The Love of a Wielder (Book Two of The Wielders Trilogy)

Chapter Forty

Maren was both shocked and alarmed. How had this woman known who she was?

"Who are you?" Maren demanded again.

"My name is Agatha," she said and then tersely added, "And if you don't put that away, I'll have to show you mine, and you won't like that."

Maren was still reluctant to let go of her power. Donovan cleared his throat loudly behind her, as though to nudge her to obey Agatha.

Maren let it go, and then Agatha's demeanor changed entirely. She smiled broadly. Maren supposed most people were more pleasant when they weren't being threatened.

"You are Maren, aren't you? Karlyn showed me what you looked like, but it was a long time ago, and you were younger, of course," Agatha said.

Maren was stunned.

"You knew her?" she breathed.

Agatha's smile became a bit sadder, "We grew up together. She was like my sister."

"She had...she never told me... I had no idea..." Maren could barely get a thought out.

"Why don't you tie up the horses and come inside for a drink," she said and then, looking up at Donovan, added, "The both of you."

Maren looked at him and nodded. He got down from his horse and tied all three of them to a post.

"Ah...this is my husband, Donovan."

Agatha smiled, "Oh, you're married! Karlyn would have loved that."

Donovan just nodded to Agatha. Maren was too stunned to do anything besides follow Agatha into the cabin.

It was just the same inside, it felt rather like stepping into a memory. Agatha asked them to sit and said she'd fetch cider.

"Are you all right?" Donovan murmured to her.

"I am very surprised," she breathed.

Agatha came back with three mugs of what turned out to be an excellent cider. She placed something on the table in front of her.

It was a folded letter, with her name on it.

"I think perhaps you should read this first, I haven't read it, but I'm sure it explains most everything," Agatha said.

Maren touched the paper where her name was written with something like awe. She had known the letter was there, of course, and that she wanted to read it but had not expected to be presented with it so suddenly.

Trembling, Maren folded the letter and read.

My dearest Maren,

There are so many things I still want to tell you and teach you, but I am afraid I will be gone by the time you arrive. (Please don't be sad, time comes for us all.)

The one thing I must tell you is where I'm from. I know this will sound impossible to you, dear, but I'm from the other side of the mountains, the north side. I come from a community of Wielders in The Republic of Graellia.

For hundreds of years, our community has stationed someone here, in these mountains. We call that person the Watcher, and that is my role now. I am here to guide any Wielders that come searching for sanctuary and to send warning should anything dangerous come from the south. There will be another Watcher after me, but I do not think I should live to see it.

I know this sounds mad to you, but your kingdom has erased much of its history. Should you choose to continue to the other side of the mountains, you will learn the truth.

I also know you will be upset with me for not telling you sooner, but I felt I could not. I know you, Maren, dear, and I know you would happily charge off to the other side of the mountains. But the thing is, once you cross to the other side, you can never go home again.