Shadow Countess: A Fantasy Adventure Romance

by M D Baker

  I hurried to reply, my discomfort only increasing with the strange smile that creased her lips. “Yes, m’lady.”

  With a careless gesture, Valda dismissed me from her presence, arching a brow as I rushed towards the exit. Sparing a quick glance as I shut the door behind me, I noticed she’d taken up the thin brown tome and seemed to be weighing it in her hand as if appraising the volume’s worth.

  As I plodded down the stairs, the growing darkness beyond the Keep’s windows indicated just how late the hour had grown. Spending so much time studying the spellbook was a reckless act, one that had nearly cost my life. I’d been fortunate that Valda had been careless enough to leave the tome lying about—there was no way I could’ve gotten it back on the shelf before she’d opened the door. My investigations would have to be done much more carefully from then on, perhaps even waiting until Valda was away before attempting to read any further. While her trips to the countryside were infrequent, I was the only one permitted to enter the library during her absence.

  That would be safest… if I could manage to restrain my curiosity long enough.

  Chapter 3

  Sitting on my lumpy straw mattress, I withdrew the crusty hunk of bread from my pocket and began pulling it apart, eating it piece by piece while my thoughts wandered back to the leather tome and the lone spell I’d uncovered within its worn pages. The trickle of mystical energy crawling up my spine reminded me of the potential consequences of any further delay, and I swallowed a final mouthful before setting the rest of the loaf aside.

  Although the path forward seemed quite clear at the time, without the book in front of me, I struggled to recall its magic. Mimicking the motions it described did nothing to aid my efforts, nor did adding the useless words that supposedly went along with them. My frustration mounted with each and every failure until I finally gave up, consoling myself by finishing off the rest of my pilfered dinner before lying down for the night.

  I barely noticed the low thrum of magic flowing into me when I woke the next morning. Its constant presence was beginning to drift into the background of my consciousness; the powerful forces reduced to nothing more remarkable than the steady rhythm of my beating heart. Both would come to an abrupt halt if I failed to work out the secrets of the simple spell, however—perhaps even sooner if I was discovered.

  The fear that had been banished for a time returned with that realization. While I was certainly afraid of the headsman’s axe, what was beginning to trouble me even more was the thought of dying before I had the chance to cast my first spell. The energy building up within me was drawing more of my curiosity, leaving me with an intense desire to feel what it would be like to wield its enticing power.

  My efforts the previous night made it clear that I needed to seek further guidance within the tattered pages of the old spellbook. But Valda had spotted me in the library, so venturing back again was far too dangerous. I’d have to wait at least another full day before daring to return. The forced delay robbed me of any sense of motivation, and I performed my morning duties in a lackluster manner before moving on to polish Lady Valda’s silver.

  As usual, I was alone in the chamber where the Countess’ fine dinnerware and crystal were kept, buffing each piece until it gleamed in the sunlight filtering through the high windows. My thoughts wandered as I performed the mindless task until they hit upon an opportunity the isolation provided. Placing one of the shining spoons on the smooth countertop, I focused my efforts on moving the silver while I continued my work.

  I knew the effort would be a fruitless one. With my failure the previous night, I had no expectations of success, especially considering the distraction of my chores. Still, I figured the practice wouldn’t hurt. I wasn’t overly surprised or disappointed when I finished my polishing and put the spoon away, picking it up from the exact spot where I’d laid it down it a few hours before.

  Despite Bria’s best efforts, dinner in the kitchens was a tasteless affair. With the clock inside me tolling each passing hour with increasing dread, I found no joy in the meal she’d prepared. Knowing that the time of my death had already been marked only made each minute all the more agonizing. My lone consolation was that I’d be able to sneak back into the library the next day.

  If I managed to survive that long.

