Authors: Kelly Varesio
Insperatus (38 page)
She stepped out; it was terribly windy outside, and she quickly peered over the rails. She had looked out there the previous night, but wasn’t able to perceive the ground in the dark. Now she could see that there was a large plain a couple hundred yards or so down. She was on the highest floor, and she saw that the castle grounds were cut off and engulfed by cool, dark woods.
Suddenly the wind picked up and whistled, blowing intensely. She turned and ran back inside, closing the doors and leaning on them, panting heavily. The wind was coming on strong, and the drop was too terrifying to stare down at. She smiled, still panting, when she noticed Traith standing in front of her in the hallway.
“
Good afternoon,” he said with a small smile. “How was your night?”
Good afternoon,” he said with a small smile. “How was your night?”
“
Afternoon?” she asked, her voice slowing.
Afternoon?” she asked, her voice slowing.
He made a short, quiet, half-laugh. “You’ve been asleep the entire morning. It’s past twelve.”
“
Dear,” she replied, surprised, finally ceasing her panting. “That gave me quite a scare. We’re rather high up here, aren’t we?”
Dear,” she replied, surprised, finally ceasing her panting. “That gave me quite a scare. We’re rather high up here, aren’t we?”
“
Yes,” he said with a smile.
Yes,” he said with a smile.
She liked his smile; it was boyish and innocent.
“
Um, before I fail to remember, I put your belongings in the closed over there,” he said, pointing to a closed door within the room. “I got them from Rein’s—er, your house.”
Um, before I fail to remember, I put your belongings in the closed over there,” he said, pointing to a closed door within the room. “I got them from Rein’s—er, your house.”
“
My
things
?” she asked in a high, sharp squeak. “
Really
? Oh
thank
you! Thank you, Monsieur Harker!”
My
things
?” she asked in a high, sharp squeak. “
Really
? Oh
thank
you! Thank you, Monsieur Harker!”
“
Don’t call me that, dear,” he spoke, rubbing the towel through his hair to dry it. “Traith is fine.”
Don’t call me that, dear,” he spoke, rubbing the towel through his hair to dry it. “Traith is fine.”
His hair was hanging in front of his face, somewhat damp. He had a white blouse on, but it was obvious his body was shining with sweat. She shuddered when she saw how scarred up he was, and a chill stung her when she saw the scar at his throat. The bite mark.
She snapped out of her stare. “O-Oh, sorry,” she said. “I was just in awe of your scars. I didn’t mean to stare.”
He glanced down at himself and looked back up at her. “I’m used to that sort of first impression on people—‘I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to stare at you.’” He smiled, almost laughed. “I know; there are a lot of them. Like souvenirs.”
“
From fights?”
From fights?”
He hesitated, but returned words amiably. “Yes.”
“
You must have been through a lot, by the looks of all those,” she said in a quieter voice. He didn’t reply. She smiled at his silence. “You are quite a shy one, aren’t you?”
You must have been through a lot, by the looks of all those,” she said in a quieter voice. He didn’t reply. She smiled at his silence. “You are quite a shy one, aren’t you?”
He smiled a bit fuller, a little shocked by her question. “I am, I suppose. I guess I’m just used to frightening people without the intent to do so.”
She shook her head fast. “Oh no, not at all!”
“
Well I just heard you slam the doors from the hallway on my way to shower off,” he said, still with a dashing smile up his face. “Rein and I were in the training foyer.” He threw his towel over his shoulder. “Rein’s…practicing some things. She…well, if you need to eat or anything else you should go talk to her and she can make you anything you want. She can
make
things
, in a manner.”
Well I just heard you slam the doors from the hallway on my way to shower off,” he said, still with a dashing smile up his face. “Rein and I were in the training foyer.” He threw his towel over his shoulder. “Rein’s…practicing some things. She…well, if you need to eat or anything else you should go talk to her and she can make you anything you want. She can
make
things
, in a manner.”
