I look forward to hearing from you soon,
Andrea Krause,
Mistress of Coven Fulgur
Melody stared at the letter in her hands for several minutes, reading it again and again. If her hand had not been forced by her aunt, she would have appealed to the provost to help her find another coven. While she appreciated the offer, to be the only beast tamer there would be an isolating experience, and the undertone was that she was there to breed the skill into their coven. She would be just as much breeding stock for them, as she would for her aunt, only without the torture. At least, Melody assumed there would be no torture.
But, it could all be moot. If she stuck to the timetable given in her letter, Mistress Krause would arrive several days after her aunt. It wouldn’t matter if she changed covens, if her aunt forced Asher to swear fealty to her personally. Aunt Georgia would already have him in her custody back at the compound. They had to act fast.
“Provost, forgive me for sounding ungrateful, but were there no other letters for me?” she asked, after she’d passed the second letter to Mrs Hardinger.
“No, Melody, aside from my own coven, there were no others that responded favourably amongst those that I dared to approach on the matter. I would arrange a place for you with us if it didn’t reek of nepotism. It would do more damage to my coven if we offered you a place, than any benefit we might gain. I tried to convince my mistress, but she was adamant. She was interested in you, but my position here meant that the offer would be compromised.” The provost sighed. “It’s the first time I have ever regretted this job.”
Melody looked at her in surprise, seeing the tears in the other woman’s eyes.
“I hope that you understand what you have come to mean to me, Melody. You are Adelaide’s child. My best friend’s offspring. I think of you like a daughter, even if I am not permitted to treat you like one,” she smiled sadly, and Melody felt her heart break a little.
A mother, a real mother, something that she’d wished for, so many times. Now here there was a woman right in front of her, and they'd probably never have a chance to explore that relationship.
“I would be honoured to be your daughter,” she told her. “If I cannot have my own mother back, then I would wish for someone just like you. You’re already everything I could have ever hoped for.”
Melody stood up from her seat and so did the provost, the two of them hugging as Mrs Hardinger sat behind her desk and blew her nose with a resounding trumpet-like noise that made them all giggle a little at the absurdity of it.
“Now,” the provost said, still holding onto her. “If we’re to protect you, we need to contact Coven Fulgur and arrange for this to happen prior to your aunt’s arrival. Sybil, I need you to talk to Asher about swearing fealty to the right witch.”
The provost looked at Mrs Hardinger and tapped her nose, looking at Melody, who was trying not to notice.
“Consider it done,” Mrs Hardinger said in a resounding voice.
Melody nearly laughed, it was just as well that the room was warded for her counselling sessions.
“As for contacting the coven, leave it with me, Melody, I know that you couldn’t do it given the restrictions placed upon you.”
“Thank you, Provost,” she said, gratefully.
The chime for students to go to their first class of the day sounded, and Melody automatically turned to go.
“Melody? Wait for me, I’ll walk with you to class. It will lend legitimacy to my needing to see you if we are seen walking and talking together. The provost will leave once class has commenced and Jonas deems it safe. You’ve got me first up anyway. Which one of your shifters are you going to work with today?”
“Dean,” she said quietly and blushing, as they left the office and walked along the corridor to the central courtyard.
Shifter care was held in one of the indoor sports buildings, to allow the beasts room to move. Sometimes the classes involved grooming, other times it was first aid, or exercise, and then sometimes they also looked at anatomical differences between the more common species of familiars.
“Ah, so there has been progress?” Mrs Hardinger enquired. “Since last night no less, well done!”
“I can be hugged now, gently, and he makes an excellent pillow,” Melody said tartly, and the counsellor threw back her head and laughed, drawing looks from students everywhere. “That is much, much better, Melody. Well done!” She said loudly, for the benefit of those straining their ears to hear what was going on. “I’m glad to hear that clearing the hexes made a difference,” she said more quietly.
Melody nodded and walked silently beside her for the next few moments. “I’m frightened,” she said, candidly.
“Don’t be, Melody. We’ll sort out this puzzle, and then the sky will be your limit, and I think in your case, not even the sky will hold you back. Especially not with two bloody great, big dragons at your beck and call!” she chortled as she held the door open for Melody.
Dean practically pounced on her the moment she stepped inside, gathering her in his arms and giving her such a gentle hug that she wanted to cry. “There’s a chance,” she whispered in his ear. “Very slim, I’m praying to the Goddess. Hopefully she’ll get so sick of me she’ll say yes!”
Dean kissed her ear. “More likely she’ll be impressed by the strong witch that you are, despite all that you’ve faced, and she’ll bless you with what you need.”
“Righto, break it up, you two had all night to get that out of your system, it’s time to pay attention
