Chapter 32 part 3: A Meeting of the Minds

As it turned out they did not appear in the Companion's stable at the same time. Strangely enough Fenix arrived first much to Aerali's astonishment and disbelief. It was early morning, the kind of cool damp morning of late autumn which soon would give way to the warming sun, thus ushering in those typical crystal clear blue skies native to Valdemar at this time of year...The kind of deep blue you could 'feel' inside; just gazing at the beauty of the sky would make you smile.

Aerali was currently being fitted with her royal blue and silver ceremonial tack, as were the other Companions. In the other stall off to the right it appeared as if Xirthan was fidgeting, waiting for a chance to kick one of the stablehands during an inattentive moment. Xirthan hated wearing saddles, and though he learned to put up with those, he absolutely abhorred wearing anything over his sleek and supple body. Xirthan 'told' Aine once via mindspeak that it 'cramped his style.' To which Aine teasingly replied that style is defined as the class you think you have that no-one else could possibly have when you think you are 'hot stuff.' The look Xirthan gave Aine then was similar to the look Xirthan was giving the stablehand now.

The Companions for the other members of the ceremony, already decked out, were idly waiting; some were testing the arrival of some new hay. It was difficult to tell whether they were really enjoying this new hay or not. Mayei stood apart from the others however and seemed a little restless, pacing back and forth.

Some of the other stablehands and new students were busy weaving blue ribbons into which would soon be all of the Companion's stylish manes and tails.

Aerali looked up as Fenix approached, who was not looking too bad considering the trouble he was having dressing a little earlier.

:Surely, my eyes deceive me, this cannot be you Fenix. Tell me you are an apparition and I will trust my senses more.:

Fenix looked around in the dust filled stables, noting the bright, scintillating sunlight sharply contrasting with the shadowy recesses of the building. He peered a little more intently, squinting, trying to ascertain Aerali's form. He moved aside a little and there she was. They had finished putting on Mayei's tack and began to work on Aerali's tack now. Xirthan was still being his usual difficult self.

:Haha Aerali, this time I am not a wayward apparition. I find it difficult to believe I am the first one here.:

:Indeed, and I thought the laws of physics were immutable. Of course I have to remember who I'm dealing with here; you are certainly a random factor in all this, Chosen.:

:Ok Aerali, can the pseudo-intellectual jargon. Point made and noted.: Fenix couldn't help but laugh a little, Aerali could be viewed as a rose, but more often it seemed she was a thorn. But a thorn I can certainly live with, he quickly reminded himself.

At this point the door opened and Aine walked in with that self-assured manner of hers. The Companions and the other stablehands looked up. Aine looked stunning even with her Trainee grays on. Of course, it was the way she did up her hair and the sensual yet athletic way she 'carried' herself that drew attention away from everything else.

All at once Fenix found himself feeling quite uneasy. Mysteriously and gradually, he had found himself thinking more about Aine as time went on. This despite Jewellyn's attentions and all the mind-healing she had performed for him. He had been dreaming about Aine as well, much to his astonishment. The dreams, he thought, had rivalled some of the idyllic romantic poetry he had written. He wished that somehow he could capture the pure essences of those dreams and put them down on paper. Alas, sometimes words could not quite cut to the quick, though they can come close, he often found himself thinking.In his view this was the poet's or the bard's never resting quest. To capture the divine essence of fantasy and romance with words; that sweet and pure, yet elusive elixir which had the power to inflame one's soul with a burning passion, or which had the power to drive one forever mad, unable to fully realize that fantastic, impossible love long sought after...'Hey I should write that last thought down...not bad.' Fenix's mind was wandering yet again.

:I want to have a talk with you Aine, these ruffians are not treating me with respect at all.:

:Oh Xirthan, do lighten up a little. You know quite well you will shine out there at the ceremony, even despite your faults.:

Aine ignored Xirthan for now, and flashed that arresting smile of hers in Fenix's direction. "Ah it seems your head is in the clouds again my dear friend. I get the impression that the sure ground of the earth isn't always stable footing for you." She smiled slyly at Fenix, making him feel even more uncomfortable.

