by Derek Palmer
"Eyes. Your eyes! You have her eyes! I should have guessed, because your name reminds me of her dad! What are you doing here? Oh, you came for revenge! You came to finish me! I didn't really want to harm them, but they had my Vander. They promised for not to hurt my Vander if I told them, but they killed him anyway and I ran. Have you come to kill me now? Did she send you to kill me? I barely escaped them and I have suffered! They'll torture and kill me and you and me and Linnea once they find out about us. I can't take it anymore, no, no more. Linnea, I just wanted to save someone, I had to, at least one for all those I got killed."
Linnea's aunt had taken two steps backwards while that rant came out of her mouth. Then, before Linnea or I could react her hand went to the pocket in her apron and picked out something that she pushed in her mouth. Then there was a sound like a nut cracking inside her mouth and suddenly the old woman became rigid and stopped breathing. Then she just collapsed to the floor, presumably lifeless.
I heard Linnea gasp and she was about to launch herself to her aunt, but I took a hold of her before she was able to do that.
"No, Linnea, no. The poison may be contagious."
I didn't know how tell her that, as soon as things had started feel strange, I had opened myself magically a bit and I was able to sense that something I usually sensed from all living beings had faded away from her aunt. Like a flame that burns smaller and smaller and fades away, leaving just cold ash behind. I could live without sensing that ever again. I pulled Linnea towards my chest so that she couldn't see her aunt. I really wanted to shout aloud myself - because of the questions the now dead woman had asked, because of the questions I would have liked to ask her, and because of all the new questions her death would raise.
In a way, it was easy to stop thinking about those questions since I had to pull Linnea even more tightly against me as she wanted to pull away. She also tried to beat my chest with her small fists but I barely felt her when I held her there and tried to whisper some soothing words in a low voice. The whole thing didn't quite feel real, since all the time the level of voice had been kept low: Linnea's aunt had been almost whispering and Linnea was sobbing silently against me. Gradually she stopped sobbing and hitting me. After a moment, I let her out of my grip.
"Why? Why, Stian, why?"
What could I tell her? That I didn't know, but I'd be able to make a good guess. I shook my head. "I really don't know. I don't know."
"But you know something, don't you? Why did you come here? Did you want to punish her for something she did...?"
Quickly I put my hand over Linnea's mouth stopping her.
"Linnea, look at me. Look at me as only you can."
I took a deep breath. "I swear that I did not know your aunt, I had no intention to cause her any harm, none at all; and if she was talking about my dead mother, I have no idea about my mother's doings here at Aston, nor do I know if she had ever been here."
The silence between us lasted way too long to be comfortable.
"You are not lying, I can see it and I could sense it. Yet there are things you aren't telling me."
I guessed that this was better than nothing. I nodded at her.
"That's true, I'm not telling you everything - and you haven't told me anything about yourself. Not a thing about your life before your aunt rescued you. However, once we are safe and I know I can trust you, I promise to tell you more, much more. Right now is not the correct time or place for that."
I took a deep breath and took Linnea's hands in mine. "Linnea, do you understand that if certain people come to look at us or your aunt too closely we might be in terrible danger? Besides, I'm sure that there are also other people than the Magicians who wouldn't be too happy with someone able to tell if a person is lying or not. In a way, that would be a very much wanted skill, but also an extremely dangerous one."
Linnea was silent for a while but then she nodded.
"Aunt warned me about that, yes. Besides you and her, nobody else here knows about it."
Only then she realized what she had just said. "Or now, only you know."
"As only you know about me. Linnea, this is hard for you but you need to think. Is there anyone you know who might come and help with this... this shop?"
I had already come to the conclusion that Linnea probably had no idea how to clean up this mess. There was no way that the incident of killing herself with some poison could be handled quietly by the authorities. No, there would be investigation and a possibility that some person would get interested in it. Some wrong person. I tried to force myself to think rationally about this, even though inside my head someone was shouting questions about what Linnea's aunt had said. I think I remembered it all, word for word. I also remembered the haunted look in her face when she put that thing in her mouth. If only she would have waited. If only.
As soon as I had convinced Linnea to pick some clothes for herself we were on our way towards the house where I lived. Linnea finally agreed that we would be most vague about what her aunt had said since otherwise the story I told to my new family members would not hold water. In exchange, I promised Linnea that I'd tell her more about myself and why I was here. Now I only needed to figure out how to do that without lying. Maybe learning to speak the Old Language fluently would help me here.
If I had previously thought my house mates as a bit odd but mostly harmless people I was forced to make a quick re-evaluation after that night. As soon as I had described the problem to Frode and the twins, things started to organize. First, they agreed that I had made the right decision by coming to them. There was a brief meeting with Mrs. Hansen, who then took care of Linnea while the twins, Frode and I prepared for another trip to the herbalist shop. Only this time, we were dressed quite a bit differently and we didn't leave the house through the front door.
