The Chronicles of a Scalebound Sage: Wandmaker Vol.2

WM [30] The Need To Commune

The morning started the same way it normally did. Joha led Tanisha and Bjorn through stretches and breathing techniques. Followed by a detailed accounting of all of their goods in preparation for their sales. Tanisha didn't sleep the previous night and instead took a concoction she made to keep herself awake. Bjorn knew she was trying not to think about the werewolves tied up in the cellar. Especially after he stopped her from using her seiðr infused fist to execute Adelheid.

He wasn't sure why he did it to begin with. He didn't care about either of the assassins that threatened her life and even agreed with killing them. If Bjorn was there when they attacked, he would have used every available ability he had to ensure they were put down permanently. Something about Tanisha executing them just felt wrong to him in a way he couldn't quite put his claws on.

Is it because they were already beaten? Did I feel like it would change Tanisha somehow?

Then the memory came to him. The execution of his mother in his past life. The memory was so vivid and intrusive that Bjorn reared on his hindlegs and fell backward. Tanisha and Joha ran to check on him and he did his best to show that he was fine.

"We will be staying together in town today." Joha said. "There is a chance that the rest of the pack will come for their missing members."

"Okay." Tanisha said in a whisper.

Joha was hitching his horses to his wagon. "If you aren't feeling up to it today you can stay in my wagon. Alfred will find us if there is any sign of Sabec."

Tanisha was silent, letting the words hang in the air for a while before she finally spoke.

"What do you think I should do? If you were me," she said.

"That is a difficult question to answer. Firstly I am far older and far more powerful than you. Moreover, I am capable of living with my choices. Fact of the matter is there is no right or wrong here at least when it comes to demons. In my homeland if someone attacks us or our loved ones we attack back with just as much furocity if possible even more.

"They killed your son, you take their family. Then they escalate and take your hometown and you take their country. It never ends, it is just constant bloodshed and pain. Even so, to them it is a game. Maya numbs pain; it protects us from the things we fear and what we fear to lose. If I told you I would kill them, would you? If I told you I would show them mercy would you do that instead? The Way of The Rakshasa is a path to power and freedom. In this case you have the power and the freedom to choose."

"What if I choose wrong?" Tanisha questioned.

"Then at least it was your choice. I told you once power has a habit of changing people. It gives us shortcuts to solutions that we otherwise wouldn't have. It is good that you are questioning the choices you make. However, when you make them be ready to face whatever comes with that choice. You are my apprentice and I will have your back and I will help you stay the course you choose. For now go get your wagon ready."

Bjorn could feel Tanisha's frantic emotions through their bond. She was torn. Part of her wanted to go back to the cellar and finish what she had started, another part of her wanted to put those thoughts aside and let Joha decide what would be best. The thing was Joha wouldn't tell her what to do. He let her make her own decisions; he was a demon and killing a few werewolves wouldn't play on his conscience.

Joha was ready to leave the town behind and go somewhere quieter. He wasn't a warrior anymore, he was a traveling merchant and that was where his heart truly lay. He would support and protect Tanisha and Bjorn but not make their choices for them. Joha was old despite appearances, the rakshasa people lived a little longer than wendigo and he was definitely a couple centuries through his journey. He treated Tanisha knowing that if she had one thing it was time. She had centuries ahead of her and it was fine to make a few mistakes along the way.