Ia and the Old Man

Ia and his companions entered a village which had been stricken by plague. Though Ia and his companions did what they could to aid the sick, they were not able to save everyone from disease's ravages. When there came a time to decide who was to live and who was to die, Ia called his three most loyal disciples before him within the sickhouse which held the ill.

Ia stood before an old man, whose body was wasted by age and sickness, and spoke to them. 'Is this man worthy of salvation?' Ia asked.

'Every man is,' responded Destair. 'All deserve mercy and protection and the the blessing of the powers found along the great Wheel. Is this not what you have taught us?'

Ia looked at his disciple and said, 'Does this man, as he is now, deserve the blessings which we might give? Or would they be put to better use if given to others? At what point along the Wheel's rotation is he found?'

Preston then said, 'This man is old and weak. He would be of little use to the village, even if he were healed. It would be better to focus on the young and strong, for they will help to make the village recover after this dreadful plague has passed.'

Ia challenged Preston by asking, 'Then you value this man's life less than another merely on the merits of strength? Is it not true that all have gifts to share with all others, and that gifts take many forms? Would you so readily condemn this man's wisdom and experience to passage through the Gate?'

Creassin, the third disciple present, frowned and pondered Ia's queries. 'Then there is no way for us to know, for none of us can know what purpose Being yet has for this man,' he said at last.

Ia looked upon his three most loyal disciples. 'You speak my words and follow my example, but you do not yet understand. There is a way to decide this matter which does not leave it in the hands of chance nor at the whimsy of divinations and auguries read from the Wheel's path on this man's fate.' Ia turned then away from his disciples and asked, 'Old man, do you feel you deserve the blessing of life?'

The old man's voice creaked and his words were rasped in whispers come from between his poxy lips. 'I have lived a long life, Holy Ia. The gift of life has been mine for many years, and only now does it seem that it shall be taken from me, whether I am healed or allowed to die. But so too do I have many joys in life, fine children and grandchildren, and longtime friends who always welcome me to sit upon their porch for a drink or a game of draughts who would be hurt by my passing.'

'Do you dread what fates await your arrival?' Ia asked, his hand yet stayed as the old man gave his answer.

The old man thought for a moment. 'All men fear what is to come around the path's next bend,' he said, then he slumped back upon his sickbed, too weak to say more.

Ia nodded. 'This old man shows the wisdom of his years, and you should learn much from the words he might share with you and with others.' Then Ia gave the old man the Wheel's appropriate blessing, which was also the blessing the the old man deserved, and then Ia and his companions moved on.