SOL (ON HOLD)

CHAPTER 25

I let out a small, nervous laugh as she sat down on a cushioned wooden armoire and gestured for me to do the same.

"So, Sol of Mycroft, how are you finding Centerfold so far?" she asked, folding her hands over her overflowing robes.

"It's been interesting," I said hesitantly, "the Coliseum is amazing though, and the Undergarden too."

"Yes, yes," she said, waving her hand, "but what about the people?"

"The people?" I echoed, frowning.

"Are people not what make a place?"

"I guess- I guess they've surprised me. They are not what I expected they'd be when I first met them," I said, realizing the truth of the words just as they left my mouth.

Aella nodded sagely, "And you've gotten to know them quite well, I presume."

"I wouldn't go that far," I said, chewing my cheek.

Her hazel eyes bore into me, as if looking into the inner depths of my being. But it didn't make me uncomfortable, quite the opposite actually.

"Perhaps we should spar," she announced, suddenly, peeling herself off the armoire. Lifting a hand she said, "Show me what you have, swordswoman."

I drew my sword, unsure of what to make of this bizarre session. As I found my footing, a hot pink bolt flew by me, nearly singing me as I dove out of the way.

I looked over at Aella, eyes wide and she merely smiled, sending another two bolts which I managed to deflect with my sword.

"Tell me about them," she said serenely, sending flashes of magenta at me.

"What?" I said, my face contorted in focus.

"Your friends. Tell me about Pelias," she said, not relenting. "Is he rude and snobby like you first thought?"

"Yes," I said, my mind still on avoiding the blasts, "but he has a kind heart- somewhere in there- and he's a talented healer."

"Eleusis?" she asked, still firing at me.

"He's as thoughtful and kind as the day I met him, but," I grunted, pink bolts flying, "stronger than he looks."

"River?"

"Charming, funny, a great friend to have when you need advice or a tornado," I replied, sweat dripping down my neck.

"Fyn?"

"Fiercely loyal, and somehow still a bundle of fluff," I said, struggling to keep up with the onslaught.

"Ciel?"

"Sweetest person I kno-" I began, before I was knocked down by a bolt I had misjudged.

Aella offered me a hand, as the ball faded to nothing, leaving no burns.

"Wasn't that fun?" she said, calmly, balancing herself on the armoire.

"Sure, fun," I laughed, shaking out arms.

"Sol, I will be honest with you, as far as special skills go, you do not have many," she said, not unkindly but the words still stung.

"You are skilled with a sword but, physically, that's as far as it goes."

"Physically?" I asked, pathetically.

She nodded. "You are Gifted."

I sat a little straighter as she said the words. Was it possible that I had a secret magic I had yet to discover?

"You have the Gift of Amity."

I snorted, before composing myself. But I just couldn't take her seriously.

"You're telling me my gift is friendship," I said, my brow arched higher than I thought it could go.

"You may scoff at it now, but you will realize it's importance soon enough. I know you came here expecting some divine knowledge or at least a prediction or two," she stated, hazel eyes suddenly serious, "but do not underestimate the power of your Gift. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and even a queen is only as powerful as her allies."

I chewed on my cheek, "But what does that have to do with the Journey? How is going to help me with the the Masquerade."

Her hazel eyes took on an amused glow. "Sol, life does not start and end with the Journey. In fact, the Masquerade is only the beginning." I frowned. "Let's go for another round," she said, abruptly.

We sparred again, her still asking me questions about the others while relentlessly pelting me with bolts. Some were deep, causing me to remember bare, honest, conversations I had, others were trivial and seemingly useless.

I had been reluctant to answer her more personal questions but she had reminded me why she was the most famous seer in the West, by answering them herself.

She's not asking me because she wants to know, I realised, she's asking becuase she wants to see if I remember.

What was Odelyn's fantasy in Evamore? Why was Pelias so good in the mine? What is Aester's amican? What was Ciel's nightmare? What does Prince Syrion's name mean?

She sent a specifically malevolent bolt that snapped my training sword clean into two.
I flopped onto the couch, exhausted both physically and mentally, throwing the sword to the floor as Aella arranged her robes.

"Why don't you get the sword you brought with you," she said, ignoring my laboured breaths.

I pushed myself, not bothering to ask how she knew I even brought a sword.

I stumbled into the corridor and slumped into a little alcove to catch my breath.

"I don't have all day, Sol," she called, lightly.

Puffing, I made my way to our rooms. The late afternoon light poured through the glass walls and I realised she was right - it was almost evening.

Eleusis was leaning by one of the shelves, clutching a peice of paper.

"Hey Ele," I called, causing him to jump.

"Sol, perfect. There's something I really need to show you." His face was slightly flushed, and his eyes looked worried.

No, I realized as I looked at him more closely, they looked scared.