by A. J. Medina
“My good people,” the king began. “Today I have the pleasure of presenting you with the new members of my guard.” The audience cheered and applauded. He continued. “We have a tradition in my kingdom. When a knight graduates and truly becomes a knight, they receive their helmet. Today is that day for my knightlys.”
I couldn’t believe it, we were finally getting helmets.
“Wizard, if you please.”
The wizard signaled to the king’s guard to come on stage. One by one they lined up, standing opposite a knightly. Everyone had a knight standing in front of them except Tessa, me and Ryanne. The wizard took position in front of Tessa, the king marched to Ryanne and then Princess Evelyn glided to me. She was bouncing and trying to contain her excitement.
The knights, the wizard, the king and the princess held out our helmets and said in unison, “You are now one of us.” My helmet was different than the others. It had two dragon wings spreading out from the top of it, almost like horns. And it didn’t have a front, my face would be completely exposed. I took hold of it and placed it on my head and touched my knuckles to my chest. The princess curtsied and the audience cheered.
“Lady Alora, take your place by my side,” the wizard said, and then walked to the front of the stage, right next to King Remi. The princess moved out of the way and as I stood to his right, I waited unsure of what was to come.
The wizard moved and stood behind me. The audience watched amazed at what happened next. The wizard placed his hands on my shoulders and announced, “Alora will be my new apprentice and as such she’ll be the captain of the king’s guard and army.” The next thing I knew he raised a piece of metal towards my face. There was a flash and it fused to my helmet. My entire face was now covered. Mysteriously, I could still see. Not just see... I could see everything. It felt like my face wasn’t even covered.
“Thank you for coming to this announcement. You may now return to your daily duties,” the king finished.
The princess came over and complimented my new helmet. “The dragon wings are a nice touch. The wizard must be pleased with himself.” She took my arm and asked me to walk with her to the palace. I was honored to, but what pleased me the most was that I had made it all the way through and was now a real, honest to goodness, knight.
“I asked the wizard if I could be the one to tell you,” Princess Evelyn said as we entered the palace. The guards took one look at me, came to attention and saluted. I saluted them back and kept walking. “You’re their captain now,” the princess alerted me.
“Aye. It feels weird.” Wait… she said she wanted to tell me something. “Tell me what?” I asked.
“Your training as the wizard’s apprentice will begin tomorrow. As his apprentice you will be at his side the majority of the time. Chambers have been prepared for you here at the palace.”
“I don’t understand...”
“There’s no reason for you to go back to the guard’s wing. You will live here in the palace with us. You will have a room to yourself and your own chamber maiden.”
“Do I have to live in the palace?”
She seemed disappointed to hear me ask that. “Nay, but if you do you’ll be able to walk the gardens, and you must feast with us anyway so why not live here.”
I thought about it and knew I would miss spending time with Tessa, but the palace was sure a beautiful place. As if the princess could read my mind she said, “You’ll miss your friends? Tessa and Silas.”
“Aye, and I’ll miss my late night meetings with him. It was so convenient. I could meet him on the balcony every night.”
“He’s part of the king’s guard, Alora. He can come to the palace uninvited.” She snickered. “Make him work a little. Don’t make it too easy for him. Boys like a good challenge. It keeps things interesting.”
“In that case, aye. I will move to the palace.”
“Excellent. I will send for your things. Let me show you to your room.”
I already knew the way. My room was practically across the hall from the princess’ chambers. Pushing open the door, my room was identical to hers. I didn’t need such a large bed, it could fit at least three of me. The windows overlooked the gardens and I couldn’t have asked for a better gift. I turned smiling, “I love it. Thank you, Princess.”
“I told Father you would.” She snatched me by the wrist and dragged me into the wash room. “And look. You have the wash room all to yourself.” The wash room was the same layout as the one in the turret that I shared with the other girls except that the floors were tiled instead of wood. She dragged me to the closet. “It’s twice as big as the one you had. We must get the dressmaker to make you dresses for the balls.”
“Princess, I’m a knight. I’ll be wearing my armor.”
“That’s unacceptable, then how will you dance with Silas?”
“I don’t think we’ll be dancing. I think we’ll stand watch, making sure nothing happens to the king, queen or yourself.”
Her face went from happy and smiling to disappointed again. She was deep in thought devising a plan to somehow overrule, the rules. I would never admit it to anyone but her, but I wouldn’t mind playing dress up at least once and dancing with Silas in front of everyone. The thought of it forced a smile to creep onto my face.
“What are you thinking about, Alora? It must be good, your face is turning beet red.”
I was busted, my face gave me away. “I was thinking how nice it would be to dress up and dance with Silas.”
“Then I’ll make it happen. I’m going to talk with Father right now.” She stormed towards the door.
“Wait. What should I do? Wait for you here?”
“Do whatever you want,” she said, rushing out of my room. “You aren’t needed until tomorrow when the wizard will send for you.”
Chapter 16
“The apprentice has gained more followers. They march for Ly’vera as we speak. How can this be? Don’t they hate him?”
