by L. H. Nicole
“Can your Dragon sight see something we can’t?” He was silent. Aliana pushed the small amount of magic into him connecting her vision to his. The room’s colors brightened, and everything in the room sharpened. But her eyes and magic immediately saw the evil that had killed the most beloved member of this family.
There was a thin gold bracelet with a small yellow diamond on her small, delicate wrist, hovering right below Galahad’s own big hand, like a viper ready to strike another victim. Darkness leeched from the cold material, a black stream of death seeping into Vira’s veins like a poisoned river.
Aliana grabbed at the bracelet; maybe if she could get rid of it Vira could be saved! Her hand closed around it and lava hot pain shot up her arm and through her body.
She heard her own howl of pain, felt fire shaking her body, trying to push her into unconsciousness. Her connection to Dagg and his magic snapped, her own magic falling to the way side in the rush of pain consuming her like a violent cloud.
Rays of sunlight broke through the clouds, air returned to her bruised lungs and the darkness faded into oblivion.
Aliana opened her eyes to see Arthur and Igraine both hovering, blocking out everything else in the room.
“Sophvira was murdered,” she rasped out.
“That bracelet is poisoned with magic,” Delphina’s musical voice warned.
Aliana pushed out of Arthur’s arms and reached for the bracelet again. Igraine’s hand stopped her. “You cannot touch it, it nearly poisoned you too.” She turned Aliana’s hand over.
She gasped at the line of red angry blisters that ran across her palm and fingers.
Arthur shot to his feet, his anger and determination like a flare of red around him. “Lock down the city, no one enters or leaves until we’ve caught Sophvira’s murderer.”
The guys snapped into action. Percival, Leyon, and Lancelot shooting from the room.
“Gawain, Owaine, find Clara, the servant who attends Vira. She may know who has come and gone from this room.”
They left immediately.
“Galahad,” Arthur said, kneeling back down, placing his hands on his friend’s shaking shoulder. “We will find who did this. They will pay dearly for Sophvira’s murder.”
Galahad didn’t move from his smothering hold on his sister’s dead body. Igraine continued to comfort the catatonic knight.
Delphina and Guinevere both sank to the floor next to Aliana, the three of them huddling together, muffling sobs of anguish and heartbreak.
How long had Vira been here like this? How could someone have gotten a magically poisoned bracelet into Vira’s room?
“Morgana could have done it.” Dagg seemed almost reluctant to blame the sorceress. And so did Aliana. Morgana clearly loved Vira, just like everyone else. It made no sense why she would have killed Vira.
Another face sprang to the front of Aliana’s clenched and aching eyes. Viviane. Morgana’s teacher. “Dagg, take whatever power you need from me to remain hidden, but find her!” She dropped the outer layers of her shields and fed it to him, ignoring her already aching body.
“I have enough without your magic. If you try to use any more you could kill yourself by depleting your own magic core!”
She sighed, finding a new reason to hate the way her magic functioned so differently from that of others. Even though Aliana couldn’t see him, she felt his comforting presence go from the room. She hugged the girls tighter to try to stave off the panic and gut-stabbing guilt. Vira’s room was right next to hers; she knew what fate planned for the girl. Why hadn’t she taken more precautions, or watched over the sweet little sister better?
Arthur kept talking to Galahad in a low voice, signaling his mother to step back with a nod of his head. Slowly the big knight’s death grip started to slacken, inch by agonizing inch. Aliana wanted to go to him, comfort him, but her shame held her rooted to the cement floor. That and the boneless feel of her whole body.
Gawain and Owaine pushed through the doorway, Clara’s arms gripped in their big hands as they were coming very close to manhandling the servant.
She looked frightened and confused as they dragged her, stumbling in front of Arthur. “Sire, what is going on?”
Before Arthur could answer, Galahad got to his feet, his sister’s lifeless head hung back, her arm dangling limply in the air. “My sister was murdered.” His voice was as hollow and dead as his dulled blue eyes.
