Stefan arrived two days later.
He walked up to the front gate late in the morning and peered left and right along the low, white-painted picket fence that fronted Batian House. It looked innocuous, but he was not fool enough to enter a mage’s house unannounced. He rang the big brass bell that hung on the right-hand side of the gate and waited.
A well-muscled man of above medium height arrived a couple of minutes later and stood looking down at him, studying him and the backpack slung over his shoulders. After a moment, the man said, “Good morning. May I help you?”
Stefan grinned. “I believe you are expecting me. My name’s Stefan.”
Leon’s eyes widened in surprise although he quickly quelled his reaction. Stefan knew he would be wondering at his short, slight stature and gave a mental sh
