Page 12 of Vathia
The maids scamper from the room and she turns to me, her face darkening as she takes in the mark across my stomach. “Before we make love for the first time, that needs to go.” Her hands light up with flames once more and I scream as she melts the flesh off my stomach.
The rose and sword mark go with it.
CHAPTER SEVEN
MY BROWS FURROW IN CONFUSION as I stare at the surly male on his knees, his perplexity mirroring my own. Jesper’s throat clears and he subtly shakes his head at Killian who narrows his eyes before rising to his full height. The whole situation only adds to my bewilderment.
Nero lands on my shoulder and gives me a quick nuzzle before turning his withering gaze on the males. “Just say the word, Rav, and I shall add to my collection.”
My lip twitches as I try to hold back a smirk. Nero has been over the moon about the start of his collection. We even went to the infirmary to see about a fixative solution and a vial to store it in. Mind you, if it wasn’t for Aemon’s declaration that I’m to be treated as royalty and given anything I ask for, I’m sure we would have been turned away. What kind of lady wants to store eyeballs for her bird? A good one, that’s what kind.
“The best,” Nero adds.
Jesper turns his attention to me, a grin lighting up his face, and I can’t help the tightening in my stomach. He takes two long strides and wraps me in his arms which has me going uncomfortably still. After everything I’ve learned, I know these males think that they know me. But I don’t have any recollectionof them, and as I stiffen, Nero leans forward on my shoulder and chomps down on Jesper’s ear.
“Motherfucker,” he shouts, jumping back as he clutches the side of his head. A trickle of blood seeps between his fingers. “I thought we had an understanding!” he pouts at my feathered companion.
Nero’s feathers ruffle. “Not if you touch her without permission we don’t.”
Aemon clears his throat. “I’m sure you all had a long journey. Let’s get you settled inside. Dinner should be ready soon and my mother should be back from her own journey by then.” His eyes slide to me with worry.
Since we have arrived here, he’s mostly been avoiding me. Well, since he gave me a tour of his seaside home—which is a castle on the edge of a sea cliff just on the outskirts of Kraryn, the Capital of Vathia. He informed me that his mother had left and will return by tonight, but when I didn’t recognize anything, he gave me a puzzled yet frustrated expression and left me to my own devices.
Not that I don’t appreciate being alone—especially after everything that has happened. It’s just that some part of me wished he didn’t. There is an anchor in my chest, pulling me in four different directions, which is confusing all on its own. When I decided to search Aemon out he was nowhere to be found, but I always felt like I sensed him nearby—almost like I knew where he was. I probably just need a few days worth of sleep.
I nod at his mention of dinner. “Does this mean you’re done avoiding me? Or shall I continue to wander about your home alone? I thought we were going to figure out a plan? I’m sure all of Damorleia has been made aware of what happened at Phixmery,” I snap.
Ember nudges my side while glaring at Aemon. She’s always been intuitive and it’s good to have her here again. Mygaze slides over my friends. I’m glad they’re all here. Roz’s carefree attitude and lightheartedness. Ember’s bluntness and loyalty keeps us all in line. While Melissandre is supportive and sweet, but she could kick your ass if you hurt her friends. And then there’s Lennox, Mel’s twin. I didn’t think we would end up friends because of Evera, but he’s been a steadfast presence in our group. We all ground each other. A little group of misfits who didn’t seem to quite fit in with the others. They’re my family and there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for them.
Without missing a beat Aemon takes a step towards me. “We will talk, Little Dream. Like you, I needed some space to come to terms with some developments and information. We both should get more of the latter when my mother arrives. Now, let’s go.” He spins, heading back towards the gate.
Melissandre links her arm through mine, throwing me curious glances while ignoring the growly males behind us as we follow him back into the castle.
We enter through the doors of Kraryn Castle, much smaller than Phixmery, but much brighter. The halls are white-washed stone, with the same pale stone flooring. The corridors are adorned with long tan carpets with intricate designs of flora and vines. Paintings of who I’m assuming are Aemon’s ancestors line the walls in mahogany wooden frames. The large windows are open, with stunning views of the water, a view I’ve caught myself staring at time and time again over the past day and a half I’ve been here. There’s something about the ocean breeze, mingling with the many arrangements of colourful flowers neatly designed in their vases.
