Clairanniaclosed her book and asked excitedly, “Haveyou decided which path you’ll take as a conduit?Mineis pretty obvious.IntheSpire,Iwas often called to help in the birthing day of mothers.It’sthe only magicIhave a real knack for.Thatwas probably obvious this morning.”Sherolled her eyes and looked to them for encouragement.
“Ithought your tulips were beautiful.”Ashclosed her own book. “Andbesides, growing flowers is kind of like birth, isn’t it?Yougrew them and gave them life, helped them reach their potential out of the ground.”
“That’sa good way to put it,Ash.Yourcrocus were lovely, too.Doyou have an agricola affinity?”
“I-Idon’t know.Maybe.”Ashrefused to talk about herself further, so she asked, “What’syour affinity,Figuerah?”
“Iumenta.Definitely.Backhome,Iwatched over the sheep and oxen.Imilked the cows and goats, made cheeses so divine,Iwas famous for them.”Shestood and walked to a tree, calling to the crimson bird singing on one of its low hanging branches.Thebird then flew to her outstretched arm and chirped excitedly to her as if in conversation.
“See,Ihave this connection to all animals.”Shestroked its feathers gently and then raised her arm to send it off into flight.
“Thatwas amazing!I’venever met anyone with that kind of magic!”Clairanniaraised excitedly from her seat, clapping atFiguerahwho bowed slightly and laughed.
Tryas she might,Ashcould not help but like these women.Thoughthey came toFelgrenwith the opposite intention of hers, she could feel their bond.
Thehours passed swiftly there inViridis, the three young women speaking of their homes and hopes for the future.Ashadded little to the conversation, but enjoyed listening to their talk of childhood and their lives just before they were given theirOfferings.Aftersome time when the sun was high over the glass dome,Sylvacame into the courtyard where they were still talking, their laughter and merriment residual on their faces.
“Sylva!Haveyou metClairanniaandFiguerah?”Ashintroduced them to the old woman who was carrying a woven basket with her, its top covered by a wool blanket.
“Goodafternoon,IamSylva.Iwill be around to help with some of your needs here.Ihave brought you a late lunch.”Sheset the basket down on the soft grass, carefully laying out the blanket and unpacking their lunch.
“It’snice to meet you,Sylva, and thank you.Please,”Figuerahsaid, bending down next to her, “let us help you with that.”
“Wouldyou like to join us?Itlooks like there’s enough food for at least ten people here!”
Outof the basket came crusty breads, hard cheeses, dried meats, strawberries as red as a bird’s feathers, and soft, ripe pears.Evena dessert was provided in cinnamon buns and dried fruits.Ashfelt her stomach rumble in anticipation and she sat on a corner of the blanket, grabbing a yellow pear and cutting off a slice of crumbling, pale cheese.
“Yes, please join us.Wewould love to hear your stories of theFortress.Ican tell you’re full of them.”Ashsmiled and scooted to the side, offering her a seat.
“Well,IsupposeIcould spare a few minutes more.”Sylvasat next toAshand picked up a cinnamon bun. “TheseareLia’sspecialty.Shemakes them fresh each morning, but doesn’t make many, so they can be hard to come by.”Shebit into the bun and closed her eyes, sighing and chewing loudly.
Figuerahcut the last bun into three and handed each of them a piece.
“Howdid you come to theFortress,Sylva?Haveyou always looked after the channelers who are training here?”Figuerahsettled into her spot on the blanket, her plate full of strawberries and bread.
“Well, asItoldAsh’Arahlast night,Iwas brought here to train decades ago—just like you.”
“Oh,I’msorry.Wedon’t have to talk about it if it’s a sensitive subject.”Figuerah’scheeks reddened in embarrassment.
“It’salright, my dear.Ihave enjoyed my time here as a channeler, even ifIdidn’t pass the trainings and become a conduit myself.Youare the first set of channelersIhave had the honor of watching over.Imostly tidy up the place, keep it as clean asIcan, and stoke the fires.Occasionally,BaronHeimlenallows me to sit in his chambers and knit as he paces and works.Hecan get into such a state, that man.Hesays the clicking of the needles and the rocking of the chair help him to think.”Shesighed deeply and looked off into the distance, lost in her own memories. “Iwas happy to accept his offer to be your keeper in your time here.”
Thethree met each other’s glances and raised eyebrows.
“And…do you knowBaronHeimlenwell,Sylva?”
Clairannia’selbow shot out intoFiguerah’sribs at the question, andAshlooked down to hide her snicker.
“Oh, yes, very,verywell.”Sylvacontinued to slowly devour her cinnamon bun, her eyes still lost in memory, oblivious to their reaction to the question. “Infact,Ihave been his closest friend over the years.Yousee,Iwas given anOfferingearly on in his time asBaron, and, thoughIdid not continue on to become a conduit, he made sure to keep me in theFortress.Insteadgiving me a different kind of offer.”Sheturned to look atFiguerahthen and winked before reaching out to take some berries.
“So, you andBaronHeimlenhave…anintimatebond you might say?”
Clairanniahad given up on trying to reign inFiguerah’scandid questions and was instead taking small bites of cheese, watchingSylva’sreactions with raised brows.
Shelaughed and answered, “Yes, you could say that, though intimate in a different way now.”
Ashhoped her face hid any sort of surprise at the comment.Thoughshe had spent plenty of her later teenage years stealing kisses withGeyrandbetween his duties and sneaking off with him on his guard watch, she had never really spoken to anyone about their trysts, nor had she heard much talk of intimacy in her life.
Shesearched for the mark onSylva’swrist.Itwas faded, but there, just below her left palm—just likeAshand all of the adults onArcaynenIsle.Thesubtlelshape was actually a spell, given by a medicus conduit when a person came of age.Itprevented the possibility of any children until two people became companions, the mark leaving their wrists after the ceremony.