8:34 AM

The 77th of Spring, 1551

Dreymond and Dawn Ryker were Duna healers and they did not have a clinic. They weren’t allowed to run a clinic. They had their medical licenses stripped when Dreymond published a medical journal documenting the Ryker deviance and its effects on mental health issues. The data was particularly geared towards the issues that wreaked havoc in the homeless and impoverished communities. What Dreymond and Dawn Ryker did have was a rundown office with two doors and a sign that said “Psychic Spiritual Mind Readings and Massages: 20 Gelts”

Two long lines of people formed out of the office and into the sidewalk. The left line was for Dawn, who healed injuries under the guise of giving out massages. The right line was for Dreymond, who used his deviance to heal people's minds and cure addictions under the guise of giving them soul readings. 20 gelts was barely enough money for a meal for two but many of the Rykers’ clients couldn’t afford much. If they had their medical licenses, the couple could advertise what they were really doing and get some higher paying clients to make ends meet but the world is imperfect and they had people they needed to provide for. Under the table medical procedures were their best option. Plus, Dreymond and Dawn were born to help others. If they could be healers for free, they would. 

The door to Dreymond’s office opened as he ushered out one of his clients. The client was a homeless Duna man in tattered clothing. 

“Thank you so much Dreymond. I feel so much better now!” Said the man as he happily shook Dreymond’s hand and walked away.

“Keep up the good work, Jonas! And if I ever catch you littering again I’ll stop giving you discounts!” Yelled Dreymond, as the vagrant left. 

“DISCOUNTS!?” Screeched Dawn’s voice from the other office. Quick shuffling ensued and then her door swung open as well.

“We already have enough problems balancing our budget and you’re handing out DISCOUNTS?!” Dawn exclaimed.

“He’s living on the streets, Dawn. I can’t just turn him away. Could you let me stay in longer today to make up for it, please? Don’t wait for me if you all get hungry before I get back.”  Dreymond pleaded with a smile as he rewrote the chalkboard open hours sign on his door from “8-5” to “8-7”.

Dawn’s expression softened. She walked up and rubbed the wrinkles at the corners of her husband's eyes. “I just had to marry the kindest man in Caster’s Landing. Don’t overwork yourself dear. You have a family that needs you just as much as this lot.” 

Two young Barcan men ruined the moment with an exaggerated, “awhhh”.

“That just warms the heart don’t it, Tim?” Said the short and thick one.

“Sure does, Tom. Enough to make a wretch like me believe in love again.” Replied the tall and lanky one. 

Tim and Tom were regulars at the Ryker clinic. Curing addictions was a long and hard process even with a Ryker working at it. The patients needed to be treated by Dreymond once a week for six months to a year depending on the severity of their addiction. Tim and Tom were on month 5 and had made great progress in that time. They were strung out and just lost their home in a drug induced fugue state that lasted far too long when they showed up on Dreymond’s line for the first time. With Dreymond’s help, they curbed their cravings and got their lives back on track. It was also extremely helpful that the treatment costed far less than the drugs they wanted to buy.

Dawn furrowed her brows and addressed her husband's line with a bellow. “If you people have any honor in you, you’d pay my husband as much as you can. He’s too kind to turn you all away even when he’s got a family he has to feed. What he’s doing for you is a service. Don’t you forget that!” 

The whole line seemed to straighten up at her speech, especially Tim and Tom. 

“Yes ma’am.” Tim said.

“You got it ma’am.” Tom added.

Dawn turned and gave Dreymond a quick peck on the lips before returning to the patient in her office.

The whole line this time gave them another “awhhh” and the Rykers rolled their eyes.

Dreymond looked over to the front of his line to see a Durgen man by the name of Rud Targon. Rud had deep bags under his eyes and an absolutely miserable expression on his face.

“Long time no see, Rud! Take a step into my office!” he greeted as he waved the man in. 

“Thanks for having me, Dreymond.” Rud said as he dragged his feet up to the door. Dreymond held it open and gestured the Durgen in. 

The interior of Dreymond’s office at the clinic had only one light that acted as a spotlight to a small round black table in the middle of the room. Dark blue tapestries with intricate golden designs curtained the room in a circle obscuring all the walls. The room looked like the kind of place a person would receive “psychic spiritual mind readings” in. Dreymond and Rud sat across from each other. Dreymond was large enough to make the table seem like it was made for children. Rud was slumped into his chair. His eyes were beginning to water.

