Mark of the Princess

by B. C. Morin

  “Indeed.” The King stroked his chin and the hair upon it. “We will need to call upon all the nations, we have no time to send a messenger. They need to be warned to put up all guards and wards. Can you use the communication spell to call upon them all at the same time?”

  The Magister thought for a moment. “Yes, I shall call upon Magister Torin and between the two of us we should be capable to call upon them all simultaneously and you can tell them of our new information.”

  “Very well.”

  It was not long before the Magisters returned and began the spell of contacting all nations. The Kings and queens agreed that the armies must be fortified and that more spies must be sent out to find out allegiances among the other creatures that lived in the forests and the mountains. A difficult task indeed as each race tended to only sacrifice for themselves. Many of the creatures of the forest would not involve themselves purposefully in a faerie war.

  * * *

  Morning came sooner than she thought. Her dreams, riddled with past images and questions she did not have the answers to. Alannah turned over to find that Brennus had already awakened and was waiting for her. She wiped the remaining sleep from her eyes and stood herself upright.

  “Good Morning Princess.”

  “Good Morning Brennus. Will we be practicing this morning?” she asked as she strapped on her belts and holsters.

  “Yes.”

  When she turned she found that Brennus had already unsheathed his sword and stood in fighting stance.

  She reached for her sword and did the same. He lunged at her as she blocked his sword with her own. He took a step back and returned the sword in another direction and was blocked once again. They continued in the same pattern for a while. Finally impressed, he backed up and dropped his sword a bit. He threw his hand forward and a jolt of energy came flying through the air at her, throwing Alannah against the tree behind her.

  He walked up and offered his hand to help her up.

  “What was that?” She swatted his hand away.

  “Do you think your enemies will only fight you with the skill you are prepared to defend against?”

  She dusted off her pants and corset. “I suppose not, but in my defense, you did say we were going to practice swordsmanship today.” She frowned so hard her eyebrows almost met at the center, dark clouds forming overhead, thunderous claps filling the air.

  “My apologies. I was merely trying to keep you on your toes.” Brennus looked up at the sky and the sudden assemblage of clouds above them. “Alannah, calm down.” Brennus sheathed his sword while still staring at the sky. He glanced quickly at her and then back at the now lighting filled sky. “Alannah, control your thoughts!”

  The tone of Brennus’s voice quickly snapped her out of the trance-like state she had fallen into. Quickly, Alannah realized what was happening and closed her eyes trying to concentrate on happier thoughts. She thought of the last time she was swimming at the river, hugging her sister when she awoke, and Brennus kissing her at the top of the waterfall.

  Suddenly the warmth of the sun was once again touching her face.

  “Perhaps we should stop for now. We can always practice more later.”

  Alannah sheathed her sword and picked up her pack that lied on a rock nearby. By the time she strapped it on she realized that Brennus had already begun to walk ahead.

  “You will need to stay close today Princess. We will not be traveling through friendly territory.”

  Alannah could hear the seriousness in his voice and walked faster behind him. Occasionally she saw shadows out of the corners of her eyes. There were even times she heard hooves behind her but upon turning found nothing.

  It had been hours since they had begun walking and she was beginning to fall behind. The sun had moved from the overhead sky to the mountains.

  “Brennus” she said breathlessly.

  Brennus turned to find that she had stopped and was sitting on a rock,. He stopped, looking around him and walked back to her. “If you are too tired to walk, we can fly.”

  “No, I will be fine. Can we not just rest a moment though?”

  “I am not sure I would recommend it. Let us just walk a bit more.”

  He helped her off the rock and they began walking. “If you would rather fly, we can.”

  She shook her head. She had started seeing the shadows again and decided it was part of her exhaustion this time. She couldn’t help but notice though that Brennus had not taken his hand off of the hilt of his sword and continued to look around them as they walked. As if out of nowhere, a strange smell bombarded her senses. She looked around in confusion and sniffed the air again.

  Brennus looked at her. “Satyrs.”

  “What?”

  “What you are smelling. Satyrs.”

  “Then why are you so rigid? I thought Satyrs were kind.”

  “Some. Some are kind. The ones around these parts are not. I have been through here before and they do not take kindly to trespassers.”

  “Well, Well, Brennus of Anrad.” The voice, coming from behind them.

  Brennus stopped and sighed before turning around.

  “Cormac. I should have known.”

  Alannah noticed the difference in demeanor from Cormac to the satyrs that were at the festivities in the Kingdom of the Magi. Cormac seemed angrier, his animosity showing on his face.

  “I assume you are not alone.”

  “Would I dare to confront the great Brennus by myself? Not likely.” Brennus turned to find a half dozen goat men surrounding Alannah.