  Fate or perhaps luck was on my side, and I woke the following morning. After stretching out my sore muscles, I had a brief moment of panic before picking up the sensation of magic still dribbling in from the world around me. The thought of losing my gift without ever having the chance to use it was oddly terrifying, and I glanced out my window while I brushed the tangles from my hair, seeking a diversion from the uncomfortable notion.

  Vast pastures and farmland lay beyond the Keep’s high walls before yielding to the dense cover of Blackwood Forest, while the first rays of dawn glimmered off the surface of three mighty rivers in the distance. The fast-flowing Neru carved a near southerly course at it descended from the mountains that were its namesake, while the slow, powerful Stillwater wandered across the plains from the west, merging to form a wide and fertile delta. The two great rivers joined together into The Eld, flowing farther south until they emptied into the distant ocean.

  It was a nearly breathtaking sight that lost none of its majesty no matter how many times I looked over it, almost making up for the solitude of the room. While the chambers the other servants shared on the lower levels were somewhat larger, their windowless walls left much to be desired. If it weren’t for Lady Valda’s obvious spite, I might have taken the room as a gift of sorts—not that I’d ever voice such thoughts out loud. The mere mention of any hint of happiness would probably be enough for her to move me into the stables.

  After working the worst of the knots out of my hair, I rushed upstairs to begin my daily tasks, skipping breakfast in favor of getting an early start. The chores I was assigned kept me mostly separated from the rest of the staff, yet as I moved about from place to place, I could hear them through the walls, talking and even laughing as they worked side by side. Although it had troubled me once, I’d long ago resigned myself to a life of isolation—the heavy price of Valda’s lone act of charity. Time crept along slowly as I tended to my various duties until they were finally done, and my rumbling stomach guided me down to the kitchens.

  A rare treat awaited me when I arrived. Lord Aldon must’ve refused his supper the previous night, and the sumptuous meal was returned untouched, somehow remaining unclaimed during the morning. At least that was the only explanation I could come up with for Bria’s indifferent shrug as I eyed the feast lying on the counter. Digging in with abandon, I wolfed down the savory meat smothered in rich gravy, not sparing a second thought for the fact that it was still warm. Such good fortune was to be enjoyed before it could be taken away, not squandered with stupid questions. Full as I was, I still tucked away a pair of soft rolls when Bria wasn’t looking, saving them in case I missed supper again—this time succeeding in my petty act of thievery.

  Although I was anxious to resume my studies, I took my time slogging up the steps, not wanting to give away any hint of my eagerness to those who happened to pass by. The drudgery of my work wasn’t something anyone would anticipate, and even a faint glimmer of my true feelings threatened to reveal too much. Luckily, my resolve went untested, and I made it all the way to the library without encountering another soul, but my brief moment of happiness vanished the moment my eyes wandered across the broad table at the center of the room.

  The completely empty table.

  The volume I so desperately needed to find was somewhere hidden among the thousands of books neatly tucked away on the shelves. With its nondescript binding, there was nothing that made it stand out from the rest. I could spend hours searching the stacks without finding it, easily passing over the spellbook as it blended in with so many others. If only Lady Valda would’ve been so conscientious a few days before, I wouldn’t have been in this hopeless predicament.

  Dropping o
nto the narrow bench beside the table, my gaze wandered across the wide shelves, wondering where to begin the search or if I should even bother with the fruitless effort. The trickle of energy shifted into a nagging itch with my frustration, and my eyes drifted as I scratched at the irritation, catching a glimpse of something that wasn’t quite in its place.

  I only had to lean forward slightly to take hold of the soft leather spine, tugging the thin book free from the shelf as I praised my second stroke of good luck. Had the tome been anywhere else or tucked way properly, I might’ve never noticed it. But Valda’s apparent carelessness in shelving the volume was to my benefit, and I smiled knowing how bitterly she would have resented that fact.

  Time was still my enemy, however, so I picked up right where I’d left off. Despite what I’d thought, reviewing the Push spell left me no closer to mastering its magic, so I quickly moved on, hoping for better results with the next one. A series of various magics followed the first before the book ended abruptly with many blank pages filling out the rest.

