Chapter Seven

I'm not sure if I have ever slept as well as I did that night. Not long after Alyssa showed me my room and lent me a silk nightgown to sleep in, I heard Danders's heavy steps come up the stairs and into the room next to me. It was comforting to know that he was only one room away. I drifted off to the soothing sound of his snores mixed with the lullaby of the rain.

When I awoke the next morning, I didn't have to fight with my brain over my locations. I knew exactly where I was and exactly how I came to be here. I quickly ran over to the window, my silk nightgown brushing softly against my skin, and peaked out between the shutters. The view was beautiful. It was early morning twilight and the sleepy sun was casting hues of pink and red over the ancient, rich city of Skingrad. I was in awe of how vibrant everything looked; the greens were greener and the blues were bluer all due to the storm last night.

It wasn't until I heard a person clearing their throat at the door that I realized the house was silent without the sounds of snoring. I froze when I saw Danders standing at the door, leaning against the door frame. It was very improper to be in front of him in only a nightdress, but I couldn't force myself over to the bed where Alyssa laid an extra dressing robe. I could only stand there as Danders entered the room and drifted towards me.

"I didn't hear you knock," I managed to say.

"That's 'cause I didn't' knock," he grinned at me, coming a few steps closer.

"I didn't hear the door open," I said breathlessly.

"I told you, I'm quiet like the night," he was closing the space between us. Only a few paces lay between me and where he stood now.

"Danders, I…" Before I could finish my statement, he was next to me with his hands on either side of my face. He brought his lips down to mine and kissed me. I must admit this was not my first kiss. Other boys had kissed me when I was in the village. However, no boy had ever kissed me like Danders was right now. His hands traveled from my face to the small of my back where he gripped the fabric of the nightgown and pulled my body close to his. His breathing was rapid and I could feel his heart beating out of his chest. I, on the other hand, found myself unable to breathe and my heart seemed to stop beating altogether. It was as if a flame had ignited that would never dim, even when our lips parted. I reached up and rubbed his stubbly cheek with my hand and admired his sparkling eyes.

He began to lean down to me for another kiss when there was a knock on the door. We both looked up to see Alyssa standing in the door frame with her arms crossed and her head shaking.

"Young fools," is all she said before she turned to leave. After she was a few steps down the hall, she shouted, "Emerald's lessons will begin shortly. I expect you both to be downstairs and dressed." The last came with the Greensely family chuckle.

Danders looked down at me with a wide smile on his face, eyes sparkling, and said, "You're blushin' Miss Emi." He stroked one of my warm cheeks with his thumb and gazed into my eyes. Before I had a chance to reply, he kissed my forehead and walked out of the room, silent as night. It happened too quickly and unexpectedly that I almost believed it to be a dream. However, once my eyes returned to the window and I saw a cloud of smoke rising up to the sky off in the distance, I knew it was no dream.

I remembered that I was here only to find the truth about the dragons, who I believed to be the key to the return of the old ways.

I could still feel the flame in my soul from Danders's kiss and I was very light headed. Never have I felt this way, especially about a man. I closed the door and tried to push the emotions back. I tried to quench the fire he ignited in me, but failed. I put back on the pants and loose shirt and slid into my deer skin boots. I was gazing into the mirror over the dresser, trying to decide if there was any way I could make myself appear as a woman, when I heard anther rap at the door.

"I'm almost ready. Please give me another minute or two." I said to the closed door.

"Miss Emi, would you mind if I came in? I would really like to talk to ya," Danders's voice drawled at me through the door.

I began to say, "I'm sorry, Danders, but I'm not sure if…" but he opened the door before I could finish. He took a step in and silently closed it behind him.

He stood there for a second, taking me in. I could feel my face get hot as his eyes move over me. However, once I truly looked into his face all I could see was hurt emanating off of it. "You're still gonna go, aren't you?"

My heart sank, "Yes, I am. I have to."

"I know," I have never seen blue eyes as sad as his were at that moment. "I was really hopin' that if I made myself as clear as possible that you would change your mind."

"Danders, I'm…" I started, but he cut me off saying, "You're late for your lessons. Grandma Alyssa doesn't sit well with that. Let' head down there." He opened the door for me and gestured for me to go through. I decided my bedhead would have to do for now and walked out of the room.

Before I could get far from him, he gently took my arm to stop me. "I feel like I should be too smart to fall for a hardheaded girl like you," he said bluntly. "I should be smart enough to know you would break my heart."

