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Authors: Claude Dancourt
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confounded him . Derek took a proper look at her. She was fisting her skirt so hard her knuckles were white. Her eyes glittered with tears more than rage . He bit back a retort and glanced away , vaguely ashamed . He just wanted to tease her. Upsetting each other was never part of their games, as far as he was concerned. He was not that insensible, whatever she thought of him.
The silence lengthened awkwardly. Derek rolled his shoulders backward, vaguely wondering how long Friar Johan would be. Staying inactive never suited him. Even in the heart of winter, he needed something to do. If there was too much snow to access the training yard, he would use the vast ‘Salle d’armes’ for sparing with Sebastian or Elwyn , or helped the blacksmith to check on the weapons and shields in the armoury.
Unable to stay still, t he young prince was push ing on his feet to visit the other writing desks when Sacha ’s clear voice cut through the silent room. Her voice was deadly calm this time.
“You want to pursue another direction. I understand. You are free to go as you please of course .”
Derek fro ze , glancing back at her. Sacha was seated impeccably at her side of the table, her head straight and her hands quietly crossed on her lap. Her impassive mask was into place once more . Her eyes were fixed on an icon on the opposite wall away from him . She dismissed him like a queen relieved a guard from her service. Derek s cowled, shaking his head.
“This is out of question. I gave my word I will come with you. I am not taking it back.”
If he had not known b etter, he would have sworn the flash in her eyes was relief when her finally gaze fell on him. Her words were less amiable.
“You are as stubborn as a mule , ” Sacha grumbled.
So t hey were back to their usual pestering. Why he was so satisfied about it eluded him. Derek smirked.
“It takes one to know one, doe sn’t it?”
Friar Johan chose the moment her cheeks were coloring in anger again to finally show up, his arms full of old scrolls. He had a spider web hanging from one ear and perspiration moistened his forehead. His load hit the table with a loud t h unk when he let it down.
“Here. There are two more books , but you can start with that.”
Derek mumbled under his breath when Sacha chose the heavier volume and pushed it toward him with an angelic smile.
Chapter 9
Elwyn blinked and groaned. The swell around his eye had deflated enough for him to see properly, but it was still painful. He guessed the contusions made him look like a raccoon. After being in and out all afternoon, waking up each time to feel his body hurt, he totally understood the animal 's irascible mood.
He rubbed the last vestige of sleep from his face, hissing when the movement of his arms stretched the bandage around his chest. Fillin had his ribcage strapped so tightly he could barely breathe. He didn’t feel like complaining too much about it. The wrap held his broken bones into place so the pain was almost bearable when he moved.
Elwyn straightened up stiffly, testing his strength, and sat. The canopy stayed over his head instead of reeling sideways, which was a good thing. Feeling no vertigo, he balanced his legs off the mattress precociously. So far, so good. The young man stood slowly . H is knees buckled dangerously under him. He clenched his jaw as cold sweat ran down his back, but remained on his feet. His body protested, forcing him to grab the bed pole before he fell forward.
After a long minute, his muscles stopped screaming and reluctantly accepted the torture of functioning again, so he let go of his support, savouring the little victory. Carefully stepping away from the bed, and ready to take hold on the furniture if needed be, he approached the window on wobbly legs and took in the lands surrounding the place.
A grey mist covered miles of dense, dark green forest. Daylight was dim, though he could not tell if it was due to the weather or upcoming dusk.
The silence lengthened awkwardly. Derek rolled his shoulders backward, vaguely wondering how long Friar Johan would be. Staying inactive never suited him. Even in the heart of winter, he needed something to do. If there was too much snow to access the training yard, he would use the vast ‘Salle d’armes’ for sparing with Sebastian or Elwyn , or helped the blacksmith to check on the weapons and shields in the armoury.
Unable to stay still, t he young prince was push ing on his feet to visit the other writing desks when Sacha ’s clear voice cut through the silent room. Her voice was deadly calm this time.
“You want to pursue another direction. I understand. You are free to go as you please of course .”
Derek fro ze , glancing back at her. Sacha was seated impeccably at her side of the table, her head straight and her hands quietly crossed on her lap. Her impassive mask was into place once more . Her eyes were fixed on an icon on the opposite wall away from him . She dismissed him like a queen relieved a guard from her service. Derek s cowled, shaking his head.
“This is out of question. I gave my word I will come with you. I am not taking it back.”
If he had not known b etter, he would have sworn the flash in her eyes was relief when her finally gaze fell on him. Her words were less amiable.
“You are as stubborn as a mule , ” Sacha grumbled.
So t hey were back to their usual pestering. Why he was so satisfied about it eluded him. Derek smirked.
“It takes one to know one, doe sn’t it?”
Friar Johan chose the moment her cheeks were coloring in anger again to finally show up, his arms full of old scrolls. He had a spider web hanging from one ear and perspiration moistened his forehead. His load hit the table with a loud t h unk when he let it down.
“Here. There are two more books , but you can start with that.”
Derek mumbled under his breath when Sacha chose the heavier volume and pushed it toward him with an angelic smile.
Chapter 9
Elwyn blinked and groaned. The swell around his eye had deflated enough for him to see properly, but it was still painful. He guessed the contusions made him look like a raccoon. After being in and out all afternoon, waking up each time to feel his body hurt, he totally understood the animal 's irascible mood.
He rubbed the last vestige of sleep from his face, hissing when the movement of his arms stretched the bandage around his chest. Fillin had his ribcage strapped so tightly he could barely breathe. He didn’t feel like complaining too much about it. The wrap held his broken bones into place so the pain was almost bearable when he moved.
Elwyn straightened up stiffly, testing his strength, and sat. The canopy stayed over his head instead of reeling sideways, which was a good thing. Feeling no vertigo, he balanced his legs off the mattress precociously. So far, so good. The young man stood slowly . H is knees buckled dangerously under him. He clenched his jaw as cold sweat ran down his back, but remained on his feet. His body protested, forcing him to grab the bed pole before he fell forward.
After a long minute, his muscles stopped screaming and reluctantly accepted the torture of functioning again, so he let go of his support, savouring the little victory. Carefully stepping away from the bed, and ready to take hold on the furniture if needed be, he approached the window on wobbly legs and took in the lands surrounding the place.
A grey mist covered miles of dense, dark green forest. Daylight was dim, though he could not tell if it was due to the weather or upcoming dusk.
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