She was back in the Tower, climbing the stairs again, reaching higher and higher with no end in sight. The walls were starting to narrow. The steps, suddenly too tall. She’s forced to climb onto the next. And the next. With every slow ascent, the pull continued. She had to get to the top. Something was there. Something she desperately needed to get to. Something her mana was crying out for her to find.
She could hear them again. The two voices in the Tower above. They were arguing. When she finally reached the landing, the door to the room she’d seen Athone strapped to a chair in, stood open for her.
The room was empty. The flickering of a single torch along the far wall provided the only source of light for the room.
Her pulse raced. She knew this was the room she was supposed to be in. Her magic was reeling - demanding her to call on it. But there was nothing here. She spun around the rounded room, looking for what, she did not know.
Suddenly the door slams shut, the flame winks out and she’s plunged into darkness. The hair on her arms raises as small bumps crawl across her skin. She’s breathing heavily, trying to hear something in the darkness. She’s certain there’s nothing there but she can feel it. She can feel something watching her. Waiting. And she knows what they want. They want her to use her magic. To call on the Elements to light a flame so she can see.
“No,” Velaya’s voice is hoarse and echoes through the room.
She’s met by laughter. Quiet. Whispered. Low.
She shakes her head. Her mana is a torrent, itching at her skin, crawling in her mind, demanding to be let out. She grasps her shaking head with her hands and falls to her knees as the laugher builds around her.
“No. No I won’t do it,” she pleads.
A low voice whispers softly, a caress in her ear, as the laughter continues around her, “Then they will all die.”
The room is suddenly bathed in light and lying on the floor before her is the bloodied body of Davis Leyro, his wide and wild amber eyes glassed over. He’s laying in a pool of black blood.
The dream abruptly ends and Velaya lurches forward in the canopied bed. Her heart is pounding and it takes her a few moments to compose herself and to realize that she’s still within Valreale Castle. Based on the grey moonlight spilling through the window, it’s still night.
Her throat is dry and sore. She’d been yelling. She takes a few moments to try and steady her breathing before she untangles herself from the covers.
Certain she won't be able to fall back asleep she dresses quietly and slips out of her room. She navigates the maze of hallways and staircases with ease before finding herself at the doors to the kitchen.
She gently pushes them open and steps inside. The kitchen's candles are always kept lit but at this hour, there’s no one inside and she makes her way past the large counters overflowing with foods in various stages of preparation. The double-wide hearth’s embers are all but extinguished, only a few red coals flicker about, at the far end of the room. She finds a pitcher of water within the cool box and pulls open a few of the cabinets above the workspace to locate a mug and pours herself a glass. She drinks it all before pouring another and closes her eyes to bask in the cool liquid soothing her sore throat.
That’s when she could hear voices coming from the back of the kitchen. There’s a step down around the hearth to another workspace area that she knows has chairs for the housekeeping staff to lounge around in.
“You know that I cannot,” came the voice of Nora.
Velaya had yet to encounter the housekeeper since arriving at the castle. She hadn’t paid it much attention, figuring that with sixteen pupils visiting from Manatide Tower for the evening, she’d have her hands full with preparing the Keep for them.
But she wouldn’t have just been preparing the housekeeping staff now would she? Not now that Velaya knew she was a Mage and her duties extended far beyond what she ever realised.
It was as though her thoughts were spoken aloud when suddenly Nora called out, “Lady Velaya, why not join us if you’re just going to stand there.”
Gulping down the rest of her water, she placed the mug on the counter and walked towards the space at the back. She stilled on the top step.
There were four comfortable, well-worn chairs sitting around a small table on the left side of the room with two occupants currently within. Nora sat facing her, a kind smile on her face, that stood in contrast to the sharp darkness of her eyes. How had she not noticed that Tessa and her had the same onyx eyes before? Her white hair was always kept short and her standard uniform of dark green, with a white apron, hugged her slim, frail body. In front of her sat her granddaughter.
Magus Tessa’s back was to her but her head turned and her eyes, as sharp as Nora's, quickly scanned Velaya’s face. Velaya noticed how tired she appeared, but she sat tall in her chair, looking stiff and uncomfortable. She wore the grey pants and white blouse of the Tides but her cloak had been hung on the back of one of the vacant seats.
“Come now, I’m far too old to chase you around these halls anymore,” Nora said, smiling fondly and motioned to the chair next to her.
When Velaya hesitated, Tessa spoke, “You’ve had another nightmare, haven't you?”
Nora’s eyes flickered between her granddaughter and Velaya - keenly picking up on the tension between them.
“Come child, I’ve just the thing,” Nora said, shooting Tessa a firm stare, before groaning as she pulled herself to her feet and moved towards one of the cupboards full of supplies.
“She knows you’re a Mage, Nan,” Tessa said quietly.
Velaya watched as Nora paused for a moment, before turning to beam up at her. “Oh thank heavens, I really didn’t want to have to move.” She plopped herself back down in her chair and waved her glowing blue hands around. A moment later a glass of milk appeared on the table in front of them.
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Velaya couldn’t help but smile. “Milk?”
Nora chuckled. “What? Did you think I was going to whip you up a potion?”
“I really didn’t know. When it comes to you, I’ve no idea what to expect anymore,” Velaya said as she finally descended the step and sat down beside her.
“Forgive me,” Tessa winced to Nora, “I thought she knew already.”
Nora waved her hand. “Nevermind that now. It was only a matter of time before she found out anyway.” She turned to face Velaya. “Go on and drink that and tell me what’s got you lurking around my kitchen at this hour.”
