“Thank you,” Aiden replied.
“Let’s give them a moment,” Mae thought to her.
Once outside, Mae looked back at the workshop. “I’m not sure about this.”
“I am,” Frasie declared. “He’ll be a great help.”
“We could certainly use the help,” Mae admitted. “But I am concerned for his safety.”
“The more people we have helping us, the safer we’ll be,” Frasie said.
Mae raised an eyebrow at Frasie. “And the fact that he’s an attractive young man played no part in this.”
“Of course not,” Frasie said.
Niv put her hands on her hips. “Have I given you reason to think I make important decisions like this with anything other than my heart and mind?”
Mae returned her gaze to the workshop. “No. Of course not.”
After a few moments, Aiden emerged and motioned with his head toward the wagon. “Let’s go.”
“We won’t be back for quite some time,” Mae said. “Are you sure you don’t want to pack first?”
“I’ll get my cloak. Other than that, no – everything I need is on me.”
While he was gone, she and Frasie hitched up the team.
“I would have done that,” Aiden said.
Frasie’s cheeks bloomed as she glanced his way. She clutched her sleeve as if she might swoon. “He's so helpful.”
“Focus,” she said, but Frasie only grinned.
Aiden and Frasie drove while Niv and Mae rode in the back. She was on edge until they cleared Ashmar, fearful of another encounter with Vorea’s forces. Despite the tension, Frasie chatted Aiden’s ear off the entire time. Aiden didn’t seem to mind.
“I am sorry for my accusation,” Mae said.
“It wasn’t me that was swayed by the heart,” she replied.
Mae looked at Frasie, still filling Aiden with tales of adventure from her childhood. “I can see that now.”
“I know we have not known each other long, but I would appreciate some benefit of the doubt.”
Mae bowed her head. “And you will have it. You have certainly extended it to me.”
“Apology accepted,” she replied.
“Your skill in spellcasting has improved considerably. It would take other initiates years of training to conjure a fireball as easily as you do.”
“I didn’t think it would be that effective,” she said.
“Magic is more than just will. It is time. Casting our intentions into the universe and seeing them come to fruition takes effort over a certain period. For large, immediate tasks, like what you did, most casters create a circle around them that isolates them from everything else. In this circle, you control the flow of time, and thus can enhance your efforts in less time than it would ordinarily take. From what I have seen, you instinctively understand this.”
She pondered Mae’s words for a moment. “You’re right, I do. I hadn’t considered it, but time does seem to slow when I am using magic.”
“You are already more advanced than most intermediate students,” Mae said. “It won’t be long before you are ready for very advanced studies.”
“I look forward to it,” she replied.
“I will do my best to teach you what you need to know, but a balanced life is required to truly be a powerful sorceress.”
“Balanced life?” she asked.
“Force of will comes from a sturdy foundation. Good food, clean water, safe shelter, ample rest, travel, and even the companionship of friends is important. These things may seem mundane, but I assure you they are critical. I tell you this because you must do more than study. You must live your life to the fullest.”
“That sounds like good advice,” she replied. “But I am not certain how that will help my magical abilities.”
“In time, you will. Your life is in upheaval and you are adjusting to the amulet.”
She recalled the bewilderment that overcame her when she stared into the Amulet of Balance after her altercation with Lanica. “That was the strangest sensation I had ever experienced. The amulet… called to me.”
“I saw you staring at it,” Mae said. “It was absorbing the energetic repercussions of your actions.”
“Why did it make me feel strange afterward?”
“As I told you before, some ancient scrolls claim the amulet is alive. It feels pain, and an empathetic person can sense this.”
She clutched the amulet. “My actions are hurting it?”
“Hurt isn’t the right word. It works with you, not for you. The bond it forms with you is critical. That’s why it extremely selective as to who it allows to wear it.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” she replied.
A large jolt reverberated throughout the wagon.
“What was that?” Mae asked.
“We must have hit a rock,” Aiden replied. “Probably damaged the rim. I can fix it.”
Mae scanned the sky. “We’re about out of light anyway. Let’s stop at the first suitable spot you find.”
Aiden nodded. “Will do.”
The wagon loped until they found a place to stop for the evening. While she, Mae, and Frasie setup camp, Aiden fixed the wheel. She had a tough time trying to peel Frasie away from his side.
“I lit the fire and she didn’t even notice. Normally she would be begging to watch.”
“She is exploring a whole new kind of magic,” Mae said.
She poked the fire with a stick. “I hope her exploration of this magic doesn’t interfere with our journey.”
“I doubt it will,” Mae replied. “It might even make it more interesting. Have you never been infatuated with a man before?”
She shrugged. “Not really. I’m not sure what she sees in him.”
“He seems like a fine young man,” Mae said.
“Oh, yes, of course. I don’t mean otherwise.”
“You don’t have feelings for Aiden, do you?”
“No.” She leaned back and tossed the stick aside. “I suppose it sounded like I was jealous. I’m not. I just see it as a waste of time.”
Mae grinned. “You won’t feel that way when the right one comes along. You’ll look just as silly as Frasie over there.”
