A Raire Gift

Chapter 10

I walked into the dining hall, still feeling shaken by the dream.
If Lina noticed anything, she didn't comment. She talked all the way there.
Flette waved us over. "Did you hear? Meeting with Gabriel today."
We had heard. Soon after I recovered myself, a message runner knocked on the door. Now that we were all here there was no avoiding it. We were told to visit his office as soon as breakfast ended.
I sat down in my usual place between Lina and Tena, and across from Herl. He watched me, an expression I couldn't decipher flickered across his face. A soft expression, even sweet. "Did you get any sleep at all? You're pale, and not as steady as you usually are, even on a bad morning."
I grimaced. "Oh, I slept all right. Even dreamt." My voice had stopped trembling, but I couldn't sound entirely lighthearted yet.
Now the whole table was looking at me. Lina spoke first. "What did you dream about? Nanya mentioned you were sick early this morning. Are the two related?" I knew the tone she was using. She sounded entirely uninterested, which was a good sign of just how interested she was.
I ate in silence for a moment before responding. "Honestly, I'm not entirely sure how to go about explaining. I'll tell you all after we speak with Gabriel, I'll be more awake then."
After that, the conversation went on as it would any other morning. Now and then I caught Herl's eye, but it was so brief I could have imagined it. And then we were all done eating, and off we went to Gabriel's office.
Lina knocked on his door. When we were called in, we entered, standing straight. "Did you find your new supplies satisfactory?" Was his first question. We all nodded and he went on. "They are the weapons you will use in Lord Gavel's classroom. They have been fitted with crystals, which will be able to hold energy in the blade itself. I am not an expert on the matter and will leave the rest of the explanation to Gavel. You will continue with dulled steel for any other lessons."
I pushed down any disappointment I might have felt. It only made sense after all.
Gabriel continued. "And I trust you found your emblems? As students of Lord Gavel you will be traveling outside the academy often enough, and a form of positive identification is necessary. If you decide to work on different teams after you finish your training here, they will be replaced."
At that, I grew more interested. I liked traveling and was curious over the matter.
But I returned my concentration to Gabriel when I heard what he said next. "And miss Raire, if your team's symbol was not indication enough; you have been chosen to lead. I went over each of you before making a decision. I expect you will not flaunt what authority this gives you over the rest of your team."
I shook my head. "No sir. Each member is as invaluable as the last."
He nodded, a look of satisfaction on his face.
After that, we were given the typical stack of papers carrying our schedules and sent out. Now we sat in the minor library, where Nanya joined us.
Herl sat down beside me, only glancing in my direction before returning his attention to the group. "So, I get back to find out that the only one of you who properly cares about me is Tena. And apparently, Lina has a girl."
Lina choked slightly, and Nanya only smiled placidly. "Well, I wouldn't quite say Lina has a girl. I'm in charge of keeping their room clean. And to me, it seems rather obvious that someone besides Tena cares for you." She looked pointedly at me.
Herl matched her smile for smile, "No one besides Tena wanted to include me when they all found out who their leader would be. Or that our team had an official emblem now. Or even include me in beating the crap out of each other." His voice was saturated in feigned hurt.
Flette nodded, his expression straight. "Yes, I have noticed that Tena here is always concerned for Herl in particular. Is there something the two of you haven't mentioned?"
Herl didn't miss a beat, he sighed loudly. "My dearest flower in bloom, our secret is out." He batted his eyelashes at Tena, who was presently failing at keeping his face neutral.
I was sure he wouldn't hold if one more thing was said, and laughter was good. "Hmm, and I always thought I was the only one here attracted to men. I have been lied to." I tried my best to sound betrayed.
And Tena didn't hold, we all laughed. I noticed that somehow during the conversation, Herl had moved closer to me. So that our thighs almost touched. I did my best to ignore his proximity.
Finally, the conversation ebbed, and we turned our attention to our schedules. I read down the list quickly.
Again I had Professor Malkyte for several language courses.
Lady Kalla for geography.
Mistress Amana for magical creatures and plants.
Master Malik for swordcraft.
Sir Arin for ranged weapons.
And someone new. Lady Lianne, for horse riding. I felt a thrill go through me. I was excited to ride Stardust again soon.
I turned the sheet over, where the lessons the whole team would take together were written down. These classes were shorter but just as important.
They had less structure and were placed throughout the day with various teachers. Oftentimes the class we arrived at would be different from the one we were expecting, keeping us off balance to learn quickly.
The third sheet was where one-time, or less frequent classes were listed. In addition to the normal, expected lessons were outings. These were what Gabriel had spoken of, with Lord Gavel.
The first was three months into the year, a three-week-long trip with no further information.
