Hidden Magic

by Melinda Kucsera

  He knocked once and took a deep breath.

  “Come,” came Darius’ sharp reply.

  Ed let out a breath again. Relax, you’re one of the Black. You don’t cower in front of the archdruid.

  Ed pushed the door open. “My lord.” He bowed his head as he came in. “You sent for me.” He had no idea what Darius would want to talk about. Did it have something to do with Byron’s assassination attempt? If so, why would he want to talk to Ed? Ed was just a captain in the guard, not a high-ranking general like Reevus.

  Darius stood with his back to him, staring into the crackling flames in the fireplace. The archdruid said nothing for a few moments as he moved around his desk and scribbled something on a piece of parchment.

  Ed’s heart thudded in his ears. Come on, tell me what you want. Don’t make me stand here like a—

  “Tell me how you feel about my daughter.” Darius looked up then.

  “Sir?” Ed gaped at him, unsure what to say or do. What kind of question is that? Why would you even ask that? It seemed like an unusual thing to ask after everything that happened that day.

  “She… We’re just friends, I assure you,” he insisted. “We’ve been best friends ever since the day she saved my life when I washed up on the shores of Trin.” His heart started pounding harder, almost jumping out of his chest.

  If Darius believed the rumours about them, what would he do?

  Ed couldn’t bear the thought of being sent away. Becoming one of the Black had always been his dream. It made him who he was. They were part of his family, especially being with his foster brother, Jax.

  But how could he leave Ann? She meant more to him than life itself. They had rarely ever been apart—even when he’d been in training for the Black, he’d gone to visit her every weekend.

  “I didn’t ask what you were. I asked how you feel about her,” Darius said.

  “Sir, I’d never cross that line. Never. She’s my oldest friend, family even.” He sighed, feeling the weight of Darius’ stare. “I don’t know how to put my feelings for her into words.”

  “Do you love her?”

  “No, what I feel for her goes beyond love. I feel like she’s the other half of me. Like I’m not complete without her.” He smiled. “She’s everything to me. You can send me away if you want, but I’d never leave her. If she needs me, I’ll always be there for her,” he said. “I’ve never told her about my true feelings. Like I said, I won’t cross that line.”

  “Will you stand by her?” Darius asked. “Even if the house of Valeran falls and Caselhelm is plunged into chaos? Even if she were no longer who she is now?”

  “Yes, of course I would. I’d always be there for her.” Ed frowned, wondering why Darius would even need to ask such a thing. Did Darius really believe in the seer’s prophecy? If so, why didn’t he seem to do anything about it?

  “Good.” Darius moved around his desk and placed his hand on Ed’s forehead.

  Energy jolted through Ed, making him stumble backward. He clutched his head as pain seeped through his skull. “What the… What did you just do?”

  “It will all become clear when the time is right,” Darius told him. “Whatever happens, keep Rhiannon safe.” He waved his hand. “You are dismissed.”

  Ed left the room, dazed. He had no idea what had just happened.

  He headed to his chamber that he shared with Jax and found his brother already there. “Hey, have you heard the news?” Jax said. “The meeting’s been called off. And I hear Urien is the hero of the hour. Saving his papa and all.”

  “I guess.” Ed shrugged.

  “You don’t seem very happy.”

  “Something still doesn’t feel right about this.”

  “Of course not, Byron tried to kill off the archdruid.”

  “No, not just that. Why attack Darius during dinner?”

  “Reevus found poison on the dagger. It wouldn’t have taken much to finish the job.”

  “What?” Ed muttered, mind still reeling from whatever Darius had done to him.

  “Darius called off the meeting, said it was too much of a security risk. Reevus wants to investigate Byron further,” Jax told him. “Good, less of a security risk for us to worry about. Maybe it’ll get people to settle down for a few days at least.” Jax stopped polishing his sword. “Hey, I thought you were off duty hours ago? But I didn’t see you at dinner.”

