“So it’s Rafe now, is it?” said Vivienne, raising her eyebrows. She did that so many times that I was surprised they didn’t stay that way.
I smiled and started pulling on my boots. “I’ve got to go. He must be waiting.” I took my brown woolen cloak and opened the door.
“Be careful,” Vivienne called out softly.
I smiled at my friend. “When am I not careful?” I closed the door gently and hurried to the cellar.
Rafe was waiting for me with the secret door open. I lit my hand and followed him through the passageway.
“I heard that you finally found out what was in the pouch,” Rafe said as we walked through the damp passage. “I don’t know how often I should stress that you need to be wary of the Blackwaters.”
“I wanted to find out what Morgana was planning. Isn’t it better that we know now?”
Rafe nodded slightly. “We would have discovered it eventually.”
“But it may have been too late. Anyway, it’s done. We know what she’s after. The question is, what are we going to do about it?”
“You,” Rafe gave me a stern look, “are going to do nothing.”
I huffed at his answer but decided to keep quiet for now. I had to concentrate on learning to defend myself; that was my first priority now.
We came out in the study of the abandoned mansion. Rafe took me through the house and out into the garden overlooking the river. It was a beautiful night, and soft moonlight lit the water, covering it in a sheet of silver. Rafe pulled out a sleek-looking sword, held it horizontally in both his hands, and presented it to me. “I had it specially ordered for you.”
I took the sword from his hands. It was light and fast, a perfect sword for a person of my height and build. The hilt was beautifully inlaid with three large rubies, which looked like they would have cost a fortune. “It was forged by the dwarves of ancient Stonegate themselves.”
“Thank you, Rafe. It’s lovely, but I hope you didn’t steal it,” I said before I could stop myself.
Rafe laughed, and I was relieved that he wasn’t offended or angry that I’d said that. “No, I didn’t steal it.” He took out his own sword. “You really should have more faith in me, Aurora.”
I blushed. “Sorry, I just presumed, since the jewels on the hilt look very expensive.”
“They are,” Rafe said simply, coming over to me. “Now let me see your grip . . .”
The next month was filled with grueling days with the professors and even more grueling nights with Rafe, training to be a warrior. Besides learning to fight with a sword, he taught me to use knives in a fight, one in each hand, and I was getting better at throwing them. I hardly slept, but I pushed myself. I had to discover what I was capable of and what my limits were.
On top of my regular classes, which were four a day and one hour each, I also had an hour with Professor Dekela when we discussed politics of the kingdom, etiquette of the court, and the royal families. The professor told me about the jealousies and the rivalries between the various noble families, the histories of these families, and their role in the government of the country. We also discussed the Mage Guild, the royal council consisting of the lords of Eldoren; the council of thirteen in Illiador; their duties, qualifications, and who they were; and what families and factions they were loyal to.
He also told me a lot about Morgana and Lucian. “Know your enemy,” Professor Dekela said countless times.
So I had to study Morgana’s life thoroughly. I learned that Morgana was born a few years after my father’s mother, Queen Fiona, died. Driven by grief, the old King of Illiador, my grandfather, Ereneth, married again, this time to a woman he barely knew. Her name was Lilith.
“Morgana is the daughter of Lilith?”
Professor Dekela nodded. “Yes. But Lilith was no ordinary woman. Your grandmother, Fiona, was gentle and kind, as well as a powerful mage and healer. But Lilith . . . well, Lilith was not what she seemed at first. Your grandfather was captivated by her beauty and married her without thinking. When Morgana was born, Lilith’s true nature became clear. She plotted and schemed against her own husband and was even partly responsible for the last mage war.”
“No one has mentioned her in my history class.”
“Well, history is not always accurate. Lilith orchestrated the whole thing from behind the scenes, providing information and money to help their cause. If the Black Mages had succeeded in taking Illiador, she would have killed your grandfather and taken the throne for herself. But finally the king realized what she was about and ordered her to be arrested. She flew into a rage and tried to kill your grandfather. It was Azaren who stopped her, and she tried to kill him too. Azaren had no choice but to defend himself and end Lilith’s life.”
Realization dawned, and my eyes widened. “That’s why Morgana hates my father and me so much. My father killed her mother.”
Professor Dekela nodded gravely. “Now, let’s get back to your studies, shall we?”
Three times a week I had extra healing with Penelope in her private rooms. She taught me higher levels of healing than were usually taught to the novices. Penelope showed me how to heal myself from the inside, which would help me shake off the effects of magical strikes. I had already done this unintentionally when Damien and his goons attacked me, but now I knew exactly what I was doing. I learned how much power to use to heal myself without dropping my shield. I also learned about special fae herbs and potions that were Penelope’s particular gift. I absorbed everything like a sponge, and I seemed to have a natural affinity for healing, becoming rather good
