by B. C. Morin
“You will need some work with the sword fighting. But you are skilled enough for now. Tomorrow we will continue with some of the meditations that we worked on yesterday and this morning.” He stepped toward her until he was but a couple of feet in front of her.
“Alannah,” he smiled, “breathe easy.” He lifted his hand and held it in front of her chest. She closed her eyes taking a deep breath. Suddenly as if feeding from his repose her breathing slowed quickly, as did her heart.
He lowered his hand again before speaking.
“I am aware that much has transpired for you in the past few weeks.
Alannah’s eyes flung open, wondering how much he knew.
Master Jadoc’s expression remained sympathetic, “However to achieve the level of concentration I need you to be at, you will need to learn to empty your mind of all those things when you are here.”
Alannah lowered her head slightly and closed her eyes for a brief moment. She knew what he meant. Even this morning as she tried to calm her spirit she found that she could not empty her mind of thoughts of Brennus.
She lifted her head again and met his eyes.
“Yes, Master Jadoc.”
He lowered his head, dismissing her for the day.
She walked down the steps to the wooden gate where she saw Anora waiting for her.
Alannah walked toward the castle, Anora following close behind as usual.
“Anora?” Anora hurried her steps to catch up with Alannah.
“Yes, Ma’am?”
She spoke lowly so that no one else could hear. “Do you have any thing that can help with these sore muscles and bruises?”
Anora chuckled to herself.
“Yes ma’am. We have a salve that will help with the pain and healing.” She looked carefully at Alannah. “You do not seem to be in much pain.”
Alannah gave a smirk. “I am merely containing it all inside so that Master Jadoc sees no weakness.”
Anora chuckled again, this time Alannah joined her.
“If it’s not too bold to say, Alannah, you seem to be learning the ways of the warrior fae quite well.”
No sooner did Anora close the door behind them, than did Alannah let out a heavy sigh and begin to unbuckle the straps that held her weapons in place.
“I never thought that when he said he wanted to see my sword fighting skills that he would actually be fighting me.” She grabbed at her right arm that still had the remnants of today’s lesson sitting on her shoulder. She watched as Anora held her hands over the wound and began reciting spells in the language she had become accustomed to hearing but still could not interpret.
Anora stepped back looking at the wound that now stood as nothing more than a small line and smiled.
“Master Jadoc is quite strict in his training miss, but you will be amazed at how fast you will learn to control and manipulate your powers.”
Alannah turned to look at Anora who was hanging the belt and weapons.
“Have you trained with him, Anora?”
Anora turned swiftly.
“Me? Goodness, no. Only the very skilled train with him.” She walked behind Alannah, “May I help you with your corset, Miss?”
“Oh, yes, please. I would appreciate it.”
Alannah sat in the hot water watching the steam rise. The room is so quiet when Anora isn’t here, she thought. Not that it was comforting. She would rather have Anora there, having someone to talk to helped distract her mind as well as her heart. She thought of what Master Jadoc had said to her. She could put it off no longer. She had to learn to put Brennus out of her mind. After all, how hard could it be? They had not spoken since their encounter in the dining room. She had seen him this morning as she was leaving for training and for a moment, she thought he was going to say something to her, but he was rushed away by the council. She had resigned herself to drinking some tea and having a light snack in place of dinner so as to avoid having to see him, although he had not invited her again since the last time.
Alannah sat at the vanity in her nightgown, brushing her hair.
She looked at herself in the mirror and almost had not recognized herself. As if all the things she had been through and all the changes she had to make had changed her physically. Slowly, she reached to touch her cheek as if to confirm that it was her.
Slowly the mirror began to transform into what looked like a pool of silver liquid.
“Alannah?” The familiar voice commanded a sigh of relief and longing from her.
“Evyette!”
Evyette sat with her small mirror in her hand looking at her sister.
“I have missed you, dear sister.” She asked Alannah about the trip to Anrad. Alannah began to describe all the events from the attack by Cormac to the events that followed once they had arrived.
“So Brennus is a King, now?” Evyette held her hand half over her mouth. “Well, can he not overturn the last request of his father?”
Evyette watched as Alannah’s eyes watered and she looked away.
“Perhaps. But he does not feel that it would be proper.”
Alannah took a deep breath and focused on a few things on the vanity to keep herself from crying before looking back at Evyette.
“That matters not, now. Tell me of Caelestis. Have you found anything?” Evyette proceeded to tell Alannah of the trip to Caelestis and everything that had happened since they arrived.
“And she just disappeared?” Alannah looked at her sister with confusion. “Did no one offer an explanation?”
“Well, to be honest, we did not stay around long enough to find out. After that, we came directly to the inn. We are to meet in an hour to discuss what we will do tomorrow.”
Alannah watched as Evyette sighed and closed her eyes for a moment. She knew that keeping up the spell was taking a toll on her.
“Exhaust yourself no longer, my sister. We will speak again tomorrow.” She reached her hand toward the mirror, as if she would be able to touch her. “Please be careful, Evyette.”
