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2023-07-17 01:19:46Related chapters
The choices we make 28
It was Wednesday afternoon, Mary was hiding away in the church, appreciating the silence and that she didn’t have to worry about being recruited to another secret meeting. Mary saw Father Link come walking towards her. He sometimes stopped by where she sat when she was there, just to exchange a couple of words.“Good afternoon, Mary,” he said in a low voice. “May I join you?”“Good afternoon, Father. Please do.”“Here alone today?” he asked.“Yes, Erik and Ida can only come along on Sundays.”“I have enjoyed seeing you with your friends,” the priest said.“I’m lucky to have them.”“Has something happened since you are coming by more frequently of late? Not that I’m complaining, mind you, but I just want to make sure there isn’t something on your mind.”“Thank you, Father,” Mary said and wondered if she should tell him about Zerden. But that didn’t seem appropriate. She chose to go with a half-truth. “The sickness has been on my mind a lot lately.”“As it has for most of us, my child,”
Last Updated : 2023-07-18The choices we make 29
“For those who live outside the castle, there are two options. One is for you to resign; the other is that you stay here. We have made room for anyone who needs a bed to sleep in,” Mrs Meata continued, and there were some murmurs among the staff. Mary paled at the implications for her. Her two last havens had just been taken away. No more church with Erik and Ida, and no more volunteering at the orphanage. But she knew better than to object. Instead, she hung her head, trying to steel herself. “Any questions?” Mrs. Meata asked. There were some from people living outside the castle, asking if they could go home to spend one last night with their families. They would be allowed to do that, and Mary was happy for them. She would have to make other arrangements, she thought, and despite her fear of the woman she raised her voice.“Eh, Mrs. Meata, ma’am…” Mary’s voice sounded frail.“Speak up, girl.”“If we are in the courtyard and someone is outside the castle grounds, on the street, woul
Last Updated : 2023-07-19The choices we make 30
After lunch Mary headed up to visit Anna, as it was her free afternoon. Anna brewed the tea and then they sat down to enjoy it and talk.“Zerden finally told us about Lady Sarah,” Anna told Mary, both women knowing Anna had known about the lady for almost a year.“Yes, he told me you had her over for dinner the other night,” Mary said, trying not to let her jealousy show. Anna couldn’t hide the expression of dissatisfaction that showed on her face.“Yes, that was … interesting,” she said to Mary, who raised her eyebrow questioningly.“Lady Sarah didn’t seem to enjoy her surroundings while visiting, and I think she didn’t really understand Ken’s position or rank. She didn’t offer him any respect or indication of his rank. You know how cranky my Ken can become,” Anna said, frowning. Mary looked at her with horror. Not giving the castellan the respect he deserved was unheard of, and Mary didn’t want to think about being at the wrong end of him being cranky. On the other hand, she was sec
Last Updated : 2023-07-20The choices we make 31
As winter came, the food shortage was starting to become noticeable. Starvation was a fact in the city. The sickness also kept spreading. For the first time, some of the more affluent households became ill. Never had the sickness come so close to the heart of the city. Panic spread through the castle. There was talk of isolating the castle. The castellan had his work cut out for him and was kept busy, and so was Zerden. The panic needed to be contained and an outright rebellion to be avoided at all costs. There were rumours the king had sent word to the Lady and in desperation had invited her. Mary felt her heart flutter the first time she heard the rumours. Would the Lady come? But soon her joy passed when she realized the Lady probably wouldn’t remember her. Even if she and Kopa came to the castle, Mary probably wouldn’t meet them. Still, it felt nice to know that maybe, if Mary was lucky, she could at least get to see them from a distance. Just knowing the Lady would be in the cast
Last Updated : 2023-07-21The choices we make 32
The spring sun was shining through the windows of the carriage. Tariana sat and watched the landscape sweeping past outside. But her thoughts were far ahead of them, in the castle where they were heading. Her thoughts, as so many times over the years, were with the little redheaded girl. She was finally going to see Mary again. It had been difficult to separate from her all those years ago; more than once had she regretted her decision and been on the verge of sending for the girl. But now she would get to meet her again, and she would get to know everything that happened to Mary during this time. Did she have a fiancé or was she maybe already married? Tariana quickly did the math in her head. Mary would be seventeen, almost eighteen, by now. That was about the age young women started getting married. Tariana knew Kopa was just as excited to see Mary again. He didn’t say anything; he rarely talked about his feelings. But he had been impatient and restless for the past few days, which
Last Updated : 2023-08-02The choices we make 33
“Sit here with me, my friend,” said the Lady, patting one of the pillows in the window. Mary carefully went forward and sat as far out on the edge as she could. “Mary, I have to apologize,” the Lady began, and Mary was so surprised she forgot about being careful and looked up at the Lady. “We shouldn’t have left you the way we did when we went back home. I trusted the king, but that’s no excuse. I should have made sure you were okay before we left,” the Lady continued. “I thought you’d be taken care of and get to grow up at court.”“At court?” said Mary in amazement.“Yes, my friend, that’s what was decided. I thought you’d be best off staying here, where you felt at home. I was wrong. Can you forgive me?” Mary didn’t know what to say. The thought of growing up at court was so strange. She thought of Lady Sarah and couldn’t imagine growing up to be like her. Mary suddenly realized the Lady was waiting for an answer.“There’s nothing to forgive,” she said. The Lady smiled faintly. They
