Astasha had never run through the halls of the palace faster. She was desperate to get away, away from the one thing her heart was crying out for most. She needed to breathe, to clear her head, needed time to ground herself and process the heartbreak that was ripping through her soul.
Finally, she reached the Magic Quarters and flung herself into her chambers, slamming the stout oak door behind her.
It was a decently sized room. In one corner, sat a large canopy bed, its thin drapes pulled back, a wardrobe next to it. In the other, a tub and washing basin. On the opposite side, there was what used to be a study, but had been converted into a witch's workshop, with dried herbs and crystals, a scrying glass, bottles and containers of all kinds, and above it, a window built into the ceiling, opening up to the sky.
Astasha rushed to the fireplace next to her workstation. Usually, she could create fire from her very fingertips, but there was no energy left in her to do so. Fumbling with a flint as her hands shook, she desperately tried to light the hearth. Pulling energy from flame wasn't as stable as from the earth, but she was a fire witch, and the source would provide her with the power she needed to contain the rush of her beating, breaking heart.
At last, a spark ignited the wood within, and blowing on it, she watched it grow and spread, until the heat warmed her face, and the sound of crackling and popping filled the room. Closing her eyes, she knelt on the floor before it, reaching her fingers toward the flames. Once again, her lips moved as she muttered under her breath, and the warmth began to flow into her, dancing in her blood, swimming in her veins. She breathed deep and relaxed, focused only on consuming the energy before her. It was like a high, one that all sorcerers craved, and as the feeling of exuberance coursed through her, she couldn’t help the small smile that crept across her lips.
Satiated, Astasha leaned back and sighed. Meticulously, she rebuilt the wall around her heart and steadied her mind, centering herself to prepare for what she knew she would soon have to face.
A knock sounded at the door, startling her from her work. "Sorceress Astasha!" It was Errant. That man never gave her a moment.
She stood quickly, and with the whisper of a couple words and a wave of her hand, extinguished the fire before approaching the door and opening it.
"Yes, Grand Sorcerer? How may I be of service?"
The doors in the castle were all sealed with magic so that none could hear or feel what was happening behind them, something she was extremely grateful for at that moment, as she could tell he was reading her.
A crease appeared on Errant's brow, but whatever it was he felt, he shook it off. "The King has requested that we authenticate the Prince's journey sooner rather than later. Our presence is required immediately."
Of course. How could she forget? It was their job to read into the Prince's past and ascertain that he had, in fact, accomplished his quest. It was common for the King to call for a celebration ahead of this, seeing as no prince had ever dared try to lie or cheat his way to the throne, not with the Royal Magic Advisors and their Authentication Ritual.
The ritual in itself was complicated, and required all five members to be absolutely in sync. It was used only for specific and important reasons and was never taken lightly. Delving into a person’s memories was a delicate process, one that if done wrong could have catastrophic consequences. Sorcerers had become lost in the minds of those they had tried to perform it on without consent, and subjects driven mad by sloppy spellwork.
Authenticating the Prince’s trials was more than a tradition, it was a necessity, and no Prince had ever refused. Of course, Calder would be no exception.
Astasha steeled herself for what was to come and bowed her head. "Of course. Lead the way." Errant turned and she took a deep breath, focusing on the little orb in her chest.
There were three main rooms within the palace walls, aside from the many apartments and gardens. The Throne Room, Banquet Hall, and what could only be described as a War Room. The latter was where the two were headed.
It was a vast space with a large round wooden table in the middle and several smaller ones set off to the side. This was where all the advisors would gather to discuss and plan and plot. Through two great doors at the back of it, however, was a garden that bordered on the forest, used only for rituals and ceremonies of the Royal Magic Advisory.
Astasha and Errant finally arrived to find the remaining three sorcerers and the King waiting. There were always a total of five mages in the King's cabinet. Four represented each of the elements, and the fifth was the Grand Sorcerer, the spirit of all combined. Errant looked around at the other three; Cordelia, a tall, blond witch of water, Bryn, a stout sorcerer of earth, and Zephyr, an old and lanky wielder of air.
