Shadowed

by Tara Jadestone

  “Take the young Mistress,” one of the riders said, spurring his crow towards me. The other Dark Mage did as well.

  I tensed and turned around, running as fast as I could. But why did they had referred to me as ‘mistress’? If I was their mistress, would it not mean they once served me?

  But there was no time to dwell on my thoughts. I picked up my skirts and kicked off my fashioned slippers, running barefoot, in an effort to gain speed.

  I began to head toward softer earth –a sign of a water source nearby– when I felt a gust of air above me and cold talons grip my shoulders, lifting me skyward.

  My scream went unheard above the crow’s sharp and triumphant caw.

  The tall trees of the forest became little more than green patches beneath me. A waterfall not far from us roared into a wide river below, but its distance to the crows must have been why they were unaffected by it.

  My chest heaved in anger. Why do I not have any magic to protect myself?

  Below me, I saw the Royal Guards gather by the river’s shore. One of them threw something at me, shining in the daylight.

  It was a sword.

  I reached for it, but before my hand could tighten around the hilt, the crow jerked upward. I could not get a hold of the sword and only managed to cut my palm on the blade. The sword fell into the river, splashing below me. Blood from my hand dripped into the river’s water below.

  Tears sprang from my eyes as I clenched my bloodied hand. If only I had magic. If only I had it, I could save myself.

  The river’s water began to bubble and hiss, forcing the Royal Guards to back away from the riverside. The Dark Mages, also having heard it, slowed down in their initial haste to take me away. The water writhed and twisted, and before my eyes, it became the upper torso of a man with a sword in his right hand.

  Now, the crows stopped altogether and turned around to see it. The water creature lifted its trident to the sky, making the clouds rumble, and pointed it at the crows.

  A gush of cold water sprayed out from the trident with such force, it paralyzed the crows. I screamed as the birds fell out of the sky, the river’s surface coming closer and closer to us with every passing moment. I had no time to wonder where the water beast came from or if it was some part of my connection with Selenah.

  One of the crows raked its claws onto me as if I could save it. I shrieked as its talons dug into my flesh. My back, left shoulder, and stomach erupted with pain as if it were on fire. I shrieked, crying out for help.

  I landed upon something and felt it grab me. I kicked out, horrified to think it could be one of the Dark Mages.

  In all the chaos, I heard someone whispering soothing words to me. I squeezed my eyes shut, feeling the warm blood from my open wounds trickle down my back, mingling with the cold water. Engulfed with searing pain, I fell unconscious.

  ****

  The faint hum of voices woke me from a dreamless sleep.

  I blinked rapidly to clear my vision. One of the Royal Guards was beside me, tending to my shoulder wound.

  I shifted my eyes to look at my surroundings. I was on the ground, in a tent. My dress was cut at the waist to show a jagged black gash that ran along my stomach. I grimaced at the sight.

  “You have awakened.”

  I turned my throbbing head in the Guard’s direction. He looked at me and gave a small smile, the edges of his eyes crinkling, as if he were truly glad to see me alive. I turned away and closed my eyes in relief.

  The sound of Selenah’s voice brought me to open my eyes again. I heard her complain to someone how it was not right for them to cut my dress the way they had and touch my bare skin. Something about how it could all be avoided. Her talking seemed to make my headache worse.

  Selenah marched towards the tent. My shoulder pulsed, and I tried to move away. The wound on my stomach and back flared with pain.

  “Do not move,” the Royal Guard instructed, laying a hand on my arm before pulling away as Selenah entered the tent. When she did so, she glared at the Royal Guard and then turned to me with sorrowful eyes. I turned away, my wounds starting to hurt at her presence.

  “Mel, are you all right?” she asked softly. “Does it hurt?”

  The pain seemed to double as she touched my arm lightly, the blood within my veins heating up. I stopped myself from crying out.

  “Please,” I said to the Royal Guard. “It hurts, it really hurts. Take her away, please.”

  He looked at Selenah. I could not tell what he said to her, but I heard the rustle of her skirts as she stood up and left, and the pain left with her.

