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“You are Luminary. One of the few people who can wield the most powerful magic of all, light magic.”
Those words haunted me for the rest of the night. I have no idea how we made it to our room past the patrolling guards, or when I actually stumbled to my bed still wearing my sweaty clothes, but somehow I did. I was blinded by Alec’s words, rendered mute and deaf by the knowledge that I was not human as I had always thought of myself, but magic. I suppose some portion of me had known it from the very beginning, but still to hear that you are one of the very things that have been outlawed in your home for decades was still shocking. Was that why I had always been an outsider even when I had been surrounded by commoners such as myself? Why I had been mercilessly teased and tormented by the other kids, and even still by some adults – such as my unfortunately related cousin? Could they have sensed that beneath my quiet demeanor simmered a powerful blend of magic? That trail began to lead my thoughts down a very different path. Why was light magic so powerful? Magic was magic in every fairy tale I’ve ever read, so it shouldn’t make much difference at all.
I fell asleep sometime while pondering over everything in my mind, because now sunlight was shining bright and clear through the tiny bedroom window, slicing into my poor tired eyes like knives while the birds ever so gracefully sung for us in a rousing good morning chorus. I let out a groan as my aching hit the floor once more, the overly tired muscles in my feet cramping in protest as I stumbled around to gather up a new outfit for the day before heading to the bathroom, only to belatedly realize once I twisted the knob that my roommate was nowhere to be found. Very strange, especially considering the events last night. At least if she is in league with Alec, I shouldn’t have to worry about her screaming for the nearest guards.
I stripped the sweat-crusted clothes off as fast as I could and kicked them off to one corner to await their coming wash along with my sheets and twisted the lever to summon the barely tepid water to fill the cracked tub. The water slowly splashed from the rusty faucet, no speed at all to the trickling stream as it struggled to fill the vast empty space. I would probably be lucky if it ran deep enough to cover my feet, but I could wash in it at least.
While the water ran, I started to peel off the bandage covering the clawmarks in my shoulder. With the amount of heat, stress, and sweat last night, the cotton bandage was no longer white but was stained an ugly infected yellow color with the material partially melted onto my skin. I grimaced at just the thought of what the wound underneath looked like now and began to pull – even though it hadn’t been before, I’m sure the wound was infected now – the action felt like it was slowly ripping my skin off in one giant sheet. I cried out with a small whimper when the soiled material finally released from my skin, only to gasp when I saw the unblemished pale skin underneath instead of the puckered, red crusted clawmarks I had seen before.
I turned to the mirror, not entirely trusting my eyes, and ran my fingers along the bone. Nothing but healthy skin and muscle to feel as I rolled my shoulder back and forth to test the movement. The burning pain and limited motion was gone, almost like it had never been injured at all. Was this a result of the light magic, or from Alec’s touch?
I shivered as the memory of his touch bubbled up again, the icy coolness of his hand that quenched the fire broiling deep in my bones. It was a strange sensation, but yet comforting at the same time, like an old friend you hadn’t seen in a long time but yet instantly knew each other no matter how much time had passed. Whatever, I couldn’t let myself get into that kind of emotional state again. I had to keep my magic restrained no matter what happened.
Stroking my fingers over the healed skin one final time, I had been about to turn away from the mirror when I caught sight of myself. I looked horrible. My eyes were bloodshot and rubbed red and raw from crying so much. My face was swelled, my cheeks puffy almost like a mouse with full jaws, and so were my fingers from where they had took the brunt of the blows while the light magic was raging. My hair was crusty and stiff, crunching loudly where I smoothed my fingers through the strands. I have never been one that was the most concerned about my appearance, but it was so embarrassing to think that someone saw me in this kind of state, especially one like Alec.
