Chapter 16
Sana yawned, stretching as she sat up in her bed. She frowned as she ran a hand through her frizzy curls. She could've sworn she fell asleep in the sanctuary last night. Looking down at Sune still snoozing on her pillow, she wondered if he'd levitated her to bed as he'd done a few times this week.
Between training with Oziel and Zena and reading everything she could about Darcanos, she'd been sleeping pretty hard lately.
Slipping out of her bed, she smiled at the fresh pot of tea waiting for her by the fireplace. Although she'd been sleeping hard, she still woke before the sun. She didn't think that would ever change.
Shrugging on her thick burgundy robe, she shuffled to the balcony with her cup of tea and her heart thumped as she slipped out of the door in hopes that Rhyel would finally be back.
No one seemed to think it was odd that he'd been on that quest for two weeks now, but Sana couldn't help the guilt that nipped at her nerves that she was the reason he hadn't come home yet.
"Good morning."
Sana's eyes grew wide at the sound of that deep voice calling to her from above. She whipped her head to Rhyel's balcony and her heart pounded in excitement at his tousled black hair and bright blue eyes looking down at her.
"Rhyel! You're back!" she exclaimed before a blush scorched her cheeks. "I-I mean good morning. I'm...I'm glad you made it home safely."
"So am I." He chuckled. "Would you mind if I come down and join you for tea?"
"Oh, um. No, I don't mind."
He nodded. "Then I'll see you in a few ticks," he said, disappearing from his balcony.
"Oh heavens," Sana whispered, dragging a hand through her hair as she slipped back inside and tightened her robe around herself.
Should she get dressed?
Was this proper to let him in her room? She ran to her vanity and quickly brushed her frizzy hair, tying it back into some semblance of a bun.
Sana, what's going on?
Sune murmured as he fluttered over to her.
Why are you in such a panic?
"Rhyel is home and he's coming down to have tea with me! I'm...I'm nervous!"
Don't be nervous, little flame. Sune chuckled. It's good that he wants to see you. Aren't you curious about his quest?
"Well, yes, but I didn't expect him to—" a soft knock tapped against her door and her heart leapt up to her throat. "He's here."
Then let him in, dear. You look fine.
Sana took a deep breath, smoothing a hand over her robe before she padded across her room and opened the door to Rhyel's towering form dressed in a pair of loose black pants and his many tattoos on his chest peeking through the open 'v' of his black velvet robe.
"Good morning, again." A smile curled over his lips. "May I come in?" he said, holding up a black canister. "I had the maids brew some more bitter berry tea. I heard it was your favorite."
"Yes, of course. Come in," she said, standing to the side as he brushed past her and his earthy pine scent teased her senses. Why had she never noticed his fragrant scent before? "You...you didn't have to brew more tea, but thank you."
"You're welcome," he said, nodding to Sune perched on the vanity. "Good morning, Sune."
"Um," Sana said, closing the door and suddenly feeling very awkward with Rhyel in her room. "I like sitting outside with my tea in the morning, but we can stay in here by the fire if you prefer that."
"I don't. I'm like you. I enjoy watching the fog and mist in the morning," he said, gesturing to the pot of tea on the coffee table. "Would you like me to bring that outside for you?"
"Oh yes, and I'll get you another cup," she said as they gathered their items and Rhyel followed her out to her balcony.
Sana watched Rhyel top up her cup before filling his own, and she wondered what to say to him. The last time they spent any time alone together he was sent away on a quest. She cringed, looking away from him. Why did he even want to see her after what she caused him to do?
"Sana, what's wrong?"
"I'm..." she said, squeezing her hands in her lap. "I'm not sure why you want to speak to me at all."
He raised a thick black eyebrow. "Why wouldn't I?"
She hung her head. "Because I'm the reason you were sent away on that quest. I'm glad you made it home safely, but you didn't have to do something like that to prove your loyalty to me. I'm not... I'm not worth that."
"You are," Rhyel said, reaching across the small table and Sana's heart thumped as he curled his fingers under her chin, turning her face to his.
"I don't resent you for being chosen by Sune and being sent on that quest. I learned a lot about myself these past two weeks, and the reason I wanted to join you this morning is because I want to get to know you. "
"You do?" she whispered.
"Yes," he said, slipping his fingers from her chin as he dragged a hand through his hair. "I'd like to be your friend, if you'll allow me to."
Twin flags of red stained Rhyel's cheeks and the sight of it made Sana realize that he wasn't always a calm and collected Lord. He was nervous about asking her to be his friend. She didn't know why he would be, but seeing him like this made her relax in his presence.
A smile curled over her lips as she nodded. "Of course I'll allow it. I'd...I'd like to be your friend and get to know you, too."
