Indenuel ate his dinner with Martin’s family. At least, everyone in Martin’s family but Martin, who was talking to the other guests of the inn. Indenuel was next to Nathaniel and his boys, who he had to practice getting their names right. Technically, Rosa could have been at the table too if she sat next to Nathaniel, but she didn’t want Adosina to sit all by herself. The tiny space between the two tables didn’t make that much of a difference, but Rosa and Adosina were getting along just fine.

Eduardo was Nathaniel’s oldest boy. Indenuel was painfully aware that Eduardo, at sixteen, was only three years younger than Indenuel and already seemed like such a gentleman. It felt weird to realize that Indenuel was older. Eduardo was studying to be a scholar, and Nathaniel did not seem annoyed at all that his oldest son chose a different profession than him.

Diego, however, had. At fourteen, Diego was almost done with his schooling before he would join military school to focus all his energies there. Aaron, at twelve, was not that far behind. Nathaniel seemed to keep reminding Aaron that he still had two years of general school before he could focus on military training. Tomas, at ten, was far quieter and looked to be on the more scholarly path, and Adrian, at seven, was just curious about the world and wanted to know everything. Indenuel could handle being around them for a little bit before he was hit with an overwhelming sense of homesickness for Matteo, Isla, and Emilia, but he smiled and listened to them talking about their Sabbath day activities.

The inn was getting loud, and Indenuel was working through exactly what he would say in order to excuse himself to go upstairs.

“So Indenuel, you must have quite the powerful gift if Martin picked you up from Mountain Pass,” Rosa said before taking a small bite of potato.

Indenuel’s fork was already on the plate. He couldn’t pretend to be in the process of eating if it wasn’t near his mouth. “Um, yes. Yes he did,” Indenuel said before wincing. He grabbed as many potatoes on his fork as possible and stuffed them in his mouth.

“What is your gift?” Rosa asked.

Now he understood why the upper class took such small bites. It was easier to take smaller bites and continue a conversation than to stuff one’s face and take forever to chew. Indenuel chewed, feeling heat rise to his face. He’d probably have to get used to taking smaller bites now, even though it was a great excuse not to talk to anyone.

“Uh, weather control,” Indenuel said after swallowing.

“Oh, how marvelous. I, too have weather control,” Rosa said.

“Wonderful.” Indenuel wanted to run up the stairs at that moment and hide.

“You must be a powerful individual indeed. It is rare that Martin would pick just one weather controller, since our power relies so much on each other,” Rosa said.

Indenuel tried to think of something to say before he finally said, “Yes.” He winced again then picked up his cup and drained the ale inside. He placed it down and a worker was already there, filling it back up again. Indenuel gave the worker a polite thank you. Adosina smiled, looking as though she enjoyed watching him squirm.

“Well, now you have me curious. Martin always brings in weather controllers in twos or threes.” She cocked her head to one side, her voice turning serious. “Are you… are you able to start a storm by yourself?”

Indenuel slowed his chewing, aware of Rosa staring deeply at him. He kept her gaze for a moment before looking away and stabbing the potatoes with his fork, refusing to answer. Rosa raised an eyebrow, his lack of answer still an answer. “That is rare indeed. I’ve only heard of High Elder Fadrique being able to do that, and only after decades of training. You are hardly decades old yourself.”

Indenuel tried to smile, then despite affirming to himself that he would need to take smaller bites, stuffed more potatoes in his mouth to keep from talking. Rosa turned to Nathaniel. “Would it be alright if Indenuel and I tried something together.”

“Of course, I’m just as curious as you are,” Nathaniel said.

“If Indenuel would be fine with the experiment,” Rosa said.

Indenuel hesitated, glancing at Nathaniel. He would have to hold Rosa’s hands for the power of weather controlling. Since Nathaniel already gave permission, he was fine to touch her, but there was still the hesitancy. After years of Lucia’s lectures to never touch a woman, especially one above his class, it took him a moment to place all his worry to one side.

Indenuel tried to wipe his sweaty hands on his pants without anyone noticing before he reached forward. Rosa placed her hands in his, and Indenuel did his best not to flinch. He finished swallowing before he closed his eyes, tapping into his weather control. He sensed Rosa’s power, strong inside her, well trained. With two or three others like her, they could have easily changed the weather of Mountain Pass for a day. They reached forward into the night sky, sensing the clouds. It would be cold, the sky seemed to say. Autumn was here. Indenuel pushed it to be a bit warmer, for those who did not have the luxury of houses, and the sky complied.