  “I-I was busy helping Ann.” He decided against mentioning his nightly excursion with an into Byron’s chamber. There was no point in telling Jax. They hadn’t found anything. Not really.

  Jax grinned. “Oh, I bet. Don’t know why you don’t just admit you are a couple. It’s pretty obvious.”

  “What?” Ed shook his head to clear it. “We’re not a couple. She’s my best friend and I’m one of the Black. I can—” He gritted his teeth. “I wish people would stop suggesting we’re a couple because we’re not.”

  “But you want to be, right?” Jax persisted.

  Ed flopped onto his bed. “Even if I did, we couldn’t be. She is the archdruid’s heir,” he said. “I can never be with her. Plus, she doesn’t see me that way.”

  “How do you know unless you tell her how you feel?”

  “Jax, not tonight, okay?” He sighed. “It’s been a long day.”

  “You and Ann been off chasing invisible people?” Jax laughed. “Like that woman she thinks she saw in the woods yesterday?”

  “She did see a woman yesterday. I saw her today, too,” he added.

  “What did she do?” Jax leaned forward.

  “She said the house of Valeran will fall, the stars will darken, and Ann’s path will become clear,” Ed told him. “And before you ask, no, I have no idea what it means. Ann tried talking to the seer, but she didn’t tell her anything.”

  Jax dropped his sword and rose. “What? Did you tell Reevus?”

  “Of course I did, but all he did was double up on security.” He wrapped his hands behind his head. “We can’t stop a potential threat if we don’t know who or what is.”

  Jax said, “Maybe the threat has passed. The meeting’s been postponed. Whatever leader who might have attacked now won’t.”

  “If it was a leader.” Ed lay there staring at the stone ceiling.

  He had no idea what Darius had done to him or why.

  Why had he even summoned Ed in the first place? The archdruid rarely ever spoke to him even when Ed was growing up. And Ed understood that. After all, he’d just been an unwanted orphan who’d washed up on the druid’s isle with no name and no idea where he’d come from. He’d never be a good match for Ann either.

  But he had meant what he told Darius. He would always be there for Ann no matter what happened.

  “You’ll know when the time comes,” Darius had told him.

  But what did it mean?

  What had Darius done and why? Thoughts whirled through his head as Jax snuffed out the lamps to go to sleep.

  Ed still lay there, unable to sleep. Just because the meeting of the three realms had been cancelled didn’t stop his unease.

  He turned over and closed his eyes, but his thoughts continued to race.

  “The house of Valeran shall fall, blood will darken the stars and with it, the crimson will grow.” A cool breeze whipped through the room.

  Ed bolted up, grabbing his sword as he went. He scanned the room but found no one there. Only Jax snoring on the other side of the room. The window was closed, how could a breeze even get in?

  Sword still in hand, he moved over to the window. Below, he spotted a figure staring back at him. It looked like the silhouette of a woman, but she was shrouded in shadow, so he couldn’t tell who it was.

  Ed pulled the window open with a creek, climbed onto the sill and jumped. Air rushed past him and he knew anyone would think him suicidal if they spotted him, but he knew the jump wouldn’t hurt him.

  Ed landed easily and ran over to the figure, relieved she hadn’t left.

  The woman looked e
ven more alarming up close with her shining black eyes.

  “What do you want?” Ed asked. “More prophecies that make no sense?”

  “The house of Valeran will fall—”

  “How? If someone means my family harm, tell me.”

  She arched a brow. “You consider yourself one of them?”

  “My mother is a Valeran so, yes, in a way I am one, even if I’m not their blood.” He gripped his sword tighter. “Who’s going to hurt them? The meeting’s been postponed.”

  “That meeting will never come to pass.”

  “I’ll ask you one last time, why are you here?” he demanded.

  “Because your fate is intertwined with hers. The choices you both make tonight will determine both your futures,” she replied.

  Ed frowned. “You’re an elder, aren’t you?” Elders were beings who’d been around for thousands of years. They didn’t walk much on this side of the veil.

