Chapter five

Zelum had the three out in the training yard early in the  morning, in a corner away from the men and women who stared curiously at them. Clover yawned loudly, her eyes fluttering shut, she leaned on Aster to help her up. The three watched as Zelum warmed and stretched his limbs out. 

“Why aren’t you following what I'm doing?” he asked, sitting on the ground as he pulled his arms up high behind his leant forward back. 

“Other than wanting to dislocate our arms?” 

“If you don't, you'll regret it.” he sang,

“Your mother regrets you,” Aster muttered, 

“What?” 

“I said your-” 

“Just do the stretches,” Basil said firmly to Aster before she could the poor man burst into tears. It turned out he had a rather weak tolerance towards insults and stressful situations. 

Aster rolled her eyes, pinching Clover who was asleep on her arm awake. 

Zelum much to the three's dismay pulled out a whistle from his robes after they were done with their strange stretches that left more aches on Aster's body than she would like. 

“Right then,” he began, “run ten laps,” 

“Er, what?” Aster asked, 

“Ten laps.” he blew his whistle sinungaling for them to go. They didn’t, he blew it again, still nothing. “You're supposed to run now.” 

“What has running got to do with magic?” 

“To build up your stamina.” he blew his whistle again, Basil shrugged at Aster and Clover and began to run. His sister begrudgingly soon followed.  

By the ninth lap Aster was ready to punch Zelum, stamina her arse, Clover was wheezing behind her, her legs swaying, she looked pale and ready to puke. Aster couldn’t tell if Basil was struggling, but he had become remarkably slow the latest laps, enough so that Aster could reach him. She gasped in a breath, a lump had grown in her throat as well as a sour taste. “I think my heart is going to fall out of my mouth.” 

“He’s been eating cheese you know,” Basil randomly spoke, 

“Who?” 

“Zelum,” 

Asters already red face grew dasrker in colour, “the fuck! We’re dying here and he’s enjoying a bit of nice bree,” 

“And a bit of wine,” 

“Guys i don’t feel so good,” Clover rasped catching up with the two, “i think i’m gonna-” she didn’t finish, as she vomited all over Asters front. 

“Clover!” she screamed so loudly it could have been heard from miles out. A whistle sounded, as Zelum jogged up to them, 

He gagged as he saw the puke, “um-er-maybe you should clean yourself up princess,” 

“I’m really sorry….”

And just like that Clover fell unconscious. Basil held Zelums eyes with a flame of a hundred fires. 

“Was ten laps too much?” he chuckled sheepishly. 

Basil and Aster didn’t answer, they gave him a blank look then walked away, with Basil carrying Clover over his shoulders. 

Travelling away Aster grumbled looking down at herself, “great, i’m sweaty and covered in puke.” 

“At least you're awake,” 

“I’d rather collapse then walk around with puke on me,” 

Basil sighed, “I know this is new, but we should try.” 

Aster stopped walking, gazing at her brother as if he grew two heads, “why am i the only one that sees they don’t care about us.” 

“Because you're being biassed. The empress is nice,” 

“They abandoned us,” 

“Not intentionally,” 

Aster scoffed, “what happened to sticking together?” 

“We are, this is somewhere where I can keep you two safe and not worry about us being executed. We don’t have to hide, i think this place could be our home,” 

Aster felt as if she was looking at a stranger, “so that’s it?” she swallowed back her tears, “a palace with a warm bed and food is enough for you.” 

“Aster,” he sighed again, “we don’t have to be alone anymore, we don’t have to struggle or hide to survive. We can just live here. Don’t you want that?” 

Aster let the tears roll down her face, “fuck off Basil. Go to hell.” she spun on her heels and ran as far as she could in the opposite direction from him. 

She came to a crashing halt, when she bumped into something, she heard a groan from across her, looking her eyes went wide. “What the actually fuck? What are you doing here? Are you stalking me?” Aster snarled, 

The person snapped her neck up, Beau stared at Aster surprised, “no, i-wait,” she frowned, “what's wrong? Are you-” she reached out her hand to Aster's face, but Aster quickly swiped it away. 

“Don’t touch me, and if you're not stalking me, then what are you doing here?” 

“I work here,” she said getting up, 

“No, you work in Spendia, you know the palace.” 

“No,” she drew out, “i work here,” 

“As a maid?” 

“No, as a spy.” 

Aster was silent for a long moment, “sorry, did i just hear spy?” 

“You did,” Beau nodded. 

Aster grew even more angier, “so you were stalking, just at a professional level.” 

Beau huffed out a breath, blowing a stray strained away from her face. “No, I mean yes. But it wasn’t just you it was your brother and sister too,” 

Aster laughed, “yeah because that makes it better.” 

“When i took the assessment, i didn’t know that you were my-” 

“Don’t,” Aster warned, “we’re not.” 

“We’re soulmates, Aster. I know it was a shock, but the mark doesn't lie.” 

“I don’t want a soulmate,” 

“Aster-” 

“Get out of my way, I have puke to clean off me.” 

Beau sighed, she stepped to the side to let Aster past. She wasn’t going to let the subject go though. Soulmates weren’t something you just ignored. 

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