“Don’t worry—calm your mind and let me look into it. It is quite a simple test we do when the paternity of a child is in question.” He coughed, looking embarrassed. “We perform this on babies, but their minds are so free that it’s easier.”
“Oh, like a magical DNA test.” I felt a little relieved. That made sense.
The duke gave me a half-smile. “Yes! I am sure that in your world you can ascertain these things by way of what I believe the human race calls science.”
I nodded. “Yup, that’s it! Science. Not much use around here though, since you guys have magic and all.”
The duke’s smile grew. He seemed to find me amusing for some reason. “You’re correct. Magic and science have never done well together, one of the main reasons for Avalonia growing apart from the human world—science and magic clashed.”
“Okay, let’s get this over with.” I sounded braver than I felt.
“Please come and sit in front of me.” The duke gestured to a high-backed, velvet-upholstered chair. I went over and sat down opposite him.
“Now, my dear, just concentrate,” he began. “Make your mind blank. Try to rid yourself of all thoughts so I can see clearly who and what you are. Your essence will also tell me if you have the potential to be a mage, or if you have taken on the traits of your mother’s race.”
I closed my eyes. “I’m ready.”
The duke placed his fingertips lightly on my temples, and I tried to shut out my wayward thoughts, but they flitted in and out of my head like mischievous butterflies. It was difficult to make my mind go completely blank. I opened my eyes to peek a little. The duke was frowning.
“What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know.” Duke Silverthorne removed his hands from my temples. “I should be able to sense your magic, but somehow there is nothing. I can’t sense a thing.”
“That’s what Penelope said.”
The duke looked even more perturbed. “Penelope could not sense your magic either?”
I shook my head. “No, she said I must have mage magic and that’s why she couldn’t sense it.”
“I don’t understand.” The duke stroked his short beard and stared at me as if he was trying to piece together a very irritating puzzle. “Even if you were ordinary, just a human, I would be able to ascertain that, but your mind is a mystery, a complete blank. Even when I met you, I felt no magic. Usually a fully trained mage like myself is able to sense the magical essence of another person, mage or fae. I sensed nothing, and I can’t get into your mind.”
“So what does this mean?” My eyes narrowed. “If I have no magic, I can’t be Azaren and Elayna’s daughter?”
“Not necessarily.” The duke paused to think. “Normally I would have dismissed you by now, but there is something about you that I can’t put my finger on. You did speak to the pegasus with your mind, did you not?”
I nodded. “Yes.”
“That is strange. For a pegasus to talk to you, you have to be High Fae. But if you have no fae magic that Penelope could sense, how did you do it?”
I shrugged. I had absolutely no idea how I had done it myself.
“The pegasi are an ancient race of magical beings,” the duke elaborated, “and they possess the old magic of the High Fae. It is very rare for a pegasus to make such a mistake. That is why I am not really sure how to proceed with you.”
I was disappointed; having magic was one of the best things about this place. But on the other hand, if Morgana knew that I wasn’t a threat to her, she might leave me alone. Where would I go now? If the duke did not believe me, I would be shoved out into a world where I had no idea how to survive on my own.
The duke leaned back, resting his elbows on the arms of the chair. He folded his hands together and stared at me. I suddenly felt very uncomfortable with the way he was looking at me. I wasn’t sure what to expect now, and I fidgeted in my chair. I nervously started fiddling with the gold medallion that rested round my neck, as I always did when I felt uneasy.
The duke suddenly sprang up from his chair. “What is that?”
“What?” I looked around. Everything looked the same to me.
He came over to me and pulled out my necklace, turning it over in his fingers. “This.”
The duke looked at it with his mouth open. It was a small gold disc with strange etchings on it, which I could never figure out, but the duke obviously knew what it said, because he was reading it.
“Hey!” I snatched it back. “It’s mine! It’s the only thing I had with me when I was found as a child.”