"Ah good! There you are!" Said the King. "Calder is ready and waiting for you all."
He turned and headed to the doors, a couple of stationed guards opening them as the group approached.
Astasha reinforced the small bubble around her heart, knowing this was no time for her feelings to get in the way. The ritual had to be precise and she would be connected to each of the others in the Advisory. If ever she had to focus, now was the time.
Following them out, she kept her eyes somewhat downcast. Surrounding the medium-sized garden, were five points marked by monoliths, which stood in a circle around a stone table in the center. Four were inscribed with an element, each represented by different objects in their vicinity; a small fountain by the water stone, ivy growing over the one of earth, a wind chime hanging from a branch over the air stone, and a small ever-burning pyre by the one representing fire, which Astasha took her place in front of. At the point of the pentacle was the one of spirit, adorned with an altar where each of the tools required for the ritual rested.
Astasha finally looked up to see the other members had taken their places, and lying on the stone table in the middle, stripped down to his pants, was Calder. There were a few scars visible on his chiseled chest, but aside from that, he was flawless.
Astasha's mind wandered ever so briefly to a memory... fingers drifting across the Prince’s scarless abdomen. She closed her eyes and shook off the image, clearing her mind. She needed to concentrate.
The King came to stand next to his son. "Advisors of my most trusted magical council, I ask you to call upon the powers of this earth to search my son's past to authenticate the completion of his quest, so that he may be worthy to sit upon the throne of Trenue!"
Errant opened his arms wide. "As we shall do."
Astasha knew this ritual, as she did all the royal rituals. When she had been accepted into the position, she had spent months studying and learning all of the common spells and practices of the palace, as well as the traditions and expectations.
In a single fluid movement, the five sorcerers reached out to their elements and pulled energy from them, before stepping forward to the table, each taking a place around the Prince. Standing next to his feet, she was grateful she wasn’t closer to his face. What a distraction that gorgeous face could be.
In unison, the sorcerers each held their hands over his body and focused.
Errant began muttering under his breath, using a paste of herbs to draw runes across the Prince's torso. In turn, each of the four took up the chant, until the inscription was complete and their incantations synchronized.
Astasha pulled her mind into the circle, linking with the others, and then Calder. It was as if she could see everything he had been through over the past five years; the journey, the battles, everywhere he had been, everything he had done. She could feel his emotions, feel him, everything about him. It was all so familiar, so, Calder. Every choice he had made, everything was exactly as she knew him. Suddenly, however, as they neared the end, something shifted. It was only a split second of a change, but it was enough.
Astasha's eyes, which had been closed, flashed open and her breath caught as she was met with an icy blue gaze.
Calder was looking right at her, and there was something there, something, off. But as fast as it had come, it was gone, and the ritual was over.
Errant called the ceremony to an end, bringing Astasha swiftly back to herself just in time to retreat to her stone along with the others, before bowing to the King, and following the Grand Sorcerer back to the War Room. Josnen smiled at his son before joining them, leaving the Prince alone on the table.
Once inside, the group gathered in the middle. The second they were there and the large doors closed, Errant turned to her.
"What in the Goddess’s name happened out there, Sorceress Astasha? You could have doomed us all to shadow breaking the connection like that." The crease was back on his brow again.
"I'm sorry, Grand Sorcerer, it's just, there was something... something was wrong. It pulled me from my meditative state."
King Josnen looked from one to the other. Clearly, this was not what he had been expecting. He had expected Errant to announce his son's journey complete, the ritual a success.
"Yes, we all felt a disturbance, but it very well could have been you simply losing focus." Continued Errant. "What specifically did you sense?"
She took a deep breath, shaking her head. "I'm not sure. There was something, different, off, like something had changed in him."
"Are you telling me my son failed his quest?" The King looked somewhere between shocked, confused, and angry.
