Remembered (14 page)

The room was a small library.

Large windows—decorated with stained glass depicting scenes
of lakes and mountains—covered artificial light, giving the feeling of being
above basement level.

In the middle of the room, arranged in a semi-circle, were
three oversized, brown, leather couches, all in view of a large unlit fireplace.
On every other spare piece of the wall were bookshelves filled with hundreds of
books.

Annie sat down on the middle couch with Max and tapped her
fingers nervously on the wooden table in front of her. It took her a moment to
realize that Kellus had not moved. He stood like a statue in front of her.

“Annie, please forgive me,” he said when she looked up at
him. “I was worried about Cora. The men told me that Max had been here earlier,
that one of his sisters was ill. Then word came that a carriage carrying a sick
girl was approaching. I assumed it was Cora. I should have stayed away from
you, but I had to see her for myself.”

Max stood up and walked to the windows, turning his back on
them. His way of giving them what privacy he could.

“I understand,” she replied, forcing a smile. “How have you
been, otherwise?”

He bit down on his bottom lip with both front teeth and
shook his head. “I’ve been better,” he whispered.

“Me too,” she responded.

“Do you mind if I stay with you?” he asked quietly. “I’d
like to hear the news as soon as possible.”

“Of course,” she replied, remembering his fondness for Cora.

He sat on the couch to her left and continued to glare at
the floor.

Max paced behind them.

Finally, after an hour or more, the door opened and Conor
walked through, wearing the same white surgeon’s uniform as the other peaceman.
He took a seat next to Annie and looked into her face, placing a hand on her
left shoulder. “We are going to perform an emergency nephrectomy,” he said.

“What is that?” she questioned. She didn’t like the sound of
that word.

“We are going to remove Cora’s right kidney,” he reiterated.

“Oh no,” Annie gasped in a distraught voice.

“Please, listen,” Conor ordered. “She can live a long and
normal life with only one kidney, but if we don’t get that other one out soon,
she will not last.”

Max and Kellus stared anxiously at the peaceman. “When will
you perform the surgery,” Kellus asked.

“We are already preparing her. I took a moment to explain
the situation to her family. We will proceed in a matter of minutes.”

“Can I see her?” Max asked.

“I am very sorry, but it’s not possible for you to see her
now. Almost everything in the room has already been sterilized.”

Annie’s hand flew up to her mouth, tears formed in her eyes.
What if something happened and she hadn’t had the chance to say goodbye?

“Please, don’t worry,” Conor said, noticing her distress.
“This is not a very dangerous or complicated surgery.”

When Conor left the room, Annie began biting on her nails.
Kellus sat next to her. He took her hand from her mouth and held it between
both of his. “Please, don’t do that, Annie,” he said, placing all three hands
together on his lap. “He spoke the truth; this is not a difficult surgery.”

At that moment, a small commotion coming from the next room
caught their attention.

“Is what I hear true? Is Cora Derlyn here?” a booming voice
called out.

Kellus looked at Annie. “The Master,” he mouthed.

Annie nodded, straining to hear.

“Why was I not informed of this sooner?” The Master
demanded.

“I apologize,” they heard Conor answer, “but we were not
aware that this would be of interest to you.”

Max sat down next to Kellus; they stared at one another
questioningly.

“Yes, well…” The Master mumbled. “How is the girl?

“We are about to perform an emergency nephrectomy. I must
get back to her,” Conor replied.

“Thank you, Conor. Please see to it that the girl gets the
best of care and keep me informed of her condition. Where is her family?” he
asked.

“They are in the small library,” Conor answered.

They heard footsteps approach the door.

“Nordorum,” Conor called beyond the door.

“Yes, Conor, what is it?”

“I thought I should let you know that Kellus Kir is with
them. It seems he is a family friend,” Conor explained.

“Is that so?” the Master replied, then let out a loud,
hearty chuckle. “Well, that certainly is interesting news,” he added, strangely
amused.

Kellus shot Annie a panicked look.

