The Mage's Familiar

19. Be Seated

The morning stretched into afternoon at an agonizing pace. It was a predictably dull post with very little to entertain. To her surprise the emperor did not call on her so there was nothing to occupy her time. Her only reprieve was a short rest period in early afternoon to eat a simple meal and then she was directed to return to her post. Her legs ached after standing still for so many hours and her boredom had become an incessant buzzing in her head. The thought that so many knights coveted this post began to seem ludicrous. Clearly they weren't aware of the dreadful monotony of standing outside a quiet office for hours on end. But as she began to feel herself becoming restless she was summoned into the office for the first time by the emperor's aide.

It became clear why the other knights were envious of her almost immediately. Inside the office lined with soaring bookshelves was the emperor's broad desk, piled with paperwork and intricate magical instruments. He leaned back in the chair behind it, studying a document he held in his hands. His shirt was untied, revealing most of his bare chest, and his sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, tied in place with slender black ribbons. His dark hair was tousled and falling over his eyes which were fixed intently on the paper he was holding. Olwen was transfixed for a moment but the aide called her name, beckoning her to his own smaller desk. At the sound of her name the Emperor raised his head but she was already preoccupied by the aide who was giving her simple instructions on how to deliver the file he was giving her. Despite how captivating the Emperor looked she left the office, file in hand, without glancing his way again. To her surprise he called out to her as she exited, forcing her to turn and acknowledge him.

"I have another task for you once you finish that delivery," he said dismissively.

She bowed.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Closing the door softly behind her she stepped into the corridor and looked down at the file she was holding but her curiosity about its contents was short-lived. She had listened carefully to the aide's instructions and completed the delivery quickly, returning to her post feeling satisfied. Stretching her legs had been pleasant and the prickling sensation under her skin at the prospect of facing the Emperor again was only mildly irritating. She waited to be announced and entered, standing by the door until Cefrin asked her to approach. The aide was now gone and the two of them were alone in the room. She felt oddly aware of his proximity to her as she came to stand beside him. For the first time that day he looked up at her and their eyes met. Her stoic facade hid her remaining disdain and distrust of him but he appeared relieved to finally look directly at her.

"How can I be of service, Your Majesty?" she asked, eager to fill the silence between them.

He didn't reply for a moment but reached for her hand which he withdrew automatically. He disguised his disappointment and turned away to sort distractedly through the paperwork on his desk. She stood awkwardly, waiting for him to reply.

"I don't feel well," he said quietly.

She observed him closely. He was not suffering any serious side effects from his illness at the moment. But there was no harm in continuing his treatment. She lowered her head and held out her hand willingly, which he took with surprising eagerness. She pushed some golden mana into his body as he leaned back with his eyes closed. His deep, even breathing filled the quiet office as she gently manipulated the mana inside his body, sending glittering arcs through his chest and down his limbs. His condition was much better than it had been during their last session. She finished quickly but as she tried to pull her hand away he grasped it gently. When his eyes opened she took a step back and he released her. His face was serene and appreciative.

"Thank you, Olwen," he sighed.

The healing was nearly complete. Olwen could tell he would only require a small amount of mana to be healthy again. But a nagging voice in the back of her head whispered about the reinfection Nas had mentioned. She wondered if he would be ill again the next time she saw him.

"You're welcome," she replied hesitantly.

His eyes darted to her face. She was openly concerned for him, so worried she had dropped honorifics. It filled him with a pleasant warmth but she quickly returned to her typical stoicism and retreated from his side.

"Did you need anything else, Your Majesty?"

He shook his head.

"But be seated," he said, gesturing to an armchair near the aide's desk. "I will assign a different guard to the door."

Olwen's eyes narrowed.

"There is no need, Your Majesty. I can return to my post-"

He held up a hand and cut her off, reaching into the top drawer of his desk and retrieving a pen that glowed softly as he scribbled something on a scrap of parchment and tossed it into the air where it dissolved into nothing before her eyes.

"Be seated," he repeated.

She did as she was told, sitting stiffly in the armchair and facing straight ahead. Cefrin shook his head at her but returned to his work. The sound of shuffling paper was relaxing and the sun was beginning to set, filling the room with golden light. He gave her no other instructions so she slowly began to relax, stealing glances at him every so often. He looked like a painting as he leaned languidly back in his chair and studied maps and other documents. Every so often he would touch his neck with his free hand or brush his hair out of his face. These habitual movements caught her attention and she stared openly, though he didn't seem to notice. As the sun began to dip towards the horizon there was a knock at the door and both she and Cefrin looked towards the sound in unison. Cefrin's aide entered with a disgruntled look on his face.

"You are dismissed," he announced, nodding towards Olwen.

She rose to her feet, looking in Cefrin's direction for confirmation. He nodded and she bowed before departing. Though she didn't see it Cefrin raised his head to watch her leave, ignoring the silent protests of his aide. As she stepped through the doors she encountered the knight who had replaced her at the entrance. It was one of the knightmaidens in her order but she could not recall her name. Olwen dipped her head politely as she passed by but it was difficult to ignore the look of surprise and suspicion on the knight's face. She glanced behind her to see the knight glaring down the corridor in her direction. She shook off her feelings of indignation. It wasn't her prerogative to dispel rumors or compete with the other knights. She was just here to fulfill her contract.