After lunch, I'm pulled aside by Miss Filia and handed my new robes to change into. They're softer and thicker than the cotton tunic and leggings I usually wear, and decorated in the front with some kind of silky fabric. They feel strange, too floaty but too heavy at the same time. I like the warmth they offer though, the old stone tower doesn't seem to hold much heat on its own.
The others have already been ushered into the library when I arrive with Miss Filia, who gestures towards the bookshelves. "You have permission to read anything in this section, it's tailored towards apprentices, but you'll probably find anything above the second shelves a little challenging at your age and stage," she says, giving me a gentle push towards the shelves.
I wait until she's out of sight before I start looking for a grown apprentice to ask about Neria. I spot one, a shem leaning against the bookshelf nearby. I sidle up to him, and clear my throat, but he doesn't respond.
"Um, excuse me?" I say, but my voice catches in my throat. Still no response. "Excuse me," I say again, gingerly tapping his arm. Suddenly the shem jumps, which makes me jump.
"Maker, you scared the daylights out of me! Don't sneak up on a fellow like that," he exclaims.
"Sorry! Sorry," I panic. I hope he's not angry. Angry shems are dangerous shems, Shianni always says. Fortunately, he sees my panic, and backtracks.
"It's alright, don't fret, I'm not cross with you," he reassures me, patting my shoulder. "Do you need something? Did you get separated from your class?"
I shake my head. "I'm not lost. I'm looking for someone. Do you know an apprentice called Neria?"
The shem breaks into a smile. "Of course, she's a friend of mine. How do you know her?"
"She's my cousin. I was just brought here- to the Circle, that is- yesterday. Someone told me she's an apprentice too," I explain.
The shem raises his eyebrows, surprised. "Neria's cousin? I don't think she's ever told me about her family, but people usually don't talk about that sort of thing, especially if you were brought here as a child like she and I were. We were probably both around your age now, actually."
I can't imagine what it would have been like for Neria when she was taken away. Aunty Adaia, her mother, had just died. Then Neria was taken from us. I was told about this by Shianni, of course; I was just a baby at the time. But at least when I was taken, I knew Neria would be here somewhere. Neria would have been completely alone, thinking she would never see any of us again.
"…You alright?" The shem's voice jolts me out of my wandering thoughts.
"Yes, sorry."
"No need to apologise. I was saying my name's Jowan, and we can go find Neria together if you like? She'll probably be in our dormitory, she prefers to gather her books and bring them there, rather than hang around in the library like I usually end up doing."
"Yes! But, I have to ask Miss Filia, I don't think I'm allowed to leave without her permission."
Fortunately, Miss Filia is more than understanding, so Jowan and I head to the dormitories. To my surprise, the dormitory Jowan shows me into is the one right next to mine. But, Neria isn't there. "Hmm… I've seen her reading in the Chantry when its empty, before, she might have gone there. Worth a try?" Jowan suggests, and I agree.
We've just rounded a corner in the hallway when Jowan calls out. "Neria! There you are!"
Her eyes had been downcast, as if having been lost in her own thoughts, but her head shoots up quickly and she smiles. "Hello, Jowan. Were you looking for me?"
"I was! This one's been looking everywhere for you," Jowan announces, holding my hand up with his own. I'm lost for what to say, so I just smile, a little embarrassed.
"Oh? And what's your name, da'len?"
"Faellathi." Neria doesn't say anything, so I assume she doesn't recognise my name. "Tabris. I'm your—"
"Cousin." Neria says, eyes wide. So she does recognise my name, she's just… surprised? I stare back at her, unsure what to do. It gives me a moment to look at her properly. I thought she would look more like Shianni, with her sharply angled features and bright orange hair, but apart from her slight height and build they are completely different. Neria's face is softer, and her hair is a wavy dark brown, like mine. It's been braided on one side to keep it off her face, and falls over one shoulder. She's pretty, I decide. Like a princess.
The moment of stunned silence ends as soon as its begun however, and suddenly my face is smushed into her shoulder as she embraces me in a tight hug. "You were just a baby," she whispers. I thought that I was all cried out after the latest events, but couple more tears let slip when I put my arms around her middle. I could have stayed like that forever, comforting as it was, but Neria broke the hug to cup my face in her hands.
"Don't worry, cousin, you'll have me by your side from now on, ok? You'll be ok," she says, determined, before pulling me back into another hug. "Ok," I said, although my answer was muffled by her shoulder.
"Aww," says Jowan behind me.
"Oh, bugger off, Jowan," Neria huffs, but when I look up at her, she's smiling again.
