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(Scars do not appear to be cause of death –shock ... - Bad Request

(Scars do not appear to be cause of death –shock ... - Bad Request

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from a corpse. Strange how that would <strong>be</strong> a compliment <strong>to</strong> someone.<br />

"Thanks, Meb<strong>be</strong>th. Before I go, I had some other questions for you..."<br />

The midwife turned <strong>to</strong> stir her pot <strong>of</strong> stew, "Go on n' ask, then."<br />

I was blunt, "Are you a witch, Meb<strong>be</strong>th?"<br />

Meb<strong>be</strong>th turned <strong>to</strong> scrutinize me. Her eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker <strong>of</strong> fire<br />

in those pools <strong>of</strong> gray, "I say naught as <strong>to</strong> what I am and isn't, but whatcha<br />

<strong>be</strong> wantin' ta know so fool bad for that ye hound an' ol' woman, barkin' and<br />

sniffin' fer a juicy bit <strong>of</strong> gossip?"<br />

I mused bitterly on how easily I was taken <strong>do</strong>wn by a band <strong>of</strong> thugs earlier.<br />

And by a rash-covered Collec<strong>to</strong>r <strong>be</strong>fore that.<br />

"I want <strong>to</strong> learn about magic. Could you teach me?"<br />

"What? Tooth and claw <strong>not</strong> good enough for you?" Morte snapped, "Need<br />

<strong>to</strong> just wiggle your fingers and breathe fire in the face <strong>of</strong> the Hive thugs <strong>to</strong><br />

keep 'em from stealing your purse?" he sc<strong>of</strong>fed at the mention <strong>of</strong> the<br />

somatic components needed for wizardry. Mostly things like that just<br />

glanced <strong>of</strong>f <strong>of</strong> Morte, but I was <strong>be</strong>ginning <strong>to</strong> find that on rare occasions he<br />

had a glass jaw when it came <strong>to</strong> hints <strong>of</strong> his own limitations.<br />

Meb<strong>be</strong>th laughed at us both. "Pah! I'm no teacher, no school-mistress all set<br />

up ta teach like them in the big Festhall! There's others somewhere I'm sure<br />

that'd spill the dark <strong>of</strong> it... ye'd <strong>be</strong> wastin' yer time with ol' Meb<strong>be</strong>th, so ye<br />

would."<br />

I smiled politely, "I <strong>do</strong>n't agree. I think you'd have a lot <strong>to</strong> teach."<br />

Meb<strong>be</strong>th looked at me intently. "Oh, aye? Why <strong>do</strong> ye want <strong>to</strong> learn such<br />

things?"<br />

Be<strong>cause</strong> I <strong>do</strong>n't want my ass handed <strong>to</strong> me again by a gang <strong>of</strong> smelly thugs.<br />

"Be<strong>cause</strong> I may need it <strong>to</strong> solve the mystery <strong>of</strong> who I am."<br />

After a moment, Meb<strong>be</strong>th nodded. "The Art may help, it may <strong>not</strong>, and ye<br />

must <strong>not</strong> rely on it ta solve all o' yer problems." She sighs. "Child, it's most<br />

like only going <strong>to</strong> add a<strong>not</strong>her chip <strong>to</strong> yer pile o' questions..."<br />

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