Chapter 38

I awoke early the next morning to find that I had be laid in bed in the flame room. Akai liked the room very much and while I was using the chamber pot and washing my hands and face, kept urging me to gather more of the red dust particles floating all around the room. He was so cute and funny in his urging's that I couldn't help but smile as I gave into his wishes. After getting all ready and while waiting for someone to come and let me out of the room, I did as he wished and gathering more and more of the red dust particles. I had gathered quite a lot from the room before Jasper came and opened the heavy door to let me out.

"Little sis...Aline" he called out somewhat awkwardly before he swooped me off the bed and speed walked to the room set up for breakfast.

I noticed that my parents and siblings had joined Lady Emmi and I for breakfast.

"Good morning" I said to them as Jasper put me on the raised seat made for me. I quickly started to eat. I was very hungry, but the food was also extremely tasty!

"I don't think I've ever seen Tourmaline eat with such...enthusiasm, have you?" Mother asked before turning to ask my father.

"Nope" His nope was echoed by those of both my siblings. I didn't bother to stop eating to respond.

"What were you feeding..." Lady Emmi started to ask and then stopped. "You fed her ceremony food for what? A year?"

"Yeah..." After they responded with that, silence permeated the remainder of breakfast.

After breakfast one of Lady Emmi's servants came to clean up the table and we moved to the parlor for some after breakfast tea. Lady Emmi's teas, I had quickly discovered that her teas were mouthwateringly delicious and they seemed to give me extra energy in the morning or relax me in the evening.

"I presume you have found a place to stay?" Lady Emmi asked after everyone was settled on their chairs and holding a cup of freshly brewed tea.

"That's correct. I have already talked to the Emperor and he has decided to give me extended leave from my duties as a protector. His Majesty then gave me the position of protector of the nearby forest. The position comes with a cabin in the woods that should be perfect for our family" my dad replied to Lady Emmi.

The thought that my dad would be willing to give up his job as a protector, one of status and wealth, to become in essence a woodsman, brought tears to my eyes. Lady Emmi was right. They had made sacrifices for me. I didn't want them to do that for me...because of me. I couldn't see their faces, but I could hear the love and acceptance in their voices as they spoke lightly of the major changes that would have to be made.

Changes like servants. The cabin would only have enough space for our family, so things like washing, cleaning, and cooking would all have to be done by us. And when I say us, I mean them, because I am only two years old and won't be of much help for a couple more years.

A sudden thought dawned on me. Sapphire was supposed to be doing her apprenticeship now. That was one of the two reasons they said we were going to the Imperial city. One was for my two year old ceremony and the second was to find a master for Sapphire. What confused me however, was that from the way they were speaking, it sounded like Sapphire was going to be with us.

"What about...Sapphire's apprentice...ship?" I asked, interrupting their discussion about seasonal changes in the forest.

Silence followed my question. If it wasn't for the fact that they had stopped talking, I would have thought they hadn't heard me.

Sapphire cleared her throat before answering "I'm going to do my apprenticeship a little later. We haven't gotten to spend much time getting to know each other and I feel that if I go away now, I'll miss seeing you grow up." Her voice sounded like she was trying to be happy, but lying about her true feelings. I could hear sadness underneath. Like she was holding back tears.

I thought of asking if they had refused her or if she had chosen this to protect me, but thought that any extra questions would cause her more pain, so I just nodded and gave her a smile like I accepted and agreed with her reasoning.

After our discussion, a maid came in carrying a small bag. It turns out she had collected all my things from the room I had been using and with that I was whisked off to a waiting carriage. We rode in it for awhile, then moved to what appeared to be a wagon. Dad helped Mom up into the front seat, then hopped up himself. Jasper and Sapphire sat in the bed of the wagon facing the rear and took turns holding me. As we went along, I saw a lot of small yellow particles and began collecting those as we headed to our new home.