  The woman’s lips curved into a smile. “Very good, I’m glad you haven’t completely forgotten who you are, Rohn.”

  “What does… Wait, do you who I am?”

  “You’ve never questioned who you are before now, have you?”

  “No, I haven’t needed to. I know who I am.” He lowered his sword. “Please, if something bad happens to Ann, you have to tell me. Why else would you come here? Elders don’t interfere.”

  “I’m only here to see what happens next. You’re more powerful than you think, Rohn.”

  “Ann is right, you’re not going to tell us anything.” He gritted his teeth and turned to go.

  “There’s still a chance.”

  “For what?” He stared at her.

  “To stop him.”

  Chapter Six

  Ed’s words about this seeming too easy kept Ann from being able to fall asleep that night. So she climbed out of bed and went to see Byron herself. None of the guards objected to her presence as she made her way through the blackness of the dungeons. The air smelt damp and musty down here as she headed inside Byron’s cell.

  It was a tiny little room with barely more than a metal bunk and a bucket. The man himself stood shackled to the wall, his face black and bloodied from a beating no doubt.

  “Why did your men attack me today?” Ann asked. “What good would it have done?”

  Byron looked up, one eye swollen shut. “I failed; what does it matter?”

  “You attacked my father when he was surrounded by his men. That seemed like a stupid thing to do.” She crossed her arms. “And you tried to attack me. Why?”

  “Why do you care?”

  “Because either you’re the worst assassin on Erthea or you are just a distraction.” Her eyes narrowed. “Who are you working for?”

  He laughed. “You have no idea, do you? There are forces in this world, hidden in the shadows. The leaders you think are ruling on mere puppets. Just like your father.”

  Her brow creased into a frown. What is this lunatic talking about? Her father didn’t answer to anyone. During his long reign, he’d broken away both from the druid order and from the council of elders that traditionally governed the five realms.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You’ll find out soon enough,” Byron sneered that was all she got out of him.

  Reading his mind yielded no results either.

  But Byron’s words kept ringing her ears. For her own peace of mind, Ann went to check on her father just to make sure he was all right. As she neared his chamber, she sensed him in there with Urien.

  See, everything is fine.

  Plus, they had already thwarted an assassin for one night and the meeting had been cancelled. What else could go wrong?

  Ann woke a while later sweat pouring down her face, her hair stuck to her brow. A chill ran over her, a warning resounding inside her mind. She rubbed sleep from her eyes and scanned the room with her mind. How long have I been asleep? It felt like hardly any time had passed at all.

  Nothing. The room remained calm and still with only a faint breeze blowing in from the open window.

  So, what had dragged her from the depths of sleep? It must’ve taken at least an hour just to doze off.

  Ann got out of bed and padded across the flagstone floor. When she reached the door handle, heat flared against her skin, making her yelp. was that? She reached for it again. No doubt about it. A spell barred her way.

  Why would anyone try to lock her in? It made no sense.

  Ann muttered an unlocking spell, “Dighlasail.” Unlock.

  Nothing happened.

  Whatever spell had been cast around the door seemed stronger than she’d anticipated.

  She raised her hands, heating the door with her firepower. Flames rippled against the wooden door as it flashed with purple light. But still, it wouldn’t budge.

  Gritting her teeth, Ann raised both her hands and used the full force of her power against the door. The door shattered, sending sparks and shards of wood flying in all directions.

  She peered into the hall. Odd, there were no guards around. Yet two guards were always stationed on the floor.

  The sound of shouting and something breaking made her jump. It came from her father’s private chamber on the floor below.

  Ann ran, her bare feet cold on the hardwood as she shot down the hall and down the steps.

  It had to be past midnight, who would her father even have in there with him?

  She stopped as she reached the corridor. No guards here either. It made no sense. One of the Black always stayed close to the archdruid.

  “No!” a voice bellowed. Her father’s voice.

  By the spirits, what’s happening in there? Ann flung the door open and found Urien and Darius grappling with each other over a knife.

  Xander lay on the floor, clutching his abdomen as blood seeped through his shirt.

