For once, Enari slept without dreams.
She awoke much later than normal, to find herself in a strange room. Late morning sunlight, far too bright, poured through the open window beside the bed and gauzy curtains that looked nothing like her own rippled in the incoming breeze. It didn’t smell right, and it was hot. She was used to waking to the humid scent of rain and flowers or, more recently, the dust and smoke of travel, but all she could smell now was…well nothing, really. For a moment, she lay sleepily blinking at the ceiling, trying to remember where she was.
Then it all came back to her in a rush; she was in Rowan, in a guest room at the Imperial Palace. Her room, and the Temple, were a province away to the south. They’d arrived the previous evening and Jex had been desperately sick, maybe even dying.
She sat up and started to yank the sheets away.
“Calmly, little miss,” said a female voice. The accent was familiar, even if the speaker was not. “The palace isn’t afire.”
Enari looked around in alarm, searching for the stranger in her bedchamber.
The speaker turned out to be a young Zyrite woman in an amethyst gown. Her dark hair was covered by a crisp white kerchief and her eyes shone a bright and sparkling blue. She rose from her chair near the door and crossed to Enari’s side, sitting down on the bed at a respectful and nonthreatening distance. Her posture and smile were welcoming, and meant to soothe.
“I be Babirye Krighamre, little miss, and I’m assigned to serve the kvinna and yourself. Anything you need during your stay, you come to me. You be Enari, yes?”
She nodded and offered the woman a tentative smile of greeting. Babirye’s was the first friendly face she’d encountered since coming here, and reminded her a bit of home. It was hard not to warm to her.
“Come. There be breakfast for you in the sitting room and your Sura’s waiting. It be just her and I, so you can come out in your nightdress if you wish.”
She motioned for Enari to precede her and they entered the next room to find Vasi sitting at a small table and holding a cup of tea in one hand. She was dressed in a fine black gown with elaborate white embroidery Enari had never seen before and her hair was done in a soft style that framed her face. The breakfast fare laid out before her was light; fruit, bread with accompanying butter and jam, and of course, tea. Vasi refused to start her day without at least one cup and Consorts help anyone who tried to rush her through it.
“Kvinna, here be your apprentice. Need you anything from me?”
“No, thank you,” Vasi replied. She raised the delicate cup to her lips and inhaled the pleasant aroma. “This is one of the few things I ever missed about Rowan.”
Babirye drew out a chair for Enari and waited for her to sit. She did and the serving woman poured her a cup of tea, holding up a little dish of sugar and another of milk for Enari’s approval. She nodded yes to both and they were added, lightening the deep brown to a cloudy, milky perfection nearly as pale as the cup itself. She smiled her thanks and the woman smiled back, accepting the her silence without offense.
“I’ve never understood why you drink tea at all,” Vasi teased her apprentice, “That’s really nothing but sweetened milk.”
“Would you fancy something else, little miss?” Babirye asked with concern, “I can find something different if you would prefer.”
Enari vehemently shook her head and picked up her cup, trying to hide her discomfort. She’d never had anyone wait on her before and she wasn’t entirely at ease with the experience. At home, the majority of her meals not eaten with Vasi were eaten in her own room alone. It was a privilege the Abdesa had granted after seeing how poorly she fared in the common dining hall with the other girls.
“Please don’t take offense at her silence, Lady Krighamre. My apprentice doesn’t speak.”
“I suspected as much. My little bror is without speech and the young lady acts much as he does, so I understand. And please, just Babirye will do, Kvinna.”
Vasi was appreciative of the woman’s easy acceptance of what would be seen as, at the very best, a curiosity. Thus far, she had been quick, insightful, and almost prescient concerning their needs, and Enari seemed to find her more than acceptable, which was unusual. Her apprentice was normally agonizingly shy and uncomfortable with strangers. But that seemed to have changed, starting with Battlemage Xander for some reason, handsy git though he’d been. Regardless, it was a promising start to their time in court and would hopefully ease the girl’s transition somewhat, Goddess willing.
