Chapter 7

The morning sun's rays filtered through a floral-patterned screen that blocked the window in their room. The colors splashed on the bed in hues of red, orange, and pink. It was a peaceful way for Elara to wake up, alone in her extremely comfortable bed. She closed her eyes again, basking in the comfort. The tingling just beyond her eyes, begging her to drift back to sleep, to dream. She would have to leave soon, which meant dragging herself into the shower. Ugh! she thought, maybe her parents would be okay if she arrived later than she had planned? 

A click of the lock disrupted Elara's thoughts. Her eyes darted to the door, and reality sank in as she took a better look at the room. She was not in her comfortable bed; she was at the Cipher house, and it was unlikely that she would see her parents that evening, whether they liked it or not. Elara slipped out of bed, wrapping the robe around her before Fenrick walked through the door. He carried with him a tray of what she supposed was breakfast. After the food last night, she felt far from hungry but the smells of fried meats and warm bread still caught her attention. 

"You better hurry, sparrow we don't have time to sleep in. I'm going to ask you some questions, just nod your head yes or shake your head no. Do you understand?" Fenrick sat down on the bed. Elara slid back onto the bed, grabbing a piece of toast with a nod. 

"Alright, good." Fenrick removed the plate from the tray, revealing a small stack of papers. "I did myself a favor this morning and picked up some actual paperwork. Trainers are less inclined to take a bribe than the 'Mech heads' in the office. Something about - " Fenrick waved his hand in a circle for emphasis " - possible death or injury if these things aren't known." He scowled, filling out some parts before asking the first few questions, all having to do with Elara's health up to this point. She had to admit, sitting there eating strange breakfast meats, that she was feeling remarkably well this morning. Her only soreness was a light purple bruise on her arm. Even the blisters on her feet and cuts on her legs were missing. Soon, he was done with his line of questioning, and Elara was also done with her plate. 

"Robe stays here." Fenrick grabbed the hem, yanking it softly from her back. "You have to go in with what you came with." He grinned, stripping the luxurious robe completely and setting it on the bed. He moved to stand in front of her, towering above her so she had to look up to see more than just his waist. She stepped back, but Fenrick's hand kept her where she was. "Once you go into the training center, I won't see you until you've completed it." He sat at the edge of the bed, pulling her to stand in front of him. "It usually takes a couple of weeks, so, I will be back in my village until they send a parchment telling me you've completed. I've only been gone a short time, but I'm sure some of the farmers have messed with at least two enchantments that will need repairing." He pinched the skin between his eyes in frustration. "Anyway - " He shook his head, leaning back on the bed to get a better view of her. "Maybe I was wrong earlier about the clothes." He slanted his head, feasted his eyes on her in a way that succeeded in making her uncomfortable, but when he licked his lips, something stirred inside her that she was not okay with. She fought, covering herself with her arms, looking away to the wall. 

"Look at me, sparrow." His voice was low and commanding. Her heart leaped to her throat as she turned to look at him. He was still sprawled out on the bed, his oversized frame taking up a considerable portion now that he was in the middle. She steadied her breathing, listening for that double heartbeat, that unsettling melody she had heard earlier. She continued to listen as she trained her eyes on him, noting that his rhythm seemed to speed up slightly, though his body showed no outward signs of nerves. What else makes a heart race like that? she wondered uneasily, the implication making her skin crawl even as her eyes deliberately scanned his form, then, taking in details just as he had done to her moments before. Fine, she thought bitterly, if he could appraise her like some prize animal, she could return the favor. Her assessment complete, she lifted her gaze back to meet his, then gave a slow, deliberate nod – a silent, insolent mimicry of approval she hadn't been asked for.

Fenrick leaned forward so that his elbows were on his knees. The quick movement took Elara off guard; his face was suddenly very close to hers. "Not puking now?" he teased. Elara cocked her head to the side, and grinned. She turned quickly, feigning as though she were about to puke. Fenrick moved his feet out of the way with a shout. Elara giggled, which caught Fenrick's attention. "Do that again," he commanded. 

Elara shrugged, feeling a bit out of place. She furrowed her brow and shook her head, not out of defiance, but unsure of how to do what he asked. She attempted to force some laughter, but was met with a dry mouth, only creating a bit of a squeak for her effort. 

"Curious." Fenrick pondered. "Try your hardest not to make sounds during training. You're not supposed to be able to make any considerable noise at all, especially not a giggle." He gripped her jaw, turning her head to look at her mark. "It seems fine; I'll have to study this after your training". He concluded. Fenrick held her chin for a moment longer, stroking her jaw with his thumb before removing his hand. "Let's head out. Don't want to risk losing you now." He smiled, standing to his feet. His hand reached out, slapping her hard on her rear. "That's for pretending to puke. You're so rude," he grinned. A nice welt was already forming on Elara's bottom.