Patreon LogoYour support makes Blue Moon possible (Patreon)

The Ward (NobodysAngel80 x EvelynWillows)

Kline figured that there were some thing he simply wasn't ready to know yet, and if part of that knowledge what that he'd be kissing girls, he wasn't really anxious to be ready to learn about that. Still, he figured that if kissing was what got him here, eventually it'd be worth looking into. Not yet though. Girls were still being way too strange for him to want to get suckered into their crazy ways. Roguel said that Mistress Rihayne shouldn't be as angry now as she had been; then again, he'd also admitted that he didn't understand girls either, so taking his word for the matter was largely circumspect. Still, there was work to be done inside, and apparently Roguel was better at figuring out when a girl was going to be angry than he was at figuring out how to not make her angry, because when he carefully crept back inside, Rihayne didn't look mad anymore, just tired. She glanced up at Kline as he came in and smiled slightly. "Well, there you are. The customers are mostly gone now, so if you'd be so kind as to wash up the dishes and wipe down the tables you can head home for the day." Kline eyed her suspiciously and she sighed. "Ohh, don't give me that look. He's an idiot. Now go get to work."

The day after that passed rather uneventfully, with the usual steady stream of customers coming in and out. She had very cautiously avoided going out back, afraid that she'd wind up having to talk to Roguel and that was the last thing she wanted to do at this point. And the stubborn man was insisting on chopping the wood still! She'd told him not to, had told him to go away and he didn't listen to her! She wasn't quite as furious with him as she had been but she was still plenty insulted. Still, he had done good work for her, so she wrapped up a couple of loaves of the elven supper bread he'd liked and opened the door to the back area, waiting til he had noticed her and clearing her throat, holding the wrapped package out to him.

"You have decent intentions. But don't ever kiss me unless you mean it." She said, and was rather proud at how well she kept her tone even and steady. "At any rate, the store will be closed tomorrow around noon, and I'll be going to the lecture, then to lunch. If you want to come by in the morning, I'll have some breakfast ready for you, but honestly, I think I have plenty of wood. I do have a few repairs around the shop I could use assistance with, but that's entirely up to you."
 
Roguel was just coming around the corner of the shop when he saw Rihayne out on the back stoop. He was covered in sawdust and sweat. The soldier silently accepted the wrapped meal and listened to his boss, his jaw twitching when she told him not to kiss her unless he meant it. "You assume I didn't mean it," he said. "I've waited a long time to kiss you."

He studied her for a moment before changing the subject. "I've noticed some things that could be improved around here. Obviously there hasn't been a man around in much too long. Come, let me show you."

He turned and walked away like a man accustomed to being obeyed without question. At the corner of the building was a new lean-to he had built. "Your wood stove is there," he said as he pointed to the wall as if he could see through the damn thing. "I can put a door here that makes it easier to get to your wood in the winter. The wind comes from the other side of the building, so here you'll be sheltered better and your supply will stay dry. You'll have to let me come back inside the shop, though, if you want it done."

He unwrapped the bread and took a bite as he waited to hear what she thought of the idea.
 
She didn't know how to respond to his statement that he had meant it when he kissed her, feeling both a slight tingle of nervous excitement at the thought twist in her belly, only to be severely tamped down as she sternly reminded herself that he'd stated that he wanted to see her safely involved with someone else, someone more befitting her class (not his words but they might as well have been). No, it was his disapproval of her being involved with a noble that was drawing this out in him, not any sort of tendre for her specifically. He was simply using all of the tools at his disposal to ensure that she was kept 'safe' as he determined it. Before she could really decide how to respond in an appropriate manner to that, he mentioned the improvements that he had noticed, and she was actually grateful for not having to answer his statement. She followed him to the corner of the building where a very nice lean-to had been built for her firewood, he explained.

She had to admit that he had this planned out well with the location of the wood stove in relation to the wood. She glanced over at him as mentioned that she'd need to let him back into the store and she sighed inwardly. "You know, when I told you to leave earlier, I really didn't mean for you to come out here and continue to work. But I do appreciate the work you're doing. And yes, I would like for you to put in the door; it would track in far less mud and snow during the winter and make things much more efficient for the store in the cold months." She smiled a little and looked over the lean-to, admiring his handiwork. "Alright. If you'll agree to not interfere with my relationships, then fine. We can continue as before. Just...don't treat me like a little sister one day and like a potential lover the next. It just...it smacks of insincerity, and insults my intelligence."
 
"Okay, Rihayne. What do you want? Do you prefer the little sister bit? Because then I'll tell you that Duke Liam's trouble; he's going to use you, wear you out, and spit you on the side of the road like an over-used whore." He narrowed his eyes at her. "Or maybe you want me to treat you like a potential lover? Because then I'd tell you that Duke Liam's not good for you. He's a user; he'll throw your heart around like a dog ripping at a bone and when he's done you won't be able to get an audience with him if your life depended on it."

