“I am sorry for the folks,” the old man said.

  Shortly after the touchy ritual, Ben, Seth and Ola were led to his hut close to the tavern. The old man introduced himself as Pertek, the village elder.

  “Not at all!” Ben smiled and waved his hand. The elder nodded gratefully and sat on his chair, throwing an apologetic look at the fireplace. “Someone should soon come to make the fire,” he said and slightly shuttered. The hut wasn’t cold, but the elder looked like he would soon turn into an ice block.

  Without hesitation Ola stepped closer and put her hands close to him, he looked at her quizzically at first, but then his eyes widened as he stopped shaking. The air around him started fluttering as if he was sitting in a sauna. Ola smiled and gestured towards the fireplace, “Do you mind, if I?”

  “No please.” The elder Pertek smiled for the first time. He nodded to himself and continued, “It has been foretold, the necromancers often travel with powerful mages. I should have realized, please forgive me.”

  Ola was about to tell him there was nothing to apologize for, but Seth spoke first: “Elder Pertek,” Seth politely lowered his head. “This is the second time you speak of a necromancer's arrival. The… proceeding on our arrival shows us your people were also waiting for Ben to arrive.” Seth took a breath and continued, “you are surely aware, but necromancers don’t tend to be welcomed in most places.”

  The elder nodded at Seth, appreciating the traditional way he was addressing him. Then he spoke slowly, “sadly, your words are correct. Many forgot what necromancers did for us humans. In most places, they see just fear and angst. Yet,” he paused, taking a raspy breath. “Yet, not all have forgotten. We still remember. We tell each other stories of the true role necromancers played in our past.”

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  “And what was that? Ola joined them, fire already illuminating the room with its warm waves.

  The elder looked at Ben, before continuing. “They stop the death from hurting us. Necromancers are masters of death and so they guard and watch over us living. With a wave of his hand, a necromancer can make the evil that possessed our village simply disappear.” He was still staring at Ben as he finished.

  The silence spread around the room. The elder was resting, taking deep rough breaths after speaking more than he was used to. Ben looked at his two companions; then at elder and opened his mouth to explain what he was about to do, but Seth spoke first: “We are tired after the journey.” He quickly stepped in front of Ben and kicked him, so he is quiet. “Could we rest for the night and get to this necromancer business in the morning?”

  “Of course, of course.” The elder nodded, too tired to complain. “Please, return to the tavern and ask them for the room. They will gladly accommodate you.”

  Finally the door closed behind them and they were alone. Seth sighed and sat on his bed. Ben was frowning at him, pointedly massaging his leg. Seth sighed again and looked at him, “sorry Ben. But, you were just about to tell him how you plan to invite them and the ghosts to chat it out, haven’t you?” Ben’s hurt expression was an answer enough, so Seth continued, “I don’t think he would have been too happy about that. His stories sounded like necromancers just came in and got rid of the ghosts.”

  “But that’s not the stories I know,” Ben said. “How will the ghost come to it? They also think they have the right to stay here.”

  “And that’s exactly why I didn’t let you speak,” Seth sighed again and looked at Ola. “What are we gonna do?”

  Ola just shrugged, “I dunno, it’s necromancy business. Should probably just do what Ben thinks is best.”

  Seth rolled on his back and stared on the ceiling. “I have a bad feeling about this…”

  “It will be fine!” Ben patted him on the shoulder, chipper and happy once again. “They are reasonable folks, I am sure they will be able to talk it out.”