Chapter 11

When my growling stomach finally forced me out of my rooms, I darted to the kitchen to grab some food, thankful that it was still the weekend and classes would resume tomorrow. So the place was deserted, almost. Taking a peek into the kitchen, I saw Donn tending the fires and laying out the bread to rise for tomorrow. Breathing a sigh of relief, I entered and sat at the kitchen table and waited for him to notice me.

“Ahh, so the prodigal has returned.” He smiled and pushed a tray of leftover meat and cheese toward me with a loaf of rye bread. Cutting the bread in half, I put a couple slices of ham and cheese between the bread and took a bite. “Sorry, Donn, things have been kind of weird lately,” I said, sucking my fingers dry of the sweet ham’s juices.

“So I heard. Believe me, Tearsa has been on the rampage since it happened.” He turned his back to me and pulled out a cup and pitcher with yellow-pink liquid. “Try this; it’s my new recipe. He poured me a cup and my eyes went huge at the blend of sweet and sour taste. I coughed a little in surprise. Pounding my back with his meat cleaver of a hand, he asked, “Too much?”

“No, it’s perfect,” I replied to his obvious delight. “Why is Tearsa upset?”

“Well, she’s in a quandary; you went from kitchen help to permanent guest overnight. Your status has changed. She is in charge of making sure you have everything you need, but at the same time she resents it. “

“I’m still the same ol’ Thalia.”

“Yeah, but now you’ll be making new friends and ordering us around instead; almost like you turned traitor.” This was the most that Donn had ever said to me, but one remark did sink in.

“I’m not a traitor!” I took my plate over to the wash bin and started washing it.

“No, but you will be so busy with your new life that you will forget your old friends.” He brought over a towel and handed it to me to dry off my dish. “Just don’t forget about us.”

“Never, Donn. I will be here many nights sneaking food out of your pantry.” As I said it, I reached my hand to the bowl of fruit on the table as he grabbed a spoon and playfully whacked the back of my hand.

“I’ll be looking forward to it.” Donn studied me and frowned. “I’m surprised. Most Denai gifts appear at a much earlier age. You’re what, seventeen? You must be a late bloomer, or something.” He had no clue how close he was.

“Or something,” I mumbled under my breath and waved goodbye.

Leaving the kitchen I saw the door for Berry’s rooms and I remembered her gift. Running back to my new room, I grabbed her gift and brought it to a delighted Berry.

“I’m so excited!” She bounced in place with pleasure. “I can’t wait to see what colors I can come up with. It’s so much cheaper to dye my own material than it is to purchase it. You must introduce me to this Ruzaa.”

“I will, I promise you. The next opportunity that we have, we shall go together.” I told her a shortened version of everything that has happened in the last couple of days and she sat wide-eyed with disbelief. When it was time for me to go, she ran and gave me a couple of her old outfits to wear now that I wasn’t a servant and told me to visit often.

Walking back to my room at the end of the hall, I noticed that my door was opened and slightly ajar. Feeling a hint of trepidation I peeked into my room and looked around and didn’t see anyone. With a sigh of relief I went to my armoire to hang up the clothes. When I opened the door, a body dressed in black flew out of the armoire screaming.

Chapter 12

The attacker grabbed me and knocked me to the ground. Letting out a yell, it was soon squelched as the wind was knocked out of me from the force that landed on my stomach. I tried to pull free from the weight pressing down on me and struggled to push the attacker off, when I heard giggling. Looking closer, I saw that it was nothing more than Avina in her kitchen uniform.“I so scared you!” she cackled. “You were white as a ghost.” Jumping up she put her hands on her hips triumphantly.

Regaining my composure, I leaped toward my bed and grabbed the nearest pillow and threw it at her head.

“MMMPHFF!” she said as it hit her full force in the face, knocking her braid sideways until it landed on her head in a comical fashion.

With a wild gleam, she raced toward the window sill and grabbed a cushion which started a round of pillow war until we ripped one of the pillows and a spray of down feathers flew around the room. We looked like half-plucked chickens when a loud knock on the door came.

Still laughing, I opened the door to see Syrani with blonde hair piled high and a fake smile plastered on her face. Her face turned annoyed as soon as she saw me.

“Well, I’m surprised to see you here. I hope the new student isn’t going to have you whipped for destroying their room?”

“What are you talking about?” I asked, pulling a stray feather out of my hair. Avina ducked behind the door so she could peek through the crack and spy on Syrani.

“Well, I heard that there is going to be a new Denai. I came to introduce myself to him and to offer a private tour. Do you know when he will be back?” Her smile was plastered on her face again.

“Umm, Syrani, I think you’re mistaken. The new student that is enrolling isn’t a boy.” I wondered briefly if this was the tactic she used on Joss. Offering to be the tour guide and latching herself onto him. If that was the case, she was in for a surprise.

“Oh,” her smile dimmed a bit. “Well, that’s okay. We could always use more girls, as long as they know my rules.”

“Rules?” I asked, puzzled.

Avina began to make funny faces and it was becoming hard to keep a straight face.

Syrani was getting impatient. “Of course rules.” She counted off on her fingers. “Rule number one, stay out of my way and we can be friends. Rule number two, stay away from my boyfriend, Joss. Rule number three…remember rule one.” She paused for effect. “I heard rumors that this new Denai is unique and no one’s ever seen anything like them. I mean after all they were given the largest rooms in the housing wing.” She tried to peer around my shoulder to look into the room.

By now, Avina was doing a frumpy impersonation of Syrani ticking off her rules and I couldn’t help but giggle.

“I’m very sorry, Syrani, but I don’t think the new student is going to be able to abide by your rules.”

Her beautiful face snarled in reply. “Why ever not?”“Because…” I couldn’t help it, it was too easy. I plastered the biggest, fake smile on my face and threw my voice into a higher pitch similar to her own. “I’m the new student.” Before she could form a retort, I slammed the door in her face.

Picturing her standing on the other side looking at the wooden door made me erupt into a fit of giggles. Avina hooted in laughter. But when we finally calmed down a bit, I thought about what I had just done and a large lump formed in stomach. I had just humiliated my biggest enemy.

Chapter 13

Whoever thought that I could slide into the classes without causing a fuss was crazy. Syrani had a head start and had spread some pretty ugly things about me to the other students. I was avoided like the plague. There were some curious stares and a few whispered comments, but no one welcomed me or asked my name.