Page 61 of The Noldrin Witch

“She was the one who gave me a room as well.”

A small smile formed on Emery’s lips.

“Fabian has no authority over the Chancellor of Magic. If Susanne wants you here, you have little to worry about.”

“Do you know when she’s coming back?”

Emery thought for a moment.

“It could take a while. I believe she’s visiting several places in the east.”

Elise swallowed hard. It seemed she would have to wait for the fairy to return and set things straight. At this point, she doubted even a declaration from Kurt could undo the damage caused by Fabian’s and Adelle’s accusations.

As they continued talking, Elise discovered that having a chamber in the castle was indeed a rare privilege. Emery himself had spent three months sleeping outside the castle through the rigors of winter until one day someone found him half-frozen. It was only then that Fabian decided it might be better for everyone if he were given a room.

After her meal with Emery, and with a more educated understanding of how matters were handled within the magical staff, Elise felt considerably more at ease. Relieved to know she would not be dismissed any time soon, she proceeded to do her work as diligently as she could and offered her help wherever it was needed around the potion tables. A most sensible attitude, one that would pay handsome dividends in the days to come.

Chapter 26

Kurt had been patrolling some of the military camps on the outskirts of Metz. The disease that had originated at the border was spreading faster than the fairies could devise a cure for it. The king had personally entrusted him with the inspection of the area, and the task had already kept him away from Metz for two nights.

He was to return today to the castle to inform the king of all he had learned. Though as things were shaping up, it would take a good part of the day to finish his assessments.

Kurt was counting the hours until he could make his way back to Metz and, hopefully, speak with Elise once more. The image of her in the gardens had followed him day and night. The bright greenery beneath the intense sun had made Elise look more beautiful than ever. Every part of her seemed to call out to be admired: her innocent face, her soft curves touched by the heat, and the blush on her skin that only sent his imagination wandering further.

It had been Commander Langohr’s orders that forced Kurt to travel in such haste. After Elise had run away, Adelle had intercepted him in the gardens and eagerly told him that her father wished to speak with him at once. Kurt hadn’t thought much of it at the time and followed her without question.

Unknown to Kurt, after seeing him with Elise, Adelle had sprinted back and forth to inform her father, and the two of them had come up with the mission faster than gossip could spread through the castle.

That was the reason why, when Adelle and Kurt reached the commander, her father had appeared to be making the plan as he went.

But with Adelle at Kurt’s side and the lingering guilt of having declined yet another of her invitations to a ball, he had accepted the commander’s orders without hesitation.

Pragmatic as he was, Kurt preferred to keep things free of friction between himself and Adelle’s father. The man was like a great pine tree, one of those that prevented anything from growing beneath its shadow. His demeanor was so severe that it was a miracle Adelle possessed any joy for living.

Kurt knew the commander had taken a special interest in seeing him join the family, and although he appreciated Adelle for always being there for him, he could not bring himself to feel any romantic interest in her. A most disappointing circumstance he had been delaying informing the commander about.

At the moment, Kurt was at least glad to put some distance between himself and the commander. He intended to complete his duties, learn what was truly going on with Elise, and finally make his disinterest in Adelle plain. Though he could not be entirely certain in what order those events would unfold.

Before making another round of the camp, he took the last of the magic powder Fabian had given him to protect himself from the illness affecting the soldiers, cooks, blacksmiths, and the rest of the troops. It was a shame the magical protection was produced in such limited quantities and could only be distributed to those in the higher ranks.

Kurt made his way among the tents, inquiring after the sick and their symptoms. Never a great admirer of unnecessary words, Kurt asked everyone the same questions and only lingered when needed. He was in a rush to return to Metz, but honorable as he was, he could not bring himself to do a poor job here. Nonetheless, he carried out every duty with the speed of a galloping horse. Having already gained some practice in the matter, he covered two other camps before nightfall.

By sunset, he had spoken with two more generals about their sightings of enemy troop movements, questioned nearly a hundred sick fellows, and even found time to exchange a few words with the cooks in each camp. For some reason, the women he encountered were always eager for conversation, and seeing as such conversations often came accompanied by a bowl of hearty stew, Kurt saw little reason to refuse.

He reached Metz that day with some daylight still lingering. These days dusk came almost at midnight, and he took full advantage of the longer hours. By the end of his mission, he found himself in a state of disarray rivaling that of the wretched men in the camps. Before visiting the castle, he decided a bath was in order, especially if he intended to seek out Elise afterward.

He made his way to his own home, which was about half an hour from the castle.

Kurt’s residence was nothing short of heaven on earth. The three-story manor had been passed down through four generations and was kept as impeccable as the day it had been built. He stepped inside after leaving his horse in the stables.

When Kurt entered the immense hall, the place was so quiet he figured the household was busy in the kitchens. He stood there for a moment, contemplating the place. Countless paintings adorned the walls, their gilded frames matching the many moldings.

It was without doubt a glorious place, yet the emptiness of it sparked a new feeling in him. For the first time in all his years living there, he felt as though the manor needed more life, more people. Not staff, however. A woman, perhaps. A woman who would be waiting to come down the marble staircase to greet him.

The vacancy of such a position had never before entered his thoughts. Kurt did not know whether the war was making him more eager for companionship or if Sebastian’s recent talk of wedlock had planted the notion in his head, but something new was unfolding inside him. Something that had already begun and, unknown to him, was far beyond his ability to stop.

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