Trial by Obsidian

by Naomi Kelly

  "I won't endanger you by being associated with me."

  "Aye, but the thing is it's not just you that is being hunted Juniper. It's all of us, they just know your name, but they'll kill any and all magicians. The Chambers have been prosecuting our kind for decades, and let's be honest, tis only a matter of time before the Southerners that know about us turn us in. It ain't ever been safe for magicians to band together, but staying hidden and isolated? That hasn't protected us either eh." Bryar said.

  "We tried to look after each other without help Juni' and look what happened," Adonis spoke with a seriousness that caught my attention, "I almost lost you. I could still lose you. The Chambers aren't going to give up."

  Elm wrapped a delicate arm around him and muttered, "Especially when their precious Beta is missing too."

  "With none of their poison and potions in my system, I am not their 'son' anymore. Bets are they want me more dead than any of you," Reuben kept his gaze locked on Elm until she looked away and swallowed hard.

  I released a shaky sigh and rubbed my temples, "What would joining the coven entail exactly"?

  Willow began explaining the process of practising our magic daily to form bonds through the magic blanket, but after a few minutes, my mind ran away with me.

  My world of believing that Adonis' and I were the last living magicians was well and truly shattered. Each one of us had somehow survived and found ourselves here. I looked upon each of their faces and took a moment of silence to appreciate each one. I knew covens were dangerous, but facing adversity seemed to be the common theme of my life. Of all our lives.

  "...and then ideally you would live here. The bonds work best on proximity so-"

  "Okay, I'm in. On one condition." I said abruptly, "With or without his magic, Reuben will be a respected part of this coven."

  "He's proved himself to be more than loyal," Adonis declared. Willow nodded in agreement and gave Reuben a wide, warm smile.

  Bryar clapped Reuben on the back with a force that made me wince slightly, "We'll do all we can to help you get your magic back."

  My gaze fell to a noticeably quiet Elm. She stared back at me for a few breaths before Adonis nudged her side. She rolled her eyes, shrugged and offered up a weak nod, "I guess he could be useful for insider knowledge of the Chambers."

  Reuben laughed without smiling but seemed grateful for her attempt at a compliment. Tension eased and a bubble of excitement began to grow.

  "Right, when do we start then lass'?" Bryar smiled. Everyone turned in their seats to face me. Had I accidentally been chosen as the leader of this new coven?

  "How about right now?"

  * * * *

  Over the following week, we slipped into a rhythm of practising our magic by day and enjoying our make-shift family feasts by night.

  We each had our own magic skills to hone individually, but with power ties growing stronger every day from the four crystal clans and two sets of siblings that gave it strength, we now had the ability to merge our magic in ways we never had before.

  Bryar used his power to help Elm heat and smelt the metal she was manipulating. Together they created intricate pieces that were much tougher than ever before.

  Drawing power from the others meant Adonis' abilities were far more potent and no longer required physical contact to work. He and Willow set up a scheme where he would give her a signal to jump out of various places and scare us.

  On the fourth day, I was their unsuspecting victim. She leapt out from behind the doorway to grab me, but Adonis sent his emotional controlling waves across the room with ease and pinpoint accuracy.

  A black wave of cool air surrounded me and calmed the involuntary rise of adrenaline before her hands grabbed me.

  It was as if time slowed.

  I could think clearly.

  Without panic clouding my judgement, I turned smoothly to duck her rapid attack. Willow flew into the wall behind me and landed in a heap.

  "Yes! That was amazing!" Adonis whooped, before noticing the scolding look from Bryar, "Sorry, I'm just excited. Is she okay?"

  I rushed to her side and began checking her for injuries, "I'm sorry, it just all happened so fast."

  She offered an understanding nod and smile but remained quiet and wincing as she held her head. I moved her grip to find her hand and hair dotted with blood.

  "You have a cut. Let me take care of it."

