Sworn To Raise: Courtlight #1 (4 page)

The full-sized vision of Serena winked at Ciardis and then dissipated just as quickly as it had appeared. Proudly Serena said, “I am also ranked as a Master Tactician. You can’t become a military officer through magic alone, but because of my memorization skills and ability to project training modules, I have excelled at training Lord Cannon’s soldiers in military tactics.”

“But…but I don’t
have
any magic,” Ciardis said shamefully.

“Yes, and that will make your life more difficult,” Serena said bluntly. “There are companions with no magic, but their mundane skills are without peer. Kira, the assassin companion, is so skilled in the art of the knife that she has killed three princes at the request of her lord. And Miranda, the artist companion, builds automatons so lifelike that they’re used to attract customers in all the shops of her lady’s business ventures.”

As Ciardis shifted uncomfortably, Lady Serena said, “The question is, what can
you
do?” As Ciardis opened her mouth to reply, Serena cut her off with a wave of her hand. “And do not mention soaps.”

It was going to be long ride to the court of Sandrin.

“Oh heavens, dear,” said Serena, “I know you don’t. As your sponsor in this venture, I will provide for your lodging and attire. At least until you have been reviewed by the Companions Guild for potential trainee status.”

Over the next several hours, Ciardis was prodded and measured.

When Serena asked, “Are your undergarments linen or silk?” Ciardis gave her a look like a deer facing the glow of a bright lantern in the dark forest. She didn’t want to answer because she wasn’t wearing any aside from the woolen pants she wore to keep her legs warm under the skirt.

Reading her expression, Serena tersely ordered five pairs from the salon owner and snippily informed Ciardis that she would be enrolled in an intense class on “personal hygiene maintenance,” whatever that was, as soon as she had settled in as a trainee.

The measurements continued while Serena sipped tea and ate biscuits contently in the corner. Occasionally, Serena would interrupt the silence with lightning fast decisions on the cut of cloth and fit of the dresses Ciardis was trying on. Eventually Serena began to confer with the salon assistant on the best fabric and dyes to compliment what she referred to as Ciardis’s “decidedly brownish” hair.

“Tell me, Ciardis,” Serena said over the shop assistant’s head, “Your skin is chafed—I assume due to your duties and the cold temperatures of a winter in the vale. But what’s your skin like in the summer?”

Relieved to hear a question that she could
answer, Ciardis hurriedly said, “Quite tough, ma’am. At least, compared to those in the vale. I even got calluses when I wrung out the clothes in the river.”

Serena grimaced. That was not the answer she had been looking for.

Serena tapped her fan in irritation. “This could complicate your debut.”

Turning to the shopkeeper, she explained, “We’ll stick with the current attire, including long sleeves to mask the rough patches on her skin. I’ll send orders for more garments in the spring after we’ve started you on a strict moisturizing regimen.”

He nodded in acknowledgement from the counter where he was tallying up the cost of all the gowns Serena was purchasing. The shopkeeper’s assistant never raised her head from where she was focused at Ciardis’s waist stitching a small piece of gold cloth with a flower design to improve the overall look.

Serena continued, “And if the Council of the Companions Guild judge you worthy as a companion trainee, as they surely will, all your needs will be seen to before the Patron Hunt.”

“Patron Hunt?” asked Ciardis, feeling a bit dazed at everything, as the sour-faced shopkeeper’s assistant held up the third swatch of dark blue up against her skin in as many seconds. The assistant looked to Serena and the shopkeeper for the decision. Ciardis had learned a few dresses back to not even bother voicing her desires in this venture. It never ended well.

Serena indicated her approval with a subtle nod. “Yes, this color made into a simple frock will do nicely.” She turned to the shopkeeper and said, “Oh, she’ll also need a few accessories—scarves, pins, and a cloak, as well as some light weaver’s dresses for her tutorials.”

“Aye, milady.”

Serena turned her attention back to Ciardis. “Now, where were we? Ah, yes. In three months’ time, you will be presented at the Patron Hunt, a gala that lasts for two days and three nights. At the end, you must be claimed by a patron.”

Ciardis bit her lip and nodded as if she understood, though she really didn’t understand anything at all. They left with three packs of dresses wrapped in paper and a promise from the shopkeeper that the rest would make its way to the Companions Guild before two nights had passed.

Once they got settled in the carriage, they proceeded eastwards, toward the ocean. Soon, Ciardis could hear the squawk of water birds as they dove along the quays, their wings outspread. She wondered if she might catch a glimpse of the royal palace. Surely it was grand enough to be seen from atop the gates.

They rounded a bend, and there it was: a huge, sprawling palace of sparkling pink marble blocks, spires, and turrets, stretching as far as Ciardis could see. She giggled nervously as her gaze looked over the castle and then she took a moment to look at the white beach with beautiful turquoise waters that lay off to her right.

Ciardis was startled out of her exploration at the sharp poke of Serena’s finger on her shoulder. She admonished Ciardis, “Do not
ever
let me hear that noise coming out of your mouth again.” She shuddered delicately. “Companions do not giggle.”

“Yes, milady,” Ciardis whispered.

Their carriage pulled up to the gates and entered a wide courtyard decorated with fountains spraying water from spouts every which way. The manicured lawn spread before her with elaborately shaped trees and green grass that would leave farmer’s with envy back home As it eased to a halt, Serena said grandly, “Welcome, my dear, to the Companions Guild.”

They stepped out into the courtyard, and Ciardis reveled in the smell of fresh salt air. “This is not a royal palace?” she inquired after a long moment.