  Once my reading was complete, I’d supposedly ‘learned’ several new spells, but they all remained maddeningly beyond reach. Just a single one would’ve been enough to spare my miserable life, yet the simple magic evaded me at every turn. With nothing more to gain, I replaced the book on the shelf, careful to leave it just the way I’d found it. Although I hadn’t bothered with cleaning, I left the library behind as I stomped down the stairs, too disgusted with myself to care whether or not Valda might notice a mote of dust on her pristine shelves.

  Chapter 4

  That evening and for the next three days, I continued practicing my ‘magic’ with absolutely nothing to show for my efforts. Cycling through the five spells I’d learned yielded only the same pitiful results. I couldn’t budge anything when I cast Push, nor did wisps of magical energy flow from my fingertips with Bolt. Shelter failed to form a protective shield around me, while Balm didn’t heal the blisters on my hands; I couldn’t even ignite a dry strand of hay with the heat of Spark.

  Without the ability to wield my power, the knowledge I’d gained served no real purpose. Although the book I’d read contained only the most basic of spells, I lacked a tutor to guide my studies any further, an apparently fatal flaw in my case. Lady Valda’s ever-calculating gaze seemed especially trained on me over those days, so I’d been trying to avoid the library save for attending my duties there. A lingering headache began plaguing me as the energy continued to build up, leaving me with no other option but to trudge up the stairs, reluctantly admitting my defeat. As slim as it was, my only hope lay in the tattered pages of the old book and my meager ability to tease out their deeper meaning.

  Although the room always felt stuffy and confining before, an oddly comforting feeling had come over it since I’d begun my studies there; the musty smell resolving into the more refined scent of fine leather and worn parchment. While the task of unlocking the key to spellcasting consumed me, I wondered what other mysteries might be revealed within the heavy volumes lining its shelves. Doubtless, the answers to many questions could be found among them, ones I might’ve imagined and others that were likely far beyond my comprehension. Taking a break to allow my mind to wander down a few of those paths provided all the distraction necessary to seal my fate.

  “I do hope I’m not disturbing you,” Lady Valda’s voice called out from the doorway, nearly startling me out of my chair.

  Trembling as an overwhelming sense of fear took hold of me, my lips moved but were unable to form any words as she slowly stalked closer. I tried to release my hold on the spellbook, but my fingers refused to comply, only clutching at it more tightly instead.

  “Should I come back later, my dear?” Valda prodded, the strange smile she’d flashed once before creasing her lips again.

  “I-I’m sorry, my Lady,” I sputtered when my tongue finally unwound itself. “The book… I found it, and—”

  My awkward fumbling came to an end when Valda rested her hand on my shoulder.

  “Do you think me so careless as to leave such a valuable thing just lying about, Starling?” Valda’s use of the endearing term left me baffled, almost as much as the soft, reassuring squeeze of her fingers.

  “Magic is not for the timid or weak. There was little doubt, but I had to be sure of you first,” she went on, peering into my eyes as if measuring me somehow. “You’re both curious and cautious, with a bold streak that will serve you well.”

  “It was a test, Amarrah.” She smiled once more; only this time, I finally saw the warmth in Valda’s broad grin. “One you passed with flying colors.”

  “Why?” Among the dozens of questions swirling around inside my head, it was the only one I could bring myself to ask.

  “Your potential was recognized the moment you were born,” Valda replied, her hand trailing off my shoulder as she took a seat across the table from me. “But it was much too dangerous to let that secret out until you were ready to take advantage of your gift.”

  “Our enemies have grown bold, little one,” she continued, letting out a deep breath as she seemed to recall some unknown tragedy. “Hiding you among the servants was the only way to shield you from a knife in the darkness.”

  “Even here, my Lady?” I could only stare back in disbelief. The idea of danger lurking within Blackwood Keep was unthinkable.

