Venza

The following morning, Venza acted calmer than she felt. She hadn't been able to sleep until she figured out a backup plan in case her mother decided to toss Aiela out.

She'd gotten up earlier than usual, dressed, and waited in the dining room for breakfast. Aiela was the second person to arrive. Unlike her, Aiela looked like she'd had an excellent night of sleep.

The brown-haired girl gave her a questioning look, but then seemed to decide not to ask, since she took her seat from the previous evening and simply said, "Good morning."

"Morning," Venza greeted back.

Aiela seemed to see right through her, but simply asked, "Is it too early for breakfast?"

Venza looked at the clock on the wall. It really was rather early. It wasn't even half past six.

"Oh, well, breakfast is usually at seven, but I can ask the kitchen to get us something-"

"Sounds like a good idea," Aiela said. "Lead the way."

"R-right," Venza said, getting up. Her mother often told her it wasn't proper for her to go to the kitchen demanding food.

That didn't stop her from walking over to the side door that connected the dining room to the kitchen and pulling it open. The passage curved left, leading deeper into the house. They didn't walk long until the smell of baking bread filled their nostrils. Venza's stomach suddenly rumbled in protest.

It turned out spending an hour or two scheming before bed made you hungry the next morning. The hallway had stone walls as opposed to wooden, with the paint cracked in places.

"M-miss Venza?" a surprised voice suddenly called from up ahead.

Venza smiled sheepishly. "Um, yes, I-"

"What are you doing here?" the servant asked. She had her dark hair tied back in a simple bun, her body wrapped in a plain brown robe.

Venza swore internally. She didn't know a lot of swear words, but she knew a few. What she didn't know was this particular maid's name. Or rather, she probably knew, it was just that it kind of escaped her at the mome-

"You're very pretty," Aiela suddenly spoke.

That seemed to brighten the servant's mood. "Er, why, thank you. Who might you be?"

"I'm Venza's friend. My name's Aiela. May I know your name?"

Aiela had to be reading Venza's mind, somehow. She had to. How else could she have said exactly the words that would save Venza from looking like a forgetful snob?

"Oh, uh, it's Milly," the servant girl said. She couldn't have been ten years older than Venza. Probably closer to five.

"Right," Venza said, recovering quickly. "Well, Milly, Aiela and I woke up a bit early for breakfast and we were wondering if we could get a bite while we waited?"

"Oh, of course, Miss Venza!" the girl said cheerfully. "Would you like anything in particular?"

"Maybe we could go see the kitchen?" Aiela suggested. "See what's available?"

"Sure, right this way." Milly beckoned them forward, leading them to the heavenly aroma. "Today's bread isn't ready yet, but we've got other things."

And have other things, they did. The kitchen was stocked with various fruits and vegetables, tantalizing smells, and the sounds of a busy morning.

The sweet, savory smell of bacon reached Venza's nostrils as the head chef, an older woman named Nicole, worked a few strips on a pan. Four plates were prepared on a kitchen counter, each already occupied by a freshly-fried egg.

A medium-sized stone oven blazed in a corner, sending smoke up a chimney. She assumed that was their daily bread. Venza could feel Aiela silently ribbing her about nobles getting freshly-baked bread every day, but the girl kept surprisingly quiet.

"So, what can I get you?" Milly asked.

"I think I'll have a banana," Venza answered. It felt a little stupid to come all that way for a fruit snack, but then she'd thought about how she needed room for that bacon.

"May I have an apple?" Aiela asked. "And a bowl of cream, if you have it."

They thanked Milly for her help before returning to the dining room with their snacks. Venza had just peeled and eaten the banana, but Aiela had requested a knife and was neatly chopping up the apple into little pieces.

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Venza watched her, surprised at how fascinated she was that Aiela could chop fruit so skillfully. "You're really good with a knife."

"Well, we can't all have servants do this for us," Aiela sniped.

"Don't you have those Hidden things? You seem fine making them lift your luggage or wash your clothes."

She remembered what her mother had said the previous night. Apparently, Hidden were bound magical creatures that could do simple tasks. As their name implied, they couldn't be seen without magical assistance.

"They're too weak," Aiela answered. "They can't apply much force, see? They can lift light objects, a bit heavier if I make them all lift one thing, but if I have them chop this, the bacon will be here before I can put any of this in my mouth."