"Cyanide, very pure Cyanide. She must have been really good in her business, even if more than a bit crazy. That's not at all uncommon in the profession since many of them taste or breathe in some of the stuff they make. According to the labels on some of these jars, she was a bit more than a normal herbalist."
The twins were very calm and organized while cleaning the house. Almost too calm to my taste.
"Why don't you and Frode carry her upstairs. We'll prepare the bed and make her ready for it. There's some hurry before she comes stiff."
Yes, very calm and very organized.
We left the house through the back yard. It would look like Linnea's aunt died in her sleep and there would be no visible sign of Cyanide anywhere. The story would be that Linnea and I visited her and then - after getting her permission - I took Linnea to my home where there would be more privacy for us - together with a wider bed. When we'd be back on Sunday afternoon, we'd then be shocked to find her dead in her bed. By that time we'd also know the right doctor to contact and after his examination things would go smoothly. No other living relatives than Linnea, no fight.
When we were walking towards our home way past midnight Frode put his arm over my shoulder.
"You don't need to worry about your girlfriend, Stian. With all the contacts that Mrs. Hansen has I'm sure that it will not take much longer than a day to get someone run that shop for your girl. Most likely she'll even get paid by that someone who is running the shop."
I hadn't said anything, but I had been worried about that. The truth was that I needed Linnea's help with Mathematics, and I had been a bit worried about myself even if I would not have mentioned that fact in a moment like this. After all, Linnea's aunt had just died, however crazy she may have been. Of course there was a disturbing possibility that she hadn't really been crazy at all, just terrified of something happening again and rather killed herself than faced that chance.
The rest of the night Linnea spent in my bed, under the sheets while I was on top of them. She slept at least somewhat, crying occasionally and rolling around in her sleep. Each time, I managed to calm her down after a while and, when I lay awake myself, I decided that I should just be g
rateful she didn't seem to hate me. I had no idea what Linnea had told Mrs. Hansen, but she had been very clear that I should be very careful with Linnea. I decided to believe her. I really didn't want to find out what would have happened if I didn't. Like there had been some need; I liked Linnea, too. Even if I knew we'd never be that close.
"I was afraid that you'd hate me. After what happened."
I had managed to get a little sleep and when I woke up Linnea was there looking at me. Since there was no use in lying to her, I decided to be open and honest whenever I could. Linnea shook her head a bit.
"No, I knew that she had problems. Even though I'm happy that she saved me from where I was, that she helped me here and to University, there were also some difficult times. Times when she made me do things with men when it helped us - or her. For common good, she said."
Those words didn't take away all the guilt that I had been feeling, but they did make me feel more ease with myself. I felt there was no way I could have prepared myself for what happened, but still.
"Thank you, Linnea - But I still wish she wouldn't have done that."
"I know."
Yes, most likely she did once I said it.
""Did she ever teach you the Old Language?""
The confused look on Linnea's face told me all I needed to know about that. Besides, I had so much suggestion in that question that if she had understood me she'd probably feel a terrible urge to answer me truthfully.
"What was that, Stian. What did you just say? You looked sort of funny while you did that."
"Just a different language. Your aunt never taught you?"
"No, why?"
"Nothing really, we'll talk more about it later, okay? I think we should get up and prepare to go back there..."
After saying that, I rose from the bed and picked up my clothes before pouring some water in the bowl. Then I turned my back to Linnea allowing her to wash herself a bit and only after that I washed myself and dressed myself. Linnea followed me when I did that, but there was nothing sensual in it. Besides, while living with the Elves I had been used to that.
"Mrs. Hansen knows about my ability. I didn't mean to tell her, but..."
Suddenly I felt cold inside, but I did my best not to show it. I raised my eyebrows and looked at Linnea.
"She's very good in figuring out things, I should have warned you. Did you..."
"No, I didn't say anything about you. Besides, I have no idea what you can do or how you figured out that I..."
"I can sense living beings. Without seeing them. You feel a bit different than the people without any abilities."
I took a deep breath. "Did your aunt warn you about...?"
"Yes. So did Mrs. Hansen."
I let the air out from my lungs slowly and at the same time, some of the tension came out. Maybe we would get through this. Maybe my mission wasn't over before it had started. Maybe I would even be able to use my family here to help me in order to be successful.
