While the others had been enthralled by Hayl's tale and soothing voice, Aurora kept thinking about Lunda and her pain. She had no idea how much work was involved in preparing for the festival, but it was evident that Lunda needed to rest.

Aurora's departure from the table went unnoticed. She headed to the kitchens that never seemed to stop humming with activity. After a cursory glance and no luck in finding Lunda, she asked one of the scullery maids if she had seen Lunda. The young maid, whom Aurora knew was a twin but was uncertain if she was Wila or Mila, answered that Lunda had headed out to the store houses.

The shroud of night fell across the sky as Aurora stepped out into the crisp air. When Aurora finally found Lunda by the store houses underneath a flickering torch light, she was leaning against a barrel wincing in pain while rubbing her lower back.

Aurora rushed to her side, "What happened?"

Lunda tilted her head, "Oh, it's you. My back has gone out. Help me to the kitchens."

As Aurora lifted Lunda's arm over her head to support her, a thought came to mind. "May I try something? It's a trick my mother taught me. It helps relieve sore muscles and pain. It's a simple massage. I've done it before and it works. Well, at least it works on other people, I've never been able to get it to work on me."

"I suppose I cannot feel any worse. Go ahead." Lunda huffed loudly and leaned against the barrel once again.

Aurora rubbed her hands for warmth. "I'm going to place my fingers on your temples, then run them down your neck, shoulders, and spine." She hesitated for a moment. "Please, trust me."

Lunda nodded. "Aye, aye. Get on with it." She was eager for any relief.

Taking a deep breath, Aurora placed two fingertips on each of Lunda's temples and closed her eyes in concentration. She let out a long exhale and began to move her fingers.

Slowly, she glided them across Lunda's forehead, back to her temples, and down past her ears. At the nape of her scalp, they were joined by Aurora's thumbs that pressed down the neck and fanned out across the shoulders. Her thumbs traced the outline of Lunda's shoulder blades inwards, met at the neck and began a slow descent along the spine. Never once did she break physical contact.

She was almost finished. Aurora had done this so many times, she could swear she felt the muscles unlocking beneath her fingertips.

There was a sudden wrench at her arm, and Aurora was abruptly jostled from Lunda. Bony fingers tightened across her arm painfully as she blinked away her confusion.

"What do you think you are doing? Do you realize what you could have done?!" Mentor Salvador fumed.

"Hey! Let go of me!" Aurora tried to wrestle her arm free, but Mentor Salvador's grip was unyielding as he continued to pull her away from Lunda. One, quick glance back and Aurora saw Lunda leaning against the wall.

Angered that he did not appear at all concerned about Lunda's well-being, Aurora stomped on Mentor Salvador's instep. That little distraction allowed her to lift her hostage arm and, just as Eri had taught her, expose Mentor Salvador's side. Her other hand came in contact with his side abdomen as she unleashed an energy blast.

The look on Mentor Salvador's face as he was flung against a nearby wall, revealed his shock at her unexpected powers. His eyes narrowed into thin slits.

"Don't ever touch me again!" Aurora warned him, then turned on her heel to see to Lunda. "Are you alright?" Aurora reached out to help her.

"I'm fine," Lunda gently patted Aurora's hand as she righted herself. "The soreness is nearly gone. Although, I think he," she nudged with her chin at Mentor Salvador, "will be feeling it in the morning. You should not have done that."

"No, she should not have." Mentor Salvador walked towards them. Shadows, from the flickering torch light, danced across his face, but were unable to hide is contempt. "When your Master learns how his little rune paige misused Blood Magic, and now with your assault on me, he will no doubt cast you out." His stare gleamed with genuine delight.

"I knew he should never have placed his faith in you." He was gloating. "What other magic have you been attempting behind your Master's back?"

The words 'blood magic' stung in her ears. What was that? But now was not the time for questions. "I haven't done anything behind his back. I'm not afraid of you." Aurora returned his glare, feeling a gentle squeeze of encouragement in her hand from Lunda.

"You little liar! You are a rune paige and nothing more! Blood Magic is far beyond the reach of the likes of you. You will never be a mage!" Spittle flew from his mouth while he glowered in disgust at her.

"That is not for you to decide." Master Owen seemed to have materialized from the shadows as he walked within the glowing sphere of light made by the torch.

"Ma-Master Owen," Mentor Salvador appeared flustered, but he quickly recovered. "Your paige has been endangering the population. I caught her performing blood magic. Lunda will attest to it. And I believe--"

Master Owen did not listen further, and walked towards Lunda with an outstretched palm. "Are you hurt?"

Lunda waved him off, "A little soreness is all. Nothing that was not there before." She patted Aurora's hand once again.

"Lunda if I hurt you—," Aurora began but did not finish.

"You see. She admits to preforming Blood Magic without training." Mentor Salvador pointed an accusatory finger at Aurora as he stepped between them.

"Salvador, seeing as your concern over Lunda's well-being is foremost on your mind," there was a subtle hint of mockery in Master Owen's tone, "you should see her to her home and make sure she is rests. She's been working too hard on preparing for the festival, no doubt."

Lunda smiled sheepishly at Master Owen's accurate presumption.

"What brought you out by the way?" Master Owen's quizzical gaze fell on Lunda once again. "When last we spoke, you were going home after delivering a sack you were carrying earlier."

"That I was, but the Mentor insisted on knowing the assignments for the rune paiges for tomorrow." All eyes turned on Mentor Salvador after Lunda's revelation. "He went on ahead just as my back went out. That is when your apprentice found me and helped me."

"Helped you? If I had not stopped her," Mentor Salvador sneered at Aurora, "the gods only know what kind of agony you'd be in now." He turned from Lunda to Master Owen. "What's more your paige attacked me."

Master Owen's head spun to Aurora, "Is this true?"

"Yes, but I—"

Once again, Mentor Salvador interrupted Aurora. "There you have it. Your paige is reckless and practicing magic far above her skill."

"My apprentice is no concern of yours, mentor. See to Lunda's comfort if that is where your concern lays, otherwise move that we may do it."

Reminded of what should have been his priority, Mentor Salvador flustered like a startled chicken to Lunda's side and showered her with new found attention. "Should I fetch you a healer? What is it that you need?"

Lunda allowed herself to be led away, "A heated cloth and a night's rest is all that I need, Mentor."

Before they were out of sight, Master Owen called out to Lunda, "Aurora will be at your disposal tomorrow."

A protest stalled in Lunda's throat as she caught a glance at Master Owen stern expression. It was futile to reject the offer. With a sharp nod instead she said, "Very well. I could use the help."

Master Owen turned to Aurora, "Follow me," he barked and did not wait for her response.

"I should go with her."

"I said, follow me." The edge in his voice sliced the space between them like a knife.

Aurora lowered her head, "Yes, Master." She followed him without another word through the store houses and castle halls until they reached the steppe that housed magic users.

They entered a familiar, small circular room where Master Owen trained Aurora. There were no windows, and the only light in the room came from a large orb that floated high above them like a wayward moon. The door disappeared as soon as it was closed, effectively concealing any traces of its location. Nothing, not light or sound, could escape the room. It was just the two of them. 

A/N: Hi all! Sorry for the long wait.  I decided to split the chapter and post this since I'm still not happy with the upcoming dialogue.  Better a short update than no update, huh? 

And as always, the art is not mine. Credit goes to the wonderful artist.