Fenix tried to smile back, but he felt it retreat back into his now worry-lined face. He had imagined himself feeling a little more self-assured and suave with Aine in the play-acting he often did in his mind. He had a bit more of an upper hand and Aine was always well pleased with his verbal sorcery in these imagined scenarios.

"Well I uh, normally have very sure footing," Fenix attempted to respond. He literally, so it seemed to himself, was growing shorter by the moment.

Aine laughed. "Take it easy Fenix, I trust you have learned your lesson and won't be climbing those lofty trees anymore." Again, that sly smile.

:Ah yes, I remember that time you rescued me, it was rather fun really.: Startled, Fenix realized he had used mindspeak when he actually meant to say it out loud; albeit with a slight revision. Fenix blushed a little.

Aine's eyes grew wider a little as she received Fenix's unexpected mindspeak. "Well I heard that loud and clear Fenix, in my mind that is. Like at Knoll's Ridge when you sent out your urgent summons for help, it came at me so strong I got a bit of a headache." She smiled at him a little more pleasantly now.

He smiled a little at the memory of how she had fallen on top of him after she had rescued him from the tree and he was going to say something about it again but decided that perhaps now was not the best time. He looked down at his feet and said out loud, "Well it is nice to see you here, it is funny how we all did end up here after all."

Aine glanced at Xirthan and had to smile a little. They were almost done with him. She turned her gaze back to Fenix. "Yes it is and I trust things will be quite interesting from now on. Between the classes at the Collegium here and the brewing drama about the Karsites, I think we will have our hands full."

"And you are already established at the Collegium, doing some of your hand to hand combat and weapon skills training, right?" Fenix shifted from one foot to the other, it looked as if he was searching his mind for something else to say, something intelligent and original. He blanched at the thought he had asked her something he already knew. The mention of weapons and Aine's presence made him think of her left hand, and of how he was responsible for the injury of it at Knoll's Ridge. It was still bandaged a little, even now.

"Oh yes, but there is much more to the Collegium than that. We are beginning to take courses in everything from deductive logic, map reading, and even how to manage finances. I think you will like this all, it will inspire you." Aine smiled again at Fenix.

Of course Fenix and Jewellyn had only been here about about four days, but they already had gotten a little taste of things.

"Well I think that's great. Um, I see your hand there, it looks as if it still might be painful." Fenix still felt a little pang of guilt about that whole episode.

Aine held out her hand. "Yes...you were a tough beast to reign in that day. Of course I could hardly blame you considering the horrors we had seen and witnessed back then."

Fenix held her outstretched hand, managed to look into her deep blue eyes and said, "I really am very sorry about that, I-"

It was precisely at this moment in time Jewellyn arrived and came in through the stable doors. The first thing she saw were Aine and Fenix holding hands. "Ah...well I see the both of you are a step or two ahead of me today." Jewellyn tried to smile despite feeling her emotional brightness slip a few notches.

Aine and Fenix appeared to be startled by Jewellyn's sudden appearance. Fenix let go of Aine's hand, feeling a little stab of guilt for some inexplicable reason. 'I almost feel as if I got caught robbing the cookie jar here...why?

Jewellyn strolled briskly over toMayei, whose tack was done with now, trying not to look at those two, especially Aine. She was trying to conceal her emotions, being afraid she might telegraph her mixed feelings to them. With her back turned to them she said rather stiffly, "When we are done here Fenix, I need to talk to you."

Fenix sighed and rolled his eyes at Aine. They really didn't need to say much, they figured that this would be quite the discussion.

Of course, Fenix was not looking forward to this talk at all.

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Footnote. The actual induction ceremony will be next...finally. We hope you are still enjoying this story! koromiel and I have been busy with different things but we should be having more updates here soon. One more chap then on to phase two where we will kick things up a notch or two and bring in the Karse side even more. Phase three and the ending we have planned out and it promises to be rather dramatic...and surprising. As this is a work in progress we eventually will edit or re-write some parts perhaps. To those of you read this and to those of you who read and give reviews we are indebted to you very much. Again, criticism is welcome (we like the praise part lol), as it helps us to shape our story. Criticism of any kind is welcome of course. Thank you for your interest!