Esterpine

Claire sealed her letter to Talon and passed it to the palace attendant waiting outside in the hallway. He took it, assuring her it would be sent along with a carrier that afternoon. She dismissed him with her thanks and turned to find Koldis standing, watching her.

A week had flashed by in a blink, and with it, a deepening sense of pressure. While she was no closer to gaining any new forms of Sprite magic, she was feeling more confident in the language. That had to count for something...right? She could form simple sentences with a decent lilting accent. She could communicate in a basic manner. She could roughly understand the words spoken around her. She even conversed with the residents of the city at every opportunity, immersing herself.

Sure, she still stumbled plenty, asked for clarification frequently, and forgot words. But she was learning. This language was in her blood. She was meant to know it. Her body, mind, and soul knew that. Especially because just like her first time visiting the forest, there were words that often popped into her head that she didn't remember learning.

"Letter for Talon?" Koldis asked, grinning as she shut the door to the suite they shared.

His bed chamber was on the opposite side of the living area, across from hers. There were two other bedrooms besides theirs, afforded to the wing leader and wing second pairs that traveled with them. All other pairs had their own accommodations down the hall. Most of the pairs still passed through the suite throughout the day. It had become something of a hub for their companions. Besides the large dining room, the living space bosted two separate sofa arrangements and a small library, replete with plush arm chairs. Everything was centered around a six foot crystaline fireplace taking up the middle of the room. One benefit of crystal was its transparency. The fireplace need not sit against a wall, for all could see the everlasting green fire burning within. A fire that never died.

"Are you feeling better?" she asked, ignoring his question. He looked rested, at least.

"Yes, but you didn't answer," he said, wandering across the room to where she stood.

She sighed. "Yes, if you must know. It was a letter for Talon. I figured it was time to give him an update on my progress," she said matter-of-factly, "let him know how things were going with my training." She'd drafted a short note to him the day after arriving in Esterpine, just to inform him that she was safe, but the one today had taken a full page.

Koldis snorted. "Riiight. An update." His eyes danced. "Dear Talon. I miss you sooo much. I can't stop thinking ab—arahhh!" She punched him in the stomach. Hard. He keeled over. "Gods! When did you get so strong?"

"I've had a good teacher." She grinned.

"Right. Why did I ever think teaching you to punch like that was a good idea?" He groaned, rubbing his abdomen.

"Beats me," she said, eying him. "Oh, quit being such a baby. You're like a soccer player. I barely put any oomph behind it."

"A...what player?"

"A soccer player."

He tilted his head. "Is that a kind of...musician or something?"

She burst into laughter. "Are you kidding me right now? Soccer isn't an instrument, idiot."

"Well, how am I supposed to know?"

She thought about explaining it to him, the American version of football. "It's a little like Mallets," she said. "Except instead of hitting the ball with a mallet, you kick it. And it's a softer ball. And bigger."

"Well," he said, hands on his hips now, "mallet players aren't complainers. Besides, do you even know how to play Mallets?"

She shrugged. "I've watched some of the children at the keep playing."

"And do they strike you as crybabies?"

She grinned. "Nope." Truth be told, mallet players were pretty rough, ramming each other with their shoulders and battering one another with their mallets when no one was looking. But Koldis was missing the point. She sighed and went to her desk, putting away her writing things. They had the suite to themselves for now.

It was Song Day, the Sprite's version of Sunday. Every week's end was spent gathered in song and blessing. The Sprites broke into groups with their friends and family, and went out into the forest around the city, singing and giving thanks to the King Tree for blessing them with an abundance of food and life. It was a bit ritualistic, but she loved it. The music alone was beguiling and ethereal, filling the trees with hundreds of voices.

She'd joined a small group of them that morning, invited by the queen herself. The queen led them through the trees, singing. And much to her delight, Claire understood many of the words. They spoke of gratitude and love. Of peace. All the things she felt here. She'd eagerly lifted her voice to sing along, melding with all the others.

Afterward came the Peace Hour, where Sprites were encouraged to break away and wander alone, to speak their prayers in the forest, to be carried to the King Tree on the breath of the wind. Thousands of whispers had drifted through the trees, sending goosebumps across Claire's skin as she sat alone against the trunk of a tree, legs crossed, in quiet reflection. Not far from her, she'd heard Koldis muttering under his breath and had to tell him to shut it.

The entire experience was humbling. She loved the connection her people shared with the forest. Loved the respect they had for it.

The rest of the day was meant as free time, to gather and enjoy the company of friends. There would be lunch and dinner both served in the communal dining area—the giant area where they'd had their feast the first night. Usually only dinner was served there, and a humble affair it often was. Today, musicians would bring their instruments. There would be dancing and fellowship. She was told that artists often brought their wares to display, or perform poems and other acts of showmanship.

Claire had returned to the palace after Peace Hour with the sole intention of writing to Talon, while Koldis trailed after her. The other pairs had already been dismissed. With her mornings taken up by Lord Marquin, her afternoons spent wandering, and her evenings gathered for the evening meal, she'd had little time alone in her chambers.

The moment they'd strode in and shut the door—"Gods, I need to rest my eyes after all that bleating," Koldis had said, striding across the living space to his bedchamber. "When do we need to head over to the clearing?"

"Soon," she'd said, listening. Her ears had already discerned the faint sound of music. "They've started. But we can take some time for ourselves."

"Good. I need peace and quiet." He pinched the bridge of his nose.

She had eyed him then, concerned. "Koldis—"

"I'm fine, Claire." He'd said nothing more before disappearing behind the door of his bedchamber for what she assumed was a nap. The walls of the sleeping chambers were thick and textured, diffusing the light and making it impossible to see through, so she had no idea if Koldis indeed slept.

