by Derek Palmer
From the voices outside, I was able to guess that the guy who had tried to enter the shop had tumbled over the other guy and he also let out a squawk. Soon there were steps running away from the shop. I breathed out and allowed my body to relax, wondering if the use of magic had been a serious mistake. What worried me more was that only a part of me thought that way. Some other part of me would have been quite willing to really use that knife on both of the intruders and was almost disappointed as there had been no bloodshed.
"Mother Earth! Those guys aren't coming back for sure, and once the word gets out this shop will be in peace for a year or two."
"I hope so."
At least Frode didn't run away. Instead, the older man took a few steps back to his backpack and picked a hip flask made of pewter. After opening it, he took a sip, wiped the mouth of the flask and offered it to me. I took a sip myself and I could immediately tell that it was the same as the golden liquor stored in glass carafes in Mrs. Hansen's house. Some stuff they called usquebae - or something like that. Rare, if good and very expensive. I gave the flask back to Frode and shrugged.
"Thanks, I needed that. I'm happy there was no need to kill anyone."
Frode was silent for a moment but I could almost feel him looking at me. "I take it that you have killed, Stian."
I shrugged again. "For self-protection and in order to protect those I care about, yes. I can still see their faces if I close my eyes."
I didn't tell Frode that, besides being able to see all those faces, I was also able to relive all those times. I was able to see what I had done well and where I had failed somewhat - so that I would be more successful the next time. Frode just nodded and took another sip before offering the flask again. I took the flask and took a sip myself. This time I was even able to taste the spirit and figure out how it tasted. After wiping its mouth, I gave the flask back to Frode who had been watching me.
"Maybe I'd better admit that, besides being able to sense the bigger beings close to me, I'm also able to push some mental images towards people close to me. I just wanted to scare those thugs away, so that they don't come back."
Frode started laughing. "I'd be surprised if the guy didn't piss his pants! Damn, I would have." Then he turned serious. "Besides those mental images...?"
He wasn't a dummy, I knew that already. I nodded.
"I may be able to affect the other people's opinion about me somewhat. For sure, I cannot get anyone to like me if they don't, and I can't force a girl to love me. But if people are undecided, I might be able to affect them somewhat. I don't really want to do that unless it's absolutely needed."
"You know that there are some groups here in Aston who would be more than willing to catch you. They're known to pay for hints."
"Thinking about collecting the money?"
Even though it was dark, I saw smile on Frode's face. "Nah, if I were after power or too much money I would have swallowed my pride and accepted what my so-called relatives tried to tell me."
He took another sip.
"With too much money, you just lose your freedom. I have learned to love my freedom way too much to make deals with those guys in black robes or those with shiny uniforms. Once they have a hold on you, they will never let loose, never... The late Mr. Hansen had some shady business with them and those shady guys didn't have any issues with his behavior. So, I'd guess that you're quite safe with us. Now, if you don't mind, I'll take a nap. Considering the way those two guys ran I'd be surprised if somebody would bother us again tonight."
I sat there the on the shop floor, thinking. Yes, I had good reason to worry about the Mages, but it seemed that they didn't have unanimous support even here in Aston. Normal people - well, if you could consider Mrs. Hansen and her tenants normal people - didn't seem too happy about Magicians and their power plays. From the discussions at the dinner table, I knew that my new family members were well aware of the real power groups of this Kingdom: The Magicians and the Guardians. They also knew that not all the people understood that those two groups were cooperating closely, even if it seemed that the 'good' Guardians were holding the 'bad' Magicians in bay - and using them occasionally against foreign threats. Some people even believed that the Royals and the nobles were actually making all the important decisions.
There were almost continuous scuffles, not quite war, against all the nearest neighboring countries. Mrs. Hansen had once said that if an independent merchant managed a lucrative trade deal, some sort of hostilities are sure to follow. Then the Guardians could look like heroes by protecting those unlucky traders. Too bad for that previously lucky merchant. The real key to success was to stay unnoticed. You had to be small enough - or look small enough.
I could not help wondering if Frode would have thought differently about me if he had known how much I had held back while pushing those images to the thug who tried to enter the shop. Or how I had struggled to prevent myself from killing them.
The rest of the night was peaceful.
"I asked you both here because of your... unique abilities."
It was early Monday evening and I had somehow been able to survive the day at the University. The weather, which had been extraordinarily nice before, had turned into something wet and windy, altogether simply miserable. I had been offered a cup of coffee that had wakened me enough that I would be able to stay awake for this meeting with Mrs. Hansen.
"First of all, I want to assure both of you that you have absolutely nothing to fear from me or any of the people living here. We all here think that the way those black crows work together with some corrupt Guardian leaders is a disgrace, but unfortunately it’s something that we here cannot really change..."