"And it might." Roguel rolled his jaw and turned away from her. "Don't be late for your class at the university. I'm certain that the Duke would be 'put out' if you were to forget your luncheon with him afterwards." He glanced over his shoulder at her, his grey eyes cloudy and full of turmoil as he began to walk away. "
 
She didn't know what to say to that. Didn't know how to react to his words. So she simply clenched her fists, feeling her face flush as she refused to turn her gaze from his eyes. There was no speaking to him anymore in this regard. His thoughts on the matter were too firmly entrenched; it didn't matter how she would protest, he would dismiss her as being a foolish little girl blinded by a man with beauty and wealth and power, when honestly she didn't give much of a thought to those things. Perhaps he was right. Perhaps the Duke had less than honorable intentions for her. However, it seemed to her a strange assumption to make. She had lived alone for two years now since her parents had returned to her father's homeland and never before the other day did anyone show any interest in her. Why would he have waited so long if he had some nefarious intent towards her? It made no sense.

It didn't strike her as the sort of long standing thought out plans that someone with sinister intent would have. It seemed...to her at least...to be impetuous, foolish, the whim of a bored nobleman perhaps. But nothing more sinister than that. And if she was wrong, it was her own foolishness she had to blame for it and no one else. Heavens knew that no one else in the years before now had bothered to pay any sort of attention ton her in such a way. Perhaps it was foolish and vain of her, but she wanted, just for once, for it to have been simply what it seemed to be, that the Duke had found her interesting and appealing enough to want to spend time in her company.

It was foolish, of course, she thought to herself as she bathed and dressed in a old, serviceable dress and shoes, a bit out of fashioned and faded, but proper for attending such an academic lecture as the university was presenting. It was foolish, and she was a fool for thinking it, but the fantasy was simply too sweet to give up just yet. The fantasy that it was just as the Duke had said, that she was simply intriguing and entrancing to him. Was it truly so contemptible to allow herself to hope and believe that perhaps that was all there was to his interest, that Roguel had to think of increasingly cruel ways to dash her hopes to the ground and make her feel so stupid and so utterly worthless in the eyes of anyone that might show her the slightest modicum of interest? The question hurt, aching under her breastbone as she made her way down from her home to lock up and make her way to the college for the symposium. It would be nice to see the Duke once again, and she looked forward to having an intelligent, thoughtful conversation that didn't revolve around her foolishness for daring to think that perhaps there was something worthy of notice about her.
 
The school was something of a citadel on the edge of the royal grounds. Indeed, it was once an old fortress that had become a place of learning over the decades.

The hallways were filled with students when Rihayne finally reached them. The larges audience hall, once the hall where the king would take requests and greet guests, was filled with nearly standing room only so great was the crowd. Today's lecture on the healing properties of the Willow tree and it's extremities was a very hot topic, especially since the instructor was said to have discovered a new way of distilling the bark for maximum pain and inflammation relief, in addition to finding a way to use the tiny blossoms as an aphrodisiac.

The entire lower level was filled. Along the outer edges of the hall, stages had been set up so that students could stand and see the stage near the center where the professor would lecture from. He had a table in the center of the stage, and several beakers, a magical flame, and several parts of the Willow tree. The balcony along the the edge of the hall was populated by only a few people; those of the royal household who might have an interest in the lecture. Today the balcony was empty.

A puff of smoke and sparkles lit up the stage and the professor appeared. He made a grand, if predictably magical, entrance, much to the delight of the students who clapped eagerly as they anticipated learning what secrets he would distill (pun included) into their minds that day.
 
The halls of the academy smelled like home to her, the scent of parchment and ink and various components filling her head and reminding her achingly of how much she missed this world. This wonderful world of study and research, of late night discussions and banter with fellow students over possible ideas to improve and empower the potions they brewed, of new ingredients that offered untold properties and fascinating ideas from other schools of this sort all over the world, ohh how she'd missed it. She loved the bakery, it was her family's history and legacy but sometimes...sometimes she wished desperately that she could have come back here, could have continued her education. Well, if wishes were horses she'd have a full stable, so there was really no point in dwelling on the might have beens. She managed to find a seat off to the left; close enough to allow her to see but not so close as to be crowded with the other students.

