Page 13 of A Touch of Stars and Stones (Kirrian #1)

eight

. . .

Ever

I follow Micah, relieved to have a show of kindness in this place, but I glance back at the man I first saw in the hall.

He’s a trainee, too. I’ll get to see him every day.

Although he looks older than me and some of the others here, and certainly more confident the way he stood blocking me earlier, his body was a physical barrier that only riled my anger further.

He’s handsome—everyone could see that. But there’s also a familiar resemblance to the man who grabbed me.

The one I pushed across the room—the head of the Warrior Order.

Maybe that’s why I sensed a threat rolling from him as I stormed towards him. But his eyes held a warmth I wanted to confide in. And with his dark hair, square jaw, towering height, and muscles that did an abysmal job of hiding under his shirt, he took all my focus.

I hate that I felt so open and vulnerable standing in front of both him and the rest of my fellow trainees. Another reason to hate being thrust into this world with little explanation. I swallow that down and bring my attention back to what I was doing.

“So, this is where we have lessons,” Micah points to two rooms with tables and chairs set out in several rows.

“Classes range from studying the history of our Orders to astrology and maths.” Micah continues the tour, and I’m content to listen.

“There’s a library here, too. But the main library is in The Chamber building.

That’s where all the important texts are about the history of Kirrasia, Aslendrix, and Novandia. ”

“Novandia?” I ask. There have been a lot of names and new words thrown at me over the last few days, and I’m slotting them all into my memory to use and help make sense of all of this at some point. I’d not heard this one yet.

“Novandia is the brother of Aslendrix.”

“But Aslendrix is who you get your magic from?” I test what I’ve learned or heard already, putting it together again.

“Yes. She’s our Goddess, blessed be her.” He touches something at his neck, and I wonder if he wears a necklace as well, just like Kyra and Lyle.

“There you are.” Kyra joins us. “The other training Custodians would like to meet with you before you go back to The Court,” she tells me.

I nod, agreeing as I don’t think I have a choice. Another meeting. Maybe one that won’t have me assaulting anyone. Maybe one with answers, too.

“And are we going to see you for dinner?” She looks at Micah.

“Sure. It’s not like I’ve been gone for long.”

“But it’s so quiet at the table now nobody is running their mouth. Watch him. He’ll talk your ear off if you give him half a chance.” She flits off without waiting for a response.

“She’s my sister. If you were wondering.” Micah fills in the gap for me.

They have similar colouring, both having dark skin with big brown eyes.

Micah’s hair is cut short and neat against Kyra’s being long and intricately braided, which danced down her back in time with her skips, but I hadn’t been paying attention to similarities or who they might be to each other. “Is she younger than you?”

“No. Older. She’s already been through training. Some Kirrians don’t have strong magic abilities. They aren’t invited to join The Chamber, but there are many jobs and duties within The Court.” He leads me out of the building.

“Like being a Watcher?” I try to remember what Lyle told me about herself.

“Yes. It’s an important job, but only a few are chosen each year. They are cut off from the rest of Kirrasia for most of their life.”

“Lyle is a Watcher. That’s what she told me. She found one other aside from me.”

“It’s rare. We’re taught Aslendrix only grants her magical gifts to Kirrians.

It can happen, but don’t get your hopes up about your power.

There’s never been an outsider who’s gone on to take a role within The Chamber or become head of their Order.

Anyway, shall I show you the resident wing before leaving you with the Custodians?

They’ll just bore you with rules and stuff.

This way.” His words run together, bumping more and more information together, and it feels like I’m going to drown in everything I’ve learned.

He weaves us through a corridor, and then we’re back where we started.

“These are the training rings. Three is a sacred number in Kirrasia, and the points where these rings cross symbolise the growth and purpose of our training: to work together. This,” he points to another half-moon-shaped building, much bigger than the classrooms we’ve seen, on the edge of the far circle, “is the residence. All trainees move here at the start or just before their training begins.”

“We all live together?” My shock infects my voice.

He walks over to the entrance. “Yep. Some of us have moved from The Chamber residence, like Calix and Crimson, Aten and Capella. Others have come from our homes in The Court. You’ve seen the streets and houses? Did you notice the different Orders?”

He’s talking too fast with so much to take in, new names this time, but he seems genuinely nice and certainly friendly, which is such a relief.

“Um, I guess? It was a lot to take in when I first arrived.” And still is.

“I bet. So, who did you come with? You mentioned a Watcher?”

“Yes, Lyle. She’s, well, she’s… the closest person I have to a… She’s family.” While I am still furious about everything she’s kept from me, she’s still loved me and taken care of me like I was her own for all these years.

And as the enormity of everything ahead of me starts to unfold, my anger weakens its grip.

“But she didn’t tell you about what you have? Your magic?”

“No. I didn’t even know magic existed or that I had any until a few months ago, and back then I just thought I was going mad.”

“That’s… a little strange. Most children in Kirrasia have latent power.

They are born here and learn about their gifts at an early age.

I knew I was an Elemental. My parents both were.

Although my power isn’t as strong as others.

” He leads me along the curve of a corridor inside the residence building with doors on each side.

“This is me.” He pushes open a door and steps inside the room.

I take a tentative step inside, not sure what to expect. It’s neat and tidy and far more spacious than my room back home. Although not as grand as the rooms I’m staying in at the moment.

“All the rooms are the same. You’ll be the tenth trainee.