“You, as well, Alannah.”
In a moment, Alannah was looking at herself once again in the mirror. She sighed, relieved for having heard from her sister. She quickly stood to go and tell Brennus, but stopped herself. Now is not the time, she thought, as she turned and walked toward the open balcony. She looked around at the clear night sky, dotted with bright stars, at all the beautiful trees surrounding the castle, and settled her gaze on the strange shadow crossing the courtyard silently.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter 3
Tristan knocked on Evyette’s door. After receiving no response, he turned the knob and opened it slightly.
“Evyette?” He stood holding the door but did not peer in. “Are you here?”
A breathy “yes” escaped her lips just loud enough for him to hear. He saw her sitting on the bed with her knees pulled up and her head fallen against them.
“Evy!” Tristan ran to her, sitting beside her on the bed, “Are you alright?” he slid his hand under her chin and lifted her face to meet his.
“Yes, I just spoke to Alannah and the spell drained me more than I thought it would.” She hadn’t looked at him yet, but she knew that he had washed. The smell of outside and sweat was gone. She inhaled deeply before looking at him. The smell of soap and that faint smell of burning wood filled her senses.
She smiled.
He stood without a word and walked to the washroom. She heard him whisper some words before coming out again.
“Come.” He said, grabbing her hands and pulling her to stand. “You need a relaxing bath.” She looked out the window and saw that the stars had already begun to fill the sky.
“But we are to meet with the Magisters soon.” He cupped her face in his hands.
“Yes, but they will wait.” He brushed his lips gently against hers before leading her to the washroom where he had filled the tub and lit some candles, which had been left by the inn keeper.
She turned to than
k him but he was already closing the door behind him. Evyette soaked in the tub for a few moments, while thoughts of tomorrow’s plans weighed heavily on her mind.
“I thought I said relaxing bath.” Tristan raised an eyebrow at her as she emerged again from the bath only moments after going in.
“I know, but if I would have done that, I would have fallen asleep in there.” They laughed out loud as she walked over to him holding her corset against her chest. “I normally wouldn’t ask this of you, but-“
He cut her off as he stood from the chair he was sitting in.
“Right, for these you usually have Alannah or a hand maiden help you.” He had grown accustomed to seeing her in the gear of pants and blouse and corset with the fasteners in the front that he was almost breathless at the sight of her in her satin corset and long skirt.
He tied up the back of the corset, allowing his fingers to linger on her waist and then up to her shoulder blades where he traced some of her Marks. She turned wrapping her arms around him.
“Thank you.” she said, kissing him lightly before leading him to the door.
Ithor and Kaleb had been waiting for Tristan and Evyette outside Evyette’s room. As they walked to the stairway, Evyette recounted the information that Alannah had told her, leaving out any bits that she knew would possibly hurt Kaleb.
“So he’s a King, now.” Tristan repeated.
“Well, now he will be twice as arrogant.” Kaleb said, half laughing. He wanted to hate Brennus and perhaps he did. But could not help but be grateful that Brennus was able to take Alannah to the elder faeries.
The meeting room was dark, lit only by a few candles in the corners of the room and by the candelabra that hung from the ceiling with only half of the candles in place. There was a large wooden table in the center. It was carved like the ones that they had all seen in the castles they had been to, but the carvings on this table had creatures other than faeries on them. The chairs were a dark wood and with carvings at the very top of the seat and at the ends of the arms. The satin pillows that adorned the seats were made of a black silk that seemed a bit worn.
As they approached the table, Evyette saw that there was food and wine awaiting them. She felt her stomach quiver in excitement and hunger. There was something comforting about sitting at a table with others to eat instead of eating beside a campfire outside.
The Magisters waited for most of the plates to be empty before beginning to speak.
Magister Torin had spoken first.
“While you were all in your rooms I spoke to the Inn Keeper about Caelestis. It seems that we will have difficulty in finding assistance, as much of this town keeps to itself. However, she did mention that perhaps it would be of interest to follow the housing paths.”
“Why the housing paths?” Kaleb jumped in.
“She did not say. It was apparent that she did not want to share too much information so I did not dare to press the matter.”
Torin took a sip of his wine.
“Also, since we have arrived, I have tried, albeit gently, so as not to alarm anyone, to search some of the minds we have encountered but they are well guarded here. I cannot say I have ever seen anything like it.”
Magister Morcant leaned forward.
“It is almost as if everyone who is here knows of this village’s history but is not willing to relinquish that information to strangers.”
Evyette poured herself another glass of wine before speaking.
“Then tomorrow we follow the housing paths.” She lifted the goblet to her lips and sipped at the sweet wine before continuing, “I would also like to try and find out who Rhoslyn is. What the people here may know about her.”
The wine poured plentiful and by the time dessert had arrived, most of the group had had several goblets. The Magisters and guards shared stories with Kaleb, Tristan and Evyette. Days of training and traveling and worrying were relieved by the drink.
