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Rochelle followed after the other woman, an immediate sense of ease seeping into her muscles as the sweet, floral aroma of the space filled her nose. It was a large, fairly plain stone room, with high windows for privacy and ventilation. Crystal boxes with burning flame provided extra light and a trace of ambient warmth, though that was emphasized by the well-heated body of water in the middle of the room. To call it a basin would have been too basic a term. It was half in-ground, a wide single step positioned for ease of use, and plenty large enough for at least four grown adults.
It was actually amazing, and Rochelle found herself staring at it, until Mitzi laughed softly and stepped up, gracefully sliding into the water. She was shameless of her nudity.
Rochelle blinked and quickly averted her gaze.
“Oh, it’s fine,” Mitzi said. “I have three sisters, so I’ve been sharing a bath most of my life. The girls and I usually just bathe all at once when we’re here, to save time, but we didn’t want to overwhelm you.” Her smile remained easy as she moved until her back was against the far side. “I’ll close my eyes until you get in if you’d like.”
Guilt flared in Rochelle’s chest. Guilt for forcing them to alter their routine, and guilt for the inherent lie she seemed to always be telling. She’d never had a taste for it. But it was becoming familiar, so she found a small smile and said, “If you don’t mind.” Truthfully, she had no idea whether or not tattoos were a concept in Yafae—or the greater world around the kingdom. She’d always just tried to keep hers hidden. That wasn’t going to be easy in a shared bath, since the memorial inked into her skin had grown with each new addition.
Still, Rochelle obediently stripped off her borrowed sleep dress, set down the fresh towel on the opposite side of the tub-like pool, and climbed in. The water was delightfully warm as she lowered into it and a moan escaped her unintentionally. It had beenfartoo long since she’d been able to soak her tired muscles.
Mitzi laughed softly. “It feels nice, doesn’t it? There are some homes you can get in Emyr that come with smaller variations these days, although you’ll need to learn to master your magic before you can make the best use of it.”
She’d nearly forgotten about the incident with her magic. Rochelle let herself slump against the side of the tub, the water up to her shoulders. “That was the only time I’ve ever used magic,” she said. She offered Mitzi an honestly rueful grin. “And mastering whatever magic I have sounds more attainable than affording something this luxurious.”
“Well, don’t despair,” Mitzi said. “You’ll never know if you give up at the beginning.”
“I suppose that’s true…”
Chapter Four
“I will train her.” The words slipped from Aric’s lips before he could consider the ramifications. The risks. He felt several pairs of eyes on him but kept his gaze focused forward, maintaining eye-contact with the King. “If Your Majesty permits, I will take it upon myself to give Rochelle the magic training she requires.”
From his seat on the elevated throne, King Jensen let out an audible hum and tapped his ring-laden fingers over the ornate armrest. As always, the gold of his assorted jewelry contrasted strikingly with his ebony skin. Silence held in the room as his dark brown gaze shifted over Aric and the others, all kneeling respectfully before him. They had already delivered the formal report regarding the incident in Corast, including Aric’s discovery that the barrier wall had been somehow ripped open. That report, of course, had led to an explanation of Rochelle’s presence and her role in the day’s events. As a result, King Jensen had declared that, given her clear potential and with concern for the obvious dangers of ignored magic, Rochelle needed formal training.
Aric didn’t disagree, but he’d also never taken on any sort of student or apprentice before, either. His wasn’t the sort of role he was expected to provide an heir to, aside, perhaps, from the general Vardanyan nobility. The King had created the post of Sentry specifically for him, and it was up to the King to pass it on when Aric was gone or too weak to continue. So for Aric to volunteer was understandably surprising. None of them were aware of the pull he’d felt toward Rochelle from the moment he’d heard her screaming at her enemy.
The King smiled and lifted his hands to the air, almost as if he were helpless. The crisscrossing golden cuffs adorning his forearms reflected the bright rays of the sun streaming in from the numerous side windows. “Well, if the Sentry is so willing to give of himself, I have no arguments.” He lowered his arms once more. “Rochelle Bailey, I am grateful to you on behalf of Yafae for your efforts to protect those who once offered you shelter. For now, and for your own sake, I must ask you to accept Lord Vardanyan’s generosity. Once your magic is stable, you will be officially recognized as a full citizen of Yafae.”
