Story 16. Newcomer (one year later).
"That Marauder we saw in Rivertown today was very strange".
"Didn't they catch him?"
"No, I had stayed and watched the guards combing the forest. The locals were going to help but it was useless. It was like he vanished into thin air".
Nightly darkness fell. Gryvon and Ashka were standing at the viewing platform, from which not the castle walls but the green forest nearby could be seen. Somewhere in the distance Rivertown was located. Today there was a real commotion there – a strange boy that had appeared almost from nowhere put the marketplace upside dpwn, breaking the laws. Somehow he let the powerbolt through him with no implications at all and then disappeared mysteriously. Many people had witnessed it and Gryvon was already ably to guess what the silly peasants were to discuss these days. Well of course, seems like they have nothing else to do. And here they have such news without any proper explanation!
Gryvon rolled his eyes, imagining how it is going to be. Then he tried to remember how the Marauder looked like. And yes, that strange huge scull on his clothes… His father said the Marauder had two heads but it sounded less than believable. And speaking about the scull…
"I don't like this story, - Ashka went to the wide stone handrail and sat down on the edge, - something's not right about the boy".
"What do you mean?" – Gryvon asked, stopping his thoughts about the scull.
"Everything, - the woman waved with her hand, - for example, the powerbolt I fired. Have you ever seen a person with no powersuit could stand it so easily?"
The Apprentice had to admit she was right. The Marauder didn't just stand, it was like he felt nothing at all.
"His bag disappeared and no one noticed, - Ashka continued, - and the fact that he came to the market openly…"
"He changed his clothes", - the young man said reasonably.
"But it is unusual, anyway, - the Spellbinder answered, - very unusual… Right, tomorrow you will go to Clayhill, it is the closest village to Rivertown. Stay at your father's and watch everything closely, what happen in the village and the surroundings".
"What should I lie to my father?" – Gryvon was surprised.
"Who says you should lie to him? – the woman answered with a question. - Tell him the Marauders had been seen near the villages and I ordered you to check. It's almost true".
She turned and jumped back to the platform.
"I have a strange feeling, Gryvon, - Ashka said, shaking the dust off her hands, - for some reason I believe we'll meet this boy again…"