She had seen a few of her former classmates on her way in; some had stopped to say hello and inquire as to how she was doing and her family's health, with many well wishes for her grandmother's speedy recovery. It felt a bit awkward though. These were her classmates when she herself had been a student here, and now she was simply a shopkeeper, no longer a part of their academic, magical world. She felt the divide more sharply than they would have even dreamed of making it, and there was no censure or condescension in their gazes. It didn't change how she felt, which was somewhat like a failure. Still, those were terribly troublesome thoughts to have today! She had much to look forward to, the professor appearing with a crack of sound and a flash of smoke and tiny bursts of light. She clapped along with the other students, smiling a little wistfully. He had used to appear in classes here at the university the same way on the first day of a new subject to excite the newcomers. She'd always been a bit disappointed that she wasn't gifted with such magical ability as to create light and teleport herself from place to place or things of that nature but she supposed that it was simply the way of things, and everyone couldn't be skilled or talented at everything. She threw her attention into the lecture, letting all thought of Roguel and Duke Liam and the situation that was bringing into her life fall by the wayside as she readied her little book and pen to take notes.
 
The hall was one of the great ones with tiers of seats for the students to fill. The ground level nearest the instructor were those lucky enough to perhaps be part of the lecture question and answer sessions, but the balconies allowed for overflow seating as well. Today the ground was covered with students but only a few sat high up on the balcony. The lecture was on a very specific family of plants whose healing properties were more for there pain relieving traits then for any actual 'healing', so those who were here were more in depth in their studies then most.

The professor paused as the students filtered into the class and settled down. He saw Rhiyane and recognized her from her first year in the university. She had been a promising student and as such stuck out in his memory. He smiled at her before beginning.

The lecture was fascinating! He demonstrated the effects of different concentrations of the herbs, described how to mix two similar species to allow for numbing of the body (to allow for removal of an arrow, for instance), and for continual pain relief as the wound healed. He talked about the differences between herbs used for tension and muscle relief and those for other kinds of pains, and then he announced that there would be a walking tour the next morning to go see the herbs in the wilds and to identify them. Apparently they looked similar to the Blood Bane herb, a leafy blossom that was said to cause people to bleed to death internally if taken in too great a dosage. It was not a mistake you wanted to make!

Near the end of the lecture a girl on the balcony screamed. Everyone turned to see what had caused the ruckas, only to be greeted by the sight of the Red Mage in the shadows of the balcony seats, his hood pulled low as usual. The screaming girl had looked up and saw him. She assumed that he was there to take her away and had nearly lost all composure. The mage nodded to the professor and then turned away, but as his gaze passed Rihayne it was as if his dark, striking eyes were seeing straight into her sould. He quietly left the lecture hall and soon thereafter the class ended. When people poured out into the courtyard the talk was mostly about the Red Mage's presence in the hall. He was rumored to visit the University on occasion, but this was the first time he had been there this year.

The professor closed up his books and rushed to catch up with Rihayne. "My dear, my dear Rihayne! I'm so glad to see you," he said. "Are you returning to the university? It's so good to see you!"
 
Even the dubious excitement of the Red Mage appearing in the lecture hall couldn't detract from how good it had felt to be back in the halls of the university, or how much she missed being a student here. She had to confess, given their uneasy glances at the party Duke Liam had taken her to, she'd been half afraid that the Red Mage was there to offer her warning against intruding on the realms of her betters; first at the party and now at the university. But he had left without a word, though that same dark gaze left her feeling shaken to her core and wondered what she could have done to tempt his ire. But those thoughts were unimportant as the professor giving the lecture hurried to meet up with her once the others had filed out into the courtyard. Some were heading to other classes, others breaking off into small groups to discuss the lecture points, others heading home or going to the great library. Rihayne smiled with delight as Magister Coris caught up to her and expressed his happiness to see her, clasping his hands in hers and squeezing them happily.

"It is wonderful to see you as well, Magister! You are looking very well. The lecture was excellent as well, by the way. You haven't lost your touch." She smiled a little wistfully as he asked if she was returning to the university. "I'm afraid that my duties at the bakery are making it hard for me to return to my studies just yet. Soon though. I'm sure my grandmother is on her way to recovery and my parents will be home soon." It was a lie that had become old enough to be stale on her tongue, and one that she disliked telling. She kept her smile on her face as she inquired after his health, how her former classmates were doing, when they would be having more lectures on this day...anything that didn't make her feel so terribly sad about coming back as a visitor only and not a student. She would have to head out into the courtyard soon if she was going to be on time for her meeting with the Duke for their lunch date. That brought the sharp little irritation and disappointment at Roguel's reaction to the situation. Well, there was nothing for it now. He had his feelings on the matter and she had hers and neither seemed to be changing any time soon. Something did make her wonder though.

