The Curse of the Gift

Part 10

Even though I was only five minutes late, Marian lectured me all the way from the palace. I tried hard to concentrate on her voice, but all I could think right now was what had happened with Allan in the garden. Ever since our first meeting, I'd always had a hard time figuring out his emotions. He was very good at hiding them. Unlike Ryan or Izaya. It always showed on their faces. Ryan's was mostly annoyance, anger, then annoyance again, and so on in a circle. And Izaya was a smiling, affable guy with incredible charisma. But I'm sure Allan was sincere today. Every word he said, every touch was imbued with sincere feelings.

Marian, realizing that I wasn't listening to her at all, calmed down, and mumbling to herself, turned to the window of our carriage. And something told me that tomorrow I would have a very difficult training session. For all the three days we would be in Delas, Marian and I would be staying at the inn, and she had promised that we would start training tomorrow.

As soon as we settled in, Marian started sorting out her things, as if we would be staying here not for three days, but for a month. For me, though, it was the perfect opportunity to go and see Rory.

After a little grumbling, Marian agreed to let me go. But I guess she didn't mind taking a break from me, either. As I stepped outside, I caught a glimpse of Ryan's figure. Though he was careful to blend in with the crowd, he'd chosen a slightly unfortunate cover, the musicians' performance, where every single person was standing around the performers smiling or dancing, and only he stood with his hands clasped over his chest and his eyebrows furrowed. I decided not to torture him, because apparently standing there was like torture to him, and I quickly disappeared around the corner

When I got to Rory's bakery, I peered through the windows to find the girl. But just as I'd thought, my friend was up to her neck in work. Rory was happy to see me, too, so she asked me to wait a little while until she got her break. I agreed, because I wasn't sure I'd be able to make it out another day.

She walked me to the backyard, where there were a couple of small benches and wooden tables. After seating me at one, she brought tea and freshly baked cinnamon rolls (and as I found out also from her recipe), and she hurried back. The pastries tasted amazing, and when Rory returned a couple of hours later with a new tray, I let out a happy squeal.

***

"What?! You're leaving?!" Before I could even finish my sentence, Rory cried out and jumped up from her seat.

"Quiet down!" I sat her down sharply. And if I'd been sure before that I was going to tell her about my new powers, for some reason now I was beginning to have doubts about whether or not to tell her who I was.

I turned away from the girl and rubbed my hands together nervously, but Rory immediately noticed my hesitation, so he gently took my palms in hers and looked at me with those big, sincere eyes of hers from the first day we met on the ship.

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," Rory smiles, and there's no insult or anger in her voice.

It's not that I don't want to tell her. On the contrary, I want desperately to share the news with her. But I'm afraid. I know that Rory is a kind, honest and open girl. She has never resented or criticized me, even knowing what my hands look like. And now I have to force myself to trust her, because I can't spend my life running away from my fears of being judged or misunderstood.

"I..." I paused for a moment, making sure there was no one else in the courtyard behind the bakery where we were sitting, so I moved closer to the girl and almost whispered. "I'm Eyra."

"What?" Rory looks at me in confusion, and I guess she didn't hear what I said.

"I'm Eyra." Clearing my throat, I repeat a little louder so she can definitely hear me.