The Flower Path

6. Settling In

Ability or 'spark' training with the Baron happened nearly as soon as the ink dried on the Ipheion family registry, the announcement to the Barony was read and the letter to the royal family was sent.

It was then Rhea began to see another side to the Baron. When business-focused he became detail-oriented and exact. He would show her with his abilities how to 'play' as he called it.

"In the Barony we have much peace. I hope you will never be faced with a moment where you must use your spark for battle. However, it is always prudent to remain prepared."

Rhea nodded. She adjusted her stance after seeing the Baron's shoulders thrown back and his wider stance, hands up to protect not only to 'play'.

Training continued until it was time for lunch, which Rhea was learning the Baron, 'Calder' as he asked her to call him, never missed. No one could come between him and lunch.

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"When will it hatch?"

Rhea stared at the egg that she carried around with her on instinct while Calder chuckled as he stroked the beak of his sky beast, Notus.

"Each sky beast takes its own time to hatch. You've cared for it well. It will no doubt hatch soon."

Calder was right one full moon night, a cracking sound had Rhea sitting up in her bed. Quickly she moved her sheets and covers away from the egg. Her first thought was a fear, that she had somehow hurt the egg while she slept.

A crack rand down diagonally down the center, the top rattled and shook small squeaks issuing beneath the shell. Before a hard silver beak broke through the top layer of shell taking in small lung-fulls of air before a scaled head followed. Silver blue eyes peered over the edge and straight into Rhea's gaze.

"Hello, little one." Rhea reached out slowly and watched as the creature bumped its nose against her palm before shaking free from the rest of the shell. It circled her climbing over the heaps of sheets and blankets before settling down with its head in Rhea's lap. One eye cracked open looking up at Rhea as if expecting something. Hesitantly Rhea reached out to pet the downy feathers that were interspersed with scales upon its head. The little sky beast let out a happy chirp, its small wings stretched before bringing them close, and decided to nap in her lap. Rhea couldn't seem to settle during the night, in awe of the creature that she cared for coming to fruition.

The next morning had the little sky beast following Rhea wherever she went. First to early breakfast with the Baron who gave his customary grin and nodded in approval at the sight of her sky beast. Then to early morning training with Calder, where the sky beast watched with fascination as Rhea used her ability. Its silvery blue eyes tracked the motion of her hands as she manipulated water to do as she willed. When Calder had them take a break and they ate a snack on a bench overlooking the ponds that covered the landscape of the Barony estate, he turned toward her with a worried brow.

"Training is all well and good, but Rhea one must make time to take breaks." He took a bite of his sandwich before looking through the light dappling across their faces before he glanced at her. "Before what would you do, Rhea, to play?"

"Play?"

'What does he mean, ALICE?'

[TO PLAY: TO ENGAGE IN AN ACTIVITY THAT BRINGS FORTH JOY]

Rhea tried to remember a time she'd done anything without it serving some sort of purpose. Nights with ALICE telling her stories from the database briefly flickered through her mind.

"I like stories," Rhea whispered. "Stories about happily-ever-afters."

"Well, that's a good start." Calder hummed beneath his breath before his eyes became alight with an emotion Rhea was familiar with. It was the only warning she got before she was sprayed with water.

She stood her training wear soaked. "What was that for?"

"Do it back."

Rhea paused unsure before Calder gestured like he was going to do it again and so Rhea quickly caused a small wave of water to douse the Baron. He let out a boisterous laugh.

"Excellent job, Rhea!"

Rhea's sky beast bounced over, tongue hanging outside of its mouth before they sat on their haunches and a torrent of water came from their mouth spraying Calder.

Calder shook off the water and ran a hand through his hair. "Look even your sky beast has joined the fun."

The oddity of the young sky beast following a maiden around should have seemed more odd, at least that was what Rhea believed until she saw other children who lived at the estate with their parents who worked there. They also had skybeasts following after them.

Calder spoke to Rhea's look of worry.

"It is completely normal for at least the first couple of months for a sky beast to not leave their bonded side. Soon enough you'll see they have taken on some of your characteristics and personality traits. It's as it's meant to be. Now have you come up with a name for her?"

Rhea looked at her sky beast with icy coloring and decided on a name that fit her. It was between two, but as if helping her decide her sky beast let out melodious warble. "Wren."

Much like the first time Rhea had the food at the Barony, the first time she had tea and cake was truly an eye-opening experience. That one drink could hold so much flavor, sweetness that full and flowery with a creamy aftertaste that settled nicely on her tongue.

"I'm glad you like it, Rhea. Each noble family has their recipe. This is mine."

"Can you teach me?" Rhea eagerly peered over at the lady who became something more than just a mentor. Something she only heard about in stories. Something as sacred as a mother.

"I cannot refuse you, dear Rhea."

Rhea didn't allow her lessons to end in the greenhouses, or the sitting room. She took her lessons to the very kitchens, excited to see if she could make such delights as they had for her.

It was a trial and error, and many a late afternoon found her covered in flour. Until eventually she learned the elegance of baking. Like with learning any new etiquette, there was always a time and place for every action. A balance to each added ingredient. It took longer than she would have liked but when she set her first crumpet with homemade jam beside Calder's desk where he was doing his Baron duties, she felt a flutter with nerves. Would he like it?

He peered over his reading glasses, "Did you make this Rhea?"

She nodded, her nerves stopping her voice.

Calder set aside his paperwork, took out his handkerchief, and laid it on the desk before breaking the crumpet in half and spreading the jam in relative silence. He took a bit and didn't speak until he finished one half.

"Nearly perfect Rhea. With a little more hard work and time, they will be fit for any tea party."

Rhea's eyes widened. Lady Arud had been preparing for her first tea party, once her manners were up to par and she began to embody a lady of the Barony.

"Thank you! I'll go, right now." She went to pick up the plate with the half crumpet left on it, only for Calder to swipe it away and hide in the curl in his arm.

"I'm yet to be finished with that, Rhea."

"Of course." Rhea gave a little curtsy and hid her smile beneath her bow before she nearly ran out of the room to go tell Lady Arud everything.