The Pond - Part 29

“No!” Nikolai said emphatically. “I will not agree to this.”

They had been having the same argument for more than an hour.

“But think of the benefits for both Mikhail and us. He—”

“Benefits! There are no benefits. He needs to stay here to learn the operation of the mill. One day he will take my place here.”

“And if there is no place left to be had here? What then?”

He gave her a hard stare. “Is there something you know that I do not? Some secret that warrants sending our son away? Are you a seer now, that you can divine the future, or a magic worker?”

She schooled her features to ensure she did not give away her shock at his reference to magic. “No, but even you must admit these troubles—”

“Bah! These troubles are nothing.”

“Think, my husband! You, yourself, have said how business has been failing. Don’t you see? This is Mikhail’s best chance for something better should the worst happen.”

“The worst,” Nikolai repeated, glaring at her, standing immovable with his arms crossed over his chest. “And what could be worse than sending our son away?”

“Your youngest brother saw the wisdom of making a different choice. He does very well for himself in the city. Mikhail—”

“Mikhail’s place is here!”

“Here where there is one misfortune after another? What of the dropping level of the river?”

“It is a temporary setback. We’ve had trouble before, my wife, and we have always prevailed. These troubles, too, will pass in time.”

Izolda laid a hand on his arm and softened her tone. “Have you not noticed the diminishing of the village? How farms are being abandoned – by ones and twos, people have been leaving to seek their fortune elsewhere.”

“That does not mean—”

Though she hated to do so, Izolda sent a tendril of her magic into his arm. The spell was a subtle one, and took a few seconds to take effect. After a moment, Nikolai shook his head.

“What was I saying just now?”

“You were telling me how much you were going to miss Mikhail when he goes to foster with your brother Aleksander.

“I was?”

“Yes, and it is only natural. Of course you will miss our son,” Izolda assured him. “But he will have the opportunity to learn so much under Aleksander’s care. It will be much the same as the old country, where children were often fostered out so they could gain new experiences.”

“New experiences, yes,” said Nikolai, a little confusedly. “I do not know why we did not consider this before. It will be good for him to learn more of the world.”

“Exactly, my love,” Izolda said with great satisfaction.

The first hurdle surmounted, it was still several weeks before everything was arranged. During this time, Izolda kept Mikhail close to keep him safe. And as much as it pained her to do so, she needed to use her magic on him as well to reassure him that he was not being punished, that this was a great opportunity.

Finally, the day arrived when Mikhail left with Nikolai to journey to the city, and Aleksander. He would live with his uncle and go to school, or if he preferred he could apprentice to a trade. But no matter what he would be safe.

At least that’s what Izolda believed.