The tub was partially filled with enough of the lukewarm water that I flipped the faucet off and sank into the water, eagerly scrubbing away the dirt and filth of the previous night’s activities with every stroke. As the water turned cloudy, my thoughts that had been so tumbled for so long slowly began to sort themselves out. I was not going to cry anymore, or be shuffled from place to place like a doll used only for the purpose of preforming the tasks assigned to her. I was not going to weakly let life pass by. Yes, everything has changed, but I’m not going to stand on the side anymore. I will perform the duties that the king assigned to me, but I’m not going to be threatened by the prince or the shadows for whatever their true intentions are. I’m going to learn to wield this power, and maybe, just maybe, I could carve out a life for myself. somewhere that I don’t have to worry that one wrong step will lead to my death. Somewhere that I could be who I liked with no restrictions. Somewhere free.
I exited the bath feeling clearer headed than I had in days – no, make that months. I slipped on my fresh set of clothes and walked down to the kitchen with a little bit of a pep in my step adding an extra bounce. The sweet smell of baking apples provided a little extra encouragement as I eagerly followed the scent right to the source. Rosa was bustling around, her grey skirts swirling about her legs as she removed a series of three fresh baked pies from the roaring oven with a long wooden paddle. The upper crust was perfectly golden brown and flaky, thick bubbles of brownish apple filling had bubbled up through strategically placed slits in the crust, giving a slight hint as to the sugary deliciousness that awaited inside like a prize. Two of the maids that frequently took care of the upper floors had congregated around the coffee pot while Thorn lurked around the fringes of the kitchen like a hungry vulture, reaching forward to steal whatever bite he could while Rosa’s back was turned. Although, his attempts were unsuccessful as she smacked his hands every time, but it didn’t decrease his determination.
“Kyri! I thought you were still in bed. Sandra said that you had a nasty stomach bug all night or something like that.” The captain turned thief had the audacity to flash his most charming smile at me while he stuffed his cheeks full of leftover apple filling. I heard Rosa huff and she glared at him with a mock scowl, breaking off to give me a timid smile and a wave before turning back to her duties.
“Good morning to you too. It was just one of those twenty four hours things, but now I’m starving. Rosa, do you have anything I could eat?” The little cook wiped her hands on her apron and nodded, slicing up one of the pies and dipping out a steaming slice of the piping hot desert onto a saucer. With an eager expression, she pushed the plate at me, shoving me towards the little café table where I took a seat and gratefully accepted her offer.
“Hey! What about me? Starving boy here, Rosa! Have you no heart in your diminutive frame?” Thorn pleaded, doing his best to look as pitiful as a nearly six-foot combat trained soldier could look.
“It appears that someone has been studying the dictionary again as I hear that someone using a few larger than normal words.” Angelo came strolling in ahead of Sandra. This time with his grey suit still clean while carrying the remains of the king’s breakfast on a serving tray. “Bravo, Thorn. I am so thrilled to see that you are taking a higher interest in your education.”
“You can’t be this beautiful and not also have some brains too, ya know.” Thorn winked, popping his apple filling covered finger in his mouth and licking it clean before showing us a variety of poses that highlighted his muscles. I noticed the two girls clutching their cups of coffee in clammy hands gazed appreciate at Thorn’s muscular form before they departed for the first of their duties. “Morning, Clara. Misa.” My friendly greeting was met with a dismissive sniff as they continued on by without even a word. Whatever, it wasn’t my problem if they wanted to be like that.
My attention returned to the captain himself and I snorted, barely keeping my breakfast in my mouth from the hilarious expressions Thorn was making while he was doing push-ups on the floor with a scarlet blushed Rosa seated on his back.
“Perhaps you are a legend in your own mind, Thorn. For surely none of us thinks as highly of you as you do of yourself.” Angelo sniffed. Dark shadows wreathed and curled from the butler’s shoulders as he placed the crusty used dishes in the sink, taking the form of large cobras with spade shaped heads and flickering forked tongues dangling from top of his shoulders. Together, they bobbed and weaved in time with Angelo’s steps, jaws open and spewing silent hisses into the air. I had to pinch and remind myself that the shadows weren’t real, that the others couldn’t see them, and that they couldn’t harm me. I hope.
