45 A Familiar Ache

It started with an ache. She had noted it, the deep ache in her right arm. It was a familiar, old ache, and she assumed would be a reminder of the injury she had sustained at the front lines. It was a battle scar, and she was determined not to give it much more credit than that.

It wasn't until the black veining began to be evident along the inside of her arm that she began to fear that there was more to it than she had let herself believe.

She'd wanted to tell someone, to confide this terrible truth about herself. Though Sitala had been kind to her and Alistair was a patient and fair instructor, she feared speaking to either of them about it. Mingan alone held her trust that he would look out for her well-being.

When he'd left, she'd been paralyzed, unable to give him such heavy news when he was searching out Lokni for her benefit. And so she'd worried the long days he'd been gone, wondering if she'd last until his return.

Now Elloreah stood in the bathroom, leaning heavily on the counter, staring down into the sink. Even after splashing water on her face, scrubbing her hands, changing from her jeans and shirt, which were her uniform amongst the horses, into a light, cotton, bell sleeved dress, she couldn't bring herself to leave the bathroom.

The day had been a struggle. She had missed her morning chores. Hector and Carlos teased her relentlessly about sleeping in. She tolerated it as best she could, guilt and shame coloring her cheeks, some part of her sure they knew where she had spent part of her night.

Avoiding the staff, she skipped lunch and took her favorite colt out to the farthest reaches of the orchards for the majority of the day. It was only then that she was able to find some peace and much needed rest.

The horse had accommodated her, grazing contentedly as she napped in the shade. Liwanu had come for her in the barns as she was grooming the horse, informing her that she would be needed at dinner.

Lokni had arrived.

She took a deep breath. She would have to face them all now. Though Lokni was her best hope of answers, she knew he also stood a good chance seeing through her, of revealing her closely held secret.

She sighed and sat down on the toilet seat, putting her head in her hands. Aleric would surely disapprove. Aleric. She shivered, closing her eyes against the memory of him.

Where were the good memories? She wondered, and found herself finding only bitter, sharp commands, and all the things she'd done wrong. The feel of his wrath, the way he'd slapped her, demeaned her, ridiculed her.

At first, Mingan had reminded her of him. They both had the same high cheekbones, intense eyes and strong sharp nose. Mingan was dark with golden eyes where Aleric was tan with dark, brooding, brown eyes. They had remarkably similar builds, both lanky and well-muscled, though Mingan was more weathered and rugged where Aleric had the heavier physique of a soldier.

Now though, her heart pounding in her chest, she wondered if it was those similarities that had caused her to feel for Minganas she did.

There was a knock on the door.

"Elloreah." It was Sitala. "Is everything alright? Lokni and Hayeta are here. They're anxious to see you."

She took a deep breath, hoping to sound steadier than she felt. "Yes... yes, Sitala, I'm alright." She forced a smile, hoping that if she pretended that everything was fine, it would be. She stood and went to the door opening it. "My apologies. I lost track of time."

They made their way down the hall, Elloreah doing her best to keep her breath steady. Everything was fine, she told herself. She was fine.

Once they were in the dining room, Liwanu was at Sitala's side, guiding her to her seat. There was an empty place at Sitala's left, directly across from a dark haired young man that Elloreah assumed to be Lokni. He had stunningly bright blue eyes, and she found herself frozen at her chair as their eyes met.

"Elloreah, this is Lokni and his sister, Hayeta," Sitala was saying beside her. Elloreah tore her eyes from the grinning, handsome young man across from her, and then turned to smile at his sister to acknowledge her was well.

The woman was petite, clearly athletic, muscles showing in her shoulders and arms in the sleeveless top she wore. She was leaning forward on the table eagerly, staring at Elloreah in rapt admiration.

"Elloreah," she said, as if feeling the way the name tasted on her tongue. "Sounds like a perfect name for one from the Ethereal realm," she said and without missing a beat, she continued with a sort of a pout. "But you're glamoured! I didn't get a good look before…"

Elloreah blinked, startled, and looked to Mingan instinctively. The dark man was resolutely looking elsewhere. She felt color rise in her cheeks and her heart set to pounding, forced to remember their awkwardness this morning.

Sitala came to her rescue. "Hayeta," she scolded softly. "Do you truly think she'd walk about unglamoured?"

"Don't mind my sister," Lokni cut in, standing and rounding the table. He gave Elloreah a little bow before reaching for her hand. Elloreah stood again, startled, nearly knocking her chair over as she did so. Lokni caught it deftly with his free hand, giving her a half smile. "Such a pleasure to meet you formally." He brought her hand to his lips, giving it a quick peck.

"Ah," Elloreah sputtered, drawing her hand back from him, nervously aware of the curse her right arm bore. "Thank you," she replied stiffly. "I am so glad you were able to come."

Lokni chuckled. "To come to the aid of maiden of such rare qualities—"

"Oh get on with it," Hayeta cut in. "We're at a ranch, not some grand palace. Enough of formalities and empty compliments."

Lokni shot her a withering glance. "We dine in the estate of the master of California. The closest to a lord in entire western United States. And in the company of one of the Ethereal--"

"I am not much for formalities myself. Sit, please?" Elloreah asked, gesturing to the chair Lokni had vacated.

"Not before you," he insisted, pulling the chair out for her and only returning to his place after seeing her in her seat. Hayeta rolled her eyes.

"Is everyone here?" Connie broke in from the kitchen. "I'd like to bring the food out.

"Yes, yes, Connie." Sitala said, waving her in. "Thank you."