“Ah, good you’re here. I see you all met Ariah Tyddle. Ariah’s parents, like yourselves, were once some of my most trusted Foxes.” Skyleen looks at me for the first time, his eyes burning holes in me. “She will be taking turns training with each of you. You will show her all your ways, exactly how I like them.” The Queen spins in my direction. “There is another Fox, but I’m afraid I sent her off to Ethmay to deal with an urgent matter. You’ll meet her when she returns. Chana will be your mentor of sorts. You can work out times for your lessons with Vera and Skyleen. We have company arriving in a few days and I need you ready.” She leans in close, the scent of azalea wafting off of her. “Remember, you need not only succeed for yourself, but your parents too.”
Most of the lessons come from Chana, who on my day of arrival, showed me every inch of the castle, including select hidden places few people know about. She also showed me my new room, which is bigger than I imagined. Definitely more spacious than my room back at home.
Over the next four days, I’m at her mercy. Chana is what I would call a watcher, and unlike Vera, who does most of the mingling with court guests, Chana prefers to be in the background. Not just because it gives her a better vantage point, but because she seems to prefer it.
Every day she gives me names of various advisors, lords, ladies, servants—anyone we pass—and any information tied to them.
Today isn’t any different. “You’ll learn who everyone is soon enough,” she says, sorting through a stack of letters without her name on a single one. “One of your many jobs will be to observe everyone associated with court. Any abnormal activity is to be investigated. Most actions lead to nothing serious, but if anything in any way involves the Queen, you are to report to me.” Pulling a blade from her pocket, she slices one of the letters open. “Last year, we caught a lord planning an assassination attempt on the Queen. You’d be surprised what fools think is safe in a letter.”
My finger slides between the collar of my dress and my neck. Heat suddenly fills the room. I make a mental note to be discreet in my letters home.
She tucks away the letter and rolls her eyes, seeming unamused by the contents.
My mouth opens wide and before I can stop it, I suck in a deep breath and try to hide my yawn. “Not used to staying up late?” Chana snickers at my yawn.
“Not at all. I would usually be waking up in a few hours.”
Chana looks at the wall behind me. “Crap. I forgot about your lesson with Sky.” She swipes her arms in the air, pushing me out. “He’ll be waiting by your room. Hurry!”
Rushing out, I race to my chambers trying not to look suspicious. And just like she said, he is in fact, waiting.
“I’m sorry.” My hands go to my hips, the stance somehow making it easier to breathe. “Chana and I were…”
“I didn’t ask.” Sky starts walking away. “Keep up.”
We move out of the corridors and pass the gardens, not stopping even when we hit the boundaries of the woods. He moves quickly and I almost have to run to keep pace with him.
At the start I think I’m going to meet my end, or far worse, be taken advantage of. But like all the other times I’ve interacted with him, he mostly ignores me. That’s until we reach a massive tree that would have taken four of me to wrap my arms around the trunk.
“It’s a tannum tree,” he says, dropping his bag. It is the first time I’ve heard him speak a full sentence. The bass in his voice startles me. “The roots rise up and stick out of the ground just before dawn.” He points to a sea of upright roots that emerge from the soil. “They are strong enough to cure the deadliest poisons. I add some to most of my antidotes.”
Antidotes was a lesson my father didn’t have time for, and I wonder if this root can be found in any of the books he gave me.
“Are they only native to Haymel?” I pick at the thin, long roots then cut with one clean swipe of my blade and shove them into my bag.
“No. This tree was imported from a forest near the kingdom of Ethmay. The locals near there call it the Forest of Thornes. The Queen had to pay a hefty price to get it here. Don’t grab the bent ones!” he warns, seeing me going for one. “Those are rotting, and the healing properties fade with it. Some contain dangerous toxins.”
“Good to know.” I move on to another that is sticking upright. “Do they heal everything?”
He shakes his head. “No. They have their limits like everything else. But they are a great antidote to most poisons your body may be exposed to.”
“So, you’re an apothecary?”
“That’s obvious.” He points off to the right, like he didn’t just give me sarcasm. Lucky for him, I bite my tongue. “Go for the thicker ones.”
“You know, my father is?—”
“Yes,” he huffs, stopping me. “Your father is an apothecary. I’m well aware of who your parents are. Collect two more so you can go. Your next lesson is approaching.”
At a slower pace, I drag out picking two more roots. It takes everything within me not to respond to him.
“That’s two. What’s next?”
Sunlight creeps onto the tops of the trees and the tannum roots are already crawling back into their hiding spots.
“The gallery room on the second floor next to the library. Vera will be waiting.” He grins. “Good luck.”
“That’s it?” The lesson is rather short and I don’t see the point in it.
