Page 35 of A Conduit of Light
“Oh, yes, he has one about halfway up the winding staircase, it’s a big black—of course it’s black—door with an emerald knob.I’veseen him go—”
“Clairannia.C’mon, girl, let’s focus.”Figuerahturned back toAsh. “So…what happened?”Shesat next toAshon the black staircase with a golden orb of light above her palm to keep the corridor illuminated.
“Okay.I’lltell you.Butdon’t expect detailed, descriptive narratives from here on out.Ican’t believe he brought you cinnamon buns.”Shelaughed, the sound echoing in the dark hall. “Idid tell him about your bet, but that was actuallylater.”Shepaused for effect. “Afterwe had kissed.Alot.Wekissed a lot.”Sheabsently rubbed her slightly swollen lips.
ClairanniaandFigueraherupted in giggles, their excitement contagious as a brilliant grin litAsh’sface.
“Wasit good kissing?Imean, it must have been if it wasa lot.”Figuerahleaned intoAsh’sspace, searching for more information.
“Yes.Itwas good.Really,reallygood kissing.IthinkI’lldo it again.”
Clairanniasighed next to her. “Ican’t wait to hear where the rest of this story goes.Maybeyou’ll end up likeSylva, so romantically entranced withBaronRevichchoosing you over any other channeler.Ormaybe you’ll become companions.Oh, that would beperfect.”
“What?We’renot going to becomecompanions.Baronsdon’t have companions anyway.Youdon’t need to predict our future,Clairannia, it was just some kissing.”
“Underthemoonlight.”
“WithaBaron.”
Ashstood and brushed the crumbs off her skirts, her mind racing to change the subject.Companionswere common on the isle, but she didn’t know of any inFelgren.Sheknew thePrinceplanned to seek one this very year, but she had never given one much thought.Acompanion, after all, would mean she would have to bind herself to another life, pledging to never break that bond without considerable purpose.Andcompanions often created life together.
Sherubbed at the smallliberummark on her left wrist, given to her by a medicus conduit after her first bleeding.Shewas again thankful for the mark, ensuring no children would come from any of her passions with any man.SheknewRevichhad one, too.
Thiswas all too much to process in her exhaustion, in her fear of theBlightand its unnatural heartbeat, and she found herself standing before the doors toViridisready to step inside and spend her day there among the courtyard and books she loved.
“Areyou alright,Ash?”Clairanniastepped up behind her touching her arm gently. “We’resorry.Wedon’t mean to tease you too much.It’sjust possibly one of the more exciting things that’s happened to us here so far.”ShehuggedAsh’sshoulders, squeezing slightly. “Wepromise to leave you be inViridis.Sure,BaronRevichgave us cinnamon rolls, but there’s no stopping him.Wehave a page-long list of books to study today about theTreatyand process ofOfferings.”Shestuck out her tongue but smiled atAsh. “Goon, we’ll see you at lunchtime.”
Ashcould hearFiguerahstand and stretch behind her as she added, “Sorry, love, we really didn’t mean to embarrass you.Okay, well, we did, but just in a bit of our own fun.”Sheplaced a hand onAsh’sback and rubbed it gently—both comforts from her friends warming her heart.
“That’snot whyI’mstill standing here.”Ashturned around, hands trembling slightly, shoved in her pockets.Itwas time to tell them.
“What’swrong?Whyaren’t you going in?”Clairannia’seyes, the color of the bark of a maple tree, were furrowed and she cocked her head to one side.
“Ican’t get intoViridislike you.Myname doesn’t work.”
“Whatdo you mean yournamedoesn’t work?That’show anyone gets intoViridis.Howdid you do it before?”Figuerahhad her hands on her hips, disbelief on her face.
“Itell the doorsIdon’t know my name becauseI’venever had one that fits.”Ashshrugged as if the truth of that statement was coming carefree from her lips instead of loaded with a history of questioning herself and her role in this world since childhood.
Anaudible scoff came fromClairanniaasFiguerahraised one eyebrow high onto her forehead.
“Ash,”—she shook her head and sighed—“you’re all kinds of mess, aren’t you?”
Shenodded, laughing lightly at the perfect truth of it.
“Well,”Figuerahadded, taking in a deep breath and turningAsh’sbody around toward the doors, “maybe you should disregardBaronHeimlen’stasks for the day and go find yourself a new one.”
Chapter17
Ash
Thescentof roses hung heavily in the air asAshadmired a particular white bunch of them growing steadfastly out of a section of books on a very particular subject.
TheFirstDaysofFelgren,FelgrenForest:OriginMyths, and one thick one in particular,Legendsof theBlightress:ACollectionofTalesPassedDownThroughCenturies.
Intrue form,Ashfirst gave her attention to the roses, clumped together as if in competition to see which could meet her nose first.Shetouched their petals lightly, admiring the soft silkiness of each one and inhaled their scent, eyes closed as if in the presence of that which healed her soul.
Shehad found from her time inViridis, that the more she appreciated its offerings, the more at peace she felt.Shealso noticed that she found the books she was looking for much easier after stopping to admire its beauty.
