"Come in!" Caroline yelled. I opened the door to find her brushing her hair. "Leila, I was wondering where you went." She turned to face me and I curtsied. "Frederick stopped by only an hour ago. He was looking for you." I did not want to see Frederick. He would not be as naive as the others and he follows me.
"Oh. Did he?" I asked. What was he doing following me everywhere? He was up to something.
Caroline nodded, placing down her hand-mirror. "Yes, he did. He had this bizarre look as well." Caroline suspected something strange was going on too.
How was I going to explain my sudden request to leave? How was I going to look into these innocent girls eyes and lie? "Caroline." I paused. "Caroline, my family needs me back home. I need to be relieved of my duties for a few days." I blurted out.
She looked at me slightly surprised, just as I had expected her to be. "Is everything okay?" She stared at me closely. "You look pale." For a seven-year-old, she was not slow.
"Of course I am fine, your majesty." I lied again. Please forgive me, Caroline. Do not hate me for lying. "My family are having trouble on their farm." I lied. "I need to help them."
She waved her hand. "Of course! You must leave to help them." She smiled. Caroline was far too naive for her good. She managed to believe in the best of people despite everything. "Stay as long as you need, I will be waiting for you here." She smiled. "I don't know what I will do without you though." She smiled and leaned in for a hug. I could not accept that I might never see Caroline again. "Hurry back." She pleaded.
There was a knock on the door. A knight came into the room, he bowed and gave me a side glance. "You are needed at the court, your majesty." He announced, giving me a side glance.
"Oh. Yes. I will be there soon." She waved him off and he left as quickly as he had come. "Leila would you mind being present for a little longer." I did not have time for this but at the same time, I could not risk her getting suspicious from my impatience.
"Of course." I nodded. She smiled like she always did. "Someday you will be a beautiful, kind, wise princess, Caroline. Don't ever forget this message." I told her. "Be brave and be good to your people."
She did not seem to take the compliment quite as I had imagined. "Are you sure everything is alright?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. I am just going to miss you." I admitted.
"But you won't be gone for long. Will you?" She gave me a side glance, almost not wanting to hear my answer. I nodded. We had built some sort of bond over the past few days, a friendship.
We went out the door and took a series of hallways to the courtrooms. The guards at the door opened it for Caroline and trumpets sounded. The king and all his loyal nobles were already present. It was just as luxurious as I had remembered, the tapestries, painting, and the red spotless carpet.
"May I father?" Caroline asked before entering. I received more stares than Caroline herself, they recognised me from the trial or from the ball or the joust. Either way, none of them liked me.
"You may come on time." King Isaac glared at me. I do not know how he knew it was my fault but he did. He gave me a dark, cold look from the other side of the room. I suddenly felt like glass like he could see straight through me and into my hidden shames and secrets. I remembered the way he had accused me of looking like somebody. I remembered his fury and how helpless I felt. I swear if I come back alive, I will confront him. King or not, that was no coincidence.
Caroline dropped her head and took her seat beside the king. Josephine hovered near the king. She was in his good graces. I disappeared to the side-lines of servants. "I am pleased to announce that Leonardo is healthy. However, we all know there was dark magic involved." Everyone fell silent. I must admit, I was relieved to hear Leonardo was not dead. I may not like the selfish prince but I did not want him to die either.
The king stood up and circled the room. "The appearance of Eris at the joust was unexpected but she will pay for her actions." He assured the nobles. Frederick had been trying to grab my attention this entire time and I had been avoiding eye contact, could he not take a hint? "So, I have an announcement." The king paused. The King's eyes found me and locked on. "Due to the incidents of yesterday and others before, I have passed judgement." Everything went silent. What was going on? "Magic has only brought harm to this world, it is evil." He said cold-heartedly. "Magic no longer has a place in Rumore." He held a scroll in his hand and I stared at the blood-red seal. "Anyone caught with magic in their lives or anything magical will be sentenced to death. No exceptions."
I heard countless gasps but I just stood in utter shock. He was going to execute people for using magic. "But sir..." Frederick even looked stunned and horrified. The king got to his feet.
"I have made my mind up. Magic has until dawn to leave Rumore or they die." He stormed out, slamming the heavy doors behind him. A kingdom without magic? Had it come to this? Did the good have to suffer for the bad deeds of others? I did have impeccable timing, the day I discover that I have magic, the king sentences it to death.
The room filled with a whisper as the nobles began to gossip among them. The knights had followed the king out with gobsmacked faces. Caroline had not moved from her seat and Frederick... he had vanished. Where had he gone in such a hurry? I got an awful feeling about his disappearances and reappearances.
I guess it would not matter now. I was heading on a quest that would certainly lead to my death. I had no idea what truly awaited me in that tomb of death or on the journey. I needed to do this for my friends, for the innocent people and me.
This is my destiny, I am Leila. I am Leila of Bourdet, an impulsive sixteen-year-old girl who has been looking for meaning her entire life. For once in my life, I was going to put my faith in something. I am a sorcerer. I am Leila and I will kill the mistress of all evil or I will die trying. Which one will it be?