Taverin sat on her bed cheerfully. “Rein can make my food? She has many powers, doesn’t she? Like what she can do with her mind…and you can put or bring people places, right?”
He sighed and leaned on the door. “Yes. Teleportation.”
“
What are some of your other ones?”
What are some of your other ones?”
“
I’ll show you them another time. The others aren’t so…sociable. But go see Rein. She’s two floors below us. God, you know what? I’ll just…”
I’ll show you them another time. The others aren’t so…sociable. But go see Rein. She’s two floors below us. God, you know what? I’ll just…”
She must have had a confused look on her face, because she saw him smile and tilt his head back. He waved two fingers around as he walked away, and suddenly Taverin realized that Rein was standing right in front of her.
She was in the training foyer. A few sconces hung from the otherwise bare stone walls, and strange equipment filled the large room from corner to corner. There were obstacles made from barrels, bags filled with sand, and targets made out of odd things. Guns of all sizes were around. There were swords and daggers on the ground, and every one that had been thrown into the targets had hit the bull’s-eye.
“
Those are Traith’s hits,” Rein said.
Those are Traith’s hits,” Rein said.
Taverin quickly shifted her focus toward Rein.
“
Mine are not quite as good, but I’m getting there.”
Mine are not quite as good, but I’m getting there.”
Taverin stared back at the targets. “My.”
“
It was convenient he brought you down here,” Rein said as she walked toward her. “I was headed up to see you just now. I checked on you earlier, but you were still sleeping. You slept a good while.”
It was convenient he brought you down here,” Rein said as she walked toward her. “I was headed up to see you just now. I checked on you earlier, but you were still sleeping. You slept a good while.”
“
Oh,” Taverin murmured, still in awe of the hall she stood in.
Oh,” Taverin murmured, still in awe of the hall she stood in.
Rein smiled and sighed. “You must be hungry. If you tell me what you like, I can fill the dinner hall up with food for you. Unfortunately Traith and I have no need to use it.” Rein cleared her throat and forced a smile.
“
How can you make food if you don’t—?”
How can you make food if you don’t—?”
“
I can generate things, in a sense.” She wiped her forehead with her arm. “How was your night?”
I can generate things, in a sense.” She wiped her forehead with her arm. “How was your night?”
“
It was extraordinarily comfortable, and I actually slept well.”
It was extraordinarily comfortable, and I actually slept well.”
“
That’s good.” She paused. “I was thinking about something. You miss France, don’t you?” she asked.
That’s good.” She paused. “I was thinking about something. You miss France, don’t you?” she asked.
“
Yes—you said you wouldn’t read my mind, Rein!” Taverin replied.
Yes—you said you wouldn’t read my mind, Rein!” Taverin replied.
Rein turned her head to the side, her dark hair bunching on her shoulder. “I let that thought slip. Something as important as having a lover somewhere can drastically change what you miss, can’t it?”
Taverin’s eyes widened. “Rein!” she said, finally smiling. “You have so many different aptitudes!”
“
Who is your lover, Taverin?” she asked, placing her hands on her hips.
Taverin felt her face flush as she struggled to respond. “Well…his name is William…”
“
Handsome name,” Rein said. “Well, Traith can send you to…?”
Handsome name,” Rein said. “Well, Traith can send you to…?”
“
Oh, it’s called Cherbourg.”
Oh, it’s called Cherbourg.”
“
Well, Traith can send you to
Cherbourg
in a heartbeat whenever you want. And you can see dear William.”
Well, Traith can send you to
Cherbourg
in a heartbeat whenever you want. And you can see dear William.”
Taverin felt as though her heart had exploded with joy. She let out a squeak of excitement and then threw her arms around Rein.
“
Does that make you a little more at ease, Taverin?” Rein asked.
Does that make you a little more at ease, Taverin?” Rein asked.
“
Oh, so much so!” she replied with unfathomable exhilaration. “Oh thank you!”
