Ember (20 page)

He chuckled too. “Well, I think I've kept you
long enough for tonight.”

Though I was enjoying the training, I had to
agree. The back of my shirt was soaked through with sweat and it
was starting to freeze over in the night air, making me quite
cold.

I watched as Holdan threw his sword into the
grass with a victorious grin. “Let's get out of here,” he said, and
started moving towards the lodge.

I set my own weapon down carefully against
the fence, then followed behind him.

When we were inside I once again refused his
invitations to dinner and headed straight for the study. For some
reason I couldn't wait to get back today. I guess I just wanted to
check on Tanis.

When I entered the room I was inexplicably
surprised to see it empty . . . apart from the brilliant, jade
flames of course. It wasn't really a bad feeling though. I was
excited to have it all to myself, much too excited, in fact, to
shower despite my probable dirtiness.

After releasing my hair from the tight braid
it had been in all day, I plopped down on the couch next to
Tanis.

“Hi, buddy,” I said as he skittered onto my
lap. “How was your day?”

He squeaked once and I laughed.

“That's good.” I stroked his back tenderly.
He was so small a single finger did the trick. “Did anyone come to
visit?”

He didn't respond to this, I felt a little
disappointed in his uncertainty.

I watched him for a moment, his tail snaking
back and forth. When I looked up to the fire I felt a slight nibble
on my finger.

“Ouch.” I pulled it away quickly and glanced
down. Tanis was looking up at me with big glossy eyes. “Oh my
goodness, you haven't eaten yet have you?” I put my hand out and,
once he had crawled onto it, hopped up quickly. “I'm so sorry,
baby.”

Forgoing my coat, I walked carefully to the
door and checked the hall on either side of me. So odd how it
barely seemed to end in both directions. . . . It was empty enough
though, almost abandoned looking. Apart from the doors, fire-lit
lamps were the only ornaments decorating the long, narrow,
space.

“Wow,” I whispered softly to Tanis. “Kinda
mysterious at night, isn't it.” He squeaked once and I slowly shut
the door behind me.

With that I began heading right towards the
cafeteria, but my feet slowed almost immediately. I glanced back to
the left. “There's probably food closer around here, don't you
think?”

Tanis followed my gaze, but kept quiet . . .
he wasn't much help on the tough decisions.

I sighed and looked back up.
There's so
many rooms . . . .

“Let's just check it out.”

Part of me knew that our change in direction
had nothing to do with food. I was curious. This place was so
enormous, what were all the rooms for?

As I began to walk slowly down the hall Tanis
scurried up onto my shoulder. Maybe he was curious too, either that
or just really hungry. When he started chewing on my hair I decided
it must be the latter.

I walked past quite a few closed doors, not
wanting to just open one up at random in case they contained
people. After a while though, I started to think that they all must
be shut. It was at this point that I stopped in front of a door to
my right, nondescript apart from a small burn in the wood
grain.

As I reached for the handle Tanis started
chirping.

“We came all this way Tanis, we might as well
check
one
.” I turned the knob and he instantly quieted.

To my relief the room was pitch dark. Empty .
. . unless the inhabitants were asleep. I took a few cautious steps
then backtracked, grabbing one of the torches from the hallway.
With only the small fire to light my way, I reentered the room.

As I moved through it I immediately noticed
it wasn't a very large space. It looked almost like a storage area.
Piles of weapons, books, torches . . . I stopped my perusal when I
almost tripped over something on the ground. It looked like a long
board. Crouching down, I examined it. It was the backside of a
canvas.

With Tanis still perched watchfully on my
shoulder I flipped it around and moved the flame closer.

A painting, what else?

The first thing I noticed were dark creatures
monopolizing the left side. Some were grappling onto dark stone,
others raising swords in the shadows. I didn't have to guess what
they were . . . Meoden, like Sylvanus, like the ones that had
attacked me, like my dream.

A cold shivering breath escaped me and I
quickly moved the torch to the other side.

