“Aurora, you’ve graced me with your presence. What did I do to deserve such an honor,” he said. Linette thought it laced with a hint of sarcasm.
“Death, I’ve brought Winthrop for his testing. You will provide him with what he requires.” She stated.
He stood up and bowed with a flourish. His pristine black robe contrasted with worn skin. “It’d be my pleasure to test someone whose father is a legend. Too bad poor old Jack couldn’t experience this.”
Linette noticed Death only had four fingers on each hand. Both of his wrists bore a cuff that glowed with blue Ox magic—a restraint of some sort. She suspected that both kept him from reaching full power and from harming them. Aurora formed two spheres and formed a shield around both Linette and Winthrop. Then, she sent another ball of magic toward Death, removing the magic from one of the cuffs. He rubbed his wrist where the restraint had been.
She saw Winthrop try to remain aloof. The intensity in his face showed both his hatred and restraint. How hard it must be for him right now. She hoped and prayed that Winthrop didn’t have Decayed abilities.
“Dwell on something you hate or something that angers you. Feel it in your soul. Your father abandoned you. The Council of Light lied to you about him.”
Aurora gave Death a mean look. He then formed a black sphere in his hand the size of an acorn. Small, but it’s depth of evil brought a chill up her spine. She covered her nose, a weak attempt to block the awful smell. He pushed it toward one of the chair’s legs and it weakened to the point of snapping. The chair fell over until it leaned against the wall.
“Now, you try.”
“Why should I?” Winthrop asked.
“You must complete your testing. If you do not, the Order of the Ox won’t accept you. Also, when he gives you assistance, you won’t be able to hide your ability in this.”
Winthrop shrugged and nodded to Death. Aurora released the protection around Winthrop’s hand. Linette saw him focus and the anger in his eyes looked unquenchable. They looked murderous and they focused on Death. He held his palm open. Death pushed a sphere toward Winthrop. Nothing happened. She saw Death increase the size of a second sphere a fraction, his arms shaking and sweat budding up on his face.
Still, nothing happened.
The look on Aurora’s face brought a smile to Winthrop’s. A tear fell down his cheek. Death released the weave and sat down, breathing hard. Aurora rebound Death and left without a word. Linette hugged Winthrop deeply and he returned the gesture.
CHAPTER FOUR
Day 3 - Noon
Markus stood before four master wielders that fanned out before him in their colored robes—red, blue, white, and black. They gathered in the eastern Bailey between the inner and outer walls. A few guards patrolled on top of the outer walls and a small group of guards kept watch from down below. Having passed his test for Order of the Lion, he was ready to begin his training and move up the ranks. In his mind, he saw his father’s pride. With only the Decayed test left, he merely needed to attempt it, fail, and set out for the headquarters for his order. He’d pass through Pinemere to give his dad the good news in person.
The Decayed called Death remained cuffed. His loose skin and sunken eyes revolted him. Markus avoided looking straight at Death. Aurora threw a sphere at Death, releasing his bindings. Death rubbed his wrists and demonstrated his magic. The smell repulsed Markus. His disgust with this creature tempted him to kill him and put him out of his misery.
“Your turn,” Death said.
Markus didn’t hate much, other than dumb rules like this test. Then, he remembered last night. Those men that tried to kill Knilin, him, and his friends. He went to their camp intent on hurting them. He told himself that the trip was only to find answers, but he killed that sentry. Then, he imagined killing them in their sleep. Yet, it was more than a wishful daydream. His whole being wanted to extinguish their existence. His hatred for them burned inside like a roaring fire—one that he pictured creating with his Lion magic. He had fought back his murderous desire and found his way back to the castle. Now, he stood here before Death and tried the motions the dark Master had demonstrated. Markus didn’t try hard to think about the emotions or to move his hands the correct way. When Death’s sphere reached him, he felt something similar to what he felt when touched by the Lion Master’s sphere.
The chair that sat in front of him exploded into a thousand pieces, falling all around him like rain. Markus struggled to comprehend what had just happened. He heard Death cackling to his right. “Guards!” Aurora called. Markus stood stunned. When a pair of guards arrived and put their hands on Markus, he fought back. He punched one guard and turned to the other. Before he made contact, a bubble surrounded him, locking him in place. Aurora had locked him down.
“Do not resist, Markus. I will release you, but there is no escaping this.” She released the magic, the guards placed chains on him, and carried him away to the dungeons. Tears filled his eyes. Markus wasn’t sure what this meant for him, but he knew the Order of the Lion didn’t accept the Decayed into their order.
Day 3 - Late Morning
Linette walked along the dirt path toward the Order of the Eagle. Grass fields filled the space between Castle Claybury and the Order of the Eagle. Once she passed the sea of brown tents that merchants set up in front of the castle, the grass had room to grow and was a lush dark green. A light breeze ruffled her dress, but not enough to cause a scandal. It took the better part of an hour to arrive at the place she’d now call home. The outer stone walls stood as tall as two men on top of each other, but they lacked the wide moat that protected Claybury. The portcullis remained raised and based on the thick layer of dust on the chains that held it, she surmised that it stayed that way. Standing outside the walls, she saw that the building inside looked nothing like the castle nearby. For one, there was only one structure besides the wall. Yet, it made sense as this wasn’t a castle, but a school and home for her Order.
