Scarring

Each warrior that he lays scars to is special to him in one way or another but the young man that was in his wagon right now he was keeping close watch over. He had bee a bit surprised that the young man's sister had not questioned him as Kaeli had.



He had instructed Gabe to take a bath in the herbs that he provided, then to go and make his prayers of thanks to the Sky. This done, he had taken the young man Argus with him to the bath wagon, and they had done the same. For him, the bath was a part of the ritual of scarring. The hot waters cleansed the body and the herbs, the mind. He caught the boy looking at the scars on his body with curiosity, and answerd that look with one word. "Life"



Bath taken they returned to his scarring wagon, and he carefully took out the rolled piece of leather that held his knives. Each one was inspected as he told Argus in a calm steady voice of the importance of this. A dull blade did not make a clean cut, and without a clean cut, the scar would not heal properly, nor would it look right. These were put into a pan of water that was simmering on one of the braziers, to make sure they are clean and held no residue from the last scarring.



The thin, bone needles and tiny strips of sinew were laid out on a wooden tray, to be ready for stitching the scars closed. Each of these were also explained to his new student.



Next he took out the pots of dried flowers and roots and began to mix them with small amounts of salt, vinegar and bosk dung, until he had the right shade. He explained each plant to Argus and promised to show him where they grew if he wanted. He was pleased that the boy asked intelligent questions and showed an interest in what they were about to do.



With everything in place, he sat back against the frame of the wagon, cross legged with his hands resting lightly on his knees, and closed his eyes to calm himself and to center his thoughts. From one cracked eye, he saw the boy do the same and he almost smiled. Closing that eye he waited until he heard the steps on his wagon platform. Standing he went to open the flaps so that the young man could enter.



He looked nervous, but that was to be expected. He has seen much older men, much more nervous in his career of placing scar. He motioned for the young man to lie down on the platform and calmly explained to him what was about to take place. He was a believer in full knowledge in these things.



They finally got down to work with Argus on the other side of the platform watching intently. When the first cut was made he had looked up to see the boy pale slightly but was pleased when he simply swallowed down the bile that he knew was in his throat and continued to watch.



Dye was worked into the scar, then it was stitched together in a loose fashion, to allow for more dye to be added over the next few days. The body would absorb the dye, so more would have to be added as the cut healed. He then motioned for Argus to trade places with him, and he made the cut on the other cheek, giving care that they were even, more or less. He took great pride in his work and it would show on the cheeks that he had scarred.



Finishing up he was also proud of the young man. He had barely made a noise through a process that was not only painful but scary at the same time. He gave him a mug of tea that would help him sleep, then carefully washed all of his implements and put them away, along with the dyes.



Stepping out onto the platform he inhaled the air and looked up to the Sky thanking her for giving him a steady hand tonight. He explained to Argus that he was welcome to return over the next few days to watch the application of the dyes. The young boy nodded then stepped away down the lane of wagons.



Watching him go, he knew he had much to think on and he would allow him that time to think. Dropping down to sit on the platform he had to smile when kasra approached with a mug of blackwine. Taking it from her his hand drops to caress her hair as he drinks and thinks.



The next few days would be difficult but if the young man in there on the platform had the same strength that he had seen on others of his family, he would be fine.