Daughter of Darkness

Chapter 5

A couple of weeks passed with things going the same for Sal. She continued to succeed in her classes and training despite others trying to hinder her. Jed was insistent on sticking to her side like some parasite, and Alex still pretended as if his cousin didn't exist. Most of the other pages treated her like she had the plague, while others were indifferent to being there.

As for Sal's after hours activities, it was mostly consisted of spending time in the library working on homework, or going to punishments that her teachers and Lord Pillit gave to her. When Salinda was able to find some free time she spent it talking with Lanet, her birds, and when possible Fauna.

On one gracious day of rest, with no homework due, Sal sat on the pitch wall with Fauna next to her, Lanet on her other side, and a palace cat, Scab, on her lap. They watched in silence as Jed played with Copperwind as he tried to practice his elemental powers. He was trying to move the ground so that it Copper had to move to avoid it.

"Copperwind really loves him." Fauna said peacefully. "I can see it in his eyes."

"He's a big dog." Lanet said sounding scared. Sal knew she wasn't overly fond of dogs, especially one as big as Copper.

"He's still only a pup." Fauna commented. "He will grow at least twice that size once he's full grown." Sal looked at the direwolf impressed, but judging by a small gasp from Lanet, she wasn't. Copper's head was already up to Sal's shoulders, and if he grew as big as Fauna said he would be the size of a small horse.

Copper raced towards his Magi, and before Jed could conjure something to stop him, the direwolf pounced onto him knocking him over. He started to viciously lick his face as Jed tried to push him off. Sal laughed loudly, enough so that Scab got irritated and walked over to Fauna's lap with a flick of her tail.

However, Sal's laughter made both Familiar and Magi to look over to her, and as if they thought the same thought, Copper started charging over to Sal. "No!" Sal screamed jumping off the wall, and running from the charging wolf. She turned around to see no sign of Copper, but when she turned back around, Copper pounced and pushed her in the dirt.

The air was knocked out of her lungs, and she something warm and wet licking her face all over. Her body was too stunned to move, and this must have concerned Copper because he stopped licking playfully and he got off her chest. He started nudging her with his nose and he whined loudly.

"Sal!" Jed called out. She blinked her eyes lazily as he appeared in her vision.

"I'm fine." She groaned finally able to breath again.

At the sound of her voice, Copper started licking her again, but he was pulled off her by Jed. "Copper, leave her be." He then helped her up until she was standing. Lanet and Fauna had come over also.

"Lady Salinda!" Lanet started to dust Sal off from the dirt as Fauna pet the direwolf with a smile. "Master Jedrek, that wasn't very nice."

Jed opened his mouth to protest, but he nodded agreeing. "It was funny though." This got him a punch in the arm from Sal. "Oww."

*****

"I never get used to this." Jed said as he and Sal walked through the city. Sal smiled as she looked at Jed's awed face. Since she lived in Havenel her whole life she was used to the bustling city and all it's interesting people. "You want me to show you a place I found last year?" Jed asked as people split for them as Copperwind lead the way.

"Okay." Sal said looking at a hissing cat as it looked at Copper. "Where is this place?" As they walked towards the lower part of the city, Sal held her purse closer to her just in case any thieves were nearby. "How did you find this place?" But he didn't answer.