Learning the Ropes

Beatrice woke up the next morning to find Alexander gone. On the table beside the bed was a bowl of hot porridge and a chunk of fresh bread. She walked to the washroom to rinse her mouth off and found her bath water steaming inside the stone tub. She rinsed her mouth with water from the ewer and a thick brown liquid from a clear glass jar and walked back to the sleeping area, as Alexander had called it.

On getting there, Beatrice was stopped by the sight of Nomar. She had even forgotten about him. How bad of her to do so! Nomar greeted her in his deep voice.

"Good day, Lady Beatrice. Take your meal and wash. We shall continue with the training session today. "

Beatrice walked over to the table, picked up the tray, walked to the bed, and took her seat on it. The meal was delicious, and within a few minutes, she was done with it. She gulped the cup of cool water in the wooden cup and belched in satisfaction. 'How unladylike of me,' she thought.

She stood up, walked to the table, and placed the tray on it noiselessly. She then went over to her chest and pulled it open. Beatrice selected a blue dress that she could move easily in because of the training session she had later, some undergarments and footwear, which she placed in her arms and carried to the washroom and set down on the table.

Beatrice was perfectly capable of washing herself. There was no need to call Lucia in to assist her. Besides, waiting for Lucia to come in to help her would be a waste of time. She knew Nomar was eager to get her started on the day's training session, so she had to make use of the time wisely.

She scrubbed her body vigorously until she was satisfied with the color of her skin. Then she slipped into the tub and lay there for a few minutes. Beatrice liked being in the tub. The sense of peacefulness she felt and the scent permeating the water and air around her brought a rare type of calmness to her.

Beatrice came out of the stone tub and dried herself off with a piece of cloth. She put on her undergarments, but without Lucia to assist her, it was strenuous and took a lot of time. When she was done putting them on, she slipped her dress on and slid her feet into her footwear. Then she closed the bathroom door behind her and went out to meet Nomar in the sleeping room.

"We need to practice at the same spot we did yesterday, by the lakeside. We need the elements of water and air nearby as you perform your magic," Nomar said. "Even though you have been blessed with water magic, you have also been blessed with a bit of wind magic too. Today, I shall teach you more about how to harness your water magic, but as for the one of wind and fire, it shall come later."

Beatrice knew a great task lay ahead of her, so she had to keep a clear mind and push all the negative emotions out of her. She needed to reassure herself that she could do it and become great at it. Drawing air into her lungs, she spoke to Nomar.

"I need to take leave from Alexander so that he will not be worried about my whereabouts if he does not find me later," Beatrice said. " I think I remember the direction of his office from your detailed descriptions yesterday."

With that being said, Beatrice walked out of the sleeping area to the living area, admiring the whole chamber before she finally closed the main door behind her with Nomar, the fairy, hovering above her waist.

She made her way to the heart of the keep, past many hallways, with maids and other people bowing low to her, before she finally came to a secluded hallway in the left wing of the castle. The door was made of teak wood and burnished with fine silver wax. It had a brass door knocker, which Beatrice raised and used to rap on the door three times in succession. That was the signal between the Marquess and the Marchioness whenever she came to visit his office. Nomar had told her the day before.

She waited for a few seconds, uncertain whether Alexander had heard the knocks or not before a muffled voice came from the inside of the office.

"You can come in, my dear," said Alexander.

Beatrice pushed the door open and stepped into the large office. It had a big window on one side, shelves of books and documents on another side, and a huge work table and chair on the other side, leaving one wall hung with tapestries that depicted the life of the early dwellers of the land.

Beatrice's eyes roamed around the office for a while in admiration before the sound of Alexander clearing his throat brought her back to why she had come here in the first place.

"Alexander, I would like to go to the lakeside today again for a bit of quiet reflection time. "I came here to inform you so that you may not be worried about my whereabouts if you happen to look for me," Beatrice said.

"Okay, milady. You can spend as much time as you want at the lakeside if it helps you, and you can reflect quietly there," Alexander explained.

"If you please, my dear husband, I would like to take my leave now," she said.

"Go on then, Beatrice, but be sure to be back in time for the mid-day meal."

Beatrice waved him goodbye light-heartedly and turned to the door. She went out of the office and closed the door gently. She briskly made her way out of the keep and to the lakeside. Beatrice sat down and waited for Nomar to give her orders in his deep voice.

"Remove your shoes and dip your feet in the water four times," Nomar said. Then repeat this chant after me. You must commit it to memory because it will be useful to you in many ways.

Beatrice did as she was told to, and as soon as Nomar saw that she was done with it, he started speaking the chant with Beatrice repeating after him word for word.

"The journey of time never ends; neither does the journey of water."

"Thou who sees the motions of history itself journeys through the world.

Thou shall be revered.

Thou shall be praised.

Thou who brings life, may you prosper.

Thou who nurtures the living, may live sparkle in your reflection.

Thou who blesses journeys, may your journey sate your curiosity.

Thou who sleeps, wake to my voice and my humble request.

To thou who does not speak, I will listen, and I will respect."

Nomar commanded Beatrice to raise her hands up and as soon as she did so, the water in the lake rose to the level of her hand. Terrified, she jumped back. Nomar quickly reassured her.

"Do not be afraid, Lady Beatrice. You have learned the art of controlling water to do your bidding. Now raise your hand in a different direction and you will see the magic."

Beatrice raised her hand and directed it to the left. Instantly, the water moved to the left. She raised her hand and directed it to the right. The water followed the direction of her hand. She was in awe at the vision before her. So, she can now control water? She continued with the motions, moving her hand to different places to get familiar with the proper way the magic worked.

After a series of motions, she was satisfied with the knowledge of it. Nomar then moved her to the second stage of the control of water. He asked Beatrice to go into the water, push a rock aside, and stand in the middle of the lake. She knew she would be chilled to the bones but was still determined to do it.

She got up and began to take off her dress. It was a struggle, but she finally managed to get it off, leaving only her undergarments on. She stepped into the lake warily and bit her lips at the chill that seeped into her body. She got to the middle of the lake, pushed the rock aside, and stood there.

"Repeat this chant after me," Nomar said. "It will make you immune to any form of water attack fashioned against you."

"The might of water is powerful.

Its surge can reach the skies above, and as it does, the earth will tremble.

At the sight of its figure, legs tremble and hopes falter.

The wilful earth crumbles.

The fire cannot dodge it.

The quick-acting wind cannot flow in time.

You cannot outrun it.

You cannot withstand it.

It is divine punishment.

After that chant, Nomar asked Beatrice to raise her arms upward, pointing to the sky, and as she did so, all the water flowed out of the lake to the bank. He also asked her to point her arms down to the ground. As soon as she did that, all the water dried off.

This is awesome, Beatrice thought. I never knew I could do something like this.

Beatrice extended her arms to the side, and all the water flowed back into the lake once more. Then she stepped out of the water and put her dress on.