  “Xander?” Ann fell to her knees beside him. “What happened? Who did this?” She ripped off a piece of her nightgown and held it over the wound.

  “Urien, Ann…” Blood gurgled from his mouth and he slumped back.

  Ann felt the pulse at his neck as it started to fade. Thank the spirits. She drew magic, trying to close the wound and to heal it. Nothing happened. No magic couldn’t heal the dead.

  “Xander? Xander!” She covered her mouth as she let out a sob.

  A few feet away lay their mother, her glassy eyes wide open. Ann looked away. There might not have been much love lost between her and her mother, but she hadn’t wanted Deanna to die.

  This couldn’t be happening. How could they both be dead? She looked up to the haze of tears as Urien struck Darius with a lightning bolt.

  Another figure moved out of the shadow. A woman with the same dark hair and eyes as Urien: his mother, Orla.

  She flew at Ann, knife gleaming.

  Ann dodged the blow and kicked Orla’s feet from out from under her. The demon snarled and shot back up.

  Ann spun and kicked her in the abdomen, then knocked the knife away. Fire formed in her hand as she sent Orla crashing through the window. It wouldn’t keep Orla away for long but hopefully long enough for her to stop Urien and save their father.

  Urien hit Darius with another lightning bolt.

  Fire shot across the room as Darius retaliated.

  Ann stood there, frozen for a moment. More fire flared between her fingers, hot, pulsing fire.

  The house of Valeran will fall… The seer’s words echoed through her mind.

  Not if I can help it!

  Ann turned and threw a fireball straight at Urien. Urien cried out and stumbled backward. He stared at her, wide-eyed. “What are you doing, Rhiannon?”

  “What am I doing? What are you doing?” she demanded.

  A knife appeared in his hand. “Guess you’ve made your allegiance clear, sister.” Urien charged at her.

  “No!” Before Ann had the chance to react Darius shoved her aside, stepping between her and the blade.

  She caught hold of him as the blade
went through his chest out and through his back.

  Ann wrapped an arm around Darius then eased him to the floor and used the other arm to blast Urien across the room. “No, Papa, stay with me.”

  “I…I knew this would come,” Darius said. “You can’t stop the prophecy.”

  “You’re not going to die. You can’t,” she insisted. “You strong, you’ve survived worse than this.”

  “This my fate. Rhiannon, you have to go. Get away from here. Find Edward, he’ll keep you safe. I gave him all the information he needs to get you to safety.” He reached up and touched her cheek. “There’s so much I wish I could have told you. Promise me you won’t give up. You’ll fight.” He reached up and touched her face. “I…love…you.” His hand fell away as his eyes closed.

  “No, Papa. Come back!” She let out an anguished sob.

  Urien groaned as he scrambled up. “He’s gone?” he said in disbelief.

  Ann wiped her eyes. Inside her heart felt like it had been torn apart. The pain became filled with white-hot anger. “Why would you do this?” she screamed. “Why? Why would you kill them?”

  “Because I’m tired of being cast aside. Being the archdruid is my birth right yet he never gave it to me.” Urien’s fists clenched then he smirked. “But demons are swarming through the palace as we speak. His precious realm will be mine. You don’t have to die too, Rhiannon. Truth be told I’ve always been fond of you.” His smile grew wider. “You could join me. Together we could conquer all five realms and become unstoppable.”

  “You just killed my parents and my brother; I’ll never join you.”

  Energy crackled as light rose from Darius’ body, lightning flashed as a ball of energy shot straight toward Ann. It hit her in the chest, making her scream. The power expanded outwards, hitting Urien and Xander’s body that lay in the doorway.

  “No!” Urien screamed. “That power is mine!”

  Ann’s head spun, she couldn’t move, couldn’t think as the magic shot through every single nerve ending. No, that wasn’t the archdruid’s power. Papa cast a spell.

  Her anger intensified. Urien had taken everything from her, her parents, her beloved little brother. Now she’d make him pay.