"No, your highness, not at all." Interjected Errant. "Everything we saw authenticates his achievement. It was only a feeling. However, it may serve well to look into whatever Astasha felt. If it was enough to break her from the connection, we don’t want to risk missing something that could cause problems later. Though, I’m sure it’s nothing."
Relief washed over the King's face. "Well, as my advisors, I shall allow you whatever is needed to do that, after tonight's celebration. It would not bode well to raise suspicion."
"Of course your majesty. I would, however, ask that you not mention this to the Prince. If there is something to discover, we cannot risk him hiding it."
The King studied Errant for a moment, no doubt conflicted on the matter, before nodding in agreement. "Very well. I trust you will keep me informed. Now, if you please, the Prince and I have much to discuss and a party to prepare for."
The sorcerers bowed as Josnen headed out to join his son.
“I would like to speak with Sorceress Astasha alone on the matter.” Said the Grand Sorcerer. “The rest of you are dismissed for now, but I expect each of you to be prepared for whatever is decided as the best course of action from here.”
The others muttered in acknowledgement before dispersing.
Once alone with Errant, Astasha tried to keep her energy as calm and collected as possible, despite the nerves she felt threatening to boil over.
He crossed his arms and caught her with his stare. "It seems you were the only one to sense whatever it was that changed in his royal highness, therefore, I think it best that you be the one to see what else you can discover. I trust you know what that means?"
Astasha nodded with trepidation. "Yes, Grand Sorcerer."
"Good, I expect full reports." He hastened away, leaving her alone with her thoughts.
“Damnit.” She uttered to herself. Of all the things he could have asked of her, this was the one she feared most. It meant she would have to get close to the one person she wanted to avoid above all others, the Prince.
The castle had been bustling all afternoon. People from the village came and went, as the entire staff ran busily about. The beginning of the celebrations in honor of the Prince’s return was to be a party of great splendor, held in the largest garden of the palace, with performers and music, food and drink, and all of the castle and village were invited. Astasha had spent the afternoon preparing herself, returning to her small clearing to properly pull as much energy as she could handle, centering her focus and grounding her mind. After bathing, she changed into a long red gown with gold embroidery, leaving her back and arms exposed, her sash tied around her hips. As a witch, she never went anywhere without it, as it carried a number of magical items she never knew when she might need. The pouches that held them dangled and bounced as she gracefully made her way out into the garden. The area was packed with people from all walks of life: villagers, royals, soldiers. Tables were sca
Astasha set her glass down on a table as she wound her way through the festivities. Having performed a quick spell when their hands had touched, tethering Calder's energy to her, she could sense where he was and knew he was following her. No sooner had she slipped into the crowd, had he excused himself from the conversation he was in, and headed after her. While she knew he was smart and wouldn't make it obvious, he was quickly starting to catch up, and she worried someone might notice him rushing after her into the woods, so she quietly uttered under her breath, and with a flick of her wrist, a rush of air pushed a servant carrying a tray of glasses, right into his path. A smile broke across her lips as she heard the poor soul apologizing profusely for getting in his way, while Calder graciously tried to take the blame. He had always been so humble, never viewing himself above anyone. It was part of what she had loved about him, still loved about him if she was being honest. She k
Astasha was shaken to the core, her thoughts running wild, and her energy sporadic and messy. None of it made sense, not what she had felt or seen. Could it have been her emotions for Calder warping her perception, making her feel and see things that weren’t actually there? No, she knew better than that. Something was wrong. And to make matters worse, she had allowed herself to fall into a compromising position, one she had sworn she would avoid at all costs. But there was just something about him… he truly could make her lose all thought of reason. As she slipped back into the party, she knew it was imperative that she returned to her room as quickly as possible, where she would be shielded behind closed doors to properly process what had happened. There was no knowing what emotions could be felt coming from her if she didn’t collect herself before speaking to Errant. Rushing through the crowd, she quickly made her way back into the castle. Desperate to reach the Magic Wing, she ha
