The unnatural light in the woman's eyes sent a shiver through Tao, who lowered his gaze and tried to quickly create a barrier of spirit power.
It was a mistake, it was a mistake, a panicky thought struck his head.
Tao could feel his mother staring at him too. Sofra put a hand on son's shoulder, but the boy was too busy building a barrier to react. Selesti, meanwhile, turned and walked closer, making the boy's heart beat even faster. He tried to remain outwardly calm and play the role of a normal, innocent child. Usually this trick worked on adults, but there was no telling how would react this extraordinary woman.
"Woman, is that your child?" Avelin addressed Sofra, but her gaze was still on Tao.
"Yes... noble selesti." Sofra responded with caution and pulled son closer to her with one arm.
It wasn't easy, as she also had Inya in her arms and Safia at her other side.
"Noble selesti, this is my son and wife. Is something wrong?" Indres tried to draw the female blesser’s attention to him.
Avelin's eyes focused on the man for a moment, then returned to Tao. Realizing that ignoring the selesti would be even stranger, the boy gathered his courage and allowed the two eyes to meet again. The woman's eyes no longer shined with a supernatural light, but the gaze did not become softer because of it. The dark pupils of her eyes resembled a focused eagle or hawk, so Tao lowered his eyes again.
"I wanted to know... did your son do anything before? Did he speak something?" Avelin asked in a calm but firm voice.
"No, he was just standing there... If my son somehow offended the noble selesti, I humbly apologize." Sofra's voice expressed hesitation and fear.
Still holding the infant, she put one arm around her son's shoulder and neck, as if trying to protect him. Tao also felt mother bow once more to the older woman.
"No, that's not about that." Avelin shook her head.
She didn't explain further though, the woman's eyes flicked over the crowd around her, indicating that the conversation was not for strange ears.
Selesti eyes finally turned away from Tao, allowing the boy to relax a little.
"Ranger Indres, the Lights guard Endrea asked me to give you something. Please come to my quarters tomorrow morning." She spoke to Indres in a slightly louder voice, allowing those around her to hear.
"I will be there, noble selesti." Tao's father nodded his head in affirmation.
Avelin nodded a little, then turned to leave. Before she did, though, she whispered something quietly to one of her assistants. The young woman remained standing in front of the shrine while selesti, together with her other companions, the village elders and the whole crowd, began to make their way back to the center of the square to continue the celebrations. Tao's parents seemed a little worried and were in no hurry to return with the others.
"It was strange... why did she asked about Tao?" Sofra quietly expressed her concern to husband.
"I don't know, we'll talk about it later." Indres was evasive.
"You know what she wants to talk to you about?"
"I'll guess. Noble Baerg promised me something... "
"I'm sorry." The two were interrupted by the last of selesti assistants, the one to whom the noble woman had whispered something.
Having caught the attention of Tao's parents, she continued talking.
"Noble selesti Avelin asked ranger Indres to come to her this evening, shortly after she leaves the party. She asked to take the boy with you."
"Why?" Sofra exclaimed involuntarily.
"I don't know." The woman replied.
She said a brief goodbye and left, leaving the family in confusion.
Of course, it won't end so easily… Tao's hopes had been broken.
The boy's parents no longer bothered to celebrate. Sofra repeatedly tried to question the boy if he had done anything impolite during the ritual. At first Tao didn't really know what to say, but in the end, he decided to show that he had covered his mouth with his hands for a moment, which was true. This partially calmed Sofra, at least her fears that son had accidentally behaved very offensively in front of a noble woman.
What Indres thought of all this was unknown, as usual the man said little. Tao could feel the searching gaze of his father, which made the boy feel guilty and self-doubting.
Safia was the only one who seemed to have forgotten about the incident and was intensely interested in the possibility of returning to the food tables.
As the village celebrations continued, the music resumed and many people started dancing to the applause of the audience. Selesti Avelin remained in the square for a while, talking to the village elders, but then rose from her seat and, after bidding farewell to the elders, went with one of her companions to the guesthouse, as it looked like, to rest after the ritual blessing.
Realizing that this was also a signal to him, Indres took his son by the hand.
"I’m going." He told his wife.
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
"Can I come too?" Sofra asked.
"Someone needs to look after Safia and Inya."
"I can ask Reyte "
Indres seemed to ponder that for a moment. Then he shook his head in the negative.
"She only asked me and Tao to come. Better not to change it. And also, will attract less attention."
"But... I'm worried." Sofra voiced her concern.
"I don't think selesti wants anything bad. I'll tell you what she wanted when I get back."
"Promise?"
"Yes, whatever's important, I will tell you."
Although Sofra didn't look happy with the last remark, she didn't argue anymore and nodded. Tao’s mother bent down to stroke his head and look at boy’s face.
"Behave yourself in front of this aunty, all right?"
"Yes, mom." Tao could promise that with a pure heart.
He hadn't the slightest desire to get on the noble woman's bad side.
There weren't usually many guests in the village, so when a stranger needed a place to stay, a family had to donate their premises. Although there were plans to build a full guesthouse in the future, these were far from being realized.
Avelin stayed in the house of one of the village elders. It was easy to spot thanks to the Temple guard standing at the entrance. In total, six people accompanied the noble woman, two of them soldiers and the rest disciples of the saints.
"I am ranger Indres Riggi. The noble selesti asked me to come." Indres announced to the guard.
One of the apprentices came out to take the hunter and his son to Avelin's room.