Your room will be along from mine, as I arrived a while ago.

Aten is the newest, well, except for you now.

” He leaves his room and heads around the bend in the corridor again.

There were doors on both sides, but no names or anything else to identify who had which room.

“This will be you.” He knocks on the door as if someone will answer, but he keeps going. “The dining hall is along here.”

We enter an open room with a vaulted ceiling and a huge hearth with a roaring fire, even though it’s warm outside. It makes it feel homely, and I snatch at the feel of comfort, even if it’s for a brief moment.

Three long wooden tables have been set out with benches on either side.

“Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all served for you here. But you’re not forced to stay to eat all the time. We’re free to come and go—within reason.” He wiggles his eyebrows at me and gives me a goofy grin.

His carefree and abundant nature eases something in my chest.

“What’s on the menu? Kyra gave me these little pastry treats for breakfast today. They were delicious.” My hopes soar at the thought of eating those again.

“A sweet tooth, huh?” a voice startles me, and I turn to see the man from the Great Hall again—my would-be challenger—walking out of a door from across the room to us, a plate of food in his hand.

“Perhaps,” I admit, feeling a little shy. The truth is, we didn’t have a lot of sweet things back home. Fruits, sure. But not layers of buttery flaky pastry and soft custard delights.

He walks right up to us, his eyes locked with mine, and a rush of… heat hits me, building from inside my chest. It’s not dissimilar to what I felt when the man, his father, if I were guessing, grabbed me.

He seems to notice something, too, taking his time to watch me for a moment, the scrutiny warming my cheeks enough that I drop my eyes. He sets his plate on the table, and I look back up at him.

“I’m Aten Ciro. Welcome to Kirrasia, Ever.” He gives me a slight bow of his torso. And then he picks up something from his plate and hands it to me.

It’s one of the pastries from breakfast. I look at it, then at him, and he just stands there, a smile pulling at the corner of his mouth.

That I’m now staring at.

“Ah, thank you.” I reach out to take it, and our fingers brush, just the slightest of touches, but the impact snatches my breath.

Something else replaces the heat. Something burning. And the air around us seems to thicken with tension.

Images. Flashes.

Red. And purple. A woman’s face and the night sky. And… my face. Walking right towards me as if I’m watching the events of earlier through his eyes.

It’s only for a few seconds, but it’s all there in my mind.

Are those his memories?

He steps back quickly and sits down. His head lowers, his demeanour cool in comparison to a moment ago.

“You can have custard tarts whenever you like.” Micah fills the silence. “Just speak to the cooks. They will make sure there’s something for you every meal.” His voice has lost a little of its enthusiasm, and I can see him looking back and forth between me and Aten.

“Don’t we have to go somewhere?” It feels like I need to leave. Or rather, I’d like some space to catch my breath.

“No need, Ever. We seem to have found you.” Rowan walks into the hall with a group of others around him that I assume are the Custodians. He gives a stern look in Micah’s direction, who offers a shrug in response, which Rowan just shakes his head at.

I hate being in front of an audience and thought I’d done enough of that for one day, but apparently not.

A much older woman with long, silver hair flowing down her back walks towards me. She gives me a quizzical look, another expression I’m starting to become familiar with, and then eyes Aten, before coming back to me. She wears a large pendant at the base of her neck, gleaming purple.

“This is Aurelia, the Custodian of the Guard,” Rowan makes the introductions.

A tall, slender man, who is much younger than the others, by the name of Perrin, is the Custodian for the Natural Order, and a woman of a similar age to Rowan, tall and bold, with grey flashes through her hair, introduces herself as Nova from the Elemental Order.

“We, with others from The Chamber, will oversee all your training. You will be limited to lessons and study for now. There will be no physical training for now.”

“That’s a good thing,” Micah chips in. “No morning runs or drills.”

“Those, she will be able to join. There will be no combat or experimental physical training sessions until after the Transference.”

“When will that be?” The words are out of my mouth before I’ve engaged my brain. But I chance a glance down towards Aten. He’s clearly listening to everything. We’re too close for him not to hear, but despite my wanting to catch his eye, he keeps his head forward and away from me.

“The Maker will decide. She will let you know in time. When Aslendrix is ready to bestow her gift.”

That was a rubbish answer. Days, weeks, months? Will the Transference mean I stop seeing things? Stop the episodes I keep slipping into?

“You will stay in your rooms in The Chamber until that time. There will be much for you to learn, Ever. But we’re looking forward to working with you.

” Rowan smiles, and I get the impression he’s a kind man.

“As Micah has done such a great job in showing you the training area, I’m sure he’ll be able to provide the timetable for you, and Kyra will escort you when you’re needed. ”

“I’m sure I’ll be able to cope without a chaperone.” I was already the odd one out. I didn’t need more attention focused on that fact. “Although that’s a kind offer,” I add the last line, not wanting to offend.

This was going to be tiresome. Caught between wanting to learn and not knowing what to do or say. I was exhausted already.

“Kyra will accompany you until you’re… settled.”

I nod. Fine.

“Very well. Feel free to join the rest of your trainees for dinner from now on. Although I think we all have a prior engagement tonight.” With that, Rowan and the others leave.

And so does Aten. Without a word or a look back in my direction.

The disappointment in my chest is uncomfortably real.

“Are you going to eat that?” Micah reminds me of the pastry in my hand.

I put it back on the untouched plate Aten left. “I’d like to go back to my room now.”