Chapter Text
Chapter One: On the Up and Up
‘So “the Vale’s Littlest Lamb”, is it? By the Nine that’s aggressively cute isn’t it Shara. I wish I’d thought of that.’ said Yaella, pausing to let the enunciation she had placed upon the pet name sink in. The arm around Shara’s shoulders tightened slightly, but she was hard pressed to know if it was possessively so or simply that the dark elf was being her usual forceful self. ‘Not much I can do about it now though. As much as I would like to coopt such a saccharine name, feels wrong to use someone’s lover’s playful terms of affection.’
‘Lover?’
‘Too intimate? Casual fling? Perhaps you’re simply a bit of rough to Dulcia. A provincial cousin, unrefined around the edges. Mayhap the good Lady just wanted a taste of the borderlands, where civilisation barely clings to a loose grasp of the word, so she can chortle about it as she tells her favourites of her oh-so illicit dalliances. I hope that the sex was good at least. Must have been. She gave you that gawdy jewellery and you’ve got that satisfied flush to your cheeks.’
The Alienist began walking Shara back towards the College entrance, going slowly so that the other members of the faculty easily outpaced them. There was a creeping sense of dread coiled about the vale elf’s shoulders. Yaella knew. Somehow, despite the secrecy of her trysts with Dulcia, the dark elf knew. It didn’t seem possible. The thought occurred that the woman was merely fishing for confirmation, but there was something about the sense of confidence with which the Alienist had asserted the truth that made Shara doubt it entirely. She was like a child caught with her hand in the cake mixture and just as guilty.
‘How did you know?’ asked Shara with a sigh, defeated before any sort of defence of her actions could be mounted. Then she lifted her head, suddenly awash with earnest pomp. What did it matter to Yaella what noblewomen got up to. As a member of the lowborn it really was none of her business after all. ‘It doesn’t matter. I played my part in this farce and I performed it perfectly well. Besides, for your information, she came onto me. In fact I did absolutely nothing to court Lady Elphick-Wismer’s affections. I’d been intending to play it by the letter, just as you three wanted.’
‘I don’t doubt that for a moment, Little Lamb.’ said Yaella. She stopped walking and made a sour face before resuming her slow amble. ‘No. No that doesn’t feel right at all. It’s ruined, what a shame. Anyway, I’ve met women and men like Dulcia before. So, so many times. They’re so used to living in a world where they can have anything or anyone they want. It doesn’t surprise me at all that she spotted an unabashed hedonist like you right away. I’m not even mad.’
‘You’re not? Please, I can tell there’s something brewing in you about my behaviour. You disapprove. I can feel a lecture coming on and frankly, I don’t need it.’
‘A lecture? No, not this time Shara. You saw for yourself that she left in high spirits and without a negative word to be said about the College. People like her, the nobility in general. Even you. None of them shy away from laying it on thick when something offends them or isn’t up to their exacting standards.’
They passed into the cool shade of the College proper and through the sparsely appointed and ever-busy foyer area. The two elves were at risk of being left behind by Myrzetta and Head Chirurgeon Bitter, so Yaella quickened her step. Shara already knew where they were heading, right back to Bitter’s rooms for a moment of reflection upon Dulcia’s visit. So too was she confident that the Alienist would not be bringing up any social improprieties during said meeting. That was why, the noblewoman confidently mused, she was taking her opportunity to confront Shara now. Out of earshot, where Yaella could get her true feelings across. She did not say another word until they were on the broad staircase taking them to the next floor, however. There were too many orderlies and students milling about.
‘All you’re going to hear from me is, honestly I can’t believe I’m saying this, but praise. It’s something that I know the others are going to ladle onto you as well once we get to Bitter’s office. You clearly left a positive impression on the woman and that’s exactly what they…what we wanted. You did very well.’ said Yaella, sounding frightfully sincere. It made Shara feel unusually good to hear it. She had grown accustomed to less positive reactions to her conduct, especially following the “lightning strike” incident. ‘I’m not so foolish to think that denying someone like Lady Elphick-Wismer is a sound course of action. She’s too important for that. To the College, I mean. I couldn’t give two figs about her role in the political games of the Citadel.’
‘Exactly. I did all you asked of me and more. You wanted your own pet noblewoman to show that this damn place was for everyone and I did so. With aplomb, I might add.’
‘Don’t get carried away now Shara. Fucking her wasn’t exactly part of our intentions for you, but it is what it is. You did well. I mean it. Next time, though. If there is a next time, do please try not to sleep with the guests?’
Shara chuckled as Yaella withdrew her arm and led the rest of the way up the stairs. It really did feel satisfying to be finally shown the proper appreciation that she was due. Of course she had done well. No one else in the whole damnable institution could have hoped to have performed as excellently as Shara Temestes. Not only that, but she had managed to gain the smallest of toeholds upon the ephemeral thing that was Citadel high society. With the Empress’ former consort, no less. It truly was a day for celebration. The vale elf could hardly wait to tell Almera all about it, omitting of course the parts where Dulcia had made truly wonderful love to her. Shara’s servant didn’t need to know such things as were so above her station.
