He turned the brass handle of the door and pushed it open. “I hope it is up to your standards…”
The room was large, twice the size of the sleeping quarters I’d been sleeping in. A four-poster bed took up most of the space toward the far-left wall. White silken material hung from each poster, billowing in the stream of wind that blew through the pair of large windows on the main wall of the room. A small dresser sat beside the bed and a large wardrobe against a wall to the left, leaving a vast open space big enough to store five, fully grown elks. The vaulted ceiling cast slight shadows across the marble floor that we walked across. It was more than I could ever have imagined.
The click of the door being closed behind me sounded and I turned to Hadrian who held a finger to his lips.
I turned back to the room and walked to the window closest to me. The view beyond made the one in the previous room look pathetic. I was sure on a clear, sunny day I would be able to see the two other continents even from hundreds of miles away.
“I knew you would like it,” Hadrian whispered in my ear. “It is safe to talk now, the stone walls are thick, oak doors prevent those who listen from hearing anything.” He reached both hands around me and lifted the bundle of cloak that held the book from beneath my arms before moving off in the direction of the dresser to place it down. My skin prickled from the lack of space.
“I hope the same applied when we were in your room,” I said, turning from the window to face him. He sat perched on the edge of my bed, the sheets crinkling beneath him.
“Absolutely, Alina would not have been able to hear a thing.”
“Good.” I yawned.
“I think it would be best if we cease our conversation and return to it tomorrow. Would you feel up for going on a little trip with me in the morning? I would like to begin testing out your magick to see just how much control you have over it.”
“Will we be visiting the person who can find out what’s wrong with me?”
Hadrian’s laughed. “Nothing is wrong with you. And no. Unfortunately, he is out of town, but will be back in a few days. Until then, do not worry about what I have told you about the Dragori. Your late age and the fact you have not experienced a shift suggests it is likely your magick is not a result of you being one. But it will do no harm for you to read up about it in the meantime.” He gestured to the mound on the dresser next to him. “Get some rest. And I shall see you in the morning.”
“Thank you for supper,” I said as Hadrian moved to the door, and I to the bed.
“It was my pleasure. Sweet dreams, Petal.”
I watched him leave, already anticipating the comfortable sleep that waited for me. I felt the soft mattress beneath me and knew I was going to experience the best sleep yet. But when I slipped into the sheets and pulled my hair from the bun, part of me wanted to see Hadrian come back.
Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.
I KNOCKED MY feet against the side of my elk, urging it to move faster. Hadrian rode ahead on Elmirr who sprang up the hill before me. Compared to Elmirr, my elk was slower. It may have been due to the fact that it had shorter legs and a rounder frame. But I didn’t mind, it was just nice to be away from the palace.
The sun beat down on my face, wrapping me in cocoon of warmth. My arms tingled from its rays and I was sure that by the end of the day more freckles would show themselves across my arms and nose.
My new brown leather boots felt stiff on my feet, unworn. I felt the bite of a fresh blister on my ankles with every movement. It was Hadrian who’d suggested before we left that I dressed like one of the royal guard, rose gold-plated shoulder armour above a purple top and leather slacks. His argument was that I would blend in, no one would question the Prince leaving with one of his guards.
It made sense, I couldn’t blame him for his cunning thinking. He’d dodged the two guards that had been stationed to watch over him today before he came to get me. He’d then used me as a decoy whilst we left the palace. It would last for a while, but it wouldn’t take long for word to get around. No matter how authentic I was.
“They are still going to notice that you’re missing!” I said, kicking my elk into a trot to catch up with Hadrian. “And as soon as someone notices that I’m also missing, they will put two and two together and come looking for us.”
He turned and smiled down at me, Elmirr towering over me. I looked up to him, squinting at the light that cast a halo around him. “Has anyone ever told you that you worry too much?”
“They hate me. I don’t think it’s wise that we add more fuel to their burning fires,” I replied, ignoring his comment.
Hadrian flicked a finger and pointed it to the sky. A burst of flame shot to life and danced across his hand. “Have you forgotten about me and fire? Even if we do add fuel to their fire I will just have to be there to put it out. Won’t I?” Hadrian chuckled, closing his hand into a fist and extinguishing the flame.
“It comes so easily to you,” I said, hoping he would do it again.
“I am glad you are impressed.” Hadrian leaned forward and whispered into Elmirr’s ear. She had been startled by the flame and was twitching all over the place.
“I am.”
The view from the top of the hill was incredible. We walked in tandem across a worn path in the grass, Hadrian up ahead and me behind. I peered to the left and all I saw was the endless cliff face of white chalk. My stomach jumped but I still peered over, enough to see the sharp drop into the ocean and the many birds that flew in and out of the cliff face.
“I would not get so close, Petal, many before you have given into the lure of the view and ended up becoming a part of it.” Hadrian’s words sent shivers across my arms.
“I’m pretty good with heights, and plus, I don’t think the many before me had the same abilities as me.” Saying it aloud felt strange. The kind of strange that I could get used to. It was so easy to be open with Hadrian, to forget the years of hiding in one evening and be honest.
Hadrian turned to look at me, taking his eyes off where he was going. I cringed when Elmirr tilted close to the edge, sending dirt flying into the abyss.
“I have been wondering about how you ended up outside of the palace on your first night, I think you may have just answered that for me.” Hadrian twisted his entire body around to face me.
“Would you watch where you are going?”
Elmirr’s hoof slipped again, a shower of dirt falling into the depths below.
“And yes. Like I said, heights have never bothered me.”
“Good to know…” Hadrian replied.
It was the first time I’d been to the southern part of Olderim, its beauty was paramount.