  “It has happened before,” Valda replied as the warm darkness of her eyes filled with sorrow. “Sorceresses are Farren’s strongest defense against the threat of Cyndhar, so we are a frequent target for their assassins.”

  Though matters of diplomacy were well beyond my station, even I was aware of the long-simmering tensions between the two realms. The very land we stood on was at the center of that turmoil. Cyndhar coveted the rich soil of the delta, but Farren jealously guarded the four counties within its boundaries. Although skirmishes across the border were common, the brunt of those incursions was borne by the three districts to our north. Sitting at the delta’s apex, Blackwood Keep was a long way from such troubles. Or so I’d thought.

  “How much have you managed to learn?” Valda motioned towards the book I was still clinging to as she quickly changed the subject.

  “Nothing and less, my Lady.” I swallowed what little pride I had in making the admission. “I’ve read the spells but can’t seem to make them work.”

  “Outside this room, we must continue as we always have, Amarrah,” she responded, prying my hand free from the tome as she took hold of it. “But within these walls, I am only Valda.”

  “That wouldn’t be proper,” I protested, my eyes briefly flashing away when I could no longer hold her gaze.

  “You’re my apprentice now.” The warmth of her smile drew me back again. “Though I will teach, and you will learn, we are more equal than you realize.”

  Despite the conviction I heard in her words, I very much doubted that would ever be true; I had no hope of matching her in any way. Valda’s elegance alone was something I could never duplicate, let alone her command of magic. The best I could hope for was to not be a complete disappointment.

  “Yes, m… Valda.” I nearly choked on the reply.

  “Better.” She finally released her hold on me, rising to her feet before continuing again.

  “Push is the first spell for a reason,” Valda’s voice took on an unfamiliar tone, pacing across the floor as she began her instruction. “It is both the easiest and most versatile of the introductory magics. We will begin your lessons there.”

  Although I had no basis for the expectation, I’d always imagined such tutelage as a rigorous, nearly abusive process. The few tales I’d heard described taskmasters of extraordinary severity, almost cruel as they doled out small doses of wisdom. But Valda was none of those things. As she guided me through the spell’s intricate gestures, her demeanor was kind and supportive, practically bordering on motherly at times. The stark change in attitude was distracting as I kept waiting for Valda to drop some thinly veiled insult or nasty c
omment, yet none came. By the time evening drew near, I still hadn’t been able to make the magic flow, but I’d felt its first real stirrings; faint tugs of the energy within me yearning to be set free.

  Valda offered me a bit of praise once more as she brought my lessons to an end. “You’re almost there, Amarrah. Now come closer so I can show you one last thing.”

  Valda took hold of my shoulders, turning me around so that she stood behind me. Leaving one hand still resting there, she reached out to grasp my arm, sending a slow trickle of her magic running through me. The energy flowed out from my fingertips, but not alone. Along the way, Valda’s magic picked up some of my own, draining away a portion of what had been building up inside me. While I had no idea how close I’d been to burning out, venting even that slight bit was a tremendous relief.

  “Thank you, Valda.” The deep breath I let out sent a stray bit of hair fluttering away from my face.

  “Hmmm.” She’d been heading for the door, but my comment caused Valda to pause as she stopped to appraise me once more.

  Her mouth curved into a frown as she looked over my servant’s garb. “This won’t do.”

  “We’re going to have to take you out of hiding eventually.” A single curled finger hovered in front of her lips as she mused. “When that day comes, you’ll need to assume your proper station.”

  I wouldn’t say I’d become comfortable with it, but I’d at least come to terms with the fact that I might one day be consumed by the magical energy that was constantly building up inside me. The thought of navigating the treacherous waters she apparently had in mind was far more terrifying than that notion, however, and I balked at the suggestion.

  “I’m fine where I am, Valda.” My objection had little effect, provoking only a mischievous smile as Valda beckoned me to follow while she led the way out of the library.