“Are you going to train me?”
“Would you like me to?”
Her hesitation answered me. It shouldn’t hurt, but it did. But then again, I frightened her.
“I’ll find someone who will train you.” I left her room before she realised how much her silence hurt.
21
LEAVES
Irene
The palace was a maze of long corridors, courtyards, and hidden stairs leading to other corridors. To go from the west wing where I slept to the ground floor, Alex and I didn’t round any corners, but kept walking along the endless hallway. I hadn’t explored the gardens yet; they were a mystery with their tall hedgerows, hills, and thick trees.
The footmen and maids Alex and I met moved aside to let us pass. Or rather, to let him pass. Curious glances followed me, but I cast curious glances around as well.
The servants’ auras showed different shapes and shades of bright colours.
I moved closer to Alex, and he stiffened immediately.
“The servants, what are they?” It sounded impolite to ask, but some of their auras didn’t look human.
“Wizards and witches who lost their powers or who aren’t skilled. They offer their services here in exchange for a salary, food, a room, and protection.”
Alex went downstairs and along another corridor flooded with sunlight. He walked right through it.
“You must be glad that sunlight doesn’t bother you.”
“It weakens me, and if I spend too much time in the sunshine, my skin blisters. Instead, rogues might be killed by sunlight.”
“Rogues?”
“If a vampire lets the thirst take over, he becomes a slave to the blood and starts killing and drinking at will. The more you kill, the more sunlight burns you.”
My arm brushed his. “And what?—”
He leapt back in a dark blur.
“I’m sorry,” I said.
He’d meant it when he’d said no one was allowed to touch him.
He gave the slightest shake of his head, but I didn’t miss the tremor in his hand. “I really can’t touch anyone. I can’t.”
As vague as his explanation was, one thing was clear—he didn’t like physical contact.
We entered a wide hall with windows overlooking the garden and with no furniture. There was enough space for a hundred people.
I tilted my head up. “Every room in this palace is big. I wouldn’t say that from the outside.”
“It’s a spell.” He twirled a finger in the air. “The mansion looks smaller from the outside not to attract attention. Humans don’t know about us. There was a time when the royal family was aware of our existence, but after King John wanted to regain Normandy with the help of the wizards, the courts decided to lurk in the shadows. Our powers shouldn’t be exploited by the government.”
“I agree.”
A wizard would be a highly coveted weapon for the queen.
Not far from the front yard, Raven Lake shone in the sunshine.
