A Dash of Poison

Chapter Two: The Cleansing

She didn't rest when she got back to her room. Instead, she put the changed robe in her closet and removed her trousers and tunic. then she took off the headband and hid it carefully under the floorboard. She took out one of her beige tunics and hung it over the changing screen. She had been furious. She lit her fireplace and picked up a stack of letters. The newest one had yet to be opened. She was not to open it unless the King's assassination did not go according to plan. 

She threw the opened letters into the fire and hid the unopened one with the headband that Wolf had given her, as well as the gold ribbons. If the letters were found she would be executed. At least then she could see Julian and her parents again, but her foster mother Elana would be devastated. She couldn't bear to do that to her. She took off her locket and placed it around the headband. She would come back for it after the ceremony. A knock sounded on the door, she quickly closed the board and slid the rug underneath it. 

"Come in Roena." There were four girls in this year's class. They were paired up to help each other cleanse and get ready for the ceremony. The door opened, and there stood Roena. She could see why her parents named her 'the beautiful dawn'.  She got up and started their baths. Roena stripped down. 

"What do you think tomorrow is going to be like? Did you hear the Wolf is going to claim a shadow for the first time, and Nightshade is going to be there?" Nightshade was one of the newer mages, but he was on par with Wolf.  

"I heard something like that. Can I tell you something?" Roena turned off the baths, adding in the rose and lavender oils. 

"Of course!" While they were supposed to remove all attachments, they had remained friends all throughout basic training, and through advanced training. She started to slowly lower herself into the steaming water.

"I ran into the Wolf this morning."

"You what!" Roena yelled, forgetting what she was doing. She let go of the side of the tub, falling into the water. She let out a hiss in pain.

"I went to the library to practice the incantation. The wards are stronger in there, you know just in case I set my robe on fire again. I ran into him, literally." 

"You what!"  Anna walked over to her bath and lowered herself in. 

"I was running up the stairs and I ran into him."

"And then?"

"Well, he helped me with the incantation and showed me a spell to do my hair. Not to mentioned he said he narrowed his choices down to two." The water swirled around her, the sun reflecting off the water. She forgot she had opened her window before she left. "It was so odd, and his eyes. Something was off about them." She didn't want to start a rumor about him being blind, but she couldn't shake that feeling.

Roena didn't say anything for a long time. "There are rumors that he is blind, but they are just that. Rumors. You should be more careful. Had it been Nightshade or Hemlock you ran into it could have been worse. Although he has seemed to take a liking to you." 

She nodded. "Im not entirely sure why. He said what I lack in skills I make up for with drive. He knew things Roena. He knew my name, that im always studying, and he knew about my locket." Roenas eyebrows narrowed, obviously as confused as she was. 

"That is odd Anna. No one but me knows about the locket." The bell tolled seven, and it was time to get out of the baths. The wind blew strongly, causing their robes to go flying. They laughed as the chased them. Knowing this would be their last chance to see each other for a while. In the light, Roena could see her hair.

"You were right about your hair, it was difficult to see in the dark. The matron won't be happy." Roena grabbed her hair and combed through it. "It is a beautiful color though. Us desert people dont have colored hair. What do you call it?" she mused.

"Auburn. My father had the same hair."  She missed him terribly. If only he was here right now. She lowered her eyes to the ground, holding back the tears. 

"Done." Roena whispered, careful not to startle her. 

"Thank you Roena." 

"Aren't we supposed to get our assignments before the ceremony?" She noticed Roena was tapping her foot, something she often did when she was nervous.

"I'm nervous to Roena. Stop worrying. The assignments will be here-" A knock sounded on the door. Roena got up and bolted to the door. The Matron was at the door, holding two envelopes. 

"Annaleigh, Roena. Im glad to see your ready on time for onc-" She peered in over at Anna. Her eyes narrowed in rage. "What is this!" Anna swallowed, scared of what might happen. The Matron wasn't the kindest woman in the world, one might say she was terrifying. 

"Uhhh. You see what happened was." She scratched the back of her head, not sure what to say.

"Aula, Anna had trouble with the incantation this morning. We dont have time to dye her hair back. You have always said that dye looks more convincing than magic." She grabbed the envelopes. "Goodbye Aula." She shut the door quickly, leaning her forehead against it. 

"Whats Aula?" Roena had used some phrases of the Anali tongue before, but never that one. 

"It means Aunt, or Aunty. It is a sign of respect. She is Anali too. Here." She threw the envelope over to her. Her nervousness had been overcome by excitement. She opened it up and grinned. "I got Nightshade! Who did you get?" By this point, she was jumping up and down in excitement. 

She opened her envelope. She was greeted by one word. Wolf. She knew she had a 50/50 chance of this, but she didn't think it would be her. Maybe that's why he was so nice to her earlier. She took a deep breath and forced a smile onto her face. 

"Wolf." Roena squealed in delight. She grabbed her hands and started dancing around the room. 

"I've heard they work together a lot. Maybe we will see each other often." Before she could say anymore the bell chimed once. It was half past seven. It was time.