When Indres and Tao were ushered in, the noble lady was sitting on a chair at the table. Although the room's décor, furniture and cutlery were the best the village had to offer, her fine robes, exquisite accessories and perfectly groomed face made the surroundings look simple and poor.
"I am grateful that you could take the time to come tonight. Please be seated." Avelin indicated the other chair at the table.
Her tone of voice was calm, even kind, though not entirely friendly. Tao saw the woman's dark eyes turned back to him, which was not pleasant.
"Thank you, noble selesti." Indres bowed and went deeper into the room.
As instructed, he sat down and took his son into his lap. Selesti assistant remained standing by the door.
"What is your son's name?" Avelin asked Indresh.
Her gaze was still fixed on the boy.
On the table was something like an oil lamp, but it gave off a brighter, yet at the same time softer, diffused light, perhaps magical. It allowed a clear view of the woman's perfect, beautiful face. Tao didn't notice the slightest sign of wrinkles, but he didn't get the impression that Avelin was a young woman either, it was strange to explain. Perhaps it was because of the cosmetics, which expertly brought out the dark eyes and well-shaped lips.
Well, in the present situation the women’s striking looks were more intimidating than appealing.
"Ataodres is his full name, but we call him Tao." Indres replied.
"And how old is Ataodres?"
"He will be 3 years old in a few months."
"Three... does that mean he's able to talk? And understand us, right?" The corners of Avelin's mouth turned up a little.
"Yes, in a way... " Indres fell silent, seeming to be waiting for something from the woman.
"Has anyone taught him magic?" Came the question, which would normally be a strange one.
Tao tried to stay calm, to not look guilty, which wasn't easy.
"No, neither I nor my wife would do something so... irresponsible." Indres didn't hesitate to assure.
"But you use everyday spells, like everyone, I suppose? Your son could see it and repeat it."
"Yes, like all children do it, but they don't know how to focus their spirit power to make things happen. Besides, Tao has never done it, at least in my presence. Noble selesti, why are we talking about this?" Indres looked like he wanted more than just questions to answer.
"Your son tried to invoke a blessing during the ritual, effectively enough to disturb the spirits of light."
The room fell silent. Tao felt his father's body tense, while he began to play nervously with his own fingers, trying to figure out what to do in a silent panic.
"Noble selesti... how is this possible?" Indres spoke, regaining his voice.
"That's what I want to know." Avelin's words almost burned the boy's skin.
"Maybe... it's a mistake?"
"The light spirits wouldn't have reacted if they didn't sense something. They were clearly pointing to the source of the disturbance – this boy."
What a squealer, Tao wanted to complain.
He knew it was his own fault, though. The boy had been under the impression that the spirits of light did not speak to those who summoned them, and if they chose not to speak to Tao, they would simply leave. He hadn't even considered other options.
"I'm sorry, noble selesti, but I don't know... I have no other explanation. I don't know what else to say."
"Have you or your wife noticed any strange behavior in the child?" Avelin asked the next question.
When Indres did not answer right away, her gaze became harder.
"Although I am not a Trueseeker, I am a servant of the Temple and represent its authority. Speak! And speak the truth." She commanded.
Tao felt that his father needed a moment to make up his mind to speak.
"It's not something I was sure of, so I didn't want to tell. I just suspect that Tao might have more... more potential for spirit power."
"Really? Why is that?"
Indres briefly told her about dog that could sense magic and how Teru reacted to Tao.
"Interesting... though it sounds like there was more to it than simple potential." Avelin stated thoughtfully, but didn't elaborate.
"Has he demonstrated aggression, a tendency for violence or malice?" Instead, she asked a rather unpleasant question.
Tao felt his father's body tense again. The boy himself did not know how to react, but he felt that he was being accused of something.
"No, nothing like that. I understand what noble selesti means, but I can assure you that it is not true." Indres' voice was calm, but seemed several tones colder.
"Perhaps parents find it hard to accept something like that and ignore the truth." The woman argued, ignoring hunter's tone.
"The only thing I ignore is how the Temple servants are doing their duty!"
Damn it, Indres, this isn't going to help... Tao worried that the conversation was starting to get out of hand.
But it didn't look like this blatant rebuke would anger the female blesser.
"Would that be about me... or about noble Endrea Baren?" Avelin actually smiled.
" ... " Indre seemed to regret not holding his tongue.
"Surprising, considering the concern he showed for your village when he asked me to come here. And also, personally for you and your family. No doubt it's to do with that tower I've heard so much about..."
"Noble Baern asked me not to talk about it." Indres spoke up again, in a calmer tone.
"No doubt."
"I'm sorry, but if you want to know more, you'd better ask him directly."
"Yes, I'll do that. But about this child... I still have questions for you."
Indres drew a deep breath, probably to calm himself.
"Noble selesti, if Tao had... if he had an evil power in him, why would the spawns try to kidnap him? And why would he try to summon a blessing?"
Avelin's smile vanished; she furrowed her brow. The woman seemed unable to find an answer to these questions.
Evil power within... as I had expected, kids too smart is suspicious, Tao realized, what the noble selesti was worried about.
He was not sure if this woman suspected him of demon possession. In the boy's mind, the Temple was associated with the medieval European Church, so he felt a strong concern about how they might try to find out the truth.
"Perhaps your son can answer the last question himself?" Avelin's eyes were once again studying the boy's face.
"My wife and I have already asked if he did anything."
"This time I'll ask." The woman insisted.
Tao felt his mouth go dry, but he was afraid to move his tongue.
Shit, he thought for the second time tonight.
Not very original, true, but from the heart.
***