Chapter 307: Chapter 260: Black Ash

Yanni’s long black tail swayed behind her while she observed Emberlynn’s daughter with a tilted head. Ravyn was just as fiery and combative as the mistress had claimed. If she wasn’t muttering expletives under her breath, she was leaning on her palm, drumming her fingers, sighing, sipping her tea like a disobedient kitten.

I see nothing of the mistress in this woman, Yanni thought.

“Take a seat, then,” Ravyn said, gesturing to one of the chairs.

“I will stand,” Yanni said, clasping her hands in front of her and resting them on her lap, as was customary for Emberlynn’s servants. “It is more comfortable for me.”

Ravyn raised a brow. “Mou ii.”

Ravyn was a strange person. Never had Yanni heard such words. She pondered their significance, bookmarking the event in her mind in case a topic of conversation would be necessary later.

“I don’t mean to be rude, but you caught me at a bad time,” Tristan admitted.

Yanni shook her head. “Please, tend to your companion. If you require me, I shall be right here.”

“Thanks.”

“Really, I’m fine,” the one named Destiny said. Tristan kept a firm hand on her shoulder and offered her consoling words. The man of Shi Island was just as graceful as Yanni had imagined. As to be expected of an island which prided itself on service. “I’m sorry if I gave you a scare.”

“I just want to be sure you’re alright,” Tristan said as he pulled her closer beside him.

This young man so readily professes his concerns. Yanni struggled to remember the term she’d heard a man use before. Was it… to wear one’s sleeve on their heart? She briefly imagined Tristan happily tearing the sleeve from his shirt to gift wrap his own heart and hand it to Destiny, who in turn cheered.

Yanni nodded to herself, humming. Yes. That was it.

“Wind told me how to find you,” the blonde catgirl said. She took to the opposite side of the one named Destiny, leaning her head against the crook of Destiny’s neck. “I was worried.”

“Lara, I’m okay,” Destiny insisted. “Really. I promise.”

Yanni watched Ravyn, and Ravyn watched the room. Her violet gaze met Yanni’s, then returned to Tristan and his companions, then came back to her. 

“What are you doing?” Ravyn asked.

“I am observing,” Yanni said.

Ravyn frowned. “That’s kinda creepy. Can you come back later?”

“My sincerest apologies, but Mistress Emberlynn made it quite clear that I am to obey Tristan’s commands and no other. I hope you understand.”

Something between a groan and a gag escaped Ravyn’s lips, and Tristan chuckled.

“Actually, I was hoping you might be able to help me with something,” Tristan said, standing up. 

He was short for a man and smiled much more in one day than she had ever witnessed with Cailu Raloquen. But Tristan carried a strange charm that Yanni struggled to put into words. Each word from his mouth was selected with care, and his face was incredibly expressive. He reminded Yanni of Emberlynn and her associates. Charismatic, intelligent, eloquent. Whether or not her assumptions of him were true, however, remained to be seen.

“I am at your service,” Yanni said, bowing at the waist.

“Would anyone in Zhuli be able to help me become a [Wizard]?”

Yanni blinked. “Yes, Tristan. Emberlynn has many [Wizard]s under her employ. If you would wish it, I will go to her immediately and relay your message.”

“That would be amazing.” Tristan reached forward. “I hope we’ll make great allies.”

Yanni observed his hand, noting how clean it was. His nails were perfectly clipped and trimmed, his skin smooth and soft and devoid of scars or wrinkles. No calluses or rigid edges to be found.

“Uh, is something wrong?” Tristan asked.

Yanni smiled and gently placed her fingers in his palm before shaking, using only the top half of her hand. “Nothing at all. I will go to the mistress at once.” She freed her fingers from his grasp, offered another curt bow, then exited into the hallway.

What fascinating people, she thought. At last, I have a chance to prove my worth to Mistress Emberlynn. I will see to it that she is properly represented.

Yanni strolled through the hall, rose up the stairs, and entered Emberlynn’s discussion chamber. She heard Emberlynn’s ragged coughs as she entered, closing the door behind her and marching to the room on her left. Emberlynn had a rag to her mouth while one of the handmaidens tended to her with a cool towel.

“Mistress Emberlynn,” Yanni said, bowing.

Emberlynn took three short breaths. “Yanni.”

“Pardon my intrusion, but Tristan has asked that he be trained to become a [Wizard].” She folded her hands and set them in her lap.

Emberlynn nodded, taking her time to reply. It was always like this. The handmaidens had grown used to it by now, but it still pained Yanni and the others to see such a powerful woman brought low by illness.

“I will see to it that he is trained by Alia.” She coughed, then steadied her breathing while a second handmaiden rubbed her back. “I will have her meet him later tonight. I would suggest you show them the rest of Zhuli in the meantime.”

“Of course,” Yanni said with a bow. While she had never undergone the test herself, Yanni had witnessed a [Wizard]’s training enough to know that it could only be practiced during the evening, when the stars were out and the magic of the moon was at its strongest. “I will return to him with haste.”

“Wait,” Emberlynn said just as Yanni’s hand reached the doorknob. She regarded Emberlynn over her shoulder. “Please protect my daughter. She may not show it often, but she has a kind heart. Knowing that she’s still alive gives me warmth.” She smiled. “I would hate for Sophia to grow up without a mother and a sister.”

