My USB is working now.

Don't ask me what I did, it just seemed to fix itself. Weird, man.

Anywho, here is Hunter's Tales Part 56.

Enjoy!

Ta Ta for now.

56. Florina.

The Wanderer woman slowly made her way to the table occupied by Maria, Annie and Theodore. She had a slight limp in her right leg. Her hair still had it’s auburn colour with only a few grey streaks running through it. Her skin was tanned like her fellow travellers. Only a few wrinkles could be seen around the eyes, but most of her visage was smooth. Her blue eyes stood out in the dark face. She wore a shall that was covered with many coloured symbols. Many of them were symbolic versions of the animals they represented. Still others were true representations of them. As she drew closer a quick gasp escaped Theodore’s lips.

“What is it?” asked Maria in a whisper, barely moving her lips.

He scurried up to Maria’s shoulder.

“Look closer at the hem of the shawl,” he whispered back.

Maria looked and was surprised by what she saw.

The hem of the shawl also had representations of animals sewn in it, but these animals were all in white. There were three in all. One was of a mole, the other was of a gazelle, and the final one was of a snake.

The three white animals were clustered around what looked like a stylized bison. At least that was what Maria thought it looked like, based on the few drawings she had seen of them, not having met any personally. The odd thing about this bison was it was not the reddish colour Maria had seen in the drawings. It was completely black.

A young man from the group near where the healer was walking suddenly yelled out something in a language that Maria did not understand and gestured to the woman.

The Healer looked exasperated and turned to the man and his group and walked over to him.

“What does that mean?” Maria asked.

“The Wanderer healers and fortunetellers wear the shawls with animals on them to show their connection to the Earth Mother.” he told her. “But if they sew pictures in the hem, there is a reason. The black bison is her totem.”

“What’s a totem?” asked Annie.

“A spirit guide,” said Theodore. “Healers will go into a trance, called the dreaming, and find the spirit of a long dead animal that provides them comfort and guidance.”

“What do the others mean then?” asked Maria. “Are they others she meant during the dreaming.”

“No,” said Theodore. “They only put my kind on the hems if they have actually met and talked to them. I was surprised that she had more then one on it. Most healers have none all their life. Still others, if they are lucky, only meet and talk to one. To have three is a rarity.”

“Maybe she will be able to add a fourth,” said Annie.

“Only if I acknowledge who I am,” he said. “I could just be a white ferret as most take me to be. As long as I don’t talk and do things a normal ferret would do, then I am nothing special.”

The woman finished talking to the man, who seemed amused by whatever had transpired between them. She turned and continued on to Maria’s table.

She stopped when she reached them.

“Would any of you young ladies like their fortune told?” she asked them. “Reasonable prices.”

“Here?” asked Annie. “Aren’t you supposed to go to a quiet tent or something to have that done.”

The woman laughed.

“Not really,” she said. “Some of my fellow fortunetellers like to give that impression, believing that it makes them look a little more mysterious and it probably does. But I don’t have that sort of luxury, so I will tell anyone’s fortune anytime and anywhere.”

“Alright,” said Maria. “I am curious. Please have a seat.”

The woman sat down.

Just then Brenda walked over to the table.

“Hey there,” she said.

She looked over at Annie.

“Well well, if it isn’t that little snobbish kitchen maid from the manor.” she said with a grin. “Nice of you to condescend to visit us poor, lowly town workers.”

Annie put her nose up in the air.

“I was always of the opinion,” she said in an imitation of one of the lord’s more annoying female guest, “that one should never forget the little people in their lives.”

Brenda made a sorting laugh.

“Then what would madam like?” she asked.

“Why, ale of course,” replied Annie.

“And her companions?” she asked turning to the rest of them.

“I’ll have the same thing,” said Maria. “And my little friend here would like a bowl of mead.”

“Ah, he’s cute!” Brenda cried out.

She reached over and scratch Theodore under his chin. He leaned into the barmaids hand and closed his eyes. A contented noise escaped his throat.

“He is truly an amazing specimen,” said the fortuneteller.

“Would you like a drink?’ asked Maria.

“Not now,” she answered. “This one was enough and I don’t want to be too intoxicated when doing the reading. But I am remiss for I have not introduced myself properly. I am Florina.”

“I am Maria,” she introduced herself.” This is Annie and this is Theodore.”

“Pleased to meet you all.” said Florina.

“I’ll be back with your drinks,” said Brenda, who turned and walked away.

“When the drinks are served,” said Florina, “We will begin.”