A loud honking sneeze echoes from behind me and Jesper’s curse rings through the halls. “Fates dammit. I forgot about all the flowers here. You guys go ahead, I need to run to the infirmary and grab a tonic, otherwise I’ll be sneezing non-stop.” He sneezes again, taking off down another hall.
Killian gives me a look I can’t decipher and then follows his friend. A breath blows past my lips, relieved not to have their presence at my back but somehow also feeling much more empty without it. It’s similar to what I’ve been feeling with Aemon—it’s almost like I can sense where they are in the castle, but every time I move toward one of them, they feel just out of reach.
Melissandre nudges my arm with a playful smile stretching her cheeks. “I think we have a lot to talk about,” she teases, pulling me away from their stare.
I roll my eyes. “Come on, your rooms are this way,” I say, tugging her along. Ember, Lennox and Roz follow slowly behind as they take in their surroundings.
When I first arrived here, Aemon showed me where I was sleeping and then promptly showed me where my friends could stay. You know, before he went all shadows and gloom and disappeared. Nero flaps restlessly on my shoulder, sensing my emotions, which unfortunately have been all over the place and unpredictable, just like the sea below the castle crashing against the cliff.
I stop in the hall and point out the rooms Aemon said they could use with my chin while wringing my hands. “You guys can choose which one you’re in,” I state, laughing as Mel drags me into the nearest room, Ember following.
Ember spins towards the guys. “We need to talk to her. Go have a shower or something, you stink,” she states dryly and closes the door on their shocked faces. She spins towards us with a grin before quickly glancing around the space. It’s honestly a gorgeous room. Every room has been so far. “Are you okay? Everything happened so quickly and we haven’t had the privacy to check in since…” Since everything went to shit and we needed to flee Phixmery.
I amble over to a long chair, the kind that seems more like a skinny bed you sit in, that’s positioned near the window.The name for it slips from my mind as my fingers play with the pendant of this cursed necklace that doesn’t seem to want to come off. I tried. When I took a shower my first night here, I discovered two things. The first was a dull tattoo along my torso of an ancient sword, wrapped in lightning, snowdrops, thorned roses, and delicate snowflakes. With no memory of how it got there or what the hell it is, and no answers from the healers or even Vasari, I’ve been left to keep it in the back of my mind. The second was the anger I felt towards everything, my life, my parents. If what Aemon says is true, then why do I remember the promise of that tragic night so clearly? Why can’t I force the memories I’ve repressed to the forefront of my mind? In anger, I wanted to do one little thing in rebellion and take off the necklace, but I couldn’t. The latch almost seems as if it’s been sealed shut. I couldn’t even snap the chain.
Ember sits on the ground in front of me, leaning against the bedpost, while Mel takes up the spot next to me.
“I have no idea what’s happening. No one will give me answers; they’re treating me as if I’m a petulant child. Aemon has been avoiding me.” I tell them about the necklace and show them the tattoo along the side of my ribs and stomach, being careful to hide any scars, even though I know they’ve already seen them.
They stare at the mark in shock before Ember clears her throat. “Could it be possible you received that when you bonded your dragon? We don’t know much about the royal beasts…” She trails off before continuing. “Also, why were they calling you Maeven? How in the fates do you seem to know each other?”
I shake my head, unsure on how to answer her because the only reason they would know my name is if they knew me or I’m deep in enemy territory, but my instincts tell me I’m safe. “I don’t think so. When I asked Vasari about it she wouldn’t tell me. She just said I would find out when I’m supposed to. I don’thave all my memories, and I don’t understand why more things are being kept from me, but apparently they know me from when we were fledglings.” I ignore the whole ‘Maeven’ concern. I’m not ready to talk about it, especially after keeping it buried for all these years. Thankfully she doesn’t push, although I can see the gears turning in her head as she watches me. “But that’s not all…”