Oh, so much so!” she replied with unfathomable exhilaration. “Oh thank you!”
Rein smiled and lifted her arms to her hair to fix it. “So are you going to make that list or am I supposed to guess what foods you like to eat?”
Chapter 53
“
Where are you going, Rein?”
Where are you going, Rein?”
Rein laughed and ran around the shop square. “Come on, Saria! I want to show you something!”
Rein watched Saria laugh and follow behind. She looked ahead and witnessed with building excitement the store she was bringing her friend to; the large, exquisite dress shop a little outside Teesdale.
It was the largest, most expensive shop in that part of England. Rein knew the owner, due to the fact that she went there often with Saria. But today was different; she had a different sort of dress in mind today.
The two entered the shop slowly, and Rein always seemed to just lose her breath when she gazed upon the thousands of dresses in the store. She went to the counter and whispered something in the clerk’s ear. He smiled and turned back through a door behind the counter.
“
What is this about, Rein?” Saria asked, huffing out of breath.
What is this about, Rein?” Saria asked, huffing out of breath.
Rein bit her lip. “Just wait!”
The clerk reappeared with a brilliant, long, full, white dress in his hands. His arms were high trying not to let it touch the ground; he even had a part of it draped around his shoulder.
Saria gasped from beside her. “Rein! My Lord, Rein!”
Rein laughed. “Isn’t it beautiful?”
“
The absolute most gorgeous, darling dress I’ve ever seen!” Saria’s eyes got larger, as did her smile. “Your wedding dress, Rein?”
The absolute most gorgeous, darling dress I’ve ever seen!” Saria’s eyes got larger, as did her smile. “Your wedding dress, Rein?”
Rein opened her eyes to see a stone ceiling above her. She sat up and shook her head. She was on a sofa in the dressing room in bare feet and a chemise with the dress she was to wear beside her.
It wasn’t a wedding dress, and Saria was nowhere.
Rein fell back down upon the sofa and held her head. She could hear Saria’s voice in her head, the only person in the world that would be so happy about her engagement. The only person who would love to help pick a dress, or choose a hairstyle, or…
But she was gone. Rein had not yet accepted that. It had only been a few months, yet the time had dragged on for an eternity.
Rein sat up again and tried to forget about her dream—the same one she’d been having since Traith proposed. She stretched her arms and then stood, picking the dress up that had been partly lying on her. It was half wrinkled. She sighed and went to hang it up.
At least her old home was hers again. To Rein, owning it kept many memories of her normal life alive and warm, especially ones of Saria. Traith had gone to England and bought it off of the county, who had taken hold of it because of Hall’s inability to pay. He had even hired people—maids, butlers—to live in and keep it up while they weren’t there. It was the most perfect thing Traith could have done.
Then the door brought Rein back to reality. It swung open, and Taverin came frolicking in with merriment.
She had been in Cherbourg the past fortnight staying at a friend’s estate. During the time, despite the entertainment the girl was enjoying there, Rein had kept a close eye on her without showing her face to the people. Taverin had not known she had been watching, either.
“
Rein!” the girl called, running in and throwing her arms around her. “Traith made sure to bring me here at exactly six o’clock as he said, even though he is in a meeting with the council!” She was laughing with pleasure.
Rein!” the girl called, running in and throwing her arms around her. “Traith made sure to bring me here at exactly six o’clock as he said, even though he is in a meeting with the council!” She was laughing with pleasure.
“
Was your stay agreeable, Taverin?” she asked.
Was your stay agreeable, Taverin?” she asked.
“
Oh, entirely! William Treau came to visit most every day! He is indeed tremendously dashing! His manner is so amiable and…Are you well? You look sad.”
Oh, entirely! William Treau came to visit most every day! He is indeed tremendously dashing! His manner is so amiable and…Are you well? You look sad.”
“
I just woke up,” Rein said, hinting a smile. “I dozed off when I was organizing my clothes. Had a bad dream, that’s all.”