Chapter Twelve- The deadly Minotaur
Caroline dismissed me after the meeting. I did not bother going back to my room, I went down the stairs and out the servant's entrance.
"Have you done it?" The bird landed on my shoulder. Bayyards claws dug into my shoulder nervously. I nodded. How had Bayard found me?
"The king has outlawed magic." I paused. The bird did not react as I had suspected. Bayard was a magical creature. He was living, talking proof of magic. The king would kill him if he ever knew the truth. "Aren't you surprised?"
Bayard did not like talking in public and so he waited until nobody was looking to speak. "There was a prophecy that said this day would come. It was fated that a king of Rumore would outlaw magic." He knew this would happen.
"Why didn't you tell me?" I asked, agitated.
He tilted his beak. "What difference would it have made? You can't stop the king." He was right. There was no stopping the king or changing his mind. I wonder what Leonardo would think about the news when he woke up.
The city was bustling after the events from earlier today. Whispers of Eris's return filed my ear. "They say she was born in the mouth of hell!" An elderly woman whispered to her son-in-law.
The local, plump butcher stood on the side of the street with a large mug of ale. "I heard she eats dragon flesh and the hearts of wild lions." He had gathered an entire crowd that was eager to listen to the old tales. I kept reminding myself they were made up stories and lies. Rumours that only spread fear. Fear was all around me, festering and thriving.
The city was filled with people from all over the kingdom, some anxious and others curious. As we travelled further away from the city, the houses were smaller and the streets narrower. Nevertheless, gossip festered in the outer towns too. Farmers ran absurd stories of Eris in the tavern and children told ghost stories among them.
Eris had cast a thick layer of fear among the people and they would be looking to the king for guidance and security. I wondered what he planned to do. He could not beat Eris with iron and steel.
I travelled for about three hours on foot, down the dirt track before I reached the lake. I wa
s dying of thirst by that time. "Did the weather have to be so humid?" Bayard moaned.
"It is hotter than raining. Eris will come when the first drop of rain comes." I opened my silver bag. "Flask," I commanded. A silver flash with handcrafted engraving appeared. I frantically filled it up with the pure, crystal water of the lake.
Snap. I swung around and pulled out my hidden dagger-like lightning. I always carried this dagger with me when I was on trips, it was an insurance policy. The serpent had taught me that. "Wow. Watch where you point that thing! You could hurt someone."
A mid-thirty-year old came out from the shadows. He had long, tangled, braided, blond hair. His loose, dirty clothes did not take away from his strong attractive cheekbones and large amber eyes. He wore strange silver and wooden bracelets with peculiar carvings. He lifted his hands to show the peculiar ink designs that covered his arms. "You can put that down, I am not going to hurt you." Bayard was even tenser than I was. Eventually, I lowered my blade but not my guard. Never my guard.
"May I ask what you are doing here? These woods aren't safe." He tilted his head to look at me.
"I can take care of myself." I rolled my eyes, nobody ever questioned a guy travelling alone. They always questioned the women instead.
"So where are you headed?" He asked curiously. He was not surprised when I did not respond. "Let me guess, that Eris startled you and now you are heading home." I wish. I was going into the mouth of the beast in search of the location of a magical jewel.
"Something like that." I shrugged. I gulped down the water.
He smiled triumphantly. "So could you use the company?" He asked. No, of course not.
"I am fine, thank you." I refilled up my flask.
He leaned against a nearby log. Why was he being so friendly? "I am a traveller. I know the best short cuts, the safest routes and I could help you. Besides nobody has turned down my sparkling personality." He smiled smugly. Travellers did not have homes, they moved from place to place. He would be useful and he could get me there faster. Time was too precious to ignore.
"I am travelling to the mountains of sacrifice."
"I didn't even know there were towns in that area." He was blindly assuming that was where my family lived. He was mistaken since my family is dead.
"There are small towns hidden in-between the mountains." I lied. There were no nearby towns.
"It is about a day's walk, we should get a move on." He suggested. I agreed. "My name is Cam." He introduced himself.
"Leila." I introduced myself. "This is Bayard."
"I don't think he likes me very much." Cam raised an eyebrow. I turned to see Bayard giving Cam an evil stare.
"He is not a people person." Cam gave me a nod before heading away from the track towards the forest.
When Cam was far enough away Bayard finally opened his beak. "We can't trust him." Did he think I was that clueless? Trust needed to be earnt, not given.
"I won't. We are just going to use him to get there. Once we reach the mountains we will ditch him." I assured him.
"I hope you know what you are doing," Bayard remarked. The truth is I had no idea what I was doing.
"Hurry up!" Cam called us from the edge of the forest. Here goes nothing.
The forest was not to be taken lightly. It may look enchanted and beautiful but what lurked inside was pure evil. Among these trees lurked beasts of all shapes and forms. I remembered the cyclops that had tried to kill me only a few days ago. Best case: if we are lucky, we can slip in and out unnoticed. Worst case: we would be killed. But Cam knew his way around the forest.