Serena responded negatively. “Well, don’t dawdle,” she soon called out as she began to rush into the cavernous entryway. Ciardis was almost left behind, and she hurried to grab their purchases from the top of the steerage.

“Of course I can see why you might mistake it for a royal palace,” Serena said when Ciardis had caught up, and for a second, the girl had no idea what she meant. Then she continued, “This castle was built decades ago for Queen Margeis, you see. She was the first companion—and only
companion, thus far—to rise to royal consort. The Queen bequeathed the castle and a tidy sum of money to a group of wealthy Companions after she passed to the heavens for the training and establishment of a guild—” She broke off.

“Sarah!” squealed Serena as she stared up the stairs to a woman perched being a desk on the balcony a story above. The woman stood up abruptly and looked over the staircase railing next to her at Serena’s cry. Serena rushed up a small staircase to the imposing white desk which stood parallel to it. Sarah, the bespectacled woman with blue-streaked hair piled on top of her head, came out from behind the desk she attended to greet Serena. Ciardis took in the scene with a little smirk, thinking,
Companions don’t giggle…and yet they can squeal?

Serena, noticing that Ciardis was again lagging behind, motioned for her to join them. “Sarah, may I present the Companions Guild’s newest recruit: Ciardis Vane.”

Sarah’s lips curled in amusement as she took in Ciardis, who was lugging multiple packages and her belongings from Vaneis up the winding stairs. “Gypsy stock, I see,” Sarah murmured, then leaned forward to whisper into Serena’s ear, “And she’s just
barely
the newest recruit. Another recruit checked in just hours before – although Ciardis can of course take the title for now.” The blue-haired woman leaned back with a smug look.

Serena’s gasp was audible from where Ciardis stood on the landing. Ciardis could barely hear them and she had no idea what the gasp was about. Sarah continued with a sarcastic roll of her eyes because she hated Vana just as much as Serena did, “Our
beloved
Lady Vana rolled in this morning with a Chimaeran girl!”

“What!” Serena said, shocked. “Chimaeran? Impossible!” She was clearly distressed.

“It’s true!” Sarah hastily explained, “She was apparently just passing by the Summer Isles and happened upon this young girl.”

“She was ‘just passing by’ the Summer Isles?” echoed Serena. She then said something quite unladylike. “No one
just
‘
passes by
’ the Summer Isles. The number of pirates in that region alone requires an armed escort of at least three destroyers to ward them off!” Serena paced in front of the desk. “That…that…
harridan
did this just to spite me! I know she did!”

Ciardis looked at her askance as Serena had basically just questioned the woman’s heritage…all for what?

“Oh, dear, hush now. You’re frightening the new recruit,” Sarah said soothingly.

Serena grimaced and sighed. “Well, there’s nothing to be done about it now. Ciardis, meet Sarah, the Head Archivist for the Guild. She registers each and every recruit, trainee, and full companion, along with their past and present domiciles, annual salary, and their magical and/or mundane talents. She’ll fit you in to the roster.” She gestured for Ciardis to step forward. “Your training begins tonight. There’s much to learn.”

From that moment on, Ciardis’s day was a whirlwind of constant movement. Sarah took her in hand and quickly explained the bureaucracy and regulations of living in the Companions Guild. “First of all, you need to know that the Companions Guild is run by the Companions Council. The council consists of seven individuals, five female and two male, all of whom are active companions with well-established patrons.”

Male companions? I didn’t know about those. I wonder if they’re for women, or maybe even for men,
Ciardis thought with shock.

As they walked along the hallway Ciardis took in the beautiful gardens through the colonnade. Sarah continued, “The Guild keeps detailed records of each of the companions who are bound to a patron, they are known as patron companions. These patron companions are able to provide the Companions Guild with political and financial support for council ventures in various ways. You never know who will come in handy. Who your patron is,” she said as they walked across a wide, tiled hallway, “will determine who
you
are.”

She took a set of keys from her belt and slipped one into the large metal lock of the left hardwood door before them. As the doors swung open, Ciardis saw a long hallway filled with door after door, presumably rooms or exits to other hallways.

“There are twenty-six rooms here,” said Sarah. “Enough for each recruit on the roster. Of course, we hope all of our recruits go on to the next step in the process and become full-fledged trainees. The decision of the Companions Council will decide that though.”

Ciardis nodded. “Of course.”

They stopped in the middle of the hallway, at Room Five B. “This is your room,” Sarah said. “The east side of the hallway is reserved for companion recruits and trainees without magic, like yourself. The A rooms, on the est, are reserved for those with magical talents.”

Ciardis’s eyes widened with shock, and she stuttered, “B-but Serena said there were only magical companions.”

“I’m sure she said no such thing,” Sarah said flatly. “She might have implied that magical Companions succeed most often, and she’s right. Patrons prefer Companions who are useful. But that’s not to say that there isn’t the occasional Patron—particularly those with no gifts of their own—who prefer a Companion who can maintain the books, organize the household, or even school their children.”

In her thoughts Ciardis highlighted on, “
maintain the books, organize, school.”

“That’s not a companion, that’s a wife,” muttered Ciardis.

“What?” Sarah asked sharply as she unlocked the door.

“Nothing,” said Ciardis hastily. “Just talking to myself.”

Ciardis walked into her new quarters behind Sarah, taking in the layout with wide eyes. This room was bigger than the kitchen at the inn in Vaneis! There was a four-poster bed, an armoire, a desk, a storage nook, and—at this point, she gasped aloud—
an
attached bathroom
. Sarah followed her as she wandered around in amazement, touching objects and gazing at them with wonder.