246 Shields

Jovan woke Arran an hour before dawn the next day, though this time with a knock on his door rather than an admonition not to sleep in the hot spring.

He ate breakfast by himself. While both Doran and Anthea had spent the night in the mansion's guest quarters, neither of them had awoken yet, and he did not begrudge them a good night's sleep — not enough to have Jovan wake them, at least.

More than that, however, he enjoyed the quiet time before the day began in earnest. Another three weeks of study lay ahead, and he treasured the opportunity to spend some moments doing absolutely nothing.

But the quiet breakfast soon came to an end, and as he headed for the Matriarch's mansion, he prepared himself for the day ahead. Whatever the Matriarch had in store for him, he had no doubt it would be difficult.

He found her at the training grounds in her garden, already waiting for him as the first light of day shone down upon the trees around the large stone circle.