Love Poison No Cure Needed

William's Dawning Realisations 2.15

William looked at Victoria with narrowed eyes before he shook his head and refocused on Simon. “What is it Simon, the plants are harmless.” William considered the thorny Briar wrapped around the support beams for a moment and then added, “at least to us, presumably.” William finished in a small voice but then frowned when Simon just stared at the roof.

William followed his line of sight but didn’t notice anything but the dense bouquet of hanging flowers. “What? Simon?”

“Huh?” Simon responded vaguely.

“What are you staring at?” William demanded. 

“The spell circle etched into the roof.” Simon absently answered. “It’s magnificent it has so many features, but the circuit flows so smoothly, I don’t even know what it does…” Simon trailed off as he spoke still enamoured by a sight that was all but invisible to non-sorcerers.

“It would be the building reinforcement. With a bit of sunlight catchment for everyone and I think a basic protection.” Sorrel called back from where he had moved over to the glowing tree.

“If that’s all they do I’m a fish.” Simon muttered as he dragged his eyes down and then studiously avoided looking at the frame of the rest of the building lest he see something more outrageous.

William reached over and patted Simon on the shoulder but withdrew his touch when he felt a focused stare on his back. William didn’t look around; he was used to the feeling by now and so far, had never seen a trace of the source of the gaze. 

He might have thought the watcher had malicious intentions if the looks didn’t proceed the arrival of love tokens at his doorstep, on his desk sometimes in the saddle bags of his bike. The worst part was that he couldn’t even manage to feel creeped out since there was never any attempt at an overt approach.

“What is this tree?” William distracted himself as he stopped just behind Sorrel to look at the glowing tree.

“It’s a peach of support from the fey realm. Unlike a normal plant that when it sheds a seed or cutting to form a completely new plant the ten original plants are still the main consciousness of all the other trees. The shed part of themselves becomes a subcomponent that acts independently and in conjunction with the main plant’s intention. Commonly called bodyguard trees because they guard the main lineages of the Feyskin,” Sorrel explained as he withdrew his hand and accepted the peach that was dropped into his palm.

“Oh, well that’s convenient. Is that Bellmore the fey world tree guardian?” the deep voice sounded from behind them and for the second time that day William’s heart jumped into his throat as he spun around. Kayad raised an amused eyebrow at him while Dimitri watched William intently from behind Kayad’s left shoulder. William lowered his arm, the flame rune dropping from between his fingers back into his palm. 

Every time that William saw Kayad the Sidhe followed like a silent shadow as he watched every move of the people around. At the very least William had not been able to make a movement around Kayad without the Sidhe staring at him. He had felt relieved at school that Dimitri as a third year had not been on the same schedule as Kayad and Sorrel in first year or even himself and Simon in second year.

Though it seemed the weekends were relegated to the status quo. “Kayad, Hi. I didn’t expect to see you today.” Sorrel exclaimed as he happily walked over to the Riven leader. When Kayad had walked in William felt the predator beneath the surface staring at him. While the words had seemed casual William still felt that there was faint ferocity behind the intent Kayad focused on him. However, the feeling vanished as soon as Sorrel responded and moved over there.

In fact, it was equally terrifying to see the BIRD’s top predator play kitten for William’s new boss. As William glanced around, he noticed that the others had distanced themselves amongst the plants and seemed to be seriously conversing or examining the area. 

William felt enlightened a quick glance out the open door showed two bikes Kayad’s and one that William hadn’t seen before but that was decorated with twirled stems and flowers. It didn’t take more than a glance to determine who the bike was for and William could guarantee that Dimitri had needed to walk it over since he hadn’t heard any engines approach. 

As William retracted his gaze and determined to follow his friends’ example when his eyes brushed past Dimitri.  William wasn’t sure why, but he felt like Dimitri grimaced behind his otherwise flat expression. William decided at the last moment to rescue this compatriot in suffering.

“Hey Dmitri, you ride a Ducati, right? Know anything about a lag in the acceleration. Grahame mostly works on the Harley’s and hasn’t really had a look yet.” William asked. Grahame glanced up from where he crouched by his bike surrounded by clematis er Cleo’s tendrils holding various tools before he turned away again clearly more interested in what he was doing with Cleo's help.

“I can have a look.” Dimitri failed to even glance at Kayad who was talking quietly with Sorrel instead Dimitri rapidly approached William who in turn led the way over to where his bike had been ‘stored’.

“thanks.” Dimitri murmured as they both leant over the bike.

“Well, if you are right to go to the main building yourselves, I’m going for a riding lesson with Kayad.” Sorrel called out as he looked around the building.

William immediately straightened and with a quick glance at Kayad’s face behind Sorrel decided that even if they were not fine, they needed to be fine. Thus, with a hard to maintain smile William waved his hand. “Sure, you’ve introduced us to Cleo, and we’ve got the mechanics down. Since I imagine the other one is like this except presumably with bedrooms, we’ll be fine.” 

After William finished speaking, he noticed Kayad’s approving nod in conjunction with Sorrel’s blinding smile before the pair turned away and departed. 

Immediately as if their strings were cut the group dropped to the ground, except for Grahame who seemed to be seriously explaining something to Cleo. William suddenly realised that Sorrel may be the ultimate figure head. They wanted him to lead and while William felt sure Sorrel would in a fight the day to day running's would still fall squarely on William's shoulders because Kayad wanted too much to monopolise Sorrel to accept anything less. Dazed for a time William finally blinked when Dimitri leaned over him and offered a hand to help him stand back up.

“You have my deepest respect for being able to act as his guard.” William commented.

“I don’t actually, I’m more his investigator.” Dimitri responded and William paused stumped then as to why he always saw Dimitri anytime he dealt with Riven Time.