Something caught her attention. It wasn’t anything specific, rather it existed purely as a stray sensation in the back of her mind. It was a similar feeling to when she was motivated to write in her journal.
“What is it?” Mae asked.
“Something bad is about to happen,” she said.
“A premonition?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did you have this feeling before Lanica showed up?”
“No,” she replied. “This is different. I don’t know why.”
Frasie approached. “Worse than Lanica?”
“I don’t want to worry anyone. It may be nothing. I... I don’t…”
Aiden took the pot of water and extinguished the campfire.
“Arm yourselves. We have company.”
Chapter 19
Niv’s sense of dread intensified as a cluster of lights approached from the east. Their warm amber glow was far from soothing. As they drew closer, it became clear they were torches.
Frasie's lips moved as she searched the group and appeared to take a silent head count. “There are at least ten of them.”
Aiden adjusted his grip on his sword.
“I didn’t know you had that,” she said.
“I figured next time I run into Vorea’s goons I’d need something more than a butter knife.”
The mob approached on horseback. As soon as they were upon them, Mae took a step forward. “Good evening.”
The woman in front dismounted. The tail of her long, black leather dress swayed with her determined gait.
“What do you want?” Mae asked.
“You and your daughter,” the woman replied.
“For what, exactly?”
“I don’t know, exactly. And I don’t care. You are simply an end
to a means for me, Niv’leana.”
Mae chucked. “Has Vorea already run out of loyal servants? Is she so desperate that she is down to mercenaries?”
“I fail to find the humor in this situation. You are outnumbered, and your capture is imminent.”
“Lanica didn’t fare so well,” Aiden said. “You’d be wise not to tangle with us.”
The woman raised an eyebrow. “I’m not concerned.”
Mae studied her more carefully. “You’re a Proctor.”
“More precisely, a half-Proctor. My name is Shareis. Not that it concerns you.”
She had read some of Proctors. They were a magical race of only women who strived to achieve perfect balance in their lives. They were fierce advocates and protectors of truth.
“Shareis, we don’t want to hurt you, or any of your people.”
Shareis scoffed. “These are not my people. They are merely insurance for Vorea.”
“Vorea doesn’t trust you to carry out a simple abduction task?”
Shareis motioned to the riders. “Enough talk.”
They dismounted and surrounded them. One of the men placed a small chest on the ground and removed a brightly glowing green stone.
“Lanica was overconfident,” Shareis said.
“What’s that?” she asked.
“Sorceress’s Tear,” Mae replied. “Don’t look at it! It will interfere with your magic.”
“Seize them!”
Two of the men approached Frasie with swords drawn. Frasie released her nocked arrow and hit one of them in the chest while Aiden lunged at the other man and ran him through. Frasie put a few steps between her and the rest of the riders, then fired an arrow at Shareis. With lightning speed, Shareis drew her dagger and sliced at the arrow, knocking it away from her.
Shareis turned her attention to Niv. She raised her hands and tried to summon a fireball, but something was wrong. The glow from the Sorceress’s Tear begged for her attention. She tried her best to ignore it, but its pull was incredibly strong. Her mind filled with doubt and her focus of will drained completely. She desperately counted on producing a flaming ball of fire to cast at her assailant, yet she could conjure nothing in her defense.
Shareis’s dagger gave a high-pitched whirl as it sliced through the air just a hair away from her arm. She pulled back in time to avoid another strike, but before she could regain her balance, Shareis tackled her to the ground.
“Get off her!” Mae demand as she kicked Shareis in the stomach, forcing her to roll away and groan in pain. When she lifted her head, she caught a quick glimpse of Frasie and Aiden fighting with several of the other men. As she struggled to regain her footing, another fighter rushed toward Mae.
“Look out!” she yelled.
As Mae turned, the man grabbed her. Mae struggled, but he quickly overpowered her and began dragging her to the horses. Shareis intercepted her before she could reach them.
“Your mother will pay for that,” she scowled.
Aiden tossed her a sword and pointed his at Shareis. She took a few steps back and turned to see that her mob had been incapacitated.
“Now who’s outnumbered?” Aiden asked.
“I have your mother,” Shareis replied, then ran for her horse. “That’ll have to do for now.” She picked up the Sorceress’s Tear and carried it with her.
“Don’t follow, Niv!” Mae yelled. She tried to call out something else, but her captor covered her mouth.
She reached for the reins of the horse with her mother, but they rode away before she could grab them. Aiden stopped her from mounting another horse to give chase.
“Frasie is hurt!”
She cursed herself for not first checking on her friends. She followed Aiden to the side of the road near the campsite.
Frasie lay on the ground, clutching her stomach. “Nivvy! Go after Mae. I’ll be alright.”
Frasie’s dress was soaked with blood. “I’m taking care of you first.”
Frasie winced. “It isn’t that bad.”
Niv ripped a bigger hole in her dress so she could better examine the wound. Frasie looked down and curled her lip at the blood-soaked gash. “Ugh.”
Blood ran from a wound that ran half the length of her stomach just above her navel.
Aiden took her hand. “Hang on, Frasie. It’ll be alright. You’re doing well.”