"Good, then this might seem silly." He chuckled. "But tensions were a bit high when we first met and I'd like to start over," he said, holding out his hand to her. "I'm Lord Rhyel, Alpha of Darcanos, but you may simply call me Rhyel. I'm honored that you're here."
Sana giggled, taking his hand. "It's nice to meet you, Rhyel. My name is Sana Lightbourne. I don't have any gifts or abilities, but recently I've been chosen by an ancient moth named Sune, and I'm honored that you have accepted me into your House."
"You will always be accepted here and I'm sure you will become a well respected Lady of House Darcanos."
"I'll certainly try. Thank you for introducing yourself to me again," she said, slipping her hand from his to take a drink from her cup. "That was kind of you."
"You're welcome and I know the rumors about me are pretty terrible," he said, leaning back in his chair as he gazed out at the misty forest. "But I do try to be kind."
"I know. Everyone in the castle speaks very highly of you," she said, looking over at him and the intricately woven ink over his exposed chest. "Can I ask you something?"
"You can ask me anything, Sana," he said, taking a drink of tea. "What would you like to know?"
"Um, I didn't realize you had so many tattoos," she said as a blush burned over her cheeks. "What do they mean?"
"Oh, right. I usually have them covered up," he said, looking down at his chest. "Well, these aren't really tattoos. They're symbols of my gifts. When someone born from my bloodline awakens their abilities, they appear as markings on our skin."
"That's fascinating," Sana murmured. "I've been reading a lot about the history of the Darcanos, but I haven't gotten to the section about markings," she said. "And how many gifts do you have?"
"I have many." Rhyel chuckled. "I'm sure you'll get to this part in your reading, but I'm somewhat of a prodigy of the Darcanos," he said, pushing up the sleeve of his robe and Sana's eyes grew wide at the swirl of fire curled around his wrist and twisted into a wave of water which morphed into a tree with a falcon perched on top of it.
"Both of my arms, parts of my legs and most of my chest are covered like this. I've had them most of my life."
"They're beautiful," Sana whispered, mesmerized by the intricate markings as if they called to her.
"You think so?" he said, pulling his sleeve back down. "I was told women outside of the north wouldn't appreciate the markings of a Darcanos. We're the only bloodline I know of that has a reaction to our abilities like this, and I'm the worst for it."
"Your mother didn't mind it and you said she was from the south, right?"
A smile tugged at his lips. "Yes, and that's very true," he said, picking up his cup and taking a drink. "Could I ask you something?"
"Y-yes, but I'll warn you, I'm not as interesting as you."
"Mm, you're plenty interesting to me," he said, crossing his leg over his lap. "But I'm curious about your life before you came here. What was it like growing up in House Lightbourne?"
Sana looked away from him as she choked out a joyless laugh. "I'm...I'm not sure you want to know the truth about that."
"Why not?"
She stared at her hands in her lap. She didn't want to tell him about the life she had.
How she was treated like a servant in her own home.
That she was made to feel less than because she caused her mother's death all because she didn't have any abilities.
"Can...can you ask me something else? I'm sorry.
I don't think I'm ready to talk about that. "
"That's okay. You don't need to apologize," he said, leaning up and sliding his hand over hers. "I'm sorry for asking such a heavy question like that when we're only just getting to know each other. I shouldn't have done that."
The warmth of his large hand should have made her feel some sort of comfort, but she felt guilty and weak for not being able to answer him. She didn't want him to know. She didn't want anyone here to know what she went through.
"It's...it's okay," she whispered as the balcony door swung open.
"Good morning, my Lady, your bath is–Oh! My Lord, I didn't realize you were here," Kezi said, bowing. "I'm very sorry for my intrusion."
"That's okay, Kezi. I-I should get ready." Sana pulled her hands away from Rhyel. "I have lessons with Loic today," she said, standing. "Thank you for having tea with me, Rhyel. I'm...I'm sure Kezi can show you out."
"You're welcome and Sana," he said, standing and catching her hand before she could disappear–or hide from him like she wished to. "I'm sorry."
She kept her eyes downcast to his hand on hers, too embarrassed to meet his gaze. "I'm...I'm sorry too," she said, stepping away from him before she slipped inside and hurried to the bathroom.
She leaned against the bathroom door and heaved a deep sigh as tears pricked the corners of her eyes.
Why did she have to ruin a perfect morning with him?
She'd been waiting for Rhyel to come home and she was so happy that he wanted to start over, to get to know her and be her friend. But...but she wasn't ready to tell him of her toils and the trauma of living with her family.
Slipping out of her robe and shrugging off her nightgown, Sana stepped into the steaming bath and rested her head against the cushioned edge.
She wanted to forget the life she had before coming here. If she told Rhyel or Zena what she lived through, they would just pity her.
And she didn't want that.