The Demon Mages (The Power of Three Book 1)

by Sabine A. Reed

  Arkon walked over to sit on the other side of the king. Putting his arms underneath his shoulders, he raised Seve at an angle and Zo put the cup to Seve’s lips. After a few moments, she removed it. “He’s not drinking,” a worried note crept into her voice. “If he doesn’t drink…”

  The two sisters stared at each other, for the moment nonplussed. If Seve didn’t have the strength to drink…?

  “Dip your fingers in the potion and put it on his lips,” said Arkon.

  Zo put her fingers in the potion and rubbed them over Seve’s lips.

  “Do it again.”

  Zo did the same thing three more times. Seve sighed. His lips, cracked and dry, opened a fraction and closed.

  Arkon helped the king to sit up higher and Zo put the cup to his lips. Seve’s eyes remained closed but he drank. First a few tentative sips, and then he took mouthfuls. Once the cup was drained, Zo put it back on the table and Arkon lay him down again.

  All of them watched as color returned to Seve’s ashen face. Spasms overwhelmed him. He groaned loudly as the pain hit him. Zo rubbed the sweat off his face, soothing him with gentle words. She brushed her fingers over his face and his hair, encouraging him. Finally, he opened his eyes and stared at his sister but the pain appeared too much for him to talk yet.

  After a long time, the spasms stopped. Seve took several deep breaths as he tried to sit up. Arkon helped him to sit comfortably on the bed.

  “What the hell is going on?” He groaned out the words, staring in confusion at his sisters and Arkon.

  Zo hugged him. Letting go, she punched his arm. “We just saved your life, you idiot.”

  "Saved my life?" Lifting his arm, he sniffed the sleeve of his tunic. “Why the hell am I stinking?”

  Zo laughed. Suddenly she stood and backed away from him, a disgusted expression on her face. “You are stinking,” she said, her nose wrinkled in distaste. “Take a bath.”

  Alicia smiled. Everything was back to normal. Happiness coursed through her body. “Oh!” She yelped as the mark of the binding spell on her wrist burned.

  Zo leapt towards her. “What?”

  “It’s alright.” Alicia pushed back her sleeve and the two sisters watched as the mark glowed and then faded away slowly, leaving behind unblemished skin.

  “The binding spell’s off,” whispered Zo. “It worked.” She hugged her sister. The disappearance of the binding spell meant Seve and Alicia were both clear of the poison.

  “What binding spell? Will someone explain anything to me?” Seve said.

  “Not before you take a bath.” Zo shook a finger at her brother, and dissolved in fresh peals of laughter along with Alicia.

  Seve stared at his sisters with a perplexed expression. He looked at Arkon who lifted his shoulder.

  “It’s a long story, your majesty,” said Arkon.

  Seve pushed his hair back from his face and looked at the old librarian who was glowering at them, unable to move or talk due to Zo’s spell. “Why the hell is Zima tied up like that?”

  Zo lunged towards the old woman. “Oh! I’ll take care of her.”

  “Stop!” Alicia stood, and raised her hand to calm her sister before she did anything rash.

  “What did she do?”

  “She’s one who staged this whole attack on Seve.”

  Alicia shook her head. “That’s impossible.”

  “She tried to get me and Arkon killed also.”

  “How?”

  “She had the diary. She knew our whereabouts. How else could we have been followed by Vindha’s mages?”

  “Vindha’s mages followed you?” Alicia’s frowned.

  “They tried to murder us.”

  “Wait a moment.” Alicia waved her sister down as Zo lifted her hand to hit the old woman with another spell. “It wasn’t Zima. Why would she betray us? She has been a part of our lives forever.”

  “Who else could it be?”

  “Her assistant. She tried to kill Seve twice more after you were gone.”

  “That thin girl we saw…?” Puzzlement shone in Zo’s eyes. “Are you sure?”

  “We tracked her down and Sultan died.” Alicia turned her head to look at her brother as she delivered the news. Tears shone in her eyes as she remembered his untimely death at the hands of the ruthless murderess. “I’m sorry. He died trying to protect you.”

  “If she was the one who attacked Seve, she must have gained access to Zima’s diary. She had the opportunity as she was working in the library,” said Arkon. He rubbed his chin in a thoughtful manner. “She could have passed on the information about our location.”

