Dakra smiled through her tears. "I remember everything as if it were
yesterday. You brought me joy, such a
deep happiness to my heart that I can't describe it. My cheeks grew sore during those first few
weeks for there was always a smile on my face.
At last, I had the daughter I'd always longed for. You were such a sweet little baby and you
took to us so quickly. The joy of having
you has lasted all these years. You've
always been so kind, helpful and loving."
She laughed softly in celebration of her memories. "At first Eghero and I were a little
afraid of the responsibility we’d been given.
Kewero told us that you will take your place among the great."
"Kewero?"
"That's the name of the old woman who left you
here. She made several visits to see how
you fared during the first few years you were with us."
"I don't remember her."
"I think that's why she stopped coming. I think she wanted to remain unknown to
you. At least until the time you had to
begin your destiny."
"Oh."
Dakra reached over and took her daughter's hand in her
own. "We tried to teach you things
that would help you fulfill your fate.
We decided to teach you the wisdom of nature, so you could always
survive within her bounty. You should
always remember that nature provides not only subsistence, but is a vast source
of wisdom and knowledge as well. Nature
is one way to gaze upon the face of the Spirit.
The Spirit is reflected in our mortal realm in the world around
us."
"Papa always was pointing that out to me. He said that knowledge would always bring me
peace and strength."
"It will, dear Flindra.
Hold that wisdom close to your heart.
Remember, too, as you search out your destiny, that there is always
purpose behind the surface of things.
Search for the hidden meanings in what you see and hear for they are the
hidden and sturdy warp threads that support the weft, which fills out the
tapestry of our lives. Listen and look
for the rhythms and patterns of life in the world and know that you will be right
if you are balanced within them. This
wisdom will guide you if you let it.
It's just following the warp of Spirit's weavings."
Flindra sighed sadly.
"I will try my best."
"Kewero never really explained why you were destined to
live with us. Maybe the closeness that a
woodsman and his family have with nature is one of the reasons. Many people in our world have forgotten the
old ways of honoring the Spirit, but we live too close to nature to
forget." Dakra smiled to
herself. "I think the wisdom of
holding the Presence of the Spirit close to your heart will be the greatest
gift we have bestowed upon you."
Flindra nodded in silence.
"We were also able to teach you something else that
most simple folk are ignorant of."
"What’s that, Momma?"
"Your letters and numbers. Haven't you ever wondered how all of us can
write and figure?"
"I guess I never really thought about it," Flindra
admitted.
"Eghero's uncle was injured as a child in an
accident. Ayer was left lame for
life. The man responsible for the accident
felt badly about things and arranged for him to receive a clerk's
training. Ayer eventually became a clerk
for a merchant in Deodar. He shared his
knowledge with the rest of the family when he would come visit."
"I see."
"It was a fortuitous accident which benefited the
entire family. Once you were placed with
us I began to believe that the Will of the Spirit was behind it."
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