‘No,’ she said firmly, and I inhaled slowly, readying myself for my next battle.
‘Walk with me, Sanika, please.’ I reached out, but she crossed her arms over her chest.
‘You’re not sending me away like some bratty little child.’ She let my hand hang in the air, but I didn’t lower it. I ignored the mages muttering between themselves.
‘Please,’ I repeated, and reluctantly, she took my hand, joining me as I walked away from the barn and the wretched box.
This wasn’t a victory, far from it. I kept asking myself the question:What will I do if I can’t convince her to leave?
Chapter 10
Roksana
My body told me it was morning. Not that you’d know it, with the room as dark as my current mood. The fireplace was still warm, its glowing embers giving the room a soft, reddish hue, but the warmth and dim glow didn’t help improve my mood.
I’d returned home three days ago, a week after Reynard convinced me to leave his side. He’d been relentless with his stupidly reasonable arguments, and after Tova begrudgingly agreed to transport the strange box, I had no reason to stay. At least not one good enough to convince him. Apparently, wanting to be with him didn’t count.
I was sent ahead with a unit of soldiers to, as Rey said, clear the roads. Tova was supposed to travel a half-day behind me to maintain a safe distance from the box. He should have arrived already, so all I could do was sit on my hands and worry myself sick.
A sharp knock broke through my morose thoughts, and I rushed to the door. At this hour, it could be only Tova or bad news, and I didn’t want to miss either.
‘My lady, Master Ciesko wishes to see you.’ The messenger stepped back respectfully, bowing his head.
I had to grasp the door frame, dread creeping down my spine. Not a word about my friend. I prayed to the gods above and below that he wasn’t calling me to identify a body in the morgue.
‘What reason did Ciesko give for needing to see me?’ I asked, reaching for my cloak.
‘The Master Healer,’ the messenger said, correcting me, ‘didn’t offer a reason, nor is he required to give one to an apprentice mage.’
‘Idiot,’ I muttered. My door slammed shut as I bolted towards the waiting carriage, gesturing to the mage. ‘Don’t stand around like a gaping carp. Come on.’
The mage stayed silent during the ride, but I preferred that to talking with a fool.
The university courtyard looked beautiful in the height of winter. White powdery snow built up in small drifts or wrapped the statues in ice-cold shawls. The serene landscape was jarring to the dark thoughts running through my mind. I stared at the cherry tree still in full bloom despite the season, then bit my lip until the metallic taste of blood centred me. Were the wards holding the artefact as strong as those containing the swirling vortex of magic that sustained the tree’s current state?
‘My lady, are you coming?’ I looked to the side where a guard was drumming his fingers on his halberd.
‘Where to?’ I asked, holding my breath while waiting for his answer.
‘My lady, I was explicitly asked to bring you to the healer’s wing. The dwarven guest will join you there after the university guards finish interrogating him.’
‘Interrogating?’ My eyes narrowed. Relief that Tova had arrived fought with my anger, and anger was winning.
The guard instinctively took a step back. ‘They’re just asking about the events on your journey, and the unusual fire he created. The royal mage is there too. He’ll be with you soon, my lady,’ he said quickly before turning away. ‘I’ll check how long they’ll be.’
I didn’t like it, but for now, I didn’t have a choice.
It was strange how entering Ciesko’s workshop now felt like home. The smell of herbs and healing poultices, mixed into a pleasant but pungent aroma, had taken some getting used to, but now felt perfectly natural.
‘Master Ciesko?’ I called into the empty room, surprised he was missing if he’d wanted to see me so urgently.
The man in question emerged from a side room carrying a massive jar in his arms and a deep frown on his face. I couldn’t describe the feeling when it disappeared after seeing me.
‘I was wondering where you were. The Army healers need medicines for frostbite injuries. Apparently, they encountered a severe case of aether flux and ran out of tinctures and tonics. I almost have everything ready except the potions to enhance blood flow.’
I looked at the bottle he held in his arms. ‘And that is…?’
‘The last of our supply of sun daisy extract,’ he said, straining under the weight, before dumping the jar in front of me.
