Ceridor (Danubian #4)

28. Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Johann

One week later

We traveled for several days southward but deeper into the Alps until finally one morning Ceridor explained we would be approaching the monastery and passing through its magical barrier. At the edge we stopped at a little village which had a clinic and Ceridor poked his head inside, asking for a physician named Corbi.

A tall man in his late twenties stepped out of the clinic and nodded at my partner. "Hugs later, once I'm cleansed from work."

I blinked. Wow, was medicine really that unclean? I supposed that, given what Ceridor had explained to me about healing through etheric energy, Corbi wouldn't want to come into contact with someone until he'd bathed and purified himself from any unseen critters which could drain someone's life force.

" Sicher ," Ceridor confirmed, then motioned to me. "This is Johann."

Out of reflex I extended my hand, then froze and retracted it. "It's nice to meet you."

Corbi had dark brown hair and warm brown eyes. He nodded to me also. "A handshake this evening once I've returned to the monastery. It's nice to meet you, Johann. Ceridor keeps many secrets in his line of work, but it warms me that he has friends eager to train at Diana."

I shot Ceridor a look, though I couldn't blame him for keeping me a complete secret, even though Corbi's partner Marit was the one who had been forwarding Ceridor's letters to me the last two years.

"More than friends," said Ceridor softly, correcting the score. "This is my Johann."

I melted and felt the need to clarify also. "You're my boyfriend now, and my future husband."

Ceridor's surprised smile lit me up inside.

"Oh my, how wonderful," said Corbi, beaming at the both of us. "I'll get back to work, but Marit and Peter can greet you. While Marit can be a stickler, he's excited to train you, Johann, and our partner Peter will be your fellow apprentice—he's about your age. As for you, Ceridor, I'll check your arm again tonight."

I nodded, checking with Ceridor. "Peter met Dunu, right?"

Ceridor held a hand out, indicating that maybe this wasn't the place for the discussion, and I shut my mouth. But Corbi's brows rose and he nodded to me, confirming that indeed Peter and I might have a lot to talk about.

Corbi said goodbye until later and Ceridor slipped his hand into mine as we left the village and approached the barrier.

"It seems like too much work to be in a relationship with two partners," I whispered, feeling guilty for doubting Ceridor's friends.

Ceridor smiled, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "I love satisfying you, and I want you to come to me with your desires. That said, if I had to satisfy another partner with your level of sex drive, I think that would be too much for me to handle. You already push me to my limits."

"But you'd tell me if I ever pushed too far," I insisted.

"Of course," he promised.

The air changed somehow, as if a wind sprite had brushed her fingers across my cheek, but as I looked around I couldn't place what exactly had transformed from one moment to the next. Then Ceridor's blue eyes glittering with mirth told me: my hand in his, he'd just led me through the magical barrier to Diana Monastery without warning, and I'd come right through with him.

A large stone castle-like structure fit into the forest, covered by ivy and blended in among the trees. It was so unobtrusive I felt like I wouldn't notice it until I nearly ran smack into the walls. The camouflage was effective: all earth tones and quiet.

Ceridor explained that Diana Monastery was originally founded on the grounds of monasteries that had been here for thousands of years, with monks of various faiths over the centuries carrying out their devotions in silence.

Ceridor knocked on the door. I was surprised he could get through the barrier but then didn't have a key to the place.

Someone opened the window above the door, a couple of stories up. "Ceridor?"

"The one and only," he replied.

"Be right down." The window shut.

"Who's that and how did he know?" I asked.

"After being together for so long, I swear Marit and Corbi have a telepathic link," Ceridor replied with an affectionate shake of his head.

The sound of a heavy bolt sliding on the other side seized our attention, then the large wooden door of the monastery opened. A handsome brunette with grayish-blue eyes leaned out, with a scrawny but adorable younger man about my age peeking over his shoulder.

"Marit, Peter," said Ceridor, and my jaw dropped.

Good heavens. With Corbi, those three were in a relationship? They were all so handsome.

Marit stepped out and right into a hug with Ceridor. When they parted, Marit shook hands with me. "Johann?"

" Ja, genau . Nice to meet you," I confirmed.

Then Peter shook my hand, his flushed cheeks highlighting his freckles. "Sounds like we're going to be studying together."

"Yes, and I want to hear about little Dunu," I answered. "She was coming to my sister's inn over the winter."

Peter's eyes flew wide. "Oh wow. Yes, we'll compare notes!"

"Johann's been working hard on his daily magical and meditation practices for two years," said Ceridor, so clearly proud of me it made my cheeks burn. "He's ready for your training, Marit."

"And if you want a sparring partner, I plan to keep up my calisthenics while here," I supplied.

Marit grinned, eagerness and determination in his eyes. He held the door open for us. "Good. Come in."