Chapter 15

““Somebody might think that you have some issues with other men, Stian.””

I was just finishing my breakfast and I really enjoyed the last bites of the fresh bread and cheese together with the coffee I had allowed myself this morning. I turned to look at Immianthe and I did my best to look crestfallen.

““So, my secret is now out. I’m jealous when it comes to my women. What are you going to do?””

Instead of teasing me more, Immianthe just sighed and sat down next to me.

““How can you drink that stuff? I admit that the aroma is sort of tempting, but the taste ... or don’t answer.””

Instead of saying anything, I finished my bread and waited, since I was sure that Immianthe had a reason to see me.

““You probably know just as well as we do, that finding those people didn’t really help us much with our current problems.””

I nodded. ““I do. Personally, I think that I probably created more problems in the short term than I solved, because those people will need help with everything for some time. Really, everything.””

““That is something we Alfar can do and something we want to do, now.””

I could understand that. These people still remembered what had happened in the separation back then and they felt that this was a way to make up for it a bit.

““However, Stian, that’s not why I came to see you. Mylaela and I have been talking with Agnetha and one thing caught our attention ... or do you have another plan how to find more natural Mages?””

I grimaced, since I had already started to wonder if I needed to visit all the major towns and cities of this Kingdom and actively search for natural Mages. I was sure there were some of them, somewhere, scattered around and hiding. Not wanting to be found. Wandering around trying to find them was not really a plan, but a desperate act.

““Not really. Using my skills while hunting them down around the Kingdom is not really a plan. Of course, we could use Elise and her contacts in starting a rumor, but I would like to do that only as the last resort, when we are already leaving - if even then.””

Now it was Immianthe who nodded.

““You can’t save them all, but you probably knew that already. However, would you have time to see Mylaela and especially Agnetha, before she turns into a clam again.””

I had already heard that Agnetha had a tendency to ‘shut herself off’ if she was pressed too hard and therefore, questioning her was like walking a thin line. I guess it was her way of coping with what had happened, since if she had seemed like a threat to The Man she would have ended up in one of those shallow graves. Still, I had some issues with these people and what they had allowed The Man to do. Only one arrow from the distance ... I shook those thoughts away, as there was nothing we could to about it.

““I’m ready - and I’ll behave.””

Immianthe snorted since she knew how I felt about those rescued people. A few days with my family had helped a lot. Still, I wasn’t all that happy with seeing Agnetha, even though she had been able to provide some minor help during our trip to the valley.

““Hi, Immianthe. Hi, Stian.””

Both Immianthe and I said our hellos to Mylaela and Agnetha. Somehow I was surprised to see Caladwen sitting quietly at the corner, ready to make notes. Sometimes I had wondered what she had written down about our private time together - since I was sure that she had done that. In detail. After a short consideration I had realized that I really didn’t want to read it, ever. However, I smiled and nodded to her as she was one of nicest people I knew and I liked that crazy documentarist a lot. In a way she was blooming, now, when all kinds of things were happening.

Once we were seated, Mylaela turned towards Agnetha and spoke in such a soothing and nice tone that I had to check that it was really Mylaela. Okay, I knew that she could be nice, but I had usually seen a different side of her. Well, she probably knew that I preferred the more direct approach. Or maybe I needed that more direct approach.

““Now Agnetha, won’t you tell us all what you told Immianthe and me. About ‘The Old Folks’.””

I did my best to stay silent while listening to Agnetha. The way she told her story was far from the most logical one and I knew that I would need to check things with Caladwen afterwards just to make sure that I had understood everything correctly. Agnetha just hadn’t been the most coherent or logical speaker I had ever heard - a part of me really wondered how she had been able to figure out how to use cats in diminishing the effect The Man had while speaking. Most likely she had just adored cats and it had been an accident.

No, the real reason why I needed to re-check everything with Caladwen was that some of the things Agnetha had said shocked me to the core. Starting with the fact that she had first believed that I was one of ‘The Old Folks’! Because I looked like one of them with my slim figure, blond hair and high cheekbones. Only my eyes were deep gray, like my mothers, otherwise I looked much like my dad. If my father had been one of those people it would answer some questions, but it would also raise some new ones. If my father was one of those Old Folks what on Earth was he doing on the other side of the country and inland instead of being a fisherman?