by A. J. Medina
Only the mob that had engaged the king, the wizard and his guard were a threat now.
Playing with fire was becoming an addiction by now and so I figured why not. I ignited a circle of fire around the remaining mob that was engaged with the king, the wizard and his guard. They were all fighting trying to hold them off. The wizard stood back to back with the king. There were at least thirty, no forty, men trying to slay them, when I saw Silas sprinting his way towards the circle of fire, I sighed in relief. I bolted to the circle, the firewall parted and allowed me entry.
The king had separated from the wizard and was busy fighting two knights while the wizard was busy trying to stave off five. One of the enemy’s men tried to slice me, but I deflected his sword and sliced his stomach. Another tried to chop me in half, like I was a tree. I dodged to the side and removed his arm in one swing. My shield vanished and I drew my sword from its sheath. Wielding two swords I cut my way towards the king, cutting through the enemy as if they were overgrown bushes.
In the corner of my eye I saw someone soaring higher than necessary to clear the fire. When I looked directly at him, I was glad to see Silas was making his way into the ring of fire. He was going to land by the king. That would be helpful until I could make it to him. Thomas landed by me and helped. Tessa was next. She was dodging and slithering past the enemy, trying to make her way to the wizard and his fight, but before she could make it to him, the wizard yelled, “Shoot him Alora. Silas... shoot him.” I was confused for a moment. All I heard was shoot. I summoned my bow, sure that Thomas would protect me if need be. I twisted around looking for my target. I only saw Silas descending towards the king. “Shoot Alora… shoot Silas!”
Silas’ sword was aimed down ready to slay the king. I aimed, but couldn’t release. I couldn’t be seeing what I was seeing. Silas was one of us. I released the arrow and missed. I pulled another arrow and released. I missed again. The wizard summoned his staff, sprinted towards the king and dug his staff into the ground. He launched sideways, gliding a mere inch off the ground towards the king. He pushed the king out of the way with such force that the king stumbled to the ground and then Silas landed and his sword pierced the wizard. I yelled out to the knightlys, “Protect the king,” and they ran to surround him and held their positions while I ran to help the wizard.
“I’m sorry teacher. I didn’t mean to harm you,” Silas told the wizard.
I couldn’t believe what was happening. “Silas, what have you done?” I dispersed my bow and kneeled by the wizard. He focused on me and pulled me close. His lips were next to my ear when he spoke. “Find the dragon wizard. You met him that night in the square.”
“The dragon wizard?”
“Aye. Tell him I sent you. He will teach you how to use your powers. Protect the king. You swore. His whole body started to glow and my body felt as though it was on fire. “I’ve given you my powers.”
“Where do I find him. Wizard? Where do I find him?” But it was too late, the life had left his body.
Silas reached out to shake the wizard, but I pushed his arm away. “Get away from him!” I half cried, half yelled.
I swept the area quickly as I knelt by the wizard, trying to see through the blurriness of my tears. The king was safe, surrounded by the knightlys and his guard had dispatched the remainder of the mob. It was over or so I thought.
King Remi was whispering in Tessa’s ear. She nodded, dipped low and walking foot over foot, crept up on Silas. She had dispersed her armor so that he wouldn’t hear her sneaking up on him. I looked over his shoulder waiting for the right moment. I tried to signal, no, with a light twist of my head. Silas noticed my wavering glance. When his eyes turned into slits, I reached out and tried to grab his arm. He summoned a sword, turned and thrust it through Tessa’s heart. His sword vanished and his armor disappeared. “NO! What have you done?” I yelled. I climbed to my feet and ran to Tessa.
Kneeling by her side, I scooped her up and cradled her in my arms. Blood flowed out of her wound and pooled underneath us. I rocked her gently. When I looked down upon Tessa’s face again, her eyes were open and didn’t move.
“Tessa?” I whispered. “Tessa?” I whispered once more.
Tessa lay lifeless. The anger within me rose to the surface. I jumped to my feet and my eyes began to glow. The bluish light shown so vividly that it reflected off the armor of the knights around me. They had never been so bright up until now. I yelled, “Silas!” He was on his knees holding his head low. “For all that you have done. For the lives you have taken here. I will make you pay!”
I drew my sword, summoned another and crossed them. I rested the blades on Silas’ shoulders. The anger bubbled inside of me, the anger... the love... the anger.... “How could you do this?” I mumbled. “Why?”
“I’m the apprentice,” he muttered.
“Alora! No!” someone shouted. “Clear a path!”
The knightlys broke their formation around the king. He emerged and raced to my side. “He will pay for his treason, but if you sever his head, you will no longer be capable of performing magic.”
King Remi placed his hand on my wrist and motioned that it was alright. One sword disappeared and I sheathed the other. The blue light dimmed around me. The king called to the knightlys. “Take him into custody. He will return with us to the castle. When we arrive, see him to the dungeon.”
“Aye, Your Majesty,” Thomas said angrily. He placed one hand under Silas’ arm and Aednat with her large size, latched onto Silas’ other one and lifted him to his feet. He broke free, reached for Aednat’s sword and rushed for the king. The king’s back was turned and when he spun to face the commotion, Silas was charging with his sword at the ready. I had but a moment to decide. I summoned a bow and arrow, pulled the cord back, took aim and released.