“Doesn’t seem like it, m’lord.”
The king held the corner of the parchment to the candle and watched as it caught fire. The flame grew and when it was about to be consumed he threw it into the fire place so it could finish burning. “How can they be following him? He’s a traitor to my kingdom. A traitor to the realm.”
“The people don’t seem to believe that. They believe he will free them.”
The king turned, his eyes questioning. “Free them from what?”
“From a realm with kings.”
“Preposterous. How can the realm exist without a king? Who would tell everyone what to do? Without a king on the throne, there would be anarchy.” He moved to the window, placed his hands behind his back and looked out at the citizens going about their business in his castle city.
“People left to their own devices would create chaos. They wouldn’t do what needed to be done, instead choosing to laze about. Crops would die or worse, never be planted. The baker would cease baking his wonderful bread and the smith would no longer teach his apprentices how to forge steel. The people would starve. They would kill and take what belongs to others. How can they think this is the right way? You’ve seen it happen. You were by my side when my father tried it. Don’t you remember?”
“Aye, more than most.”
The king went over to the wizard and lay his hands on his shoulders. “If not for you, the kingdom would be lost old friend. You cannot allow this to happen. Your old apprentice must be stopped. He must not succeed.”
“I serve you, m’lord. I will protect you, and the kingdom, with my life.”
“And Alora… Is she ready?”
“She is. I will teach her a great deal in the short time we have to prepare. She will become his equal, I hope.”
“Then go and prepare her... prepare her for what she was chosen to do.”
“Aye, m’lord.” The wizard saluted the king, bowed his head and left King Remi to his thoughts.
— — —
I was roused from my d
ream by my chamber maiden, Neala, holding a bowl of water and a towel. I asked the princess if she could be mine and she agreed. I dreamt of Lucah and saw his face clearly as he rode away from the castle city. I wondered what he was doing at this very moment. Was he out hunting with his brothers, catching squirrels so that his mother could prepare her sweet bread with a side of squirrel brains?
I dipped my hands into the cool water and smothered my face. I dipped them again and rubbed the sand from my eyes. Taking the towel from her, my mind shifted, a feeling of excitement rushing through my veins. Today I officially began my training as the wizard’s apprentice. When I auditioned so many weeks ago I never in my wildest dreams thought I would be learning magic.
The extent of our magic training so far had been soaring and summoning our armor and weapons. Just enough magic to make us a more formidable knight. A knight capable of more than any other. But now the wizard was taking me under his wing and going to teach me more. What magical spells would he teach me? What potions would I learn to create? Would I become as powerful as the wizard himself? I hoped I would.
I slipped out of my new sleep shirt, the one Princess Evelyn had given me. Instead of the plain white I normally wore, this one was the color of sunflower petals. The beautiful amber contrasted with the gray morning light coming in through the window. I felt cheerful from looking at the color alone. Besides, nothing could ruin today. Even the clouds held onto their rain for me.
I slipped into my second skin and said the words that caused it to fit my body, “Apta magnitudine.” I slipped on one boot and tied the laces. Looking at my other bare foot I reminded myself to ask the princess to walk through the garden with me when I was done for the day. I could catch her up on what I’ve been learning and at the same time do one of my favorite things.
After tying my other boot, Neala handed me my sword. I fastened the harness and she wrapped my new cloak around me and fastened it around my neck. I no longer wore the black cloak the king’s guard and knightlys wore. My new cloak was purple, like the wizard’s—he wanted us to match. I also no longer had to wear my armor at all times. Neala flattened out my cloak and her lip curled up into a lovely smile. “You’re going to be a great wizard.”
“Thank you, Neala.” I reached into my closet and slid open the top drawer. I removed the cork from one of the vials and drank.
“Are you ready, Alora?”
“Aye, Neala.” And I was. I was ready to learn... to be taught. If only those butterflies in my stomach would calm down.
Neala led me down the passage toward the stairs that led to the wizard’s workshop. I knew these halls well because of all the time I spent with the princess, but I’ve never been to his workshop. Of course, it had to be at the very top of the palace’s western most turret. “I leave you here. Would you ask anything of me?” Neala asked.
“Nay.”
“Then I will see to your room.” She turned and walked back down.
I knocked on his door. “Enter,” he said from the other side.
“Good morn, Wizard.” He was sitting at a large table he was using as his desk. He was writing in that book I saw him writing in, that day we first learned to summon our armor.
“Alora, good morn. Sleep well?”
“Aye, it took a while to fall asleep. New bed, but eventually I fell asleep and dreamt well.”
“Good. I need you awake and focused today.” Sounded good to me. He pointed to the hooks on the wall by the window. “Close the door and hang your cloak over there.” I untied it and placed it on a hook next to his. He was busily writing another one of his potions in his... his wizards book. I peeked over his shoulder to see what he was writing before he moved to block my view. “What’s the potion of deceit?” I asked.
“All in due time, apprentice. All in due time.”
“If I’m your apprentice shouldn’t I know all that you know?”
