11 - The News at Hand
Each stroke Khadgar made with an ink loaded feather quill added on to an elaborate drawing. It was of the Pass surrounding Karazhan as seen from the terrace. Sitting next to him was an open book he should be studying, and had been for most of the afternoon, until recently.
Niveah quietly closed in on her friend and sat down next to him. She leaned in a little to get a better look at the drawing. "That's beautiful. I had no idea you were such a talented artist."
The young man dropped his quill into the vial of ink and leaned back against the tower wall. "I don't get to draw as much as I'd like. The Guardian usually keeps me busy with chores and studying."
"You should still allow some time to yourself for relaxing, once in a while." She frowned as Khadgar sat down his drawing book to return to studying.
"Relaxing wont improve my casting or read the sections in books assigned to me. The Guardian is pretty good about assigning me new lessons when I'm almost done with the previous ones. If I fall behind, it can sometimes be rather difficult to catch up." He stared down at his book. "So there really isn't a lot of time for relaxing."
"You're expected to study, nonstop, then? No day to take for yourself...nothing?" The woman brought her attention back to the drawing book. "And here I thought Finch was strict. I don't think I'd survive having a mentor like yours."
She reached for the drawing book and flipped through previous pages, curious to see what else had been drawn. There were pictures mostly of Karazhan's interior and exterior, each as detailed as the next. One of her favorites was of three tower servants cleaning a corridor. The shading and level of depth in each person was amazing.
Niveah got to the last drawing and after analyzing it, turned back to the latest incomplete work. She sat the book down and observed the stretches of forest and mountains in the distance. "Wish I had my drawing book with me. It was stolen with the rest of my stuff by the bandits." Khadgar quietly studied his friend. "If I had it now, I'd be doing my own drawing. I promised my best friend I was going to draw her a picture of Karazhan."
A regretful frown pulled at the young man's lips. "I'm sorry."
Niveah shook her head. "Don't be." She smiled for the other's sake. "It's not your fault."
An explosion of blue startled the two as the Guardian returned. He stood there for a moment, studying the two young people. His jaw subconsciously clenched beneath his beard. He made his way to where they were seated and glowered at Niveah. "It seems you are distracting my apprentice in my studies."
The woman opened her mouth to respond, but in further thought over the words. Her mouth closed and her cheeks turn a deep shade of red as she realized it was true. "My apologies."
"From now on, you are not to speak with him until I deem his studies concluded for the day." His stern expression took in every detail of the woman and a smile tease the corners of his mouth. "Walk with me, Niveah. There is something we need to discuss."
Moderately bothered by the tone in his words, the young woman got to her feet and proceeded to follow the Guardian inside the tower. He continued once they were both inside and the door shut behind them.
"I spoke with your mentor, Magus Finch, and the council today. I addressed my concern of your not being properly instructed in magic." Niveah spitefully glared at the man for a moment. "The council is in decision following my request."
Dread wracked the woman's gut. "What request would that be?"
"You're being reassigned to a more qualified mentor." Medivh stopped walking to meet the woman's eyes. He wanted to see her reaction for himself. "Me." Just as he expected, the color drained from her face and her mouth left agape in speechlessness. "You're welcome," he snidely stated, pivoting on a heel to continue walking.
Niveah still stood where he had left her, blankly staring into the emptiness where his face had once been. Medivh paused in his strides to survey her. She looked horrified and distraught. Seeing her as she was bothered him. Though he had predicted her almost exact reaction, a part of him hoped she would be somewhat thankful.
He continued. "Come. There is still much to discuss." Niveah's tempered glare seared through the man in disgust. "Such as what will be expected of you both academically and performance wise. Not to mention your study habits. What remains of your belongings from Dalaran will be arriving, shortly. I expect you rested tonight and ready tomorrow morning to begin your first lesson." He stopped again at her lack of presence and stated over his shoulder. "I suggest you start doing as your told or things will be a lot worse for you."
"You don't own me," Niveah spat. "I'm not one of your many servants! I'm not Khadgar for you to command!"
In the blink of an eye, Medivh had sharply spun around and hurled an arcane force at the woman. It hit her squarely in the chest and sent her backward a couple feet to the floor. She laid there, gasping and dazed at what had just happened.
