Chapter 8

It was early afternoon when we entered the village and, without any warning, I had been hugged so many times that it was almost embarrassing. Okay, I didn’t really mind, but I hadn’t really expected that kind of welcome. Of course, I was really happy to see that Linnea and the other girls were okay and then there were now really healthy-looking Tove and Frey - with their newborn son, Stian. I wanted to groan, but I put on brave face, smiled and hugged them back.

For once, having an early dinner with the Elven elders was a relief!

Mylaela and Immianthe. Or now it was Immianthe and Mylaela since they had switched positions.

””They lured me. Or she lured me by saying that nowadays this title was more like a formality because of our new council, but I should have guessed that you would send some surprises our way.””

Mylaela was grinning and Immianthe was trying to sound angry, but I had seen both women brushing the hair of Tove’s and Frey’s siblings. I didn’t say anything, just hugged both women one more time before sitting down for dinner. I raised my eyebrows a bit but smiled when I noticed that the last remaining seat in the table was for Linnea. Bellcauniel cleared her throat.

””Linnea whined that she was so used to sleeping next to you that she really couldn’t sleep alone anymore. So, Fainauriel and I sort of adopted her to our bed and she has been sleeping there ever since.””

Mylaela continued.

””There’s also the fact that Immianthe and I really like her to keep following all the important discussions, because of her fascinating Magical ability.””

Linnea almost beamed. That submissive girl was really blooming here, with the guidance of the Elven women.

””They have been asking me if I can see any difference if the person speaks the Old Language. I know that I cannot really lie in the Old Language, but...””

She was now speaking the Old Language herself! I couldn’t help smiling widely.

””Linnea, I cannot really believe how well you speak the language yourself! I’m really happy to see you happy and well, here.””

Linnea blushed and then turned to look at Immianthe.

””Him I cannot really read. Stian is able to put so much Magic in his Old Language that it sort of dazzles my vision.””

I rolled my eyes. I should have guessed that those women had had some hidden agenda. Immianthe and Mylaela just nodded and didn’t even bother to look embarrassed. Instead, Mylaela just cleared her throat.

””Another thing that we managed to figure out with Linnea is that you two aren’t really related. Kaylessa was really your aunt, Stian, but she was Linnea’s aunt only by marriage to Kaylessa’s stepbrother. Not only that, Kaylessa was a sort of great aunt to Linnea - and not a very real one. We have been questioning all the young people here and we have managed to figure out the relationships quite well.””

I just nodded and decided to be happy that I didn’t need to care about those things, even though I knew why the Elves had done that. However, I wasn’t interested in any more women than I already had - and I still felt that Linnea was a sister I had not had before.

After the main course I told them what had happened in Aston after the last visit. Well, not all of it but all the important things - including Halvard.

””This Kara, she really is Halvard’s granddaughter. That means that there are some natural Mages in Aston, working with Magicians?””

I shook my head.

””No, not really. As far as I know and was able to sense, Halvard was the only one - and he was also an important Magician. Kara ... Kara was studying to become a Magician, too.””

Well, there are moments when you can hear a pin drop. With Elven women they are quite rare. However, the memories I had, made sure that I didn’t really enjoy the situation and the look on my face kept the women silent, like they had known that this wasn’t all of it.

””I hadn’t planned to take her with me, but it was either that or kill her. Besides, I made a promise to the man I killed that I’ll try to save her. My plan was to use her as somebody who’d be able to testify that I had died. But I had to take her with me when we escaped through the unfinished sewers ... and then she died, since she wasn’t able to hold her breath long enough!””

I sighed and shook my head, looking down for a moment before I continued.

””With this gift of mine also comes a curse. As well as I’m able to sense - or see or feel - living beings, I’m also able to sense them die. As a hunter I have accepted that as a price I have to pay for getting the game, but it doesn’t mean that I like it. It just cannot be helped. Then, with Kara ... I had just made a promise to try to save her and suddenly I was able to see how her life was escaping from her. I was frustrated and angry and, without even thinking, I did what Allynna had taught to me about saving people who have been drowning...””

I stopped and took a sip of wine, avoiding the looks I was getting.

””There’s something more, isn’t there, Stian?””

Now I looked at Mylaela and nodded.

””I don’t know now to really explain it or describe it and I’m quite certain that I would not be able to do it again if asked ... But it was like her shimmer was about to burn out, like a fading fire and I had to blow some air into it in order to keep it burning. Only, I didn’t really blow anything. Then she started coughing and breathing again and...””

I closed my eyes.

”” ... and when I sensed her again she suddenly had the shimmer of a natural Mage inside her!””

Three days later, things were gradually getting more normal. If there’s such thing as ‘normal’ in the valley. If it’s normal that I have been busy running around seeing people and organizing the books I’d delivered. I was also telling Caladwen what to expect, so that she would know how to gather and organize all the hidden information. This was because I had not dared to write it down. It was a huge relief to be able to explain those things to some selected people, so that those things could be written down. Not everybody needed to know everything.

I was having late lunch with all three of my women and Linnea when Allynna came to visit, looking a bit worried.

””Stian, about Kara ... The other girls think that she is not feeling quite right, even though she tries to look brave and tries to look like she doesn’t need anybody else.””

I thought about Kara for a moment. I had checked her a few times and made sure that she was doing okay, things like a nice place to sleep, new friends to talk to and access to books we had there. Most likely she still didn’t know how many books I had smuggled away from the library. However, I didn’t feel that I had abandoned her. After all, I had made sure that she was safely here and that she had the a chance to learn the Old Language and all the things about being a natural Mage.

I was just about to open my mouth to defend myself, but Fainauriel was faster than me.

””Stian, please tell us - just how close did you get with Kara during your trip here?””

Exactly the question I had hoped to avoid. I shrugged.

””I had to try something to distract her since both Hanna and I were sure that she would try something stupid while we were in Towell.””

””Mind telling us how you distracted her?””

I didn’t blush, but I did feel that I had been a little boy who had done something he shouldn’t. Somehow these women have the ability to make me feel like that.

””I just tried to make her feel good. However, we never did go all the way.””

I shrugged again. This was not the time and place to explain about the warrior in me and what was honorable and what was not.

””Stian, were you her first lover?””

It was Bellcauniel who asked that question. I shook my head.

””We didn’t make love. I just distracted her. Made her feel good.””

””Stian, I didn’t ask that. Do you think that you were the first man who made her feel good, that way?””

Now I started to feel a bit pissed. I had gotten her safely here, that should be enough for everybody!

””I think that I was.””

””Stian, did you give her the whole treatment?””

I knew what Bellcauniel meant, and I was getting more and more pissed, also because they kept on repeating my name. Now she asked if I had used my trick with magic while giving Kara some pleasure.

””Yes, twice.””

Now it was Linnea who sighed.

I wanted to argue that she hadn’t said those things to me - but she had. I just hadn’t really listened or understood. I had been so determined to see her as an enemy. Someone who must be kept in a bay by any means possible until we got here. I was about to say something to defend myself, but Linnea wasn’t done yet.