The feeling of smugness did not end when Shara made it to the office and found Bitter pouring deeply burgundy wine into four glasses. If anything that surprised the petite elf even more than the faint praise offered up by Yaella. Not only was it relatively early in the day, but good wine was not exactly something handed out by the faculty to students save for the feast days.
Shara accepted the offered glass with something akin to reverence, catching heady notes of fulsome tannins wafting up from the richly hued drink. The temptation to simply knock it back and bask in such an obviously cherished vintage was great, but she held back, all too aware that she was about to be praised all over again. Even Myrzetta had the ghost of a smile upon her acute lips. It was almost like a dream.
‘Now I know I’m being a little bit naughty, opening this before we know the outcome of Lady Elphick-Wismer’s visit, however I find myself possessed with a singular vigour this morn.’ said Bitter while pinching the stem of her glass betwixt thumb and forefinger. She raised it before herself, angling it towards Shara. ‘However, I do believe that a toast to Lady Temestes is duly in order.’
‘Hear, hear.’ chimed in Myrzetta. The Alienist said nothing, but smiled and dipped her head toward Shara. ‘I believe that tradition dictates that naught else is more proper, given the circumstances.’
‘Quite so. Quite so. Now, please ladies, if you would join me in raising a glass.’ entreated Bitter, waiting until both of the senior instructors lifted theirs high. The Head Chirurgeon fixed her eyes upon Shara and once more the noblewoman found herself trapped in the subtle force of will exuded by the elderly elf. ‘Rarely have I seen one of such high standing leave the College in such high spirits. Assurances were made unto me that Lady Dulcia will ensure a continuation of our funding and ‘lo, a promise to encourage the scions of minor nobility, admittedly gifted in scant magic, to attend our humble place of learning. I believe that we owe a great deal of this decision to the influence of you, Lady Shara Temestes.’
‘The good Lady seemed most enamoured with you and your education here.’ said Myrzetta only to pause as Yaella poorly masked a snort with a cough. Shara bristled slightly, but after a sigh the Head Physician continued. ‘I find her interest in your studies and the manner in which she decided, against all rules of etiquette, to accompany you in all things most encouraging. A respected Lady of the Citadel eschewing the high table to sit down with students to dine? Nary have I ever seen such a thing in all my days.’
‘Time will tell whether your actions bear fruit, however we still wish to honour you, Lady Temestes. So to this I salute you. It was a large ask of you so soon after your brush with death, but you carried it out diligently and with dedication. Well done! Cheers!’
A chorus of salutations rang out, then all four glasses came together with a sharp ting and were supped from. As the velvety wine washed over Shara’s tongue, she preened. The tiny vale elf was never one to shy away from praise. Adulation was assuredly akin to a narcotic to her and she drank it up just as readily as the exquisite vintage. Her own misgivings about the entire venture were quickly forgotten, scattered and scared away by the very obvious satisfaction of the faculty. For the first time in a long time her sense of superiority was returned in full force, although it was tinged with the knowledge that it hadn’t simply been an act.
As loathe as Shara was to admit it, she truly had grown in her understanding of the healing arts since her arrival at the College of Restoration, natural talent shining through in both practical and theoretical domains. To have done so under the tutelage of these social inferiors still seemed impossible to imagine, although the jury was still out on whether Bitter was actually beneath her in noble standing. The way she spoke and carried herself ever gave hints at a distinctly privileged background. For the moment, indeed for the foreseeable future that did not matter however. Whatever titles or birthrights Bitter may have once possessed, she had given them up in order to keep the College in operation. That in itself was a noble act in Shara’s mind. Stupid, but selfless. Like the heroes in the books she still consumed with ravenous appetite, albeit on a much more mundane level.
‘I promised, did I not?’ said Shara after another celebratory gulp of wine. The glass was drained and she eyed the dusty bottle on Bitter’s desk, but it appeared that no refilling was coming her way. ‘A Temestes does not renege on a promise. I have achieved what no other could do and was pleased to have done so. To my mind it is still madness to expect noble families to send their children here, but if this insanity is to take a hold, then I shall be proud to have been the catalyst for such a dramatic shift in attitudes. Once my power awakens fully, then I shall view this as another feather in my cap to be looked back upon with something one might say resembles fondness.’
‘How very magnanimous of you Lady Temestes.’ said Yaella, her words an audible eyeroll. ‘We shall see in the coming months whether this makes a difference, but I am indeed just as hopeful as my peers. Now, however, I do believe that you have a lecture on how to treat gout to attend to. Best to keep up the dedication to which Dul…Lady Elphick-Wismer was so impressed by up, no?’
Yaella smirked as she relieved Shara of the glass, but even that small indignity did not cow the vale elf’s feeling of elation. Standing straight and with haughtiness puffing out her chest, Shara excused herself. At least she could console her ego with knowing that gout and nobility often went together hand in hand. A poignant topic, to be certain. The undersized elf practically skipped her way to the lecture hall and quietly slipped in to find the lesson already in progress. Without a notebook to hand, Shara simply listened and did her best to memorise everything she could.