She walked up to the gate and into an open courtyard. Her jaw dropped without command when she discovered that the building floated ten feet off the ground. She hadn’t noticed as she approached because the walls blocked the view of the bottom section. At the base of the building, white magic buzzed with energy, surrounding it like a cloud. Linette never knew such a thing was possible.
She’d heard of stories before but never believed them. Now, she considered the tales about where the Sea of Sorrows fed between Gaflon and Thurus. Her mother had told her that after the Decayed fell, the Order of the Eagle used their magic to churn the waters so direct travel between the continents proved difficult. The goal was to discourage any remaining Decayed from crossing and for people of the light to seek the evil ones. Supposedly, the Council of Light eradicated all of the Decayed except for a few, but her mom had also said the land in Thurus remained haunted by the souls of the slaughtered Decayed.
Once Linette gathered her wits, she noticed a group of a dozen members practicing their talents. She saw three people hovering and a group of pots floated in the air near a group of four. The three now above her took turns falling upwards toward the guard’s outpost above the murder holes. When they made it to the top, they fell back to the ground dodging around her as Linette tried to move out of their way. The more skilled landed with grace while the others landed roughly on their feet.
“Hello, you must be Linette.”
Linette jumped, surprised by the woman who greeted her.
“You scared me,” Linette said, taking a deep breath. The woman before her looked about the same age as Linette. Her slender form and brown hair reminded Linette of her mother.
“It’s distracting watching talents for the first time. I’m Joanna. Come, I’ll show you to your room.”
Linette followed Joanna. She walked with the same smooth grace that Knilin had. Linette could smell a subtle scent of roses emanating from Joanna. “I’ll let you settle in, Linette. Several pairs of cloaks are in the cabinet. Come down to the courtyard in
half an hour and we’ll begin your training.”
Linette hadn’t brought anything but the clothes she wore. Settling in didn’t take but a few seconds. She put on a white cloak, looked out the window at the courtyard, and sighed. Within the ten minutes she’d been here, she felt at home. Safe. Free. She took in the view of the countryside. Grassy plains as far as she could see. She knew that another room might have a view of the mountains behind Claybury and another would see Dunami—the largest lake on this continent. She brought her gaze down to the courtyard and noticed a man talking to the entrance guard. A shot of adrenaline filled her body. It tingled throughout her arms and legs. Acid burned in her throat and fear settled in. Her father had come to take her home.
Day 3 - Afternoon
Winthrop sat in the mess hall eating his lunch, waiting for Markus to finish his testing. They wouldn’t allow him to watch the testing, the King insisted on protocol. He imagined that Aurora allowed Linette to watch his testing because she thought Winthrop would pass the Decayed test and she’d enjoy his dismay at Linette seeing him put in prison. He sat there imagining Markus achieving his dream of joining the Order of the Lion when Linette came rushing in. Her hair disheveled and dress wrinkled, she maneuvered down the rows to him.
“I thought you left,” Winthrop said, raising an eyebrow.
Linette sat down, looking at the floor then glancing over her shoulder. “My father came there looking for me.”
“What? Did you talk to him?”
“No, I ran back here as fast as I could.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Lay low here and hope he doesn’t find me.”
“You can’t hide forever. We need to confront him. Let’s talk to your headmaster and see if he’ll deny your father access to you.”
Linette looked behind her again. Her hands shook and perspiration soaked through her clothing. “For now, let’s find Markus. I bet he’ll want to brag,” Winthrop changed the subject to give her more time to calm down.
Linette nodded. They left the mess hall and entered the courtyard. King Luther walked by with his entourage and guards. Two members of the Order of the Ox, as evidenced by their blue robes, held weaves of magic that formed a thick barrier around him. Winthrop approached, keeping some distance from the King’s guards.
“Your Majesty.”
The King turned and nodded to Winthrop.
“Did Markus pass his test? I thought he’d finish by now.”
Sadness filled the King’s eyes. “My deepest apologies, Markus passed the Decayed testing. He is in the dungeons.”
Winthrop’s world spun. He stumbled backward almost tripping over Linette. She caught him, tension filled her face when he turned toward her. Without a word, they descended the same staircase as the day before, but with more urgency. They landed on the foyer and the guard looked up.
“He’s to the right. We allow those who have recently passed the Decayed test time to themselves, so they can decide their fate without distraction.” No wisecracks this time from the guards.
Linette and Winthrop kept moving, only decreasing their momentum enough to listen to the guard. This wing seemed brighter. He noticed that none of the captives were Decayed—except his friend.
“Markus!” Linette exclaimed as he came into view. “I’m sorry to hear—”
“That I’m Decayed,” He replied with bitterness in his voice.
