I expected the stewards to meet in the tower, but Lavendu led me past it to a round, hut-like structure.

  An open fire pit burned in the center, four robed figures stood around. One gave us a warm smile, she had a round, wrinkled face, pointed ears, and long blond hair.

  “Welcome traveller,” she said. “Please, join us by the fire. My name is Astrid.”

  Lavendu and I approached.

  Next to her stood a short man with a weathered face and rge nose, he wouldn’t have stood out in Castletún, save for the life and light in his eyes. “Call me Alvin,” he said. “We appreciate you coming to meet with us today.”

  A tall, stunning woman with deep green skin fixed me with a piercing gaze. “I’m Saoirse,” she said.

  A youthful man with silver-green skin and a long white beard spoke next, “We understand Lavendu found you wandering our frontiers, is that true?”

  I nodded and recounted the tale of how I got lost and how Lavendu treated my wounds and offered to guide me here.

  “Have you enthralled yourself to this man already?” the silver-green man snapped, a shocked look in his eyes.

  “I have,” Lavendu said with pride.

  “I see, and just what is your purpose here?” He turned to me with a look of disdain.

  “There’s no need to be so curt Salva,” Astrid said.

  I thought for a moment. Lavendu gave me a nod. “I was told I could find ancient magic here,” I said.

  “That’s awfully vague,” the green woman said. “What kind of magic?”

  “I don’t know. That’s what I came here to learn.”

  The stewards exchanged looks.

  “But why come to Itán?” the man with the rge nose asked. “Why not study the ancient magic of your own nd?”

  I hesitated. “There’s simply no one in Castletún with such knowledge.” I still wasn’t ready to tell anyone about the inquisition, but I wanted to lie as little as possible.

  The stewards murmured to each other. “Why should we believe a word you say?” Salva said. “If Castletún has no magic, how would you even know to seek it?”

  “A schor recommended I search here.”

  “I thought you said no one has such knowledge.”

  “Err… He doesn’t know, he just heard rumors that magic still lives in Itán.”

  “He hasn’t ever heard of our people, neither fairies, elves, nor sidhe,” Lavendu added. “Something’s really wrong in Castletún. He couldn’t even see me properly until he crossed the Lonrach.

  The stewards continued whispering amongst themselves. They questioned me at length about my knowledge of magic and life in Castletún.

  I told them everything they wanted to know. I told them about the workhouses, how it’s commonpce to value money and profit as a measure of self worth, how the only mention of magic was from old bedtime stories of wizards mostly forgotten.

  I didn’t mention the inquisition, however. Not yet. I don’t think they’d be open to teaching me if they associated me with anything so threatening.

  “Lavendu,” Astrid, the steward with the blonde hair, said, “as Jethro’s guide, are you pnning to teach him our ancient magic?”

  “With your permission of course,” Lavendu said with a bow, “I would like to. Or at least help him find the right teacher.”

  “Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Salva, the silver-green man, said. “I think we should hold him in custody until we know more about what’s going on with Castletún.”

  “I’m confident in Jethro,” Lavendu said. “He may be from a mysterious nd, but he’s not here to harm anyone, I’m sure of it.”

  “You’re compromised. You bound yourself to him, and now you’d have us trust him blindly?”

  “Of course you’d have a problem with him, Salva!”

  “Enough,” Astrid interrupted, “Lavendu, Jethro, please give us a moment to discuss amongst ourselves.

  We stepped outside. Occasionally, we could hear their hushed arguments, mostly Salva. Before they called us back in, he came through the door “If he puts one foot out of line, I will hold him accountable.” he knocked into my shoulder as he rushed away.

  The remaining stewards looked calm, if a little embarrassed. Saoirse spoke up first, “We would like you to visit Itániel for evaluation. She will look into your heart and determine if you can be trusted.”

  “If she deems you safe, she’ll assess your potential and guide you in learning magic,” Alvin said. “On the condition of Itániel’s approval you are welcome to stay and study in our vilge as long as you don’t disrupt our peace and prosperity.”

  ***

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