An Affinity For Fire

20. Clover

Three days since they'd first encountered the wolf and two since arriving with her at Aestas, Clover and Heleonne were no closer to settling the debate of her name.

"I don't care how much you like it, we are not calling her Avalanche."

"Why not?" Leo laughed. "It sounds powerful."

"It sounds ridiculous," Clover argued. "Besides, she's more swift and agile than powerful."

Clover yanked at her reins. The wolf in question had joined them on their morning ride and insisted on weaving between the legs of the three half-breeds - Clover's Thunder, Leo's Comet and Tarragon's Ivy. Tarragon hadn't wanted to come, so Lord Dallas had offered to join them to give Ivy the exercise. The two young men were doing an impressive job of navigating their mounts around the excitable she-wolf. Clover, on the other hand, was struggling. She was no stranger to horses, but half-breeds were a very different type of creature. They were stronger, bolder and far less inclined to obey instruction. Thunder was difficult enough for her to handle without a mischievous wolf causing problems.

"Oh, stop making excuses, it's a great name," Leo insisted, oblivious to her struggles. "We can even call her Ava for short."

Clover rolled her eyes. "Back me up here, would you, Dallas?"

The Dzitan Lord hadn't spoken much since the argument had started.  He'd watched them bicker from the back of the chestnut half-breed, smirking all the while. It was clear he found the friendly dispute, much like almost everything else, it seemed, extremely amusing.

Upon hearing his name, he raised a hand in mock defence, keeping the other on the reins. "Don't bring me into this, I don't get involved in conflict. Although, it has to be said, Avalanche isn't the best idea. Imagine you're in Dormis, surrounded by snowy mountains, and she runs off. You can't exactly scream 'Avalanche' to call her back, you'd give anyone in the general vicinity a heart attack."

Leo frowned. "I suppose that's a fair point."

The argument went on for quite some time. Storm, Aster, Hurricane, Juniper, Tempest and Fern were all chosen and rejected, among countless others. By the time they made it back to the stables, Clover must have listed every plant she'd ever heard of, none of which satisfied Leo.

"This is getting stupid now," Clover said as she dismounted. "Dallas, just pick one of the names we suggested and end this."

She couldn't decide which boy looked more horrified by the idea.

"Hold on, why does he get to choose?" Leo asked.

"Because we're clearly not going to settle it ourselves," she said.

Dallas took a few steps back. "Look, I already told you I don't do side-picking, and I certainly don't want to offend either of you gorgeous people by not choosing one of your suggestions."

"Then come up with something yourself," Clover said. "Go on, what would you call her? You must be able to come up with something."

He stifled a laugh, unstrapping Ivy's saddle. "I thought of something as soon as the debate started."

"Let's hear it then," She pushed.

He shook his head, grinning. "After the ruthless insults Heleonne got for his suggestions? No, thank you."

"Aww, come on, just tell me the name. I'll be nice, I promise. Please?" Tilting her head sideways, she gave him her best pleading doe eyes. It didn't take a genius to figure out that flirting was the fastest way to get a response from Dallas Akari.

He rolled his eyes, conceding. "Fine. Weyra."

Clover narrowed her eyes, bolting the gate to Thunder's stall. "Weyra?"

"It's Dzitan," Dallas explained. "It means 'guardian of the night and companion to the Sun Goddess'." He smirked. "Of course, the more commonly used translation would be 'star'."

Clover's confused frown slowly curled into a smile. "Weyra. I like it."

"Oh, I see, his choice, you like," Leo muttered, tone cold enough for Clover to wonder if he'd meant for the remark to be under his breath instead of audible.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

He ignored her, leaving the stables and stomping back to the castle.

"Hey! Leo!" She called after him. Frowning, she turned to Dallas. "I'm sorry, do you mind if I..." She gestured after Leo.

"Oh, no, go. It's fine, I can finish up securing the half-breeds."

She flashed him a grateful smile before leaving to follow Leo.

"Look, I don't really know what the problem is," she said, struggling to keep up with his pace, "but if it bothers you this much, we can use one of your bloody names."

He stopped so abruptly she almost walked into him. "Is it really the name you like, or is it him?"

He could have slapped her and she would have been less taken aback. "What in all Hells are you talking about?"

"Well, you seem to like him quite a lot."

Why that would bother him, she had no idea. "Why shouldn't I? He's been nothing but nice to us."

"I just think, with everything that's going on, we should all be a little more cautious about who we make friends with. He may seem nice now, but we haven't really known him long enough to be sure."

Clover felt a flush of heat rising to her cheeks. "In fairness, I haven't known you an awful lot longer. Should I be cautious about you, too?"

He met her glare with eyes just as cold. "You do realise he wants a lot more from you than just friendship, right?"

"I'm well aware of that," she said, "And if you'd been paying any attention at all, you'd have figured out that he wants exactly the same from you, Tarry and half the Aestasan Court. I don't see why you're so concerned about me, specifically."

Leo raised his hands. "I'm just looking out for you but, hey, far be it from me to try to protect a friend."

Clover balled her fists. "In case you've forgotten, I've already killed one assassin with a water jug and another with a frying pan. I think I can handle an overtly flirtatious Aestasan without your bloody protection."

She didn't wait for him to respond. Instead, she marched back to the castle, fists still clenched at her sides, and stormed straight for the baths. She was already sweating, and anger wasn't helping. Bloody Aestasan heat.

Distracted by her fury, she ploughed into the stand of one of the tall braziers lining the corridor. Without thinking, she reached up to stop it from falling, her fingers catching the dish. The burning oil sloshed over the side and fell to the floor.

Clover gripped the dish, fingers submerged in the remaining burning oil. Her eyes grew wide.

Why doesn't that hurt?!

Panicking, she dropped the brazier. It clattered to the floor, spilling the remaining oil over the slate tiles.

A young serving girl, probably having heard the noise, peered around the corner of the corridor. Upon seeing the flames, she let out a small yelp and scurried off into a nearby room, returning briskly with a thick rug to smother the flames.

"My lady, are you hurt?" she asked, widened brown eyes darting up and down Clover's body in search of an injury.

Clover stared at her unsinged fingers.

I certainly should be.

"No, I'm fine. Sorry about the floor, is there any damage?"

The girl smiled. "'Tis no trouble, my lady. Why do you think there are no carpets in the halls? This is a castle filled with red mages, we're perfectly accustomed to the odd accidental fire. I'm just pleased that you're alright. You are sure you weren't burned?"

"I'm fine," she confirmed.

But Fates only know how.