A tear streamed down Frasie’s cheek. “I’m trying to pretend it doesn’t exist.”
Niv put her hands over the wound and envisioned the gash completely healed. Her will and concentration had returned now that the Sorceress’s Tear was gone. Her hands warmed, and a soft glow surrounded Frasie’s stomach. Frasie tensed and cried out in pain as the wound closed.
Frasie clutched her abdomen. “It’s not bleeding anymore. Thank you, Nivvy!” She tried to lean up, but grimaced and laid back on the ground.
“The muscles were injured,” she said. “They will take longer to heal.”
Aiden’s mouth hung wide open. “That was incredible!”
“I’m glad Shareis took the stone,” she said. “Without it I wouldn’t have been able to heal her.”
“If I see that stone again, I’ll smash it to pieces,” Aiden said.
Frasie tried again to sit upright.
“You’ve got to be still,” she insisted.
“I can’t just lay here on the side of the road forever.”
“I’ll make a pallet inside the wagon,” Aiden said. “It’ll be safer there.”
She stayed with Frasie while Aiden broke camp, hitched the team, and created a comfortable place in the wagon. He returned and gently picked her up and placed her in the nest of blankets he had prepared.
She walked to the team and started brushing them. It wasn’t necessary as Aiden had already done so earlier, but it was something to do to help distract her from Mae’s capture and their close brush with death.
“I know your mother was captured, but it’s not safe for Frasie to travel.”
“I agree.”
“I just am worried—”
“Frasie will be fine. In a day or two she’ll be singing and making funny faces.”
Aiden motioned ahead of them. “I’ll rescue Mae. You stay with Frasie.”
She shook her head. “Thank you, but it’s not your responsibility.”
“This isn’t about responsibility, Niv. It’s about being there for each other. I knew this would be dangerous.”
“I’ll go. Stay here, and if there’s trouble, take Frasie back to Ashmar.”
“But the Sorceress’s Tear,” Aiden replied. “You won’t be able to use your magic.”
She walked to one of the dead soldiers and picked up a sword. “Then I suppose I’ll have to use this.”
Aiden frowned. “I can tell by the way you’re holding that you haven’t ever used one.”
She mounted one of the guard’s horses. “We don’t have a choice, Aiden. I’m going to free Mae. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“I don’t like this,” Aiden replied.
She turned the horse and started towards Gray Oak.
I don’t either.
Chapter 20
Niv’s horse galloped down the road to Grey Oak, cutting through the chilly night air with ease. Her long black hair flowed behind her, and the wind lifted her cloak and caused it to tug at her neck. Despite the full moon, she struggled to see ahead of her. To remedy that, she envisioned a glowing orb above her. Gradually, the road ahead was illumined.
After at least fifteen minutes of hard riding, two horses came into view. She feared her light spell would give her away long before she caught up to them, but they seemed unaware of its presence. She wondered if the effect had been just for her. Either way, she breathed a sigh of relief.
As she approached, the light diminished. The green glow of the Sorceress’s Tear cast its eerie glow around them, causing everything to take on a strange hue. She knew it was useless to try to maintain the spell or to use magic any further, so she
planned her assault. Shareis was behind the man holding Mae hostage, so she feared trying to ride past her would be useless. She had to confront Shareis first.
Shareis glared at her with a strange detached expression. It wasn’t anger or fear. If anything, it was annoyance. Shareis moved the stone to her other arm and drew her dagger.
Niv took a swing at her with her sword but Shareis successfully parried her blow. She swung again, missing Shareis, but by sheer luck sliced one of the straps of her reigns.
“Enough!” Shareis yelled, then took the broken portion of the reign and whipped the horse with Mae and her captor.
After the horse raced away, Shareis swung again, missing her shoulder by just a hair. Her successful dodge forced her to lose her balance, flinging her off her horse and onto the side of the road. By the time she was able to stand, Shareis was upon her, holding the Sorceress’s Tear.
“Please don’t make this difficult,” Shareis said.
She tried to run but tripped. Pain shot through her ankle.
“I have nothing against you personally. This is just a job.”
“What’s Vorea paying you?” she asked.
“That is not your concern.”
“Maybe we can pay you more. Release Mae and I and—”
“You cannot possibly offer me more.”
Shareis’s cold and final response didn’t hold the slightest hint of leeway or understanding. Unable to stand, she tried to limp away from Shareis, but to no avail.
“You’re coming with me.”
Shareis knelt beside her and pulled her close. “I can’t trust you.”
A clenched fist raced towards her, then darkness.
***
She blinked to clear her vision. She was in a dimly lit room surrounded by bars. She laid on a wooden bench at the far end of the room with one leg hanging off the side, almost touching the ground. She sat upright, then tried to stand, but the pain in her ankle kept her seated. The Sorceress’s Tear stone sat on a table in the hallway, casting its ominous glow throughout the cell.
Mae laid on a wooden bench in the cell next to her. She appeared to be unconscious. Her dress was ripped and her hair disheveled. She called out to Mae telepathically, but received no response. Footsteps echoed across the cold stone floor.
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