew, a loaf of brown bread, and a bottle of red wine, all of which was set on a small wooden table placed before Ceres. With a nod, the old woman retreated from the room and shut the door.

Ceres sat up and smiled Her face had regained much of its color. "You tend to me well, my friend."

"Not as well as you to me. Despite the unfortunate appearance of Ker, I feel the Taint has left me. I be in your debt."

She dangled her legs under the small table and pulled a bowl closer to her, taking a moment to savor the aroma of the stew. After a few tentative spoonfuls, blowing across the first few to cool them, she began to eat in earnest. Waithe pulled up a chair to sit across from her and followed her lead.

Ceres wiped her mouth with a napkin, having already half-emptied her bowl and taken a sizeable chunk of the bread loaf. "I already feel my strength returning. This stew is medicine indeed." She took another spoonful. "I owe you a tale, my good protector. A tale of Magic." A piece of bread dipped in the broth delayed her continuation for but a moment.

Waithe sat up in rapt attention.  

"Somewhere deep in this world lies a great pool of Magic, one of unimaginable power able to transform the very nature of reality. Neither evil or good, rather it is like the blacksmith's hot iron, which may be formed into a blade for an evil assassin or one for a noble knight. From the Magic rose the Spirits, who may be nearly as old as the world itself. Neither man nor woman may touch the Magic, but some have the ability to make request of the Spirits, channel them if you will."

"Aye. Those called Shaman."

She nodded. "Few earn that title. Those of the Order of Medice are Shaman, but we are more adept at channeling the Life Spirits, as I did with Phy and Anu, and we also are taught the healing arts."

"That I experienced, most thankfully so. How many Spirits be there?"

"Fifteen I have listed. There are lesser Spirits that appear from time to time, but with these do we rarely interact. Let me show you." At Ceres' request, Waithe retrieved a worn leather-bound journal from her saddle bags. She opened it before him and thumbed through until she found a certain page.

"Here it is. We group the Spirits into Elemental, Life, and Death. Each takes on a different form of Magic, like tradesmen with different skills."

Ceres turned the book to Waithe and he studied the page, a list of Spirits. It read:

     The Elemental Spirits

     Pyr {Fire}

     Lyr {Water}

     Geo {Earth}

     Aer {Air}

     Ohm {Cloud}

     Rak {Cold and Ice}

     Aon {Time}

     The Life Spirits

     Anu {Ecology and Balance}

     Phy {Plants}

     Dal {Animals}

     Myr {Small Creatures}

     The Death Spirits

     Ker {Death}

     Nyx {Darkness and Shadow}

     Lun {Sleep and Dreams}

     Clo {Fate}

Waithe remarked. "Hmm. I have heard of some of these Spirits. For instance, gamblers have prayed to Clo to grant them good luck."

She nodded. "Aye. Herders may plea to Dal and the Overlord's soldiers may dedicate their enemy to Ker, and so forth. But the Spirits are fickle, they may not listen nor may not grant the request. A Shaman has a connection to one or many, and they may be granted access to the Magic. It was fortunate for me that Phy heard your plea."

Ceres continued after a pause. "Each Spirit has a personality, much like every woman. Phy is caring, but mischievous; Anu is fanatical and quarrelsome; Dal is affectionate but vain; Myr is finicky but loyal once her allegiance is won. I think it not right to worship the Spirits, though, not like the Creator God. They are sometimes like spoiled children and often bicker among themselves. A Shaman is wise to be firm."

Waithe chuckled. "I cannot imagine how you would spank a Spirit. Perhaps send them to their room without dinner?"

Ceres laughed out loud. "Indeed not. But there are ways to rebuke."

Waithe pointed at the book. "This one, Aon, can she alter time itself? Very powerful that would be."

"Indeed so. Aon is the protector of timelines, past and future. But very elusive she is, rarely ever heeding a call. Just as well, though, with changing the flow of time so dangerous."

"You call Phy a friend. How do you talk with her?"

"A special relationship have I with Phy. She always comes to me when I call." Ceres smiled. "But we do not talk, for the Spirits do not have a language like our own. I just... feel her thoughts and she mine."

"So what next, my Lady of the Spirits?"

"My quest continues. I seek audience with a friend, a fellow woman of the Order. She studies the nature of the Taint and I wish to know what knowledge she has uncovered. Once I am well, we journey south and west to Delta, along the Grand River in the Lands of Moeras."

Waithe nodded. "I know that city. We should travel with care. Bandits and ruffians frequent the road between."

"Well, then. A good thing that I have a protector."