Beastmen: She Tames the Land-Chapter 118: The Family Worry

The new moon arrived, and with it, so did the Stone-horn delegation.

Gorn was one of the people who came. Accompanying him were five other people, one of whom was female. She was one of the women who had been staying close to Uri when he had visited the last time.

Kaelen’s warning about the Stone-horn females taking a liking to Uri was not false. They showed it while Visha was busy treating people. If not for Xeno standing with Uri and fending off the females. Visha wondered if they would tie Uri up and have their way with him.

There were also four people following behind. These people were clearly not from the Stone-horn tribe. There was a tall man with a slim build and a head full of curly brown hair. His eyes were etched with worry as he walked carefully behind Gorn. Beside him was a woman, her waist-length copper hair braided and wrapped around her neck. A man stood beside her, slightly shorter than the other man but a spitting image of the taller man. In his arms was a little girl.

Her body was frail. Her skin was mottled with grey-white patches.

As Gorn approached, Visha saw that his face was serious. He greeted the trio who came out to meet him before turning to Visha specifically.

"Priestess Visha," his gravelly voice sounded. He gestured to the people behind him. "This is Biron and his family. They have heard about you helping the River Clan and our Stone-horn tribe. His daughter is ill, and he wants to ask if there is anything you can do to help. I know it is impolite of me to bring them here. He only found me recently. Knowing we were coming, he insisted on following."

Visha surveyed the family of four standing behind Gorn. The little girl was curled up in the young man’s arms. She hadn’t made a sound or opened her eyes since she arrived. Visha used Commune to look at the little girl.

[Rare condition detected]

[Condition: Crystalline Scurvy]

[Description: A severe deficiency causing the body to crystallize its tissue to preserve itself.]

[Prescription available. Would you like to view it?]

"How did they hear about me?" Visha asked.

There wasn’t a reason for people other than the River Clan and the Stone-horn tribe to know anything about her. She didn’t believe that in the five months since knowing both these sets of people, their names would be spread far and wide.

"The River Clan has a far reach. They trade with many. Telling a story or two during their trading time is expected." Gorn shrugged as he said it.

"Do you know how far their reach is?" Uri asked.

Gorn shook his head. "It is enough for them to be invited."

They knew the kind of invitation Gorn was referring to.

"You need my help?" Visha asked, looking behind Gorn.

"We do," came the man’s voice. It sounded like sandpaper. It was obvious he was having a hard time. "We have been searching for so long for someone who can help our daughter. We have gone to different priests and priestess but no one has been able to cure her. I will not assume that you can cure her. All I ask is for you to take a look."

Visha’s eyes scanned the girl. She wouldn’t refuse to help. But she also had no reason to. Saving an ailing person would feel good for her conscience. However, there is no benefit. She doesn’t believe that doctors should cure everyone they see. She wasn’t a doctor, nor was she a saint.

"I can cure her. But if I cure your daughter, what would you be willing to give?"

Biron opened his mouth, not sure what to say.

"I will become your slave," the woman next to Biron spoke. She knelt on both knees, head lowered. "If you can save my daughter, I am willing to be your slave."

No one spoke. They had been watching Biron and his family. Even Gorn, who brought the man, stood aside, watching the events.

The young man who had the girl in his arms started to kneel. Visha still said nothing. Her eyes were boring into Biron’s. She was waiting for him to make a decision. What would he be willing to do to save his daughter?

She wasn’t trying to be mean or vicious. She knew the little girl would die if she didn’t help. What she wanted was to know how far they were willing to go. Would they simply expect her to save the little girl without paying something in return?

It didn’t take long for Biron to get on his knees.

"I will be your slave. I will serve you until the end of my days. But only me. My wife and children must remain free." His eyes held Visha’s gaze.

She smiled. If she were a vicious person, she would take them all into slavery. She was not such a person. And she didn’t need slaves. She needed people with skills. The pack would grow sooner or later. What they needed now were people with skills who could make the pack better. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"I have no need for a slave. But do you have skills?" Her voice was light as she spoke.

Confusion flickered across Biron’s face. He opened his mouth and replied. "I know the best way to make tunnels, and I have knowledge of ores and minerals."

Visha sent a mindlink to Kaelen asking him to bring rediron. She wanted Biron to identify what it was, and she needed Kaelen to do a task for her in relation to Biron’s daughter.

"You don’t need to kneel. Just stand and talk," Visha said.

Kaelen arrived shortly, holding the ore in his hand. He had Kaelen give it to Biron. She wanted to hear what he had to say about the rediron.

He stared at it for a moment. Taking it into his hand, he began to speak. "It is dense, heavy. It would take time to melt." He scraped a finger over it. "It doesn’t blemish easily. All in all, I would consider it high-quality ore."

Visha smiled.

She turned to Gorn, who was standing and watching. She saw him nod his head.

"Well, I welcome you to the Warm Pack. To cure your daughter, you will need to stay here for some time. It won’t be easy, but she will be fine."

Turning to Kaelen, she said, "Near the rim, there are some V-shaped flowers. I need you to pick a few for me. Meet me at the square when you get them."

Kaelen nodded, shifted, and went to the rim of the caldera.

Turning her attention back to Gorn and the others, she bowed slightly. "I’ll leave the gate up to you. I’ll bring them inside and help them get settled. Leader Gorn, it was good to see you again."

She motioned for Biron and his family to follow her inside.