Chapter 11
Jade threw the book down annoyed and confused. She had read through chapter six several times and still had nothing. Sure it hypnotized on several methods on modifying the Busenat spell but it didn't go into great detail about these methods. She needed access to a library in order to be able get the information she needed, and currently she couldn't leave the room.
Jade got up and paced the room wondering what she should do. There was a possibility that the men could be in the library getting ready for the spells that they were using as a distraction on Richard. Which meant she needed to stay here.
"Jade?" A voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Yes?" She distractedly answered.
"Is everything alright? You're pacing." Ellen asked.
Jade sank into a chair and answered. "Just when I think I am making progress on a problem that I am trying to solve. I am halted. I need some more books but I am stuck in here." Jade said annoyed.
"That is a problem. Do you know specifically what books you need? Because if you do, we can send a servant to go get them." Ellen said.
Making a face, Jade commented, "Not really but I could make some guesses." She reached over to the desk and grabbed a pen and piece of paper. She thought for a moment and wrote down the name of some books. When she looked up Ellen was already talking to a servant.
After the servant left Jade thanked Ellen for doing that. Ellen replied, "Something is going on here. Sometimes when you get focused on something, you only see that. But this seems different, something is different. What is it?"
Jade thought about it and then carefully said, "It involves a dear friend of mine. I am trying to figure out a way to help him."
Ellen's face perked up, "Him? Who is this man?" Do I know him?"
Jade looked at her surprised when she felt her face get hot. "No, you don't know him." Jade replied before turning around to look out the window.
"Then this mystery man must be your new High mage." Ellen said with glee.
"Why do you say that?" Jade tried to ask calmly.
"Because he is the only man that I haven't met. "Ellen said confidently. "Are you going to tell me about him?"
"No." Jade said shortly wondering why she was acting like this. She started to pace again.
"Why not?" Ellen pleaded.
"Because I don't see how Nathan has anything to do with what is happening."
Ellen replied, "It will pass away the time." She looked at Jade pacing and smiled.
"No." Jade replied again, still trying to figure out why her heart was beating so loud. "I am going to take a nap. I stayed up too late last night."
"Of course." Ellen responded knowingly.
Jade laid down on the bed and covered her face with the covers. Why did it feel like something important just happened? And Ellen caught it but she didn't?
Jade closed her eyes and she saw Nathan's sad face before she left. She willed herself to think of something else. Unbidden she saw Richard's cool and assessing face. The face he had on last night after dinner. What a difference between those two, she thought before she drifted off to sleep.
Jade was awoken by the sun hitting her face. It must be the afternoon because that is the only time to sun comes through this window, Jade thought as she climbed out of the bed.
"If you want some lunch it is on the table." Ellen said without looking up from her embroidery.
"Thank you, Ellen." Jade said as she made her way to the table.
"You're Welcome. Are you willing to talk about Nathan now that you have had your nap?" Ellen asked slyly.
"What?" Jade choked out, spilling the milk she was about to drink. She looked over at Ellen who was smiling evilly at her. "Why do you think I will talk about it now?" Jade stumbled out.
Ellen stood up and went to sit by Jade, "Because I asked so nice." She said innocently.
"No." Jade said, "There is really nothing to talk about."
"You are in denial. There is a bunch to talk about. How did you meet?" Ellen pressed.
Jade just stared at her for a long moment before answering seriously, "This story is long and kind-of complicated and I can't tell you most of it. So I am not going to answer any of these questions."
The smile faded from Ellen's face, replaced with a concerned look, "Sounds serious. Will you at least promise me to tell me the whole story when you can?"
Jade nodded.
"Can I help you go through the books that were delivered, at least?" Ellen asked.
Jade smiled and nodded, "I will give you a list of methods that I am looking for and we will split the books. Thank you for our help. I appreciate it."
Ellen replied, "I am happy to help. I am your friend."
"Yes, you are." Jade answered.
They searched through the books for the rest of the afternoon with not much success. The four methods they found didn't make sense, and Jade couldn't connect them to anything with the Busenat curse.
Ellen left briefly to make sure her things had been packed up after dinner. Jade helped direct some servants to pack her few bags as well.
Jade was discouraged. She hadn't found what she needed to find and she would be leaving in the morning. She sat down with her father's book. She opened it to the last letter she had read and began to read through the book again from that point.
She read until Ellen came back with Tavis and Mage Williams.
"How did today go?" She asked them.
"He was very easy to distract, he didn't really ask about you after we explained you and Ellen were having a last girl's day, before Ellen leaves." Tavis said.
"What about tomorrow?" Ellen peeped in, "How are you going to distract him?"
"We have a spell that is half done. We have to start working on it as soon as the sun rises. You will leave after, so we need to say good-bye tonight." Mage Williams answered.
"Alright. That sounds good." Ellen answered.
"Can I take the book you gave me yesterday?" Jade asked, "When I am done with it, I will send it back."
"It actually was your father's. He gave it to me so I could give it to you. So you are free to do whatever you want with it." Mage Williams answered.
"Really?" Jade asked, then catching his face answered, "I know, I know. Somewhere my father left me an explanation for all this, I just have to find it."
"Good Girl.' He said, "Are you all ready to go in the morning?"
"Yes, we have everything packed for the slower carriages and smaller packs for me and Ellen to go much faster." Jade answered.
"I wish I could go along with you." Tavis complained, "I don't like the fact that you two are going by yourselves."
Ellen smiled and patted his cheek, "Don't worry, Tavis. I bet you are going to have a harder time distracting Richard."
That didn't cheer Tavis any. The two men said good-bye and then left. Ellen looked sadly at the door and commented, "Do you think Tavis will be alright with that horrible man?"
"He will be. Although he will most likely figure out some way to make us owe him." Jade commented.
That made Ellen laugh and go get ready for bed.
The two days of traveling was uneventful. They kept their horses at a fast pace, resting them often. They also traveled from sun up to sun down. At the end of the third day Jade and Ellen parted ways. Jade was about a day from home when she sensed that something was not right. She immediately took her horse off the road and hid behind a grove of trees.
She had been hiding long enough for her to wonder if she had been mistaken, when she heard another horse coming very quickly down the road.
She watched intently as the figure became closer and closer. She was very surprised to see Richard on a black horse riding past at a full gallop.
Jade waited for a few minutes before she started to lead her horse through the trees always keeping sight of the road. It was slower this way, but seeing Richard had scared her. How had he caught up her so fast? It wasn't like she had been traveling slow. She hoped that Tavis and Mage Williams were alright.
After several hours of traveling in the woods, Jade was about to risk going back onto the road so she could travel faster. Her horse gave a scared whicker and she heard some movement through the trees.
Jade scanned the trees, she could still hear movement but couldn't see anything. The sound kept coming closer and closer.
"Jade." A familiar voice called out. "Don't worry, it is just me."
Author's note- Thanks for reading the newest chapter, I am getting close to the end. Thanks for the review Fell4- I always love reading them.
