Belvedor and the Four Corners (Belvedor Saga Book 1) Read Online Free

finger. “A mind is a mystery to both man and magic. Therefore, it must be respected.”
    Arianna’s eyes widened as the word ‘ magic’ rolled off his tongue. The King forbade anyone, citizen or slave, to delve in fairytales such as these. Severe punishment answered to those caught with an imagination outside the law. “Master… what do you mean? That word is forb—” She tried to speak, but Solomon paid no mind, continuing his sermon.
    “Our minds are what make us unique,” he said. “It’s why we choose the paths that we do. Your mind knows more about you than you do yourself, and it holds the key to your past, present, and future. If you respect that, then you can open up doors you never deemed possible.”
    Arianna tried to speak up again, “But you said mag—” Solomon held his finger to her lips, and she swallowed her words once again.
    “Ara, listen to me,” he said. “Your mind never sleeps and that is why you dream. If you pay more attention to both worlds, rather than just the physical one, you may be in for a surprise.” Reassured that he answered all of her questions he relaxed in a nearby chair, sipping at a cup of tea. 
    His words of wisdom always left Arianna dizzy, and sometimes she wondered where they came from. “Master Bell, your insight is very… refreshing,” she said with a sincere smile.
    “Good,” he said, returning her grin.
    “Well, if my mind really is giving me a vivid glimpse into my soul, then please stop giving me such terrible whippings. One of these days I’m going to stop working,” said Arianna, massaging her temples.
    “You’re probably right.” He threw his head back in laughter, startling Arianna into a fit of giggles.
    Lowering her voice to a whisper, she was determined to ask the question burning on her tongue. “Now, what is this about mag—?”  
    “Welcome back,” said a woman. She waddled into the room and planted a routine kiss on Arianna’s sore head. Arianna pouted at the interruption. “It’s good to see you too,” said the woman, placing her hands on her hips.
    Solomon raised an eyebrow as he surveyed Arianna, and she caught his eye. After a moment he shook his head in warning, as if reading her mind. She decided to save it for another time. Knowing it unwise to divulge such a taboo word from her lips with her caretaker now in the room, she swallowed it for later.
    Caretaker Cyn came as one of the perks of having a private trainer like Solomon Bell. She dressed in long, silver robes that clung to her plump body. Stitched above her chest, a tiny, gold snake ensnared a red heart. As she bent over Arianna, examining her wounds with gloved hands, her hair waved in auburn locks to her shoulders, tickling Arianna’s cheeks. A soft smile spread across her lips at the sensation, and Cyn gave her a wink as she began to daub medicines onto her skin. The gashes burned at the contact, making her wince, but she could already see an improvement. “Ouch, that stings,” she said, clenching her fists.
    “It’s almost over, dear,” said Cyn. Arianna nodded for her to continue as she bit her lip, trying to take her mind off the pain. New pain she just never got accustomed to… no matter how familiar the sting was.
    “Solomon, I’ll not have you banging this girl around anymore. She’ll be dead before the Free Falls if you continue at this rate,” she said as she smeared a sticky green ointment over Arianna’s bruises.
    Arianna tried to suppress her smile, thinking it funny the way she spoke to Solomon Bell like a child.
    He frowned. “Alright, Cyn, I’ll let up a bit. I just want her to be ready for what’s coming.”
    “Well, she won’t be ready if she’s lying in a hospital bed bleeding out the side of her head, now will she?” she said, her shrill voice making them squirm.
    “Humph… I said I’ll lighten up. Now you lighten up, woman!”
    Solomon and Cyn continued like that for another hour until all of her wounds had healed. As