Rounding the corner, in an attempt to sneak through the back gate. Aribelle was surprised to be immediately confronted by the sight of Cassius and Barnibus. Standing like bookends on either side of one of the gate pillars, they seemed to have been engrossed in conversation when she had the misfortune happened upon them.
All astonished by their unexpected meeting, the three stood looking at each other stupefied before the gate was flung open.
"Hey- "Aribelle exclaimed, only able to protest briefly before she was hastily pulling inside.
"Can't you sit still for even one second?" Barnibus reprimanded, crossly grabbing into her cloak as he dragged her safely across the threshold. "It was just a moment Barni and I'm back now, so there was no harm done." Entering behind her through the gate, Cassius locked it securely after himself as he too joined in her chastisement. "The priest is right, Fawn. It was ill-advised to leave at this time." He commented, appearing equally dismayed by her unsanctioned disappearance.
Bowing her head at their castigations Aribelle pouted under her hood, regretting being caught by them more than her blatant violation of their house arrest. "It won't happen again." She grumbled sorely.
"Well, that I'm certain of." Barnibus huffed. Able to discern her lack of remorse, he flicked the hood away from Aribelle's face to reveal her sour expression. Addressing her more sternly, "We're leaving at dawn." Barnibus declared, "Us and the dragon." Shocked by the statement Aribelle's head sprung up. Looking between both seemly unfazed men, they merely maintained their mildly diminished expressions of concern.
"You told him?" Aribelle asked, tilting her head quizzically as she regarded Cassuis. Her confusion provoking a subtle smile from him, Cassuis gave her an affirmative nod in response. However, Barnibus swiftly corrected this diversion in their conversation with a more pronounced scowl. "Inform Marten and Mia they are to come with us." Barnibus instructed. Discerning his annoyance, Aribelle began to back away. Keen to accept the offer of his readied dismissal, she muttered her parting words softly, "I'll see you in the morning then." Then, turned quickly on her heels to beat a hasty retreat from his wrath.
Entered the shared hall where their sleep quarters were kept. Aribelle found, a displeased Marten sitting crossed legged on her empty mattress awaiting her arrival. Apparent that her absence had not eluded him so much as it had the two men outside. Marten's chest was puffed out huffily and arms barred across himself. Not even deigning to look towards Aribelle until she was close enough the bear the full brunt of his studied glare. Marten grumbled unmoving. "Where did you go?"
"To see Mikel." Aribelle replied quietly. Glancing around at the other children, some sleeping curled two to a mattress against the cold, she made sure that her entry had not stirred any.
"You shouldn't have done that." Marten chided frowning.
"I already gotten a scolding from Barni, Marten. I don't need another tonight." Aribelle replied. Not moving away from her, Marten pulled his knees up beneath his chin, as she sat beside him. Patiently allowing him to sulk in silence for a minute longer, Aribelle spoke to the boy again, "Go ahead and open the seam of the mattress, Marten."
"Why?" he asked, grumbling at her request. Slouching back tiredly onto its uneven surface, Aribelle answered, "Why don't you open it and find out?"
After casting a dubious look in her direction, Marten tugged the string laced together at the side of the mattress. Reaching inside, he displaced some of the straw stuffing before discovering a burlap sack amongst it. Feeling the weight of the object it contained in his hands, Marten hesitated. Peering back at Aribelle, she motioned for him to proceed. Saying softly, "It's for you, so open it." Removing a leather-bound book from the sack, it plopped onto his lap. Scrawled in gold lettering across its face, the volume read 'Novice Magic'. Startled and perplexed by the gift, Marten doubled over to hide it from view.
Texts pertaining to magic forbidden within the Abbey, Aribelle had expected this sort of reaction from him. Bartering for it at the extortionate price of three jars of healing balm, Aribelle had concealed the book for nearly a year with the intention of giving it to Marten.
"I'm sorry, it was meant for your birthday," explained Aribelle, "but with us leaving soon, I thought you should have it now."
"But why?" Marten said. Keeping his upper body over the present, he only turned his face up to peer at her with wide eyes of bewilderment.
Calmly meeting the boy's gaze, Aribelle replied, "Although, I don't know much about it, I know you have a talent Marty."
"But I could hurt people." Marten answered hurriedly. His voice quivering as he spoke, Marten seemed to relive a distant memory as he fearfully uttered his next question weakly, "What if I were to hurt you?"
"Marten," Aribelle responded, her tone firmer now, "fear should never be a reason not to try." Still peering at her, Marten regarded Aribelle's conviction in this statement flash in an enchanting glimmer in her eyes. Slowly sitting up, Marten skimmed the cover once more. Tracing the delicate lines of its title with a finger thoughtfully. He then returned his gaze to Aribelle. Responding with a decisive nod as he said, "I want to try."
Smiling at this affirmation, Aribelle flopped back onto the now significantly reduced mattress. "Alright, then let's get some shut eye. We have to be up at the crack of dawn after all." She said, patting out a remaining lump in its surface.
"We?" Marten replied, uncertain of her meaning. Contented by the sight of the text now with its rightful owner, Aribelle closed her eyes slowly. Once the room had been completely shut from her view, she replied serenely, "Of course, you didn't think I was going to leave you behind, did you?"