Chapter 229: Visiting Sister Holly
"So? They said yes, they said yes, right?" Talauia said as soon as Heila emerged from Amahle’s home. The excited witch hovered just above the wooden walkway, her wings humming with excitement as she looked at Heila, eager to hear the news.
"They said yes," Heila said weakly. Her body was still trembling and her hands tightly gripped the railing next to the walkway for support. It wasn’t until now, when the decision had been made, that she realized how frightened she’d been that Ashlynn would say no because it was too dangerous.
Months ago, when Zedya had first selected her from among all of the servants to tend to Lady Ashlynn’s needs, she’d never dreamed of a moment like this coming to pass.
At first, things had been awkward between them. Lady Ashlynn was accustomed to doing many things by herself which left Heila doubting whether or not her work could even be counted as fulfilling her duties. She didn’t feel like Ashlynn was allowing her to be an attendant and that it wouldn’t be long until she was sent back to work alongside everyone else, tending to the basic needs of the ancient fortress in the Vale of Mists.
It was only later, when Ashlynn began to grow curious about Eldritch life, that Heila started to realize that she needed to provide a different kind of support to her new lady. Ashlynn didn’t need someone to help her bathe or select a dress, she needed someone who could tell her about the traditions of the Horned Clan, the history of the common people in the Vale of Mists, and dozens of other things that Heila herself never thought much about because she grew up knowing them.
Once she’d realized that, things began to change between the two women as Heila slowly learned to be the kind of person that Ashlynn could rely on. More than that, even though clear boundaries imposed by status within Lady Nyrielle’s household remained, they developed a sort of friendship.
Given her humble origins, becoming Ashlynn’s lady-in-waiting should have been enough of an elevation in status for her to be content for a lifetime. And yet, when Zedya mentioned a possibility for her to join Ashlynn’s coven, to become a witch alongside her... Heila’s heart had seized on the notion with a strength that surprised even her.
If Ashlynn had said ’no’ at this moment, it would have crushed her. She would never have argued with the decision, but... somehow, an idle possibility had come to represent the brightest future she could have and she didn’t want to lose that dream. Now, she wouldn’t have to.
"Aunt Amahle said that you would tutor me for the next few days?" Heila said, looking at the hovering witch. Now that she had this chance, she intended to make the most of it.