Ivor sat down on his mat as he crossed his legs as Annie, Maddie, Matt, Ollie and Curtis all sat down as well and they crossed their legs in the same manner that Ivor did.
Maddie looked around, the room that they were in was simple and cozy, there was not furniture here except for a little wooden table beside where Ivor was sitting, there were mats on the floor, many of them with different colours.
Annie, Maddie, Matt, Ollie and Curtis all sat down on a different coloured mat with different patterns, as there was one blue rug with swirly patterns on it left vacant right next to Ivor's side, Annie figured that it was for Alina, they were waiting for her to come back with the tea.
"The tea is down brewing master" said Alina with a smile as she walked into the room with a tray of many teacups and a teapot in her hand, there were seven teacups and saucers on the tray, for each one of them.
"Serve the tea" said Ivor as he looked at Alina.
"Yes Master" said Alina as she smiled and she bowed her head as she walked to Igor's side and she placed the tray on the little wooden table as she poured a cup of tea for her master.
"Here Master" said Alina as she smiled and she gave her master his cup of tea as he collected it from her.
Alina continued on pouring tea as she gave them to everyone, first to Curtis, and then to Annie, followed by Matt, Ollie, and Maddie was last, not because Alina wanted to do that on purpose, but it was because of the way they were sitting, they all sat in that order.
Alina poured her own cup of tea as she walked to sit down on her mat beside her drink.
"You may drink your tea" said Ivor as he looked at the guests Alina had brought home.
"Thank you" said Curtis as Ollie, Maddie, Matt and Curtis followed in suite.
"Excuse me, but what kind of blend is this tea?" asked Ollie as it smelt like his mother's special blend of hibiscus tea, that was made with yak droppings.
Maddie, Annie and Matt all held on before they drank the tea as they turned to look at Ollie, suddenly Maddie remembered how they had drank horrible tea with Queen Christina, she agreed with Ollie, she wanted to know exactly what blend of tea this was.
"Well it is Chamomile and bay leaf tea" said Ivor as he answered politely.
"Oh alright, thank you" said Ollie as he smiled, it was better to be safe than sorry, now he could drink his tea with no fear at all, which he did, and once Maddie watched him, and made sure that he did not gag, she drank her tea as well.
"So, how did you all meet Alina?" asked Ivor as he turned to look at Curtis and the rest, he would not trust Alina's version of things, she might overexaggerate, and he wanted the truth.
"Ahh Master well I…" said Alina as she was cut off.
"Quiet Alina, I asked our guests and not you" said Ivor as he cut Alina off.
"Sorry Master" said Alina as she bowed her head and she sipped her tea, he was still upset with her, she did not like it when he was upset with her.
"So can you please tell me how you all met Alina?" asked Ivor as he looked at Curtis, and Annie, Maddie, Ollie and Matt all looked at each other and then at Curtis, should they tell the truth? They did not want to get Alina in trouble with her master.
Curtis looked Alina as she subtly gave him an ok sign with her hand as she sighed and when Ivor turned to look at her, she just laughed sheepishly and she sipped her tea as he turned to look at Curtis.
"Well we met because Alina shot an arrow that almost hit me" said Curtis as Ivor immediately turned to look at Alina with a glare.
"It was an accident though" said Curtis as he added.
"Alina, how did this happen?" asked Ivor as he looked at Alina.
"Ah…well master, I was practicing my archery in the forest, and well I got distracted, and I shot my arrow, and it headed straight for Curtis, but luckily Matt caught it in time before anything bad could happen" said Alina as she smiled and Maddie wondered how she already knew their names so quickly.
Ivor just sighed for a long time as he shook his head, this girl would not be the death of him, she was just too much.
"Master, it was only an accident" said Alina as she added.
"Please accept my apologies, all of you" said Ivor as he turned to look at Curtis and the others, he was apologizing on behalf of his irresponsible student who could have taken off Curtis' head with her carelessness.
"It is fine, we hold no grudge, it was an accident after all" said Curtis.
"I know, but I have always warned Alina about her easily distracted personality" said Ivor as he glared at Alina as she laughed sheepishly.
"You do have to think about what would have happened if you were not lucky enough to dodge it, or if you were not saved, it would be a different story now" said Ivor as Curtis sipped his tea, he had to agree with him, he was right.
"I promise to be more careful Master" said Alina as she smiled.
"That you will Alina, but until I can be sure that you are not a danger to yourself and those around you, you will hand your bow and arrows over to me, and I will only return them once I am sure that you will no longer be careless" said Ivor.
"Aww alright Master, I will prove myself to you" said Alina as she smiled and Ivor just shook his head at her.
"Please accept my apologies once again, Alina is… easily distracted" said Ivor as he looked at Curtis.
"And once again, I tell you that we hold no grudges" said Curtis as he gave a quick smile and Ivor's eyes landed on Annie again as she sipped her tea, there was something about her, something that he should have remember, she looked so familiar, and yet he could not hit the nail on the head.
There was something about her, something special, but he did not want to pass his boundary and ask her, from what he could see this man named Curtis was very protective of her, he could see it in his eyes, it was the same kind of look he had whenever something that had to do with Alia arose, it was a guardian's instinct.
"Thank you" said Ivor as he returned the smile.
"I see that you are a great archer, we happened to see you back there" said Curtis.
"Well yes… I have spent my time developing my skills in archery" said Ivor.
"Yes, and my master is the best archer on the whole mountain, even in the entire realm" said Alina as she smiled.
"What did I say about flattery Alina?" asked Ivor as he looked at Alina.
"It is only in your mouth and not your stomach, but Master, it is the truth" said Alina as she smiled.
"Alina tells us that you found her as a baby and raised her" said Ollie as he spoke up and Ivor looked at Alina, as if asking her with his eyes "Just what did you tell these people?" and all Alina could do was laugh guiltily at Ivor shook his head.
"Yes, I found her in a basket in the forest when I went to collect some wood for my arrows a few years ago" said Ivor.
"I happened to hear a baby's cry, and I rushed in the direction where I heard the cry, and there she was, a newborn baby, I could not find her parents, I looked everywhere, but they were nowhere to be found" said Ivor.
"So I took her in as my own, and I raised her" said Ivor as Alina smiled, she loved it whenever he told this story.
"And you even gave me my name right Master?" asked Alina as she smiled.
"Yes, I named you Aline, after the light of the moon that guided me to you" said Ivor as he could not help but smile, as Annie, Maddie and Ollie smiled, while Maddie felt a bit… weird, and she did not know why, while Curtis remained as poker faced as usual.
"That is a wonderful story" said Annie as she smiled.
"I know right Annie? My master is the best" said Alina as she looked at Annie and she smiled.
"I cannot imagine my life without him" said Alina as she hugged her Ivor quickly and she went back to sipping her tea.
"Hmm, and what about you? Where exactly are you all going to?" asked Ivor in curiosity.