If Astasha had been in awe of Calder before, it was nothing compared to the utter reverence and wonderment she felt as she watched him before their army. The energy had shifted so drastically it was like night and day, and the buzz of optimism only continued to grow from there as everyone made ready to move out, into the Land of the Dead and onto the Stone of Balance. Only hours before, she had fought to keep the darkness at bay, Zephyr’s words haunting her as she realized the severity of her situation. Which was why she had asked of Helia something no one else could know of; should she be captured, should the demon’s plan work, and her soul broken and the darkness take her, her fellow Fire Witch was to do the only thing that could stop the Dark Mage from using her as a weapon… end Astasha’s life before it was too late. Helia had stood there in silence for what felt like eternity after she pleaded her case, but she knew the older Sorceress was the only one who truly understood wh
The forest was calm, the sky peeking through a canopy of leaves, crisp and blue. Tall tree trunks circled around a small clearing, lush with grass and sprinkled with flowers. In the center stood a young woman, eyes closed, fingers stretched toward the ground. With a thin face and sharp features, she was beyond stunning. Her dark red hair tumbled down in waves, tickling the sash tied around her waist, which accentuated her curves. While her dress could be considered revealing to some, with its plunging neckline and high slit, she found it elegant and freeing, a declaration of her womanhood, and truth be told, she didn’t give a damn what others thought anyway. Feet bare, toes gently curling into the earth, the woman’s plump lips moved with purpose, muttering softly under her breath. A breeze began to stir, swirling her hair and rustling the trees. Her mouth moved faster and her fingers reached further toward the land beneath her. The wind swept in circles, growing and building.
How long had it been? Was it five years? Had it truly been five long years since Prince Calder had left on his journey? Actually, that was a short amount of time compared to most. Some royals took ten, others longer, to complete their quest and come to claim their place on the throne. The longest in history was thirty years. Known as the ‘Age of Absence’, that time had been a dark one. Many generations before King Josnan, his Great Great Great Grandfather, had set out on his trials, only to be lost at sea on his expedition to conquer a foreign territory. But the current king was already old, and his son did not return before his passing, leaving no one to take his place. The land fell into chaos, counselors and sorcerers clamoring for the power to control the people. When finally the Prince returned, he set into place rules and regulations, appointing the most trusted of advisors to uphold and execute them, should the situation occur again. The King was allowed only a single heir. L
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
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