The Master—Nordorum—walked through the door and filled the
entire room with his awe-inspiring presence. He stood at over six feet, six
inches tall. His long silver hair rested on top of his shoulders, giving the
impression of flowing water, the color exaggerated by his black uniform. He had
the same short beard and mustache that he had last time he visited Annie. His
eyes twinkled with so much warmth and kindness that it was hard not to feel
affection for him.

He immediately looked at Annie’s hand wrapped up in both of
Kellus’s and smiled at them, causing Kellus to pull his hand away quickly. “Why
did you do that, Kellus?” he asked with an amused smirk. “There is no crime in
comforting a friend.”

“It was a reflex, sir, nothing more,” Kellus answered.

“Annella, how are you? Nordorum said, walking over to hug
her. “It has been too long since we’ve seen one another. Are you doing well?”

“I’m doing fine. Just worried about Cora,” she answered.

“I know,” he replied, “but there is nothing to worry about; she
is in capable hands.”

“I hope so,” Annie mumbled under her breath.

“Max,” Nordorum said, turning to face him. “You just keep
getting taller and taller.”

“Hello, Nordorum,” Max said politely.

“It’s seems like only yesterday you were a boy, now you’re
practically a man,” Nordorum stated. “Will you be joining us here, in a couple
of years’ time, for our next apprenticeship?”

“I don’t think you’d want me, sir,” Max answered, looking
nervous.

“I’m teasing you, Max. This life is not for everyone.” Annie
thought she saw his eyes flicker to Kellus. “Cora will be kept here for a least
a week for observation,” he explained. “More than likely, she will be brought
home next weekend. And, so, this has given me an idea.” His eyes began to
twinkle with amusement. “I wonder if the two of you would like to stay in the
Citadom this evening.”

Kellus’s eyes darted to Annie. She knew by his expression
that this was not normal procedure.

“I wouldn’t want to get in the way,” she replied.

“You would not be in the way at all. You and Max would be my
personal guests. I cannot remember the last time I had visitors,” he answered.

“Are you sure, sir?” I’ve always been under the impression
that there are rarely females in this complex,” she responded.

“Then it would be a special treat for the men to have such a
beautiful one present for an evening. However…” he trailed off, looking down at
her clothing. “I think we may need to find you something a little more
conservative to wear. I fear you may drive the younger men mad dressed like
that.”

Her eyes widened in horror. She had completely forgotten
about the revealing clothes she wore.

“Would you not agree, Kellus?” Nordorum smirked.

Kellus looked at Annie. He closed his eyes and exhaled
sharply through his nose while nodding, as though he was suffering from intense
pain.

“That’s what I thought,” Nordorum said, pressing his lips
together to suppress a laugh.

“I’m so embarrassed,” Annie screeched, feeling almost sick
at her appearance. “This is not something I wear in public. I was digging in
the garden when Cora…” she trailed off, wishing the ground would swallow her
up.

“Please don’t be embarrassed,” Nordorum smiled warmly, “I
figured as much by the dirt on your hands. Kellus, would you mind finding
Annella a jacket to wear?”

When Kellus left the room, Nordorum turned to her. “I must
apologize to you, young lady. It was not my intention to embarrass you. I was
merely having a little fun at Kellus’s expense. Please forgive me.”

“Yes, sir,” she replied, fighting a strong urge to cross her
arms over her chest.

Kellus returned, within a couple of minutes, with the top
part of a white surgeon’s uniform. He held it out for her to slip her arms through.

“May I ask another favor of you, Kellus?” Nordorum
questioned. “Would you kindly put two cots in the spare room of my apartment?
Annella and Max are going to be my quests for the evening.”

“Certainly, Master,” Kellus replied.

“You may go back to your training once you’ve seen to that,”
Nordorum told him. “We will notify you as soon as there is word on Cora’s
condition.”

Kellus bowed to Nordorum and left the room without another
word.

“I must take my leave also,” Nordorum said. “The Under
Master is leaving for a few days, and I need a word with him before he
departs.” He stood up and bowed to both Annie and Max. “I’ll see you in a
while,” he added before leaving the room.

Annie and Max chose books from the bookshelves and spent the
afternoon reading silently.