Last Updated : 2023-08-02The choices we make 34
In the days that followed, Mary spent all her time in the tower with the grey-clad people and the aari. She didn't go out into the rest of the castle because she had a fear that everything was just a dream, and if she were to leave the room, she would have to go back to her old life. Kopa was her constant companion. It seemed like the Lady had ordered him to take care of Mary. Mary didn’t mind. She still found peace and comfort in his company. She didn’t remember when she had felt so relaxed and content. Mary tried not to think about the people who were outside the safe walls and the familiar rooms. But on her second day in the tower, as she sat looking out over the castle courtyard as usual, she saw Zerden. She saw him cross the courtyard and then disappear behind a couple of buildings. Mary knew he was heading for the gardens, and she knew who he was meeting. She felt a sharp stab in the heart and turned away. She didn't want to think about it, not now. ---Kopa saw and felt the ch
Last Updated : 2023-08-03The choices we make 35
Mary felt a little strange leaving the security of the tower. But at the same time, it felt wonderful to get some fresh air and walk around again. Many of the people who walked across the yard greeted her while looking at Kopa with questioning looks. Mary steered their steps towards the gate and then down the street. As they walked, she kept telling Kopa stories about the different houses, about the streets and about the places they could see in the distance. They walked around for hours before finally getting back to the castle gates. Mary was happy and felt like she had spent most of their walk laughing. Even Kopa seemed unusually cheerful, and she had received several smiles from him during the day. Together they entered through the gate and started towards the tower. "Mary?" Mary stopped when she heard her name. She turned around and saw Zerden standing among a group of soldiers on the other side of the castle yard. He said a few words to his friends and then hurried towards her.
Last Updated : 2023-08-03
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The choices we make 101
“We finished Procecsa’s experiments today, and we think we can see a pattern,” Mary told Tariana excited. She didn’t know how Tariana already knew about it, but it was the only thing exciting which had happened lately. Tariana laughed again.“That is exciting to hear, but no. I was thinking about the fact that you have gotten some control over your fire magic,” Tariana smiled.“Oh, that. Yes, Procecsa helped me with it last night,” Mary said. She didn’t understand what was so exciting about that.“Do you think you could summon it now?” Tariana asked.“I think so,” Mary nodded. Tariana stood and went over to the bookcase. She got a small tray and walked back, placing it on the desk in front of Mary. On the tray there was a candle, an empty bowl, a feather, a pile of what looked like soil, and a plate with a dried bean.“Please light the candle,” Tariana asked Mary. Mary focused and after a while she found the now familiar feeling of her fire magic. The candle lit. “Fill the bowl with w
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The time until the winter solstice went by quickly and before she knew it, Mary was running around the equipment she had helped Procecsa set up the day before the solstices. They were outside the wall, on a flat part of the plain. The grass had been cut down and a light dusting of snow barely covered the ground. The area was guarded by grey riders. Not for the fear of someone sabotaging their experiments, but to keep curious people away. There was a lot of preparation to be made. Luckily for Mary, she had already done this a couple of times before. According to magical theory, occasions such as the winter solstice and full moons could affect magic in different ways. But to Mary’s surprise, it had never been proven, even though everyone used the principle. Procecsa had therefore designed an experiment to perform some basic magic, which was easy to perform and evaluate the effect of and repeat this during the different beneficial celestial occasions. They had already done the control ro
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“I would love to,” Mary said, looking at him. “But I don’t want to take time away from you seeing your family. I know you don’t get to see them that often,” she said. Tenac shrugged.“I will visit them as often as I can while they are here. It’s okay, I wouldn’t have asked if it weren’t,” he said.“Okay, then I would love to come.”“Good. Now let’s get you a new horse,” he smiled.“No, Tenac. I have told you, Buttercup will do,” Mary objected.“I’m not letting you anywhere near my grandfather whilst you are riding Buttercup, Mary. If you are going to visit a Che’hul camp, you can’t be on a horse like her,” he said. Mary looked at him. She really wanted to go with him to visit his family. Her curiosity and thirst for new things was going crazy at the thought of getting to see this whole new culture. At the same time, it felt like she was betraying Buttercup. The horse had been patient with her from the start. Mary recognised Tenac was dangling the visit to the Che’hul camp as an incent
