A Scripta

Now, this is what Grim expected when coming to Laos. They were fifty miles north of Phonmouang, in the "highlands" of Laos. The road had turned into a brown slow-moving stream with banana-shaped boats scattered through it. The water came up to Grim's waist when he landed lightly.

"You're not supposed to go swimming until three hours after eating, love," Lue said, chuckling. The water swirled around him, not touching him.

"Oh, hush." Grim uttered the spell that Lue had taught him and the water also started flowing around him. A boat was coming their way, and the man driving it was waving at them. "Gondala taxi?"

Lue laughed, and waited for the boat to come by them and they climbed in among the freight. There was assorted produce scattered throughout the boat. Lue handed the boatman some money and the two men sat at the his feet while he chatted about the lack of rainy season and the lack of produce. Grim raised an eyebrow - if this was lack of a rainy season, he really didn't want to know what the real rainy season was.

Lue kept his eyes on a lookout. To Grim, all the brown houses on stilts looked the same, but Lue tapped the man's foot and pointed. "That one, right there."

"Ah, you go to see the Watermaster." He looked at Grim. "Is your friend ill?"

"No, we seek his wisdom."

"Ah, that's unusual for those of your generation to look to the elders for guidance."

"Wisdom comes in many forms." Lue looked at Grim and smiled. Grim smiled back.

The boatman left them off pretty much at the door, where a man sat in a rocking chair whittling at some wood. He watched the two men disembark onto the porch of the house. With a final wave, the boatman continued on his way, as Lue turned to the man in the rocking chair. "Greetings, friend," he said, and bowed. Grim copied him. "We come to see Master Thao Pang. Is he available?"

"I'll see. Who comes to visit?"

"Lue Xiong, son of Toua Xiong, grandson of Lang Xiong, great-grandson of Kue Xiong."

The man had got up from the rocking chair. "Come inside," he said. Lue followed him and they stood in a foyer, where it looked like wet clothing was hung up to dry on hooks. Grim kept his hands in his pockets. He reached and touched a ley line very close by, and retreated quickly. This one was much cleaner than the one in the city.

The man returned. "Come with me."

Lue and Grim followed him, and Grim was assaulted by the smell of cigarette smoke. They found themselves in a bedroom, where a really old man sat up propped up on pillows, smoking a cigarette. "Greetings son of Xiong," said the man. "What brings you here?"

"We come for your counsel and guidance, wise one."

He motioned with the cigarette and ashes went all over his blanket. "Sit, sit."

Grim found a chair and Lue sat on the edge of the bed.

"Shut that off, young man," he said to Grim, pointing to the TV. Grim turned it off and sat back down. Thao took a long drag from his cigarette. "Now, what exactly? And what have you brought in payment?"

Lue pulled out a wad of bills and set them before Thao. The shaman didn't even pick it up. "We wish to stop Tub Ci, he is the leader of the Tsoo, a gang of killers in--"

"I know of them," he said. "You are a sorcerer." He pointed to Lue's tattoos. "Many of us know of this Tub Ci. He has gone into the spirit world and taken knowledge from parts of our spirits for his use."

"I know. We must stop him."

"Son of Xiong, the first thing you must do is guard the spirit world from his encroachments." Thao looked at Grim. Grim raised his head. "You and the Soul-Eater."

"I promised to help him," Grim said.

Thao said, "You are joined thrice: by your body, in the spirit, and at the heart. You have no choice, Soul-Eater. Nor you, son of Xiong."

"We need help," said Lue reverently. "We need knowledge of things he does not know. We haven't seen anyone use water-based abilities."

"You wish to learn them."

Lue nodded. "I can make it rain, but Grim, he doesn't know--"

"The Soul-Eater also?" Thao suddenly smiled wickedly. "How badly do you want to learn?"

Grim slowly let a grin spread across his face - this man was challenging him, and he never backed down from a challenge. "As badly as Lue does."

"Do you know what else has water in it that is always in a pouch?"

"Blood."

"Very good."

Thao raised a hand, muttered a spell, and a layer of water appeared on the bed. Grim could feel the air was drier now, but no less hot. The water flowed off, through the slats in the floor, and probably outside. The used cigarettes were gone. Lue, still sitting at the foot of the bed, wasn't even wet. "How long are you here for?"

"Another evening. We fly back home tomorrow night."

"Then I will teach you some things that will help you against Tub Ci. But the Soul-Eater must pay."

"What do you want?" Grim asked. "I can show you some of my magic."

Thao waved his hand absently. "I am too old to learn new magic. Promise me this in payment: Teach this to no one else."

Grim blinked. "I'm sorry?"

"This magic is dangerous in the wrong hands. It should die with me."

Lue looked at Grim. Grim nodded solemnly. "I agree."

The old man threw back the covers. "Then let us begin."