  He began circling around Brennus, stroking his goat-tee as he spoke. “Brennus I know that I was clear in telling you if you had to pass though here again, it would have to be so fast we would not even see you. It was a long time ago but I would still have thought that you would remember.”

  Brennus rolled his eyes. Alannah saw that he didn’t feel threatened by the Satyr or his group of lackeys.

  She could not help but feel responsible though since she was the one that stopped because she had become exhausted.

  “It was not his fault.” Alannah had begun to step forward and was restrained by the satyrs behind her.

  “You have found a girl to speak for you brave warrior faerie?” He walked over and examined Alannah. He touched her cheek gently and she jerked her face away.

  “Pretty and feisty. I would expect nothing less of a female you have chosen.”

  “Cormac, I am in no mood for your antics. We only stopped because she was tired. Any other time I would entertain the idea of fighting and killing you and your friends but currently we have a schedule to keep.”

  Cormac looked at his fellow goat-men and began to laugh. Once he began the others followed. “Do you really believe that you could beat us all? If I recall, last time you almost did not make it out of the forest.” His voice dripping with disdain.

  Brennus cocked his head to the side. Clearly aggravated with the satyr. “If I recall, the only reason you are not dead is because you ignored the rules of a duel and utilized your fellow satyrs for help.” He walked up to the satyr, towering over him. “Let go of my guest and we will walk away.”

  Cormac backed away carefully but he was clearly shaken. “You may go as we have no use for you. But she-” he pointed a slightly hairy finger at Alannah, “stays”

  “What do you want with her?”

  The satyrs surrounding Alannah began running their hands up and down her arms and caressing her face.

  “Oh, I’m sure we could find a great many things to do with her.” He smirked at Alannah as she tried to wriggle free of the others. Cormac walked over to her putting his mouth next to her ear. “I will have my fun with you before sending you back.”

  Alannah’s eyes widened, as he stepped away from her again.

  “Alright then, let us get this over with.” Brennus spoke calmly, glancing at Alannah and unsheathing his sword, “If you beat me, you can have her.”

  “Brennus!” Alannah yelled at
him in horror.

  “If I win, you and your people cannot bother me, her or anyone traveling with us when we walk or fly through your territory again.”

  Cormac hesitated for a moment.

  “What is wrong Cormac? Are you afraid you will lose?”

  “Hardly, warrior fae.” Cormac nodded at his companions.

  One satyr remained restraining Alannah as the other five stood behind Cormac ready to battle Brennus.

  Brennus tilted his head back and let out a chuckle. “I should have known you would do this.”

  “You did not make it a condition of the duel, that it was just to be you and I.”

  “Very well then.” Brennus swinging his sword in a circular motion, readied himself as Cormac sent the first of the goat-men to attack him.

  The first proved to be an easy opponent for Brennus. The satyr lunged at him with his sword at the ready. Brennus darted out of the way and turned, cutting him across his back with his sword.

  As he turned to face Cormac, he found that the second and third were racing toward him. He shot a jolt of power at one and blocked the sword of the other with his own.

  The one that was hit with magic flew ten feet in the air and landed hard against a tree. Leaves and branches pummeling him as he hit the ground.

  The other continued to swing his sword at Brennus unsuccessfully. As the second goat-man tried to gather his wits the fourth and fifth lunged forward as well. At one moment Brennus was fighting three satyrs.

  “Cormac, stop them.” Alannah yelled, trying to free herself but the restraints they had put on her weighed her down and she couldn’t even stand.

  Cormac looked at her and laughed, his face twisted with evil.

  Brennus turned and blocked the sword of one as he used a spell on the two next to him that she had heard him use when they had battled Velius and his trolls. This time though it connected with it’s target and they were instantly obliterated. Dust and ash filling the air where they stood. The satyr that was thrown against the tree initially, saw this and ran away. Brennus turned to the last one standing who was still in shock over his friends, impaling him in the stomach.

  Cormac turned to face the satyr standing behind Alannah and commanded him to attack. He jumped over her and ran toward Brennus. Pulling two daggers from his belt he threw himself at him. Brennus blocked the first two attempts but was cut by a third, and then a fourth. This last satyr was quicker than the others. He blocked Brennus’s magic and continued trying to stab him as he dodged the silver blade that came down on him.

  Brennus tripped over a branch on the ground while avoiding the satyr’s blades, falling to the ground. The satyr jumped on him with his hand in the air ready to stab him. Brennus held him by the wrists as the sharp blades made their way to his neck.

  Alannah yelled out a spell from the spell book that Dara had given her, not sure if it would work for her ,and suddenly a bolt of fire shot from where she was steering straight through the air and through the back and chest of the satyr that sat atop of Brennus. Knocking him over Brennus and into the ground, a gaping hole of burnt flesh where the fire had been.

  Brennus grabbed his sword which had been knocked out of his hand upon falling and stood up again. Cormac looked at Alannah.