They ate in silence broken only by the clink of cup against saucer. Enari barely picked at her breakfast and Vasi could tell her mind was not on her food. The faint circles under her eyes announced a restless night and the combination of empty stomach and fatigue were going to make for a very long day.
“We’re meeting Tora Aelani after breakfast, but if you wish to go and check on Battlemage Xander after that, you’re welcome to do so,” Vasi said, hazarding a guess as to what distracted her apprentice. The way the girl’s face brightened told her the presumption had been correct.
“If she’s not hungry, I would be happy to help her dress for the day.” Babirye turned to Enari after getting a nod from Vasi. “I’ve found something that should fit you nicely, if you’d like to come and see.”
“What’s wrong with my normal clothes?” Enari wondered as she followed the serving woman back into her room.
As soon as she saw the yards of green and cream fabric, however, she knew exactly what was wrong with her normal clothes. The dress and linen undergown were simple by court standards, but compared to her everyday brown, it was a work of art. If she’d donned her own garments—even the one dress packed for her—she would stick out like a sore thumb in this elegant place.
“It be a gown that belonged to Baronessa Imily’s youngest,” Babirye explained, holding up the confection of satin and lace for Enari’s inspection. “You and her girl be of a height, but she be a little broader, I think. Let’s see if it fits.”
It was odd to simply stand still and have someone else dress her, but navigating all the laces without help would have been impossible. Lady Krighamre was patient, explaining the necessity of a corset with an apologetic smile and a promise not to lace it overly-tight. Enari hated the thing at once, but there was nothing to be done. The cut and style of the dress negated going without.
Beyond that unpleasantness it was peaceful, with only the occasional sound from beyond the window marring the quiet. Babirye touched her no more than she had to and Enari very much appreciated the maid’s consideration..
She watched in the mirror as her hair was brushed and braided, then coiled atop her head. A few strands escaped and curled against her cheeks and Babirye left them there. The finishing touch was an ornamental comb the same green as the dress.
“Very lovely!” she pronounced, standing aside so Vasi, who had been watching from a chair near the bed, could see her handiwork.
The kvinna was more than a little shocked. She’d always known her apprentice was exceptionally beautiful, but under the maid’s skillful hand, the young woman had been transformed. It was a proper lady, no longer a half-wild novice, who stood before her.
Enari seemed just as surprised. She stared hard at her reflection, tilting her head and reaching up to gingerly touch her hair.
“Can I see now, Babirye? Please?” whined a child’s voice from the doorway. A dark-haired girl skipped into the room and stopped dead when she caught sight of Enari.
“You look like the Vintyri princess in my books,” she whispered, staring in a mixture of awe and excitement. “Sarene said it was just a baby-story, but you’re real.”
The older women laughed and Babirye chided the girl gently, “She be as human as you, Torina. Introduce yourself and don’t be rude!”
Remembering her manners, the torina curtsied. “I’m Kylan. Who are you?”
“Her name is Enari, my lady,” Vasi provided, “She does not speak.”
“Oh. Why not?” The question was blunt, but not discourteous.
“Honestly, I’m not sure. She just never has.”
“That’s alright,” Kylan announced. She turned back to Enari. “Astraeus doesn’t either, and he’s the best secret keeper I ever met. Do you like to read?”
She nodded, charmed and a little overwhelmed by this bundle of energy and exuberance that confronted her. The little girl changed topics almost as randomly as Jex did and her smile was just as infectious, despite the absence of two front teeth. She was reminded a little of the first-year novices.
“Good! I can show you the library later!” She clapped in delight. “Are you coming to meet my mother?”
“They’re just going now. Would you like to show them the way, Torina?”
“Come on!” Kylan reached forward and grabbed for Enari’s hand.
Almost in a panic, Enari withdrew her hand into the voluminous sleeve of her gown, letting it cover her fingers. Kylan barely seemed to notice, grabbing hold and practically dragging her through the sitting room and out into the hall. Vasi and Babirye followed at a more sedate pace.