Rosa gasped and dropped her hands. Indenuel slowly brought his hands back to his side. Rosa stared at him, wide eyed. “I’ve… I’ve never sensed…” Rosa continued to stare at him. Indenuel could do nothing but stare back. “You did not need me at all to do that. You really could start a storm all by yourself.” Indenuel did nothing to confirm this. “And keep it going for days.” Rosa was more than impressed. She was in awe. Indenuel did not know what to do with the praise, and the longer the silence lasted, the more his nerves grew. Even Adrian was giving Indenuel a curious look.

A group of people laughed loudly in the inn, and Indenuel winced. He wanted to leave. The silence of the table persisted, even though the other guests grew louder. Indenuel finished the last of his potatoes. It was a smaller portion, enough for him to have already swallowed them by the time he stood up and gave a bow, looking at no one at the table. “Forgive me, I am not used to keeping late hours and wish to retire.”

He didn’t look at them as he turned and headed down the hall to his room. He walked inside, closed the door, and let out a breath of air. He should have told Rosa. Nathaniel and Adosina already knew. It was only a matter of time. The only thing keeping him from telling her was his own fears. Fear of rejection. Fear that somehow this was all a big joke. But it wasn’t. Rosa’s awe-filled face was enough to quell any fears that Martin was just deceived about this.

And Nathaniel’s boys? Did they deserve to know as well? Did they deserve to know that through him the war would come to an end. The war that lasted longer than their entire lives?

Indenuel looked at himself in the mirror before trying once again to manage his hair. He didn’t feel like the Warrior, because he didn’t look like the Warrior. When he thought the Warrior was someone in the past, he conjured up someone strong, confident, brave. Not afraid of anyone or anything. And here he was, terrified of a married woman touching him. Afraid Nathaniel would call him a bastard’s son and slap him with the back of his hand. Beat him because he was a lower classman daring to touch his wife, even though permission was already given. Martin’s family treated him with the utmost respect and kindness, but it wasn’t enough to erase the nineteen years of abuse he suffered in Mountain Pass. What the people of Mountain Pass did to him was wrong, but they wouldn’t hurt him any longer.

Rosa deserved to know. Her children deserved to know. Nathaniel was in the military; he was going to captain a troop. It would put her mind at ease to know the Warrior had come to end the war.

Indenuel sucked a deep breath in before slowly letting it out. He straightened his posture before opening the door and walking down the hall to where Martin’s family was still eating dinner, chatting about random things. They quieted as Indenuel approached. Indenuel took a deep breath, closing his eyes. “To answer your question, Rosa, Martin picked me up from Mountain Pass because he believes I am the Warrior, prophesized to bring peace to Santollia. I don’t just have weather control, but I am a healer, a tree talker, and speak to those who have passed on. I am traveling with Martin to visit the other High Elders to confirm if what he suspects is true, and at this point, I believe Martin is right.” Indenuel let out the rest of the air and opened his eyes.

Rosa stared at him, tears in her eyes. She reached over, grabbing Nathaniel’s hands with hers. “Praise God for this day. Praise Him for bringing the Warrior to end this war.”

Adosina looked surprised, which made Indenuel curious. Certainly she had already figured out, but then Indenuel noticed Adosina was looking at surprise at something behind him. Indenuel turned to see a worker, her eyes equally as wide, holding a pitcher of ale, staring at Indenuel with a slack jaw. Indenuel gave an awkward smile. The entire inn had quieted, staring at the worker girl and at Martin’s table.

“Yeah,” Indenuel said quietly, staring at the girl who was staring right back. “I’m the Warrior.” Indenuel tried to wave, but his hand trembled. “And… and the truth of it is… I am still unused to keeping these late hours so…” Indenuel slowly backed away from the worker as well as the other people in the inn who were starting to whisper. Martin was positively beaming. Indenuel felt like an idiot. It took everything inside him not to turn and sprint back to his room. Instead, he smiled as he backed into the hallway before turning and entering his room.

Indenuel leaned against the wall, crossing his arms, trying to breath steadily as he stared at his shoes. The noise of the inn came back, if more subdued and excited.