It did not take long for the Magisters to return to their usual demeanor and excuse themselves, though not before reminding everyone that they had to be awake early for some training and then to explore the village.
Shortly after the Magisters departed, the guards asked to escort the remaining fae upstairs so that they could all go their respective rooms. Once in the hallway, Tristan nodded at the guards, dismissing them, and they disappeared behind doors that faced each other. Kaleb waved his hand in a circular motion in front of his waist and bowed slightly.
“I think it is time for me to bid you both goodnight.” He laughed a bit before opening his own door and closing it gently behind him.
“Looks like Kaleb had one too many goblets of wine.”
“Nah, it takes more than that to inebriate him. He was just trying not to be awkward since he was the last one out here with us.”
Evyette looked around and saw that they truly were alone. Not like in the woods where they were all in tents next to each other. One could hear conversations from outside the tents while others walked around the campsite.
“Evy, if you do not want me to, I do not have to stay with you. There is an extra bed in Kaleb’s room.” He looked directly into her eyes waiting for her to respond.
Evyette reached behind her and turned the knob slowly, letting the door creep open. He looked into the room and back to her, still waiting for a response from her. He got nothing but silence.
She felt her face flush hot, and she wondered if he could see it in the dimness of the hallway. She slid her hand into his, gently pulling him along as she walked into her room and closed the door behind her.
She waved her hand and said some words in a low voice and all the candles in the room sparked ablaze. The shadows danced across the floor and on small amounts of furniture. The room was simple enough. A large seat with several cushions lay in the corner next to a small wood burning stove and a table that had a very worn and dusty book and a large candle. Against the wall was a considerably sized bed laden with silks and satins and pillows all ranging in color from light and dark blues to dark purples.
Tristan’s hand on her waist brought her attention back to him. He stepped closer closing the gap between them and slid his other hand along her neck caressing her cheek with his thumb. He leaned down slightly and she lifted her heels off the ground a bit to meet his lips.
She pressed her lips against his fervidly and slipped her arms around him, pulling him as close as she could. She didn’t know if it was the wine or her longing but she felt an ache in her body that caused her to press hard against him. Her lips parted from his for a moment as she studied his face. His light eyes were looking inside of her. He longed for her, as well, and she knew it. She teased his lips with hers before kissing him again. He lifted her off the floor, carrying her to the bed and gently laying her down. He lay down next to her, leaning toward her and kissing her neck, leaving a trail of heat along her skin. She closed her eyes, feeling his hand caressing her neck and her shoulder, tracing her Marks down her arms. She leaned toward him, as well, gliding her hand up then down his back feeling the firm cords of muscles through his shirt. He pressed his lips against hers fiercely, taking her face in his hands again and pressing himself against her. She tasted the wine off of his lips, and wanted more. Tristan's hand moved slowly down her side to her waist touching the bit of skin that was exposed between her skirt and the corset that had moved up, driving goose bumps to overtake her.
“You have had a lot to drink, my love.” Tristan closed his eyes, willing himself to control his emotions, and continued. “I don’t want you to do something you don’t want to do.” He moved his gaze back on her eyes.
She looked away for a moment, knowing that if not for the wine, she may not have acted this way. Although some part of her did want to. He put his hand on her face as she turned it to meet his again.
“I don’t want you to go, though.”
He smiled at her.
“I do not have to go.”
She turned and buried her face in his ne
ck as he wrapped his arms around her.
She awoke to the sounds of the swords clashing outside her window and Evyette knew that Tristan had left. She had gotten used to the sound, as they had made it a habit to train every morning using physical combat as well as spells. She wasted no time in getting dressed in her gear and headed out the door.
As she walked out the door to the courtyard, one of the Magisters that she had not seen outstretched his hand and shot at her with his magic. As if she knew it was coming, she instantly ducked while turning toward him and fired a shot back at him. The Magister waved his hand in front of him, blocking the counter attack, and then smiled at her. Evyette stood glaring at him and then looking at her own hands. She wasn’t sure if she was more shocked over the attack than she was about her response.
Magister Torin walked to her. His hood was brought down over most of his face, as always, leaving enough so the smirk on his face can still be seen.
“How did you know I would block it?” Evyette asked him as he stopped to stand in front of her.
“I did not know. I was merely hoping that all of the practice had been paying off.” He smirked again and then walked away toward the other Magister.
Tristan walked up behind Evyette planting a kiss on her neck.
“That was amazing!”
“I still cannot believe it!” She answered excitedly as she turned to face him.
For the next hour Evyette, Tristan, and Kaleb fought against the guards and the Magisters, using everything from tangible weapons to magic.
The attack came hard. A dark cloud infiltrated her mind, desperately pushing at her conscious and trying to siphon her of all control. Evyette dropped to one knee pressing her hand to the side of her head, as if the physical act would relieve the pressure inside. Taking a deep breath, she began pushing against the darkness. She began building walls around her thoughts and her memories. She was sure that this attack was only taking minutes, but it felt more like hours.