The man glided in stride to tower over the breathless woman. "Until the council comes to a more permanent decision, you are under my temporary instruction. As such, you will do as I say." He knelt down, hand resting on a knee. "You may not be my official student, but I do have the council's permission to instruct you in a manor I deem satisfactory."
"What about Finch?"
"Oh, don't worry about him."
Niveah propped herself up on her elbows to better stare the other in the eye. "Finch may be old, but he's a good man and a respectable mage! You have no right to see his mentorship stripped of him!" By now, she was almost yelling at Medivh with tears building in her eyes.
"I'm not saying he is a bad man. But," he stood up without offering the young woman assistance to her feet. "He has long since come to the point of needing retirement." Niveah scrambled to her feet and huffed a deep breath. "Now, as I was saying. There is still much to discuss." His feathered cloak trailed behind him with Niveah reluctantly close behind.
Niveah returned to her chambers after her meeting with the Guardian and slammed the door shut behind her. She sat heavily down on her bed and slid off her shoes. Noticing a striped feather quill protruding from an ink vial on her nightstand stole her attention off her shoes. The woman looked over to it to see a couple loose pieces of parchment laying nearby. A small note was written and laying on top of the parchment.
She read the note under her breath. "Thought you might like these for drawing. I had a spare quill and ink set in my room I wasn't using. I felt you could use it more. Now you can draw your picture for your friend. -Khadgar." Niveah smiled. At least there was some kindness to warm the heart in the bitter cold of the tower.
Since dinner was still a little ways out, Niveah decided to spend that time drawing. Because it was getting dark out, she knew it was too late to work on her drawing of the tower for Cassia. She sat aside the first piece of parchment in reservation for her later project and stashed it within her nightstand's upper drawer.
Taking the quill, ink and second piece of paper, Niveah went to her desk across the room and sat down. So many ideas of what to draw flooded her mind. There had been an itch to draw her entire stay, thus far, but now she couldn't decide what to draw. Usually she wouldn't care and would start doodling the first thing that came to mind. But this time was different. She was very limited on parchment and didn't want to use up all of Khadgar's.
She leaned back in her chair and stared in thought at the piece of paper staring back. Rustling of feathers followed by a familiar black bird appeared in the arched opening above the closed door. It cawed, getting Niveah's attention. Blue green eyes met hazel and the bird flew down to land on her desk.
The woman scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "Well, well if it isn't my buddy...uh...whatever your name is." The raven cawed, examining the items on the desk. "Coming to spy for your bastard of a master, again?" Niveah grumbled and rolled her eyes. "That man is not what I expected of Azeroth's Guardian. Not sure what I expected, really...but not that! I thought someone who protects the people would be more considerate and hospitable to their needs." She met the intent gaze of the bird. "Do you know he almost killed me my first night here? Isn't it a guardian's responsibility to protect people rather than kill them?" Niveah groaned a bit louder. "I'm not sure who I wish more ill will against...that bastard or the thugs who attacked me on the road!" She whimpered. "I have no idea how I'm going to get back my father's favorite pinto horse or the rest of my belongings, if there's anything left to salvage.
"Those animals probably sold old Patches and all my things. My bracelet Cassia made...all my clothes...and," her voice trailed off, "Davin's letter." Her browed lowered as she frowned. "I told him I'd deliver his letter to the Guardian. Not like I was really sure how I was going to do that, before. It was never my intention for any of this to happen as far as getting mugged and my ending up here. Since things happened they way they did, I could have delivered it. I can't, now. It's probably been burned." The raven watched the woman's eyes deepen with heart ache and guilt. "I don't know why I'm so worried about it. Guess it's because I wanted to keep my word to Davin. Not like it would make any difference to the Guardian, anyway. He cares for no one but himself. So what would a letter from an eight year old boy who idolizes him mean to him?"
Niveah slouched forward and rested her chin in her hand propped on the desk. She sat, unblinking at the stone wall and sighing. The raven lightly cawed and took a step closer to the woman, passionately staring in her distant eyes.
Niveah studied the raven and tilted her head to the side. There was a depth to that hazel stare she had never noticed in any animal before. "You are a pretty bird." She reached a hand out and was surprised to find her companion didn't move. Softly she stroked the breast feathers and along its back. "Would you mind if I drew you? I only have one spare piece of parchment and can't think of what to draw. I'd like to draw you." Niveah slid the quill from the ink vial and drained the excess ink off the tip. "Now, hold still, okay?"