The Tale of The Professor Part 2

Chapter 13

The next morning as Professor awoke, the continuing music filled his ears, riding with the sounds of tweeting birds. He groaned as he sat himself up feeling the sun hit his squinting eyes.

"Ah you're still alive, That is good, Otherwise I was gonna check your pockets for anything valuable" a femine voice spoke out to him.

Professor turned his head as his eyes adjusted to the light, he saw a young tanned skinned woman with raven back hair staring at him holding a quellazaire. She wore a dark green dress with a light green cloth wrapped over it with a dark green corset around her torso with puffy white sleeves going down her arms covered in golden floral designs. She was wearing a large amount of silver jewelry on her ears, neck, and left hand, all topped with a red bandanna wrapped around the top of her head.

Professor looked around him to see he was still nearby the Dakota river, he had a light green blanket draped on him and was laying next to a large red wagon with gold colored accents, filled with books and exotic artifacts, and a bird cage hanging off of it filled with tweeting birds. And near the woman who was grabbing a tea set off the wagon was a phonograph quietly playing the song he heard when he first woke up.

"Who are you?" Professor asked.

"I am Madam Nazar, channeler of spirits, finder of lost things, and since everyone is a fortune teller these days, seller of the strange and exotic" She chuckled as she poured hot water into 2 small glasses.

"Come. A nice cup of herbal tea first thing in the morning always helps someone get their strength back." She said sitting down and patting on a seat next to her.

Professor stood up when he noticed his revolvers were not at his sides.

"I took your weapons, just as a safety precaution, hard to trust a man you find collapsed on the side of the road" She smiled patting on the seat again insisting he sat down.

Professor sighed and obeyed sitting down at the chair with the tea set separating him from the strange woman. Madam Nazar grabbed one of the cups and handed it to Professor who took it from her hand and picked up her own.

"Now drink." She said, taking a sip from her own glass.

Professor glanced down at his glass, he could make out the herbs at the bottom of the cup, giving the tea a tanned to black fade.

"If you worry it's poisoned, Do not. It is just Black tea, if I was going to kill you I would have done it while you were sleeping, much more peaceful for the both of us." She motioned for Professor to drink it.

Professor looked down at the tea one more time; he had never drank black tea before, he sniffed the aroma coming off of the liquid, it smelled earthy, like the pine trees with a hint of smoke. Professor was now if anything but curious about what it tasted like. He brought it up to his lips and took a swig. The taste was sweeter than he expected, and much bolder than he was expecting, the taste was smokey with a caramel finish.

"It's sweet" Professor commented, finishing the small glass leaving the tea leaves at the bottom of the small cup.

"Yes, imported from across the sea. Let me see your cup" She said, placing down her own glass and taking Professors.

She placed her glass back on the table but looked into Professor's glass. Almost like she was studying the inside of the cup. A slow grin spread across her face.

"Yes...I knew I was reading this aura off you" she commented.

"What?" Professor asked.

"When I first found you last night passed out, I read your energy, I heard your cries. And your tea leaves confirm to me your story." She explained.

"And what story is that?" Professor asked.

"That you have suffered, everyone suffers, it is natural in life. But you feel as though you have suffered through many ways but you now feel betrayed by someone you trusted. A loved one perhaps...A family member...A friend." Madam Nazar grinned.

Professor shifted in his seat, and stayed silent.

"I see...well I can tell the path you're treading down, Is a path that no man can tread alone. For I see if you continue down this path, only further suffering awaits you." She warned.

Professor stood up from his chair and stepped away from the small table, processing her words.

"And what do you expect me to do? Makeup with that one eyed fool, He cost me one chance at getting my revenge." He crossed his arms.

"I can feel your anger, but within your anger resides the truth you deny" Professor turned to her. Madam Nazar stood from her chair and walked close to Professor holding his revolvers, she placed them back in his holsters and then placed her hand on his shoulder.

"The truth you know just as well as I, that no man, no matter his strength, or his vigar, can take on an army alone." She added.

Professor sighed, he knew she was right. And he knew what he had to do now.

"Thanks Madam Nazar. How much do I owe you?" He asked, grabbing some cash from his pocket.

"Oh I have no use for currency as payment. As I said before I am a seller of the strange and exotic. Meaning I collect things with value." She smiled, stepping over to her wagon and motioning to the strange artifacts that filled the shelves.

"But I have nothing like that" Professor stated, placing his cash back in his pocket.

"Oh but you do, You see...everything has value...sometimes the word 'value' may not mean literal. Could mean more figurative...personal and emotional..." She smiled leaning against her wagon.

Professors mind clicked together what she meant. And it shook him. He reached into his pocket and pulled out Marian's steel ring wrapped in her letter. Something with big emotional value...to him.

"A symbol of a broken promise, and someone's motivation and yet greatest mistake. A story lies within that ring, I'll take it as payment, and it will give you good fortune." Madam Nazar said, walking over to Professor. But before she reached out and grabbed it, Professor pulled his hand back.

"And I want my weapons back." He demanded

"Oh of course, I'll even throw in an extra surprise." She offered, reaching her hand out.

Professor looked at the ring. It felt heavier. His mind filled with her laugh...her smile...her screams.

'Even with this ring gone, My love for you lies farther than this metal object.' he reasoned with himself.

Professor placed the ring in Madam Nazars hand. Who brought it up to her eye.

"Such a grand story told by such a small item." She commented.

"And now your end of the bargain" Professor reminded her.

"Ah yes your guns and the surprise. You already have them back on your person" She smiled.

Professor cocked an eyebrow and checked his holsters to find his revolvers right there. He felt something inside his vest. He reached and pulled out a large silk pouch tied with a rope. Professor opened the pouch to see it was filled with tea leaves.

"Those are the leaves needed to make Black Tea, free of charge." She commented, placing the metal ring in a box on her wagon.

Professor closed the bag and placed it back in his vest. He called over his horse Ur-goh.

"Thank you for the advice Ms.Nazar, Now I need to act on it. I hope our paths cross again." Professor thanked climbing onto his horse and started to trot down the road.

"As do I. May good fortune follow you Theodore." She waved goodbye.

Professor stopped on his horse, and started to turn around.

"How did you know my name was Theo-" Professor cut himself off.

Both Madam Nazar and her wagon were gone. Vanished. The music from her phonograph is silent. Professor felt a chill flow up his spine.

'Strange morning...But now I have to find Red Baron...and make things right.' He told himself.