Chapter 12

Spending time in the garden, no matter how cold the weather was becoming, was Snow favorite past time. Because now he has past-times, has breaks and quiet moments just for himself. The world he lived in now felt strange in some ways but anything was better then his old cell, the punishments he received and the hurt he felt before were all gone.

On the surface.

Now thought, Snow has different problems with his Master and his role as his slave.

He meet his Master two days ago with a promise of never meeting the man again. But Snow needed Master, it was his role to heal him however he could by any means.

And so, a plan was made.

''Where he spends his time?'' Paul asked confused glancing briefly at Snow before returning to the bushes he was cutting ''His study of course, his room and the Main Kitchen. He doesn't enter any other rooms, he sees no need to.''

''What about the gardens? He never goes outside?'' Snow aske wringing his fingers anxiously. He never asked so many questions before, neither was he ever so insistent.

''I don't know what Master does when the Manor sleeps. That's a mystery even for me and I have lived here for many, many years.''

Finishing with the bushes, Paul took out a pair of smaller clippers and walked to the multiple wilted flowers.

''Why are you so curious child? I'm sure that Master Aeron would tell you all about it when the two of you spend more time together.''

With bitten lips and a troubled mind, Snow barely fall asleep that night.

The next day, he chose his questions more carefully.

''How long ago was Master cursed?'' Snow asked, his lap full of blooming flowers, the last ones of that year by Paul words. Around his shoulder was a soft and comfortable blanket that keep him warm from the cold weather.

''When he begin teenagerhood, at the age of 13. Master Aeron was the first one cursed from this Manor and the curse itself being the greedy sickness it is....he decided that no one should step inside the Estate from that point on.''

Before Snow could ask another question, from the small list he prepared, a word stuck out from Paul description.

Sickness.

After Paul found out that he was completely unfamiliar with terms like 'medicine' and 'virus', he took upon himself to teach Snow the basis. 

If Master was the first one cursed with sickness...it means that in time the sickness spread like a virus, infecting every peace of the Manor, maybe even the Estate. Which means that the place itself was sick.

Helios told him that he needed to heal Master, that it was his job, his duty and the motive he was brought by the man.

but if every nook and canny of this place is cursed and I can't get anywhere near Master, doesn't that mean I can heal the Manor from the sides to the source?  Snow thought counting the white tulips in his lap  I can help the Manor heal till Master notice how good I am and finally acknowledge me 

~

''The magic inside you has the power of healing people and making them grow stronger again from weak, frail bodies. You must had observed before that your...costumers, were people on the older side, weak with age or sickness. That's why Anwir keep you that close to him.''

Those were the words Helios said to him back in the carriage, those weeks ago...or was it months? Even if the seasons were rapidly changing, Snow was never good with telling the time to begin with.

Time didn't matter if his Master was sick and Snow couldn't do the bare minimum he was sold for.

The only was he could heal Master was by using his magic and like Helios said, his magic acted every time he danced spreading power for anything around him. But if he wanted to dance and to actually use his magic he needed music.

The only time he danced without music where always joyful times, relaxed even in his small cell but even he know there was no magic in his dancing at that time.

''Music? '' Paul asked surprised the next day and with an amused smile he continued ''There's one at the end of your room corridor. Though I clean every room once a month-'' Paul pursed his lips ''-is not the cleaning the Manor deserves.''

Clearing his throat and waving a hand in front of his face, Paul talked this time without meeting Snow eyes.

''It should be a door with a sun in the middle of it. At the end of the corridor to the left.'' Paul looked away from him and with a small but grateful thanks he hurried to the indicated room

On the way there he rolled his shoulders, trying to relax his stuck muscles. There were still no coins or small bells around his body to help him calm and synchronize with himself. He didn't dance since that small moment in his cell and he could still remember the horrifying feeling of falling down on the ground, knees and ankles giving up under him. 

At the very last he wouldn't have audience for his mistakes this time around.

The music room was occupied by covered instruments. The instruments itself were unfamiliar ground for Snow but he know clearly which named instrument needs to make which sound. He uncovered them all one by one and arranged the white covers with care before setting them on a nearby chair.

He touched their strings or claps just enough to get a song out of them because walking back in the middle of the room, an empty space just for himself.

Taking his cloak off, Snow remained in a sheer thin costume, the cloth piece hidden in the depths off his wardrobe. With no one in sight, Snow let himself breath, taking the first step in the air and the music followed after him, flowing after his rhythm.