  “What trickery is this?”

  “It seems you did not make any conditions of your own.”

  Brennus stood confidently with his sword at the ready.

  “I can see when I have been defeated Brennus of Anrad. I do not need the fate of my fellow satyrs.” He backed up slowly into some trees, and in an instant was gone.

  Alannah looked up at some rustling in the trees only to find Saros taking flight toward the mountains.

  Brennus walked behind Alannah and whispered some words in the ancient language suddenly the weighted restraints fell to the ground. She got up quickly and began looking Brennus over for his injuries.

  “I’m so sorry Brennus. This would not have happened if I would not have gotten tired and insisted on resting.”

  “This was a long time coming Alannah. Do not take this as being your fault.”

  “But now you are hurt.” She had reached into her pack and pulled out a goblet and a cloth.

  “Aquacio” The goblet filled with water which she used to drench the cloth and begin to clean up Brennus’s wounds, as he recited the healing spells to stop them from bleeding.

  He did not protest but simply watched her.

  When she was done with that she reached up and pushed his hair back that had been stuck to his face from the sweat. She gently glided the cloth around his face and onto his neck. His dark hair clinging there as well. She realized she was lingering and took a step back to begin washing off the cloth and pack it in her bag again.

  “Thank you.”

  Alannah raised her head catching his gaze and smiled.

  Brennus opened his mouth as if to say something to her but no sound came out. For just a flicker she thought she saw the Brennus that she met at the top of the waterfall. But then he was gone again, as he turned and began walking.

  ~ Chapter 28~

  The courtyard was empty which wasn’t surprising at all considering how early it was. Evyette took a step forward slicing her sword through the cold thin air and then again before sheathing her blade.

  She wiped the sweat from her face before reaching for the bow behind her head. She tested the string for tightness and reached for an arrow. Evyette looked around but didn’t feel right driving an arrow into any of the surrounding trees, knowing there could be a dryad living in one. She placed her bow and arrow back, and taking a deep breath stretched her hands over head bringing them down in front of her. She kept her eyes closed as she began going over several of the spells in her mind that she had been taught yesterday.

  “Ignis” Suddenly without moving her hands or directing her power the target she had placed across the courtyard burst into flames. She curled her lip in satisfaction. “Desinere” she said lowly. The flames on the target began dying down until they were no more.

  “It is quite the gifted faerie that can use spells without giving them physical direction.”

  The deep voice came from beside her. She had noticed the shadow creep up on her but recognizing the shape she decided best not to break her concentration.

  “Magister.”

  “Good Morning Evyette. It seems that you have been here for a while.”

  “I have sir. I wanted to be sure that I train well for our trip.”

  He put his hand on her shoulder. “You are progressing at excellent speed Evyette. Be sure not to exhaust yourself. Your rest and relaxation can be just as important as your study and practice.”

  “Thank you for your concern Magister Torin. It is much appreciated.” She said as she turned to face him.

  Just as she did she realized that someone was trying to attack her mind. She quickly put up her guards stopping the attacker from accessing her mind and her spirit. Visually putting walls around her thoughts.

  “Very good Evy. I can only imagine how much better you will do with more practice.”

  “That was you Magister?”

  “It was. In time you will not only be able to see the attack but the attacker. I will continue doing this at unexpected times in order to make sure that you are able to defend yourself no matter what the circumstances around you.”

  “Yes Magister.” She bowed her head to him slightly and dismissed herself when he bowed his head back.

  Evyette was walking through the courtyard toward the castle, looking at her new mark and thinking of what the Magisters had told her about calling on shadows during battles for distractions.

  The impact was sudden and caught her off guard.

  “I am so sorry Ms. Evyette.”

  I was looking at my book as I walked.

  “It is alright. No harm done.”

  “I am Aeron. Magister apprentice.”

  “Pleasure to meet you Aeron. I have not seen you around. Are you a
new apprentice?”

  “Yes ma’am.” His eyes shifting around nervously

  “Well, I will let you get back to your book.” She turned and walked into the castle to find Tristan and Kaleb walking down the stairs with their swords and bows and arrows.

  “Where are you going?”

  Tristan turned and smiled at his love and immediately walked to her.

  “I think the question should be, what were you doing?”

  She glanced down at herself dressed in her fighting gear and back at him. “I woke up early this morning and decided to get some practice in. I am eager to visit Caelestis and see what we find there.”

  Tristan grabbed her hand in his. “Are you sure, Evy?”

  “Yes, why wouldn’t I be?”

  “Perhaps because you may not like what you find.”

  “Tristan, I am sure that I may not like what I find. But finding anything at all gets us closer to conquering what is wrong with me.”

  “I see. Alright then.”

  “You have not answered my question. Where are you going?”