Chapter Four :: The First Lesson

Another chapter! I know you've been missing it! This is not one of the best, and it's a bit short, but my 'sprite' has gone astray! Woah, and I just now realized it's been exactly 2 months since my last post for this story. How sad... :-(


Chapter Four :: The First Lesson
There was something whispering along my cheeks and fluttering near my ears. A horsefly most likely, just waiting to take a chunk of my cheek for its own. I swatted at it, and satisfied, rolled over, allowing myself to be tugged back into the safe arms of sleep. A shrill cry caught me on the edge though, forcing my eyes open.
I was confronted by what looked like a tiny, silver human. A female human. She was nude, about the height of my hand and had her hands on her hips, staring at me accusingly. Her eyes were silver as were her wings. The only other color showing on her body was a blue belt around her waist, that matched the shade of her lips.
She gave me one more glare and fluttered away from the bed. Only then did I notice Cerunnos sitting off to the side in a well padded wing backed chair. I glared at him as the small creature hovered near his shoulder, chattering frantically in his ear. After hearing her out he nodded and laughed before turning to me.
“It is good to see you awake, Aerveta. It would appear that other than the energy drain, you are no worse for your evening. I probably should have tested you first, before including you in a ritual, but it just seemed so perfect...” he reached to his side and pulled forth a small tray with a goblet on it. “ Drink this and then we can go down to the bathhouses and make sure you're full. I have a feeling that today will be quite the experience for you. I'll meet you outside when you're ready.” I watched him leave, noting that he had changed since last evening and now wore simple black breaches and an open black shirt, revealing a thick gold chain around his neck.
I drank down the cool blood in the glass. It was not so filling as when fresh out of a body. I shuddered at the thought. It would take some getting used to. Climbing slowly out of bed, noting the tension in my body, I went to the wardrobe and withdrew a simple brown dress. Were it not for the delicate stitching, and the soft cloth, it could have been something my mother would have made. I held it close to my face imagining her smell mixing with the feel of sunlight on the skin. Then I pulled it on. There was no time for moping.
*
As promised, Cerrunos was waiting for me in the garden. Although the sun was shining, he seemed to take no notice. Instead, he was staring intently into a fountain, his lips moving quietly. I peered around him, and for a moment, swore I saw an image. Then, he turned to me and the fountain smoothed before the water returned to its normal rippling pattern.
`“You're ready then? Marguerite did say she took you yesterday, so you know how the bathhouse works?” He offered his arm as I nodded silently. “After you have bathed, we will go back to my rooms and begin your training. Lightly, at first, as it may be a bit much, but soon you'll be the best of them.” His eyes twinkled, but I couldn't tell if it was with greed or mirth.
In the bathhouse, Josephine again undressed me and allowed me to drink my fill. She pinned my hair up gently and washed my limbs, massaging out the coils of muscle. Cerrunos, meanwhile had a young man rubbing him down with a musky, wood scented oil in a far corner. His eyes were unfocused, but again his lips were moving silently. I wondered what he could be doing. The young man touched him on the shoulder and gave him an admonishing look, before sitting him up and allowing him to feed. They then sat together talking, like old friends, their muscles glistening in the golden light.
Josephine followed my stare. “Master Cerrunos is and impressive man,” she said, watching me for a reaction, “You are lucky to have such a teacher. It's been too long since he's had anyone but harlots in his chambers.” She preened herself, suggesting that she may have been one of those harlots.
“I just wish I understood why I'm here, and what I'm meant to be learning...” I closed my eyes, trying to make sense of all the events that had taken place in the past few days. Josephine's hands traced circles on my back, more sensual than therapeutic.
“You'll find it out, sweet one, she sighed into my ear, before pushing me against the side of the tub.”
*
“Stop glaring at her, she's here to help you. If you can open up your mind to Medina, then that will be the first step in determining where your strongest skills lie.” Any relaxation that Cerrunos had gleaned from the bathhouse was quickly dissipating as I watched.
“She isn't a bug! Don't swat at her!” Medina had flown about behind my head and I was trying to fight the impulse to send her flying through the air. She flew back in front of me and gazed into my eyes. I felt myself falling into the silver depths of hers and then pulled myself upright. She made a tutting sound under her breath and flew to Cerrunos' shoulder, whispering frantically to him.
“Medina says that wind may not be your strong point, and that we should bring Theo out.” He sighed dramatically, “I had so hoped you would be an air.”
We had been in his chambers for little more than an hour and in that time I had learned that the small creature called Medina was a sprite and then in order to learn my other lessons, I would need to be able to commune with the sprites. From Cerunnos' most recent comment, I gleaned that sprites were somehow related to the elements, but what that had to do with me was yet unknown.
Cerrunos returned from an adjoining room with a small brown shape curled in his hand. Upon closer inspection, I saw that it was a nude man, Medina's size, but with a green belt, green wings, and green lips. All of the rest of him was as brown as the mud in mother's garden. Medina gave him a disgusted look before floating down and prodding him in the side with her toe. She appeared to be speaking but all I could hear were a series of shrill notes. Theo, for that's who I assumed the new sprite was, opened first one brown eye and then the other. He sat up and laughed, singing shrill notes back to Medina, before she flew back up to Cerunnos' shoulder in a huff. Then he rose, stretched and took flight, slowly working his way across the room to me. After a few spins and somersaults in air, he hovered in front of my face and smiled brilliantly, before waving.
“Aerveta, this is Theo. Now, let's try the same exercise, close your eyes and take a few deep breaths and then open them. Look into Theo's eyes and allow him to speak to you. In time, you may learn their language, but until then, all communications must be carried on inside your mind.” I did as he said, steadying my breathing, closing my eyes. When I opened them, Theo was staring at me kindly. We looked at each other for awhile, as I tried to wipe my mind clean.
“Hello Aerveta.” It was sudden, and as clear as if he had been whispering in my ear, but somehow I knew it was in my head. I jumped, knocking over the stool I had been sitting on, and Theo flew back to Cerunnos. He landed on the shoulder Medina was on and took her in his arms. She glared at him but stayed in his embrace. I stared at him in awe. Had he actually spoken to me?
“Very good, little girl. You've done an excellent job. Now, Medina and I have some things we must accomplish today, I'm going to leave you here with Theo, perhaps you two can carry on a proper conversation!” Cerunnos turned and was gone, as Theo fluttered down from his shoulder and toward me.
I sighed, and held out my hand. This was going to be an interesting life.

(c) CS