What was he thinking!?Astasha couldn't believe the Prince was actually requesting her presence in his private chambers. Of course, this wasn't entirely unusual. Members of the Magic Advisory had been known to attend to the royals in their rooms from time to time, but mainly when they were ill or needed something cleansed. This particular request was quite unorthodox, and with the possibility of an Authentication Ritual, not to mention whatever suspicions Cordelia harbored, it could be disastrous. No one refused a regal request, however, and luckily the servants were sworn to tight lips regarding private matters of the kingdom’s rulers.Astasha quickly changed into a slightly less revealing gown of black and gold, and followed the young servant through the palace to the royal quarters, her runes clicking against her thigh as they walked, although she would be thoroughly surprised if they were actually needed.They reached a set of vast doors with guards stationed on either side. “The
Everything that had happened since the Prince had returned felt surreal, like a dream and a nightmare wrapped into one.Astasha was drained of everything. Never had her energy levels been so low.Errant had indeed heard her message, and had rushed toward the Prince’s chambers, sending a servant to summon the rest of the Advisory. It was on his way there that he had come across the sorceress, unconscious and pale on the floor.Quickly, he tried to revive her, but something was wrong. Energy was lashing out of her, chaotic, frightened, unpredictable, and dark. Whatever had happened to his young Fire Witch, it had shaken her so deeply, it destabilized the very foundation of her energy.As soon as his Earth Sorcerer arrived, Errant ordered him to ground her as much as possible, attempting to calm and subdue the erratic energy pulsing through her, before rushing off himself to ensure the Prince was secure.At last, Astasha had come to, full of panic, and demanding to know if the demon had
Astasha had left the King's quarters with her mind reeling. All she knew about blood magic was what she had read in that book, and now she had barely any time to find a way to use it to free Calder. It had very much been insinuated, that should she get caught, there was nothing the King could do, and rightfully so. Josnen was indeed the ruler of the land, but when it came to magic and the laws that bound it, the High Council of Sorcery was in charge. Should a mage break any of the rules put in place by them, their punishment could not be overruled by the court. It was a delicate dance between who stood where with the laws of royalty and magic, but a necessary one. Therefore, the King had done all he could to help Astasha by informing Errant that a replacement Fire Witch was to be brought in before he would allow the ritual to move forward, so that Astasha could be left to recover from her ordeal. While she was sure the Grand Sorcerer had his suspicions, he could not go against Josn
Whatever happened now, there was no going back. She had sealed her fate, and with it, Cal’s. If she failed, they would both suffer greatly. The demon clapped its hands together, making her jump slightly. "Wonderful! Now, let's get me out of this body and your precious Prince returned to you.” It turned and sauntered into the sitting area, plopping down into a chair. “I’m assuming you’d like to know how.” Astasha followed, taking a seat across from it. “That would be helpful. Considering you’re a demon, I’m assuming whatever ritual you have in mind will require the use of a less favorable magic?” It put its fingertips together. “Such a clever girl. It does indeed require something a little more to my tastes, blood magic, to be precise, although I’m sure you’ve worked that out already. You’ll need a sacrifice too, a human one.” Astasha blanched. "Absolutely not." As much as she wanted to free her Prince, she refused to harm another being to do it. The demon raised its eyebrows.
Once Astasha knew how the power of ‘the sacrifice’ (as the demon called it) worked, it had given her detailed instructions as to how to actually perform the ritual. After that, she left the Prince's chambers as quickly as possible, wishing nothing more than to cleanse herself of their lascivious encounter. Returning swiftly to her room, she immediately bathed, her cheeks burning red as she washed away the traces of her former arousal. She didn't know if she would ever be able to forgive herself for what she had done, what she was about to do, but she would deal with those consequences later. For now, she needed to focus on the more pressing issue at hand… preparing for the ritual without getting caught. Once washed and dressed, Astasha slipped out of the castle to the woods, taking with her all the supplies she would need. Her little clearing would be the perfect location; hidden, and known only to her. No one would accidentally stumble upon what was happening without knowing where t