CHAPTER 3
The days that followed that first conversation were most normal. It almost seemed like the war had never happened. Tissaia would get up, bathe, tidy up her room, and go to the greenhouse to start her first morning classes. Triss, Sabrina, and Yennefer were helping her, which was a break for her while she finished making a full recovery.
After lunch she wrote reports and letters in her office, devoting the last hours of the afternoon to the study of black magic. She was trying to find the best way to show it to the girls without causing them any danger. She was satisfied with them reciting the spells from memory without actually using them and instructed them in the correct use of this magic. Acting this way, she would prevent many of them from dying before ascending.
She hadn't had any kind of conversation with Finrod again. Sometimes she had seen him from one of the school classrooms while the girls were immersed in their homework. She liked to gaze at the infinity of the sea, to contemplate the waves that broke on the black cliff of Aretuza. And it was during those rare moments that their eyes met, timidly at first, vehemently later.
That day he was in the central courtyard, accompanied by students from Ban Ard, teaching them how to saddle horses properly. From above, Tissaia watched as these boys looked at him with devotion, admired him and tried to absorb every word he said. At that moment, Finrod looked up at her. Tissaia wanted to look away quickly, like the first times he had surprised her in the same way, or like that time when he was the one surprised ... however, something was preventing her, like the day before.
It was only a few seconds, but loaded with intensity. When she saw that mocking smile appear again on his face, she jerked away from the window and began to walk among the students who were trying to curve the water in the greenhouse fountain with little success. She felt nervous, embarrassed, and that feeling puzzled her. She did not know him, he was her enemy, her "jailer", to call him in some way. Why then this loss of control and composure?
Lost in her thoughts, she did not notice the man who was leaning on the jamb and was watching her with amusement.
- Can we talk for a moment, Rector?
Nodding her head, still in awe of the surprise of his appearance, she said the girls:
- Keep trying the enchantment, I'll be here in a minute.
They both left the room. Tissaia had never felt so embarrassed in her entire life. However, she knew perfectly well how not to lose her composure.
- I had planned to go down to town this afternoon. I was wondering if you would like to accompany me. Perhaps there are things you want to buy, or matters that you want to attend to personally.
- ... uh, I would like to, yes - she answered in a whisper, without fully understanding the proposal.
- Would you like to go out around four?
- Sure
- I'll saddle two horses then
- Good!
- Good!
Although the conversation was over, they continued to stare at each other, without either ending the meeting. After a short time, which to Tissaia seemed like hours, he concluded:
- See you at four - and with that, he turned and left.
At four o'clock they were already leaving Aretuza in the direction of the town. The half hour on the way was passed in complete silence. They could only hear the hooves of the horses against the ground, the sound of the wind and the voices of the farmers from the neighboring farms.
Upon arrival, once the horses had been tied at the entrance of the town, they made the purchases that each one needed. The conversation between them was still sparse: "It's this way", "I would need to enter this site", "I haven't finished yet", "Could I have this for a moment?"
- Is there anything else you have to do? - Finrod asked at the exit of one of the stores.
- I don't think so, I already have everything - Tissaia answered, glancing at the packages she was carrying and that she could barely hold.
- Let me help you. You can't handle everything.
- I'm fine, really.
- Let me ... - Finrod insisted as he took some bags from her.
- Thanks
And there it was again that gaze kept in the midst of the hustle and bustle, of the people who were watching them curious and perhaps scared. This time it was Tissaia who turned around heading to the place where they had left the horses with the intention of returning to Aretuza as soon as possible. Confusion filled her again with that strange uneasiness that she was unable to interpret clearly.
If she thought that nothing could be even more uncomfortable than what she was experiencing, the chaos within her began to grow exponentially when she found out that one of the horses was missing. The rope had been cut ...
- I can not believe it…! - She commented in a whisper full of despair.
- Have they taken a horse? Really? - Finrod asked with a laugh.
- We only have one horse and the only thing that occurs to you is to laugh?
- No matter... we still have one, right?
- I'll walk - Tissaia said abruptly as she dropped the bundles on the ground and began to walk down the path towards Aretuza.
- Hey! Hey! Hey! - Finrod shouted, grabbing her arm - We'll both go in the one we have left. He is strong and young, there will be no problem.
- I prefer to walk - Tissaia insisted, trying to get rid of his arm.
- Nothing about that, let's go! - The smile disappeared from his face and Tissaia thought she was in no condition to oppose him. At the end, she had to obey him in everything, even if she did not agree with him, for the good of the girls, for the good of Aretuza.
Unconvinced, she climbed onto the horse without protesting. After placing each of the packages in the saddlebags, Finrod climbed in as well, behind Tissaia. Their bodies, which had always remained at a distance, were now glued together.
She could feel his breath on the nape of her neck and for the first time she sensed a blend of leather and cardamom scent. His hands, strong and large, held the reins and encircled Tissaia's hips. With each movement of the horse, her back and his chest brushed, complemented ... At that moment she realized that she was scared. That embarrassment of the first day, the confusion that had grown in her with each encounter, the intensity of the gazes and the inability to take her eyes off him… everything pointed to something she thought she had already forgotten: Attraction. Finrod attracted her. And she was attracted to him.
Her distressing thoughts faded as Finrod's voice echoed close, very close to her ear:
- Have you been Rector of Aretuza for a long time?
- Yes, too much.
- Was it what you wanted? I mean, did you ever consider living here permanently or was it rather imposed?
- On the Continent there are few things that women can choose from, don't you think?
- But you are not just any woman.
- Really?
- Yes, at least that's what they say.
Silence prevailed. Tissaia did not understand the true scope of his words. She did not know exactly what he had heard about her, what was true and what was not.
- Then? Do you like what you do? - Finrod asked changing the nuance of his question.
- Yes, I do.
- That is good.
Silence again. The rest of the journey they remained that way, overwhelmed by the closeness that had established between them. However, try as she might, Tissaia couldn't tell if he was as disturbed as she was.
Very close to the doors of Aretuza, he resumed the conversation:
- They say that you are one of the most powerful sorceresses on the Continent, if not the most powerful, that's why they keep you alive after the rebellion. - After a little pause, he continued - And I have to admit that that statement surprises me.
- Why do I submit to Nilfgaard's orders? - Tissaia asked haughtily.
- No ... I consider that an act of intelligence. It amazes me because I have always considered power and beauty as antagonistic qualities.
Tissaia began to notice a slight blush creeping up her cheeks.
- Then you know few women ... - Tissaia sentenced with her gaze directed towards the ground in order to hide her excitement.
- I do not know any woman that is as powerful and as beautiful as you.
Luckily for Tissaia, who did not know what to say, the doors were opened and several boys came to say hello and ask where the stolen horse was.
Laughing, in a jovial and carefree tone, Finrod began to converse with them until they reached the stables, where he jumped off the horse and stretched out his arms towards her, as if to help her down.
- I can alone.
- Let me help you, please.
It sounded more like a plea than a suggestion. Tissaia placed both legs on the same side of the saddle and leaned on his shoulders. He grabbed her tight around the waist and pulled her close. The moment her feet touched the ground, after a fleeting glance, Tissaia started toward the building.
- I'll have your things delivered to your office - Finrod yelled.
- Thanks! - She answered without turning around.