“Tell me what’s going on my friend.” Dreymond’s smooth baritone voice soothed the nerves of most people. “I haven’t seen you since the divorce. I thought we had worked through that.”

Rud broke into tears. “My ex-wife moved away last week. She took my kids to the capital. I don’t know when I’ll ever see them again. The judge gave her full custody and there’s nothing I can do! My life is over Dreymond! I was already living paycheck to paycheck with these child support payments, and now my kids are gone!” 

Dreymond reached over the table and held Rud by the shoulder.

“That’s a hard burden and you're carrying it well, my friend. I can’t tell you how I’d be in that position. Let’s get started.”

Dreymond put both of his hands on Rud's head from across the table. He began flowing his misty green mana into the Durgen’s head and looping it back into his hands. Rud closed his eyes.

“Think about saying goodbye to them. Tell me how you felt.” Said Dreymond.

“I had taken Dreia to court before to try to get her to stay here where I could be with them” Rud was holding back sobs.

Memories of the court hearings flowed in as still-shots. The courthouse was a huge old Duna building. In the courtroom was an enormous throne that 3 judges had fit their own respective podiums on and normal sized wooden benches that looked up to the throne. Rud’s son and daughter were crying. Dreymond could feel Rud’s anger, despair, and grief ripping through the memory.

“I just wanted to be their father. Dreia and I have our differences, but I love my children and they love me. The very next day after the trial, I said goodbye to them. Dreia wasn’t in the mood for generosity so she kept hurrying things along. My blood was boiling but I didn’t want to ruin our goodbye. I hugged my Urd and Saya as long as I could. Then they were gone. I don’t know how I’ll reach them. I don’t even know the new address.” Rud despaired.

The flow of green mana thickened as the images of the scene flowed into Dreymonds mind. Dreymond worked to highlight the children in Ruds memory. He didn’t black out the rest of the memory but he focused his patient’s mind on what was important. The love between a parent and their children.

“I feel your pain and I do not envy you, Rud. That’s a hard thing. Focus on your love for them and the love they’ve shown you. Let it empower you. Let it push you and act on it. You may be powerless right now, but you can find them and make sure that when they need you, they have you.”

Images of Rud drinking and bad work ethic flowed into Dreymond’s mind. Rud had been a mess ever since the trial and Dreymond could feel the absence of motivation and direction that plagued the Durgen man.

“Pick yourself up Rud. Your fight is not over. You still love them and they still love you. Fight for them. If there aren’t any paths before you, roll up your sleeves and make one.” Dreymond implored. 

Green mana carried new feelings to Rud. He felt reignited and stronger. The defeated despair that plagued him was being fought off by the urge to succeed and make his children proud. Rud felt a desire to grow. He felt the desire for more. Images of his children flooded his mind. From their births, to their first words, to them playing, to their birthdays, to their goodbye. Love engulfed him.

“You’re right! I need to keep trying! I can’t back down!” Rud cried out as he jumped up and opened his eyes. 

“I’ll start by gunning after that promotion! With my daughters gone, I have more time in the day to work! Saya’s birthday is in 3 months. I’ll get that promotion, find them, then give Saya the best present I can find! I’ll get Urd one too while I’m at it. Those kids are gonna know their dad loves them!” Rud continued. 

He pulled a bag out of his pocket and fished out four silver coins that had the number ten stamped onto them. He clasped them into Dreymond’s hand warmly. 

“Thank you Dreymond. That authority of yours is better than any bottle. If we had more of you the world would be perfect!” Rud grinned. The bags under his eyes had slightly receded and his smile lit up the room. 

“Rud! What about your payments! You can’t give me this much!” Dreymond exclaimed. 

“I just quit drinking! You’ve saved me more money than you know. Worry about your own payments my friend!” Replied Rud. He walked out of the room before Dreymond had a chance to protest any further. 

Dreymond looked at the coins in his hand. 40 Gelts. He could go home at the normal time now but he didn’t want to. People lined up sometimes by the hundreds at his office and it hurt to see their looks of defeat whenever he closed down shop. He could do appointments but some sessions take longer then others and he didn’t want to be booked like that. Dreymond moved to the side of the room and pulled a separation in the tapestries to the side to reveal a desk with a safe under it. Dreymond opened the safe by spinning its dial and pulling the handle on it. The phone on top of his desk rang. He stowed the money and picked up the phone. 

“Hello! This is Dreymond Ryker”

“Hello Mr. Ryker, we are calling about Isaac and Damon.”

Dreymond sighed. “What have they done this time?”