On this there were creatures of light, a
pure, creamish, glow. Amidst them were accents of many different
radiant colors. I liked this side better as a whole, but what I
didn't like was not knowing what they were. I focused my eyes
closer on the light figures.

A noise from the hallway stopped me. My head
jerked around and Tanis crawled swiftly back into my jacket. I
waited for a moment and, after hearing nothing else, decided I
should head back to the study.

I glanced once more at the painting, then set
it down and tip-toed out of the room. As I turned back to twist the
knob behind me, I suddenly felt something touch my shoulder.

My whole body jerked backwards.

“Oh, I am so sorry, Evelyn. I didn't mean to
scare you.”

I put a hand to my chest. It was just Sophie.
She looked quite different tonight, with no apron and her hair
dangling down past her shoulders.

“No,” I said, gasping. “It's my fault. I'm so
jumpy.”

She smiled sweetly.

After a moment, I pointed to the door
nervously. “I was just looking for some food. I didn't mean to . .
. “

She stopped me with a hand to my shoulder.
“That's quite alright.” She leaned closer. “I would be curious too
if I moved to a place like this.”

I blushed, but was glad to know that she
wasn't mad.

“Actually,” she said, “it's good I ran into
you.”

I waited for her to explain as she reached
down into a pack and started piling clothes into my hands.

When the pile had reached my shoulders she
stood back up. “These are for you.”

I looked down at them, then back. “You made
these?” I regretted the question immediately. I shouldn't have
assumed that.

My fears were still when she grinned widely.
“Of course I made them. Just because you live with boys, doesn't
mean you have to dress like them, right?”

I smiled. “Yeah, I guess. . . . Thanks,
Sophie.”

She bent down to pick up her pack. “After all
the help you gave me yesterday it was the least I could do.”

I laughed. “Do you still have enough pastries
left?”

She laughed too, then shook her head back and
forth. “Nope. They were gone about an hour after you left . . . I
think Holdan must have spread the word about them.” Her eyes
widened as she finished. “Oh, and that reminds me, Holdan said you
didn't have any dinner, so I brought up some food for you.”

As she reached into her bag again I could
feel Tanis circling around excitedly inside my pocket. He really
was a special animal.

After adding a paper bag to the pile of
clothes she sighed cheerfully. “Well, I'm off to bed. I'll see you
tomorrow.”

I smiled once more, my face now barely
visible behind the large stack. “Thank you, again,” I said. “For
the clothes.”

She nodded once then trotted off down the
hall. When she was out of sight Tanis popped his head out and
squeaked.

“Alright, alright, I'll get you your food.
Let's go.”

*

I woke up the next day at dawn. Tonight the
dream had been the worst of all three nights. But it was easier to
take with Tanis there, and I felt brave enough at least to stay in
the study.

After taking a hot shower, I examined some of
the clothes Sophie had given me the night before.

There was a brown robe in the mix, but it was
much smaller and lighter than the one I'd worn before. Other than
that there were quite a few varieties of pants and shirts that
looked a lot like the outfits I'd seen the other boys in, if not a
little more intricate.

Holding up a blue shirt and dark leather
pants, I turned to Tanis. “What do you think?”

He chirped once.

“Okay.”

I put it on carefully and was surprised at
how well it fit. Since my hair was still wet, I decided to leave it
down, and, after setting some breakfast out for Tanis, headed out
the door towards the cafeteria.

Even after the third day, I still scanned the
passing faces as I walked down the hall. It was almost more anxious
this time. Maybe because of the nightmare. I tucked a stray hair
behind my ear. Or maybe it was because of what I had learned about
them yesterday. . . .

I wasn't so sure now that if they came back
they would even come visit me.

The truth is, they were probably just stuck
with me those two days and, now that I was here, were all-too-happy
to get back to their important lives.

I groaned as I entered the cafeteria.

Why are boys always so confusing?

It wasn't a very good thought to have cross
my mind at this particular moment. All I could see in any direction
were boys, which only caused my anxiousness to increase.

I moved towards the table and, once I was
sitting down, waved to all the boys I had met the day before.

