Aristhaeus wasn't sure who was behind this attack.
Back in the library he was very thoughtful,
"Those mages who attacked us wore red robes with embroidered golden leaves. This is the uniform of the Autumn Fae's minions. But they weren't her minions," he said. "They weren't from Vahara Arta at all."
Somebody wanted this to look like the Autumn Fae minions' attempt at avenging her.
"How do you know that?" Elyre wondered. She was no less worried than him because she had no explanation for the attack.
The archmage sat in front of the fireplace in one of the common rooms in the library. He explained,
"Every region has its own traditions and methods taught in magic. Thus, you can recognize where a mage is from by the way he practices the art. Mages from Vahara Arta rely chiefly on words and charms. Their work is characterized by long incantations... a lot of speaking. The mages who attacked us were focused on hand gestures. Definitely not from Vahara Arta. I could hardly hear words or notice eye contact. They had wands and staves, but they never used them. Carrying them was just a diversionary tactic."
"What you mean is someone wanted to make us think they were from Vahara Arta? To confuse us on purpose? Then the attack wasn't an accident, it was personal…" she realized.
"They were mercenaries obviously… But who has hired them and why…"
"Then, which region could they come from?" Elyre asked. She stood next to him. Not that there weren't other seats, but she wasn't in mood for sitting. Both of them were drinking some tea. She noticed how thoughtful he had been and how many details he remembered. His explanations made it seem it was easy to recognize the differences between the styles of magic he mentioned, but in fact they were so subtle, they were hard to perceive.
"I'd say Digoria," he replied. "But it is difficult to make a guess. Digoria is a vast part of Allyria but I can't be more specific." He was a bit surprised at her many questions.
"And how about you? …Do you use more gestures or words for your magic?" she asked.
"You are very curious, aren't you? ...We, the sommeis that is, tend to rely on eye contact, fewer gestures… Occasionally some words. We use magical items; sometimes staves, but never wands."
Elyre nodded.
The Autumn Fae with her dragons and gorgons and those mages… Still... Aristhaeus believed that the mages weren't truly working for the Fae or trying to avenge her. Then somebody else was involved. Could it be... the Queen herself? If Elyre was the true reason for the attacks, could it be that she really belonged to the Arunai dynasty? If she did not, then how could her protective amulet end up with her? The questions in his mind were many, and he rolled his eyes hesitantly while he was returning the cup to Elyre.
Once again, he fell silent. He wasn't normally that introverted. Perhaps a part of him was, but there was yet another, quite extroverted part.
After his conversation with Elyre, Aristhaeus understood something interesting -- the librarian Heliona had incited the journey through the forest by suggesting the idea to Elyre. Maybe Elyre had been led out of the city on purpose? Maybe it was no coincidence that Heliona had given Elyre the list of herbs that included spinofolia purpurea -- which then strangely had not been available. Or maybe, it had not been available precisely because usually it was so easy to obtain. ~Could she be our secret enemy?~
***
Mage Mortagon finally met Mage Eyvind, an older mage from the Morana clan. He was the only one they'd sent, claiming Aristhaeus would recognize other mages.
"He'd recognize us if too many of the Morana clan are together," Mortagon frowned.
They'd also advised him to meet a certain woman who was an acquaintance to Mage Shahmayar.
She was a shape-shifter and she lived in the Castle of the Seventh Fire, but she'd come to Vahara Arta for the scholars' convention. Her name was Pressianna.
"Shape-shifter. How could they trust her? How am I supposed to reveal anything to her?" Mage Mortagon wondered. 'You don't have to reveal anything to her,' they'd said. He wasn't sure how this was going to work out.
"So Elyre has been collecting some herbs?" Mage Eyvind said.
"Yes. But I don't care about this right now. The attack on her and the archmage is more important! It may ruin my plan. Who could have attacked her?" Mortagon whispered.
"Mortagon, I'm afraid it might be us indeed. Some in our clan are too impatient," Mage Eyvind whispered. "They may have attempted to kidnap her one last time."
"Kidnap?! Under the archmage's nose?! How can such an idea cross their minds?" Mortagon frowned.
"I heard such ideas before I arrived here," Eyvind said. "But don't worry. In any case, they have made sure those mages are not connected in any way to Morana and are well disguised. The archmage has so many enemies, it's not easy for him to understand the situation either."
"Don't you understand, Eyvind? I want to use peaceful ways to attract Elyre but all of these intrigues going on behind my back can have a very bad influence on my plan. Are we a clan or we aren't?"
"You know it's Mage Darian. He is very young, talented and has the means to do it," Eyvind explained. "It's difficult to convince him... He has too much power for his age, it's too difficult to influence him."
"Teamwork, Eyvind. You are either on the team, or you are not."
"Look on the positive side, Mortagon. More attacks indeed confuse the archmage more."
"Now he knows!" Mortagon exclaimed. "He knows he has to be careful."
"It's exactly what you wanted to avoid, right?" Eyvind smiled. "Well... but let me tell you something: the archmage is always careful. You can't catch him by surprise."
"Have you ever considered such perilous situations are an opportunity for Elyre and the archmage to get closer together? Theories are theories. The fact is: he just saved her."