The Spell of Rosette - Kim Falconer [69]
‘You’re lucky you had them.’ He smiled, taking in her bedraggled look. And where did you learn that magic? It’s not Nell’s, he asked telepathically.
She didn’t reply.
Rosette?
She shrugged her shoulders. Here and there.
He looked at her, his expression impenetrable. Indeed. ‘We’re done for the day. Go to the baths now, and see the healer.’
‘I’m fine.’ She glared at him, daring him to contradict her.
An’ Lawrence shook his head from side to side. ‘You’re cut, bruised and bleeding. Do as I say, and please stop questioning my every direction; it’s getting tedious.’
‘Yes, Sword Master.’ Rosette gave him a brief bow then picked up her weapon, brushed the dust off the hilt and headed towards the baths. The crowd made way before her, whispering things she did not bother to hear. She lifted her head, her shoulders back, stilling her mind even as her legs quivered beneath her. She just had to get to the baths without them giving out, then she could let go.
For the next month, the routine did not change. Rosette trained with Zero and sparred with the initiates until noon, then did forms with a full class of apprentices under the guidance of several other senior instructors. Sometimes, in the last hour, the Sword Master would come and watch, making a comment or an adjustment here and there. He rarely looked her way or seemed to notice her progress.
Until today.
She had done her forms at the back row of the class with two other initiates and was sitting on her heels in meditation. When the gong sounded she stirred, rising to head for a welcome soak in the pools. The sun was dropping towards the horizon and already the air was turning cold.
‘How are you finding the training, Rosette?’ An’ Lawrence stood in front of her, blocking her way.
‘I’m progressing.’ She tilted her head up to look him in the eyes. ‘But you already know that.’
‘Take a beating today?’
She glanced at her arms. Bruised patches and grazes were mixed with dust and sweat. ‘I’m okay.’
‘Of course you are.’
She continued to match his gaze. He clearly had more on his mind than bantering with her. Rosette lifted her eyebrows, inquiring.
‘You’ll have supper at my lodge tonight.’
‘I will?’
An’ Lawrence glared at her.
‘I will. At sunset. Thank you.’ She bowed.
He nodded and moved on.
Why in the world does he want me to join him for supper? Elation flooded her mind as she hurried to her cottage. This has to be good news about the apprenticeship.
Excited as she was, her body protested. Every bone, every muscle, vein and tendon ached. Her legs wobbled with the effort of climbing the three little steps to her cottage door, turning the brass knob and stepping inside. How would she ever be able to lift her sword tomorrow? But she had thought that every night, and every morning she managed. It was getting easier, and she was getting stronger, bit by bit.
Who hurt you this time?
Rosette looked down at the welts, scrapes and bruises rising on her arms and legs that glistened with the healer’s ointment. ‘No-one hurt me really. It’s all part of the training.’
The large feline stared at her unblinking. I will crush them for you. Drayco’s tone was calm, matter-of-fact.
‘That won’t be necessary, but thanks.’ She smiled as his purr rumbled through the cottage. ‘Training with the sword is very rough.’
Will you rest now?
‘I’m to go back up and see the Sword Master, for supper.’
Why?
‘Hopefully, he wants to tell me that although I am ruthlessly beaten to a pulp daily, he thinks I am apprentice material.’
Will he?
She shrugged. ‘I don’t know.’
What do the planets say?
‘Good question. I’ve been under Saturn transits all year, of course, so hard work and slow progress is natural right now. But Jupiter approaches my Mars opposition Venus and squares the south lunar node.’
Say it in a way that makes sense to me?
‘I get the feeling of adventure, expansion and something to do with the past or someone from the past. Jupiter is honoured by being open to new possibilities and in return he expands the mind through higher learning, the body through travel