Surprise!

Here is chapter 3 of Tempest, the final chapter I will be posting through my newsletter. I have included the last paragraph from chapter 2 as a reminder of where you are.

I looked back at my reflection with a smile before turning and climbing into the bed. It felt like a cloud in comparison to the corner I'd slept in the night before. I stared at the ceiling, wondering what else I could do. Perhaps this job was a good idea after all. An hour here had already helped me remember a small amount of magic. With more time and practice, maybe I'll be able to remember everything I'm capable of.

With a smile on my face, I rolled onto my side and shut my eyes, allowing sleep to take me.

Chapter 3

I heard a gentle tapping sound followed by a soft voice. I couldn’t understand what the voice was saying, but it was an oddly pleasant noise.

"Hmm?"

A loud bang startled me from sleep, and with a quick inhale of breath I sat up.

"Lord Julian would like you to meet him on the terrace this morning. At once."

I squinted my eyes at the woman standing at the foot of the bed. She was an older woman with greying hair and dull grey eyes. She was dressed the same as Gemma. Her brows raised as she stared at me, and with a quick nod I swung my legs over the side of the bed.

"Forgive me," I mustered, trying to stifle a yawn. "I do not know where the terrace is."

"Once you are dressed I can escort you," the woman said with a nod.

"That's very kind of you, thank you," I said, giving her a small smile.

"Follow me to your dressing room, please," she said, smiling back at me.

I followed her out of my room and down the hall, crossing the staircase. My mind was still struggling to wake up. I kept my eyes open wide in an effort to focus on my steps so I didn’t trip and make a fool of myself. We strode down a second hallway, the daylight shining in and exposing the lovely artwork lining the walls. Wide fields, colorful flowers, intricate drawings - they must have cost a fortune.

"Here we are, mistress," she said, leading me into a large room. The walls were a pale blue, and three large windows overlooked the garden below. Thus far, there wasn't a room in this manor that hadn't taken my breath away.

“Does everyone share this dressing room?” I asked, staring up at the ceiling. They were so high I felt as if I were looking into the sky.

“Lord Julian has his own dressing room. This one is intended for the women of the home.”

“There are others here?” I asked. She eyed me tiredly before turning around, completely avoiding my question.

"Lord Julian has chosen a dress for you," she said, leading me across the room. A dark armoire sat against the wall next to a large table lined with hairbrushes and pins. Between the two was a mannequin; a long white dress with deep blue panels on either side was on the mannequin, the hem dusting the floor; the bodice had a large jewel in the center of the bust, commanding attention; sheer, delicate sleeves hung on either side, a light sparkle shining from them - it was absolutely stunning.

"Oh, my," I breathed.

The woman set white heeled shoes in front of me. I stepped into them and bit back a groan; my bruised feet did not appreciate being shoved into another pair of shoes. My boots had been heeled as well, but the heel was low and the fabric didn’t dig into my skin. These shoes were solid and sported a higher heel. Did everyone here wear shoes like this?

The woman hurriedly pulled my nightdress over my head, leaving me completely exposed. I covered myself with my hands, but as with Gemma, she didn't look at me. She handed me a thin dress while she removed the white one from the mannequin. I put it on and stood patiently.

"Arms up, dear," she instructed, gathering the skirt of the dress. It billowed over my head and concealed my face. I could feel her gently tugging it on each side to pull it over me, and I briefly worried the movement would tear the sleeves. Once the dress was on properly she walked behind me and picked up the strings dangling at my back.

I marveled at the delicate sleeves; they barely passed my elbows and had the smallest gems I'd ever seen laced into them.

A sharp tug on my back pulled me from my thoughts and I squeaked out a yelp. She adjusted the strings and yanked again, this time harder.

"Could we perhaps loosen it a little?" I asked, eyes watering. She loosened it slightly before tying it and I took a few breaths in an effort to store air. I briefly missed the loose lacing of my previous dress.

Without a word she led me to the table and ushered me to sit down. She gently ran a brush through my hair, and I was able to see her through the small mirror in front of me. Her brows were knit and she looked deep in thought. Is she curious about the color of my hair?

She whisked the top half of my hair up into a bun and secured it with a multitude of pins. My head ached by the time she was finished.

