Shemust be wicked.
Havingalways known she held massive power, she had never thought it was in any way wrong.Buthow could it not be?Shewas able to burn away life in seconds and make a connection to the very disease killing that which she loved.Ifthat didn’t make her a monster, she didn’t know what would.
Alight knock came from the door and she jumped, lost in thoughts of little self-worth.Shepulled herself out of the chair, her legs popping in places from lack of use and opened it slightly.
Pompeiileaned in to speak to her, his peppered mustache ending in the same upward curl as his smile. “Ah, happy to see you awake,Ash.Ihope you were able to sleep well.Ihave brought you some thingsBaronRevichthought you might need.”Henodded to the interior of the room, a request to be let in.
“Oh, thank you,Pompeii.Please—”Sheturned and gestured him inside, closing the door lightly behind him.
“TheBaronrequestedIlook to your needs, assuming you’d be awake by now.”Hebowed so elegantly in his sharp green uniform, holding out a folded dress.
“Goodness,” she lilted, taking the white, gauzy gown from his hands and hugging it close to her breast. “Hethinks of everything, doesn’t he?”
Pompeiilaughed and nodded. “Thathe does, my dear.Isee you found the water and plate of food he requestedIbring as well?”
“Yes.Thankyou.Itwas much appreciated.”
Hegestured to the door ajar to the left of the fireplace. “Please, feel free to change out of your clothes.Youhave been in them for quite some time now.Thereshould be water to freshen up as well.Iwill wait here for you to be done but take your time.Youcan’t rush a cleansing of the spirit.”
Sucha charming smile and way of speaking,Ashthought, as she followed his advice and left for the washing room.Itwas larger than the one she shared withClairanniaandFiguerahin the tallest tower, and she gasped at the sight of the massive tub in the center of it.
Wishingshe had the means and opportunity to sit in steamy hot water for an hour, she instead undressed.Pickingup a neatly folded towel, she scrubbed at her face and neck using water from the basin under an ornate, golden mirror.Blackash had settled on her skin in the wake of the fire she had brought forth, and she was slightly embarrassed to see streaks across her face.Afterwiping it as clean as she could, she used some of the mouth paste from the jar near the basin, its rich peppermint oil erasing the feeling of sleep on her tongue.
Herhair was…untamable at the moment, but she assured herself no one cared.InHyrithia, your appearance was yours and very little judgment was brought upon it.Itseemed that sentiment was common throughout all of the isle.Butshe fussed a little anyway, pulling out the plait from around the top of her head and using the comb by the basin to brush through the tangles.Wild, but more clean, she left it hanging down, the thought of binding it giving her a headache just to think about.
Shestepped into her gown and pulled it up over her shoulders.Shelooked amiss in the low light of the room, the two sconces on the wall having been lit at some point in her time here.Abeam of white against all of the black stone, she stood out like a ghostly spirit in the pitch black of night.
Thematerial of the dress was a light white cotton, hugging her chest and waist with ties before falling heavily around her hips all the way to the top of her bare feet.Shewas miraculously able to tighten the back, determined not to askPompeiifor help.Thesleeves were shorter than her usual attire, ending in gathered cloth that wrapped just above her elbow as if in homage to the petals on a rose.
Sheadmired her reflection in the mirror, its gilded frame a gold cacophony of leaves that intertwined along its rectangular shape.Thedress accentuated one of her best features where her collarbone met her chest and settled softly, the hint of her breasts subtle from the cut of the square neckline.
Inhalingslowly, she held her breath, listening to the sound of something scraping across the floor ofRevich’schamber.Sheopened the washing room door slightly to seePompeiidragging a cushioned chair through the room, placing it across from the one she had just occupied in front of the fireplace.
“Ah.Iam sorry to disturb your peace.”Hegestured to the chair. “Idid not expect it to be so heavy.BaronRevichrequested this be brought in as well.”
Shesmiled brightly, convinced theBaroncould foresee the future.Shewould need a chair to sit in when he eventually came to see her.
“It’sperfect,Pompeii, thank you.”
“Ofcourse,Ash.Nowplease, if you’d like, rest awhile more.”Heoffered his hand for her to take, leading her to the black chair he had just placed.Shesat, aware of the uncomfortable stiffness of this one compared toRevich’s.
Aflash of green caught her eye on the blue chair across from her.Followingher gaze,Pompeiitsked aloud and picked up the object, twirling it around in his fingers.Ashe brought it toward her, she realized what it was—the rhyzolm.Thesame stone thatRevichhad tossed around while walking with her from the pond.Thesame stone he had used to find her.
“Ican’t tell you the number of timesI’vefound this the past few years—stuffed in chairs, lying on the floor in the dining hall.Onceit showed up in his lumen’s mouth and she spat it out into my hand.”Heheld it up to her between two fingers. “Whereverit goes,Iknow he’s been.”Hechuckled. “Forall ofBaronRevich’sforesight, he can’t ever seem to keep a hold of this.”Hereached down and took her hand, placing the cool stone in her palm.
“How…”—she cleared her throat, her voice hoarse—“how long have you knownRevi—the youngBaron?”
“Wearrived inFelgrenaround the same time—a few years past.EveryBaronhas anOverseerof theFortressasIam toBaronRevich.BaronHeimlen’sman died some years ago,I’mtold.Wehave bonded together in learning all of the ways here inFelgren.Icome from theSpire, you see, a land of great wealth, color, and revelry.”Hegrinned ear to ear, snapping his fingers and sending bright purple sparks into the air. “AndthoughImiss home,Icould not pass the opportunity to do what few untrained channelers can.”
“Andwhat is that?” she asked, looking down at the stone, admiring the black lines coursing through the green whole of it.
“Liveout their days inFelgren, of course.Iam happy to live here, in this position, transitioning channelers to conduits by taking care of theBaron’sneeds and helping him with his duties.”
Hemoved to the enormous bed.Brilliantpurple magic flowed from his fingertips as he used it to throw the heavy quilt into the air, letting it fall back down on top of the sheets, covering all of the corners.
Heturned his head to speak over his shoulder. “He’sa good man, you know.”
Ashnodded, knowing that full well.Anyonecould see he was good.Wholesome, kind, thoughtful.Ifever she had searched for someone, it would be someone like him, and knowing that was part of her fear.Itwould be all too easy to fall.