“Angelo, that’s not entirely true. Thorn is kind of hot to look at, in kind of a narcissistic, bone headed idiot kind of way.” Sandra said as she plopped down in the unoccupied café chair beside me.
“See, Sandra agrees with me.” It took a minute before the rest of her statement registered though his thick skull. “Hey! Wait a minute! Who are you calling a bone headed idiot?”
While watching the two squabble back and forth with Rosa acting as a referee and damage guard, Angelo slithered up beside me not unlike the shadow cobras hanging from his shoulders. “Lovely Lady Kyri, our honorable prince Travain has requested that you join him for his morning archery meeting at the training grounds. He also requested that Captain Thorn escort you to the location.”
“Say what?” Thorn’s question was slightly muffled due to the fact that he was face down on the floor and both girls were now sitting on his back, high fiving each other in victory. “She’s going to train with the archers from the army? How’d that happen?”
Sandra heaved a giant sigh in disgust. “Really? You don’t know what the castle has been gossiping about since it happen yesterday? Thorn, I take back what I said. You’re not an idiot, you are a first class moron.”
“It takes one to know one.” He muttered into the floor. Sandra’s foot caught him sharply in the ribs as she kicked him like a horse.
“Shut up! Yesterday at the garden party, King Nikos wanted Kyri to shoot his bow and arrow to see if she was as good as her father was. Well, she pretty much blew everyone out of the water. Her first shot went straight in the bulls-eye, the second sliced through the first arrow and embedded itself in the bullseye again, and the third was the final breaking point because it sliced through both arrows and struck the heart of the bullseye again. The target collapsed after that, falling into a thousand pieces as it was apparently unable to withstand everyone’s arrows and Kyri’s perfect strikes. It was awesome, and the look on Travain’s face just couldn’t be missed. He was steaming mad. Nikos was delighted of course. He actually insisted that Kyri attended the archery practice sessions with Travain. I’m sure she’ll still outshoot him even in that.” I blushed a bit as she finished singing my praises and gave me a thumbs up. Thorn’s stared up from the floor in wonder, sparkles of amazement glowing in his single eye while Angelo’s burning stare felt like acid dripping down my back.
“You’re... you... I can’t believe it! I’m stunned speechless!” Thorn bucked the girls off his back and crawled on his knees to kneel before me, clasping my hands in his own and gazed solemnly up at my face as if I was a princess. “I would be highly honored to escort one with skills such as yours to the training grounds. Consider my loyalty and my body completely in your service as I am but a humble servant to your beauty and skill.”
His dramatic effect was ruined somewhat as everyone, even Angelo, broke out in giggles – Rosa’s being silent of course. – And I found myself quickly following suit. He just looked too ridiculous with the apple pie filling smeared on his face and clothes, and with dough crumbs littering what short stubble he had for hair, more like the aftermath of a food fight rather than a soldier humbling pledging his loyalty to a friend. The good humor even affected him as he too broke out in a wide smile and laughter.
This. This was something I’ve never had before, the feeling of being included in a circle of friends that, for all intents and purposes, were comfortable with each other despite their different backgrounds—although, I do wonder how many others had a hidden secret or two. Sandra’s fire magic and conversation with Alec was blaringly obvious that she was not as innocent as she seemed, but what about Thorn? Or proper Angelo? Or even little Rosa whose silence and knife scars on her arms was the most mysterious of them all?
“Well, I guess we’d better get to moving Kyri, or pickle puss will be throwing another rampage.” Thorn wiped a finger under his eye to remove the moisture that had accumulated there before standing and offering me his hand. I accepted the gesture and stood, taking my now empty plate with me and returning it back to the cook. Rosa seemed thrilled with the results and smiled as bright as the noon day sun at the sight of my empty plate scraped completely clean of any remaining crumbs.
“Please refrain from referring to our prince in such a derogatory manner. He is royalty, you know.” Angelo sniffed, giving Thorn an evil glance that was echoed by the shadowy cobras dancing around his shoulders.
