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.I have heard of your mage friend and know that he has surprised quite a few wizards already and not because they didn’t try to fight him as they would any other wizard either.“I am just saying things as they have always been after all.No battle mage would have dared try a wizard’s duel before your friend.This change in the skills your people are suddenly learning, like healing of all things, is hard to keep up with for me.I would never intentionally insult a battle mage for trying to become greater than they have been.” Teven winced realizing that her words weren’t coming out as the apology she wanted.Rilena thought that she was about to cry as the pretty, young wizard started to exit the pool.Zerra caught her wrist and shook her head.“It’s all right, Teven.Rilena is just in a bad mood because of the trip and our prisoner is setting her on edge.”Nodding, feeling sorry for her misplaced antagonism, the dark haired falcon apologized as well, “Sorry, Teven, Zerra is probably right.The battles and weather were bad enough, but Garosh being here makes me even more agitated.I wish that I could have gone back to Falcon’s Keep, if only because of him.”Teven glanced between the women and asked, “This prisoner is that bad?”“There is too much to try and explain,” Rilena started.“He tortured her and apprentice Nereith when they first found the fortress and were captured before being rescued,” Zerra said spilling just about every secret in her friend’s mind.“Now he is here and been harassing her subtly enough to avoid being caught.”Teven slid through the water to sit beside Rilena and stared at her for a moment before giving her a hug, making the brunette even more uncomfortable much to the amusement of Zerra.“You poor thing,” the blond said compassionately.“No wonder you are on edge.”Thanks to Zerra, Rilena spent the next half hour being doted upon by the wizard, much to her embarrassment.They spent time in the shallow communal pool talking more and, as much as the falcon wanted to hate the strange setting, the two women did manage to make her feel better.When she retreated to the dressing room finally, Rilena found her fingers a bit pruned, but her spirits were buoyed by her friends’ attention.Unfortunately, when the young woman checked the clothes she planned on wearing, she found that she could smell them from a distance.Wrinkling her nose in distaste, Rilena borrowed one of the long robes used for the steam rooms and tied the belt.It was a short distance to the laundry and the girl hoped that they would tell her that everything could be cleaned before dinner.While there was no way she could go to the meal hall in nothing save the robe and her boots, she decided that the short trip to the laundry and back to her room would avoid drawing too much attention.Rushing to the laundry, Rilena only had to pass the guard at the door along the way.The head woman of the laundry took pity on the girl as she could smell the odorous clothing easily.“Go on to your room, poor girl.We will make sure to get it back to you as quickly as we can.Even if I have to beg a water wizard to take the water from the material, I will find a way to have your other clothes to you before the dinner bells,” the graying matron declared before turning her around to send her off.“Well, this is a surprise,” a boy’s voice greeted her as she turned around.“Oh no,” Rilena breathed turning red with embarrassment.Green eyes sparkled with mischief beneath a tousled mop of brown hair as Elzen eyed the girl in her white robe.His eyes strayed to the cloth belt tied at her waist keeping the remainder of the garment closed tight and secure.Even so, Rilena’s arms crossed her chest gripping her shoulders as she kept her eyes on the younger male.While he had always behaved over all, his antics did inspire worry over a prank at her cost.“That robe does become you, but I have to say that belt is awfully tempting to pull,” he chuckled feigning grabbing it with his left hand while still holding his bag of clothing.Apparently Elzen had decided to get his clothing cleaned as well and picked this inopportune time to come to the laundry.Unfortunately for the boy who was teasing her, he turned enough to miss the angry woman behind him.Grabbing hold of Elzen’s right ear in a death grip, the enraged washer woman hollered in his ear, “Leave that poor girl alone, you little pervert! She has had a hard enough time of it that she certainly doesn’t need you to add to her pain!”“Yes, ma’am! Yes, ma’am! I was only teasing her.She’s a friend.Tell her Rilena before I lose my ear! That’s my favorite ear.I’m gonna need that,” the brown haired boy yelped somehow maintaining his sense of humor.The girl nodded to the woman and said, “He’s an annoying friend.Can you give me a head start before letting him go?”“Sure, sweet girl, you go on ahead and we’ll bring you your clothes this afternoon.Now as for you, little man.” the woman began to add a threat to Elzen’s life.Rilena didn’t wait to see how he fared.The idiot had brought it on himself for acting like a pervert.She still wasn’t sure that he wasn’t, but then again all boys seemed to be to one extent or another.Deciding to avoid anymore potential embarrassment, the falcon intoned the stealth spell and disappeared from sight.The trip was only slightly more difficult while using the spell, so she found her room without incident and hid inside.Pulling off her boots, the girl slipped underneath the blankets on her bed.The robe was warm but even with the fires running throughout the castle, her room was a little cold
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