He'd been behaving strangely. Not so much the frequent pokes he made at Sprite culture, which really didn't bother her. It was part of his personality to joke, and he didn't truly mean it. But she wasn't convinced that his short temper and brooding was due to a lack of meat. She'd taken to asking him if he was okay—frequently. And that was starting to annoy him, she could tell.

She blinked.

"Shall we head over to the clearing, then," he asked, massaging his abdomen one last time where she'd punched him. "I'm famished."

"I suppose we'd better." She looked him over again, deciding he seemed well enough, and they set out.

Her thoughts continued to turn as they walked. What ailed him? Perhaps it was none of her buisness. But if it began to affect him more severely, she would take matters into her own hands. She didn't want to, but if she had to, she would use her authority to force the truth out of him. While she hated the idea, she was worried about him. There was something he wasn't telling her, and she wasn't sure what to do about it.

***

The afternoon was a joyous affair. Claire ate her fill, especially enjoying the peach and strawberry sweet wines the Sprites uncorked for the occasion. With the feasting in full swing, she reveled the company of all, drifting first from her traveling companions, to the villagers of Kaljah, to various Sprites she'd met over the past week. Greetings of "Javah!" rang out wherever she went. The people were growing used to her, accepting her, welcoming her.

Jeanine, much to her surprise, stayed beside her the entire time. Even Koldis had finally taken a seat with his Drengr companions to enjoy the entertainment, perhaps deciding she was safe enough to be left unattended. She was happy to leave him behind and escape his frequent scowling.

"Javah mih elam." Greetings, my student. Lord Marquin appeared beside her later in the day, bowing politely. "Mekvelli an barah nin an morviah sinahaya." May the peace of the forest be upon you. It was a popular phrase of honor and respect. She was almost surprised to hear him use it.

She inclined her head and answered, "Edah sinahaya, kenya." And upon you, Teacher.

Her words pleased Aolis Marquin. "You are learning quickly," he said. "The queen will be...surprised."

"Misaphi en heilah kenya." I have a good teacher. Lord Marquin smiled at this. Always one for flattery. She didn't allow herself to wonder why the queen would be surprised, but tucked that bit away for later.

They exchanged a few more pleasantries, speaking of the artists who had performed songs and poetry. Lord Marquin even had the audacity to quiz her on some of the words the artists had used. She was patient, answering each of his questions respectfully, all while Jeanine stood beside her.

She'd become more tolerant of Lord Marquin as of late, especially since he'd been true to his word. Following each of their language lessons, he'd shown her snippets of his magic. Nothing as spectacular as growing an apple tree, but each informative in its own way.

She discovered the day after the apple tree that while Sprites enjoyed showing off, they did not often give away all their secrets. Their magic was akin to their identity, but a secret identity at that. They wore their luminescent tattoos like a language that could be read entirely, if one was well versed. Marks for certain elements like fire, air, earth, and water, had similarities across all bodies, but the dots and accents around them indicated the flavor the magic had taken.

For example, during one lesson, Lord Marquin had used the air around them to dampen sound, blocking out the the chattering birds. Mastery of the element allowed for many different devices, he had explained. Not just blocking sound, but also creating gusts of wind, snuffing out fire, suffocating a person. He'd said the last with disdain, for Sprites were a peaceful people who did not condone killing living things. After all, they didn't even hunt meat in their own forest. It further explained why they were reluctant to join Dragonwall's conflicts.

Lord Marquin had even gone as far as to show her the mark he'd earned for his mastery of air. Unceremoniously, he'd pulled off his sheer tunic, showing off his muscled chest. On his left pectoral there was a triangle shape with swirls curving off the top and bottom points. Around it were dots and bars that decorated the triangle, and other swirls that led away from it, some joining with other shapes. "As I gain more abilities with air," he had said, "see these here?" He outlined the marks with his fingers. "More paths are carved across my skin."

"Like earning additional badges," she said.

"Yes..." he said after a moment's hesitation. "I suppose so."

Their lessons had become far more beneficial. Lord Marquin wasn't so bad, at least not as awful as Koldis made him out to be. Even from across the clearing, she noticed Koldis's eyes glaring at Lord Marquin as he greeted her. Lord Marquin always appeared oblivious. Whether he was or not, she couldn't be sure. She supposed she knew why Koldis disliked him so much, though she hated to think of it. Koldis saw Aolis Marquin as a threat to Talon. The Drengr were territorial. Quite territorial.

But Koldis had nothing to worry over.

For every bit of increased flaunting Lord Marquin did with his magic, for every match of flattery she offered the Sprite Lord, she only thought of how much she missed her mate. What Koldis didn't know, was that her thoughts frequently turned to Talon. To what he might be doing, to whether or not he thought of her as often as she thought of him, to how he fared in Kastali Dun. But mostly, she thought of how badly she wanted to return so that she might give him her final answer. 

⭐️🌟⭐️🌟⭐️

Happy Friday, bookdragons! 

Dun, dun dun....notice how I ended with the perfect lead in to Kastali Dun?? That's where we'll be going next week. Next week's chapter is titled. "Done Waiting" and it's from Saffra's POV. After that, we'll get one from Talon. Yipee! And don't worry, you'll get to read her letter from his POV, which I think will be more enjoyable to see his thoughts. :)

I know this one was short. Only 2200 words. And they aways go by so fast, too! 

On a side note, it's the end of August, which means my August newsletter will be going out this weekend. If you're not subscribed to my newsletters via my website, head over to authormelissamitchell.com (link is also on my wattpad home page) and enter your email and hit the subscribe button down at the bottom of the page. 

I hope you all have a great weekend and a great week!

-Mel