Aric glanced to the side without turning his head, watching Rochelle’s freshly washed and combed blonde hair glide forward as she nodded faintly. She didn’t fully raise her head as she voiced her understanding. Her words were even, but Aric suspected she was nervous. He couldn’t blame her. She certainly hadn’t asked for an audience with the King.
“Now then,” King Jensen said, the lightness in his tone disappearing, “I will have this concerning matter with the barrier investigated. Thank you, Sentry, and loyal warriors, for your service to the kingdom.”
****
Rochelle was allowed a day to acclimate to her new, massive home and the idea of preparing to train her barely discovered magic. Aric had introduced her to his live-in butler, a kind, sixty-something man named Tinsley, and taken her on a tour of the property. The Vardanyan Estate was a large, four-story mansion set on a sprawling hillside with three separate gardens surrounding it, overlooking the kingdom’s capital city, Emyr.
Rochelle had been given a suite on the third floor, but since Aric claimed the top floor and Tinsley the second, she essentially had the entire level to herself.
On the second day, after the most delicious breakfast she’d eaten in years, Aric set down his coffee and caught her gaze. “We’re going to start your training today. Understand that I will push your limits, but I am not setting out to cause you harm. This is as much a trust exercise as an education, so I’m asking you to be honest with both of us. Trust me to give you what you need, and in return, I will trust that if you ask for a reprieve at any point, it’s because you genuinely require one. Can you do that?”
She knew he was talking about teaching her magic, but her body reacted as if he were making a very different promise. The reaction surprised her, and she squirmed a little in her seat. This man she barely knew had opened up his home and volunteered his obviously valuable time to teach her something important—something she herself hadn’t known she was capable of even a week prior. The last thing she needed to do was start lusting after him. Regardless of how stupidly handsome he was, or how fast her heart beat when he stared at her like that. She cleared her throat, barely remembering he’d asked her to respond. “Yes.”
Truthfully, learning magic still seemed like an unattainable, outrageous idea. She remembered that moment in the alley in Corast as if it had been a dream which had grown hazy. But she recognized that everything going on around her was equally outrageous by the standards of her former life. Some part of her suspected she would be her own biggest hurdle.
Aric nodded and pushed away from the table. “Good. Then come with me. Today’s lesson could well prove to be the most tiring, so we need to start early.”
That’s ominous.She gulped down the last of her breakfast juice and quickly followed after him. “You probably know this already,” she said, “but I have no idea how I tapped into my magic before.” She paused and swallowed against the nerves twisting her stomach. “In case that’s important.”
Aric stopped in front of the door he’d indicated earlier led to the basement and flashed her a grin that nearly melted her on the spot. “I did have that impression,” he said. “That’s fine. What matters is that you’ve already accessed it once, and recently.” He pulled the door open and tipped his head before leading the way inside.
Rochelle followed him down a wide stone staircase, once again trying to get her heart under control. It wasn’t fair how easily he threw her out of whack.
“We’ll train down here until your spells gain too much strength to do so safely,” Aric said. “We’ll resume training down here once you’ve gained enough control to keep them from tearing down my mansion. That is, of course, all presuming I haven’t overestimated your potential.”
Rochelle drew a breath and her eyes widened as she took in the full sight of the basement. It was a wide, mostly empty space, supported by a meager four stone pillars. The floor was smooth, polished stone. The walls and pillars were covered almost completely in a beautiful, ethereal flowering vine that crawled up from the floor and arched nearly to the ceiling. The vines were nearly invisible in the dark, but the flower buds—in full bloom—emitted a soft, steady glow. There were blues, greens, lavenders, and whites all scattered around, as if the color was random. The sight of the beautiful, unexpected underground garden distracted her for a precious moment from the guilt that had pinched her chest.
“Come and stand in the center,” Aric said. “We’ll start with basic meditation.”