Velaya took a sip from the glass of milk. The warmth of it instantly soothing her sore throat in a way that the cool water could not. She let it settle, warming her from the inside before addressing Nora, keeping her eyes averted from Tessa’s.
“I had a... bad dream, is all,” she said, knowing the flush along her cheeks wasn’t entirely from the warm milk.
Nora frowned, tipping her head to the side. “Have you had nightmares often?”
Velaya shook her head. “No. Most of the time I never remember my dreams. It’s been months since I last had one.” The vision of Athone rolling around in pain flashed before her eyes and her stomach clenched at the reminder.
That’s when she could feel it. The soft tickle against her Dark shield within her mind. A feather over skin. So faint that at first she wasn’t aware she’d truly felt it. But she focused on it, letting her mana reach out towards it. Someone was trying to get into her head.
She swung her head around to lock her now raging blue eyes against Tessa’s calm onyx.
“Don’t,” Velaya’s voice was soft and laced with a low, menacing promise.
Confusion passed across Tessa’s face and before Velaya could register why, Nora had let out a low whistle.
“By the Gods, you have trained her well Tess,” Nora smiled at her granddaughter.
It was Velaya’s turn to look confused, as she shot her gaze back to Nora.
“Forgive me dear,” Nora reached over to lightly pat Velaya’s knee. “I was merely curious.”
“You were trying to read my mind?” The anger she had felt moments ago for Tessa didn’t quite carry the same weight it did now for her grandmother.
“No, I would never do so without your permission. I was simply testing your Dark shield that I’ve heard so much about. I must say I’m quite pleased. With both of you.” Nora offered Velaya and Tessa a nod.
Velaya shook her head, attempting to clear it. She was already unsettled by the nightmare and this didn’t help.
“What was this dream about?” Tessa asked.
Velaya took another few sips of milk unsure if she wanted to speak to them about it and for a few moments they simply sat there in silence.
“If you do not wish to speak of it, that’s alright dear,” Nora said softly.
“I was in the Tower,” Velaya eventually said, unsure why she was telling her. “I was trying to reach a room near the top that kept calling out for me. For my mana. When I got to the room there it was empty. But I had heard voices earlier and they’d been arguing. When I stood in the room everything went dark and I could hear laughing. Whoever it was, they wanted me to use my magic. I can’t explain why, but I knew that I shouldn’t.” Velaya looked down at her nearly empty glass of milk and swallowed. “Then the lights returned and I saw him… the man who attacked me. He was…” She took a deep breath. She couldn’t say the words and neither Nora nor Tessa made her.
When the two were quiet for a while, Velaya eventually looked up at them. They were looking at each other, as though a silent conversation was happening between them. She could see the concern on their faces. “What is it? Do you believe it means anything?” she asked, alarmed.
“It’s hard to say,” Tessa said slowly. “With Mages, often dreams can blend into reality, as I’m sure you’re aware from your Divination lessons.”
Velaya was tense. “It was just a room in the tower. There was nothing there.”
“I’m sure it’s nothing, my dear,” Nora said, her tight voice betraying her kind smile. “I wouldn’t worry yourself.”
“She’s not a child, Nan,” Tessa said softly.
Velaya nearly missed the warning look that Nora sent towards her granddaughter as she turned to look at Tessa.
“Someone with your magical potential may be capable of Oneiromancy,” Tessa said, addressing Velaya directly and ignoring Nora.
The art of dream interpretation, to foretell the future, wasn’t a subject Velaya felt particularly well schooled in. Their Divination classes had still been focused on sorting through prophecies and it wasn’t an area any of her tutors had ever dabbled in because of how few dreams she had.
“If I may,” Tessa continued, “I’d recommend you keep a log of these dreams you have. Perhaps there is a pattern to them that could be deciphered. It may not amount to anything but if there is something there it would not be wise to discard it.”
It was a suggestion and not a command from a Magus to a pupil. Had they been at Manatide Tower, it may have been different. But here, within Valreale Keep’s underbelly, Tessa held no stock to make demands of her. Yet Velaya still recognized it for what it was. Tessa’s posture had been rigid since she walked in the room and her request was almost shy, as though bracing for herself for a reaction from her. Tessa seemed fearful she was going to upset her. Velaya couldn’t help the feeling of guilt that swept through her. She’d never wanted anyone to feel that way around her.
“Of course madam,” Velaya said quietly, earning a blink of surprise from the Magus. “Is this something I should address with you if they continue?”
“Only if you feel comfortable doing so,” Tessa bowed her head slightly at her.
“Well, the dreams make me uncomfortable and if there’s a reason for them, I’d like to understand what that is.”
Nora chuckled softly. “A wise plan then.”
“I should try and get some rest. I’ve a busy day tomorrow,” Velaya said, getting to her feet. She turned with a sly smile to face Nora. “Thank you for the milk. I know you put a drop of tranquillity tonic within. I’m sure if I’m not within my room in the next few minutes I’m liable to fall asleep in this chair.”
Nora beamed up at her and reached over to squeeze her hand. “You were always too clever for your own good.”
Velaya returned the squeeze before making her way back towards the upper level of the kitchen. She paused on the step and turned to look back. Tessa and Nora were watching her.
“He’s ok,” Velaya said, her eyes on Tessa. “Doriel made it safely. I received a letter from my mother last week.”
Tessa exhaled heavily and for the first time since she’d entered the kitchen, her posture relaxed. Velaya watched as a series of emotions passed across her face, emotions that she was only just starting to get familiar with herself, before Tessa’s face returned to one of neutrality.
“Thank you, Lady Rosemore,” she said, her voice huskier than normal.
“Velaya. I’m still wearing the Tides and all,” Velaya said with a smile. Tessa returned a small one of her own.