“You will never know all that I know,” he said, quite ominous.
“Please tell me,” I pleaded.
“Very well. Pull up a chair.” He pointed to a wooden chair resting by the wood burner. I lifted it, placed it by his side, and waited for him to explain. Before he started speaking a light flashed overhead. I hadn’t noticed that the roof of his workshop was made of glass. A loud, rolling boom followed and then the rain drops pelted the window above us.
“The winter season will be upon us soon,” he said.
“Aye,” I said in a low and depressed tone. The rains always came before winter. It signaled the cold was just on the horizon.
“Don’t like the rains?”
“I love the rain. What I don’t like is the cold.”
“It’s not so bad.”
“It’s always been for me.”
His eyes squinted like he was trying to read my mind. “You don’t have to worry about freezing here. You’ll have a heavier cloak, fur lined and your chamber will be warmed by the fireplace.”
Impossible. He couldn’t have read my mind.
“I can’t read your mind if that’s what your thinking, but I can read body language. I’m also a good guesser.”
I laughed.
“The potion of deceit then.” He continued writing. I turned my head to the side to read it aloud.
“One drop of falcon’s tears, four droppers of seawater, a pinch of rosemary, a pinch of agrimony, the juice of two runesberries, a dash of noseeum and lastly one strand of hair from your chosen impersonator. So what does it do?” I asked, eager to know.
He dipped his pen in the ink, turned the page and continued writing. “It allows anyone who takes it to become unrecognizable to anyone who has seen them before.”
“I don’t understand,” I said confused.
“For instance, if I took the potion, you wouldn’t recognize me as the wizard. I would appear to be someone else.”
“Who would you appear to be?” I asked.
“The potion asks for a strand of hair. The owner of that hair is who you would become.”
“Can I become a boy?”
“Nay. You would need to select a female strand of hair, otherwise the potion will not work.”
I sat and stared as he continued to write. I wondered about the possibilities. What kind of fun could I have with this potion. I must have been daydreaming deeply because I hadn’t noticed the wizard’s hand had stopped moving. He had stopped writing and was staring at me.
“This potion is not to be used unless the king himself orders it. Do you understand?”
There goes my fun. “Aye, Wizard.” Am I just supposed to sit here and watch him write? I thought I would be learning something. “Did you create those potions yourself?” I asked.
“Nay, they have been around for centuries. Other wizards have shared their knowledge with each other and continue to do so.”
“Other wizards? I wasn’t aware there were others.”
“Aye. They stay away from the kingdoms. They decided long ago, not to serve kings. They don’t want their power used for evil.”
“And you? Why do you serve?” He slammed the book shut, causing me to jump back in my seat.
“I owe King Remi my life. That story is for another day. Go into that closet,” he pointed to the one in the corner next to the window, “and retrieve the chess set.”
When I opened the closet I wasn’t sure what I was looking for. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know what chess is.”
“It’s the wooden box with the dragon etched on it.”
There it was right in front of me. The dragon was perched on a sword—the same one stitched onto the king’s banners.
The wizard placed his book into a drawer. “Place it on the table.” I set it down in front of him and he took hold of the box and unfolded it. There was a checkered board made out of marble stones. Some where white and others were black. He slid out a small drawer on his side and asked me to open the one on mine. Small pieces, shaped out of alabaster, rested in cutouts that secured them in place.
I
looked them over from left to right. The intricate details were staggering. There was King Remi and Queen Rosaleen, Princess Evelyn, dragons, castles, and knights wearing their armor.
The wizard started taking out the pieces and placing them on the board. “Watch me and set them up as I do.”
“Is this a game of sorts?” I asked.
“Aye, it teaches war strategy. This will be your first lesson. As second in command of the king’s army, you should understand strategy. I will explain what each piece is capable of and how it moves. The goal is to capture the king without losing yours.”
The wizard explained the rules of war and how each piece served a purpose just like in a real battle. I was disappointed when he explained that the knights — lined up in front of the most important pieces — could be sacrificed to gain the advantage. A chill ran up my spine. Could I sacrifice knights to gain the advantage? To protect the king, the queen... the princess? Aye. But to gain the advantage? I didn’t like the thought of that.
“The key is to use each piece’s power to your benefit. The dragon, for instance, can only move two squares in one direction and one in the other. Its movements are limited. Therefore, you must use it wisely. You can compare that to archers. They are the best at the bow. That is their focus, their specialty. Use it to your advantage. Understand?”
“Aye.”
We played for most of the morning. It was boring and exciting at the same time. I was learning tactics, but at the same time we were sitting doing nothing but pushing our pieces around. I wished for some action.
The wizard beat me again. “Checkmate,” he announced. “That’s enough for now. I ask that you play chess often. Learn strategy and play with multiple opponents.”
“Like whom?”
“The princess, the queen, the king—”
“The king?” The thought sent those butterflies soaring again.
He chuckled at my response. “Aye, the king. He loves to play, especially against someone new. It allows him to hone his abilities. I will have a set made for you.”