"Lovely," she said, helping me stand. I was led to a tall mirror opposite the windows, and I gasped at my appearance. This reflection looked nothing like the girl I’d seen last night. I looked shapely, expensive, regal. Beautiful.

"Let us not keep Lord Julian waiting," she said. I nodded and followed behind her, doing my best to ignore the soreness in my feet.

We walked a short distance to the double doors centered across the staircase. The woman opened the door for me and I passed through, temporarily blinded by the sun. The door shut behind me and I turned around, watching the woman walk toward the stairs. I turned and smoothed my hands down my dress, my heart pattering in my chest. I had no idea what to expect from this meeting.

Hold your head up. Drop your hands.

I obeyed the small voice in my head and walked forward, looking for the lord. To my left was a shaded area with side tables. The lord stood under the shade with his back to me.

"Hello," I murmured, standing in the sun.

He turned and swept his eyes from my face, down to my feet, and back to my face before greeting me with a sly smile. He was wearing a reddish-purple vest with an intricate pattern over a white shirt and dark pants. Like the night before, he looked perfectly polished.

"Well good morrow, Ella," he said.

"Good morrow, milord."

He laughed. "Please, call me Julian. Would you like something to eat?"

I nodded quickly, eager to fill my stomach.

"Please," he said, ushering me over with his arm. I made my way over and stood beside him, a side table between us. He extended a small bowl with orange-colored fruit and I took a small piece. It was a squishy, heavily-scented, crescent-shaped thing, and I had no recollection of ever seeing it before. I popped it into my mouth and smiled, a sweet taste overtaking my senses.

"What is this?" I asked.

"It's an orange. Do you like it?" he asked. I giggled; the orange food was named orange. How simple. I nodded in response to his question, and with a smile, he extended the bowl again. This time I filled my hand with pieces.

"Did you sleep well?" Julian asked, setting the bowl behind him.

"Yes, thank you," I said.

Julian eyed me a moment. "You had a mark on your face, did you not?"

"I cleared it away," I said, smiling.

"Just like that?" Julian asked, grinning. "Remarkable."

I ate my oranges quietly, dropping my eyes as he examined me. "You can do many things, correct? Can you show me something right now?" he asked.

"Oh," I said, eyes widening. "Anything...specific?"

"Surprise me."

I took a deep breath, centering myself. I could not mess this up; if I was unable to conjure magic, I feared Julian would send me away. I held out my hand and faced my palm to the sky, shutting my eyes. I focused on my hand, and within seconds my fingers tingled with warmth. I heard a quiet crackling and opened my eyes, seeing a small ball of lightning crackling in my palm. I looked at Julian and saw his eyes widen. I grinned to myself in triumph.

"I have never seen a mage harness the power of lightning before!" he exclaimed excitedly. I stopped focusing on my hand and the lightning dissipated. I dropped my hand and wiped it against the side of my dress, feeling the warmth ease away.

"You, my dear...you are truly something special," he said, eyeing me with admiration.

My cheeks heated. "That is very kind of you to say."

Pride washed through me; I felt triumphant to have conjured magic when asked. I lifted my eyes to his and saw him looking at me with an expression I couldn’t quite place; it looked to be a combination of admiration and…something else. Something within me stirred; I enjoyed this attention. I wanted to be admired. I did not recognize the feeling but I could put words to it, which told me it was something I had experienced before.

He held my gaze. I smiled at him, and he grinned in response.

"You've a visitor, milord," a woman's voice called from the door. His eyes went to the sky and his lips pursed in annoyance.

"I will be back shortly," he said, walking to the door.

I plucked more oranges out of the bowl and walked to the edge of the terrace. I hadn't noticed the view when I walked out here. The massive garden behind the manor glistened in the sun, with multiple servants dotting the lawn. I could see the town stretched out before me, with greenery and stone buildings on either side. It felt as if I was flying above them with how small they looked. I finished my oranges and placed my hands on the balustrade, the smooth stone feeling cold under my palms.

My thoughts wandered as I admired the view. Where had I been trained in magic? I seemed to be quite proficient. Perhaps I was much older than I appeared. Regardless, all it took was concentration to bring forth my magic. Perhaps I could remember my magic quickly if I continued to practice.

