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“It’s actually an orangery,” said a melodic, feminine voice. “But I thank you for the compliment.”
A short, stout woman with a shaved head and russet skin brushed past me and plucked a reddish-pink fruit off one of the trees. She was dressed unlike anyone I’d ever seen in or out of Deucalion. Flowing floral silks covered her in layer upon layer that moved as she did. “For you, dear.”
I fumbled to catch the tiny, bumpy thing. “What is it?”
“Lychee. They’re exclusive to the Isles of Paradise, and this room.” She clapped. “Come, come, Aella Galanis. With you here, our little flock is finally complete. Take your place anywhere.”
I took my place between Ionna and Nitsa. Standing directly across from me, Sirena did her best to telepathically explode my head.
“Forgive me while I repeat a few things for our latest arrival’s benefit. My name is Cassia Moralis, daughter of Demeter. There are very few of us in Olympia. It is my honor to be chosen, and to pass on her gifts and knowledge to all of you.” Instructor Moralis plucked another fruit off a tree and tossed it at Cleon, one of the Sisyphean boys. “Identify.”
“Elderberry,” he replied. “It’s used to treat coughs, burning throats, and flu.”
“Well done.” Moralis fixed on me. “In an ideal world, there would be so many children of healing gods, we’d have a dozen tasked to each mora, or unit. As it is, there are only thirty alive now with the power to heal serious injuries. Two are employed at the academy, most are in the private employment of noble families, five are with the medical battalion, and the rest reside within the imperial palace.
“I tell you this so you’ll have no delusions. When you’re out on patrol and tragedy strikes, help isnotclose by. Do not make the mistake of believing this class can be taken lightly.” Among the silk and sweet-smelling fruit, I did rid myself of a delusion: Moralis wasn’t someone to underestimate.
“Out there, the only help you’ll find is from the ones who’ve always been there for you: Mother Gaia and Mother Demeter. They grow the medicines that will heal you, soothe your pain, and grant you that little extra time to get to the medical battalion. So, do not disrespect yourself and your comrades by slacking off in this class. My life does not depend on your attention. All of yours do.”
She was still looking at me, so I said, “Understood, Madame Moralis. I’m excited to learn.”
Her face changed so suddenly, the beaming smile made me step back. “Ooh, Madame. So formal. Cassia will do, dear.” She clapped, cutting off my reply. “Now. Last week, we talked about the medicinal properties of bark. This week, we’ll discuss the benefits we get from certain leaves. Take your books out if you must, but I want you walking around, seeing them, feeling them, committing their scent, sight, and feel to memory. Starting here with the neem tree...”
We settled in, taking notes on her lecture, and then moved around to study the plants as she requested. Believe it or not, most of what she said I knew. The lamia would hardly take us to a village healer when we got ill. If she was to track down medicine without risk of attack, that left the forests, groves, and fields as her shopping ground. I learned what black cohosh was the week I got my first monthly bleed. How bittersweet to finally not be the clueless one in the room.
I rounded a bilberry tree, making note of the small differences that set it apart from a blueberry.
Flapping tipped my head up, alerting me to the arrival of Sirena’s bird. The little owl preened, fluffing out her beautiful feathers as if on display for an admiring audience.
“You are lovely.” I couldn’t help a smile when she hooted in response. “Shame you don’t keep better company.”
Tawny hopped on a lower branch, coming closer. She cooed a sweet sound to me, fluffing her feathers out again.
“How is it you’re allowed here? I don’t see anyone else with a pet riding their shoulders.” I snorted. “Must be another rule that doesn’t apply to her.”
Tawny flew down to a branch eye level with me and gently bumped my nose with her beak. If she spent her days in the imperial palace, she was likely used to compliments coming with treats and pets.
I looked around for Sirena. She was across the room—within two feet of Alexander as usual.
“Okay,” I whispered. “But this is just between you and me.” I reached out, running a finger through—
“Caaaah!”
Tawny flew at me. I whipped my arm up, snapping across my face. Vicious sharp pain lashed across my forearm. My cry bounced off the windows.
“Tawny? What are you doing to her?!”
I didn’t have a chance to reply to Sirena’s idiotic accusation. Screeches and cries assaulted my ears, heralding the berserk animal’s outrage. Screeches almost as loud as mine as she clawed my forehead, scalp, and ears.
“Galanis, get down!”
I heeded the unfamiliar voice, dropping flat to the floor. Just like that, the screeching stopped.
Thud.
Peering through my fingers, I squinted at a ripe bundle of green grapes. Sirena’s scream shattered my eardrums worse than the owl.
“You monster! What did you do?” She knocked Rodion aside rushing to me. Completely ignoring the person bleeding from multiple head wounds, Sirena cradled the grapes, her eyes welling with tears. “You killed her. She was just defending herself.” She kicked me in the side spinning around. “When I’m done with you, Sarris, you’ll wish I had dropped you from the highest peak into the deepest ocean.”
