Bound By Madness

64. Forgotten Skills

I sat nestled within the arms of my Jester Assassin, looking down at the same page I had spent the past several minutes trying to read and failing. It wouldn't be so hard if there wasn't a distraction in the form of gentle fingers combing through my hair, but I couldn't find the desire to tell my sweet Cicero to stop and finally just closed the book and sat it on the end table beside us.

"Did Faith no longer wish to read that book? Would she like her Cicero to find her another more interesting book, perhaps?" He said softly, tucking a lock of hair behind my ears before curling an arm around me in a hug from behind. "Cicero could bring her that one she brought back from her contract, the one about thieves? Would sweet Faith like that?"

He shifted as if to get up and I hurried to grasp at his arm before it could vanish from around my waist, stopping him instantly from moving. Twisting my upper body around enough to meet his eyes, I smiled at him and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek.

Thank you, my love, but I'm fine. I just wanted to enjoy being here with you. The book was too distracting and I can read it another time, like when you are busy Keeping Mother. Right now, I have you to myself and I realized how silly  I was being to waste that time with reading. After all, who knows how long we will have together before the False One sends me out again. It would be rather foolish of me not to enjoy times like this while I can.

Reaching up, I ran my fingers through his hair a few times before placing my hand against his shoulder and resting my head on his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart.

"Cicero would happily spend all his time like this when he is not tending to Mother. Faith need only say the word," he whispered, pressing his lips to my forehead before leaning back against the headboard of the bed, arms wrapping around me like it would keep me there.

As if I would ever want to leave the arms of this wonderful man.

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Who was it? Who left it on my bed while my Cicero and I were elsewhere? What do they want? I know you know, Babette, so don't try to say otherwise. Who left this?

I shook the book in my hand, eyes wide as I watched her for some kind of tell. A shifting of her gaze to one of the Family members in the room, a twitch of her fingers, anything that would help me figure out who it was. Sadly, she remained as still as a statue other than her lips moving as she spoke.

"I'm afraid I am not at liberty to tell you, whether or not I know who it was. It seems that giving gifts without letting the one being gifted has become a bit of an occurrence in this Sanctuary. But you wouldn't know anything about that, now would you, dear Sister?" The quick smirk on her lips was more gentle than I expected from her before it vanished and she turned back to her alchemy table.

Blushing, I turned to look at the Grumpy Uncle and the Mysterious Elf, catching the grins on their faces before the female winked playfully.

"Perhaps you should ask your companions if they saw who it was?" She said before chuckling.

I tried. They refused and said that receiving gifts might be good for me once in a while.

"Sorry, but Babette and the Listener are the only ones beside the Keeper who can read lips. As you well know. Ahem, now we all have things to do, so perhaps you should try asking someone else?" The Grumpy Uncle said before turning back to his enchanting table, reminding me of the other reason I had come in.

Tapping Babette on the shoulder, I hugged the book to my chest nervously.

"I told you, I'm not going to tell you who-"

I know! I was just wondering if you could ask... If you could ask the Grumpy Uncle if he would mind going over some enchanting notes with me after dinner?

"Enchanting notes? What do you mean?" Her eyes sharpened as she watched me, waiting for a response.

Well, I'm trying to find out if I am remembering this enchantment right but I haven't been able to find it in any of the books I've found. I don't want to mess it up but I really want to see if I can still do it, so I thought maybe the Grumpy Uncle would help? Either if he knows of it or if he could maybe... supervise me while I practice it?

"What enchantment are you wondering about? I might have heard of it, being a vampire who has been around for a little while and all," she smirked, laughing at me when my face flushed red once more.

Oh, I didn't know you paid attention to Enchanting. I thought you focused on Alchemy and I guess it is silly to think that just because someone focuses in one area that they wouldn't at least know something about another. I'm sorry for being so silly, Babette.

Her eyes widened for a moment before closing at the smile that spread across her face.

"I forgive you, dear Sister. Now, what is this enchantment you are trying to remember?" She spoke happily, eyes opening as she looked up at me.

Well, I'm not sure what the name was, but it helped me get around quietly? I used to have a pair of shoes with it on them but I lost them years ago and by then I had lost confidence in my skill. Later, I forgot about it altogether until I was talking with Cicero and was reminded. Then last night Amicus suggested I ask the Grumpy Uncle since he is often at the enchanting table, but then I was distracted by finding that book when I went to get my notes and I ended up forgetting them in the room. Should I go get them?

"Faith, slow down for a moment. Are you telling me you know the muffle enchantment? What else do you know?"