“How old be your apprentice, Kvinna?”
“Eighteen and a half. Nineteen in Janua,” she answered, watching the girls. Kylan was chattering nonstop and, possibly due to several weeks spent with the talkative battlemage, Enari didn’t look in the least put out by the rapid-fire words. She had, however, managed to tuck both hands into her sleeves. Black hair and red disappeared around the nearest corner.
“Well, your girl be not without a shadow, if she won’t mind the company of one so young,” Babirye laughed. She bid Vasi good morning, and reminded her that she was at their disposal if they were to need anything.
* * *
Kylan raced into Tora Aelani’s day room ahead of her guests and ran straight to her mother, ignoring the ladies arrayed around her.
“Mama! Mama, look! The kvinna brought her apprentice, and she’s a Vintyri!” she shrieked. “Sarene said they weren’t real!”
Aelani looked up, embarrassed, and put a hand over her daughter’s mouth to quiet her. The long expected kvinna stood in the doorway and at her side, or rather, mostly behind her, was a younger woman.
“Kylan!” the tora scolded, “Where are your manners?”
“I’m not being rude. Her name is Enari and she looks just like the princess in my story, see?” Kylan held out her book and opened it to a depiction of a striking fire-haired woman in a gown of forest green. She was peeking out from behind a large and gnarled tree, fey eyes wide and watchful. Aelani had to admit, the kvinna’s apprentice did look remarkably like the picture.
“She is right, Your Majesty,” Vasi ventured, “That very picture has caused my apprentice some…difficulty at the Temple.”
“I can well imagine.”
Aelani motioned for them to enter and they obeyed, each dropping a deep curtsy as they passed the threshold. A few of the ladies stared at Enari in unabashed interest and the poor girl began to blush. Anya, who’d been sitting near her mother, rose and embraced the kvinna and her apprentice in turn, arms lingering longest around the novice.
“Mama,” she said, “May I present Kvinna Vasi de’Curande of the Cyrilan Temple and her apprentice, Novice Enari Namelum.”
“You are most welcome, ladies,” Aelani responded, graciously inclining her head to them. “We are most pleased to have you here. I understand you had some difficulty towards the end of your journey?”
“Yes, my tora. One of our party was, and still is, gravely ill.”
Aelani sighed and closed her eyes. “Poor Jex. I do hope he’ll be alright. He and I have an arrangement of sorts that was to commence upon his return. My youngest is quite disappointed, as am I. Master Illyrian assures me that he will live, however, and that is a great relief. Goddess speed his recovery, for I have need of him.”
“I’ve been considering that very issue. Your Master Physician is a busy man, as he bluntly informed me last night, and has many other patients to tend. Enari and Battlemage Xander became quite friendly on our journey here and it was she who tended him when he first fell ill. May I be so bold as to offer her for his care?”
Enari glanced at her, startled. Vasi had indeed thought carefully about the proposal before making it. This would give Enari a place to be unnoticed, if she wished, and provide a task to occupy her time, at least for now. It would also give her the opportunity to put her training to practical use.
“Is she skilled enough to care for him, Kvinna Vasi?” Aelani asked worriedly, “Please do not think me callous, because I do very much care what happens to him, but I also have plans for Battlemage Xander and will need him at his full strength as swiftly as possible.”
“Yes, Your Majesty, more than skilled enough. With your leave, of course. I would not suppose to entrust a direct servant of yours to the care of someone you don’t approve,” Vasi answered, inclining her head. “The two formed a bond of sorts on the way here, and I know my apprentice will give him the care he requires.”
The tora turned to Enari. “Do you feel confident you can mind him properly? If he’s anything like my brother the High Mage, he will be a most difficult patient once he wakens.”
She nodded firmly, her expression confident.
“Then so be it. Now, Kvinna, what is it you need of me? I know my daughter insisted you be here, and I’m not ungrateful for your presence, but I honestly feel fine.”
