Here is my newly edited and republished version of my story, High Lady. I hope you think this is much better than the original! : )
Chapter 1
The spring sunlight streamed in through the heavy curtains. The room was filled with a musty smell caused by many days without fresh air. The sheets on the bed were messy and had turned a rather a colour that was closer to yellow than white, books and articles of clothing were strewn haphazardly across the floor.
Sonea stared at herself in the mirror hanging over the washbasin in her bedroom. She looked at herself carefully, the same typical Kyralian look, dark hair and pale skin, did she look just a little paler then usual? True, paler and thinner, it was only a week, wasn't it? But unsurprisingly, when someone locks themself in a room, even for a week, and stops eating, they are bound to be thinner. Sonea ran her hand through her unkempt hair. There were dark smudges under her eyes making her seem much older than the young age of twenty four. She couldn't even meet her own eyes, to look deep into her dark, brown eyes and see that haunted look deep within her soul. All of Sonea's waking hours had been spent in internal turmoil. Shame, cowardice, pride all battled within her.
Sonea wandered aimlessly into her sitting room. Ever since she was formally pronounced, the Guild's Black Magician, two years ago, she had her own room in the Magician Quarters. Her residence was large and spacious dominated by a sitting room and surrounded by three bedrooms, one for her, one for Lorkin and the other spare bedroom was where Jonna used to stay when Lorkin was first born.
Sonea sank wearily into a chair at the dining table, as usual, Violet had set the table for breakfast, but as usual Sonea pushed the fully filled tray away. Putting her head onto her hands, she let her mind drift to the day which caused all of this.
A week ago, Sonea was meant to take her Healing exam that would qualify her as a graduated and trained Healer. She had been filled with a hope, an elation that she would finally be able to help the dwells. But it never had occurred to her that she would ultimately fail.
Of course, Lorkin was to blame. He cried and cried and cried and could not be left alone, Sonea even tried the strongest sleeping potion she could concoct on him, but he just wouldn't calm down. As if Lorkin was cursed to cry and cry and cry just when Sonea had an exam, she was sure there was nothing wrong with him. Wasn't there? Even Lady Vinara couldn't detect anything wrong, health wise, with Lorkin.
5 Sonea cursed her own incompetence in Healing. Back as a novice, Sonea was good at Healing, wasn't she? What happened, did she just look in the wrong direction? She could just take the exam six month later as Director Jerrik had pointed out, but that would be another six month being held inside Guild grounds and the inability assist the dwells. She sighed and buried her head in her hand.
Everyone is thinking how weak and self-centered you are, chided one side of her mind.
Silence, don't you realise that Sonea's nerves never repaired properly after the Ichani invasion? Anything small could toppled it and give her a mental breakdown, snapped the other side of her mind.
Sonea groaned and pulled at her hair in exasperation, vainly trying to block out the mental voices. Maybe, I am going mad like everyone at the Guild was saying, she thought.
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Lady Vinara stared at the closed and magically locked door of Sonea's rooms, fingering the small envelop in her hand. She frowned to herself, it seems that like Sonea, she too was fighting an mental battle. Should she or should she not? It was such a small gesture, she only needed to stoop and slide the envelop under the door, then leave. But what was revealed, if Sonea read the letter inside, would be great. Vinara stared harder at the door, the turmoil within her mind growing. But what would Sonea do, if she knew the truth? Would she be hurt even more? After all, Sonea grew up fine without even knowing who her real parents were, maybe she'll do better not knowing. But Vinara's conscience would not let her dismiss the thought of revealing the truth. Vinara sighed, irritated by her own indecision.
"Errr...Lady Vinara?" Vinara spun around, instinctively tucking the envelop out of sight into her green robes. She found herself staring, instead of Sonea's door; Regin's face which contained a mixture of bewilderment, worry and was it excitement?
"Lord Regin," answered Vinara, quickly regaining her composture. "I see you are a very early riser."
As if to prove her point, she gestured out the window at the Guild grounds only illuminated by the first rays of sunlight.
"I...err...wanted to visit Sonea," muttered Regin.
"I never knew you were such great acquaintances." Regin looked slightly flustered.
"Actually...."
"No, no, I was just leaving." Vinara dismissed it with a wave and started back towards her own rooms. She gently touched the envelop in her robes. Maybe next time when Sonea feels better, emotionally.
Regin gazed haplessly at Vinara's retreating back. I hope my plan works, come on, please get better Sonea, don't you know that the whole of Imardin, even the King, had been worried sick for you? Regin thought. He raised his hand to knock on Sonea's door. Straightening his new red robes, he knocked on the door.