Silas... the apprentice... groaned as the arrow traveled through his shoulder and the force of its impact knocked him forward into Davina. The king, grateful for my quick thinking, gazed upon me. I was still standing in the archers pose, another arrow at the ready, my eyes shining blue and tears running down the sides of my face. In that moment, that second when the apprentice had made his move, I decided to protect the king as the wizard had instructed me. I released the tension and lowered my bow.
“Thank you, Alora. The wizard was wise in choosing you as his apprentice and now you stand before me as my first knight,” King Remi said.
“What happens now?” I asked him.
“The apprentice has been defeated, what remains of his army is retreating. We have won. We shall return to our castle and rest. We must increase our numbers in order to retake the other kingdoms from his rule. We depart for home immediately.”
“Aye, Your Majesty.”
I watched the knightlys load Tessa and the wizard’s body onto a supply carriage and then form up ahead of the king. The horn blew signaling for all knights to return to the castle.
Chapter 20
I sat in the bath with my knees pulled up to my chest and my arms holding them tight. I could tell Neala was uncomfortable washing me. My eyes were like the waterfall outside the castle walls. The bath water was red with the blood of not only my enemy, but of the wizard and Tessa. And they had both fallen at the hand of the boy... the boy with the violet eyes. Silas was the apprentice.
He’s the reason my parents are dead. Why I have no home to visit. The reason why I sit here now, my heart in pieces. And I... I love him. The door to my wash room opened and Princess Evelyn rushed in. Oh no, not now.
“Alora, I heard that you were triumphant, such a happy day.”
Upon hearing her words I let out a howl that reminded me of a wolf dying and I tried to breathe. I tried, but couldn’t.
“Is this her blood?” the princess asked Neala.
“Nay. It’s the blood of the wizard and of Tessa, her friend.”
The princess gasped. “I’m so sorry, Alora.”
I couldn’t speak.
“Do you need anything?”
<
br /> My friends and my family back. Can you make that happen? I didn’t say that out loud of course, but that’s what I wanted. I shook my head.
The princess stood watching as Neala washed me, unsure of what to do. “Um... Alora. We are going to have a celebratory feast and since I haven’t been able to talk Father into throwing a ball, you can finally dance. I have a dress laid out on your bed. Try to be happy,” she said, and then rested one hand on my shoulder. “You’ll be able to dance with Silas and—”
I couldn’t hold it in any more, I tilted my head back and screamed. The princess jumped back in surprise, almost knocking over a water pail. “What did I say?” she asked Neala.
“Silas, m’lady. He is the apprentice in disguise.”
She stood there understanding why I was falling apart. “I’ll wait in the other room.”
Neala nodded for the both of us.
I must have ran out of water in my body because the tears finally stopped flowing. Neala dried me off and I couldn’t help but recall how excited Tessa was the first time she was washed.
She was so happy here. It’s not fair. She should be celebrating with us. She should be enjoying the feast that was being prepared. “It’s not fair,” I whispered.
I went into my room and the princess was patiently waiting on my bed. She rose and held up the dress she wanted me to wear. It had long sleeves and a gold trimmed neck line. The gold trim also flowed along the hem of the dress and it was that color, the color she knew was my favorite—his eye color. I let out a distressed laugh. Was I going to feel miserable every time I saw that color? I believe so.
The princess, me and Neala went downstairs to enjoy the feast. None of the knightlys were eating and no one was dancing. They all sat there, the girls in dresses — I’m sure the princess made them wear — and the boys in their tunics and matching brown pants. When Aednat saw me, she stood. The other knightlys followed and she pressed her fist to her chest. I mustered the energy to salute them back. I walked over to Thomas, wrapped my arms around his waist and squeezed him as tight as I could. They were together Tessa and him. “I’m sorry, Thomas.”
“Aye, so am I,” he whispered.
I let him go and joined the table, sitting next to him and Ryanne—who started rubbing his back, trying to console him. None of us felt like eating. The battle was not the thrilling victory we had expected.
I found myself walking through the palace in my violet dress, when I turned the corner and entered the dungeon. There was only one guest in the dungeon and I put him there. I reached into my pocket and squeezed Mother’s emerald, hoping it would give me strength. The knight on watch, Ser Portier, saluted me and placed his key into the main gate. Passed the gate were three cells—one to the left, one straight ahead and one to the right. The one on the right held Silas. When he saw me he shuffled to his feet. They had stripped him of his second skin — and based on the bruises he didn’t have earlier — had been beaten. He didn’t say a word.
“I was told you wanted power. That you wanted to rule over all.”
“Alora, I wanted to free everyone. King Remi and the kings from the other kingdoms can’t be trusted. They only want power. They only want to sit on their thrones manipulating their kingdoms into doing their bidding, like slaves.”
“But we’re not slaves.”
“No? Didn’t your parents have to pay a tax to the king.”
“A tax?”
