CHAPTER 25 #2
“Most get their powers through a specific house during their training, or that’s the way we are taught.” The little dimple started to show in between his eyes as he was lost in thought.
“Oh.” Think of something. “Maybe I was subconsciously thinking of a house but didn’t realize it.”
“Hmm…maybe.”
It was my turn to change the subject. “The ball is in two days, and you said I was attending. Should I go somewhere to get a dress?”
“I’ve already taken care of that, well, I asked Mrs. Prast to find one suitable for you. She’ll have it brought to your room the day of the ball.” His eyebrows still furrowed together in concentration.
“Thank you. I feel all I ever do is thank you; you think of everything that I need. Is there anything you need?”
He flashed me a wicked grin that sent my heart fluttering up with the flowers up in the tree.
“Just save a dance for me at the ball.” He winked at me and then said, “I think it’s time we turn in for the night.” He walked away, holding aside the curtain of leaves for me, even though he didn’t have to, waiting for me to follow, as I tried to remember how to walk.
The past couple of days went by in a blur, and it was now the day before the ball.
Servants were buzzing around like busy worker bees preparing for winter.
Zendryk had returned home, and had been a brooding asshole since arriving.
He did not want to talk about it, to Ulric or myself, but he did release his frustration during our training sessions.
This morning seemed to be better, well it had, until a guard had interrupted our breakfast and informed Zendryk and Ulric that the King and Queen requested their presence.
I had the day to myself and decided to spend it with Ares.
He was already out in the pasture grazing alone, except for the few birds flying overhead, waiting for a field mouse to make itself known.
The wind was blowing, his mane and tail flew back, and his feathered wings rustled as the breeze flew by him.
He stretched his head up, relishing in the air as it moved by him.
The pasture was not fenced, but when the fence was housing creatures with wings, I guess you didn’t need one.
I walked closer, looking for a spot to sit, but stepped on a twig, which snapped in two.
Ares whipped his head towards me, and I raised my hands in response.
“I was just coming to spend some time with you, if you’ll let me.” I lowered my hands, hoping not to intimidate him.
Ares stared at me for a moment before turning around, busying himself by grazing on the tall grass at his feet again.
I found a lush pile of greenery nearby and sat down, crossing my legs.
I watched him graze while enjoying the cool breeze, so I leaned back, placing both hands behind me, and followed his lead.
Who would have thought that months ago, these creatures didn’t even exist in my world?
I looked around at my surroundings, which have become normal to me now, but somehow, they still shocked me.
Everything was alive, vibrant, and moving.
The flowers were reaching for the sun to warm them from the cool air that nipped at their petals, little fairies fluttered in lanterns preparing for the night ahead, the willow tree’s branches danced in tune with the wind, and other Pegasus flew overhead making for the stable runway.
The sun was warm even though the breeze was cool, and I released my hair from the two braids containing it and leaned my head back, closing my eyes, soaking up what sun I could.
Autumn was coming soon, so I wanted to get as much sun as possible before the cold arrived.
A moment later, lost in my thoughts, I felt a slight nudge at my side.
My eyes fluttered open, and Ares was standing there with his nose a couple of inches away from my face.
He nudged my cheek and then my side again.
“Ah, I knew visiting the kitchen beforehand was a good idea. Would you like a mint?”
He nickered in response. So, I reached down and grabbed a couple of mints out of my pants pocket and gave him one. He curled his upper lip up and gave me the goofiest smile that I couldn’t help but laugh at. He nudged my side again.
“Okay, okay.” And I gave him another. His lip curled up again, and I smiled. “You really like those, huh?”
He finished crunching on the minty treat and nudged me again.
“Hey, you need to pace yourself. If you eat them all now, I won’t have any later for you.”
He snorted at me, and I let out a soft giggle.
He didn’t move, but lowered his head and started to graze beside me, slowly pulling clumps of grass from the ground.
Tentatively and slowly, I reached my hand out to just above his head.
Moving it further, my fingers brushed just below his ears; he stopped grazing but kept his head down.
His ears weren’t pinned back; that’s a good sign.
I moved my hand, and my palm rested on his head, making sure I did not use too much pressure.
He didn’t make a sound, didn’t flatten his ears, but he did press his head up into the palm of my hand.
I let out a sigh of relief and slowly moved my hand up and down, rubbing softly.
He was letting me touch him, pet him, and a smile tugged at the corners of my mouth.
He continued grazing as I lightly rubbed back and forth, until he eventually moved on to another grazing spot.
I lay down in the grass, and it was so fluffy and full that it felt like a soft cloud.
Without even noticing, I managed to doze off.
“Un-fucking-believable.”
I was jolted awake, and Ulric was standing above me, his shadow blocking out the sun.
I went to sit up but couldn’t and was being pinned by something, and momentarily, I panicked.
I looked down at my lap, and Ares had lain down beside me and had his head resting on me.
My heart swelled, and I reached down to scratch his head, causing him to wake and stand up.
He looked at me, then Ulric, and decided to nudge my side one more time, and I gave him another mint before patting him on the head and standing up myself.
The sun was already setting, and the sky was full of oranges, pinks, and reds.
“What time is it?” I asked Ulric, stretching the last remnants of the nap out of my body.
“Past dinner. That’s why I came looking for you. And it seems like you’ve made a friend.”
I smiled in Ares’ direction, “I guess so.”
Ulric had my food brought to my room as I had slept through dinner.
He told me to eat and get a good night’s sleep, as tomorrow will be a later night with the ball, so I did, well, I tried to.
Falling asleep after an all-day nap was not happening.
I got up and decided to get a snack; it was past midnight, and everyone was sound asleep.
I didn’t put on a robe as I was warm from fidgeting so much trying to get to sleep, but the black silk pants and top I was wearing covered me enough.
I opened the door and immediately stopped in my tracks. Zendryk was standing in the doorway.
“Holy shit!” I said in a surprised reaction. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“It’s good to see you, too. It seems you really don’t want me around.” His eyebrow arched in silent inquiry.
“Oh, stop, you just caught me off guard, is all, but really, why are you creeping outside my room in the middle of the night?” I shot him a look that said, ‘caught you’.
“Ulric said you didn’t eat. I was coming by to make sure you did.”
“I did.” And pointed to the empty tray beside my door with crumb remnants of my dinner on it.
“Ah, okay. Good.” He went to turn away.
“But I was just heading to the kitchen to get a snack…. if you wanted to come with me?” I asked, not wanting him to go.
He turned back towards me, and the corners of his mouth curled. “I would love to.”
We made our way to the kitchen, and fairy lanterns lit our path as we walked by and then faded away once we were past them. The kitchen was dark, but it came to life once we entered.
“Have you ever had ice cream?” He asked me.
“Not that I can remember.”
“Perfect, that’s what we’ll have.” He walked over to a large metal box and opened the lid; a cloud puffed out from it as I watched from the other side of the table.
“What is that?” I asked, craning my neck trying to see around his muscular body.
“It’s called dry ice. It allows us to keep things cold.” He pulled out a small metal bucket and put the lid back over the box.
He put the metal bucket on the kitchen table, went to the cupboard, grabbed two white bowls, and placed them beside it. He turned around, opened a drawer, and brought back two spoons.
“I can’t believe you’ve never had ice cream.” He said while taking the lid off the bucket and placing it beside the container.
“It’s not like we had lots of luxuries in the village.” I reminded him.