Linette leaned backward, fear on her face.
“What happened?” Winthrop asked. He feared for his friend. Markus lived for his future. His dreams of joining the Order of the Lion and moving up the ranks quicker than anyone before meant everything. Even though his ego was larger than anyone else Winthrop knew, no one claimed more loyalty to the kingdom than Markus. Now that the testing marked him as a Decayed, he’d never serve the kingdom in a magical capacity, and especially not in leadership.
“I passed the testing for the Lion Order like I always wanted. The Decayed test seemed a formality. I felt hatred boil up inside of me like never before. Last night, I tracked down those men that attacked us. I only meant to find answers, but I encountered one of their men and killed him. It wasn’t intentional, but a part of me enjoyed it, liked taking vengeance for my friends and my Kingdom. A desire burned in my heart to kill them all as they slept. I managed to push the temptation away, but it still lingered as I walked back to the castle. When I awoke this morning, I didn’t give it another thought until my testing for dark magic began. I destroyed that chair out of existence. I think it surprised Death a little. In seconds, the guards arrested me and locked me here.”
“Oh, Markus,” Linette said with sympathy.
“It is what it is. The Creator chose my fate and I have to live with it.”
“Don’t talk like that Markus. Your life isn’t over,” Linette said.
“That’s easy for you to say. Both of you. Now, leave me alone. I need some space to think.”
“But, the King. The assassination plot,” Winthrop said.
“It’s not my problem anymore. When I investigated the Trader’s wagon, he wasn’t there. I failed to find him. It had a few specks of ash inside where the Decayed body had been, but not something that would prove it to Aurora and Luther. I have another problem to deal with. Now, let me figure out my fate.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Day 3 - Afternoon
Linette and Winthrop entered the courtyard after meeting with Markus. Linette winced from the brightness of the sun after the darkness of the dungeons. She pitied Markus, hoping he’d find a path that brought him a sliver of happiness. She knew his options and knew she’d rather live in prison than ever go back to her father. Yet, Markus loved his father. Would he return in shame and struggle to learn his trade with fewer fingers or would he find happiness in using magic, albeit dark magic?
“Let’s revisit the guards near the entrance. Maybe we can determine which guard entered the wagon and took the Decayed,” Linette said. She’d momentarily forgotten all about her father and feared that they might run into him there. “Keep an eye out for my father. If he comes here, that’s where he’ll start his search.”
Winthrop nodded, grabbing her hand and leading them in that direction. She feared that with Markus out of the picture, he’d think Linette would open her heart to him. For now, she allowed it, appreciating his comforting hand.
They arrived at the Bailey near the entrance. A dozen guards stood in their post around the entrance. Four of them checked newcomers, while the rest provided support and kept a watchful eye. This shift comprised different guards from the night before—none of them looked familiar to Linette. She found one guard who looked newer than the rest and remained unoccupied. He stood back a dozen feet from the entrance and she thought he served as a last resort.
“Hello, sir,” Linette asked. Winthrop stayed a few feet back, allowing her to seem unattached.
The young guard’s eyes widened. “How may I help you, miss?” He almost tripped over the sword that hung on his hip.
“I arrived yesterday and something from my wagon went missing. Is there a way for me to talk to the guards on shift yesterday evening?”
His eyes moved left and right a few times. “You’re from the group from last night that claimed to have a Decayed in your wagon. You came with Lord Knilin, right?”
Linette fluttered her eyelashes a few times and lowered her head. “Yes, I sure hope he wakes up soon.”
“Me too. He helped me pass my guard’s test a couple months ago. Without his help, I’d still work in the fields.”
“Master Knilin needs your help…” Linette waited for his name.
“Umm. Aaron.”
“Sir Aaron. Yes, we brought a Decayed with us. I saw him with my own eyes. We are trying to figure out what happened to his body. Do you think you could help us? Knilin would appreciate it.” Linette smiled at him and gave him a look that most men had trouble resisting. It bothered her that men found her attractive, but never loved her. Another
reason why she knew that she wasn’t worthy of love.
“I can’t break any rules, but I’ll help where I can.”
“Which guard had the best access to the wagon when we arrived at the gate?”
Aaron pointed out the entrance just on the other side of the moat. “We keep two guards, one on each side about ten paces from the entrance. Both of those stand right at the back of most wagons trying to enter the castle. We have another two that guard at thirty paces, but they would be too far. They can only view approaching groups or wagons. Keep in mind that there can be anywhere from a handful to a hundred people walking about. The entrance tends to attract people. That’s why we have more than a dozen guards just for the entrance.”
Linette saw the guards each stood in their respective places. A merchant pulled up and stopped. When the foreguard moved to look inside the wagon, a second foreguard moved a little closer providing support, if needed. “I see that the guard in front has a back-up.”
“Yes, my lady. Every position has a second layer. If you look over my shoulder, you’ll notice my replacement is watching my position as I talk to you. It’s his job to keep an eye on my section while I’m occupied.”
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