I almost interrupted her, since I didn't really mind crows. Okay, they could be annoying birds but they were smart and took very good care of their offspring. I had become almost friendly with some of them while hunting. Comparing crows to bad Magicians gave crows a bad name without reason... I mentally shook my head and forced myself to concentrate.
"...are certain things we do. Certain things our family does. Therefore, I'd like to use you two - of course in a way that your studies will not suffer. Linnea, there are sometimes when I'd like you come along to some negotiations as my secretary. Of course, your real job would be to find out when a person is lying. I know that I'll need to figure out exactly the right kind of questions, first. I know that most of them are lying sometimes, and some of them lie all the time, but sometimes the knowledge might be important. Of course I'd pay you for your work."
"You... you are too good to me, Mrs. Hansen."
"Nonsense, girl. You have been used way too much already and now it's time for you to fight back. By the way, are the living conditions here in this house okay for you?"
"Yes..."
"Great. I'll make sure that some cabinets will be delivered to your room - and some wild carrot seeds will also be available."
I could almost sense how Linnea blushed, but we had agreed that the others didn't need to know everything. To them, she would be my girlfriend - or fiancée. In a way I was relieved, since I considered myself at least betrothed to Fainauriel and Bellcauniel - not forgetting Hantaliel. However, in some brief discussions Linnea and I had agreed that that it might be easier if we would act as a couple. Nobody would hold that against her, since the University students were known to be a bit wild occasionally before they settled in their jobs.
Then Mrs. Hansen turned to look at me. "Now you, Stian. I'm certain that Frode would appreciate your presence sometimes, in the future. But before that, I need to know some more things about you - like who you are and why you really are here. Linnea, I trust you to tell me if he's lying or not."
My first reaction was to flee. Without doubt I would be able to get out of this building and run away. After all, I was well able to fight unarmed, and I knew enough of the city - or I knew how to get away from the city.
Then I forced myself to calm down. Mrs. Hansen was a businesswoman, that was her f
irst priority. Besides the business, there was the work she did with Frode. I shook my head a bit and smiled a bit sadly. If things turned sour I could always try running away. Maybe.
"Linnea already knows that I'm not a bastard of a lowly noble, but an orphan. That was just the easiest way of explaining why I had enough money to attend the University."
I turned to look at Linnea, keeping the sad smile on my face.
"She also knows that I was in a very close relationship with some older women - much older women - and one merchant woman whose husband was killed by the Guardians. However, I'm proud to say that I have earned all of the money I have here with me."
Mrs. Hansen looked at Linnea who nodded at her. I knew that Mrs. Hansen was a smart and tough woman and I should have guessed that Mrs. Hansen would be using all the power needed to get to know what she wanted. Besides, Linnea was too honest for her own good, and now I could see how she admired Mrs. Hansen. When Mrs. Hansen turned to look at me again, there was a smile in her face. I wasn't sure if I should be relieved or worried.
"Are you ashamed because of what you did, young man?"
That was a loaded question if any and lying would not be possible because of Linnea.
"Of course I'm not! I always tried to be as good as I could and I do care about all of them, deeply!"
"Then what's the problem?"
I snorted. I needed to think quickly and improvise - without lying.
"You are a woman running several businesses. Do all the men - or did all the men - take you seriously in the beginning? My plan is to learn trade and make it possible for my friends to become successful without exposing themselves. More precisely, the plan is that I should not compete but support the businesses of the two families I know."
"Why didn't you say this before?"
"Would you have taken me seriously?"
"Why would it not compete with existing businesses?"
"It would be a remote trade. Trade with countries far away. So far away that our leaders would not go to war with them."
"And how are you going to establish that?"
"I don't know the details yet, but that's one of the reasons why I'm studying here, at the University."
I had no idea where that idea came from since I hadn't been planning that before this. Now when I had said it aloud, it was like some pieces had linked together inside my head. The puzzle wasn't ready yet, but the picture was starting to form.
"Why you?"
That seemed like a simple question, but it revealed to me that Mrs. Hansen suspected something. She was a smart woman and, for sure, she was able to count. One occurrence might be a coincidence, two occurrences - probably not. Even if in this case it was, as the truth was even more complex. No lying; I needed to remember that.
"I would be a new face, the most likely one to remain unnoticed."
I decided to push a bit before she had time to press me more. "How do you feel about the guys with the dark robes? Would there be any negative impact to your businesses if some of their plans failed?"
"Why?"
"I may be forced to slow them down a bit if I just have the chance. After all, I have reason to believe that they're planning a war. First, they'll practice inside the country before moving out."
"Just how sure are you about that?"
