Quorum Praeteritum XXII
Late Summer, 1105 AD
Ayesvale was a small and quiet village, owned and controlled by three different individuals acting as Tenants-in-Common. However, Deorwine was acknowledged as the superior of the three, with his business providing most of the income for Ayesvale.
The Flickering Man had learned this in a very brief amount of time, and was intrigued by the village. Nevertheless, he didn't have much time to study the city. Soon, he would find the mysterious woman he had been searching for for years.
He looked at Deorwine and chuckled. He had lied to Deorwine, and he didn't even know it. He hadn't been friends with his Father, or worked to investigate the woman with him; the Flickering Man had ordered the death of Luke Tempest and watched him be killed, and had been working by himself to investigate the woman, primarily through his visions. And he hadn't been in hiding, he had been making sure that he was entirely prepared to leave this timeline.
The Flickering Man had seen her a year or two before he ordered Tempest's death, but only faintly. As the years passed, his vision became more and more clear as he concentrated on that one moment. A few months ago, the vision had become clear enough that he had seen her talking with Yevstafii the Conqueror.
"So, what's your plan?" asked Deorwine.
The Flickering Man grunted. Deorwine was a pawn in his game. To the Flickering Man, everyone was a pawn to be used by higher beings such as himself. Deorwine had the influence, resources, and money that he needed, and so could be useful. He also had ties to the Leofricsons through his Father, even if they were very loose ties.
Of course, he had already figured out the answer to Deorwine's question when he had looked into the future. Wulfthryth Leofricson was the key to his plan. Everything and everyone was falling into place for the orchestration of his plan. He had been playing chess against an invisible opponent, and now it was time to unveil her.
"Wulfthryth Leofricson. You go, and convince her that there is an army organized who would support her in a bid for Thored's throne, and direct her to Beloozero. If she uses the secret about me as a card to convince Yevstafii to join her, then he might offer information on the woman we're trying to find. But he's smart enough, so he'll imprison Wulfthryth and offer her up to Thored. Thored goes to Beloozero, and if Wulfthryth offered up information on me, then Thored and Yevstafii will begin to talk about my existence and the woman's. If this happens, then we will know that she is still here, and I can go after her."
Deorwine nodded. "Are you sure it will work?"
"No. There's still the possibility the woman we are searching for could leave, in which case we'll have to begin again. But if she is still there, then we will have our answers."