The Cadre of Embers

Chapter 16

 The ensuing days passed by in a blur, much like they did for nearly everyone in the institution. The young girls were busy making last-minute adjustments to their outfits, while the staff busied themselves preparing for the arriving guests, some of whom had already settled into the spare chambers. According to Monique, these events, like that to regular human balls and galas, served as a platform for couriers and debutantes to mingle, though unlike the world outside of the institution, members were not required to seek out a marriage arrangement. This was a relief for Althea, as the thought of having yet another event dictated by finding a suitable courtier was a morbid thought, especially when she already had so much on her mind from her readings over the past weeks.

As she made her way to the training yard that morning, Althea prayed Arsalan didn't have anything too strenuous planned. He had graciously given her tomorrow, Saturday, off from her routine to ready herself for the equinox ball. Though she would likely use the extra time in the morning to sleep in.

Today was their last day working on her heart meditation, and Althea was thankful for it. She was growing somewhat exhausted of the sitting and posing and ramblings of loving the world and people around her, especially when the ramblings were coming from someone as coarse as Arsalan. Althea's mind shot back to what he had spoken of a few days earlier. He had lost someone who he loved... maybe he knew more of love than she gave him credit for. He was still the last person she'd like to receive advice about love from though, considering he struggled to articulate his own emotions, making him ill-equipped to assist her in managing hers

She could see him meditating silently as the wind rustled through the leaves in the large oak tree, and through the long, now slightly brown grass of the field around them. She remained quiet for a moment, waiting for him to finish his set. Once he did, he spoke in a groggy voice, "good morning Althea."

"Good morning," she replied, setting down her bag of stones beside the massive trunk. Some of the tree's leaves had fallen to the ground in an array of reds, oranges, and yellows. She wondered if he had just arrived here himself, judging by the low bellowing voice he gave her and the bags beneath his blue eyes. They weren't as icy as normal this morning, but almost... sorrowful.

"Are you feeling okay?" she asked. This sparked his attention, and a bit of the usual sharpness to his features returned.

"Of course, why wouldn't I be," his lips turned up into his usual smirk, "I plan on finding a lovely lady to take to my bed at the ball tomorrow, what more could a man want." And his usual loutish behaviour had returned.

"Right," Althea rolled her eyes, standing before him now. "So what will we be doing today?" she asked, her hands resting firmly on her hips, awaiting orders. She silently prayed it wasn't more sitting meditation, though she wasn't particularly interested in practising her combat training, she didn't know how many more tedious hours she could sit through his seemingly endless lectures. But she also didn't want to be too sore to dance tomorrow.

"Today, we will be combat training," he said and she didn't know whether to be happy or annoyed, "but we will be focusing on the way your heart and emotions react to certain situations." Oh joy, the worst of both, how nice of him.

Arsalan went on to walk her through the format of today's combat exercise. She practised it a few times, until he had decided she was ready to begin the bulk of today's training.

"Now, I am going to put your mind in various simulations to break down your response to those situations and why you feel the way you do as a result," he said, taking a step back from her. Great, this should be fun.

Suddenly Arsalan closed his eyes and whooshed his hands to the side. Althea fell backwards, falling onto her backside, in an attempt to step away, as he opened what appeared to be a portal. However, instead of them going in, someone came out. The blood drained from Althea's face, as Sir Herbert stepped through the portal and stood before her. He wore the same white robe he had worn the night she'd last laid eyes on him.