36 Aleric

Elloreah followed Mingan, wondering what had given away the arrival of Alistair. Had Mingan sensed him?

She couldn't help but notice as she entered the house on Mingan's heels, the voice, a thundering, deep voice that she had not noticed before, resonating from the sitting room She paused at the doorway. Normally she would be able to sense him as well, pick up on at least the most basic things about this new presence in the house. It was disconcerting, the thought of entering the room completely unaware of the feeling a person presented her.

Mingan put his hand lightly on her shoulder, as if reading her change in mood. She looked to him, and he gave her a crooked hint of a smile, just a twitch at the corner of his lips.

"You might be a little more comfortable if you could get a feel for the mood of the room," he told her.

Elloreah nodded. Her hand strayed to the rune, and she whispered the charm that released the spell's hold on her powers.

She closed her eyes and reached out to feel the room in which they had left Sitala and John. She also noted another man, in the front room, as well as two women in the kitchen. The house had been so quiet up until this point, she'd not realized that there might be others.

She reached further to find that there was a man working outside. She found herself reaching to seek out others, and decided it was best to focus, redirecting her attention to Alistair, the man that they were about to meet.

He was cool, icy, and she wondered at his powers, his origin. Alistair's power was restrained, subdued. He knew well how to control himself. It was no wonder that he was one of the leaders. No. He was the leader for this region, and his power and control was evidence of that. Sitala was a brightly subdued talent beside him, and so was John, with his murky, shimmering glow.

She felt no specific ill will from Alistair. He seemed calm, but interested. She could feel his own power reach out to hers.

Come, came the sudden command, and she gasped, stepping into Mingan, grabbing for the nearest support.

Telepathy and mental abilities were common among her people, but to contact someone without permission was invasive, a show of force, and simply not done. The pull of his command was great, and she clutched at Mingan's shirt, fighting it.

"What is it?" Mingan whispered, his hand tightening protectively on her shoulder.

Elloreah shook her head. "He summoned me, entered my mind and drew me to him..." She inhaled deeply, realizing in that moment how much she appreciated Mingan's presence, his protective nature.

"Such arrogance," Mingan growled.

Elloreah sighed, forcing herself to step out of his grasp. She must be strong, on her own. "I suppose its time I meet him," she said.

He nodded, studying her for a moment before turning and leading the way. He proceeded stiffly, silent as they entered the room.

"Ah, here they are," John said standing. "Alistair, this is Elloreah. Mingan found her a short distance outside my lands."

Elloreah bowed deeply to Alistair, as she would any noble from her own lands. "Thank you, sir, for taking the time to see us," she said.

Alistair was stunning, an almost blindingly powerful man. His hair was cut short, perfectly styled in a manner that Elloreah had only seen briefly at the diner, yet there was a striking difference between Alistair and those men she'd seen before.

Alistair was without a doubt, nobility. He wore a well-groomed beard, which she'd not yet seen among these people. It suited him, giving a look of age to the otherwise perfectly youthful features. His eyes were bright and clear, like the lightning night sky, just before the dawn.

"Rise, my dear," he said with a faint chuckle, "and be seated. We have much to discuss. I tire of formalities, as one does with age." He glanced to John who shared the smile.

"Aye, those who think impatience is a trait of the youth haven't lived centuries," John said.

"After so many years, I think it's easy to tire of most everything," said Alistair. He returned his gaze to Elloreah. "Go sit, and tell me about yourself. Sitala has told me of what she can see, but there are many places where her vision becomes clouded. The future is a fluid thing, ever changing."

"Ah, well..." Elloreah stammered after finding her way to the plush couch and settling on the edge of it. "My father is... was, of noble lineage, a Duke. I was born at his estate, in the shadow of the Cirrus Mountains. I'm a veteran of the most recent resurgence against the dark forces." Her hand went to her arm tracing the scar there before she could help herself.

"I returned home after my discharge. My father's chosen heir, Aleric, returned the following year from his time in the service of the Dawning Empire. My father was killed during a raid not long after."

She felt compelled to continue. She hesitated, wondering at the exact reason behind this compulsion. She realized that for the first time since coming to this world, she felt as if she was in the presence of royalty. She most likely was.

"Go on," Alistair urged.

Mingan had moved to stand behind her, and she was thankful for his presence. Though she knew he did this in part due to his distrust of Alistair, knowing she was not facing this intimidatingly powerful man alone was reassuring. Elloreah gathered her thoughts before continuing.

"After Aleric returned to the estate, he began studying. I assumed they were healing spells. Many of my people were greatly injured by a new strain of poisons." She paused. There was more to this explanation, but Aleric had made her promise to keep such things secret, and she wondered now if she should continue to hold to this promise.

"I went to his study, after being summoned one evening. He was in the middle of preparing a spell when I arrived. He told me to wait a moment while he tested it… And the next thing I knew, I was sucked away in a flurry of wind. That is how I came to be here."

She looked to Mingan. "Mingan has the spells, or at least the pages of notes that were caught up in the winds and followed me through the portal." She shifted nervously. "I had hoped to use them to go home, but I am not sure that I can, or should."