By the time we broke for a meal, I’d learned the absolute basics of earth magic, namely, how to feel down into the earth and sense the soil and stone around me. I could only sense to the edges of this room, perhaps fifty feet in all directions. I thought that was pretty good, until Lhorine told me she could feel for miles. Yeah… I had a lot to learn.
Safir and Myel — with Zora helping them from time to time — had been working while the rest of us had trained. They’d brought down some basic furniture. I had no idea where they’d gotten it from, but three of the small bedrooms now had mattresses and the rest at least had thick blankets. They’d also brought down a small table with four chairs as well as food and water.
Rook didn’t say a word as we ate.
Vyns and I chatted a little. He seemed… different from before he’d gone home. When I asked him about it, he smiled.
“My family wouldn’t listen to what I had to say. I honestly didn’t think they would, but I had to try, had to tell them the truth. They wouldn’t hear it, and it only affirmed to me that they aren’t worthy of my time and attention. I walked out on them and won’t look back.” He reached over and laid his hand on mine. “You’re my family now. I… hope that’s not too forward.”
Hell yeah, it was! Still, I smiled.
I didn’t have any family. Well, that had been true a week ago. Now I suddenly had a grandmother, though she didn’t act like one. Still, I’d always wanted that feeling of belonging somewhere. Now I had a place: with Vyns.
A week ago, that would have freaked me out. I’d not wanted any sort of attachment or long-lasting relationship, but right now, with everything else going on, it felt good. Perhaps it was only because I might not live past tomorrow and I really needed someone to lean on, but still… Vyns’ devotion gave me a soft, safe place to land.
After dinner we all went back to work and trained late into the night.
Progress was so very slow, though Lhorine kept telling me I was moving far faster than most young elves.
Since I wouldn’t need to use earth-sense for any great distance tomorrow, we left off with that and focused on actual manipulation and movement of earth after dinner. I learned how to push up stone to create a basic wall to defend myself from attacks. We worked on that for a bit, making it sturdier, stronger, thicker. Then came a simple attack, using earth like a wave, rolling beneath people to topple them and push them back.
Lhorine could make a tall wave, which leaned forward, literally sweeping people away. I only managed a low roll of earth, but that was still apparently very good for my very first day working with earth magic.
Lastly, Lhorine taught me how to soften earth and sink down into it. This served several purposes. First, I wouldn’t have to make my earth shield as tall. Second, it would help me stay in place and resist most attempts to push me back. Third, if someone tried to trap me in earth, I could soften it and get out.
After that… I was exhausted. It was well past midnight, and I hadn’t slept much that morning.
I wanted nothing more than to collapse on a mattress and sleep… my bond with Myel, however, demanded attention.
IZZY
Myeland I should have been good for another day or so, since we’d been together last night. God, it felt like an eternity since then. But perhaps because we’d been so far apart, or because we both knew things might go badly tomorrow, the bond had grown tight and desperate.
Myel went to reserve one of the rooms with an actual mattress, while I sought out Rook. The incubus had been cold to me all day, still I asked him if he wished to join us. He’d told me that being with Myel and me was like a drug, that heneededit.
Even so, the incubus shook his head wordlessly and left the training compound entirely, heading up the stairs and out.
Wow…
He couldn’t even speak to me now?
What was up with him?
I let out a pained and frustrated sigh, then headed to the hall with the bedrooms. Vyns stopped me.
“I… am not ready to be with you and someone else at the same time,” he whispered with an offhand glance to the stairs, where Rook had just fled. “But, if you need anything from me tonight… let me know.
“I… might?” I didn’t really know. I might also fall asleep in Myel’s arms, given how exhausted I was. “Thank you for the offer.”
He smiled and let me go.
Myel waited for me, already naked. Yet despite the rather swollen and desperate look of his erection, he didn’t rush things. Instead, he came to me more like a servant. He helped me undress, whispering soft pleasantries and compliments. And once I was naked, he urged me to lie down, massaging my back and feet.
Hot Damn! That felt good.
I let him know exactly which spots needed more attention with soft moans and breathy yesses.
“You can win,” he whispered behind me, digging his hands into my back. Sometimes I forgot how strong my Goth hero was, despite his lanky appearance. He said no more on the matter after that, and I was thankful. I didn’t want to think about Saldrea, or tomorrow. I wanted to let his presence soothe me and relax, after we both got our rocks off because…the bond.
