She turned to see Shaman Mathoyl Vathall rising. He waited for Bayani and Peter to stand as well, and then beckoned for them to follow him. Cerys tried to follow them as well, but Nashtra held her back.

“Let them go,” he told her. “The shaman wants to see them alone.”

Cerys looked at him, as first confused, and then worried. His own expression was not exactly one of worry, but uncertainty. She could tell that he didn’t know why the shaman wanted to see her brother and Bayani. She supposed that if an elf showed uncertainty on the surface, then deep down inside, there must be some sort of worries. Still, she had no reason to think that he meant the boys any harm, and she did not argue. Instead, she only sighed.

The shaman led Peter and his boyfriend into his hut. It looked like a lot like the home of the village leader in the first village they had been to. Mathoyl Vathall excused the attendants, then let the boys into the center of the hut, where it was quiet. There was some dim light from a few lanterns, but other it was a very dark place to be. The Shaman asked them sit, and they took their seats on the cushions on the floor. The shaman sat down as well. He was not quite as old as the leader from the other village, but they supposed that he was quite easily old enough to be somebody’s grandfather.

He spent the few minutes there in silence, looking at Peter and Bayani as though taking in the features of their faces, their appearance, even their attitude. Peter didn’t mention it, but he wondered whether Mathoyl Vathal could even read their auras. It wasn’t that he necessarily believed in aura reading, but he had heard of it, and wondered if, here in this world at least, it was possible. He tried to remind himself that he thought that it was just another new age hoax, but he could not help but wonder.

Peter looked over it Bayani with a curious expression. They knew each other well enough that they share their thoughts with just a glance. Bayani did not seem quite as perplexed or bothered by the situation. He seemed content to see what this was all about, at least. He gave Peter the faintest of smiles, as though that alone would reassure him. Peter looked back at the shaman. He himself was not content.

“Are you going to tell us that we are not suited to this quest?” Peter asked the shaman.