Clara gasped, and she looked unbelieving at Sophvira’s body. Her eyes drifted to a small oval box lying on the ground by Galahad’s feet, and then burst into tears. She would have fallen to her knees if the knights hadn’t still been holding her.
Arthur stepped in front of Galahad before he could take a step toward Clara. “Do you know who did this?” His voice was even but stern. “She was poisoned by this bracelet!” He pointed to the gold band on Vira’s dangling wrist. “Who gave it to her?”
“I don’t know, sire!” she cried through hiccups and tears. “This is my fault! But she always got little presents…they have never…she’s dead because of me!”
Galahad’s face reddened, his eyes starting to return to violent life. Igraine stopped him before he could move, somehow holding the knight still.
“What are you babbling about, girl?” Gawain demanded, his voice hissing through his teeth. It was clear he was trying to restrain his own need to do violence on Vira’s behalf.
Still on the floor, Aliana reached for the oval, wooden box. Gripping it she got to her feet, Guin and Delphina steadying her as she wavered. Faint traces of the dark magic clung to the box like a bad scent.
Arthur took it from her hands. “What do you mean she received gifts? How are you responsible for her death? Choose your words very carefully, Clara. They will determine your fate.”
Aliana shivered at the cold warning.
“She’s…Lady Sophvira has…has always g-gotten gifts like that one. She…she said they were from a-a secret fr-friend.” Clara’s body shook with her stuttered words. “They are…I always find them outside her door.”
Guinevere went to Arthur’s side, her face soft with understanding. “Have you ever seen who leaves them?”
Clara’s shaking lessened as she focused on the less threatening Guin. “No, never.”
Everyone in the room seemed to deflate a bit. Lancelot, Percival, and Leyon reentered the room, taking in all that was happening with silent focus.
“But…”
All eyes went back to Clara at the whispered word, attention fully on her. It was a wonder the girl didn’t crumple on the spot.
“But what?” Arthur demanded. “Did you see who left this box?” He held it out closer.
She shook her head. “I didn’t think about it at the time but…I saw someone, I’ve never seen him in this part of the castle before…”
“Who?” all the guys demanded together.
She flinched back, but the guys still kept hold of her. “The stable boy, Ra-Raven.”
23
Weeks of searching and talking with those who have called Olympus home for centuries, yet still nothing. Even with Rothik’s potions and my renewed strength, I cannot divine any of the information we so desperately need. These constant memories, the reminders of how much I miss my souls mate, the times we shared, how much my heart bleeds for her and our fate, makes matters worse than ever. It makes it harder to remember I need more than my own selfish needs met. If we can find the Grail, maybe then I will finally have the magic I need to rid her of her darkness! It is my only hope.
~Merlin
“WHAT?” DELPHINA DEMANDED, her musical voice hitting sharp notes.
“It couldn’t be him!” Aliana protested. “He’s not the kind to hurt someone.”
Arthur glanced at the two girls, his face filled with anguish but still determined. “Find him, now!” he ordered Lancelot, Percival and Leyon.
He looked to the shaking servant girl. “Is there anything else you remember? Something else you need to tell
us?”
She shook her head once then stiffened. “I am so sorry for what has happened. I should have realized something was wrong.”
Galahad seemed to fluctuate between mortified and ragingly vengeful.
Arthur’s posture stiffened even more. “Gawain, Owaine, see Clara back to her room. You’ve been very helpful Clara, but I want you to stay in your room.” He smiled at her, but it was purely for show, an attempt to soothe the terrified servant. “Place a guard at her door for her safety.”
Gawain nodded. “Then we will join the hunt for our murderous traitor.”
Owaine voiced his own agreement. “I will coordinate search parties with Percival.” He looked to Galahad. “We will bring him to you in blood and chains.”
With that they led a silent Clara from the room.
Aliana gripped Delphina’s hand, trying to quell her nervous shaking. “Arthur, you don’t know if Raven being in this wing is connected to that box!” But her gut told her that their assumptions might be right.
