Meanwhile......

Marie woke up to someone touching her shoulder. Not thinking twice, she grabbed the offending hand and twisted it backward a move that her mother had first taught her when she was six. The move was followed by a sickening crack.

“Ahhhgh........dammit Marie!”

At the sound of High Sorceress Minerva’s pained exclamation Marie relaxed. Then the full implication of what had just happened hit her. She quickly got out of bed and knelt beside Minerva.

“Oh, Hellfire High Sorceress Minerva I am so, so, sorry. Is there anything I can do?”

Clutching her wrist, Minerva ground out,

“Yes......get......out of....my face.”

“Bu- oh right, magic got it,” Marie said, stepping well away from her. Minerva panted, waiting for the waves of pain in her wrist to subside so she could utter her spell.

“Sāpes beidzas!”

“Pain cease”

Minerva said. The relief she felt from the spell was obvious, and in a stronger voice Minerva continued,

“Lauztie kauli ir veseli!”

“Broken bones be whole”

Marie watched in awe as with just 4 words Minerva’s wrist knit itself together, the entire process taking only 2 minutes.

“Wow”

Marie breathed. She had known that High Sorceress Minerva was powerful, after all, one did not achieve such a high rank without it, but she had not realized that the High Sorceress was able to heal at such an insane speed. Minerva smirked at the awed look on Marie’s face but it turned quickly into a frown.

“What in the name of Skyfire the Phoenix was that, Marie?! If I had been anyone else-”

Marie cut her off,

“Look High Sorceress Minerva, I told you already that I was sorry for hurting you and I am. However, that does not change the fact that you had no right to enter my sleeping chambers without my permission, or at the very least giving me a warning. If you had asked any of the staff, they would have told you to wake me up with a nudge from that pole. Just as you saw with the dummy, I have been quite well-trained. I have gotten to the point where reacting in that manner when I am woken up unexpectedly is second nature as I am sure using magic is for you. ”

she said, jerking her chin to a plain oak rod that was about 5 feet long. It leaned unobtrusively on the side of her nightstand furthest from her bed.

“For Hellfire’s sake even, Father knows better than to wake me in a way that puts him within easy reach and-”

Marie stopped, not wanting the High Sorceress to report to her father what she had been about to say.

“It is true though.... he never sees me unless he wants me to do something or I go out of my way to meet with him. If only Mother were still here, she would know what to do”

She thought sadly.

“You spaced out there for a second Marie, it seemed like you were a mile away.”

Minerva said, somewhat reproachfully.

“My apologies High Sorceress Minerva. You are right my mind was elsewhere for a moment.”

A few moments later Belinda made her way into the room,

“Oh, you are already up my lady, I was just coming to wake you, I'm not late, am I?”

Marie smiled,

“No Belinda you are fine, actually could you wait outside for a moment I will be right with you.”

Belinda bobbed her head and walked outside of the room. Minerva turned around and looked at Marie curiously.

“I figured I should check with you to see if you need me up at this time from now on, or if today was a one-day thing.”

Marie explained as soon as the door was closed. Seeming slightly taken aback at Marie’s respectful handling of the situation Minerva then smiled and said somewhat ruefully,

“You don’t really need any etiquette training, do you? Whoever taught your posture was just as stringent about manners, you could have asked me in front of her as you did with Carline yesterday but you didn’t.”

Marie shrugged her left shoulder,

“I figured you deserved at least a little respect for not like, turning me into a potted plant or something after I broke your wrist.”

Noticing that Marie had again sidestepped the topic of who had taught her her manners, Minerva’s mind started whirling, putting the puzzle pieces together.

“Your mother taught you, didn’t she?”

Marie’s flinch at the mention of her mother was slight but recognizable nonetheless. Minerva kept pressing, wanting verbal confirmation,

"That is why your father said you had been "lacking in manners since your mother died"!"

she exclaimed. Marie’s face turned stony, her whole posture defensive as she turned away from Minerva with her arms crossed.

"Ha! If only she knew the whole story. It is not my fault Father started acting like more of a jackass after Mother passed."

“Please just tell me what time you want me up so that Belinda does not have to stand out in the hall all day High Sorceress Minerva.”

she replied, her voice lacking any emotion.

“Besides” she continued, “I have to get ready to train with Carline, if I don’t leave soon, I will be late.”

Although Minerva looked frustrated, she nodded briskly and told Marie that no changes in her current schedule were needed. Then she tossed Marie a small, bright blue stone. Marie caught it deftly in one hand, and, looking at it said,

“Just tap twice when I am ready for the lesson I assume.”

“Yes, we will meet the same place that we did yesterday Marie.”

With that, Minerva left, encouraging Marie to call Belinda back in.

“No change in the time that you wake me will be needed Belinda, I shall see you soon”

Changing quickly into another of her favorite training outfits, this one a grey tunic with dusty purple leggings and her usual training sandals, she hurried to the training grounds.