Enchantress Awakening: Part One of the Book of Water (The Elemental Cycle 1) (21 page)

Long after the post-coital glow had faded Vaughn kept watch upon his partner. It was clear that she was right about her magic. Their sex had seemed to free her from the relentless siege of desires she was under before. As a result of his vigil, he noticed the stifled sobs and trickling tears that were obviously meant to go unseen. “What is the matter, Caleigh?” He asked with concern. Caleigh turned to face him.

“Forgive me, I did not realise you were awake.”

“Why would you wish to hide your sadness? Do you regret what we did?”

“No. I wished to hide it because I did not wish for you to feel responsible for it. I do not regret what we did. I am fearful about what it means for me.”

“Fearful, why?”

“Tonight it was more than I could cope with. So I must turn a friend into a lover to save myself. Can I do as much and not lose that friend?”

“I cannot speak for all your friends but I understand your plight. Fear not, we shall be friends again on the morrow.”

“That is heartening to hear.” Caleigh smiled but wanly. “That is not the worst of my fear still.”

“What is?”

“What if tonight there had been no friend who understood? Would I have been begging the landlord to suck on my tits instead? What manner of whore may I become? Vaughn, I am not a wanton girl yet I have now lain with four men in two months. What can I do?” Vaughn did not answer at once, preferring to give the question full consideration.

“As far as I can see you either have to learn control or learn to embrace it. Neither path will be easier, it depends on which suits you better.”

“I enjoy coupling, I cannot deny that.”

“Nor should you feel bound to.”

“I do also want to learn control, not just of myself. I need to control my gift. That is the cause of it all.”

“Very wise.”

“Will you help me?”

“Of course, ‘tis an essential part of your training.”

…

The first thing the company noticed when they approached the great temple of Minerva and its adjoining bath houses, was how busy it was. People flocked up the steps to the atrium where they lingered in thronged groups haranguing the attendants to be given priority over all others. Finally, they were able to make themselves known to one of them amid the noise and bustle. “Greetings and welcome, what do you require today?”

“Err, this is our first time here.” Caleigh spoke for the group.

“In that case you will want a guide. Fear not, there is no charge for your first visit. Please wait here until one of the temple sisters is free.” The group shuffled off to one of the stone benches to the side.

“This is more involved than I’d hoped.”

“Yes.” Vaughn agreed thoughtfully.

“Something amiss?”

“It is very involved. A lot of coin changing hands and a lot of arrangements are being made. More than is common for a bath house, but then this is a temple as well.” A stately-looking woman in green robes with hair coiled like a wreath about her crown walked towards them where they sat.

“Greetings, my name is Hera, I am one of the sisters of the water temple. I hear this is your first visit to our shrine.”

“Yes, it is all very different.” Said Caleigh.

“Indeed, here we have one perfectly-preserved corner left of the Senatian Empire that has not been forced into ruin. If you would care to follow...” Hera led them out of the atrium and into a terraced area that looked onto a semi-circular edifice surrounded by a walkway. “We are above the main structure here. What you can see is but a quarter of the whole site.” What they could see was pillars and stonework in every direction. “Below is the great bath.” Hera said, indicating what was before them. Caleigh gasped when she realised that between the slender supports lining each facade she could see right down into a room larger than the great hall of Crowbridge and at its centre was a long rectangular pool surrounded by thick pillars that extended out into the water and curved up to support the heavy ceramic ceiling that she was standing by. Between and behind the pillars were alcoves with marble benches were small groups sat in conversation. Caleigh’s eyes were drawn, however, to those in the water, swimming, bobbing or else leaning against the side and perched on the steps where the water was shallower. All were naked, men and women and the sight of it made Caleigh’s cheeks redden a little.

“I wager the view is even better when you’re down there.” Ellie whispered into her ear. Caleigh nodded in agreement then noticed that Hera had led on towards a set of stairs.

The steps turned in a half circle and progressively the light from the terrace dimmed so that all illumination came from a ground level window of the room they were entering.

“This is our sacred spring.” Hera announced referring to a pool greenish tinged water surrounded by orange brown rock. A permanent cloud of steam hung above that warmed the air all around. “The sacred spring is fuelled by the power of the Gods so it is always warm and pumps more than enough water every day to fill all the baths in the complex. Many choose to make offerings here, casting valued possessions into the pool in return for divine favour. It is believed that the Vessel of Life was first filled with waters from this very spring and to this day consuming a draught of these waters can inspire prophetic visions.”

“People drink from here? Is it not unpleasantly warm?” Caleigh inquired.

“Oh no, the draught must be prepared specially and the visions can only be seen in guided meditation with one of our priestesses.”

“Is this magic?”

“Certainly not! We claim to work no spells all that is done here comes directly from the gods.” The exit from the spring room led via a corridor into an open courtyard where at one end stood a large statue of the Goddess Minerva and at the other her temple at the top a set of stairs and flanked either side by two smaller buildings. Four large pillars supported its frieze-covered roof that loomed overhead. Inside the temple there was no natural light. Candles and torches lined the walls and pillars casting long, dark shadows across the floor. At the heart of the temple was another statue of the Goddess, this time carved of reddish gold.

“That is beautiful!” Caleigh said approaching the statue behind Hera.

“Far you will have to travel to see the like.” Hera let the party stare for a suitable length of time. “I shall take you to the baths now.”

“Girl, wait!” Caleigh turned to the side the voice came from. A priestess stood in a low doorway at the bottom of some steps in front of a red-lit room. “Yes, you. The Oracle wishes to offer you a vision.”

“They are newcomers they have not paid for...” Hera informed.

