to you by the power beyond all earthly powers, you can heal yourselves!”

“Mind you, some of us have a living to make!” a stout woman with an ugly lump on her throat shouted belligerently. “I’ve no time for holy practices, and that greedy witch on the other side of the river won’t give me herbs to bring down the swelling on my throat—not unless I give her my last sack of wheat!”

“My healing fire will not rise again,” Ishvari spoke tenderly, as empathy surged for the woman’s frustration. “I know your story, Kolambi, and I’ve given you a simple way to heal your sickness,” she added, pinning the woman down with her calm gaze. “The gods are happy to aid those willing to aid themselves.”

“Simple to you may be diffic...

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