  I thumbed a small piece of Obsidian and instantly forged a strong connection with my magic. Being part of a coven allowed for greater access with less strain on my behalf. Without even commanding it to, my energy fluidly moved its way from my palm to her skull and closed the wound.

  I retracted my magic almost immediately, but an impression of Willows health still flooded my veins.

  Her unsteady heartbeat that beat so hard it echoed.

  Her heightened blood-pressure.

  "Maybe you should rest for a while," I suggested as I moved out of the way to let Bryar help her up, "And find a new volunteer."

  Bryar carried her out of the room, and Adonis rushed ahead of them to open doors and clear the way. Elm gracefully bowed her head in our direction and followed them down the hallway.

  She had become more cordial towards Reuben since forming the coven but still would only stay in the room with him if necessary.

  "I should be his test subject," Reuben grunted from behind me, "It seems being experimented on is my only strong point, and I might as well make myself useful around here."

  He hauled a chair out and sunk into it, burying his face in his hands. He had been trying daily to connect with the Onyx crystals Willow had given him, but it yielded no results. Each time the connection failed, he would calmly state how it was to be expected, how it might just take time, how we should remain patient and optimistic, but the disappointment grew on his face.

  I knelt before him and he slowly dropped his hands like lowering a protective drawbridge allowing me in.

  "You don't actually believe that about yourself, do you?" I asked.

  He focused his gaze through the window on the horses outside, remained quiet, clenched his jaw and shrugged.

  "You are infinitely valuable to this coven because you are infinitely valuable to me. With or without your magic," I parted my lips against the back on his hand, "I wouldn't even be here if it weren't for you."

  "I most certainly wouldn't be here if it weren't for you," he said, giving me his full attention. He scooped me from my knees and onto his instead. "We make a good team."

  I tiled my face towards his.

  "A very good team." I whispered against his warm lips, before placing my mouth against his. He drew me close and I allowed myself to melt into him.

  One kiss.

  Two kisses.

  Three kisses- It was then I realised that I would never have enough of this. Of him. The deep hunger I felt for him could never be satisfied. I would always want him. I would always need him.

  I teasingly pulled at his lower lip and left a trail of kisses across his stubbly cheek.

  "You're going to look like Bryar soon if you don't shave." I laughed, tracing the outline of the thin beard across his face.

  "I was thinking of growing it out. Facial hair is highly frowned upon within the Chambers, so I view it kind of like a personal rebellion. Unless you hate it of course-"

  "Well, in that case, it's perfect," I said, wanting to kiss him all over again.

  Adonis cleared his throat and leaned against the kitchen door. I untangled myself and stood awkwardly at his side.

  "Elm was wondering if she could borrow our large stewing pot for dinner?" he asked. Although his question was directed at me, he kept his judgemental brotherly stare on Reuben.

  "Of course, she can. We can go fetch it for her now, I think we could all use a magic break," I offered. The original plan had been to join the coven slowly by training during the day and returning home each evening. However, we had been giving our all during practise and ended up fallin
g asleep in the spare Topaz room every night since the market.

  "Great, and could you bring me some spare clothes on the way back?" Adonis asked, pulling at the tight collar of Bryar's shirt that he was wearing. Reuben gave an affirmative nod as he failed to pull the short fabric into his waistband.

  "If we leave now and take the horses, we should be back in an hour," I said, making my way towards the door.

  "You'd be even faster if you managed to keep your hands to yourself Juni'," Adonis jeered.

  "Oh, as if you're one to talk!" I spun to launch into a full sarcastic assault, but Reuben's arm wrapped around my waist and half guided, half lifted me through the door and towards the horses.

  "Goodnight lovebirds,"

  I managed to shout out a quick curse before we were out of earshot.

  Thirteen

  I had only ridden a horse once before I escaped the Chambers. There was a man at the market many years ago who sold ceramic pots and clay ornaments, and he used an old pony and cart to move his goods to and from his home. He was incredibly ill-tempered and considered children to be the biggest annoyance of all. He wouldn't let anyone near his pony, and he spent half his day at the market scaring away the children who longed to pet her soft grey muzzle.