“I don’t believe it.” He fell back into his chair. “I can’t believe they actually found it.” His words made no sense. “This is impossible—it doesn’t exist, and neither should you.”
Not exist! What was he talking about? I needed some answers and soon.
The duke leaned forward in his chair and looked at me more closely, his bushy white eyebrows joining together as he scrunched his forehead. “There is a reason I could not sense your magic, and I finally know what it is.”
“You mean you believe me?”
“Yes, Aurora, I do believe you,” said the duke, using my name for the first time. “That medallion you wear around your neck is no ordinary piece of jewelry. It is a very powerful magical artifact that was thought to be lost long ago and has faded into the realms of legend. Your father or mother must have found it somehow and put it on you.”
“Why?” I asked, my eyes wide. What the hell was I wearing around my neck? “Why would they do that?”
“They did it to protect you, of course, Aurora.” The duke’s voice was calmer once the shock seemed to wear off. “When a mage and a fae marry and have children, the child is born with either trait, mage powers or fae magic.”
I nodded. “Yes, I know that. Mrs. Plumpleberry told me.”
“What she didn’t tell you is that, on extremely rare occasions, the child born takes on both the parents’ magical powers.”
I gasped. “But is that even possible?”
“From the beginning of this world, there have been only six known fae-mages in Avalonia. You, my dear, are the seventh.”
I gaped at him. “What is a fae-mage?”
“Exactly what it sounds like,” he said, shaking his head. “So unless I am sorely mistaken, not only do you have mage powers within you, which are exceptionally strong, I may add, but because of your bloodline, you also have fae magic. And not any ordinary fae powers, but old magic, since your mother was one of the High Fae.”
“But you just said you couldn’t sense anything. You said that I have no magic.”
The duke’s eyes narrowed. “I was wrong. The reason neither Penelope nor I could sense your powers is because you are wearing the Amulet of Auraken.”
“The what?” I looked down at the small gold medallion that I had worn around my neck for as long as I could remember. Was he serious? First he didn’t believe me, now he thought I was some legendary fae-mage.
“I will explain everything you need to know, but we have one more thing to do before we begin,” said the duke. “Take off your amulet for a moment, although not for long, because it’s what keeps Morgana from finding you with magic.”
“Are you sure?” I asked skeptically. “And what if I take it off and Morgana finds me here?”
“It doesn’t work that fast. You have to have it off for a certain amount of time for Morgana to find you, and even then she has to be looking at exactly that moment.”
I hesitated. I had never taken the amulet off before; somehow I never felt the need to. I even kept it on while I slept. It was all that connected me to my birth parents. And now I knew it had served a greater purpose: they had given it to me to kept me safe from Morgana for all these years.
“Don’t be afraid, Aurora.” His tone was kind. “I only want to test the intensity of your powers so we know what we are dealing with. The presence of that amulet around your neck tells me that you are indeed telling the truth.”
&n
bsp; I hesitated, but I removed the amulet and put it down on the table in front of me. I glanced down at my hands. They had started tingling, and slowly a strange light started seeping out of my palms. A pressure grew in my chest as if something within was just starting to stir, a power so vast that my body started to shake with the force of its awakening. It was as if I were lighting up from the inside. Soon my whole right hand had started glowing with an iridescent blue-white light. I stared at my shining hand and tried to control what was happening to me, but the pressure kept building and my vision started to blur.
The duke’s sharp voice cut through the haze. “The amulet, Aurora. Please, put it back on.” His voice held a trace of panic. “Now, Aurora! That is more than enough.”
I slipped the chain around my neck. The amulet rested heavy against my chest, and the pressure ebbed and disappeared, the light that had infused my body gone.
The duke let out a breath that seemed to be more a sigh of relief. “Like I said before, there have been instances when a child has taken on both powers. It is very rare—you are the only fae-mage to have been born in over a thousand years.”
“A thousand years! Are you serious?” I blurted out.
