The Unending Epic Written to Appease a Friend, Tell a Tale, an...

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           They find the medicine woman in her garden, as usual. She's pruning her mint, gray curls bouncing around her head, when they walk up to her, and throwing the leaves into a brown sack.

          "Good morning, boys," she says when they approach. "What trouble are you getting into today?"

          "Not too much," Taylen answers. "What are you doing?"

          "Oh, ever since I planted this mint it's been spreading everywhere. Smells nice, but I'm just thinning it out. I don't suppose either of your mothers would want a bushel, would they?"

          Taylen's mother actually would appreciate some mint for her soups, so he tells Telar as much and she ties a small bundle together for him. "There you are," she says. "Be sure to let me know if she needs anything else."

          Taylen seizes the opportunity. "Actually, that's why I'm here," he says. "Do you have any spare medicine? Herbs and things?"

          Telar looks suddenly alarmed. "Oh, goodness. Is she all right? Let me go wash the dirt off my hands and I'll go visit her."

          "No no," Taylen quickly assures. "She's all right. It's, uh, her sister. She lives a day or two away and Mother just heard she wasn't feeling well, so she sent me to see if you have any spare herbs."

           "Oh, I didn't know your mother had a sister," Telar replies. "But of course I'm happy to help. Just give me a moment."

          "I hope your aunt gets better," Niku says when Telar has gone inside. Taylen bites his tongue.

          Their attention is suddenly taken by the sound of men coming down the street outside the garden fence.

          "I'm telling you, we should have waited," a man says. "The boy's not going to stay in the forest forever."

          "Luk can handle the boy if he comes back. But face it: he's probably dead by now, eaten by that witch. A mercy, perhaps; he'll join his parents."

          "Are they talking about the blue witch?" Niku whispers to Taylen.

          Taylen doesn't respond. He has suddenly become very, very concerned for Asher.