“Tell me,” she continued, “why tell me this now, after so many years?”

"I just wanted you to know the facts," he offered. "Nikolai also wanted a share of your bounty, but I refused. He's borne a grudge ever since."

"But isn't he a mage hunter now?" she asked.

"He is," Stanislav confessed, "and now that you're a senior, you may have to interact with him."

"Thank you for telling me," she said, "I know it must have been hard."

"Well," he said, "I suppose I'd best get going. With any luck, I can locate Katrin's birth record before the bell tolls for dinner."

"Very well," she said, "I'll leave you to it. Good luck, Stanislav, and look after yourself."

"I always do," he said with a chuckle.

He left the room, exiting back to the stables, leaving Natalia deep in thought. Hopefully, she would hear back in a couple of days and could resume her friendship with Katrin.

Stanislav looked down at the paper in his hand, the address was correct. He stood, gazing at the entrance, taking in the ornate stonework and worked metal gate. A servant, alert to his presence, came towards him from the mansion that lay beyond. The man stopped just out of reach on the other side.

"Who are you," the servant asked, "and what is your business here?"

"My name is Stanislav Voronsky," the mage hunter answered, "and I'm looking for Katrin Stormwind. Do I have the correct address?"

"There's no one here by that name," the servant replied, rather indignantly.

"This is the house of Lord Kolyak Stormwind, is it not?"

"It is," the servant replied, "what of it?"

"According to birth records his wife bore a girl at this very house. They named her Katrin."

"I know of no such thing, you've obviously made a huge mistake."

"I think not," said Stanislav. "I'm a mage hunter, and I work for the Volstrum."

The servant's eyes bulged ever so slightly. "Well," he huffed, "you should have mentioned that immediately. Please, come in, and I'll show you to the sitting room where you can wait for Lord Kolyak."

"Thank you," Stanislav replied, "I should be delighted." He waited while the servant opened the gate, admitting him.

"It's right this way," the man said, "if you'll follow me."

Stanislav was led down a winding path that culminated at a stately wooden door. Pausing a moment, he glanced at the symbols carved into it. They looked like runes of some sort, but he didn't recognize them. Following the servant inside, he entered a comfortable looking sitting room decorated with plush chairs around the perimeter, while in the centre was an imposing statue. It looked odd to see the marble artwork here, in this otherwise homey room, and he leaned in closer to examine it in more detail. It depicted a mermaid, coiled around an anchor, no doubt inspired by some sort of legend.