know, but I feel strangely uplifted—I had a family, someone who would have missed me. There’s still a big gap in my history. I know who my grandfather was and how my father came to be, but I still have no information about him or my mother. How did I end up as a slave in Arhaven at age eight with no prior memories?
Taking a deep breath, I give the master a wobbly smile. “Can you tell me more about him?”
I spend the rest of the afternoon with Master Ardeth and Naril telling me stories of my grandfather. It was simple, but full of laughter and fond memories.
For the next couple of days, I fall into a routine. Each morning, I wake and have breakfast with Naril and Eldrin, after which the latter takes me down to the same courtyard from before where he continues to train me. Thankfully, I’ve not had any more panic attacks since the first time. Eldrin seems to have taken everything I said into consideration, and in that time the two of us are together, he’s like a different person. Understanding each other’s past pain and struggles has made a huge difference in how he treats me, at least while we’re training. In all other situations, he’s surly and rude, but he seems to be softening towards me, even Vaeril and Naril have noticed and started to make comments. Of course, that only made him mad, and he stormed off once again. No one’s mentioned the freak out Vaeril and Eldrin had the other day in my room, and I’m too worried about upsetting anyone to ask about it.
My afternoons have consisted of wandering around the castle with Naril as an escort. Occasionally Eldrin will join us, but recently, he’s been called out to the border of Galandell most afternoons, and when he returns, he looks exhausted and withdrawn. Naril’s always on edge on those days, snappy and more distant than usual, so I’ve taken to visiting the library to spend time with Master Ardeth. Even when he’s busy, it’s pleasant just to spend time in his company, enjoying the quiet atmosphere of the library.
I’ve hardly seen Tor and Vaeril at all over the last couple of days, and I’m sure it’s a consequence of the other day. Dreams have been plaguing me recently, different from the nightmares I’m used to. In these, I’m reliving the day Tor arrived. Vaeril and I are talking, then we’re kissing with our hands running over the other’s bodies, our breathing hot and heavy. All of a sudden, there’s a knock on the door, and it’s Tor I’m kissing as I run my hand through the long hair on the top of his head, his large, muscled body holding me tightly against his chest. He bites down on my lip, and I groan in pleasure. The next thing I know, Grayson is holding me, his intense eyes gazing at me as he enfolds his arms around my body and lifts me up so I can wrap my legs around his waist. Our lips meet in a passionate kiss when I’m suddenly back with my feet on the floor, and it’s Eldrin standing on the other side of the room, holding his hand out to me. He calls my name, and there’s such pain and longing in his voice that I automatically take a step forward, wanting to ease his hurt in any way I can. I just place my hand in his when I startle awake in a sweaty, panting mess. I’m sure my subconscious is trying to tell me something, I just wish I knew what it was.
“You’re quiet today,” Eldrin observes as we trudge back towards the storage boxes that line the wall, the pads and gloves slung over our shoulders. He’s walking just ahead of me. My eyes are locked on the muscles flexing in his back—he removed his shirt during training, the temperature much warmer in Galandell than Arhaven in the north of Morrowmer. When we reach the storage units, he throws the pads into them, and I watch his biceps bulge. Glancing over at me, he raises an eyebrow, obviously catching me staring, and I realise he’s waiting for a response.
“I have a lot on my mind,” I reply with a shrug. Yeah, too busy thinking about kissing your friend in my dreams and staring at your muscles, my mind helpfully supplies, and I turn away to hide the blush staining my pale cheeks.
There’s