“I won’t impose on you, Tora Aelani. I would merely like to examine you regularly, to make sure nothing is amiss. I will be as unobtrusive as possible. Have you time now?”
“You have my thanks for that, and I do have the time.” The tora rose to her feet and beckoned Vasi to follow her into her private chambers.
“Torina Anya, would you or one of the tora’s ladies be so kind as to show Enari where Battlemage Xander can be found?” Vasi called over her shoulder.
“I can show her, Kvinna Vasi,” Kylan offered.
“You have my thanks, Torina.”
Enari and Kylan returned to the hall, and Enari felt immense relief when the heavy door was closed between her and all those eyes. Some of the women had begun whispering amongst themselves as soon as the tora and her Sura were beyond hearing. Perhaps court would not be so different from the Temple after all. Both places, it seemed, were full of those with nothing better to do than gossip.
“Enari, is he really that sick?” Kylan whispered as they walked.
The older girl nodded grimly, feeling her stomach knot as she pictured his face the night before.
* * *
The High Mage was just leaving Jex’s rooms when they arrived, Master Illyrian at his side.
“He should recover fully within a fortnight,” the master physician was saying, “I was able to break his fever near dawn.”
“You broke the fever, did you?” Eryk thought, a little contemptuously. “Your apprentice sat with him all night while you slept in your own bed.”
“I am very pleased to hear it,” he said instead, “but shouldn’t someone stay with him?”
“High Mage Alycon.” Master Illyrian drew himself up to his full height, chest puffing out as he did. “I am a very busy man, as is my apprentice. We have many patients who need our attention, what with the typical summer sicknesses at full tilt. Too many for one of us to play nursemaid to a single, unconscious mage with the whore-pox.”
The High Mage considered any number of scathing remarks to the pretentious twit, but chose silence as the better part of valor. He’d seen his niece and another girl approaching down the hall and didn’t want to fight with the physician in front of them. So instead of calling up a gale and blowing the little man out the nearest window, Eryk simply nodded. Master Illyrian spun on his heel and started off, strutting like a bantam rooster before a flock of hens.
“Uncle Eryk, this is Enari. Mama and Kvinna Vasi sent her to take care of Jex.” Kylan looked between her uncle and the direction the master physician had gone. “Why is he so…so…” She threw up her hands, mimicking a gesture of her mother’s. “He’s like a mean old goat sometimes!”
Trying not to laugh, Eryk turned his attention to the young woman behind his niece. She shifted back a step when his gaze settled on her and nervously averted her eyes, but not before he saw their amber-gold coloring.
He stared hard at her. Hair like spun fire, ivory skin, pointed ears; she looked like…but that was impossible. Tanith had vanished long ago and as far as he knew, she’d had no living family. He’d have to ask Vasi more about this peculiarly familiar girl, when there was time.
“I am,” he started, clearing his throat. “I’m pleased to meet you, Enari, and I am sorry for my discourtesy in not introducing myself last night. If you’re Vasi’s apprentice, I have every confidence in leaving Jex to your care,”
“Is he going to be alright? He won’t die, will he?” Tears shimmered in Kylan’s eyes and Eryk knelt, hugging her fiercely.
“No, my dear, he isn’t going to die. You may go in and see him if you want, but he’s asleep so you must be very quiet.” Taking her hand, he gestured for Enari to precede them.
She grimaced as furnace-hot air struck her face. Rolling her eyes, she strode to the windows and shoved them open, though she left the curtains half drawn. The breeze that rushed in was warm, but not nearly as stifling as the air inside the chamber had become. The palace physician must truly be half-witted if he thought a stuffy, closed room was anywhere near conducive to healing. Eryk raised an approving eyebrow at her, but said nothing.
Moving briskly about the room, she emptied the washbasin of its murky contents, refilled it with clean water, examined the pile of supplies left haphazardly on a table, and made a list of the things she still needed. She returned to Eryk, ducking her head, and handed him the scrap of paper.
