Once we were inside the Power Seer headquarters I looked around at the familiar entrance hall. It seemed like a lifetime ago that I had been here. The figure of Edmund the butler led us into the entrance hall. He was very polite and asked how we all were. When he asked me, however I thought back to why I was here, and what had caused this visit. Noah and my Power. Shock seemed to flit across Edmunds face, and I recalled his mind-reading abilities. However, I answered his question with a generic ‘fine thank you’ and bowed my head. It was quite clear that Edmund already knew everything from my thoughts.
I was sure to keep my mind upon innocent things as we crossed the threshold towards Lester Elwood’s office. I smiled nervously at Edmund as we entered through the door and left him in the Entrance hall.
“Mister Elwood.” Charles stepped towards Lester who was behind his desk. The same as last time, countless candles sat upon long tables. The candles were so burned down that there was a thick layer of wax upon the surfaces of the tables.
“Is that you Charles?” Lester said in his wizened voice.
“Ah, you’re hearing is as good as ever.” Charles shook Lester’s hand as Jack and I approached his desk also.
“Who have you brought with you?” Lester asked, hearing our footsteps.
“Jack Greenwood and Avalon Redding.”
“Oh, yes. The Healer and the Fire Starter.” Lester recalled, “How are you finding Frost Arch, Miss Redding?” Lester directed at me. Although he was blind, it seemed he was looking at the exact spot I was standing.
“Oh, fine. Thank you.”
“It seems you had no trouble with the Forsythe manor.” Lester noted.
“No, sir.”
“So what brings you three here?”
Charles piped up, “Well I was hoping you could have a look at Miss Redding for us, Lester. She was ill recently, and has lost much use of her Power.”
I felt my face turn pink; thankfully Lester could not see that.
“Well, not much use,” Jack corrected automatically, “All use.”
I glared and him furiously and he fell silent.
“All use?” Repeated Lester Elwood, standing from his chair and hobbling around the desk towards us.
“It appears so.” Charles confirmed.
Lester Elwood stood very close to me, and I wondered how he had know where I was, let alone which body had been me. I felt quite uncomfortable as he stood an inch away, and placed his fingers lightly upon my temple. He kept his hands there much longer than he had on my previous visit. It seemed he was concentrating quite hard for his brow was furrowed, and his mouth creased into a frown.
“Hmmm.” Lester nodded a few times to himself, but continued to touch my forehead, “Indeed.”
Jack, who was behind Lester Elwood and in my line of sight, was smiling arrogantly with his arms folded across his chest. It was a personality trait of Jack’s that any awkwardness involving his friends he found quite amusing. After another minute Lester removed his cool hands from me and shuffled back to his seat behind the desk.
“What’s the damage?” Jack smirked.
“Is there something wrong with me?” I worried.
“I always knew your brain was broken.”
I was about to retort when; “That’s quite enough.” Charles said softly, “Lester?”
Lester pressed his lips together thoughtfully before answering, “Sometimes … when a Mage goes through something stressful … or traumatic, or perhaps is unhappy … they sometimes unintentionally … repress their gift.”
“But she was just ill for a few days.” Charles objected.
Lester cleared his throat noisily, “Yes, well, of course I can’t be certain. But her Power was very hard to locate in her mind which suggests that an unpleasant event has repressed it, and drawn it within.”
I shifted uncomfortable, “So how do I fix it?”
Lester snorted, “My dear, you can’t fix it.”
I blanched, “What? There has to be a way!”
“Of course.” Lester agreed, “But it can’t be fixed, because there is nothing wrong with you. It’s all in your mind, really.”
“It’s all in my mind?” I repeated faintly.
“Yes. Sometimes it happens with injuries. Crippled Mage’s may believe that they will never be able to walk again, and in believing so – they don’t.”
I thought I understood. My lack of power was all in my head. Perhaps I just had to believe in myself a little more, and it would be alright.
After we said goodbye to Lester Elwood and Edmund and had departed from the Power Seer Headquarters we trundled back through the main road that would lead us through the vast marketplace. Charles had given Jack more errands to run then said that he had lots of paper work back in his office that needed to be taken care of.
“Coming with me?” Jack asked when Charles hurried off down the street, back to the manor.
“Of course.” I said as though it were the most obvious answer, “Are you going to tell me what’s in the bag now?”
“Nothing exciting.” Jack said lifting the flap and showing me about a hundred sealed envelopes made from very expensive, delicate, semi-transparent paper.
“Are those wedding invitations?” I said peering inside.