~
The next morning, instead of sitting with Dena and the others, I put my tray down in front of Phoenix and sat down.
“Hi, hey, hello,” I said, beginning to eat. “Remember me? I’m your soul mate.”
He observed me for a few moments and then went back to eating.
“Of course I remember who you are.”
We ate in uncomfortable silence for a few moments.
“Look, have I done something wrong?” I asked him.
“No.”
“So why don’t you talk to me then? You’ve hardly spoken a dozen words to me!”
He continued eating. Just when I thought he wasn’t going to reply at all, he said:
“I don’t make friends very easily.”
“So why don’t you even try?” I asked, giving up all pretence of being interested in my food. “You’re giving off a pretty bad vibe.”
“Leave me alone, Sky.”
That stung. To my surprise, tears burnt in my eyes, and I stood up hastily, lest he spot them.
“Fine. Wish granted.”
The next week passed with little change. Phoenix still ignored me, Eleanora remained cold and Larni still refused to let me speak to Netalia or Iain on her behalf.
I continued getting fitter and my magical skills continued to be honed. It was a relief when Iain announced that this weekend we’d be allowed into Keyes.
“You’ll ride into town and spend the day exploring the local culture. Of course, you’re welcome to stay here if you wish.”
Many of the Lotherian mages were doing just that, having been to Castor and Keyes many times throughout their lives. Dena and the others were planning to go, however, and I eagerly tagged along with them.
On the morning of the trip, I woke up earlier than usual, doing my routine sit ups and push ups. Larni brought me my uniform but left before I could even say ‘good morning’. As it was, I made my way to the stables with a shadow hanging over my head; I missed Larni’s companionship.
We set off just before midday. I rode next to Yasmin, chatting about our life back in the human realm.
“I left behind my dad and younger sister,” she told me sadly. “I wonder if they know what happened to us.”
I thought of my mother who was now all alone in our house. The shadow above me became a rain cloud and we rode in silence for the rest of the trip.
The landscape was beautiful. Green pastures were bordered by thick, lush forests and a clear stream burbled along next to the road. As we neared Keyes, I noticed that it was quite a bit bigger than I originally had thought. We hitched our horses and set off on foot into town. I reached into the pocket of my breeches to make sure that the little money bag Jett had handed me was still in there; despite the lesson yesterday, I tended to bounce around a lot.
“Where to first?” Dena asked, excitement gleaming in her bright blue eyes.
“Fancy a drink?” Petre asked, nodding towards a building that was obviously some kind of pub or tavern.
Inside we found that it was packed with other students, the smoky interior contrasting badly with the clear blue skies outside. Petre insisted on buying us all drinks, and we sat at a table outside, sipping the sweet lemonade.
“Has everyone finished that assignment for Watt?” Ispin asked, and everyone launched into complaints about the large amount of homework she’d been setting us.
I sipped lemonade from my tankard, looking around the village, still in disbelief that a place like this actually existed.
A main street ran through the village, paved with cobblestones. Neat little houses with thatched roofs stretched back further than I could see, a clock tower presiding over it all. A few chickens were being chased by a little boy and his younger sister.
“Sky?”
“Huh?” I turned back and noticed them all looking at me.
“I said, ‘what are you looking at?’” Petre repeated.
“Just everything,” I said, looking around again. “I can’t believe I’m here, sometimes. It’s a bit of a culture shock.”
“This is only Keyes,” Rain said, leaning forwards eagerly. “Wait until you see Castor, and Riverdoor, and Thurin.”
”We’ve got a lot to see in three years then,” Theresa said.
“Why only three years?” Ispin asked, confused.
“Because then we finish our education,” Yasmin said slowly.
“But you don’t go home,” Petre said.
“We don’t?” I asked.
“No. You stay here for the rest of your lives.”
I felt like I’d drunk molten lead instead of lemonade.
“So you’re saying we can never go back?” Dena asked quietly.
“That’s right,” Rain said, watching us closely.
I lifted the tankard to my face even though it was empty. As much as I loved it here, could I really stay in this realm forever? Never seeing my mother again?
“How about we go shopping?” Rain asked, eager to cheer us up, for Dena, Theresa and Yasmin were looking upset as well.
We agreed and headed to the market district, and then set about poking about all of the little stalls. I got lost in a book stall, and when I looked up, realised they’d left.
I hurried out onto the street, searching for their coloured tunics, but I couldn’t spy them in the crowd of people. Dejected, I shoved my hands in my pockets and drifted along with the villagers. I was just about to head back to the horses when I spied a little statue standing on a table full of antique devices.
“Afternoon, miss,” the man at the stall said brightly as I approached. “Anything I can help with?”
“Uh,” I pointed at the statue sitting on a dusty pedestal. “I was just wondering who that is.”
The statue was of a beautiful woman, dressed in a long, sweeping gown. I bent closer, and noticed she was wearing a circlet around her forehead.
“That would be Queen Fleur,” the stall owner came over to stand with me, adjusting his glasses on his nose. “Queen of the Second Age.”
“She’s beautiful,” I said reverently. “Why does she look so sad?”
“I’m not too sure to be honest,” he said. “The Second Age was long before my time.”
I picked the statue up, brushing a bit of dust off of her face with my thumb.
“Is there a current Queen?” I asked.
“No, miss. No need for one. The country is at peace.”
I ended up buying the statue from him, drawn to the beautiful woman and her sad, mysterious gaze. I headed back to the horses and found the others there waiting for me.
“I lost you,” I told them, cradling my statue in its hessian bag. “I looked everywhere.”
“Sorry!” Dena hurried over to me and gave me a hug. “I think we lost you in the bookstore.”
“What’ve you got?” Yasmin asked, spying the bundle in my arms.
I untied the top of the bag and showed them the statue on her plinth.
“That’s Queen Fleur,” Ispin said, examining it. “The last Queen.”
We rode back to the Academy just as the sun began to set. We ate in the mess hall as usual and afterwards I headed back up to my room. I arranged my statue on top of my dresser, where the morning light would catch it. I had just begun to pull on my pyjamas when there was a knock on the door.
“Come in,” I called warily. Larni never knocked.
The door opened and Jett entered. I quickly pulled my other leg through my pyjama pants.
“Evening,” he said brightly, looking around. “Dena was telling me that you’re having some trouble with Phoenix.”
“Oh right, well, yeah I am, I suppose,” I sat heavily on my bed. “I think you made a mistake with the soul ceremony.”
Jett laughed, pulling out a chair at my table and sitting down.
“Your soul hasn’t made a mistake, Sky; it knows well where the other half of it is. Just remember that he’s different; he’s from-“
“The Sh
ayde Mountains, yeah I know.”
“You’ve been learning your geography; I’m impressed. That’ll come in handy in your next Magical History. But listen; about Phoenix... just keep trying. This is very new to him.”
“I doubt he can top me. I’m from another world.”
“That is true,” Jett said, dark eyes twinkling. “But anyway, just remember to-“
He broke off mid sentence, staring at something to my right. I turned and saw that he had seen my statue.
“Where did you get that?” he asked quietly.
“In the village,” I replied, crawling over to it and picking it up. “It’s Queen-“
“Fleur, yes I know,” any warmth in Jett’s eyes or voice had vanished. “Look… forget what I said about Phoenix. See you in class tomorrow.”
He was gone before I had time to put the statue back down. As I crawled under the covers and pulled them up my chin, I wondered why my statue had rattled him so bad he’d forgotten tomorrow was Sunday.