We were walking out the kitchen door when Thorn paused to childishly stick his tongue out at Angelo. “I can get away with it because I’m a valuable member of the prince’s cabinet, being a captain will do that for you.” He smirked much to Angelo’s disgusted eye roll – I actually wondered if his dark eyes would get stuck in the position since they went so far back into his head.
“Do you mind if I ask you something? “ I asked while we walked in silence. The sun was beautiful this morning, as it had been yesterday and the day before. It seemed that spring was turning more into summer with every day with the fresh green grass turning a most vibrant shade of green and the tiny dark birds that looked like starlings bopping about in search of bugs hidden in the tender shoots.
Thorn grinned with delight as he walked, his chest puffing out with self-importance. “Are you seeking the terribly unfortunate tale of the commoner boy who rose to fame as the handsome war soldier and captain of the king’s army? If so, you are in for a delight, my dear. For it is a tale that spans multiple years and many hardships, heartbreaks, joy, sweat, and tears. It is a drama, broken only by the-“
“Do you have a short version? Like under twenty words or so?” Really, could this guy not answer a question with a simple yes or no answer? He was almost as bad as Angelo, except Thorn was much flirtier where Angelo was just snobby.
He cleared his throat. “Yes. I suppose I can do that. I was the firstborn son of a commoner family that died or disappeared shortly after my birth. I was raised in an orphanage around other children less handsome than myself up until I was of age to join the glorious ranks of the King’s army where I have stayed till my present position. The rest of the details you already know from a previous experience. “He gestured towards his missing eye with a sweep of his hand along his hairline.
“That’s nice. Actually, I was just curious if you knew the reason why Rosa doesn’t speak?”
“That... actually is not my tale to tell as it is one of woe and fear for the beautiful little maiden. But I will tell you that Rosa was once a member of a very skilled band of thieves and assassins that roamed this kingdom, even as a child she could steal from a soldier pocket and never be caught until she was. I do not know the particular circumstances, but I have heard that she was used as a spy on her family till they found out her deception and scarred her for life on her arms and her throat. She can still speak when she wishes, but I have heard her voice only once and it was extremely stuttered. Asking about her voice does seem to upset her, so please don’t.”
“Of course. That’s no problem at all.” I nodded.
Thorn paused in his stride once we reached the training area. Already up and bustling, the area was crowded with soldiers that had gathered in the early morning light for practice, each one holding a deadly looking weapon in their hands. In a roped off ring, two soldiers battered each other bloody with wooden practice swords while the others yelled their support for whichever side they wanted to win. Another group crawled underneath a low wooden platform that had iron spikes inserted into the planks that raised and lowered at random intervals, the soldiers crawling underneath had to be swift in their movements to avoid becoming impaled to their death. Still more stood about in various states of exercise activities.
My guide steered me to the crowds with one hand placed firmly on my shoulder. Every set of male eyes turned and openly gawked as we passed – I’m sure they were curious to see a commoner woman being escorted through their domain like a noble lady, but that was no reason that their jaws had to pose a flight hazard for any insects buzzing about—The overpowering scent of male sweat was rampant even at this early stage in the morning, so I’m sure it would only becoming even more nose-burning as the sun rose higher in the sky.
When we finally stopped, it was outside another training ring that bordered along the wall of the building that housed the army’s headquarters and barracks. This time it was filled with targets of various lengths away and men firing off arrows from thick bows that zipped through the air and plunged deep into the targets with a sturdy wooden thunk. One arrogant face that I was familiar with shouldered aside the bigger men, stepping up to the line and fired two arrows at once. Both struck around the center of the target, but neither directly struck the most coveted target, the bullseye. Travain, stripped of his princely finery and clad only in the pale black cloth suit of the army soldiers gritted his teeth and notched two more arrows, releasing the feathered missiles to strike the target alongside his first shot.
I saw Travain’s eyes flash angrily in my direction when he saw I was watching. It seemed that the royal prince had not recovered yet from his archery skills being outmatched at the luncheon and I was to receive the brunt of his anger. I gulped hard as the prince marched over to where we stood, his face like thunder brewing deep in a storm. “About time you’re finally here. I was beginning to think that I had got lucky and you had ran away or something.”