Finally, after hours, Conor walked through the door looking
satisfied. “Cora is resting comfortably,” he explained with a broad smile. “The
surgery was a success, and she will make a full recovery in mere days.”

“Thank you,” Annie said, relief pouring over her.

“Can we see her?” Max asked.

“There is no point. We will keep her sleeping until
morning,” Conor answered. “I have already sent word to the Master. He will come
for you shortly.”

The handsome blonde apprentice walked through the door at
that moment. “The Master sent me to escort you both to his apartment. Please
follow me,” he said.

They thanked Conor again and walked out after the
apprentice.

When they reached the stairwell, the apprentice turned to
them. “I’m Danus,” he said with a friendly smile.

“I’m Annella, and this is my brother, Max,” she replied.

“I remember you from the festival,” Danus stated. “You are a
friend of Kellus, correct?”

Annie nodded, not knowing how else to answer.

“It’s a pleasure to formally meet you,” Danus continued.
“How is your sister?”

“The surgery went well, and she’s resting,” Max answered.

They walked up a flight of stairs
and were back in the corridor where they had entered the elevator earlier. This
time, they walked in the opposite direction, through a door that led outside
into a beautiful garden. Like the courtyard, the garden was surrounded by large
stone walls. Cobblestones framed a small green field that held a water fountain
in the center circled by wooden benches.

“It’s so lovely,” Annie commented.

“Yes, it’s a very pretty garden,”
Danus agreed. “The feeders guarantee us singing birds from spring to autumn.
That, combined with the sound of the fountain, makes it a very peaceful place.”

“It’s much prettier than the
courtyard that we entered through earlier this morning,” she said.

“You came in through the back of
the Citadom,” Danus explained. “The back is mainly for deliveries, and of
course, the occasional sick patient. You may have noticed large red doors to
the right and left. That’s where we keep our horses, our stables of sorts, and
to the right is where the carriages are stored. Though, you’re right, it’s dull
on that side of the complex.”

They walked along the cobblestone
path until they reached a large set of doors to the left. They entered the
building and walked up two flights of stairs. Danus led them down a corridor
with ten doors, five on each side, spaced out from one another. At the end of
the corridor, he stopped and knocked on the last door.

Nordorum opened the door and
ushered Annie and Max inside. “Thank you, Danus,” he said. “Come in Annella,
Max. Please make yourselves at home.”

They walked into a living room
furnished with leather couches similar to the ones in the small library. The
floor and walls were dark wood. A writing desk sat in the corner—Annie noticed
a nail sticking out of the top, holding a large ring of Keys.

“My spare room is through the
door to your left,” Nordorum explained. “I managed to find you something less
revealing to wear. It’s on one of cots that your friend Kellus brought up. And
there’s a bathroom to the right with fresh towels.”

Annie walked into the spare room
and spotted an apprentice uniform lying on top of one of the cots. “This?” she
asked, holding up the top.

Nordorum nodded. “It was the
smallest one I could find, but I’m sure it will fit.”

She walked back to Nordorum’s
living room after washing and changing, feeling completely foolish.

“Ah, Annella, you are by far the
most beautiful apprentice we’ve had here in years, since I was an apprentice,
of course,” Nordorum said, winking at her.

“I feel like a man,” she moaned.

“Take my word for it, you do not
look like one,” Nordorum said reassuringly. “It would take more than a pair of
trousers to diminish your loveliness. But, that said, I do agree that this look
is best if you are to escort me to dinner.”

“Why?” she asked suspiciously.

“Well, we will be dining with
over eighty men, ten of whom are quite young. If you look just like them, it
may make you somewhat less appealing.”

Annie shook her head. “I don’t
think I want to do this,” she said in a low, timid voice, her face growing
warmer at the thought.

“You will be with me,” Nordorum
replied. “No one will dare misbehave. Are you ready to go?”

“This is madness,” she muttered,
walking through the door behind Max and Nordorum.

“I thought I would show you both
around the complex before dinner,” Nordorum announced. “This floor contains my
apartment as you know, as well as the apartments belonging to the other nine
senior peacemen.” He led them slowly down the corridor.