He shook his head. “This is not something we can take a chance on. We will find him and get the truth from him. One way or another.” He glanced up as Lancelot returned, his face reddened with exertion. Guinevere went to her husband’s side, taking his hand in hers for support.
“Lancelot, send out your most trusted scout. Find Merlin and Morgana. Get them back to the castle immediately.”
He bowed to the king, kissed his souls mate’s hand quickly and disappeared.
“Galahad, listen to me.” Queen Igraine touched his flexed arm drawing the silent knight’s attention. “You must give me Sophvira’s body, we must prepare her for the funeral rites.”
His grip tightened, his body shifting back from the queen. She waited calmly, her even, sunlight gaze wearing him down.
“Come.” Igraine headed toward the door, Galahad took a step to follow then stopped and looked back to Aliana. For the first time she couldn’t read what he was feeling.
Delphina went to him, her delicate face soft with sympathy. “You must see to your sister.”
The knight looked to his king. Arthur nodded once, his face grave.
With Delphina, he followed the queen, Guinevere trotting after them as they disappeared from the room.
“We should not linger here.” Arthur wrapped a steady arm around Aliana’s waist. “You will wait for news in my chambers. They are the best guarded in the castle.”
Her shocked state gave Arthur the distraction he needed to propel her from Vira’s cold room, down the hall and into his own larger chambers. It was easily four times the size of her room, but then, that was to be expected. That and the rich drapings of red and gold and cream fabrics around his big bed, the massive hearth and long table that stretched away from it.
Arthur steered her toward one of the chairs furthest from the door, on the other side of the table.
“I will be joining the others in their search for Raven—” Heavy knocking pounded his now closed door. “Enter!”
“Sire, we have him.” Owaine’s grave frankness was helping to control the blood lust in his eyes. He, Percival, Galahad, Leyon, and Gawain entered the room.
“Lancelot and several of the guards are securing him in a cell in the dungeons.” Gawain looked at Galahad, his hand resting on his brother’s shoulder. “Do you want to be the one to get answers from him?”
Galahad was silent but nodded.
Aliana’s blood pressure spiked. “You can’t be serious!” They were not going to torture a boy, no matter his accused crime!
Sir Percival spoke for the group. “We will get the truth from this traitor in any way we must. If he somehow survives that, he will face the executioner.” Quiet rage colored the words.
She shot up from her seat. “Arthur, Galahad, you can’t! What if he didn’t do it and he was seen by mistake?” Yet her twisting gut told her Raven could have something to do with what happened.
Leyon stepped forward. “We have no other option, lass. The longer we wait, the more chance something could happen to him to prevent us from getting our answers.”
Aliana shifted back. “You think whoever poisoned Vira was working with someone else?”
Their silence was all the answer she needed. But they had no clue to search for Viviane. How could she tell them without revealing who she was to Morgana?
Aliana clenched her jaw. Dagg was searching for the evil woman. “I didn’t think anything of it at first. There was a dark-haired woman I’ve been seeing around the castle since the games started. She was always sticking to the shadows, hiding her face.”
“Why did you not say anything sooner?” Percival asked, taken back.
She shrugged, feeling helpless. “There were many visitors here for the celebrations. But I think she’s the one we need to find.”
“What does she look like?” Gawain asked.
Aliana described the witch in detail for them.
“That does not change the need to get answers from Raven.” Arthur turned from Aliana to the knights. “Do what you must.”
“No!” Aliana shouted. “Torturing someone doesn’t get you the truth! They will say whatever you want to hear just to make the pain stop. That’s not how you get your answers, or your justice for Sophvira. That’s cold-blooded revenge. None of you are the type who would do such a horrible thing!”
“We have no other way.” The finality in Arthur’s rumbled rebuttal had ice crystals spreading through Aliana’s veins.