I just woke up,” Rein said, hinting a smile. “I dozed off when I was organizing my clothes. Had a bad dream, that’s all.”
Taverin quietly took a seat on the couch. “What was it about?”
“
Nothing,” Rein said, shaking her hands. “Don’t worry about me.”
Nothing,” Rein said, shaking her hands. “Don’t worry about me.”
“
Honestly, what?”
Honestly, what?”
Rein turned and tied the bodice on the hanging dress. “Just…about Saria, the girl who—”
“
Died. Your best friend, right?”
Died. Your best friend, right?”
Rein paused, nerves causing her to wipe down the dress to try and get wrinkles out, trying hard not to show deep emotion regarding the subject. “Yes. It’s hard…she was my dearest friend, and now she isn’t here.”
“
I can be your new best friend, Rein,” Taverin said, looking down.
I can be your new best friend, Rein,” Taverin said, looking down.
Rein felt her chest tighten and a glimmer of a smile touch her face. She slowly turned to face the girl. “Yes, you absolutely can,” she rasped.
“
I am younger some, and we do not know each other thoroughly yet, but I want to be there for you when you’re sad like this, Rein, since Saria cannot. Traith is there for you, but he is a man; it is different, I understand. I have nobody either, so I yearn for that.”
I am younger some, and we do not know each other thoroughly yet, but I want to be there for you when you’re sad like this, Rein, since Saria cannot. Traith is there for you, but he is a man; it is different, I understand. I have nobody either, so I yearn for that.”
She left her wardrobe and sat beside Taverin, looked at her for a moment, and then hugged her tight. “Thank you, sweetheart,” she said in the girl’s ear. She loosened her arms from Taverin and sat back. “So tell me more about William, then. What does he look like?”
“
Well,” she began with a blush, “he has long, reddish-brown hair he usually ties back in a ribbon, and he is a very well respected man, as his older brother and sister have quite a fortune. Not at all as muscular as Traith, but his humor is remarkable! He must always be the center of attention. Very sociable.”
Well,” she began with a blush, “he has long, reddish-brown hair he usually ties back in a ribbon, and he is a very well respected man, as his older brother and sister have quite a fortune. Not at all as muscular as Traith, but his humor is remarkable! He must always be the center of attention. Very sociable.”
There was a knock on the door, and Rein looked up to see Traith standing there. He appeared stressed.
“
What happened?” Rein asked, sitting back from the girl. “Why do you look so upset?”
What happened?” Rein asked, sitting back from the girl. “Why do you look so upset?”
“
I found out that the Mardinial Council is cloning more and more—”
I found out that the Mardinial Council is cloning more and more—”
“
What is cloning?” she asked, standing then nearing him.
What is cloning?” she asked, standing then nearing him.
He looked down, and he took a breath. “Duplication of a person into another, or two other, or three other; mainly duplication with additional synthetics like disfiguring the clone into having claws, or hands of knives, or I don’t know—anything they could possibly desire to transform a body with.”
“
Humans? Like civilians?”
Humans? Like civilians?”
“
Yes, but also vampires, werewolves, witches, ghosts…Do you know what a Minotaur is, Rein? Or the undead?”
Yes, but also vampires, werewolves, witches, ghosts…Do you know what a Minotaur is, Rein? Or the undead?”
“
Isn’t a minotaur a man merged with a bull?” Traith nodded as she asked the other question. “And aren’t…we, undead?”
Isn’t a minotaur a man merged with a bull?” Traith nodded as she asked the other question. “And aren’t…we, undead?”
“
Yes, but these are different—these are hideous corpses come alive and that can only be destroyed by beheading…” Traith stopped and looked at Taverin. “Forgive me, girl, I didn’t…”
Yes, but these are different—these are hideous corpses come alive and that can only be destroyed by beheading…” Traith stopped and looked at Taverin. “Forgive me, girl, I didn’t…”
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