Fantasy Blurb

   She felt him looking at her.  She looked away from the ocean and locked her green eyes with his storm grey ones.  He smiled and looked at the waves crashing against the rocks below them.
   She smiled and followed his gaze.
   They stood silently, next to each other- comfortable in the other's silence.  They had known each other for so long, they no no longer needed words to communicate.
   He took a deep breath in and let it out slowly, closing his eyes.
   She smiled and picked up her weather beaten medicine bag.  "Come, Nogal- there are things to be done," she said quietly.
   He turned and followed her back through the woods to the community.  She gave him a small smile and a nod, "Thank you for your Guardianship Lor Nogal, may the Diamond Ladies smile fondly on your time on earth."
   And may the King Moon shine favorably on yours, Trista," he replied softly.
   She nodded again and made her way to the Healing Father's tents.
   "The Lor Nogal looks upon you with passion in his eye, my child," the Healing Father told Trista as they sorted through the plants Trista had gathered on her search.
   She blushed, "Father, Lor Nogal is too great a man for a simple healing assistant.  His wife will be of higher birth than I."
   The old man humphed at her, "The young will learn one day that they cannot escape fate, and so will instead embrace what the old already know."
   Trista laughed, "Father, I intend to take my vows --"
   "As one of the Garden Daughters, yes I know," the Healing Father made his way inside one of the large healing tents, Trista trailing him with the basket of plants.  "My daughter," he continued.  "Your nature does not fit the Garden Daughters.  You were born to fight."
   "I have no family to sponsor me Father," Trista told him, just like she did every time they had this conversation.  "Besides no one sponsors a girl-- no matter how good she is."
   The Father rolled his eyes, "My child, have faith in your fate.  The Ladies know what they are doing."
   Trista smiled, "I wish they would tell us mere humans what part we are to play."
   "That would take all the mystery out of this journey!" the Healing Father exclaimed.
   Their laughter was interrupted by a Guardian coming into the tent.   "Lar Trista, his Lor Nogal summons you to his tent," the man said.
   Trista ignored the Healing Father's wink, grabbed her medicine bag, and followed the Guardian through the camp to the High Tent.  Many of the people their heads in a quick prayer as she passed, recognizing her as a Healer by her black tunic, red sash, and well worn leather medicine bag.  The Healers work was directly dependent on the Diamond Ladies favor, and it was considered goo manners to thank the Ladies when the Healers passed.
   Trista was used to the hushed whispers and heads that bobbed like a field of long grass in the breeze that followed a Healer's path.
   When they reached the High Tent the Guardian announced her, then disappeared leaving her alone with Nogal.
   "Hello Trista," Nogal said quietly.
   "Hello Nogal," she replied, matching the level of his voice.