– Hello, Alviss! – The healer's greeting sounded loud enough, but to whom it was addressed was still unclear to me.

– Oh!" An old, hoarse voice came from the next room, followed by rumbling, cursing, and then hurried footsteps.

A few minutes later a little old man appeared before us, stamping his feet amusedly. I was immediately struck by the huge, graying beard growing over the shopkeeper's wrinkled face and reaching down to his knees. Being tall enough, I had to look down at Alviss from above, which made me uncomfortable, but the gray-haired old man seemed to feel confident even in that position.

– Evans! How many moons has it been since I last saw you? – The old man exclaimed enthusiastically and spread his thin, trembling hands apart.

My companion went down on one knee, and the men embraced, patting each other on the back. Evans had a wide, happy smile on his face, and it was clear without words that the two men had known each other for a long time and were good friends. Who else could hug like that? Unless it's someone close by blood.

– It's good to see you too, old friend! – The healer said with feeling.

I wasn't mistaken. Evans had confirmed all my hunches with that phrase.

– How did you get here? There are royal guards everywhere! They're doing their rounds more often than they used to! You could have been imprisoned! All you had to do was send a pigeon and we would have met at the border with Kaldwind! – The old man rattled on, unclasping his arms as if he hadn't noticed my presence at all.

– It's a long story, I'll tell it another time. I have something urgent and important to do with you. Don't be in a hurry to refuse, and I'll pay you handsomely. – A strange smile appeared on Evans's face, and Alviss's eyes sparkled with interest.

If gold coins could be placed in his eye sockets, they would shine like that. The old man must have a taste for money, and at the mention of gold, he would glow with happiness, imagining where he could spend it.

I looked at this person: it was curious to see who lived in such a luxurious house, though at first glance it looked like an old hovel.

As I have already said, the owner of the house was a gray-haired, wrinkled old man with a long, thick beard, of short stature. He was dressed modestly. His yellow eyes gave him away as a magician. Now the old man didn't seem like a gimmick to me, and his house didn't overwhelm me: everything around him was imbued with magic, which I could feel with every fiber of my being.

I waited patiently to be noticed. Alviss and Evans couldn't be oblivious to my presence! Luckily, Evans seemed to read my thoughts and, rising to his feet, turned to me. He looked happier than I'd ever seen him. And, I must admit, there was something special in his beautiful wide smile, something childish, kind, and completely sincere. That's very rare nowadays. I smiled back at him.

– Alviss, I completely forgot to introduce you to my companion.... – The healer held out his palm in my direction and had time to say only this before he was suddenly interrupted by his friend, the old mage.

– Life! A life companion, I hope! – Alviss winked at Evans with his yellow eye.

Those words made my cheeks blush like poppies. I wanted to explain to the old man that he was wrong, but Evans had time to do it before I opened my mouth in indignation.

– Oh, no! Not at all! – Evans said hurriedly, as if noticing my confusion. – Just my battle buddy.

– I don't believe it! – The old man said the last syllable, then crossed his arms over his chest and stomped his little foot in his low leather boot.