Gawain and Owen nodded as Leyon spoke up, “We have already lost one person we love, Aliana. We’ll not chance these murders taking another life.”
Arthur agreed. “If Merlin was here, perhaps we could try another way, but he is not.”
Desperation turned the ice into sludge. Aliana knew what she needed to do to keep her friends from losing sight of justice and the honor and chivalry that was a core part of their beings.
She went to Arthur, placed herself squarely in front of him boldly meeting his gaze head on. “What if I can give you a different way to get the truth? One that doesn’t involve torture and will be certain that you get the honest facts?”
“How?”
“Give me an hour, I’ll get you what you need to get real answers.”
Arthur stared down at her. “How?” he asked again. “Unless you give us an answer, we do it our way.”
She didn’t have a choice now. She had to tell them about her magic. It was either that to let the men she cared about become monsters.
“I was going to tell you all this morning. I can do what Merlin can. I have magic too.”
None of the guys seemed overly surprised.
“You finally confirm it then?” Lancelot asked, his voice hard.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell y’all sooner, but I had my reasons.” She looked back to Arthur. “Give me one hour.”
His gaze flickered down a fraction. “You have one hour.”
“Sire!”
Arthur silenced the knight’s protests with a hard glare. She turned and tried to look confident as she walked calmly past the guys and out into the hall.
She glanced over her shoulder, saw no one had made to follow her and took off running toward Merlin and Morgana’s potion chamber.
“Dagg, have you found Viviane?”
She felt his frustrated growl through their link. “No, she has hidden her tracks too well.”
“Keep looking then. We have to find her.”
“I know what you are planning to do, be careful.”
Aliana felt a ghost of a smile return to her face. “Aren’t I always?”
“Only if always means never.”
Flinging the door open to Merlin’s potion room Aliana grabbed at one bottle then another and another. Merlin said he always kept potions and other magical things ready in case of emergencies. And this was an emergency. She couldn’t let the knights, her friends, and her family do unspeakable things to a boy because they were blinded by a need for revenge. Even if he was guil
ty, the deed would still be cold blooded revenge.
Aliana slammed her hands on the wooden bench. “Damn it, Merlin! You have to have something here to help me figure out how to create a truth potion!”
The door opened again. Aliana’s head snapped to see Igraine standing in the doorway, looking as calm and collected as always. All except for the faint stains of tear tracks still lingering on her cheeks.
Aliana’s heartache threatened to return, but she held it back. She couldn’t give into it right now. She didn’t have the right to. “I need to find a way to make a truth potion.”
Igraine stepped in and closed the door. “Magic strong enough to draw the truth from an unwilling mouth is not something that can be held at the ready. It must be created and used at once.”
“I can’t let Galahad and the knights throw away their honor to torture a boy because they’re blinded by their grief for Vira,” Aliana replied.
The queen’s warm hand came to rest on her exposed shoulder. “Then you must create the truth potion they need.”
Aliana shook her head. “I’ve never created a potion before. My magic has always been more physical and kind of spontaneous.” She paused. “Apparently my magic is much different than everyone else’s. Merl…I have no idea where to even start.”
“What is the basis of all magic ability?”
Aliana looked up at the queen confused.
Then she remembered back to her first magic lesson with Merlin. “We shape the power inside us to do our will.”
“Magic is shaped by our will.”
Igraine smiled. “Exactly. You have to believe and command the magic to do what you want. You clearly have more than enough power to do this; you just have to want it enough.”
She did want it enough. She took a fortifying breath and grabbed a small empty bottle with a glass stem that dipped inside the jar.
“Close your eyes and concentrate on what you want. Pull your magic and command it to do your will.”
Aliana followed the queen’s instructions, acutely aware that her hour was running out like sand through an hourglass. She held the glass between her palms drawing on her own core of magic, opening her senses and taking a large drop of the water element’s power. She imagined it like a trickling fountain slowly filling the jar with an elixir that would get the truth they needed from Raven without the knights having to torture him.