An eyebrow raised, and she could have sworn she saw a glimmer of approval. “Well, I can see why you have her working with water.”
“And why I have accepted her as my apprentice,” Ritathan said. “Subject to your approval, Guildmaster. Of course.”
“Of course,” Forterran repeated, his voice laced with sarcasm “Since I just spent a very long session discussing that very fact with an angry father, a peevish Queen, and a bored King.”
Halithe’s heart started to pound.
“And?” Ritathan asked. His voice sounded silkily dangerous.
“And I did what I always do when I’ve no forewarning. I stalled. I explained the long process of accepting an apprentice into a guild and the difference between one who shows promise and one who can achieve mastery. How rare it is to find one with the gift these days.” Forterran leaned back. Halithe opened her mouth to argue but the glare he shot her had her closing it with a snap.
“And we left it there. The Queen has reasons of her own to be in the Guild’s good graces. So, the girl-child, one Halithe, should be left to continue with her lessons. But as Guildmaster I will make the final determination as to whether to advance her.”
Halithe caught her breath, her heart rising at his words, beating as if to escape from her chest.
“Have you bound her?” Forterran demanded.
Ritathan nodded. “Immediately after that,” he gestured to the charred mark.
Halithe didn’t wait for her master to instruct her. She thrust forward her left hand, where Ritathan had placed the apprentice bond bracelet. “I am forbidden from using magic except in the presence of my master,” she blurted out.
Forterran huffed at her. “In the meantime, you will also continue with your duties as a lady-in-waiting upon the Queen.” He raised an eyebrow. “Speaking of which…”
Halithe placed the bowl on the desk and rose. “My thanks, Guildmaster,” she curtseyed deeply to him. “My thanks, Master.” She repeated the curtsey to Ritathan, then grinned at him before she darted to the door, fleeing before her joy could spill out. Then she was flying down the stairs, laughing.
Free, free, free! She’d found an escape from the prison of marriage and a life she’d dreaded and feared for so long—
She raced down, her feet almost dancing as she grabbed at her skirts. At the bottom, she turned, and twirled, and ran smack into Caris.
“Caris,” Halithe breathed, grabbing her hands. “Caris, something wonderful—”
Caris’s face was stark white, pale as a wisp of cloud. “Halithe,” she whispered and Halithe’s heart leapt. The sound of her name, from Caris’s lips; it sounded so different. Powerful. Beautiful. For a moment Halithe was overwhelmed.
Which let Caris push her into a curtained alcove, glancing around to see if anyone was about. Halithe found herself in shadows, the light faint through dirt-encrusted windows.
“Caris, I’m free,” Halithe stumbled over her words as they rushed out in time with her racing heartbeat. “I’m going to be trained, going to be—”
Shaking her head, Caris set put two fingers over Halithe’s mouth. “No, no, I’ve come to warn you.” Caris put her head close, her lips to Halithe’s ear. “You must have a care. Your father, the Queen,” Caris shuddered. “Her rages are terrible, cold and focused, when her plans are thwarted. I fear—”
Halithe evaded Caris’s fingers, darted forward, and kissed her.
Soft. Her lips were so soft.
Halithe felt Caris inhale sharply, and then oh glorious wonder, her lips moved as well, opening, welcoming, and only the need for breath broke them apart. Halithe had both of Caris’s hands and grasped them between hers. “I swear,” she murmured. “I swear, I will become powerful and dreadful and I will break these chains.” She pressed her lips to Caris’s marked wrist. “I will free you and claim you and…” Halithe stopped.
Caris was silently weeping.
“Don’t cry,” Halithe whispered.
“Don’t think it,” Caris whispered back. “Don’t breathe it, don’t dare to hope. This bond is deep and dark and I am powerless.”
“Think it,” Halithe pulled Caris’s hands to her breast. “Breathe it, dare to hope. It will be so.”
“I must go,” Caris said, in an oddly wooden tone. “They will be wanting me, and I must be where I am supposed to be. Do what they say I must. I only came to warn you.”
“Go,” Halithe claimed another kiss, then released her. “I will take heed.” She reached out to stroke away the tears. “You have a care, yourself.”
Caris didn’t meet her eyes, just nodded and slipped away through the curtains.
