‘We do not know much about him save that he was washed ashore in a storm as a baby lashed to a spar. That he was not drowned was a miracle, according to the woman who found him and took him in. She brought him up as her son but she was not young and when he carried her to us at the Healing Centre she was dying. It was a natural death and we could do little but give her herbs to ease her passing. Indeed, we wondered why she had asked to be brought to us, for most folk in old age prefer to remain in their homes. Then it transpired that she had wanted to speak to us about Okan. She explained how he had come to her and then she said that as we could well see, he was simple minded and generous and utterly gullible and these traits would make him fair game for any rogue who thought to misuse him, once she was not there to protect him. She said that she had always thought that, when she died, he might come and serve in the Healing Centre because he had a gift that might make him useful to us. She asked if we would prentice him and agree to care for him. Before Kella could answer, she collapsed, and died later that same night without ever regaining consciousness.

‘Okan was inconsolable of course, and we kept him on to help with odd jobs because he was sweet-natured and willing and strong but most of all because he was so helpless. Then one day we discovered his mother had spoken true. He had hands with true healing power when massaging and manipulating bones and joints. No doubt the old woman had been well eased by them in her time and of course we are glad to use his skills. I only wish he would not call me master.’

‘I think the title is not unfitting given your work at the Healing Centre,’ I said, fascinated by the tale, and wondering what ship Okan had fallen from, and where he had come from, for I was suddenly sure that he was not Sadorian nor even Gadfian, but from one of the other many small settlements scattered about the world, which were remnants of greater civilisations in the Beforetime. I wondered, too, what Roland would make of Okan’s skills, for there might be an element of Talent in them.