All Arn could do was remain silent and present as calm a face as possible even though inside he wanted to smile wide. He knew it was for appearances but somehow the idea of being betrothed to Eilis brough him a joy he did not know how to describe.
However, a dark voice whispered in his head that she had only accepted because it was convenient and safe. That the girl was only doing what she must because she was trying to survive. She had an order of powerful and sadistic people. She had managed to secure not only a powerful mage but also the aid of an influential knight.
The voice sounded far, as if spoken from a deep well. Arn shook the hold of the voice off. He wondered why he had such thoughts. It had been a long time since he has felt fear and sadness. Had the feelings Eilis awoken in him awoken something else? Or could it have something to do with the mind meld?
He was brought out of his musings by Tyrhallan. The mage took a deep breath unaware that he had held his breath. He shifted his attention from the concerning voice which seemed not his own. It was fortunate that he had to prepare to leave the room. He was just wondering how he would contact the nurse or somebody to request a discharge when he heard a knock at the door.
A middle age lady with a tired and annoyed look on her face entered the room. Thanks to the scrubs she was wearing and the name tag, Arn could identify her as a nurse. With an exasperated sigh she placed a bag on the bed the battle mage had been occupying.
“A boy dropped this at the nurse’s station said it was for you. I don’t know why people think we are their maids.” The lady said irritated. “Then the head nurse is all agitated saying how the order came a bit ago about releasing the pair of you. IF it was up to me I would keep you for more observation. Both of you came looking pretty bad. But they don’t care about my opinion, no sir. They just do what they want because they were born wealthy and with a damn spoon in the ass.”
She busied about the room as she talked to herself. Checking monitors, poking and prodding the pair as if they were nothing more that meat sacks. “I guess, you do seem fine but that is no excuse to be out of bed. You know what, whatever, maybe when you lot leave we can have some peace and quiet again.”
The nurse disconnected the leads from both patients and as she had come in she left still talking and complaining. Arn turned to look at Eilis and smiled shrugging. He walked over to the bag slowly. He recognized it as his sea bag. Inside, it was the few things he owned. His armor, Daisho, and Uniforms were in it.
No doubt Tobi had arranged for all of this. The boy had his redeeming qualities ever now and then. The mage’s eyes narrowed. However, if he knew the boy, Tobi most likely eavesdropped on their conversation. If he had heard about the whole betrothal, then half the Shootings Stars probably already knew too. The darn boy had no doubt brought his gear as an excuse. Everything was much too convenient to not have been planned out by the young mage.
Or had it been Tyrhallan? The man was too good at pushing his noble weight around. No doubt he had set everything into motion before he had even spoken to them regarding their living accommodations. It was almost as he was more than sure that the pair would agree. How he could know was beyond the senior mage’s ability to comprehend.
Arn let out an irritated grunt. He hated being influenced or have his life planned for him. Still, the arrangement would mean protection and conform for Eilis. He dug through is pack and suddenly realized that other than the robes they were currently wearing, the girl had nothing to wear.
His eyes fell on the silky under robe that was usually worn under the thicker dress robes. The material was soft and light weight. He also grabbed one of his ceremonial belts which were leather with an ornate buckle. He grabbed both items and approached his protegee.
“Um, I know its not much but if you want you can wear this. I think it would work.” He said almost embarrassedly that he could offer her more. The robe would fall to about mid-thigh and when the belt was worn it would hug her waist in a sort of sun dress.
Arn had given Eilis space to change. He had drawn the curtains between the beds and proceeded to change into his dress robes. The materials was thicker and a bit itchy without the bottom robe but he endured it. His chest was exposed by the low plunging gold embroidered V neck. Normally, this would be covered by the under robe.
The dress robes was something he had only worn once or twice. As a black ranked mage, he would normally be in command or some other important position. The robes reflected that. The front side would be embroidered with gold thread in intricate patterns and runes. The robes themselves were not magic imbued but they were meant to look like that.
They flowed past just past his knees. Under the robes, he wore some silk pants and shiny leather boots. He pulled his pony tail back tight and even shaved. He looked nothing like the battle hardened man they had pulled into the infirmary bloody and almost dead.
The master mage looked very much like the rank his power and prowess demanded. Yet, he was the one who said a silent wow when the curtains finally moved to the side and revealed Eilis. The simple modified robe suited her perfectly. A great contrast against her fair skin. Even the tattoos seemed to match the mystical theme.
Arn smiled down at her as he moved closer. He did not know what to say but thankfully he was saved by the blowing of the Auriel’s horn as it approached dock. Still smiling and using his knowledge of ships, the mage led the girl through the ship. People would move out of their way as the pair seemed to hold their own mystique.
Eventually they made their way to the top deck as the ship docked. The pier connected the ship to the boardwalk via different brows. The bottom brow was reserved for cargo and the refugees. A small army of government officials were already waiting for them in a hastily set up check point.
The middle brow was being utilized by the troops and medical personnel who were transferring to another ship to go help the Homeguard or the badly wounded to an actual hospital. Arn caught sight of what seemed to be a small contingent of mages. He wondered if it was the Shootings Stars heading off to regroup with the Second Mage Battalion.
A longing look crossed Arn’s face but he was tapped in the shoulder by Eilis letting him know Tyrhallan wanted them to follow him across the top brow that seemed to be reserved for high ranking officers and them. The lowly mage felt a bit uneasy under such treatment.
Eventually, they would make their way to the outside of the terminal and to an awaiting carriage. Though the master mage knew that Tyrhallan was a noble, he was slowly starting to appreciate what that meant.
The carriage was among one of the finest he had seen and he had attended a conference at the Academy once which had hosted a ball with important people.
The ride was comfortable. So much so that Eilis rested her head on his shoulders and fell asleep. A soft click and a clearing of a throat brought Arn awake. He embarrassedly apologized to Tyrhallan who still had that stupid smile.
Apparently they had arrived to what at first the Master Mage could guess was a small castle but which the silver haired noble simple mentioned was a “town house”. His eyes were as wide as Eilis as he took in the surroundings being led by a foot man, Dannesh. They passed a lavish hallway and entered a chamber where enough people to form an assault squad waited. At the head of the columns of male and female staff the lords of the place were hard to miss.
“Tyr, welcome home darling.”
The lady of the house, looking like a queen in her own right, approached Tyrhallan. The familiarity and love she had for the Knight Captain was palpable and Arn felt a slight pang of sadness at remembering his own mother. The Lord looked like he was breed for the title. He stood there in a manner that would put the mages standing at attention to shame.
“Eilis, Arn, these are my parents. Lady Leandra Hendreshy Venray and Lord Pharlan Auregin Venray."
The mage took a bow in the ceremonial fashion taught to all mages. He placed his hands together, palms up, elbows bet about 30 degrees, tucked to the sides and he bowed at the waist with his chin resting on his chest. “Master Mage Arn formerly of the Shooting Stars and now retainer of Knight Captain Venray at your service and disposal my Lady and Lord Venray”
Introductions and formalities completed, Arn obediently looked to his new master for guidance. He saw poor Eilis being taken away by Lady Venray and a host of maids. The girl shot a few confused and slightly concerned looks their way. The mage could only smile his encouragement and hope the still poor girl still affected by Dark Sight could see it.
He turned to Tyrhalland and asked half jokingly half not. “She will be ok, wont she?”
Infinite Cosmos
princess