He weaved in and out of trees at a perfect pace, he knew this forest clearly like the back of his hand. "So if I might ask, what's the capital like? Has it changed much in the last few years?"
I trod over the large roots that covered the ground. I was constantly watching my footing. Bandits lived here and they had traps lying around everywhere. The musical tweeting of birds filled my ear. "I wouldn't be able to tell you. I only moved there a few months ago..."
"And now you're running away." He guessed. He was wrong but I think he was right. Cam didn't need to know about my plans and he certainly did not need to know what I was up to. "I don't blame you." He paused. "I would be a huge hypocrite if I said otherwise."
"You ran away?" I asked. I should not have been so surprised he was a traveller. I could not imagine him settling down.
"Not exactly." He shook his head. "I was banished." He told me cheerfully. I stopped in my tracks. Had he just said that? I was travelling with an outlaw. I may have made a mistake. Bayard gave me a look.
"What was your crime?" I asked curiously. I hoped I didn't sound too pushy. It's just I desperately needed to know. I needed to know how to deal with this guy and if necessary how to take him out permanently. I hope it would not come down to that but I could not afford to get careless.
He pushed some overgrown pine branches out our way. The fresh pine scent filled my nose and covered my clothes. I was so thankful to be able to breathe fresh, clean air for a change. "I burnt down an entire street's houses." He paused. "I was a baker's apprentice and I took my eyes off the fire for two minutes, the next thing I knew the street was ablaze." He gargled down the liquid in his flask, which was not pumpkin juice. The smell of ale filled my nose and tinted the pine smell. "The king banished me and I have lived as a traveller ever since. Travelling from place to place. I guess you could say I have commitment issues."
"Oh." I was expecting bloodthirsty murder, not an accidental fire. Banished for such a foolish, simple accident. I knew I should not but for a second I did pity, Cam.
"So now you know my story, tell me yours." He demanded. I would need to produce some fake story and fast. "Don't tell me you have no story." He smirked. He knew I was hiding something but so was he.
"Normal life, normal parents and now I serve my golden year." I lied. He turned back at me like lightning and came far too close for my liking.
His eyes were intense and almost glowed. "You may be able to fool other people but don't think for a second you can get past me," he whispered.
"I could say the same to you." I stood very still. Cam’s expression dropped into a frown to an extremely concerned face in the space of three seconds. I grinned triumphantly.
"Don't move a muscle." He whispered looking over my shoulder. I remained extremely still and forgot how to breathe for a second. What was standing behind me? From the look on Cam’s face, it was not good.
"Cam, what is it?" I asked nervously. He ignored me and concentrated on what was behind me. I could not take the tension any longer. I slowly turned my head to see the forest. There is nothing dangerous about it.
Cam burst out laughing. "You should have seen your face!" He laughed.
"That was not funny!" I growled. Did he think that was funny? I could have had a heart attack. This was no time for jokes.
"Your horror-stricken face was brilliant." He chuckled, leading away from me. He turned the corner not looking where he was going and walked straight into the worst possible thing. Cam suddenly looked very nervous.
A Minotaur is a creature with the head of a bull and the body of a man. I thought they went extinct centuries ago. The black, cold eyes stared down at Cameron. The twisted black, stained with red blood horns were sharper than knives. Minotaur's killed for pleasure, not for food. This was not happening. "Run," Cam whispered, not wanting to set the bull off. It was too late for that.
That was the best idea he had all day. I raced off into the woods, leaping over logs and zooming through bushes. Cam was close behind me. "I thought they were all extinct!" He shouted at me. Me too.
"Tell him that!" I shouted back. "HE DIDN'T GET THE MESSAGE!"
He groaned as he ran as quickly as he could behind me. "WE HAD TO RUN INTO A MINOTAUR!" he shouted annoyed. The heavy breaths of the Minotaur were close.
"What did you expect from a fluffy bunny?" I shouted back. It was hard to run on this rough moss-covered terrain.
My shoes hardly gripped the surface. Instead, it sunk into it like a sponge.
"A fluffy bunny would have been nice." He laughed. "I was thinking more on the lines of bandits, cyclops and ogres. But a Minotaur, seriously? Am I that unlucky?" he complained whilst weaving in and out of trees behind me.
"This is your fault!" I argued. "If we ever get out of this alive, I might kill you myself!"
Cam aughed. He sped up and now was racing beside me. His enormous grin was too big for his face. "I look forward to it!" he yelled. "Turn left!" he directed me.
I turned left and swerved to miss another tree trunk. The nettles brushed against my legs sending a stinging sensation up my entire leg. I needed to keep moving. The beast let out a bellowing roar that sent birds soaring up to the sky.
Cam looked back at the Minotaur and shouted. "Sorry, I just don't fancy becoming a kebab today!" He was running backwards. He did not even need to look behind him to tell when he needed to jump or weave. I could not believe my eyes. It was as if he had eyes at the back of his head. Had he gone insane?
The Golden Year and the Sorceress Page 10