The duke’s lips turned up in an amused smile. “Yes, I am very serious, Aurora. Your powers are probably unsurpassable, from what I gathered in the brief moment when I experienced your magic, but you will have to learn how to use them, or it could lead to disaster. A fae-mage who cannot control both her mage and fae powers is a threat to herself and to the world around her. For now, tell no one what we have discovered here, except our immediate family and a few others we can trust. I will let you get settled in, and then we will begin lessons to help you learn to wield your magic.”
He suddenly got up from his chair and came over with his arms outstretched. I stood up awkwardly as the duke enveloped me in a big bear hug. Unexpected happy tears pooled in my eyes as I hugged him back.
The duke stepped back, held onto both my arms, and looked at me as if he were seeing me for the first time. “Welcome back, Aurora.”
“Thank you, um . . . Duke,” I said, a little embarrassed at the sudden affection. Ever since my adoptive parents had died, I had forgotten what it was like to have someone actually care about me.
The duke laughed, a happy, deep rumble. “Call me Uncle Gabriel from now on, Aurora—after all, we are family.”
Silverthorne Castle
Golden sunlight streamed in through the large windows, warming the plush, embroidered rugs and rich mahogany furniture. It had been a long journey getting here, but it seemed like I was finally home.
My granduncle put his hand on my shoulder. “It’s been quite an ordeal for you, and I am sure you will be glad to have a decent bed to sleep in. Tomorrow, my daughter, Serena, and my grandson, Erien, will visit for a while. It is fortuitous, as now you can meet the rest of your family.” He summoned a small, plump maid who was to show me to my room. “Now you must rest. Herring, here, can help you with whatever you may need.”
I thanked my granduncle and followed Herring down a veritable maze of corridors. Some were small and drafty with dark stone walls and slits for windows, while others were brighter and wider with high ceilings, where large, open arches lined the passages and the walls were covered from ceiling to floor with beautiful tapestries. I took in my surroundings as we crossed small, enclosed courtyards blooming with tall stems of fragrant snapdragons, and long, open walkways covered by an intricate white marble trellis bursting with lavender cascades of flowering wisteria.
My sense of direction was good, but this castle was massive and confusing as Herring led me through huge echoing halls, empty but ornamented with gigantic carved pillars that stood like silent sentinels guarding the castle. A great marble staircase swept upward to the landing and the second floor of the east wing.
I tried to remember how I got there. I was sure I would get lost before I could manage to figure out this castle’s passages.
I was too tired to take in the rest of my surroundings. When I reached my room, I wobbled over to the bed and fell asleep almost immediately without changing my clothes.
When I woke up, I was disoriented. I had no idea what the time was, and for a moment I couldn’t even remember where I was. This was the first time I had slept so soundly. The dream had not returned, and I hoped it never would again.
I looked over to see the same young maid bustling about the huge room quietly, doing some chores. Then I remembered the mages, the fae, the dungeon, and Silverthorne Castle. It hadn’t been a dream. I really was in a strange magical land where nothing made sense, and now was the time to face reality. I racked my sleepy brain for the girl’s name.
I sat up in my massive four-poster bed. “What time is it, Herring?”
Herring came over to the bed. “Oh, you’re up, my lady. It is now evening and time for supper.” The burnt orange rays of the setting sun confirmed the time.
I got out of bed, slipping my feet into a soft pair of fur slippers that Herring had left for me. Sumptuous rugs covered the white stone floors, brightening the enormous room. Ornate dressers carved from rich walnut and a few luxurious chairs were scattered about, completing the space. I was shocked; I had slept the whole day! And now I had no idea what I was supposed to do.
“Would you like me to run you a bath?” said Herring.
I nodded and followed her over to a curtained doorway that led to a cavernous room. Beautifully arched windows were dressed in plush green velvet curtains trimmed with gold tassels. A huge, sunken tub made of white marble lay proudly in the center of the room, while a silver fountain shaped like a water sprite holding a jug spouted water into it.