I shrugged. "Nothing else makes sense. Nobody's coming against us, so why form an army when we have those mighty Guardians. But somebody is trying to create an army."
Mrs. Hansen had been leaning forward bit by bit while asking these questions, but now she leaned back letting the air out of her lungs.
"Of all the possibilities... of all places... I get confirmation here, in my own home."
Suddenly she moved again towards me. "Can you tell me more?"
"I'd rather not. Besides this family here, I also carry a strong loyalty towards my family back there. Telling anything more might endanger their security. However, I'm certain that nothing serious will happen for the next year or so."
"You're sure about that?"
"I wouldn't be here if I weren't."
Again she leaned back and then turned to Linnea who had all the time been following me closely.
"Linnea, I'd now need to exchange a few words with Stian alone."
"Of course, Mrs. Hansen."
As soon as the door was closed after Linnea Mrs. Hansen turned towards me again.
"Just how experienced are you, Stian, especially when it comes to different personalities - I mean like dominant and submissive?"
"I'm not at all into the games the twins play, if you mean that."
"No, I don't. I'm talking about Linnea. We had quite a comprehensive discussion the night Frode and you were protecting the shop, and at the end, she was quite open about what she has been through."
"So you know that I haven't been abusing her?"
There was more edge in my voice than I had planned, but the truth was that the last few days had been quite hard on me and, besides everything that had happened, there was this thing with Linnea. Even if she wasn't at all in the same class as the Elves, she was a young woman - and I was a young man who hadn't been laid for some time - and probably never would be with Linnea. I wasn't at all sure if it was a good thing to see Mrs. Hansen smile in a situation like this. However, that smile took all the power away from my anger and suddenly, I was just tired.
"I probably know most of the things she has done with you and way too much about what the poor girl has been through, first as an orphan and then with that so-called aunt of hers. Believe me, Stian, you're probably the best thing that could have happened to a submissive girl like her."
Submissive. Linnea was submissive. I closed my eyes and shook my head, feeling extremely stupid. Of course those traits could extend beyond the behavior in the bedroom. I opened my eyes and turned to look at Mrs. Hansen.
"I've no real experience with a submissive person, none at all. Dominant, yes - and I have learned to know that I'm really not a submissive person myself."
Mrs. Hansen just nodded back at me. "Be very careful and protective of her, Stian. She has been pushed around all her life and it would be too easy to start controlling her if you know what you are doing."
There was no way to deny that kind of request, so I nodded at her. Mrs. Hansen quickly noted my reply and continued: "Now that that issue has been cleared up, there are a few more things I want to say... Frode told me before last weekend that you're probably a more dangerous than you look. Previously I had some difficulties in believing him, but not anymore."
The look on my face must have been something, since Mrs. Hansen started to laugh.
"That's exactly what he meant. You can look so young - so innocent - that nobody would ever believe that you'd be something other than a young University student and, considering your looks, those older women must have been thrilled. Frode is not just anybody, and if he's impressed there's a good reason behind it. Now, let's make good use of the years that you are here and maybe we will be able to do some business together, sometime later. Meanwhile, if there's a way to push back those power-hungry bastards a bit, you will have my support. Even if there might be some quick profits available during a new crisis for the businesses and activities I support, I'd prefer peace. Besides, those groups would certainly use those crises mostly for their own benefit."
I hid my face in my hands, trying to look embarrassed and shook my head - even though I really wanted to cry for joy. All of sudden, I had managed to formulate some new ways to achieve the goal we had created there at the Hidden Valley and now I even had some serious support. The only problem was that I had no way of knowing if my plan really was solid and if my intended goal existed or not. Well, according to my mother, some answers should be here at Aston. Now I would just need to find them.
--
Chapter 19
"I'm sorry, Stian. I betrayed your trust."
I looked at Linnea and reminded myself not to be angry. First of all, it would have been us
eless since Linnea had acted like the young wolves acted inside their pack. It was clear that here, inside this house, Mrs. Hansen was the top wolf. She was the one telling us what to do and Linnea would be the one following the orders if those were given to her. Oh, Linnea was quite capable of making decisions, but if someone with authority came and gave her orders, she'd quite easily follow them. Mrs. Hansen had most likely seen that almost immediately. I had just been wondering what it was with Linnea, but Mrs. Hansen had reacted.
"Don't worry. After all, things turned out better than I was able to hope for."
In a way, that was very true. Things had turned out better than I had dared to hope. Another thing was that now I knew that, at the moment, I couldn't fully trust Linnea. However much I would have liked to tell her everything, however much I would have liked to fully trust her... no, she might be my friend but at the moment her loyalty could be transferred if there would be a new leader to our pack.