I lifted a hand and focused. This time my fingers felt cool, and a purple ball appeared above my palm. It made a tinkling sound similar to rain and bobbed up and down. I thought of making it smaller and closed my fingers around it. It became smaller, and with a grin forming on my face I opened my palm and made the ball bigger again.

"Working on more demonstrations?" Julian's voice said behind me.

I yelped and turned to face him, the ball vanishing and my hands resting on the balustrade. He tried to hide his smile.

"You startled me," I said.

"Apologies, my dear. That was not my intention."

I straightened as he stood beside me, staring at the town. "Were you admiring the view?" he asked. I nodded in response. "I'm quite fond of it, myself."

He was quiet a moment, staring wistfully towards the town. I followed suit and remained quiet. The only sound I could hear was the soft whistling of the wind; Julian's manor felt like a world of its own, completely removed from the rest of the town.

"May I be frank with you?" he asked, turning to face me. I turned my head towards him and nodded. "I think you will prove to be quite useful. I know 'tis short notice, but I would like you to accompany me to a party tomorrow."

"What sort of party?" I asked.

"Lords and ladies from the North gather twice annually. It's generally a combination of political talk and revelry, but with the current excitement it will probably be more revelry than politics."

"I don't know the first thing about politics," I admitted, toying with my hair.

Julian grinned. "That's alright. You'll have the chance to meet some prominent members of government."

"And that's important for an advisor, I imagine?"

"Precisely," he said, nodding. "And don't worry, this is new for me as well. I've only just inherited my father's spot on the Northern council."

"That does make me feel better," I said, giving him a small smile. I hadn't the faintest idea what that meant, but I didn't want him to know that. "I will go with you."

"Wonderful! I'll make sure you have something to wear."

"I appreciate it," I said. "My apologies for not thanking you before. This dress is stunning."

He grinned. "Not as stunning as you are in it."

My cheeks heated and I dropped my eyes. "You are too kind."

"I have some work to do, but you are free to roam the estate," he said, straightening. "My study is in the parlor, should you need me."

I straightened and met his gaze. "Thank you, Julian."

He smiled brightly at me before nodding and heading to the door.

Once he shut the door behind him, I walked back to the shaded spot with the bowl of oranges. I picked it up and balanced it in the palm of my hand. I exhaled and shut my eyes, focusing my energy on the bowl with the goal to multiply it. My fingers warmed and I continued to focus. With a loud crackle, a bolt shot from my hand and shattered the bowl. My eyes widened as I looked down at all the pieces on the ground.

"Shit!" I whispered, my hands balling into fists.

Calm down. Try again.

I exhaled and crouched to the ground, scooping the pieces into my hands. I stood, shut my eyes, and lifted my head to the sky, picturing the bowl of oranges. My hands cooled, and after a moment I dropped my head and opened my eyes.

The bowl was still broken.

I dropped the pieces in defeat, utterly crushed. Perhaps I was not as proficient as I thought.

~~~

I did as Julian suggested and explored the manor. I walked down the stairs to the parlor and turned left down a wide hall, finding myself in the kitchen; cabinets lined the dark walls, and tables dotted with multiple varieties of fruits and bread sat in the center. An older, plump man stood at a far table with his back to me, looking to be cutting meat. I quietly exited and turned down another hall, opening a door into the garden. I walked into the sunshine, smiling as I found myself amongst the vibrantly colored, softly scented flowers. I followed the path and found a few shaded spots with worn benches and heard the soft splashing of water. I continued on and found a small fountain. Water bubbled inside of it, and I had to stop myself from sticking my hand in it. The long path rounded the side of the manor to the front, and with a giggle, I let myself in the front door. I turned down another hall past the parlor and pushed open a large door. An overpowering smell of books hit my nose and my heart swelled with joy.

You like to read.

I shut the door behind me with my eyes bouncing around the room, utterly shocked at the number of books. Bookcases stuffed to the brim with books lined every wall. A dusty table sat at the far end of the room with a few old chairs, their stuffing unraveling at the ends of the cushions. It was the only room I'd been in that looked old. Untouched.

I slid my hands against the dusty spines of books as my eyes scanned the titles, resting on a red book with bold font. I pulled it out of the bookcase and read the title; The Worth of a Woman. I opened the first page and scanned it.

“Not now, mother,” Avice said, waving her hand as her eyes remained on her book. She was a young woman with slender brown eyes, tan skin, and curly hair that stretched down her back. Beautiful by everyone’s standard except her own.

Her mother was yet again pressuring her to meet with a potential suitor. She had been badgering her for months in an attempt to influence her, but much to her mother’s dismay Avice had refused every single time. After half a half a year of this back and forth, Avice’s mother had decided enough was enough.”

Finding it interesting, I dropped to the floor and kicked off my shoes, feeling the worn rug underneath me. It wasn’t as soft as the one in my room, but it was cozy nonetheless. I leaned against the bookcase and lost myself in the book.