He almost laughed when he saw the messy scrawl. Most ladies prided themselves on fancy, delicate penmanship, but this little novice seemed utterly unconcerned with such niceties. It was rather refreshing.
“Are these all the things you need?”
She nodded, still not looking up into his face, and Eryk had to fight an urge to lift her chin so he could study her more closely. Instead, he put the paper into his pocket, promising to have the items brought to her as quickly as they could be found. When he asked if she required anything else, she shook her head no. They turned towards the bed and found Kylan kneeling on the edge, petting Jex’s hair and murmuring to him.
“Why don’t we let Enari get to work?” Eryk suggested, laying a hand on his niece’s shoulder. “You can come back and visit him later, alright?”
Sniffling back tears, Kylan slid off the bed. The High Mage hoisted her in his arms and together they left the room. Enari was at last alone with her friend and, unfortunately, first true patient.
As she turned away from the bed, something in the mirror stopped her. Squinting, she moved to one side and edged closer, bringing Jex’s reflection into full view. What she saw froze her blood.
Weirdly glistening black smudges, like wisps of greasy smoke from a crematorium, hovered around him. They squirmed grotesquely over his chest and a circular patch marked his brow just above and between his eyes. Enari suspected that if she pulled down the sheet, she’d find more of them about his other injuries. Watching the ones she could see slowly twist and undulate made her nauseous. She closed her eyes and shook her head, hoping they’d be gone when she looked in the glass again.
They weren’t, and if anything, they were stronger, darker.
She spun to face him, and saw nothing on his sleeping form. He groaned quietly and shifted onto his back before subsiding. When she looked over her shoulder into the mirror, his reflection bore the marks plain as day.
Obviously this was no normal malady, but the only alternative was magic and she’d never heard of anyone using it like this. Curses, she knew, could be cast by someone with enough skill and focus, but those killed swiftly, or simply brought bad luck. This shouldn’t even be possible.
Enari moved slowly to the side of the bed, not wanting to wake him, and put her hand on his chest.
Images exploded in her head and she was catapulted back into the dreams she’d had on the road.
A lightless room, coins clinking on a dirty table, the laughter of the crone…and then the vision shifted. A different chamber now, dancing shadows cast by half-melted candles and a pale hand scratching its nails across the naked chest of a child’s corpse… red eyes, a fanged grin in roiling darkness, the hiss of demonic laughter…
She yanked her hand away and stumbled back from him.
Turning to flee the room in search of Vasi or the High Mage or even the Master Physician, she swayed drunkenly for several steps before collapsing into blackness.
* * *
“You’re idiots, the lot of you.”
“Now, now, there’s no need for that! Just because the bloody High Mage intervened this time doesn’t mean he’ll always be around to do so. We can gather more support, present the idea again when we’re truly ready.”
“No. You’ve had more than ample time to gather that support and you were no more successful the second time you presented the idea, even without the High Mage to oppose you. You’ve failed me, and I warned you what would happen if you failed, Councilors.”
“You’re being hasty. Things like this don’t happen overnight, especially when the idea is so…distasteful to so many. You can’t possibly be surprised that they were appalled at the thought of marrying off a seven-year-old, royal child or not. They simply need time, and perhaps some additional incentive, to consider the benefits of your proposal. If you could find more coin—”
“Enough! I’ve waited long enough. You leave me no choice but to do this myself. I’ve no further need of any of you moronic, simpering slugs, and neither does the Grand Council.”
“Best watch your tongue. We know far too much for you to simply discard us like refuse. I know you think yourself above us, but I can still make your life immensely unpleasant should you choose to cross us. Even you aren’t untouchable.”
“Excellent point, Adipem. Lucky I planned for this, then, isn’t it? Pasusabael, they are yours. Deal with them as you wish.”
“Wait, wait! No, what are you doing? Please—”
“No one can hear you. Adipem, Hera, Hrivaldi, may Diu welcome you with open gates.”