  Zo rubbed her head. “It’s possible. Sultan died?” She grimaced, a sad look in her eyes.

  Alicia bit her bottom lip. All of them had been fond of the old advisor. He was their tutor in the early days, had taught them fishing and hunting. “So many good men and women dead…”

  Arkon coughed. “I think you might want to remove the spell from Zima,” he told Zo.

  “Ah, yes.” Zo nodded. She looked at Zima and wriggled her fingers.

  The web disappeared and the old mage stood. After straightening her robe, she walked over to Zo and slapped her on the side of her head. “This girl’s barking mad,” she yelled. She tried to slap her again but Zo jumped back, laughing.

  “Sorry! How was I to know it wasn’t you? It was his idea. He thought you were the spy.” She pointed a finger at Arkon as she dodged the blows Zima tried to inflict on her.

  “Me?” Arkon paled as he took a hasty step back, hitting the wall. “It wasn’t me…”

  “Coward. Admit it! You were the one who suspected her first.” Zo ducked under Zima’s arm but received a kick on her leg. “Ouch! She is killing me. Someone do something!”

  “Why, you crazy girl…you think I would try to kill the king.” Zima tried to kick her again. “I helped your mother to raise the lot of you, tolerated you all running around in my library, watched over you…”

  “Sorry. I made a mistake.”

  “Oh, yes. You made a mistake. Why, I ought to give you a good dose of my magic.” Zima raised her hands, huffing.

  “Enough!” Seve said, his voice gentle, but firm.

  Zima glowered at the king. “She thought I was a spy.”

  “I know but she was trying to protect me…as do you all the time. Even though I don’t understand half of what you all are saying, I know no one amongst us is an enemy.” Seve got out of bed. “I’m sure you can try to understand her motives even if you can’t forgive her actions.”

  Zima sniffed. She glared at Zo who was now hiding behind Alicia. “Fine.” She puffed her chest out and walked indignantly towards the door. “Although if you took care of yourself as you’ve been taught, your majesty, the lot of us wouldn’t have to run ragged trying to save your life.”

  “Of course, Zima. I’ll be careful from now on.” Seve said with a contrite expression on his face.

  "And take a bath. You stink to high heaven.” And with that said, she turned and walked out the door.

  Alicia stifled a laugh as Seve glared at the old lady’s back.

  “She is something…” he said.

  “Well, you do need a bath,” Alicia agreed.

  “Fine, get out all of you,” he barked. “Arkon, send someone to prepare a bath for me.”

  “Yes, your majesty.” Arkon escaped from the room with a relieved expression on his face.

  “Coward,” Zo yelled as he retreated.

  “Well, we’ll leave you to recover then,” Alicia said. “Call us when you’ve freshened up.”

  Arm in arm, the two sisters walked out of the room. At the door, they turned to blow kisses at their brother who rolled his eyes in response. He smiled, watching them disappear.

  “I need to eat something.” Zo led her sister to the kitchen. “And you can tell me all that transpired in my absence.”

  Alicia was famished too. There was much that needed to be discussed. Clearly, a lot of issues were at sta
ke. There wasn’t any doubt that King Vindha was behind the attacks on Seve and Zo. That meant the island of Iram was no longer safe from his unwanted attention. Sooner or later, they would have to make difficult decisions.

  Still, for the moment, everything was back on track. Seve was alright again and Alicia knew she was more than happy to leave the decision-making in his capable hands.

  She sighed happily. All was well again - at least for the time being.

  Life was good.

  Epilogue

  A few nights later, Zo stood at the battlement of the castle. The air was crisp and clear, with a sharp edge to it. She pulled her cloak tight around her body and watched as a group of guards walked past, carrying torches in their hands.

  The moon was a jagged half-circle of white light, its edges frayed. A few stars twinkled in the dusty sky. It wasn’t midnight yet. Zo couldn’t sleep. Her brother was safe, as was her sister – but the events she had witnessed on the mainland haunted her still.

  “Princess?”

  She turned to see as Arkon walked over to join her. “Hello, commander. It’s good to see you again.”

  “I thought it better to make myself scarce until Zima forgot the affront to her dignity,” he said with a sheepish grin.

