There they found a pleasant looking sitting area complete with four chairs and a nice round table. A tree shadowed the area, creating a pleasant natural area for them to sit and enjoy the beautiful garden. the atmosphere was made all the more enjoyable by the pleasant scent of flowers that filled the air.
“So. how am I doing?” Ravina asked as they got comfortable in the white painted, wrought iron chairs.
“Doing? As in sword training?” Aurelia asked for confirmation.
“Yeah," Ravina confirmed, "I want to see how well I have been doing. It's been, what a month since we started?”
“Seems right.” Aurelia shrugged. It could be right or wrong. Time was hard to keep track of for Aurelia, who only kept its measure when the requests had such restrictions. However, she was painfully aware of how much of it was wasted and how little she progressed.
She gave a soft smile to hide her sour mood. “Well, you're doing really well, without any real world practice it won't be able to judge your skill properly. However, you definitely are getting better than someone else your age.”
This brought a smile to the young raven's face. “I see, so if I keep this up then I will definitely be able to survive.”
“Survive?”
“Uh, er --- you know, survive the harsh world should anything happen! No more than that I might even thrive!”
Thankfully Seit found them and with a cheery call of “My lady,” she approached the table silver tray in hand. With skill and nimble dexterity, she managed to quickly put all three glasses of juice on the table. “Alright, is there anything else you need my lady?”
“Nope, go ahead and sit down!” Ravina called.
“Right, then I'll... huh?”
“Sit, come on, enjoy the day with us—we already decided today will just be a relaxing and simple day!” Ravina bounced out of her seat and pulled out another chair for her young maid.
“But my lady that wouldn't be proper!” Siet complained as the young girl pulled the tray out of her hands. A tactic that only worked because Seit saw the young Ravina as a weak, timid girl, unaware of her serious training taking place in the shadows of the woods.
Tossing the tray aside it thudded on the ground where it fell, biting the ear with its sudden, loud sound. “Don't be like that, come on, sit and enjoy the day with us. You deserve to laze around today as well!”
Pushed by the young girl Siet had little she could do. She might have been two years older than the girl but she was trapped by the social obligation she had to the high ranking girl and her immense strength she found surprising. Perhaps a small part of her wanted to join them as well. After all, what 12 year old girl can muster up this pull?
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
“F-fine.” Red faced the young maid sat down at the table, a small smile on her face.
“Good!” Ravina declared, pushing the third glass in front of her maid. “Now enjoy, I can make that an order if you feel more comfortable with that.”
As Ravina sat back down Seit looked at the glass of juice in front of her, it wasn't the same juice Aurelia and Ravina enjoyed in the town square. Seit was familiar with that as well. Dragons Blood was a treat for the commoners. Something they could afford to emulate the nobles who were able to get their hands on this joice. It was a vibrant red, no, liquid ruby—unmarred or contaminated by torn fruit and unfiltered with water.
“What’s the matter?” Ravina asked as she looked a Seit staring into the glass, “do you not like it?”
“Wha- no. its um… well…” finally Siet took a brave moment. She pulled the glass and took a small, single sip. The smooth liquid tasted slightly tangy but was well complemented with whatever sugar was used to sweeten it. To even compare it to Dragons Blood was a terrible crime. “It's good…” Siet whispered. Savoring the aftertaste that clung to her small tongue.
“Is it?” with that, Ravina took her own drink and tried it for the first time. “Wow, oh yeah this is great!” she exclaimed. “What is this?” she questioned.
“Pomegranate Juice, it's some foreign drink that's difficult to get,” Aurelia answered as she set her own, empty glass on the table. “It's a delicacy and a glass might cost a coin.”
Both Siet and Ravina turned pale at the news. Each for their own different reason.
“Gold coin?”
“It's too precious for me!”
While one couldn't understand the exorbitant cost for a simple drink, the other had only known it was a drink that the count kept on hand for some of his guests.
Ravina was quick to encourage her maid. “No, it's not! Enjoy, you already took a sip so you have to finish it!”
Meanwhile, Siet also encouraged Ravina, “My Lady, this is something the count ensured to order for you it's yours to do with as you wish!” after all, the juice was a product made and sold for children. While adults might enjoy the taste every now and then. There were more appropriate drinks for them, ones that contained enough liquor to enjoy.
“Alright, I'm fine, I was just surprised at the cost.” She was more than surprised, she didn't want to think about how many years a gold coin could buy. “But you have to enjoy it too, it would be awkward to drink something this rich alone!” she demanded. Pressuring her maid into accepting. Siet, Elysia, Varis---Even Fraven Joren and the rest of the knights had been with her sense from the beginning. As someone with nothing to her name but the possibility of being the count's daughter, she would gladly steal away a moment for them to enjoy. Especially the enthusiastic SIet who went out of her way to properly serve her.
“R-right.” encouraged by her words, Siet allowed her own desires to win out and sipped her drink delicately. Meanwhile, Ravina drank to her heart's content, or at least until the glass quickly emptied. a gold coin kept her from wanting seconds. cementing the drink as a delicate treat for the young girl.
The daughter of the Raven had a feeling that she was going to enjoy the day. The light was sinking now, casting long shadows through the garden's trees. The view of the garden was beautiful and she found her heart calmed as she watched nature in her comfortable chair, the birds fluttering this way and that as a gentle tickle of the wind pushed away the warm air. It was almost the perfect day.
Almost.