“Part of their crop. Maybe some animals.”
They did. Not animals, but Biron had to set aside potatoes and berries for the king. “Aye. Everyone has to do that.”
“But why? Have you ever asked why? What does the king offer in return?”
I guessed. “Protection?”
“Protection? Did he protect your parents?”
“How dare you! You did that.”
“Nay! I would never do that to... and what about Neala?”
“What about her?”
“Do you think she enjoys cleaning your chambers and washing you and the other ladies?”
I never thought about that. Was Neala a slave? I leaned against his cell trying to figure things out, when I remembered that night in the castle. I regained my stance, tall and composed. “Do you know anything about that boy falling? Were you involved?”
“Aye.”
I gasped. “Did you kill him?”
“Nay! He fell.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“I’ve never lied to you.”
Was he kidding? “You’re the apprentice!”
“But I never lied.”
I pointed a finger at him. “Omission and deception are lies.”
“Are not.”
“Are too!” I said, pushing my face closer to the bars.
He chuckled.
I could feel the blood rushing to my face. “Is something funny?”
He stood gripping the bar. “If this was any place else. It would’ve been charming. Our first fight.”
It was our first. Everything had seemed so perfect. I was blinded by his chiseled features. His smell, his voice, his eyes… and the way he slid his fingers through his hair while holding onto the bars. His eye was swollen and filled with so much blood he could hardly see through it. He needed the healer. I reached out and touched his cheek and wished I could make him better. I imagined his face free of bruises, when my hand glowed and I could see the light from my eyes reflected in his.
The bruising cleared up. I don’t really know how I did it. Just that I did. He gripped my hand holding it to his face. “You will be a very powerful wizard. More so than I could’ve ever been. Don’t let the king corrupt you and use your power against good people.”
I looked at the ground. “You killed Tessa.”
“I didn’t mean to. You have to believe me... just listen.”
“Why should I?” I wanted to, though.
“Because I love you!”
I’ve been waiting to hear him say those words and of all places to hear them... down in the dungeon, him on one side and me on the other. “I’m listening...”
“Did you ever ask yourself why the king asked for volunteers between fifteen and seventeen seasons?”
I shook my head.
“It’s because they needed to be strong enough to fight, but young enough that if I killed one of them, I wouldn’t be able to perform magic any more. That’s why the king can’t perform magic. Don’t you see? The king you serve was hoping I would kill one of the knightlys so that I would no longer be able to do magic. He’s the evil one, not me—and he succeeded. I know you serve him. All I ask is that you keep your eyes and ears open. Judge for yourself. I turned on him... well... because he turned on me first.”
I was shocked to hear that. “Turned on you how?”
“Never mind that. I need to tell you something. There’s something you should know... about your father—”
“You shouldn’t be here,” the king said, startling me.
I turned to face him. “I was trying to get some answers, Your Majesty.”
“Please leave us, Alora.”
“Aye, Your Majesty.”
I bowed and looked at Silas. “You look beautiful by the way,” Silas said, his violet eyes wounding me.
Even now after everything, I knew I was in trouble. I was still in love with him. So much so that I couldn’t kill him when he was trying to kill the king. And now more so if that’s even possible.
Seeing him in the dungeon behind the thick metal bars, bruised and beaten, made my stomach ache. My parents were taken from this world, Lucah had abandoned me, Tessa was dead, and now Silas was being taken from me too. I still wanted him. I still wanted to be with him. I left the dungeon like the king commanded and wondered how I would go on.
When I returned to my chambers, I slipped out of my dress and into a white sleep shirt. Maybe the emptiness and plainness of white would help me forget. I sat on the floor leaning back against my bed with my hands wrapped around my toes and stared
at the candles on the shelves. I tried to clear my mind of everything, choosing to turn the candles on and off. Someone knocked on the door and I twisted my head to see who it was. Neala opened it and the king entered. I stood at once and saluted.
“Is now a bad time?” he asked.
“Nay, Your Majesty.” He’s the king. Did he really expect me to say yes?
“You are now my first knight. Tomorrow I will announce it in the city square. You will need to choose an apprentice to pass on what you’ve learned. You are the wizard now.”
What I knew wasn’t much. “Maybe after I learn how to use my powers I will choose an apprentice. Right now, there’s not much I can pass on.”
“Very well. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Aye, Your Majesty.”
“Please... call me Remi.”
I didn’t think I could get used to addressing the king as Remi, but I would try.
When he was gone, I sat on my bed and patted it. Neala joined me on the bed and I had to know. “It never occurred to me, but Neala... are you a slave?”
She looked at her hands and didn’t answer.
I knelt in front of her and covered her hands with my own. I tried to make eye contact and waited for her eyes to meet mine. When they did I asked again. “Neala, are you a slave?”
She nodded.
I stood and turned away. Slaves? The king had slaves. I don’t know what I thought. Maybe I just figured she was a servant doing her duty. Free to leave if she so chose. But a slave? A slave has no choice in the matter. A slave must serve or face extreme penalties. “You may go. I don’t need you anymore tonight,” I told her, with my back still turned.