The Law of Isolation (65 page)
Nalini shook off the hypnotic power of his voice. “Oh, come on. You can’t expect me to believe that.” She wondered what his game was. She didn’t have enough money to be worth conning. “The power of the ancient wizards is nothing but a myth.”
“Oh, no. It’s real.” He sat back and watched her.
She got to the end of the laceration and wearily knotted the last stitch. “Here, give me the sponge. We can let him wake now.” She took the sponge and deposited it in the pail with the other. “Why in the Mother’s name should I believe you?”
“Because I come from Tevenar, the land the ancient wizards founded. I’ve seen them using the Mother’s power all my life. I’ve been healed myself more than once. I’m the one who told the Matriarch where to find them.” He must have read the disbelief on her face, because he nodded down at his friend. “Ask Teried when he wakes up. He’s from Tevenar, too.”
Nalini busied herself sponging Teried clean. “I don’t know what sort of scam you’re pulling, but you may as well know I don’t have any savings for you to steal.”
“It’s no scam. I swear in the Mother’s name, everything I’ve told you is true. If you want, I’ll draw up a contract. I give you free passage to Ramunna. If we get there and you find I’ve been lying, you can walk away and set up your own practice, free of Giroda’s laws. You owe me nothing until a wizard arrives and you’re convinced their power is real. Once that happens, I help find you clients and we split the proceeds fifty-fifty.”
Nalini’s heart quickened. What did she have to lose? If she made sure he wrote down the contract exactly as he’d specified, no matter what happened she’d at least be able to make a fresh start in Ramunna. This time she’d be careful not to screw up and get her discovery banned. She’d be able to use her techniques openly and earn the money and acclaim she longed for.
And if by some miracle he wasn’t lying, and the Mother’s power really did still exist and would be in Ramunna soon, her future could be truly spectacular. Because he was right about how people would react. She knew enough of human nature to be sure of that. There would be fortune enough for both of them, and more.
Still… “I don’t know. How long can I have to think about it?” It was a huge step, leaving her homeland. She hadn’t had contact with her family since she’d been exiled from the capital, but even so she hated the thought of a continent separating them. She spoke the language well enough to get by, but Ramunna had different customs, different laws, different traditions. Learning them would be difficult, intimidating, scary.
Exciting.
“Our ship sails in three days.” Ozor put a wheedling tone in his voice. “I hope you’ll be aboard.”
Nalini gathered the bloody rags. She’d wait to bandage Teried’s wound until he woke up and could sit. Carefully noncommittal, she said, “I’ll consider your offer.”
“Good.” Ozor watched her for few minutes. She could almost see the ideas bubbling in his head like one of her potions over a flame.
As Teried stirred, Ozor leaned across his friend. “Tell me, Nalini. Do you know of any other healers who chafe under Giroda’s laws? Creative people like yourself who’ve developed effective healing techniques? I think there may be opportunity here for many more than just the two of us.”
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