~~~

"You've found the library, I see," Julian said, humor in his tone. My head snapped up at him and my eyes widened; how long have I been sitting here?

I scrambled to my feet, falling into the bookcase. "Lord Julian!"

He stifled laughter as I attempted to steady myself. My leg had fallen asleep.

"I apologize, I didn't - "

"You need not apologize for reading a book, my dear."

I slid my feet into my shoes and straightened, trying to regain my composure.

"What book was it?" he asked.

"The Worth of a Woman," I said, holding it up.

"Hmm. I don't believe I've read that one but it does sound familiar," he said.

"Do you read a lot?" I asked, putting the book back in its place.

"I can never find the time," he said, shrugging his shoulders. "This library was my father's haven."

"Was it? It's quite cozy," I said, smiling.

"Yes. He spent so much time in here my mother threatened to burn it down."

"Oh, goodness," I said, my hand clutching my chest. Why would she say such a thing? She couldn't have. Julian must be making a joke.

"Come," he said, giving me a small smile. "Let us get something to eat."

He led me out of the library and down a different hall. It looked like the one I'd gone through when I found the kitchen. He turned into an open room with a small table. Large windows lined the wall facing the garden. Like everything else in the manor, it was lavish and comfortable.

He pulled a chair out for me and I sat down, lifting my skirt to have my chair pushed closer to the table. Julian sat across from me, waving his hand and nodding his head toward the door.

Two men entered carrying plates of food and two chalices. They quickly set them in front of us before turning to leave.

"Thank you," I said. Neither man turned around.

I examined my plate - cooked pork with steamed cabbage and carrots. I could smell a medley of spices, and there was wine in my cup. I tried to quiet the rumbling of my stomach.

"So, how are you liking my manor?" he asked, cutting into his pork with a knife.

"It's beautiful," I said, smiling.

He smiled. "What are the homes like where you're from?"

"Oh," I said, clearing my throat. I took the moment to pause and cut into my pork. "They're nothing like this."

He nodded, clearly pleased with that answer. Why, I wasn't sure.

I took a bite of pork, doing my best to chew slowly and not feast like an animal. I looked out the window and admired the garden; I envisioned myself settled on a bench with a book, the bubbling sounds of the fountain near me and the scent of flowers in the air. I smiled, and when I turned back to Julian I realized he was staring at me.

"Is there something on my face?" I asked, panic rising in me.

"No, excuse me," he said, clearing his throat. "I was distracted. By your eyes."

"Because they're odd?"

"No, not odd. Different," he said.

We both continued to eat, neither of us looking up from our plates. After a moment, Julian eyed me.

"So, how long have you been in Edinbrook?" he asked.

"Two days, formally."

"Where were you staying?"

"The tavern was the first place I'd made it to," I admitted, taking a sip of wine.

"What do you mean?" he asked, brow furrowed.

"I had no idea where I was. The tavern was meant to be a quick stop."

"Do you mean to tell me you merely...wandered into town?" he asked, eyes wide.

"Well, yes," I said, shifting awkwardly.

"A lovely woman wandering the town alone - I am glad I found you when I did," he said, setting his knife and fork down. He looked concerned. "Did you travel this entire way alone?"

I nodded, giving him a small smile before dropping my eyes. We were silent a moment; he continued to look at me while I used my fork to move the vegetables around on my plate.

"You must have been very tired of the South," he said, humor in his tone.

We both laughed, the mood shifting.

"I just needed a change," I said, shrugging my shoulders.

"Well," he said, lifting his cup. "I hope Edinbrook gives you the change you've been looking for."

Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed a glimpse into Ella’s story!

‘Til next time,