--
Chapter 18
It was Sunnudag evening, and I was sitting with Frode in the darkened herbal shop. Linnea and I had come to the shop again this morning, called a doctor there who had then alerted the city police and, by afternoon, the caretaker had taken the body away for the funeral. Everything had gone exactly as Frode had said it would. The doctor hadn't seen anything mysterious about her death and the city police didn't want any extra hassle and therefore they listened to the doctor. After all, nothing was stolen and there weren't any signs of violence. The funeral would take place in just two days because it was still summer and quite hot.
The reason why Frode and I were waiting there inside the shop was that now all the neighbors also knew that 'the scary herbalist woman' was dead, and the shop would be empty - and this part of town wasn't quite as nice as the one where I was living. Not necessarily dangerous, but there could be some people who might believe that some of the jars contained something of value. Which they did - and therefore Frode and I were there.
All morning, and throughout the day, I had carefully tried to read the people around me. Their feelings and especially how they felt towards Linnea. It was clear that Mrs. Hansen had said something to the other tenants since they all had been very supportive towards Linnea. Besides noting the reactions, I had done my best to remember all the discussions regarding the authorities - and especially Mages - if they had been mentioned inside the house. I didn't have the same ability as Linnea, therefore I needed to trust my instincts here. I cleared my throat.
"Frode, I'm certain that I can tell if someone is trying to get too close. I mean I can sense if someone gets too close." I looked at him even though all I could see in the darkness of the shop was just his figure. I couldn't see or sense any real reaction. My voice had been low but for sure it had been loud enough for him to hear.
"I had been wondering if your hearing is just extraordinarily good. But I guess that's the real reason why you cannot be easily be surprised."
His voice was as low as mine, but there was nothing malicious that I could hear - or sense. Then he chuckled.
"I can remember a few times in my past when that kind of skill would have been very useful."
There was a pause before Frode continued. "If that skill of yours really works, maybe you should take a nap now. I'm quite sure that during these first hours we're safe. Any real thug would not try anything until sometime after midnight... - or at least, I wouldn't."
This was the real decision time for me. I wondered if going to sleep here would make it easier for Frode to hurt me if he wanted to. Then again, if not here, there would be several opportunities at home. I would either trust them or not.
"OK, I trust you with that. Please wake me some time before you think someone might come."
"You can be sure that I will."
To my surprise, I had no problems falling into a dreamless sleep only to be woken by the push on my leg. It took me a few blinks of an eye to orient and notice the shape of Frode next to me.
"Stian, it's not that late yet, but I'm quite sure that I heard something out front. It has been silent since I heard that noise, but I would have had to wake you up soon, anyway."
I pulled myself into a sitting position and carefully opened my sensing a bit more, even though I already had an inkling of what I would sense. I wondered if my subconscious was doing some work even when I was sleeping.
"Three. There are three of them outside and waiting."
Frode was going to step forward, but I shook my head and picked up the ugly-looking knife we had taken with us from Mrs. Hansen's house. Then I carefully moved close to the door, with the knife. Besides the lock, there was a chain inside protecting the door, but it had been left unfastened. After all, there should be nobody here. I wondered if these people knew that there were so many locks on the back door that coming through it would have been almost impossible. Most likely someone knew. According to Frode, the professionals could almost immediately tell what kind of security each door carried.
Mrs. Hansen had informed us that the main reason for us being there was to discourage any attempts at plundering this little shop - now, and in the future - with some force, if necessary. Even though it would be unlikely that the thugs would complain if some of them would be hurt trying to break in, I hoped that I wouldn't need to hurt anyone badly.
I waited in the darkness. First, I sensed the movement and then was able to hear it, too. Then there was a quiet, scratching noise to be heard from the lock. Almost as silently, there was a muted click when the lock opened. After that, the door started to open, but only the tiniest of bit and a piece of crooked wire came through that tiny opening. That wire moved carefully but also quickly up and down the gap between the door and the frame until it was pulled back.
"No traps. You can enter, now. I did as I was asked. Now, I'm out of here."
I wouldn't have heard that low voice unless I had been just on the other side of the door. Then I was able to hear the first two steps, b
ut after that, nothing. However, I was able to sense that the third person had actually moved away. The door started to open carefully and I held my knife ready. When the gap was just wide enough, a shadow tried to sneak inside. Only to face the blade of that ugly looking, big knife.
"I'd suggest that you try your luck somewhere else. This place is protected, now and in the future - and this is the only warning you'll get!"
While saying that, I pushed the tip of the blade forward so that it nicked the throat of the guy who had tried to sneak in. Just nicked. Since I wasn't certain that a small nick would be enough I decided to add a targeted mental image to my message with some of my magic. That image contained blood, gore and dead bodies as I remembered them, that I had seen myself. Just to add to the effect, I launched my body against the door, closing it so hard that it banged against the frame. Then I fastened the chain with so much noise that it could be heard outside.
