“Right,” he said with a nod. “Is she gonna be okay? Can’t you just fix her with magic or something?”
Terrena lifted her hands in question. “I’m not sure. Bianca is trying, but…there are no guarantees. Magic does not ensure anything. It’s give and take.”
“Looks like I have a lot to learn about this hocus-pocus stuff.”
She gave him a sympathetic smile, knowing how overwhelming all this must be. “Why don’t I explain it all to you while I try to heal you?”
His sad eyes were full of appreciation. “That’d be nice. I could use the company.”
***
People were staring. Some were even outright gawking. Zelene tried to keep her head down and blend in, but had soon realized she was failing miserably. And it wasn’t the bowing that tipped her off.
Well, maybe the bowing had something to do with it. Varrick had told her to stay in her room until he came for her, but hours had passed and she had grown bored. There was only so much to see from the bay window of her gigantic room. Granted, it did overlook the market square, but the view wasn’t as entertaining from five floors up.
Unfortunately, she was having trouble making her way back to that view. She had been wandering for over an hour, paying very little attention to where she was going. She made eye contact with a boy who looked to be in servant attire and a cloth wrapped around his head, but the boy let out a yelp and ran in the opposite direction before she could ask him for help.
“Seriously?” she asked to no one at all, throwing her hands up in exasperation.
“You can’t blame the chap, really,” a familiar voice said from behind her.
Zelene turned to find Cedwen’s dimpled smile and matched it with her own. “Do I look that scary?”
He looked her up and down, the scar over his left eyebrow now looking as though it was winking at her while he took in her appearance. The donnfay had insisted on helping her dress since her arrival, and the outfit they picked out for her that morning was even more elaborate than the ones from the previous days. The fabric was a deep red color with orange flecks across the puffed out sleeves falling off her shoulders and across the bustle accenting her hips.
“Oh, my heart is racing, but I don’t think it’s from fear.” He seemed to relish the blush spreading across her cheeks for a moment before answering her question. “Servants are not accustomed to being spoken to.”
“You didn’t seem to mind when I first spoke to you,” she challenged.
He leaned forward and whispered in her ear, “That’s because I’m not actually a servant.” When he pulled back, he gave her a wink. “I only dress like one so I can explore more comfortably.”
“What do you mean?”
He offered her his arm, which she reluctantly took, and guided her down the corridor as he explained. “Well, as I am sure you have noticed by now, those of noble blood are treated differently than servants. Especially the Tainted.”
“The what?”
“The Tainted. I keep forgetting that, according to rumor, you were not raised in our world.” Cedwen shook his head. “There is much for you to learn.”
Zelene didn’t like the patronizing tone Cedwen used. “So teach me. I’m a fast learner.”
“I’m not sure it is my place.”
She stopped and turned around to face him, hands on her hips. “Look, it’s not like anyone else has volunteered to fill me in on shit around here. I can barely get anything out of Varrick when he’s around and the Duillaine have yet to show their faces to us. I think I deserve some answers after everything I went through to get here.”
He stepped forward in earnest. “I agree. The way the Duillaine are treating you is appalling. But I fear I would not know where to start.”
“Start with the Tainted. What are they? Are they sick?”
“No, they are just…weak. Strength here is measured by your connection to the elements. Your family rules the worlds because they are the strongest. The Tainted, on the other hand, have no connection to the elements at all. It is believed by most that there is something wrong with them, some reason why they are not blessed with the gifts of the elements. The headwrap they wear is an indicator of their affliction, so as to make them as unappealing as possible and warn others not to get too close.”
Zelene could hardly believe what she was hearing as she followed him up the flight of stairs they had stopped by. “So they treat them like duds? Like they’re contagious or something? That’s ridiculous. So they can’t use magic. So what? Neither can I, but they insist on sticking me in fancy dresses and telling me I’m special.”
Cedwen was quick to dismiss her claims as they entered the top floor corridor. “Your gifts and abilities have not manifested yet. It is not surprising, seeing as how you lived in a world practically devoid of magic for so long.”
“Yeah, well my world wasn’t completely devoid of equality and justice, which is more than I can say for this place so far.”
“This world is a lot more flawed than you realize, Zelene.”
She let out a humorless laugh. “And I bet my family is to blame, aren’t they? I mean, they rule this place.”
“That is most certainly not my place to say. I’ve told you too much already.” He gestured to the door across from them. “I believe that is your room.”
She cocked her head to the side and eyed him. “How did you know I was lost?”
He gave her that same dimpled grin as he responded, “Definitely not by the confused look you were wearing when I saw you.”
“Thanks. I mean, for talking to me. It’s nice to have a friend here.”
“Well, friend, I hope to see you again soon.” He turned to leave, but hesitated and turned back around. “Remember, if you want to explore unseen, you have to wear the clothes of the invisible. But you didn’t hear that from me.”
She bit her lip, a mischievous glint in her eye as she understood his meaning. “Gotcha. See you around, Cedwen. If you see me, that is.”
