Return to Jorgaldur Volume I: the battle mage

Looking for clues

They were elated. They hadn't found him or managed to contact him, but Eldi Hnefa had appeared. That had caused a chain reaction, where many of the disillusioned rebels had returned, they have given signs of life, gotten in touch with them again. With this, seeing that their former comrades were returning to action, and the appearance of the visitor, others had also returned. And, in turn, others returned following the latter. Now, the meeting room was again full of people.

The bad part was that there would be more spies among them, but they had taken action. Those who were vulnerable, they or their families, didn't show their identity, only the pseudonym and the mask behind which they had always been known. Those who didn't, were bare-faced, having made it one of its strengths.

"Is there no doubt that it is him?" Asked a young man, whose face was hidden behind a hood and a black mask.

"The nobles are convinced, and we have some contacts that have been able to verify the marks. There is no doubt that he has returned and has taken care of that despicable family," answered Tresfingers, without hiding his contempt for the deceased nobles. He was born in that county, and had lost some good friends at their hands.

"Have we been able to contact him? Where is he? And Lidia?"

"He has disappeared without a trace, and nobody knows where he is. Lidia is investigating. She'll let us know if she finds out something," Tresfingers answered, defending Lidia, although he also wanted to know what she was doing, even though it wasn't at all strange that she acted on her own. And the name of who had asked the questions was mentally noted. Too many questions together that the nobles were interested in.

Many groups had returned from their lethargy, so there was much to do, to decide, to coordinate. But the most important thing was which direction to follow from now on, and that was something that nobody knew. They knew that, once the visitor had returned, they had a chance, because more people would join, they would have more strength to fight against oppression. Having an ally that could appear at any time was giving hope to some and fear to others.

But they also didn't know how powerful he was or what his intentions were, if he would reappear, if he would punish other nobles, if he would directly face royalty in the capital as he had done in the past. And, therefore, they didn't dare to act yet, to make definitive plans. For now, they were gathering forces, securing supplies or safe houses. They didn't need to have a clear goal for it, Eldi Hnefa's name was enough, but it wouldn't be forever.

So, like the nobles, they were waiting to see what happens, to get in touch with the visitor, to get some news. However, at the same time, they were preparing to hit who should be their lords, but who had become their enemies.

Lidia received the news with enthusiasm and concern. It was more than comforting to know that she was right, and that he had returned. And, above all, that he hadn't changed, for he had faced the counts of Tenakk and freed the kingdom of them. But it was worrisome that everyone now knew for sure that he had returned, and that some might feel threatened, as this could lead them to overreact.

Anyway, now, what worried her most was the same as everyone else: what level he had and where he was going. And that's why she was there.

"Teacher," the man greeted her.

"I have told you that you no longer have to call me that, Galdho," she reproached him with a half smile, suddenly being attacked by a little girl, who threw herself into her arms.

"Amanda!"

"Hello Dina, you've grown up again," she hugged her.

"I'll be as tall as Amanda soon!"

Lidia had learned several magical crafts, being her mentor the visitor who had saved her, and she had had more than enough time to level them up quite high. This helped her in her occupation, as she had several identities as a wandering master artisan, including Amanda's.

Her contacts had discovered that Galdho was the one who had been saved by the visitor, one more thing she had to thank her mentor. Even if Lidia didn't show herself as who she really was, her love for that girl was genuine, and she appreciated the girl's father, whom she had taught when he was just a teenager.

She had created an illusion to pretend that she had aged a few years, only slightly more than the last time she had seen them, and had forced a casual encounter with them, asserting that she had received an offer from the counts, and regretting not being able to take it.

"It's better that way," Galdho said. "The counts were enslaving the artisans."

She looked surprised and asked for what they had been through, without insisting when she realized they didn't want to talk much about it. She approved his faithfulness to his savior, but they could do little in the face of Lidia's persuasion skills. She simply kept talking to them, discussing the issue casually with the girl when she volunteered to babysit her for a few hours. Or chatting with the father, while the girl was sleeping, and he had drunk too much.

They said goodbye the next day, without them being aware of how much she had managed to get from many single sentences that she had linked together. And even though Lidia felt slightly guilty, they were on the same side, and she had done nothing that could harm them. In fact, quite the opposite. Rumors had been released that those who had been saved had left the county, and that, perhaps, they were going to the border. And, taking advantage of the occasion, the rebels were trying to uncover the enemy agents.

Lidia hadn't been able to find out where Eldi was heading, but she had a rough idea of his current level. No doubt his growth was impressive, although his case was somewhat special, since it wasn't as much about growth as about regaining his power. And despite that, she worried that it was too low, that he still had to fear the assassins after him.

But while she didn't know where to find him, the level gave her clues. Her partners were now going to watch the right places to level up, just like her, who had reserved the one that seemed most likely.