"They're too weak," Venza echoed. "But you're not?"

Aiela gave her a look that seemed to ask 'Are you always this slow in the mornings?' before saying, "Strength-enhancement spell. Short-lived. Besides, aren't you the one who was knocking children on their asses?"

She ignored the jab, and instead asked, "Do you think you could use that on me, one of these days?"

Aiela quirked an eyebrow at her, then looked at the sharp implement in her hand. "The knife?"

"No! Why would I-" Venza sighed. "I meant the spell!"

"Why?" Aiela asked.

"Well, if I want to prove myself a worthy heir to father-"

"Ah. We can try it, I suppose," Aiela said, never stopping her work on the apple. "I've always wondered how some of my spells would work when applied on other people."

Venza almost dropped her banana. "Your spells aren't dangerous to the person you're casting them on, are they?"

"Don't worry," Aiela answered, in the sweet tone she took sometimes. "I'll be careful about which ones I use."

Somehow, Venza didn't feel reassured. Five minutes to seven, they both finished their fruits, with Aiela even offering Venza some of her cream-covered apple since she was so curious.

It turned out to be a surprisingly sweet treat.

Lucius and Nora arrived at exactly seven, and Venza immediately noticed something strange about her mother. Gone was Nora's pale complexion, replaced by a healthy glow Venza hadn't seen in years.

"Good morning, Lady Greyfield," Aiela spoke. "You look well today."

There was a moment's pause before Nora answered. "Good morning, Aiela. Shall we eat before discussing the matter from last night?"

As if on cue, their breakfast arrived, carried by a pair of servants: Four plates of crisp bacon with golden fried eggs served beside buns fresh out of the oven.

"Oh, that smells heavenly," Lucius commented before digging in.

They ate their breakfast in relative peace. The Greyfield family didn't really like mornings, but duty demanded they wake up before eight, at the very least.

When they'd had their fill, the servants brought four cups and two kettles. One kettle, Venza knew, was filled with coffee, and went to her parents. The other kettle had hot chocolate, which she preferred anyway.

Aiela sniffed at the brown liquid she'd been offered. "What is this?"

"Hot chocolate," Venza answered.

"Chocolate, as a drink?" Aiela asked.

Venza grinned. "Go on. Try it. I'm sure you'll love it."

Aiela took a tentative sip, then smacked her lips, eyes widening a fraction. She took a bigger sip, and then another.

Venza nodded sagely, glad she was right.

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When breakfast was over, the four of them remained seated, with the two young girls awaiting Nora's decision. If her father's cheerful mood was any indication, however, Nora had already said yes.

That didn't stop a knot from forming in Venza's stomach, though.

Her mother was temperamental at times, though her father always trusted her judgment.

"Aiela," Nora began, "Do you know why you're here?"

"I suppose you could say I'm here on a whim," the girl answered, though Venza knew that whim hadn't been Aiela's.

Nora nodded, as if she could read Venza's mind. Sometimes Venza wondered if she could, though her mother had never indicated she could work Mind Magic. "We would happily take you under our wing. Naturally, that doesn't mean we're going to make you a Greyfield."

"Naturally," Aiela repeated. Venza thought she imagined it, but Aiela seemed completely unsurprised by the decision, as though she'd already known.

"Officially, you'll be Venza's aide," Nora continued. "I've reasoned it would be good for her. She doesn't have many friends her age, if you haven't noticed."

"That's not true!" Venza said in protest. "I just haven't had the time to visit. I'm working hard to be father's successor, after all."

"Playing with wooden swords is hardly working," Nora shot back, before turning her gaze to Lucius. "Something your father should be reminding you of more often."

Lucius scratched the back of his head. "Now, now, honey. There's nothing wrong with her learning self-defense."

"The only self-defense Venza needs is to finally harness her magic," Nora said. "Speaking of which, I believe a magic lesson is in order."

Venza's eyes widened. "Are you sure? We haven't had a lesson since-"

"I feel better today," Nora answered, lowering her gaze for some reason Venza couldn't fathom.

"That's wonderful news," Venza said. "But won't practice make your symptoms worse?"

"Well, that's what Aiela is for," Nora said. "You'll join us, won't you?"

"Of course," Aiela answered, clearly amused. "What sort of aide would I be if I didn't?"