Zelene entered the antechamber to her room with a lightness in her step, happy to have a way to free herself of the confines of her room. She noticed a girl sitting in a chair in the corner, her head wrapped in one of those ugly pea-colored cloths, and recognized her to be one of the Tainted. Her good mood quickly faded as she became enraged all over again about how the Tainted were treated and wondered why someone had sent one to her. Those seemingly innocent headwraps were like neon signs blinking 'Tainted' in bright bold letters for all to see, meant to leave them looking as unattractive as possible while still forcing them to stand out in a crowd.
Zelene watched the Tainted girl rise, knowing this girl could outshine her any day of the week no matter how she dressed. Judging by the shade of the girl’s eyebrows, Zelene guessed the her hair was a deep chocolate color that probably perfectly contrasted the coffee-colored eyes that glanced up from beneath long, thick lashes. Her skin was an envious shade of golden bronze and clear of any blemishes or freckles. Her lips were neither full nor thin, but the right size to compliment her face. Even with the plain and poorly made dress, Zelene could tell the girl had body to kill for with her long torso and curved hips. She had always felt her own body to be more on the thin and wiry side of things and had always hated girls built like her maidservant just on principle. It wasn't fair for someone to look so good naturally.
The girl stepped forward, her head lowered in a bow. “Greetings of a bright morning to you, Ainnir Zelene. I have been assigned to the Duillaine Ainnir to see to your needs.” Her voice trembled with nerves as she went on. “I have been given permission to speak to you, only to explain my presence. The Duillaine Banair felt a human presence rather than the Donnfay might help you to better adjust to your settings. I will bring your food, clean your rooms, see to your clothes, and aid you in any way you request. I will not speak beyond this explanation unless spoken to.”
“Like hell! You’re not gonna be my servant.” Her chest was flush with the anger she felt at these
backwards customs.
The girl’s shoulders fell and she tried to stifle a whimper. “Forgive me, my lady. I will report to the Duillaine that you were offended by my presence, and they will send someone more suitable.”
“No,” Zelene blocked the girl’s path. “I’m not offended by you. I just…I’m not the kind of girl that gets a servant, you know? I’ve always been the servant.”
The girl’s eyes widened as she looked up. “You were a servant?” She cupped her hands over her mouth. “Forgive me. I did not mean to speak.” She placed her hands back over her mouth as if to help her stifle the temptation.
Zelene reached out and gently removed the girl’s hands from her face. “What’s your name?”
“Ellowyn,” she answered hesitantly.
Zelene nodded. “Well, Ellowyn, my name is Zelene. Not Ainnir Zelene. Just Zelene. So that’s what I want to you to call me. Okay?”
“But, it’s forbidden for me to address you so informally. I would be dismissed.”
Zelene’s nostrils flared as she drew in a deep breath. “Call me Zelene when we’re here, then. Act however you need to outside these doors so you don’t get in trouble, but in here, we’re friends.”
Ellowyn was looking around as if someone might burst through the door and grab her. She wrung her hands together before looking back to Zelene. “I don’t know what that means. I’ve never been someone’s friend before. It’s forbidden for my kind.”
Zelene felt ashamed of the times she had pitied herself back home. She had never known true loneliness, not like this girl had. She’d always had Kyle. “Not anymore. I’m the boss. Prophesized to be all powerful or whatever. So I’m overruling them. You and I are friends now. Which means we talk about each other’s days, our interests, whatever we want. We laugh, we joke, we tell stories.”
Ellowyn’s eyes filled with tears. “I’d like that very much.”
A knock came to the door, which Zelene opened before Ellowyn could get to it. A young man with light brown hair hanging to his shoulders stood before her. His eyes were hazel and slightly sunken, giving him the appearance of wisdom beyond his young years.
“What’s up?” she asked him, holding the door open, but blocking his entrance.
He looked to the ceiling with a confused frown. "I don't know...what am I looking for?"
She rolled her eyes. "It's a greeting. Sort of like, 'How are you?' or 'What's going on?'" she explained. "So, what's going on?"
“I see. I thought I might introduce myself. My name is Nolan. I’m your brother,” he announced and spread his arms out, as though he expected a hug.
Zelene was tempted to shut the door on him. She could see the similarities between Nolan and the man claiming to be her father. She still wasn’t sure how much of this she was convinced of, but she decided to give her “brother” the benefit of the doubt. “Nice to meet you, brother-mine. Did you hear that our sister is in some kinda magical coma? Oh, and our other sister was probably kidnapped by the people who tried to kill me? Or maybe you are here to give me an update on the mysterious family who decided that shutting a temperamental adolescent in a strange new world in her room was a good idea?”
Nolan cleared his throat. “Actually, I was here to see if you might care to go for a walk with me. I haven’t seen you since you were a baby, and you were not this talkative then.”
She lost her steam at his retort. “Oh. I guess we can do that. I already went for a walk earlier, though.”
“Yes, I heard. If my idea is too boring for you, you are more than welcome to decline and stay here. By yourself. Without any information as to what is going on around you.”
Zelene heard Ellowyn stifle a laugh and glared at her brother. “You twisted my arm. Let’s go.”