  That was until one day in early spring when my mother walked me straight over to his stall, untied the cart and sat me prim and proper upon the pony's back without hesitation.

  I was terrified. Not of the horse, but of the owner who just stood there looking on impatiently. I had never been raised so high. With shaky legs and wide eyes, I looked all around me, and that's when I saw it.

  Just behind the man's stall table was a lilac box with a painted 'V' for Vana on it. My mother's signature cake box.

  She always had this unique ability to find a person's sweet spot and win them over. Thankfully his sweet spot had been his sweet tooth.

  "After you m'lady." She jokingly genuflected with her beaming smile that always reached her eyes and would be forever ingrained in my memory. I remember how important I felt as the other child looked on with deep envy. I felt so lucky and loved.

  A mere six months after that I found her dead beside my father in the middle of a dirt path.

  I dropped my reins and leaned forward to give Pepper a long hug.

  "Is everything alright?" Reuben asked as we rode past the tree where the swing used to hang.

  I nodded and cleared my throat, "Yeah, I'm fine. I just missed her." Only I knew that I was talking speaking of my mother and not Pepper.

  After another minute of riding, we were at the front door and dismounting. Reuben entered the house without waiting for an invitation, and I was happy to see a renewed bounce to his step.

  "You gather what you need, and the stew pot. I will fetch Adonis' his clothes." he said over his shoulder as he made his way down the corridor. I watched him walk all the way until he disappeared through the doorway. Even from the back, he was handsome.

  I made my way straight to my wardrobe and started the search for my woollen jumpers to keep me warm as the winter evenings began to creep in.

  With my back to the door, I didn't hear the squeak from its hinges.

  I didn't even hear their footsteps as they crept closer.

  The first sound of an intruder I became aware of, was the thud of my skull against my floor.

  My cry was cut short by the palm that suffocated my mouth. I could feel a trickle of blood trail from the side of my head, down my face and drip off my chin. I opened my eyes only to see the familiar, but not at all friendly, murky brown eyes of Edvan staring back at me.

  "Douward once told me that rats are creatures of habit, and will always return to their nest," he spat so close to my face that I could feel the moisture from his breath, "I knew if I waited you out, you would eventually return here. Douward was right. He was a loyal and smart man, and you murdered him with your bare hands. Just like you murdered my cousin."

  I tried to shake my head. I wanted to tell him that he had it wrong, but he held me firmly against the hard ground. Completely immobilised. He moved closer until he sat on my abdomen and used his knees to pin my elbows. The weight of him pushing into my stomach combined with the throbbing in my skull gave me a strong urge to vomit.

  "Do not bother denying it, you wrenched witch. I know you manipulated the Beta to stop taking his medication, and then you used him to escape the Chambers."

  The weight of his palm against my face caused bright spots to cloud my vision. Pain travelled through my jaw until until even my teeth hurt.

  "My cousin did not deserve to die at your hand, but I will take great honour in avenging him." He reached to his hip and retrieved a long sword which he placed against my throat, between two rings of cartilage.

  My startled mind couldn't distinguish whether the blade felt hot or cold.

  Had he already cut me, or was the sting I felt just a threat of what was to follow? My mental frenzy was derailed by the thunderous thump of my bedroom door colliding with the wall behind it as it swung open.

  "Get off of her," Reuben roared as he made his way towards us.

  "How...How are you alive?" Edvan stuttered, his sword still snug against my skin.

  "I will not tell you again. Get. Off. Her."

  Reuben was close enough to launch into an attack, but he stood firm with a panting chest and waited, "That is an order, Gamma."

  Edvan raised his hands as he retreated from me. I launched myself onto my feet with a speed he nor I was expecting. Waves of rage crashed in my core. Anger rushed through my veins. I flung my right hand towards his face without hesitating. The slap made hard contact with the left side of his cheek, leaving a bright red handprint in its wake.

