“Here in Nod, you may take any woman you like. No one will object. But I have a better plan. You will meet my old friend Tutok.”
“Tutok? And who is he?”
“I have told you that no one really rules our land, now that the king is no more. But certain people have more influence than others. And the most influential of these is Tutok.”
“Is he also a merchant?”
“Hardly. He is the head of a large clan. And very rich. Perhaps you could describe him as a priest.”
“I thought no one here paid attention to the gods.”
“You forget, young man, that I said there was an exception. Lorac, the weather god. Tutok speaks to Lorac. And that is why he is rich.”
“What can he do to find me a wife?”
“You will see. It will not be a difficulty,” replied Omak enigmatically.
***
And so Omak and Cain found themselves, several weeks later, within the palatial home of Tutok—as close to an authority figure as anyone in Nod. And it was soon clear why Omak had brought his young, handsome guest. Tutok had three daughters, each of marriageable age but still single.
Tutok, Cain thought, was very much Omak’s opposite, and he wondered how the two had become friends. Whereas Omak was uncommunicative, even dour, Tutok was suave and voluble. He spoke to Cain about his priestly “duties.” He recalled the lightning strike that he had survived when he was a child and how Lorac had saved him.
In response, Cain hinted that he, too, had an interest in speaking with spirits. Not with the master of spirits, Cain thought, but he kept that to himself.
The evening banquet was delightful. Entertainment was provided by Tutok’s nephew, who told lighthearted stories accompanied by drummers and dancers. Platters heaped with delicious meats and fruits were presented by a cadre of handsome servants. As the banquet neared its end, Tutok’s daughters sang for the guests. Cain thought that Ushar, the middle child, had an especially lovely voice.
“Why are these daughters still unmarried?” Cain asked as he and Omak retraced their way in the darkness back to Omak’s house.
“This is Tutok’s great sorrow,” Omak answered. “I have told you before that people here are not religious. But they are superstitious. And envious. Tutok has enemies because of his wealth and reputation. He had no sons, but daughters instead. The soothsayers have foretold that these women will doom the men they marry. No young man in Nod will marry them.”
“How absurd!” Cain blurted out. “Do people here really believe that nonsense?”
“Do not underestimate the average man’s stupidity,” muttered Omak. “The husbands of those girls would be heirs to a fortune.”
***
“Cain, do you sleep?” questioned the familiar voice.
In the mists of slumber, Cain replied, “Why do you come to me?”
“I come to you because I love and care for you,” replied the master of spirits. “It is I who protect you here in the land of Nod.”
“Really? It is Omak who shields me here. What are you in Nod?”
“If only you saw things as they truly are. Who is it that disposes Omak kindly toward you? Do you think he would shield you without my tending?”
“Leave me, spirit!”
“Yes, I will leave you now. But I cannot leave you to die. It is I who keep you alive. You will serve my purpose. Never doubt that you and my purpose are one.”
***
Four months later, Cain and Ushar were united in a marriage ceremony at Tutok’s mansion. The prominence of the bride’s father ensured a large attendance.
As Tutok’s son-in-law, Cain found his reputation in Nod enhanced. He and Ushar moved into a pavilion attached to Tutok’s mansion. Tutok let it be known that Cain assisted him in weekly vision quests with the god Lorac. Six months after the wedding, Ushar became pregnant. Tutok began to speak confidently of a grandson.
Cain had done nothing to deserve his reputation as a shaman, but he did nothing to disclaim it, either. Indeed,
“Tutok? And who is he?”
“I have told you that no one really rules our land, now that the king is no more. But certain people have more influence than others. And the most influential of these is Tutok.”
“Is he also a merchant?”
“Hardly. He is the head of a large clan. And very rich. Perhaps you could describe him as a priest.”
“I thought no one here paid attention to the gods.”
“You forget, young man, that I said there was an exception. Lorac, the weather god. Tutok speaks to Lorac. And that is why he is rich.”
“What can he do to find me a wife?”
“You will see. It will not be a difficulty,” replied Omak enigmatically.
***
And so Omak and Cain found themselves, several weeks later, within the palatial home of Tutok—as close to an authority figure as anyone in Nod. And it was soon clear why Omak had brought his young, handsome guest. Tutok had three daughters, each of marriageable age but still single.
Tutok, Cain thought, was very much Omak’s opposite, and he wondered how the two had become friends. Whereas Omak was uncommunicative, even dour, Tutok was suave and voluble. He spoke to Cain about his priestly “duties.” He recalled the lightning strike that he had survived when he was a child and how Lorac had saved him.
In response, Cain hinted that he, too, had an interest in speaking with spirits. Not with the master of spirits, Cain thought, but he kept that to himself.
The evening banquet was delightful. Entertainment was provided by Tutok’s nephew, who told lighthearted stories accompanied by drummers and dancers. Platters heaped with delicious meats and fruits were presented by a cadre of handsome servants. As the banquet neared its end, Tutok’s daughters sang for the guests. Cain thought that Ushar, the middle child, had an especially lovely voice.
“Why are these daughters still unmarried?” Cain asked as he and Omak retraced their way in the darkness back to Omak’s house.
“This is Tutok’s great sorrow,” Omak answered. “I have told you before that people here are not religious. But they are superstitious. And envious. Tutok has enemies because of his wealth and reputation. He had no sons, but daughters instead. The soothsayers have foretold that these women will doom the men they marry. No young man in Nod will marry them.”
“How absurd!” Cain blurted out. “Do people here really believe that nonsense?”
“Do not underestimate the average man’s stupidity,” muttered Omak. “The husbands of those girls would be heirs to a fortune.”
***
“Cain, do you sleep?” questioned the familiar voice.
In the mists of slumber, Cain replied, “Why do you come to me?”
“I come to you because I love and care for you,” replied the master of spirits. “It is I who protect you here in the land of Nod.”
“Really? It is Omak who shields me here. What are you in Nod?”
“If only you saw things as they truly are. Who is it that disposes Omak kindly toward you? Do you think he would shield you without my tending?”
“Leave me, spirit!”
“Yes, I will leave you now. But I cannot leave you to die. It is I who keep you alive. You will serve my purpose. Never doubt that you and my purpose are one.”
***
Four months later, Cain and Ushar were united in a marriage ceremony at Tutok’s mansion. The prominence of the bride’s father ensured a large attendance.
As Tutok’s son-in-law, Cain found his reputation in Nod enhanced. He and Ushar moved into a pavilion attached to Tutok’s mansion. Tutok let it be known that Cain assisted him in weekly vision quests with the god Lorac. Six months after the wedding, Ushar became pregnant. Tutok began to speak confidently of a grandson.
Cain had done nothing to deserve his reputation as a shaman, but he did nothing to disclaim it, either. Indeed,
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