“The entire floor of this building belongs to our family,” he said as he gestured around them, “just as the top floors of the other buildings belong to the other families of the Duillaine. One building to represent each element, and therefore each Duillaine.”
“Let me guess: You aren’t allowed to take me anywhere beyond the top floors of the buildings.”
He nodded. “The Duillaine are still trying to sort out the situation. They’ve been meeting with the Cynewards to gather information on your arrivals, as well as your lives. They are in a complete uproar over Isauria and Ariana, as you appear to be as well.”
She shrugged stiffly and marched down the hallway. “Not really. I mean, I don’t know them.”
He looked at her, eyes full of doubt. “Perhaps you would like to visit your friend in the leigheas. I heard his treatments are going quite well.”
“Oh, he’s still here, is he? I was under the impression he planned on running home as fast as his legs could take him.”
“Don’t you think you are being a bit harsh given his circumstances?”
“Nope. Like you said, he’s doing fine. He’ll be out of here in no time, which is exactly what he wants.”
He folded his hands behind his back as they walked. “And what is it that you want? Do you wish him to stay?”
“Of course not,” she lied. “I thanked him for saving me and now he can go back to where he belongs.”
They walked in silence for a few minutes before his face turned serious. "I overheard your conversation with your maidservant. You are very kindhearted."
"No I'm not," she said dismissively. "It's just natural. No offense, but your rules here are pretty stupid. People shouldn't be treated like they are anything more or less than human."
"I couldn't agree more," he said, which caused her some surprise. "What?" he asked with a laugh. "You can't possibly expect everyone to agree with the ways of Anscombe. If they did, there would be no war."
"I know," she admitted as she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "I just didn't expect someone like you to agree with me. I mean, you were raised here. Where I come from, the more money you have, the better off you are. Which means you're less likely to care about anyone else."
"That's a very cynical world view," he remarked, guiding her down the stairs.
She lifted a shoulder as if to say it was the way things were. "Money changes people. So does power." She peered skeptically at him from the corner of her eye. "Why are you so different?"
His mouth twisted, his tongue running along the inside of his cheek. "When I was your age, I fell in love with a Tainted girl here. We were crazy about each other. She always said nothing could come of our affections, but I never believed her. I thought love would win out, and we would get married."
They moved through the courtyard in silence as his mind drifted to the memories he relived. It seemed to be a common area for social meetings as other people walked through the vibrant garden paths. A couple sat on the edge of a large round fountain depicting a family of four. The stone family smiled down on the young couple as they held each other close and whispered their sweet nothings. Zelene noticed that the couple held her brother’s interest as well.
"What happened?" she prodded.
He sighed, pulling himself from his reverie. "We had to keep our affair a secret. We had been together for a couple of years when a young girl from Tullia, a neighboring world fairly neutral in the war, was sent here to stay. I was ordered to show her around. When the Duillaine Banair announced that they expected me to marry her, I refused and declared my intention to marry Jessica. They sent her away the next day," he finished sadly.
"I'm sorry," she said, genuinely touched by his story. She hated to hear that he had lost the love of his life. She knew all too well what that heartbreak felt like. Her own broken heart was the reason she hadn't been back to the leigheas. The hurt was too much to go through all over again. "Do you know where they sent her? Maybe we could find her."
Nolan turned to his sister and looked at her admirably. "I like that about you. You see a problem, and you want to fix it. But you must be careful," he warned. "I will not argue that changes do not need to be made in Estridia and the worlds at large. For all th
eir faults, the Cahirans are right to hope for this, to attempt to make a better world. But people don't take to change well. The sort of changes needed to bring peace to the worlds can't all happen overnight."
"I know," she responded after a pause. "Believe me, I do. I know I'm not exactly adapting well to this place. Then again, I guess the way I was introduced—people trying to kill me and violence and all—it wasn't the best way to ease me into everything, but hey...."
"I heard you were attacked multiple times, though I have not heard the details. How did you survive? If you don't mind my asking."
"Kyle," she said sadly. "He risked his life for me. And then Varrick showed up and sort of ripped out the heart of the guy who was trying to kill me. All very badass and disgusting at the same time.” She craned her neck to better view their surroundings as a question occurred to her. “Hey, where is Varrick, anyway?”
Nolan flexed his jaw disapprovingly. "He has…other matters to attend to right now."
"Other matters?" she asked incredulously. "I thought I was supposed to be the only matter he attended to."
"They take for granted that you are within Anscombe's walls," he remarked. "Our aunts seem to easily forget the reason you were sent away to begin with. Luckily, you have me here to protect you."
She glanced askew at him. "Seeing as how you aren't even armed, how is that supposed to comfort me?"
He lifted the corner of his mouth before his hand shot out to the right, and his head jerked around to the left. Instantaneously, the bench he was staring at went up in flames, and one of the potted plants across the walkway flew through the air. The plant came to a stop just before it would have slammed into wall, and the flames died down just as quickly as they had begun, leaving the bench charred and smoldering.
"Okay, I get it," she said, her voice panicky. "You've got skills. You don't have to destroy the place to make your point."
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