The man was sitting cross-legged in the small room when she opened the door. She was unsure if he had moved since yesterday noon when she talked to him last.
"Good evening Leanna."
He raised up his head to look at the young woman with his empty eye-sockets. She had grown up in this village and knew the man, yet she was still unnerved by his eyeless stare.
With one hand he gestured to the rug in front of him.
"Please, be seated The open door creates a draft so please close it after you."
She did as asked without speaking. Thoughts raced through her head, wondering what the Seer would speak about today.
"You are quiet child." he said tilting his head to the side. "That is understandable since your 18th birthday is tomorrow and none have given their word that you will be their pupil of trade. Worry not, you will be properly named."
"Why?" was her first word.
"Because child, you were born to a name. What I must tell you will cause you pain and suffering, but the later I tell the more it will disable you. I wanted to tell you as soon as you were able to talk, but your parents and the elders had forbidden me, on penalty of death."
She visibly steeled herself for what were to come.
"Think" the Seer began softly "of how other children rub their eyes when they cry."
The woman was silent for a moment or two and then heaved a heart-wrenching cry that even alarmed all the animals of the village. The older man took her in his arms and gently but firmly held her hands in the grasp of one of his hands to prevent her from clawing at her face, the other hand holding her close. After a while she began to weep, all strength leaving her limbs, and then he held her tight to give her comfort. And thus did he spend the night, comforting her when she wept, restraining her when in violent spurts. As the sun rose she were mostly calm again.
"But," she began, "I can see. Just like anyone else."
"Not like anyone else. How often were you invited to play hide and seek?"
"I never were, that I can remember."
"And at what distance can you count the fingers held up on somebody's hand? No, tell me how many fingers I hold up on my right hand. Now."
"Three" she replied quickly and confidently. "Index, middle and little finger."
"You are completely correct." the Seer smiled with his entire face, a face that might at most betray amusement or sorrow at the corners of the mouth. "And pray tell, where do I hold my right hand?"
"At shoulder height behind m..." she trailed off, concern written in her face. "You held it behind my back, but..."
"Yes, I held my hand behind your back. Now hush. That is something we'll talk about tomorrow morning. Today we are to celebrate your naming as Leanna Seer-student. I am however confident that you will soon be able to lay the title as student behind you."