Chapter 29: Getting to the Bottom of It
Irene knew she was being tested but she couldn't yet pull out her dagger in case they further didn't believe her intentions. Even if she wanted to defend herself, she needed to remain level headed.
"My grandmother had a healer put a protective spell in this mana stone when the dagger was forged," she defended herself. "See for yourself if that's what you require."
However, the very real issue of someone threatening her life was making the thrill of battle rush through her veins, further spurred by her heart's rapid beating. She had only just gotten her life back, she was unwilling to give it up so easily.
Since she had already done the job of undoing the leather strap that kept her dagger in the sheath, all the mage had to do was let down his shield and, with a flick of his wrist, the blade was lifted into the air.
By that point, Sir Gunnar had righted himself and he approached Irene cautiously, not allowing her to face mistrustful mages on her own. He wasn't worried about himself, having dealt with slippery mages many times in the past.
Her dagger was lifted and turned in front of the old mage's face and he brought the handle to eye level where he squinted at it and his bushy white eyebrows lowered.
"The magic is quite strong," he admitted. "Where did you get such a stone?"
"From the north," Irene responded quickly. "That is where my paternal bloodline is from."
"Keep your weapons sheathed," the mage ordered. "Follow me into the house. I will prove to you that the echo stone is not something regular humans ought to be involved with."