"Please, let go. You are hurting me!" The chain was pulling at her neck because Barin was holding the necklace tightly. Bron and Aeronwyn, seeing this, stepped towards them. Bron placed his hand suggestively on his sword hilt.
Barin released the necklace. "Sorry. Sorry. I am just...I have seen this before." Barin looked at Bron. "I am sorry, I didn't mean to hurt her."
Keri sat beside the fire. "You have seen this before? Where?" she asked.
"At my father's house." Keri looked at him disbelievingly. Bron nodded and said, "Seriously. Years ago my father found an old ruin. Almost all of it was destroyed but four statues. Since there was no writing on any of it, the Examiners allowed him to keep it. Being noble does have some advantages."
"Anyway," Barin said, "one of the statues is identical with that figure on your necklace. A woman, crossed arms, looking down. I thought, until tonight, what I had was unique in the world. Please tell me you know what this is?"
Keri looked at Aeronwyn. "This is the second time I have been asked a question by these people that I don't know if I am allowed to answer. Should I tell him?"
"The second time?" Aeronwyn asked puzzled. "What was the first?"
"Halldora saw what I did in the cave and asked about it." Keri said.
Aeronwyn looked at Bron, who shrugged and said, "It is a risk, Milady, but I think this Lord is worthy of your trust."
"I knew it!" exclaimed Halldora. "I knew there was something special about you. Every instinct I have draws me towards you. Please, trust us?"
Barin stood and faced Aeronwyn. "Milady, he calls you. I suspect Rhainnon isn't your real name either. I don't know and I don't care why you keep secrets. You have earned our silence and I promise you that no one outside this camp will hear what you say to us unless you permit it. Will the word of a young noble be accepted?"
Aeronwyn nodded. "It will. And actually, Rhiannon is the name I was given at birth. It just isn't the name most know me be. Keri, you may answer their questions."
Keri remained seated and waved her hand, inviting the others to join her. When everyone was sitting around the fire, Keri looked at the Barin and Halldora. "Where do I start? Okay, Halldora asked first so I will start there. Yes, Halldora, you did see fire come from hands and kill that man who had captured you."
Barin looked sharply at his wife then back at Keri, his mouth open in surprise. "What? Fire? You never spoke of this to me."
"My Lord Barin, this will go faster if you don't interrupt her." said Halldora sharply. Barin looked chagrined but said nothing.
"Thank you, Halldora. Anyway, it is called magic. Rhiannon would be the better one to explain it, since she is my teacher but there are a few of us in the world who have been gifted with magic, which is the ability to understand and manipulate the patterns of the world around us." Keri explained.
"Nice definition, Keri." Aeronwyn said.
"As to your second question, Barin's question. This figure is Althene, Goddess of Healing and Mercy. She is one of the many Old Gods that have been trapped out of the world for a very long time. I met her a while ago and she favors me, although I can't say why because I don't know. I suspect," Keri said, looking at Aeronwyn for confirmation, "that the other statues may be representations of some of the other Old Gods?"