"You are too smart for me," I agreed.

"I didn't say I was too smart for you, just too smart to love you. But I think I do, ya know? Love you, that is."

I stood on my tiptoes and leaned my body against his strong frame as I reached up to brush my lips against his. The simple gesture caused the few embers of the dying fire to reignite into such a blaze that I knew I would get burnt alive. I didn't say anything else to him, only walked down the stairs to meet Alyssa.

Alyssa sat in the drawing room we were in last night. She had on a blue colored robe and was surrounded by books. I noticed on the hearth were small bottles of multicolored liquids and a variety of herbs and vegetables.

"Ah! My dear Emerald. Glad to see you have made it down. Please, sit down on the floor in front of me. You have a lot to learn, my dear girl," she said without looking at me. Instead she flipped through an old, musty book. "Here we go! I have finally found the easiest healing tome I could teach you."

"Does it require a staff? I haven't the slightest idea where to get one," I admitted.

"No, no. Perhaps a mage may use a staff on occasion to help with a certain element, but a mage uses the magic our body already possesses to create what I will show you today." She gave me a big, soft smile that lit up her blue eyes as we began our lesson.

The day continued on with her teaching me three basic spells: a healing spell, which she called restoration; a light spell, which she called candlelight; and a defensive spell, which she called sparks. The latter was my favorite to learn. After I mastered it, bolts of lightning shot from my hands at targets. However, I accidently caused two of Alyssa's vases to explode in the process.

It was very odd to cast spells. I was able to feel the magic flowing through my veins. Also, the feeling was different with each spell. When I cast the healing spell, I could feel health and vitality flow through my veins as if the magic were recharging my body and soul. With the light spell I could feel heat move through my body and then float up as the ball of light appeared out of my hand and then hovered over my head. With the defensive spell, every hair would stand on my body and then bolts would fly from my hands. I could sense that the gods blessed me with the gift of magical affinity.

After the spell casting, Alyssa taught me of the alchemy that Raphelm's mother used to speak of. She explained what plants were useful and how some of them were better used with another herb or vegetable to create a potion. I had difficulty memorizing the names of all the different plants so Alyssa decided to give me a little book she had acquired over the years that had drawings and descriptions. It was bound in deer hide and tied in twine. As I flipped through the old, brittle pages, I noticed that some plants had spots missing of what they were able to create. I could not resist smiling when I saw that, sure enough, I could create a potion to make one lighter.

Once Alyssa explained to me how to use a mortar and pestle as well as the other equipment used in alchemy, she showed me how to store and label my potions. By the time our lesson came to a conclusion, night had settled in hours ago and we had been working by my candlelight spell. I had found that I became a little better each time I cast it; I would not stumble over the words as much and I could feel the magic flowing through me stronger and stronger each time.

I would occasionally glance over at Danders who moved in and out of the room. He would leave to fix himself tea or check on Kaie at the stables. Whenever he was in the room, he would sit in a chair in the corner and watch us with his face void of expression. The times that Alyssa would compliment me on a task I had mastered, I would look over at Danders who would only give me a slight nod. He was angry with me and I could sense it. It made my chest ache and brought a prickling feeling to my eyes as if I wanted to cry. I had to resist, however, and bury those emotions deep. I couldn't allow myself to become attached to Danders, or allow him to become attached to me, in case something were to happen. It would be easier on both of us this way.

"Well, my children, I do believe it is time for you two to settle in and get some rest," Alyssa said to us both. "It would be best if you slept in as late as possible, allowing yourself as much rest as possible. You never know how long it may be until your next opportunity to sleep will come." She smiled a warm smile and hugged me goodnight. Before I could turn and walk up the stair, Danders had already hurried up to his room. I guessed he was attempting to avoid any awkward conversation with me – or perhaps another kiss.

I slowly walked up the stairs to my room, unsure of what tomorrow would hold. I realized and accepted that I would leave both Alyssa and Danders for a very long time, if not forever. Alyssa felt that it was in the gods' plan for me and was pleased that I was obeying; however Danders appeared to be unsure of what he truly wanted from me.

When I reached my door, I held my breath and found myself wishing that Danders would be inside waiting for me. However, my wish did not come true. I closed the shutters on the window and changed into my nightgown. Before I drifted off, I prayed to the gods that they may protect Danders and Alyssa Greensley.