Yanni nodded, then exited the room. The door clicked behind her, and she returned to the main room, where Sophia was running circles around Ravyn.

“Come on, let’s play!” Sophia giggled. “I can run, and you can chase! You can chase!”

“I don’t think—” Ravyn started.

“Squaaawk, chase Sophia, chase Sophia, squawk!” the bird on Ravyn’s shoulder—her familiar as Yanni understood it—encouraged. While Ravyn referred to the bird as Bally, she had also caught wind that it was short for Ball Gag.

Is a ball gag supposed to be something? A gag and a ball.

Yanni was familiar with gags. She knew of the gags which were jokes and playful jabs, and the gags used to silence those who tried to assassinate Mistress Emberlynn. The image of a catgirl choking on a ball and falling on her side dead played in front of her.

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I must be misunderstanding something. I will ask Ravyn at a later time.

As she had earlier, she mentally bookmarked the event to use in conversation later.

“Ravyn’s getting tired, Sophie,” Ravyn groaned as Sophia spun her sister around by her hand.

“I run! You catch!” Sophia said. “Three, two, one, go!” She darted away in an instant, disappearing into the corridor behind her.

Ravyn put a hand on her hip, sighed, and then chased after her sister, disappearing into the same hallway.

How endearing.

Yanni descended the stairs and returned to the room earlier to see that Tristan and his remaining companions were still there, enjoying cups of tea. “I bring fortuitous news. Lady Alia will be your [Wizard] instructor.”

“That’s great!” Tristan said, rising to his feet. “Where should I meet her?”

“It will be here,” Yanni pointed at the floor. “However, such training cannot begin until evening has set, so you must wait. Mistress Emberlynn insists that I accompany you through Zhuli until then.”

“That sounds like a great idea.” Tristan smiled at Destiny and helped her to her feet. “Let’s go walk around. Get some fresh air.” He looked over her shoulder at Lara next. “You too, Lara.”

Lara blinked, then smiled. “Okay.”

A hint of blush colored Destiny’s cheeks. Her hand trembled in his, though it was so subtle that Yanni wondered if she had imagined it. “I-I would like that very much,” Destiny said.

What a fine young man.

“Yanni, will you lead?” Tristan asked.

Yanni smiled. “I would very much like that. I can show you some of the finer places in Zhuli, if you so desire.”

“I’m sure you could. How about you take us to some of your favorite places instead?”

Yanni found his request strange. Few men ever wished to know what catgirls thought. Burying personal needs was necessary to ensure a proper society. It was for the greater good. Yanni fully accepted, and agreed, with such things. It was best to leave such concerns behind to avoid burdening the man. The field of battle was where words truly mattered, when anyone’s life could be lost in a moment. Tristan was so unlike Cailu Raloquen, who barked orders and commanded the obedience of those around him. 

However, Yanni was not upset by Tristan’s words. “I would be happy to show you.”

“Great! Thank you so much. I’m very grateful for Emberlynn’s time and hospitality. I’m not sure how we would get through this without her and Ravyn.”

“Mistress Emberlynn is a wise woman,” Yanni said. “I hope that your conversation bore fruit.”

“I think it did. We’ll just have to see how things pan out from here.” Tristan looked at Destiny and Lara. “In the meantime, though, I think we could all use a break.”

“Shall I fetch Lady Ravyn as well?”

“Noooooo,” Lara said with an airy voice, shaking her head. Of all of Tristan’s companions, she was the strangest of them all. Her voice was soft and light and many of her words had an almost musical lilt, as if she were reciting them just as they popped into her head. “Her mom needs her here. That’s what Wind tells me.”

Yanni blinked. “Wind?”

“Wind talks to me. So do the other Elements. But Wind loves gossip, so she talks to me the most.”

Did I hear that correctly? Does this fully grown lady believe she can speak to the Elements? Sophia had claimed as much, but she was just a kitten.

It was a thought to ponder on later, but Yanni did not wish to insult Tristan. 

“A wondrous gift,” Yanni said as she pictured a gust of wind spinning Lara around as it yelled gossip into her ear. Yanni’s ears flicked back, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “You will need to tell me what Wind thinks of me sometime. I very much value the wind. Even as a little girl—”

“Wind is here right now,” Lara continued, “but she says she… erm, doesn’t really like you.”

Is this Lara’s way of telling me that she dislikes me? “That is a shame. Perhaps we will grow to respect one another with time.”

“She doubts that.”

Tristan scratched the back of his neck and averted his gaze. “Why don’t we get going? Daylight’s burning.”

“Yes, let’s!” Destiny said.

Tristan smiled, leading Destiny and Lara out of the room. Lara followed behind him, humming an offbeat tune while Yanni brought up the rear. Lara occasionally glanced back at Yanni, her expressions becoming more difficult to read with each glance.

Did I do something wrong to earn her ire?

It didn’t matter.

Like most thoughts, Yanni tucked and filed the idea into a fold of her mind where it could be easily retrieved, then followed Tristan and his Party out of Emberlynn’s estate and into the streets of Zhuli.

My first real Party with a man. I will not falter.

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