Free A Coursing Passage (A Life of Magic Book 3) by Matthew Mitchell

family, to be raised correctly. Our old home was allowed to be sold. The mercenary was never found, he simply faded away when his employers no longer were around to pay his fees.
    My visions changed after that time. I saw both good and bad events that might unfold to those I loved. My father avoided death many times thanks to my visions. He died as one of the oldest elders our tribe had ever known. My brother married and produced a family. Some of those of his line travel with us. I myself married twice and had children with both men. The first man was a good man, the second was better. I have buried both and survived where many would have died. Most of this is due to my vision. While it could have become a burden upon my life, I chose to make it into a blessing.
    ***
     
    Tulip stopped talking and looked around at us, "Thus is my story summed up. While there are many more details and such that I left out, this covers the broad strokes of my life." She grinned and looked at Stain. "I would challenge you to share your story, what you may share, at some point. Tonight, why not share about your first love?"
    Stain looked mildly surprised, he smiled gently and nodded. "That I can do easily." He leaned back and took a few deep breaths, obviously preparing himself and focusing on what he was going to say.
    "Many years ago I was a young boy. Before magic entered my life I lived with my family. I was the youngest of all my siblings, there were five of us. My parents lived on a farm, raising goats mainly. We also had other animals on the farm. All of us children worked on the farm. My main chore was to feed the birds. We had chickens, ducks, and geese. The geese hated me, always chasing me around, trying to bite me. The ducks were almost like pets. The chickens saw me as the provider of food. Life was simple, yet good. The day I met my first love I was feeding the chickens. My father called me over to the gate, he had her with him. He introduced us and explained that she would be staying with us for a while. I was to show her around the farm, to make sure she knew the rules, and to see that she had a place to sleep at night. She sat next to me at all the meals and kept me company while I went about my chores each day. I came to talk to her like no other individual. Confiding in her all my secret desires for adventure, my fears, and my hopes for the future. She kept all my secrets. She lived with us for years, always keeping me company, until the day I had to leave. My magic had started to manifest and I needed to go away to be trained. She had to stay behind. She did not understand and would stand at the gate waiting for me to return. My father sent me letters describing her keen loss of my company. One day she simply failed to get up. Her heart had broken and she had died in her sleep. It was my first heartbreak. I still remember her to this day, my first love."
    Stain's look showed that he was remembering the exact moments he described.
    "What was her name?" Raven asked softly.
    Stain looked at her and grinned, "Her name was Lucy."
    Tulip was grinning broadly, "I would cry foul if I did not see honest affection for Lucy in your eyes. What color was her coat?"
    I looked at Tulip and then at Stain. I could see the sly humor in his eyes as he answered.
    "Why her coat was black with a few white markings. She was a very pretty dog." He stated this with humor filling his voice.
    "A dog?" Raven sounded annoyed. "Tulip asked about your first love. A dog does not count." She seemed to be disappointed.
    "I say it counts." Tulip stated gently. "The love for a cherished pet or companion can be stronger and more deeply felt than the thing we call love of a person." She looked at Stain, "Thank you for sharing about Lucy. Perhaps we can hear more about your life later." She turned to Raven. "Since you are so quick to speak, perhaps you should share a story from your past? Maybe the first loss you ever suffered?"
    Raven looked surprised at Tulip's