Page 22 of Muse

"Okay," I said hesitantly because that sounded like the answer I should give, even if it didn't entirely make sense. If he wanted excellence from me, I should push until I got it perfect, not quit when it got too hard.

“You’re confused,” he observed.

"No." I shook my head, then realized I was lying for no reason. "I… I suppose I am perplexed about what you want from all of this."

"I want you to be the best muse you can possibly be and, in the process, catapult us both into a life of luxury and prestige." He said it nonchalantly as if it was all simple and easy to obtain.

“Those are lofty goals that require a great deal of discipline,” I pointed out.

"They are, but I think they are achievable. Discipline and hard work don't mean we need to torture ourselves," he reasoned, then his gaze turned curious. "What about you? What do you want from this?"

“Same as you,” I said, even though spending more time with Soren ranked higher above luxury and prestige on my aspirational list.

"Good." He smiled and then abruptly stepped back from me as if suddenly realizing his arm was still around my waist even though I was perfectly steady on my feet.

“We do need to end today’s practice.” Soren cleared his throat and quickly clarified, “You’ve exerted yourself enough, and you should rest up. I can give you a ride home on my horse.”

"No, it's better if I walk," I declined since Adora would accept no explanations if I arrived home on horseback with Soren. The fresh air will help clear my head."

"If that's as you wish," he allowed reluctantly, walking me to the door. "I will see you tomorrow then?"

“Tomorrow,” I promised him.

While the practice made me tired, I was happy to have the time to calm myself. It had been a short session anyway, so I had plenty of time for a leisurely stroll down the bustling afternoon streets.

“Hello, Miss Izzy,” Heloise greeted me when I came in through the front door of my home. “How was your afternoon?”

"It was fine," I said because I couldn't tell her what I had been up to. "How was Adora?"

“Lady Adora isn’t home.”

I looked at the housekeeper in surprise. When I had left, Adora had been on the sofa readingTheCalida Post, the same way she was most days. “Where is she? She didn’t tell me she had any appointments.”

Heloise shook her head. “I’m not sure. The Lady doesn’t tell me of her business.”

"Oh." I frowned in bewilderment because it was so unlike my mother to take a spontaneous leave.

“I did notice that the Lady was wearing one of her very nice gowns,” Heloise added helpfully. “And her expensive perfume.”

My frown only deepened at that. Adora was meeting someone she wanted to impress, yet she hadn't told me about it?

I sat on the sofa and waited for her since that seemed the only sensible thing to do. Heloise kindly brought me a cup of tea to calm my nerves, and then she had one herself because my worry was contagious.

It was nearly supper time when Adora finally came through the front door.

She greeted me with a smug smile. “Isadore, how was your afternoon?”

“Fine. But honestly, I am more interested in yours,” I said.

“I was meeting with thegreatwarlock, Herve Chaunter,” Adora said with an exaggerated blasé tone, and she sashayed over and sat beside me on the sofa. “I’m certain I told you about it.”

“Herve Chaunter?” I echoed. “I don’t recall you mentioning that.”

In addition to having a chair on the Magik Tribunal, Herve was the Warlock to the Queen. That made him the most powerful warlock and head of all the enchanters in the Kingdomof Calida. I definitely would've remembered if my mother had told me about meeting with him, mainly because that was the kind of thing she usually talked constantly about. It seemed more like a deliberate omission than an accidental oversight.

“I know I told you, Isadore,” she insisted. “You’ve just been so busy lately with yourfriends. You must've forgotten."

“What were you meeting Herve about?” I asked.

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