“The duke will be expecting you in the great hall soon, milady.” Herring closed the curtain. “Please do call if you need me.”
“Thank you, Herring.”
I inspected an alcove beside a green silk daybed strewn with comfortable, colorful cushions. It expertly hid the garderobe, a medieval-style toilet; I had read about them in history class. I hadn’t really thought of all the bitter realities, and now I was facing one of them. The garderobe was in the shape of a huge, high-backed chair. It was not as rustic as a real medieval privy. It was very clean, and it didn’t smell at all. In fact, it was quite comfortable. And I knew most people didn’t have the luxury of privacy, as typically medieval toilets were communal. At least it looked like the castle had some sort of drainage system.
As I pulled aside another heavy, emerald green curtain, I gasped. The room beside the bathroom was just as large and filled from top to bottom with some of the most beautiful clothes, slippers, and boots that I had ever seen. I looked up and down at the endless rows of garments. They were just too beautiful and all my size.
There were gorgeous silk dresses, exquisitely adorned with flowers, butterflies, and vines. There was a section of stunning pale chiffon gowns, which were worn under long, fitted coats that were buttoned down the front but slit open from the waist, so that the swirling chiffon could be seen.
I ventured farther into the vast closet, touching all the clothes with the tips of my fingers as I admired the wonders I had discovered. I had never seen such wonderfully crafted soft leather boots. Some were for riding, and others were daintier and could be worn under dresses. There were also riding clothes, breeches, and long-sleeved doublets specially made for women. Plainly put, it was everything that I could ever need if I lived here.
I was so taken aback by everything that I didn’t have time to process all that had happened. It was only when I soaked my tired body in the huge bathtub that I thought about what all this meant.
Everything had changed. This wasn’t like going off to boarding school or to college. There were no rules to follow, no way to know if what I was doing was right. Who could I trust? Who should I stay away from? My granduncle seemed nice enough, and later that night I would meet other members of my father’s family—my aunt Serena and young cousin Erien. I wondered if they would like
me.
I quickly got out of the tub, dried myself off with a thick and extremely soft muslin cloth that Herring had given me as a towel, and hurriedly dressed myself in a simple, dusky rose-pink gown. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever worn.
Avalonia didn’t seem so bad after all, I thought as I studied myself in the mirror. I let Herring have her way with my hair since she insisted on doing it up for me. She had seemed distraught that I wanted to do my own hair and dress myself. I was pleased that I let her do it in the end; it made a real difference to my appearance.
The rose-pink dress fit me perfectly, and it was bound about my waist with a thick gold sash weighted on the ends with real gold beads. My dark hair, usually straggly and tied roughly in a ponytail, was washed and combed and held back from my face with elegant pins, and small, white flowers had been artfully woven into it.
I hardly recognized myself.
My Aunt Serena came to see me in my room and introduced herself. She was tall and beautiful, with long, luscious hair the color of buttered toffee. She immediately came up to me and hugged me fiercely, then looked me up and down and hugged me again. I have to say I was secretly happy with all the attention.
“I’m so glad that the clothes fit you,” she said, her warm blue eyes going misty as she looked at me. “My father kept my whole room and wardrobe intact when I got married. None of it fits me now, so I’m happy someone can make use of it.”
“Thank you, Aunt Serena,” I said. “The clothes are really beautiful. Are you sure you don’t mind?”
“Not at all, my dear.” She gave me another big hug. “That’s what family is for.”
I was touched. She had only known me for a few minutes, yet Aunt Serena treated me so kindly.
“My father told me what happened to you,” said Aunt Serena in a softer voice, after she had dismissed Herring. She looked at me in wonder. “I can’t believe it, Azaren and Elayna’s daughter. And he’s right, you do look a lot like your father.”
The Last of the Firedrakes (The Avalonia Chronicles Book 1) Page 9
