Path of the Wind

10
Gerdon stares at the old Mentyhe in front of him. When Tihikia had said that she would take him to see somebody who could tell him what to do he had expected to meet a leader, not a shaman. He is surprised when the old woman laughs “I’m Jamenty Marahandra, the wind singer. Who else did you expect to tell you why the wind blew you to us?” She laughs again at his dumbfounded expression. “Come young kinde, take a seat and let Jamenty tell you what the wind is whispering.” Reluctantly Gerdon seats himself on the floor across from the old woman. “I’m not one of your people…”
“Bah, your hair looks like summer grass. Maybe you are of our people, maybe not, but the plain definitely has a hold on you.” He watches in amazement as the old woman starts unwrapping the package in front of her. Inside is the strangest collection of objects he has ever seen, feathers, seed pods, animal hair and smaller packages that reveal what seems to be dirt. Patiently the old woman spreads an old piece of honey coloured leather on the ground between them. Patterns have been dyed onto the one side of the leather, some of the symbols are familiar, but he can make no sense of their meanings. The woman picks up a sharp knife and Gerdon pulls pack apprehensively as she leans forward. “Kinde, I just need some of your hair.” He bends towards her and she expertly cuts about a finger length piece of hair. She settles back down and starts to gather some of the other objects in her hands while muttering under her breath. Then she sits, hands closed over the piece of leather, eyes closed, all the time mumbling words that he just can’t catch. He stares at her expectantly, but nothing happens.

When she finally moves the effect is startling, a breeze has entered the tent through the open flap behind him and it whips past. As it touches the old woman’s hands she gives a shout and tosses the contents in the air. As suddenly as the breeze came, it is gone again leaving the impression that it had been called and dismissed. Gerdon stares at the piece of leather where several of the objects have settled. “Now young kinde let’s see what the wind has written for you.” She bends forward, a crooked old finger tracing patterns over patterns, never touching either the objects or the leather. Finally she settles back and studies the young man in front of her. His face is calm and posture relaxed but his eyes are bright and questioning. Good, he has learned patience but not acceptance of whatever fate will bring.

When she speaks her voice is low and soft. “The wind took the ochre which means you have no family, but it left earth in the centre saying that your roots lie with the people of the plains or that you will put your roots down with us. The human hair surround the earth for you will make friends in all the clans. The owl feather, mayanti hair and Tarkie feather cluster around the western star, this is where you should go next. If you hurry you will find something there that is very important. The rest is clouded, unclear and unsettling. The raven’s feather crosses the sign of the Pakrash, they will be your enemy, but they are also the keepers of your destiny for your own hair lie there too. You will find shelter with the Marahandra and there is lots of interaction there. The stories of the Gampo holds lots of meanings but what they are I cannot tell for I have never seen this configuration. The last pattern is the most perplexing. The soot covered the southern corner meaning that there will be much death around you. Yet, on top of the soot lies the Kenti feather meaning that the death will bring you much happiness or help you to fulfil a dream. Whether this is good or bad is unclear.” Gerdon waits, but the Mentyhe says nothing else. Hesitantly he asks a question, “What does the western star mean?”
“It can mean many things, but for you I think it signifies the western pass or whatever lies beyond it.”
“So I should travel to this pass.”
“Hmm, tonight we will be asking the wind about all our people. I think your path will be clearer then.”
“Thank you Mentyhe. Much of what you said is unclear to me, but now I at least have a star to guide me.” The old woman cackles at his joke.
“Kinde, you lighten my heart. You would have found your way eventually if you kept following the wind. All things will be as they should if you always do that.” The last is said with such intensity that Gerdon is sure it has some hidden meaning, but whatever it was it passed him by. He carefully comes to his feet, bows to the old lady and move out of the tent.

The old woman stays seated staring at the wind chart in front of her. She has never seen its like. It’s filled with strong signals whose meanings are obscure and on the edges lays hints of greatness or wickedness, only time would tell which.