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“In my case?” Mary asked.“For some reason, you have been conditioned to suppress your fire. Most likely not in an effort to suppress the magic, but a characteristic which goes with it. Like anger,” Procecsa said. Mary could hear that she tried to be gentle. Mary sat quietly for a while and thought things through. Her time in the kitchen had made her put a tight lead on her emotions, especially anger, but also passion and love. It would have been the last thing she did in the castle if she had become angry with someone higher up the rank than her. Which had been most people.“So, what do I do? Do I have to get angry at Tenac?” Mary asked, making Procecsa laugh.“No, I don’t think he deserves it. He’s just trying to help you, after all” she smiled at Mary.“I need to get angry at someone else?” Mary asked, confused.“I don’t know if you need to get angry at anyone, Mary. I think it would be okay just for you to accept it is okay for you to get angry. Just to allow yourself to experienc
The choices we make 97
It had been over six months since Mary had started her training, and each day offered new opportunities to learn and to explore the world. She discovered she had a craving for learning. The more she learnt, the more questions she had. Her mentor, Procecsa, had picked up on this and gave Mary more and more books to read. Mary was helping her mentor with all sorts of experiments. Procecsa was good at explaining things in a way Mary understood them. In just a few weeks, the winter solstice was to take place and Mary was looking forward to it. Several of the experiments that Procecsa had Mary help with depended on it. In the class for basic magic, they had learned certain celestial events could impact magic. The winter solstice was one of those. Mary was to assist her mentor in trying to figure out just how much it affected certain types of magic. Mary found the whole thing fascinating and couldn’t wait to get to see the results. After the solstice, they would have a two-week break. It wa
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Zerden stood looking at the men under his command. They were training, and they looked tired. Zerden knew he had been pushing them hard this past month. His bad mood had made him irritable, and every mistake was now punished with a gruelling training session. He knew he needed to back off a bit. His men were well trained and the minor mistakes they made didn’t warrant this punishment. Zerden needed to get his temper back in check. Which was easier said than done. It would be easier if he just had known why he was in such a bad mood. If he was honest with himself, he knew why. He just wasn’t up for admitting it just yet. So instead, his bad mood continued and everyone around him endured and stayed out of his way as much as they could.“Don’t forget to put everything back before you head to get dinner,” he shouted. He didn’t wait around to make sure they did what he told them. No one wanted to disobey him at the moment. He walked inside and headed to his room in the castle. Zerden had j
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“Sure, happy to help,” Jontak said, smiling. Firlea looked at Mary, slightly panicked. Mary smiled at her.“Thanks, Jontak,” Mary said. She and Sinhera looked as Jontak and Firlea left the shop.“Not the smoothest hint, but I think that will do,” Sinhera smiled.“It’s a good start at least,” Mary nodded.“What are you two plotting?” Tenac asked as he walked up to them. “And where are Jontak and your friend?”“Firlea needed ink. Jontak escorted her there as it’s her first time to the market,” Mary smiled at him.“You two are scaring me. Please don’t help me like that, ever,” he said. Both Mary and Sinhera laughed. They waited for the two to return before heading towards the weapons stalls. There were a lot of different weapons. Some Mary didn’t even know the names of and couldn’t figure out how to use.“Do you want to look at a new knife, Mary?” Jontak asked her.“No thank you, I’m happy with the one I have,” she told him.“Do you even know how to use it?” Tenac asked her.“Well, it’s
The choices we make 94
As Mary got back to her room, both her friends were sitting in the bay window reading. Mary had things she needed to read as well. But she felt like she needed to write her last letter. She wanted to let go of the past. She settled down at her desk and stared down at the empty paper in front of her. This was going to be difficult.‘Dear Anna,I’m so pleased to hear that things are looking up for you. That gives me hope this wave of the sickness will fade as well. I want to thank you for your kind words. They mean so much to me and I will always remember them. I told my father about your kind words, and he was grateful. That brings me to the difficult part of this letter. This is not something which is easy for me to write, or to think about doing. But I feel like it has to be done. Last time I wrote, I was taking the acceptance test to become an aari. Well, as you predicted, I made it and have now moved into the sanctum to start my training. With my training, my lessons with Tenac an
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“What did you need to talk about?” Kopa said, as the two of them sat down at the table. “I read the letter you gave me,” Mary started. “And you got upset?”“Not like last time. I’m angry this time, more than I’m sad,” Mary admitted, which earned her a surprised look from Kopa.“I know. Who knew?” she said, laughing at his expression.“So, what advice do you need?”“I think I know what I need to do, but I don’t know if I should do it, or if I really want to,” Mary told him. “Okay, can you tell me what made you angry?” Kopa asked.“Do you promise to stay calm?” Mary asked.“I do”“I won’t go into details, but the jest of it is that Zerden told me I was a disappointment for choosing to live my life the way I am. For the choices I have made since coming here,” Mary said, looking at Kopa. He had clenched his jaw and there was a muscle tick above his right eye. But he kept his promise and stayed calm, at least on the surface. It made Mary smile. “Are you okay, dad?”“Fine. The letter was