“Hi, guys,” I said, still forcing myself to
attempt the social thing.

Derrith waved, as did one of the other
younger boys across the table. The others all said good
morning.

As I began plating some food I heard Trevor,
the boy who'd shared the long story, speak. “Where's Holdan?” he
asked.

I waited for someone to answer. When no one
did I looked up to see that he was asking
me.

“Oh.” I swallowed my bite. “I don't
know.”

He was still looking at me.

“Should I?” I asked.

He considered this then shrugged. “I guess
not.”

“Ah . . . okay . . . ,” I said, my voice
trailing off as he went back to eating.

I felt like I was missing something. But
staying here, I was getting very used to that.

For a while the boys continued to talk
amongst themselves. I listened carefully, but what I really wanted
to do was ask if Jaden or Ikovos had come back yet . . . which is
exactly why I didn't.

Maybe I could get away with asking Thoran
under the premise of wanting to know when my magic training would
begin.

I glanced over at the near-empty table where
he usually sat and was surprised to see Cornelius and Sophie there
as well. They all looked deep in thought over something. Suddenly
Thoran's eyes flicked to mine. I turned away immediately.

. . . Apparently he shared Jaden's unnatural
ability to catch me staring.

“Evelyn?
Hello.
” sang Trevor's voice
across the table.

I shook out my head and looked up. “Oh,
sorry. What?”

He smiled. “Nate asked you if you were
training again today.”

I turned to Nathan. He was sitting to my
left. “Umm, I'm not sure. I guess so.”

He grinned in the way only a young kid can.
“Cool! I train today, too. Maybe we can fight.”

I winced. “I'm sure you'd be disappointed.
I'm not that good.”

Trevor smiled proudly. “Don't worry, you're a
girl so that's okay.”

One corner of my mouth went up, but I decided
to let it slide, at least he came by it honestly.

Derrith immediately looked up from the book
he was reading. “You know, Trevor, that tongue of yours is going to
get you into trouble one of these days.”

Trevor sighed happily. “Oh, I hope so.
Especially if it was trouble with the Meoden. I'd show them whose
boss.”

Derrith just rolled his eyes and went back to
reading.

I giggled inwardly. It was fun seeing them
kid around. It felt natural.

For the rest of breakfast the boys talked
about different attack combinations they would use against the
Meoden given the chance. Every once in a while Derrith seemed to
feel the need to set them straight on certain subjects, commenting
here or there. It was all very entertaining to watch, and the next
thing I knew I was the only one left at the table.

Just when I was about to decide where to go
next, someone slid in the bench next to me.

“Sup.”

I looked over. It was Holdan.

“Oh. Hi.” I really need to learn some more
interesting replies.

“Sorry I wasn't here for breakfast,” he said.
“I had some stuff to do.”

I shook my head. “No. That's alright.”

He smiled, then chipped me on the chin.
“Guess what today is?”

I looked up trying to count the days in my
head. “Ah . . . Thursday?”

He started to shake his head. Then stopped,
face perplexed. “Well, actually it is Thursday. But, what
else?”

I sighed. I really,
really
hated this
game. “Umm . . . cold?”

He laughed. “Nope.” I eyed him. “Okay, I'll
tell you.” I waited. “You promised to spar today,” he said,
grinning widely.

I didn't mirror his enthusiasm. Instead, I
dropped my head into my hands and whined.

He just laughed. “Don't even try that. I'm
not going to feel sorry for you.” I felt him get up. “Now let's
go.”

I grudgingly followed him out of the
room.

By the time we were to the side door I had
resigned myself to the fact that there was no getting out of it.
Maybe it would even be good for me. Let out some pent-up
frustration.

Outside the rainy weather was on the retreat,
the sun almost completely taking over. I was glad when Holdan
selected a well-shaded rink to fight in. It also had the added
bonus of being further away from the other boys, less people to
embarrass myself in front of.

While Holdan kicked out some stray twigs, I
measured the sword in my hands. I had been using this same one for
three days now, but I still wasn't used to the weight. It was so
blasted heavy.