  Before he had time to retaliate, Reuben shouldered him roughly out of the way and stood between the two of us.

  "You do not touch her," he spoke at his normal pitch but there was a palpable tone of possession and fury in his voice. His usual ocean blue eyes raged like a storm at sea.

  "Ever," he added, with a final blow that looked like it stung Edvan more than my slap.

  "Are you going to be okay?" he asked, thumbing away a trickle of blood that ran from the gash on my head, "There's Obsidian in the saddlebags. Will you go get it?"

  I gave a confused look at the crystals on my bedside locker a mere three feet away. He knew there were there, why would he send me outside for them?

  "I need you to stay with the horses until I come to get you," he said noticing my glance, "Do you understand?"

  "I'm not leaving you here with him. He's crazy!" I exclaimed loudly. Edvan clenched his jaw so tightly it looked like it might snap. Reuben moved closer and blocked my view of him.

  "Edvan would never hurt me. I'm his Beta." he placed extra emphasis on the word ‘me’. I believed him. I had seen how much it bothered Edvan to bring me to the bathhouse or Teriam's cottage against his will, but he carried out his duties because his Beta said so.

  I was just worried that his loyalty was tied to the title and not the man who wore it. Would he still respect Reuben if he knew the truth about his bloodlines? I drew breath to protest but sensing my stubborn side bubbling up, Reuben took both my hands and squeezed tenderly.

  "You have fought enough battles. Let me take this one," he whispered in his not-so-quiet voice, and over his shoulder, I saw Edvan's expression change from wrath to perplexity.

  He kept hold of my hand and walked me to the door. His tall and solid stature filled the door-frame and reminded me of his strength. Yet I still felt a pang of worry as our fingers slipped from their hold as I moved away. I walked backward, continuing to face my room until I couldn't see it anymore. The physical act of turning my back on him felt like a betrayal.

  I paused at the front door to listen for the unsheathing of swords or start of a heated argument. When I heard nothing but the murmur of their voices, I edged my way outside and clicked the door closed behind me.

  Once I located the saddlebag at the side of th
e cottage, I healed my wounds and eased the tingle in my stinging palm. I slipped the crystal and a knife into my pocket and feeling a fraction safer, I made my way towards the meadow to find the horses.

  Omega was grazing by the hedgerow, but Pepper was far too busy grooming another black horse to notice to lush pasture around her. Although I made my way towards them timidly, I trusted Pepper’s judgement of a good character and caught the other mare without difficulty.

  After some light pats, I began removing her tack, including the saddle-mat with the Chamber turret crest embroidered into its cloth.

  "I'm glad you get to see your stable-mate, but the man who rode her here is trying to kill me." I muttered to Pepper and threw a glance towards my bedroom window.

  I busied myself with brushing the horses and throwing loose stones from the field into the ditch

  Anything to keep me occupied and stop me from running back to the cottage with my Obsidian blaring.

  As the daylight began to drain away, colder winds whipped my hair away from my neck, allowing an icy breeze to blow down my spine. Winters in Deshure were much colder than those of Sinlara, and Reuben would have to adjust to the snow and frost that never seemed to cross the border.

  The beautiful image of us playing like children in the snow shattered like thin ice, as my mind realised, he might not be in Deshure for much longer. One, or both of us could be in the Chamber's dungeon before the first snowfall. Or we could be dead.

  Before my imagination could run away with me anymore, the men walked through the door and made their way towards me. At least the cottage and the two men were still standing.

  "You groomed Zeta?" Edvan asked, standing far away from me. It was unclear if the gap was for my benefit or his safety, but I appreciated the space.

  "It's not her fault that you're her owner," I spat, before eyeing up Reuben. He seemed as unshaken as normal, and thankfully uninjured as well, "Is he still intent on murdering me?"

  "He won't get close enough to try," he spoke in a way that makes it sound like a promise and a threat in the same breath, "I told him everything he needed to know."