I was intrigued but moved to the last page. The one that listed what each class was. I wanted to know what Gavel's class was about, but it was equally vague.
I was frustrated at how little information there was. I liked to know what I was getting myself into, before getting myself into it.
Classes would be starting up again as soon as the rest of the students arrived, so I had to wait to know what it would be like. And in the meantime, I still itched with a need to fight. It was strange, when I had started learning here I felt only distress and intrigue. Now, I had grown so used to the daily movements, I couldn't sit still for long.
I stood, stretching my back. "I'm going to the stables. Stardust doesn't like inactivity so I'll be going on a short ride."
"Stardust?" Tena inquired.
I grinned, "My horse. I bought her from Nanya's father. He insists she's a brute but I've only ever seen kindness from her. I used the money I won from Herl's bet."
I left the room maybe a bit hastily. I really was itching to move, even if I was being honest that Stardust disliked staying still for any length of time.
By the time I had her saddled, Herl had joined me. He hadn't asked to come along or where I was going, only saddled a large chestnut gelding, and followed behind as I led Stardust out of the stables.
We moved down the small path from the academy to the capital. This path was unlike the main road and wound around the town instead of through it.
After a quarter of an hour of riding, I turned Stardust down another path, and into the forest. I brought her to a gallop and let thought slip away. I focused instead on my surroundings and the feel of cool air against my skin. I could feel myself relax, it was peaceful here.
I'm not sure how long it was before I changed direction, but before I knew it we were in a clearing. The same clearing where Herl and I had sparred on so many occasions.
I dismounted, "What do you say, Herl? We're here, and I want a fight. You up for it?"
He smiled, and I smiled back. "I would be delighted. Although I worry, Flette is still tired and I'd hate to get my nose all ruined again."
I laughed. "Concerned for your beauty?"
He widened his eyes, the picture of innocence. "Yes. If I lose that, where would I be? How would I ever get the person I love to notice me?"
"Maybe they've already noticed you," I said quietly.
Conversation dropped after that. I moved to one end of the clearing, and he to the other. I always kept my training weapons with me, it had become a habit. A habit we both shared.
I took a deep breath and waited. He made the first move, closing the distance between us. I raised my dull sword to block, and he continued to press.
I was smaller than him, and wouldn't last long sword locked as we were. As quick as I could I moved to the side and dropped to a crouch. His momentum pulled him off balance, but he caught himself.
I stood and lunged while he was still unbalanced. He raised his sword but didn't aim to block. He slammed the dull metal into my right wrist, hard. I gasped but tightened my grip on my sword. Nothing was broken, and I could deal with a bad bruise, no matter how painful.
I moved back, out of reach to recover my wrist a bit. After a moment I tried to shift my focus. Tried to put myself in the mindset that had so benefited me before. Nothing happened.
I didn't have time to dwell on it, Herl was closing in quickly, and I had to block. As soon as I stopped trying to bring that focus forward, I felt something shift. Again I was faced with that divided perspective. And again it didn't feel strange. It was natural, a piece of me I had to acknowledge. I broke away from his sword and began to circle slightly.
My wrist throbbed but it was only a distant annoyance. I saw his shift in footing, preparing to lunge, and I was ready. He came at me and I ducked to the side, moving behind him. I swung at his neck but he dropped out of the way, rolling until he faced me once more.
I moved toward him and whacked his shoulder hard. He dropped the sword and I kicked it as far away as I could. He backed away slightly, I lunged and he turned so that I slid past him. I didn't catch my balance in time, and he managed to drive his fist hard into my shoulder blade. I dropped to the ground, and he planted a knee in my back. It was almost the same position we'd been in during our last fight.
I still had my sword, but it was of no real use to me now. I flipped it around in my grip, but couldn't do anything under his weight. Finally, I dropped the sword, and put my focus to trying to turn around. He didn't budge an inch, and there were no convenient places to elbow this time.
I sighed, falling still. "I give. You've won this time."
He lifted his knee off my back so that he knelt over me. I turned over, about to push myself up, but when I faced him, my breath caught. In this position, with one knee on either side of my body, he was practically straddling my hips.
He was staring down at me, but he didn't move. After a moment, he leaned into my neck, inhaling. "You smelled different." He smiled at me, hesitantly. He looked more vulnerable than I'd ever seen him.
I smiled back at him, just as hesitantly. "It was a gift from someone I care a great deal about."
I could see him swallow hard. He leaned down towards me again, so that his face was only a hair's breadth from my own. "Can I...?" He trailed off.
I nodded, and he closed the distance between us. It was brief, and sweet, just a brushing of lips. But even just that small touch sent a jolt through me.
I felt happy. And I felt guilty for that happiness. This was against the law, I of all people should know this, and yet I couldn't bring myself to pull away when he kissed me again.