  I slipped in and out of consciousness for days, although it was impossible to tell how long I had actually slept for. After some time, the pain subsided, but I did not have the strength to sit upright or stand on my own. My clothing was changed several times in the weeks that I was unable to do it myself. Selenah had assured me that no one else was present, which I believed because at those times I felt the greatest pain and it would vanish when she left.

  Other than Selenah, one of the Royal Guards was always at my side whenever I was awake. He claimed that it was his sword had cut me and that I had bravely saved his life from the giant crow. He said he was indebted to me for such a heroic feat.

  He introduced himself as Tiran of Resvell, a port city from the southern coast. He had a dark complexion and was quite heavily muscled, reflecting no hint of his age. But from his gray sprinkled hair, he was sure to be in his early forties.

  During the nights when I could not sleep, too much in pain to even shut my eyes, Tiran would tell me stories of great warriors. I would drift back into a dreamless, healing sleep after his stories ended.

  Tiran also told me the Prince was here, whom Selenah addressed as Gareth. They were perhaps very close if she could call him by his first name only. I was not surprised.

  ****

  During the weeks I was recovering, Tiran told me a story that was unusual compared to his others. Instead of a famed warrior, he spoke of a deranged prince and his evil doings. Tiran said it was a tale he had been told on his first day at the King’s Castle, as many believed the Royal Guard had been created to protect the kingdom from him.

  As Tiran went on, I closed my eyes and pictured each person in vivid detail. Why does it feel like I am recalling a memory?

  He spoke of this prince, a fourth born prince, who had wanted to be known to the world for his great magic, but the people and his family grew afraid of his abilities and lust for power. They asked a sorceress to spellbind him in a remote cave never to be free again, but it was said that somehow, he managed to break out of it. He then began a rampage of murders, cursing all those who had opposed him. It was later believed that the prince was lured to the same place he had previously been confined to and killed by his own father.

  This prince had lived during the time of Queen Selina the First and was known as the Reaper. He was now infamously named the Shadow Reaper, for some believed he was still alive and after Selenah– or any woman with magic.

  “I feel sorry for him,” I told Tiran after he finished his tale. He gave me a quizzical look and waited for me to explain. “He was only acting like that because no one cared to understand him. Was he not the only one in his family with magic? He was also a fourth prince, which meant that he would never ascend to the throne.” I surprised myself for even thinking that this prince was not evil.

  “He killed more people than you can count, Mel.” Tiran paused at the mention of my nickname. I gave him a shy smile and nodded in consent. He continued. “But when you put it that way, I suppose it is hard not to feel some remorse for his fate. Our actions bear a heavy price. Now you get to sleep. Your wounds are healing up and the best thing you can do is rest.” I nodded and turned my head away.

  The story of the young prince played before my closed eyes and led me into a dream.

  CHAPTER three

  AWAKEN

  Dead trees surrounded me in a ring of blackness. The skies were
a dark pink, the clouds an even darker grey. Gusts of wind blew, making the trees creak and the brown grass shiver.

  Standing before me was a man, cloaked in a gaseous darkness that billowed in the passing winds. His green eyes were bright with life, a contrast to the environment around us.

  “There is something about you...” His voice was faint, but it floated to my ears like Selenah’s words would. “Yes, her magic...it runs through your veins, and yet...” I hung on his every word, curious at his mention of magic, as his voice trailed off. I have magic?

  “Melanie.” The shadowy figure looked as if he smiled, his bright green eyes piercing through me. I recognized them. Where have I seen those eyes before?

  “Who are you?” I asked, taking a step towards him. But the man had faded from my vision, slowly dissolving away.

  “Some call me...the Shadow Reaper.”

  I awoke, gasping aloud. Tiran looked up at me from where he lay, several feet apart from where I was.

  “Something wrong, Mel?” he whispered, propping himself up on his elbows. “Or was it just a bad dream?”

  I shook my head and shut my eyes. He said I have magic.

  I heard Tiran lower himself back down, and I opened my eyes to turn my head and face him.