“The Oracle wishes to give this freely.” Caleigh looked around at her friends and seeing no objection there followed the priestess through the doorway. The room she entered was lined with thin red drapes, one of which cut across the centre of the room between herself and a silhouetted figure sitting the other side.

“Be seated, my child.” The figure said in a voice that creaked with age. Caleigh perched herself on one of the cushions atop the floor rug. The other priestess sat next to where the veil parted from the wall so that she could see either side. “What is it your heart desires?” The Oracle asked.

“Errr...love...and friendship.” Caleigh answered uneasily.

“Tell me more.” Against her usual instincts Caleigh could not shake the feeling that being open was not the best idea. Hera’s reaction at the mention of magic convinced her that revealing anything about her gift would be a mistake.

“I am not sure what you ask. I want what every young woman wants, a family, happiness, health.”

“Are you like every other young woman?”

“I am not special.” The priestess leaned through the divide and muttered something to the Oracle.

“Agnes says you are exceedingly pretty. Does this not entitle you to more than other women?”

“She is very kind to say that but no; I deserve no more than any other.”

“Is that so?” The Oracle spoke in low tones so Agnes, or so she named the other priestess, could hear her but Caleigh could not. “Very well, my child, take this draught and drink deeply of it.” Agnes lifted out a wooden goblet filled with a silvery liquid. Caleigh took it in both hands and sipped from the edge. “Drink it all.” Agnes nodded at Caleigh to reinforce the point. Reluctantly Caleigh drained the goblet then placed it on the rug between her knees.

The effect was instantaneous and would have been disorientating to someone who had not grown used to seeing visions in this way. She was back in the spring room and this time with Argahan and Loreliath, the latter of whom was pouring water from a large crystal vessel with three handles into the pool over which she stood. When she had finished she handed the vessel to Argahan and stepped down from the waterside. “Let us go to the others now.” Argahan said. A new room formed over which one entire wall was covered in wooden vines some as thick as three branches. Within this coiled mess was Loreliath, dirt-covered and barely conscious. “What do you see, child?”

Her vision now moved to an isle in the sea shrouded in mists from its lowest shore to the dim outline of a tower on its highest peak.

“I see a man, ooh he’s handsome.”

“Yes, continue...”

“We are getting wed.” As she told this lie a handsome man did appear, dark-haired and grey-eyed, but he was not at a wedding; he was astride a charger at the head of several other knights.

“Do you love him?” At the mention of love Caleigh saw herself kissing the man and then he changed, several pairs of lips appeared and disappeared in quick succession never staying long enough to match to a face.

“There is much love.” Agnes and the Oracle began to mutter to each other and Caleigh snapped out of her visions. Nonetheless, she did not feel the need to share this news and continued to stare into the middle distance.

“Return to us now, child.” Caleigh feigned coming to with a start.

“Is it ended?”

“Yes...tell me, child, perchance you have had such visions afore?”

“No.”

“Usually people are less calm than thou art.”

“I do not feel calm, though I cannot say how I appear to others.”

“There is something different about you, to be sure.” The silhouette extended her arm and Agnes collected what it held out. “What is your name, child?”

“Caleigh.”

“Well, Caleigh, feel free to return to us as often as you please.” Agnes handed her a band of string with a bone square, bearing the rune ‘mann’ for ‘m’. “Show this and you can pass without show of coin.”

“Many thanks, I shall return as oft as I might. My friends must be growing impatient by now, I should return to them.”

“Do as you will. Until next we meet.” Caleigh left amid platitudes and returned to the main body of the temple. Penric was waiting by the statue and Ellie quickly appeared from behind her, evidently from a position close to the door she had passed through.

“The others are outside.” Penric informed. All three of them winced upon returning to daylight after the gloom of the temple. Tamric and Rosamund stood by Hera talking to her intently. Seeing them return Hera managed to break off and address them.

“If you are ready, I shall direct you to the baths forthwith.”

“We are ready.”

“Where is the other of your company?”

“I am here.” Vaughn said appearing from behind her.

Hera left them when they entered the new area. Here there were many people, more than in the atrium. There were some stalls set up selling bathing gear as well as a large winery and eating hall, already busy even though lunch was some time away. Outside the changing rooms there was a large desk where people traded coin for long towels. So too were there armed guards and racks of weapons. “No weapons beyond this point, please surrender your arms here.” The attendants droned over and again. Tamric turned to the others at this.

“I shall await you on this side. I am of little use to you naked.” Caleigh pinched Ellie on the side before she had a chance to laugh or make a comment.

“I daresay we will be safe from attack in here.”

“Perhaps I should stay this side too.” Rosamund volunteered.

“We need wizard eyes in that side, Ros.” 

“Come on, Rosamund, this will be fun.” Caleigh, Ellie and Rosamund parted from Penric and Vaughn at the changing rooms. In spite of the crowds they were able to find a secluded and private corner to change in. They had left their cloaks at the lodgings which left only their dresses and underclothes to strip out. Caleigh had seen Ellie naked many times, seeing Rosamund unclothed was something new. She was not as full of frame as Caleigh nor as firm of flesh as Ellie yet her delicate form was very shapely and enjoyable to look upon. It was a brief pleasure, however, for Rosamund quickly wrapped the towelling robe around herself, fastening it above her cleavage. Ellie preferred to hang her robe over the back of her neck so that it hung over the front of her torso but left her rump uncovered. Caleigh eyed them both with scrutiny.

“I am not sure which way is best.”

“Allow me; I think I know the way that would suit you best.” Ellie took Caleigh’s robe and folded it carefully before draping it over her right shoulder and adjusting it on the way down in such a way that it covered nothing of her breasts or anything else. “There, what do you think?”