"Grandpa, tell me about Ajani again, please!" the little girl asked.
"Alright, but then its time for bed," the old man smiled down at his granddaughter.
"The first time Ajani met the old woman he was laying in the fathers field under the hot midday sun.
"YOU!" yelled a scratchy voice. Ajani looked around startled. "Yes, you laying in the grass."
Ajani looked up, and standing a few feet away was an old woman.
"What are you doing in my fathers field!" He demanded.
"I have an offer for you young man." The woman said calmly.
"Offer? What kind of offer?"
"It is one that will reward you with enough wealth to ensure you a long and prosperous life." The woman's eyes grinned.
"What must one do for such a reward?" Ajani questioned skeptically.
"You must complete two tasks within three days." The woman told Ajani.
"Tasks?"
"Yes, the first task is to meet me at Eagle Rock in two days time."
"Two days!" Ajani sneered. Ajani was a fast boy, he knew without a doubt he could make it in a day.
"Once you reach the rock you must journey north east to the large clearing."
"And that is all?" Ajani said, he felt as though everything seemed too easy.
"Well, of course there is one more thing, but you must agree to take on the challenge before I tell you."
Ajani thought for a moment. All the wealth I'll ever need, his greed and laziness over took him. "I'll do it."
The old woman grinned, "Very well, you must bring with you on your journey that baby lamb behind you..."
"Baby lamb?..." Ajani turned around and sure enough was a small lamb grazing in the grass. "ACROSS THE LION'S FIELD!" he yelled, but when he turned back the woman was gone. But Ajani was a smart boy and he knew he would be able to calculate a way around the field, so he ran home to fetch his notebook.
The last time Ajani saw the woman he was at Eagle Rock alone, without the lamb.
"I have completed all you have asked of me." he told the woman.
"You have the gifts you were promised." She told him. "I have given you determination, knowledge and strength, use them wisely." And with that she left vanishing into the forest.
Realization overcame Ajani, and he understood the real reward of what the woman had done so he ran home to his father and helped him in his field."
So you see, granddaughter, everything you need in life is here," he pointed to her head. "And here," he pointed to her heart, "and here." He squeesed her arm.
She giggled and smiled up at the old man, "Thank you Grandpa Jani, Goodnight."
The next time Ajani met the woman was at Eagle Rock. He reached the rock in the two days and as promised the woman was waiting. He was exhausted from his journey, having to take the western route around the feild and also having to carry the baby lamb part of the way to keep up his pace.
"You made it, " the woman seemed unsurprised.
"Yes, now why did I have to meet you here, why can't I continue on my way?"
"Because, you need to know what to do with the lamb once you reach the clearing."
"What do I do then?" Frustration and exhaustion began to overcome Ajani.
"Once at the clearing, you must wait until the largest ram you've ever seen comes to the edge of the clearing. Once the baby joins him you may leave and return here to claim your rewards."
So Ajani continued on his journey using his notebook to guide him.