  Zo laughed. “She hasn’t forgiven me yet. If it wasn’t for Seve, she might have tried to spell me. Lucky for me she still has some respect for him.”

  He stepped closer and peered into the courtyard. “Ah…well! She is known to hold on to her grudges for a long, long time.”

  Zo’s gaze followed his and they watched the akachimas who was walking with Leo towards the kitchen. “The akachimas seem to be quite happy with their living arrangements.”

  Seve had assigned them one of the outbuildings. Leo was living inside the castle, but they were close enough to keep an eye on him. One of them stayed with him always, even at night.

  “Leo is happy too. Soon, they will begin his lessons, but perhaps they are awaiting the arrival of their other friends,” Arkon commented as the akachimas disappeared in the kitchen.

  “Thank you for helping them to settle in. I heard you’re giving sword lessons to Leo?” she asked.

  “He may be a mage, but he needs to learn how to fight. We’ll train him to protect himself.”

  “It’s a good idea. Who knows when he might…we all might need to fight a war.”

  The two of them shared a glance. Arkon looked away first.

  “Ah, princess…”

  “Zo,” she said firmly. “I don’t think there is any formality between us, especially not after all that we have gone through together.”

  “It’s just that…” He stopped and scratched his chin, as if uncomfortable with whatever he wanted to say.

  The wind whipped around her. Zo pushed her unruly hair back with one hand. Suddenly she was nervous. It was an unfamiliar feeling. “I’ve talked to my brother. He has agreed to open talks with the rebels, encouraging them to join us. Together, we’ll be strengthened. We need the unity. I think Ibad will understand.”

  “He will,” agreed Arkon.

  “Perhaps we may have to go back to talk to them,” she said.

  “Are you intending to go back to the mainland?” Arkon looked startled. “The durkhas…”

  “We can’t hide in Iram forever. Sooner or later, the war will come to our doorstep. Before it does that, we need to find as many allies as possible and gather our own forces. Seve is opening talks with other kingdoms that are next in line for an attack from Vindha and his army. If all the remaining kingdoms join forces, we may still have a fighting chance…”

  Arkon frowned. “The durkhas are a formidable force. We’ll have to devise a way to get rid of them.”

  “Zima is working with the akachimas, and once their ancient tomes arrive, we will know more about the demon mages. We have to find a solution…or else all is lost. If Vindha creates enough of them, the whole world will be lost. Magic will die. There will be no more mages.”

  Arkon placed a hand on her shoulder. “We’ll find a way.”

  Zo looked into his eyes. “Well, yes. We will. I was hoping you would agree to come with me if I return to the mainland to talk to Ibad.”

  “I’ll be honored to accompany you. It’s just that…” He appeared hesitant to continue once more.

  “What?”

  His hand moved from her shoulder to her waist. He pulled her closer. “I was thinking perhaps you would agree to a more formal agreement between us before we travel yet again?”

  Hope stirred in Zo’s heart. “What kind of an agreement did you have in mind?”

  He brought his head down, his lips hovering over hers. “I was thinking about a speedy engagement…and a marriage, eventually…when you are ready for it.”

  Zo smiled, her heart soaring with joy. There was so much to worry about in the world, but this was her own personal slice of happiness, and she was determined and greedy enough to want to take it. “How about we skip the engagement and plan a wedding instead?”

  Arkon brushed his lips over hers. It was a while before he lifted his head. “I couldn’t have said it better myself.”

  They stayed together for a while, holding each other, watching over the land they shared. There was going to be a lot of hardship coming their way in the future. They would all have to make some complicated, and at times, impossible decisions – but for now, all was well with their world.

  ---The End---

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  About the Author

  Sabine A. Reed is a fantasy author. Currently she is busy working on the second book in The Power of Three Trilogy. She can often be found at Goodreads. Her blog Writing and Publishing Resource is meant as a guide for new writers who are discovering that the path to publication can be difficult, but doesn’t have to be lonely.

  She can also be found on twitter: SabineAReed

  And on her facebook page: SabineAReed

  Her fantasy novellas include:

  The Black Orb

  Ashuliya

  Serpentine Love (free on smashwords)

  Coming soon:

  The Warrior Mage, book 2 in The Power of Three trilogy

  The Water Mage, book 3 in The Power of Three trilogy