"Your perfect for one another." Savern said as if it were a simple statement of fact. Iaine rolled her eyes and set down the bowl of fruit. Her dear friend had been on her case for the past week, ever since she had come back from the battle with Mozenrath's arm round her waist. "It must have been so romantic, Mozenrath astride a proud stallion…"
"Mare." Iaine corrected her.
"Hair fanned out behind him…"
"He was wearing his nemeses." Iaine sighed, selecting a pear and munching on it.
"Fighting for your life!" Savern finished, hands on her hips with her pretty lower lip jutting out.
"Technically, Mozenrath didn't do any of the fighting. Our warriors did." Iaine took a chair and sat down, relaxing. "But I am grateful he thought to send the mists along. It gave our fighters the edge they needed against those creatures."
"Ugh!' Savern threw up her hands. "Your absolutely hopeless do you know that?" She protested and straightened her skirts. "Mozenrath practically made himself the hero of our little village by rescuing you and you turn your nose up at him."
"What I don't understand is why you haven't gone back to his hut Savern." Iaine answered.
"Why would I? I have had my fill of him and he of me by now I suspect. Besides, in case you didn't notice, the victory feast provided more than ample fruits for him to sample." Savern sighed. "Not that he did…but still…"
"Yes I noticed." Iaine hummed. When the warriors had returned, the Mabon feast had become a war feast, with roasting oxen and flowing mead. As was due every warrior, women flocked to them, showing their gratitude to the men who'd risked their lives. Mozenrath, as the man to whom the warriors owed such a small loss of men, was getting his fair share of breasts pressed against his front.
However, he seemed to take little notice of them.
Iaine hadn't been avoiding him. Well, at least up till now. The last three days had been spent with the smith, hacking away at that damn anti-magic manacle around her neck. Iaine rubbed her throat self consciously, feeling the red welt it had left behind. She was distinctly uncomfortable, but for more than one reason. That reason was exactly why she was avoiding Mozenrath.
Savern opened her mouth as if she was going to say something else, when Tristan appeared out of nowhere. "Run along Savern child." He said gently. "We have druid business to discuss. " Savern looked unhappy at being dismissed in such a way, but one did not talk back to Tristan. She gave her friend a quick good bye and headed off. Tristan leaned on his staff in a habitual show of age as he settled into a chair. Nether spoke for a while, just listened to the soft sounds of the day. Children played or helped their elders. Hunting parties were being organized to bring in what they could before snow hit. The birds either flew to warmer weather or chirped softly in the trees. Mozenrath was off with Cigfa, training in medicine for the winter months, cures for soar throat, stuffy head, fever, snotty nose and the like. Finally, Tristan looked Iaine over.
"So…someone knows he is here?"
"Apparently yes." Iaine's first thing to do when she returned was relay all that had been said back to Tristan.
"We are indeed lucky then, that Mozenrath did not become directly involved in the battle. If he stole those spells and devices from Mozenrath's old home…"
"Mozenrath might have recognized them. His memories might have come flooding back and then…" Iaine closed her eyes. "We are fortunate he stayed at a distance." She shook her head. "Tristan how much longer do we intend to keep this up? Is it right to keep a man's own past from him? Even a past such as his?"
"I have often asked myself that question as of late." Tristan looked around for a moment, as if making sure they could not be overheard, then turned back to her. "Iaine…for many weeks now, Mozenrath has been coming to me, telling me of dreams." Iaine cocked her head to the side curiously. "I tell you this because I have sensed certain things brewing, and so that you may understand. Mozenrath has shared what he thinks to be only the strangeness of the dream world, coming and going at it's whims. But my spirit tells me these are recollections of his old life. There was a man, perhaps the one who trained him in necromancy. I believe he was injured, physically and mentally by this man, to such a degree it tarnished him inside." Tristan arched an eyebrow. "Do you understand."
"Someone he should have been able to trust, a father figure, and he was betrayed." Iaine sighed.
Tristan nodded. "I do not tell you this to make you pity him Iaine. A man like Mozenrath would only be offended at your pity. Besides, he does not even know that what his dreams say actually happened to him. Do you see what I am saying Iaine? Mozenrath's past, he was hurt, and so he hurt, he was betrayed, and so he betrayed." Tristan spun his staff between his thumb and index fingers. "And now it is if that never happened. It is all but erased from his mind. Would you that I told him the truth?"
"I see what you mean Tristan." Iaine said softly.
Tristan put a hand on Iaine's cheek. "The Mozenrath we heard tales of is dead. The Mozenrath who lives now…and what will become of him…remains to be seen."
"But what if others come seeking him? What if old enemies reemerge?" Iaine said.
"Then we will defend our fellow Druid, as he defended you." Tristan stated firmly.
Iaine smiled at him, chuckling under her breath. "I wish I were as you Tristan, always so sure of the right course." She looked around the village, watching the children play with a stick and hoop. "It always seems like you know exactly what needs to be done."
"No more than anyone else child." Tristan said as he rose. "I only know what I must do. Speaking of which…" he gestured to Cigfa's hut. "You should thank Mozenrath for saving your life. I'm sure he'd appreciate the gesture." Tristan winked like a young boy.
"Oh not you too!" Iaine hung her head.
"Iaine, I have absolutely no idea what you mean." Tristan smiled knowingly and once again leaned on his staff for support. "None the less, you should thank him during his lessons today. It's the polite thing to do."