  “Tiran,” I whispered, afraid that his closed eyes meant he had fallen asleep.

  “Yes?”

  “Do you believe in the Shadow Reaper?” Tiran did not respond. Perhaps he thought I was not serious. “Do you?”

  I repeated.

  “I don’t think it’s impossible,” he said slowly. “Why do you ask?”

  I hesitated, thinking of what to say. “I... I think I saw him in my dream.” I looked up at Tiran, hoping he would tell me that it was all my imagination.

  Instead, he said, “Do not think about it. You should go back to sleep.”

  “But I cannot,” I objected. “Please tell me another story.” Anything to distract my mind of the dream.

  “Will you go to sleep then?” he asked, eyebrows raised.

  I nodded, and he let out a sigh but smiled faintly. “A kingdom far away once had a brave knight...”

  I yawned. As he continued, I drifted into a dreamless sleep, soothed by Tiran’s calming voice.

  ****

  My shoulder was the first to fully heal within the week.

  I could flex it with little effort and pain. As for my back it, too, was now nothing but a white scar that ran along from my shoulder blade to my spine. The wound on my stomach was the same, except it ran along from one side of my abdomen to the other. My strength, though, had not returned as quickly.

  Tiran assured me there was no internal injury but warned me that there would be side effects to the herbs he had used on me, such as my weakness.

  That morning, he helped me to sit upright, placing solid support behind my back before leaving the tent that I had grown accustomed to.

  Outside, Tiran was met with Selenah’s fiery words, something I assumed he had gotten used to as well.

  “Let me just use my magic on her, and she will be as good as new!” I heard her cry at Tiran. Through the tent, I saw Tiran shake his head. I sighed. It was this argument again.

  “Your Ladyship, you know she refuses to have any magic used on her.”

  “Well, maybe it is your magic she refuses,” She snapped. “A Royal Guard’s magic is nowhere near as powerful as mine. Let me pass through, or I will have you punished.”

  The tent flap drew, and Tiran walked in, followed by Selenah. I frowned. She had threatened her way to get past Tiran. And she had also changed dresses, I noted, secretly envying the silken gown of powder blue she wore. It seemed that she had no trouble fitting in with royalty while I spent my days here. On the ground. In a tent. Mostly by myself.

  “Mel,” Tiran began. Selenah glared at him, hearing the use of my nickname. Tiran stopped speaking.

  “Mel, you listen to me. I am going to heal you,” she said, sitting in front of me. Her blue eyes were trained on my brown ones. “There is nothing to be afraid of. You will feel just a scant drowsy, and when you wake up, you will have all your strength back.”

  Her offer was tempting. Resting was all it took to have me back in full health? But I shook my head. No. I chose this route for myself since I was injured. I did not need her, and when I did heal, it would be on my own and from the help of someone who actually cared.

  “No, Selenah,” I said. Tiran shrugged and looked in Selenah’s direction with a frown.

  Selenah ignored his look. “Mel, listen,” she started again.

  “No, why do you not listen!” I nearly yelled, startling her –and myself– with my outburst. “I said no. What do you not understand? I do not need you to heal me. I can heal without magic, so please leave me alone!”

  Selenah looked at me. Her jaws moved back and forth as if chewing on what I said. I was sure she was trying to find a way to make me pay for my disobedience.

  “Mel,” she said softly, surprising me by her tone of voice. “I know we have had our differences, but please, I beg you to look past them. Mother and Father are dead. Can you not forgive me for whatever you seem to have a grudge against? I am only trying to help.” Her words only ticked me off.

  “Look past our differences? Is that how you see it, Selenah?” I asked, incredulous. “All these years, my life was a complete and utter disaster!” I shouted. “And you wonder: why I have a grudge against you?” Selenah held her breath.

  I was not stopping now. “You stole our mother and father away from me the very day I was born, that is why!”

  I screamed. “You stole my very life away! All my hopes and dreams dashed because ‘our darling Selenah’ came first! ‘Our ever so beautiful and powerful Selenah’ mattered more than ‘our normal child Melanie’!” In all this anger, I was nearly on my feet, ready to strike Selenah.