“It doesn’t matter if she is here or not. Your archery skills are in desperate need of improvement.”
The prince’s head snapped to the side and so did mine. Peeping through a tiny barred window set low into the foundation of the headquarters was a familiar pair of green eyes peering out with a less than enthusiastic expression.
“Shut up, you fool!” Travain almost screamed in his frustration.
Alec’s head bobbed as he must have shrugged. “It’s the truth.” He said blandly.
“Shut up!” Travain hissed with eyes slitted with rage in a decent imitation of the snake that he sounded like.
“The dungeon is directly underneath the barracks,” Thorn bent down and cupped his hand around my ear to whisper his words. “It seems that our newest prisoner is sparking a fire under our ever-charming royal prince.”
He stalked back inside the archery training ring while his companion looked on with snickers hidden behind sweaty palms. He snatched a bow and quiver out of the hands of the youngest looking member and cowed the boy with a venomous glance that promised any objections would have dramatically painful repercussions. Without a word, the glowering prince beckoned me forward with one curled finger.
“Go get ‘em, girlfriend! You’ve got the guts to do this!” Thorn slapped my shoulder hard and shoved me forward. Ouch! I’ll have a bruise there for a few days. I wobbled my way into the area and caught the bow and quiver as it was shoved my way. Deeming me no longer necessary, Travain shouldered his own quiver and bow before returning to the firing line marked in the ground. With one foot fixed on the line, he committed to notching and firing his arrows as quickly as he could, sending the rain of missiles mercilessly hurdling towards the target, with more than half of the strikes missing the target as a result.
I swallowed hard and notched my own arrow with shaky hands, only using one at a time as I aimed carefully and fired. My aim was true as each one of the arrows struck home in the heart of the bullseye. Travain growled at my side, his arrows flying wilder and wilder while mine were steady and straight. Gasps echoed through the crowd as the soldiers watched my missiles struck the target each time, shocked that an untrained person – a female, no less – was outmatching their most illustrious archer.
“Travain, perhaps you should let someone else have a turn training with Kyri because a four-year-old child could best what you are doing.” Alec continued his solemn mockery of the prince’s skills—which wasn’t really a mockery at all as the werewolf was telling the truth—The more enraged the prince became, the more his archery skills suffered till even a newly trained cadet could have outshot the supposed complete leader of the entire royal army.
“I told you to shut up!” Travain screamed when Alec snapped off another cool remark, snaking veins in the muscles of his neck visibly throbbing as his face flushed red with anger. He flung his equipment aside, nearly hitting a man in the stomach before clattering uselessly to the ground as he marched up to the window where Alec calmly gazed out. I flinched in shock when Travain’s boot slapped against the sharp clang of metal and the wet smack of live flesh. My hand rose to cover my jaws parted in a gasp of horror as agitated murmurs rippled through the crowd while Travain continued to hammer his frustrations out on the iron bars. Alec’s head had long since disappeared in a shower of dust and dirt, and I actually found myself hoping that he was avoiding the lethal damaging blows.
The silence that followed Travain’s ceased violence was one that was deathly quiet. No one made a sound, not even a breath as we watched the prince turn and smooth a hand through the stubble of his hair. With his normal arrogant expression returned to its place, the prince politely excused himself and departed for the castle. The soldiers in his path parted like a lethally sharp blade slicing through canvas, not even the battle trained veterans stood in his path after witnessing such a display of violence.
I caught sight of Thorn’s face while I watched the prince’s departing back. The happy-go-lucky captain was severely scowling at his leader, his tanned skin dark with suspicion and stretched taught over the length of his clenched jaw, no doubt imagining the gossip that would flow like water after this latest episode. I began to wonder myself if the crown of Althea would stay in the hands of Nikos and Travain much longer, and what would happen if there was a revolution. Perhaps the troubles and trials of war would be better than living under a mad ruler’s reign, or it would be a nightmare even worse than could be imagined.