Coming Farewells
Charles laughs. "I wouldn't know about actual palm readers, since I'm not one of them… I can enter, even infiltrate someone's mind. See what they think. Search their memories, as you have noticed. It's just easier to pretend to be a palm reader; people are more comfortable with what they know." "Is that why you're not….?" Erik hesitates before he finishes his question. "Blue during the day?" "Yes, definitely. My 'mirror skill' as we call it, is scary enough without them seeing my true form. " "How, how did you come to be like this? Does either of you know?" Erik longs so much to increase his knowledge about his gift or curse, as the case may be. "I've picked up some stories from various monks. Gifts have been documented for some decades. Many people have suffered a similar fate as your mother, however, some have been elevated or acclaimed for their gifts of foresight, their visions of what's to come." "So there are others out there…." Erik suddenly feels a little less lonely.
A few days later Erik has become good friends with the siblings. He is sad to have to say his goodbyes very soon now. The two did not want to accept his offer to stay a bit longer. The group protects them; it's the only place where their safety is ensured. It's hard on Erik to find two people like him only to lose them again so soon. But he cannot join them, not without revealing his gift and he has built up so much here. A good-running smithy, a good reputation—though somewhat harmed by the horse stealing story—a new life for himself, and he is not ready to leave that behind.
"Raven, I would so like to find out more about why I couldn't read that man's mind. Do you think you could somehow find out? Please, for me?" He is pleading with those big blue eyes of his. Charles knows his sister hates doing things like this: using her transformative powers to seduce or trick people. "Sure, I can become his best friend, get him drunk, see what I can get out of him." "If you think that is best…" "No, Charles, I am not going to be the tempting maiden! Remember where that got me last time…."
A few weeks ago, they had heard stories about people with gifts being hunted. An executioner was rallying people up to maim or burn or worse. Wanting to find out more, Raven had played the part of curious but dumb village girl. The plan had backfired and she could only escape the clawing hands by becoming a fast running messenger. Charles had found out the name of the executioner when he saw Erik's memory. It was the same man: Sebastian Shaw.
Raven is talking to the man as she keeps on feeding him beer and even some good wine. It doesn't take long for him to begin bragging. She gently leads him to the eve of the show. He soon spills the beans. He had stolen a helmet some time ago from a man. The man was strange and wore his helmet at all times. People joked about it but the man seemed to be very protective of it. He had become friends with one of the man's companions and together they had hatched a plan to steal it. They had parted ways and he had kept the helmet, though he felt cheated by the deal as his friend took the gold and precious gems the man also carried. The helmet wasn't made out of precious metal as he had thought, so melting wasn't really an option. He just wore it and wouldn't risk his life for something so stupid again…