  The tent flap was once more drawn back.

  Prince Gareth’s fair face was creased with concern, while Selenah and Tiran sat, petrified by my sudden show of enmity. Prince Gareth immediately had me seated back down and away from Selenah. He then went to speak with Tiran and Selenah, eyeing me as he spoke softly to them. Tiran glanced back at me; he had a look of sympathy on his face, like that of a father whose daughter’s doll had been ruined.

  I crossed my arms over my chest at the show of care for her. But the anger I had felt drowned out, and I was ashamed of the way Tiran and Prince Gareth had to see and hear my words against Selenah. Words that I had kept hidden all this time. But I was also relieved, knowing Selenah now knew how I felt about being her shadow. Selenah was speaking in a furious whisper back to Prince Gareth.

  I frowned, unable to hear the words clearly. I always wanted to get away from her. Now, she would understand why.

  After a moment of being ignored, I stood up with as much strength I could muster. I ignored the three’s surprised gazes as I walked out of the tent.

  The cool evening air was the first thing that brought me back. It was so calm and quiet that I almost forgot that there were Royal Guards outside.

  “Is the sleeping beauty finally awake?” I heard one of them say. I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion at the blatant sarcasm in his voice, feeling my cheeks burn. Wait, why is he making fun of me?

  “So how is Miss Mel today?” another one of them asked, jauntily. “Finished being the victim of the Dark Mages, are yah?”

  “Nay, she must still be sick. Did you hear the way she screamed in there?” said another in disgust. “Nothing more than a child fishing for pity. And they want to hail her like royalty.”

  “‘You stole my life away’! ‘All my hopes and dreams dashed’!” the fourth mocked in an unusually high-pitched voice.

  They laughed at their own words, and it all made me feel sick. I had not expected anyone to taunt me for trying to help the Royal Guards. Tiran called me a hero.

  I swallowed hard and stood there, willing that tears not to show how their words hurt me. Unfortunately, it did.
>
  “Oh? Look at that, lads,” the first one said, making the others look in my direction. “Is little Miss Mel upset? Does she need a dozen more guards to keep her happy?” he asked before the four were laughing again.

  I wanted to run away and leave this all behind. I could not understand: Why were the Royal Guards so antagonistic? What had I done to deserve this? My jaw tensed, aching for something in reply, instead, angry tears rolled down my cheeks. I turned away, unable to brush them away in time. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw one of them open their mouths to speak.

  “Stand down,” a familiar voice commanded. “Have you no dignity?”

  I turned back to see Connor, dismounting from his white mare. She was tethered along with two other black and white shires. He was dressed in full battle attire.

  The four Royal Guards flustered, apologizing to their Captain as he walked over to me.

  “Forgive me for their disrespect,” he said in a low voice. “I would never have expected them to behave this way.”

  I could only nod. He cleared his throat. “May I ask where His Highness and Her Ladyship Selenah are?”

  I was glad for his kindness towards me, but it was gone at the mention of Selenah. Shoulders falling, I looked toward the tent. Connor followed my gaze. He nodded and moved to walk over when Tiran, Prince Gareth, and Selenah stepped out of it.

  “Captain Connor!” Selenah said, pleased. Connor bowed to the two of them as Tiran shifted over to stand with the other four Royal Guards. “We appreciate your arrival.”

  “Lady Selenah, Your Highness. My duty here is but a short command by His Majesty. I must escort you two back to the King’s Castle,” Connor said. I could not help feeling agitated that the King had excluded me again and had only thought of Selenah’s wellbeing. “Coming here so often is too risky for both of you and this barrier will not last very long.”

  I looked around me, seeing no wall or fence around us.

  I then realized the barrier he mentioned must have been a magical one.

  Prince Gareth and Selenah mounted the larger of the two horses Connor brought. Tiran mounted the other horse, which was also carrying the disassembled tent and its contents. The four Royal Guards took their positions around them, leaving me in an awkward place. Connor shook his head before he helped me onto his horse.