"The Red Mage...does he often come to the lectures here?" She'd heard some whispered things about the Red Mage having not been seen in the halls of the university but it seemed strange that he would come to a lecture about the healing and pain relieving properties of certain herbs. Potion mixing didn't seem to be his area of expertise so perhaps it was some other reason; meeting someone here or passing through on his way to more important business. Still it struck her as odd that he would be here, and she didn't want to make any assumptions. His eyes though...she had felt them on her, at least for a moment and it had been just as terrifying then as it had been the night of the party. With any luck, he had no idea she was the same woman as the Duke's guest. It could be decidedly sticky if he realized that and she had no desire to to be caught up in anything having to do with the Red Mage, the Inquisitor or the King.
 
The professor nodded at the new of her parent's and grandmother. Family is so important. Your parents must miss being home terribly," Professor Coris said wistfully. "Well, as far as school has gone, that scholarship of yours is still here and awaits your return." Seeing her look, as if this was the first that she had heard of a 'scholoarship' (for indeed it was), he nodded quickly and continued. "Shortly after you left school an anonymous donor earmarked funds for the rest of your education. Tuition, materials, living expenses.... it's all there! We thought that you would return once your affairs with your family's bakery were settled."

He smiled and fumbled about with a satchel until he found a tattered old envelope in a side pocket. He handed this to the young woman. "Here... this is the notice I received as Dean of Herbology. There's enough in your funds to fully cover you for almost a decade of studying, and it waits for you to simply return to use it."

At her question about the Red Mage he became decidedly unsettled. "Ah....yes. He comes and goes as he pleases in the University." His smile was more forced. "It's usually nothing. Sometimes teachers have found that he is suddenly looking over a student's shoulder in the anatomy lab or watching a lecture from the shadows, as he was tonight." He laughed. "Don't worry - he has never snatched a student out of class and disappeared in a puff of smoke." The professor lowered his voice. "It's only when both the Red Mage and the High Inquisitor show up in a class that there is cause for concern. When those two work together it is never a good thing."

He straightened up and gave Rhiyane a reassuring pat on the arm, nodding in the direction of the envelope. "Whenever you are ready dear child, we look forward to having you attend classes with us full time again. Minds like yours are very precious to the kingdom."

A little while later Duke Liam was strolling through the courtyard towards the spot he had asked Rihayne to meet him. His clothing was simple but well-tailored that day; a bit understated compared to what he wore for their previous date, but still something that announced his elite status among the others. Women turned to watch him walk by, their eyes lingering over his form appreciatively. He had that lean, strong look that made every movement catlike and fluid, a promise that his movements would be eery bit as liquid and strong when pressed up against the yielding flesh of a mewling woman.

His blond hair fell partially over his eyes and his lips turned up into an inviting smile when he finally spotted the little baker. "Rihayne!" His call across the quad drew attention to them both and left no doubt that he was here to see her. Several girls gave Rihayne a second look, wondering what made her so special that a man like the duke would seek her out.
 
The confusion had to be evident on her face for him to clarify about her apparent scholarship, the details of which she had no idea about. A scholarship? Who would have paid for her university classes like that? Her parents, well off enough as they were, would have had nothing resembling the sort of funds to simply put aside in a trust for her schooling, and she knew of no one else that would have such an interest in her, especially after she'd left the university to care for her family's business. She took the envelope he offered, looking at it as if unable to believe that it was truly real and in her hand. A mysterious benefactor...it sounded like something out of a storybook. Who would have such an interest in her schooling?

Her train of thought was broken by the mention of the Red Mage occasionally showing up in the various classes of the school, and couldn't help but smile a bit at the mental imagery of the infamous and fearsome Red Mage skulking through the shadows just to terrorize young students, as if he had nothing better to do with his time. But the thought of the Inquisitor and the Red Mage in the same room at the same time...it was enough to send a shiver up her spone with little effort. She said her goodbyes and thanked Magister Coris for the envelope and the knowledge that when she was able to return to school (it suddenly felt more like a when, rather than an if) that she would be welcomed and provided for.

Of course she continued to puzzle this over in her mind as she turned the envelope over in her fingers, smoothing the ld parchment with a sense of almost nervousness. She was almost afraid to open the letter, as if it were magic somehow and if she were to open it and read it, it would crumble to dust in her fingers. A silly notion, but so many things that had been previously silly notions to her were becoming actual fact far more frequently than she'd thought possible.

Her name being called brought her back to the present, and she looked up as she saw the duke, smiling and raising her hand in welcome to him. She did her best to put Roguel's insinuations out of her mind; he had no proof to offer of the duke's apparent cruel nature, and if he had truly left a trail of broken hearts and ruined women, surely it would have caused more gossip. Until she had reason to believe otherwise, she would simply assume him to be what he appeared to be; a wealthy, powerful man with most strange, inexplicable interest in her. "Good afternoon. Were you at the lecture too? I didn't see you there." She said, smiling as she tucked the letter into the inner pocket of her dress. That would bear investigation later.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom