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“Hold the magic steady. You’re wavering.” Alec instructed as his hands positioned mine according to the training image that lived alone in his head. My wrist dully ached from the strain of holding the long sword-like blade of light that I had formed from a single spark of my magic for so long. Under his expert instructions, I feinted a few clumsy maneuvers but it would have easily spelled my end had I really been involved in combat. This magic was completely different than the weight of a real blade like I was use to
“Can we stop for now? My arm is aching and I have to serve the appetizers at the Gala tomorrow?” That was no lie, I truly as aching after spending so long in efforts to get the royal castle ready for such an important occasion as the Gala. It had seemed like nearly a whole year away since the night that Sandra snuck me out to see the campsite of the refugees from the kingdom, but in truth it had only been about four weeks. With that time spent keeping the castle and its royal inhabitants as neat as we could possibly do, the time I had alone had decreased to nearly nothing at all. No messages with Stryker, no coming down to the dungeon for magic training. In fact, this was the first time I had been down here for days because I had barely even had time to sleep before I was rushed into another job, usually cleaning or on the rare occasion of making a new robe properly fitted for his royal highness – I had ordered Stryker to attack the person who suggested I sew for the king on sight. I hope he breaks their spine.
Alec sighed. “Yes, you may stop for now. Although I was forced to train from sunup to sunup with no rest in between as was normally expected of a young cadet in the army.” His back pressed against the wall as he crouched down, wincing in pain from some hidden wounds beneath his shirt as his finger drew the shape of a long sword in the dust and grime of the floor. The stray fringe of his hair had slid over his face, the soft silvery-blonde locks looking as pale as the moonlight outside against the reddened skin of his cheek – a new lingering aftereffect of receiving another blow from the guards supposedly stationed to guard the prisoners and protect them from themselves, but who were they kidding.
The blade of light extinguished with a snap into a shower of golden sparkles that rained down on the dingy stones like glittering raindrops in the dirt. I dropped to rest on my heels gratefully, sweeping my skirt up around my legs and tucking it in the bend of my knees as I did. Ah! Such sweet relief even if it was only to rest against the chilled stones as it provided a soothing support to my aching and overstretched muscles where I had spent the whole day working to get the mansion ready for the ball. Drifting down from the upper level, I could hear the boasts of the guards as they described their actions in sedating the unruly magical prisoner to their drinking comrades. It was disgusting listening to their bragging, who could be so cruel that they would be proud of hurting another being. “You shouldn’t let them beat you so hard just so they came brag to their companions,” I whispered. “I know you are strong enough that you could easily return the favor and escape this place.”
His nimble fingers moved on to form a pattern of wavy squiggles that looked like water in the dust. “There are some things more important than physical strength when you are undertaking a mission. Besides that, an overpowered prisoner is not one that is suspicious because the guards feel like they have the prisoner cowed. Thus, leading to overconfidence that masks the true intention of the prisoner which also leads to victory for the intention itself.” His eyes took on a strangely methodical gleam as he spoke, the rapidly churning gears of his thoughts visible behind the light green shield as the next part of his plan came into play.
I was slightly confused by his speech, but I understood the gist of it. Stay low and quiet, and the more powerful people will underestimate you when the time comes for your true actions. Oddly enough, I have spent my life practicing that philosophy. Although my victory had yet been seen to be achieved. “It is a noble thing. What you’re doing I mean. Staying in prison in order to keep the suspicion down in order to keep the underground train of people finding their freedom unhindered.”
That single finger paused its actions. “Who told you about that?” he said carefully, every word carefully clipped in strength till they were more deadly than the razor sharp edge of a freshly sharpened dagger.
I shifted my back against the wall, trying to make myself as small as possible as I could feel a change in the air from the direction of our conversation like before an all powerful storm struck. That sudden deathly quiet silence that was thick with tension yet to be released. “Sandra took me out to the forest last night and showed me the camp. I think it is wonderful what you all are trying to do. I just wish that it had been an option before all of the fire and everything.”
“You can’t tell anyone what we are doing here. Do you have any idea what kind of war it might start if our presence became noticed here? The king himself would declare war on all the surrounding kingdoms, and with the dark magic being what it is. No single kingdom could stand the loss of war for long. We would all be destroyed! ” With the illumination of the pale white moonlight flooding in through the window dancing across his features, firming the already tightly clenched line of his jaw and pooling in the dips of the corded muscles of his neck. His eyes glowed with emerald fire tinged with golden rings scattered around the rims of his irises, and the skin across his knuckles turning pure white with tension as he cracked the joints between his fingers, Alec looked fierce and wild. More like the wolf that simmered underneath his skin than the slightly odd man I had been used to.
“I’m not going to tell anyone, I swear it. I have no reason to.” I tried to quickly reassure him but the damage was already done. In his eyes, I could see all his well-laid plans starting to unravel at the seams. I wasn’t supposed to know this information and he knew it.
“But with you knowing is a dangerous factor in itself. One that an enemy could easily exploit by delving into your unprotected mind and rooting around your thoughts till they found that very kernel of information that we are protecting. They would kill you just like that!” He snapped his fingers for emphasis, the silver cuffs around his wrists jangling with the movement. His eyes burned even brighter with anger, like shards of green fire that wouldn’t be extinguished no matter how much I tried. It was a strange look on him for one that was normally so emotionless. A very scary look.
In response, I could feel the embers of my own anger flaring higher, my hands clenching at my sides to hold back the stirrings of golden light that had renewed along my palms. “Don’t get so irritated at me! I didn’t ask for any of this! All I did was follow someone who was ordering me to follow them. It’s not like I went beyond the walls investigating around, your highness! Or do you get some kind of thrill pretending to be a lowly commoner like the rest of us poor unfortunate souls?”
He reeled back on his heels like I had physical attacked him. “I have never tried to pretend to be something that I’m not. Unlike you, I know exactly what I am and what I came here to do. I will not be leaving until that objective is accomplished or I’m dead.”
My ears were ringing much too loudly with the force of my anger for me to hear his words clearly, but an empty ache took itself up in my chest just like he had stabbed me in the heart anyway. Everything he said about me was true. I didn’t know who I was or what I was supposed to do, but I would never be one of them. That I could see clearly now. I was just a useless servant, not fit for any work or relationships of any importance, the same way I had always been. “At least I’m still free and not locked in the dungeon like a filthy animal.” I hissed through my teeth.
“Only for now, or until the king’s crazed mind gives out and then the prince will happily execute you.” Alec’s hands came up to grip the iron bars with barely contained vengeance, the metal shrilly shrieking under the intense power of his grip.
I couldn’t stand the sound or stay in his presence any longer. I spun on my heel and marched myself to the passageway entrance, my skirt flying behind my swift strides like a pair of grey wings. His eyes bored into my back like daggers the whole way, like I would stop and surrender to his power just from one look. Magic teacher or not, I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of coming here again. Faintly in my mind, I heard the echoes of Thorn’s words like a haunting chant warning me of what was to come. His cousin was stranger than anyone else in the kingdom, he said, and he didn’t often realize other people’s feelings as different from his own. Despite his teaching me how to properly handle my magic, Alec wouldn’t have to worry about my speaking a word about him or the campsite again. No matter what happened, this was the last time he was going to see me.
By the time the next morning had rose in burst of brilliant orange colored light, I was already rushing about so fast that my feet were a blur as the ever encroaching deadline for tonight’s party loomed over our heads like an executioner’s sentence. I hadn’t even had time to stop and properly eat breakfast, Rosa having shoved a miniature meat pie in my hands as I whirled through the kitchen on the way out to the garden where Sandra and another one of the maids named Maya hung long violet streamers in the branches of the willow trees to flutter gently in the breeze. The whole castle itself had been transformed into a sparkling beauty – and completely clean of all dustbunnies and a few creatures that had formed out of some black mold in the cellar—decorated in shades of violet purple, gleaming gold, and onyx black.
Once the sun began to set on the horizon, the elegantly crafted wooden carriages arrived out front and lined the entire walkway to the castle. Each one bearing its burden with pride as the elegantly dressed magistrates in their respective household colors escorted their wives and ladies swathed in layers of fluttering silk and satin with dainty – and many not-so-dainty – arms clasped tightly in sync. It was strangely beautiful to watch these tittering women fawn over their companions while some also chose to leave their desired completely and chase after more handsome suitors like an exotic courtship ritual of some wild and foreign beast.
As one of the younger maids, I was not selected to stand at the entrance and greet the incoming elites – more like I was not worthy – but to carefully balance a silver tray topped with artistically shaped crystal flutes which were filled with a sparkling peach colored champagne while also attempting to maneuver the crowds of people scattered around the garden. The crystal pinged against one another with every step I took, the high ringing sound quickly lost in the smattering of voices that overwhelmed one another till it was just a senseless mish-mash of chatter. Despite myself being unnoticed by the higher ones – of course who would want to associate themselves with a lowly maid. – my tray did not escape the same fate, hands whipped out with no warning to snatch a filled flute off my tray with empty ones replacing the missing items with startling rapacity.
As I threaded through the festive fray, I noticed Thorn had decided to attend the party as well, looking rather regal in his glittering gold embroidered black uniform. Or the surrounding herd of the giggling, chittering young women certainly though so as each one fell over herself to try and attract the handsome young soldier’s attention. I wonder if they would be so enthusiastic if they knew he was engaged and his intended bride was the very one who was serving themselves with Rosa’s prize cream puffs at that very moment.
Once my tray was filled with completely empty flutes, I returned to the small serving area that had been set up outside the kitchen door for a refill when I heard the melodious ringing of chimes announcing the royal presence had arrived. As the chimes ceased, the crowd parted just enough that I could see his highness King Nikos standing to the very tip of his diminutive height in attention. It seemed that all my hard work had done the king some good as he was no longer tripping over the hems of his robes, but the luxurious robe of violet colored velvet had been perfectly tailored to his dimension so that the collar of greyish fur trimmed around the neck and the end of his sleeves fell perfectly in line with his height. A cape of pure black draped from his bony shoulders like oversized leathery wings, the golden coat of arms embroidered on the black fabric was no small thing and had probably cost a fortunate to have done—My fingers ached in sympathy for the poor seamstress who had performed that job which was luckily not me. To top it off, his beard was tucked once again into a white poofy cloud beneath his chin and a glittering four pointed golden crown embedded with shards of glimmering diamonds and midnight dark sapphires rested on the dome of his age-speckled head.
Following closely behind the aged monarch was his stepson, Travian, once again dressed all in white with a gold embroidered coat of arms also on his clothes as well. The milky white shade did nothing to minimize the flushed scarlet shade of his cheeks, the protruding veins in his neck, or the single vein in his forehead that pulsed with anger despite the painting on smile that creased his lips into a rather nightmarish grin. On his arm hung Milasy, swathed in the original gown that my mother had made for her of icy blue silk. The color and shape did indeed flatter her straight figure and her blonde hair was pinned up high and braided into a mock attempt of a tiara as if she was already a princess in waiting. Around her neck glittered chain upon of chain of silver and diamonds, ever so brilliantly matching the silver ring that sparkled in the moonlight every time she raised her hand to wave so innocently to the crowd.
It seemed that she had gotten what she wished for after all, for her engagement to the prince was surely an advantage to the Ghro household as well. Although Travain didn’t look like he was too happy about it, but then again, would any of her suitors be thrilled to find themselves fastened with a she-bitch like her?
“Welcome one and all to my fabulous Summer Solstice gala! I hope you all are enjoying the fine weather we are experiencing this evening!” Nikos began to speak as he spread his arms wide to gesture at the picturesque scenery of the garden—It seemed that our royal leader was sane tonight, or for a little while. “It has recent came to my attention that a little someone that I have known for so long is no longer the little boy who followed in my footsteps around the mansion. My son, Travain, has gone and fell in the trap they call love with one of his best friends, a beautiful girl who I am proud to say I have had the honor of watching grow up and blossom into a beautiful young woman, Milasy Ghro!” The crowd erupted into a smattering of polite applause, but beneath the pleasant exterior I could hear the furtive whispers of the unattached women as they hissed between themselves like serpents, eagerly expressing their newfound displeasure at the prince’s newly announced betrothal.
“As you can see, I am pleased with my son’s excellent choice of a future bride and queen of Althea,” The king squeakily continued on. “I have faith that this couple will lead this glorious kingdom on in preparation for my absence in later years, although I have no plans to just hand over the throne just yet. I’m still planning on lasting another good long time! Maybe another 80 years or so.”
The crowd of elites erupted into another polite smattering of applause, this time also being speckled with more than a few amused chuckles from the brave ones who dared to laugh at what the king had intended to be a humorous remark.
“Now, to mark this momentous occasion. My son, Travain, would like to say a few words to you all.” With that said, Nikos stepped back and allowed his son to stand forward. With his normal smug expression erasing the remains of his pain filled frown, the noble if arrogant prince had returned to his normal self as was depicted in the minds of the ladies all throughout the kingdom.
“Thank you so much, father, for that lovely introduction,” His voice was as smooth and cool as glass with no obvious sign of the bitter hostility that he always showed in private when I had encountered him together with the king. “I cannot tell you how happy it makes me to see that our announcement has so much support from you all, and I can only wish that we continue to maintain your support as we move forward on the greatest journey of our lives!”
The crowd cheered louder this time, the applause picking up into a rapid beating of flesh against flesh as the hands clapped with furious power.
“Now, to celebrate this momentous occasion, I have a special announcement to make. As you know, due to my father’s advanced age and the current state of the magical beasts that prey upon our valent soldiers that patrol our walls, the hunts and huntsmen that had so long been a part of our glorious tradition here in Althea were discontinued for the safety of our hunters, becoming little more than our personal protectors for those of us in the royal family. But now, after so long and our hard work due to the soldiers efforts, I am proud to announce that the hunts will now resume! Within three days, a selected squad of huntsmen, led by yours truly, will descend upon the forest and hunt some of the most dangerous beasts of all, those that are ruled by the magic that so threatens to corrupt our daily lives and destroy our homes .But we will not let it! We will strike back at the force that has tried to swallow us whole for so long! We will be free and show them that the humans are not mere toys to be played with! We will destroy the magical ones once and for all! Starting with the ones who tried to sneak into our kingdom and destroy it from the inside!”
With a simple wave of his arm, a squad of soldiers pushed forward at the prince’s command from the castle. Black armored forms walking in a perfectly coordinated circle around the some hidden reason, their gloved hands eagerly resting on the hilt of their swords in anticipation of what new action might unfold.
That’s when I noticed there was something strange but familiar about a sound I was just barely able to hear over the thuds of the pounding steps, but the sound tugged and tugged at my thoughts till I recognized what the strange jingling was.
The rattle of chains against stone.
Once they completed their march into the center of the garden courtyard, the whole squad unfolded like a onyx rose blooming in the warm light of the moon, revealing a series of people held confined by the chains strapped to their wrists in thick cuffs of brilliantly blinding silver. Many of the people at the head of the line were unfamiliar to me, although they certainly had my sympathy as their faces were ash marked and haggard just like the survivors of the blaze. It was easy to see that whatever they had come here to accomplish had not allowed them an easy life – Could it be true that they were all here to further Alec’s mission?—Further down the line, some of the faces became more familiar to me than not. I recognized some as the maids and butlers from various elite’s homes that I had delivered our specially crafted gowns to – these were probably the spies for the distant kingdom of Highguard that Thorn had mentioned—but as my eyes traveled down the line, two faces became so startlingly familiar that I had to stop myself from allowing the first shreds of golden light to bloom from my skin. Sandra, her long neatly pressed grey dress now crinkled and filthy worse than the most abused hankerchief I could ever dream of, had her face turned downwards to blankly stare at her scraped shoes. Her nest of springy curls had shifted about her head like a matted nest of serpents, completely shielding her face from the relentless gaze of prying eyes – when had she been captured from her duties here at the party? Surely I would have noticed her being dragged away in chains? In contrast to her submissive pose, Alec stood up with his shoulders proudly shifted back, those distinctive green eyes gazing around with a calm, collected glance that rivaled Travain’s best glare for power. He was bruised and battered even more since I saw him last, but he still held his position with the dignity befitting a prince, refusing to bow down to the royal family’s ruling influence despite his prisoner status.
“This pack of mangy mongrels had thought they would be successful in infiltrating our beloved, wonderful kingdom and rip it apart at the seams. But they were sadly wrong.” Here Travain’s icy hued eyes traveled across the crowd, lingering on every single head as he took stock of the shocked reaction displayed on each face like a blank canvas of excitement mixed with joy and absolute loyalty. When I felt his eyes linger in my direction, I ensured that my hands were busy with some sort of preparation with the meal as not to display the first hint of golden magic and that my face was turned down to hide the fury glowing in my eyes, although not much could be done to hide the stream of cold sweat that trickled down my neck and spine or the slight shake to my hands as I tried to pour more champagne into a series of glasses. In response to my stress, I felt the magic burn at my fingertips like flames licking at my skin, eager to be unleashed onto whatever had caused my troubles, but I pushed it back down once again.
“Of course, thanks to the efforts of our loyal soldiers, we were able to quickly root out and capture these black hearted villains that sewed their seeds of destruction by setting Lentiqua ablaze. The many poor souls that lost their lives and livelihoods to the flames will be avenged! That we promise! These beasts will be the huntsmen’s first prey on our newest hunt, a choice with more freedom than the fate they bestowed upon our fellow hardworking men and women as they scrambled for their lives amidst the searing flames.” Travain shook his fist to the sky in a show of mock rage that was quickly echoed by the members of the crowd as they howled an earth shaking demand for the prisoners’ blood and bones in the name of vengeance for the fallen. Terrified, many of the prisoners glanced around with fearful eyes, cringing into themselves in an effort to make themselves a smaller target for the powerfully sweeping rage.
I couldn’t blame them, I was terrified and I wasn’t even under arrest... Yet. What was even worse was the sickening display of loyalty to the commoners that these elites would never had shown before if it wasn’t for the prince’s rousing speech. I know for a fact how many of them treated us like dirt, like scum that had dared to grow on the soles of their specially handcrafted footwear. Not once would they have stopped to help us on the street if we had fell, preferring instead to keep us working day and night while they lazed around in their glorious mansions from dawn to dusk. It made me sick. No, it made me worse than that. It made me angry.
Once the bloodthirsty cheers and cries for vengeance had settled, Travain continued with the final portion of his speech. “Thank you all for your support! Both I and my bride-to-be thank you from the depths of our hearts. Just remember, we cannot do all this without you! So come to the eastern gate in three days’ time, and we will see the greatest show of sportsmanship in sixteen years! Thank you all so much and please, enjoy yourselves at this momentous occasion this evening!”
The royal family vanished in a swirl of black as the specially selected soldiers standing guard swooped in like black feathered vultures to whisk them away to safety while the others escorted the squad of prisoners back to dank depths of the dungeon. It wasn’t like any of them could do any real harm as they were all shackled, but I had no doubts that if Alec had wanted Nikos and Travain dead, they would not be standing upright now. As I began to circle the crowds once more with my tray refilled and upraised to the greedy plucking hands, I dared to glance over at Thorn who coolly stood in a circle of women, causally sipping on his drink and making his signature flirtatious remarks as if he had never seen his intended bride in chains and sentenced to death in three days’ time.
I found myself wondering how he could keep such a straight face, but if he could, then so could I.