Mark of Fate

by K. T. Webb

  Soon, there would be an end in sight. A time when all of Alderwood could live in peace was not far. The eradication of the Shadow Mages was only the beginning. All over Alderwood, creatures and nature spirits alike were beginning to reawaken from centuries of forced hibernation. They would be confused, they would need guidance, and they may be in danger if the citizens of Alderwood did not embrace their return.

  Legacy needed some quiet to think about her next move. It was no longer her sole responsibility to champion the citizens of Alderwood; Silverleaf and Nikita would be there with her every step of the way. Now, all they needed to worry about was a previously undefeated foe. Legacy laughed at the way her mind simplified the massive task she and the others faced.

  As she wandered away from the grassy valley, she found herself drawn once more to the familiar woods. Their travels had taken them far enough north that the forest began to resemble the one that spread across much of Alderwood. Legacy had no idea if they were officially back in the Ternion Forest.

  The summer breeze sent her on a path that led directly to a freshwater pond. A calming dip in the water sounded heavenly to Legacy. She surveyed the area to make sure she was alone before she undressed. Legacy had been waiting for a moment she could examine her mark and now that she was staring at it, she felt an odd sense of accomplishment and awe. The flame had, in fact, turned a brilliant blue with black edges. Now, instead of just one figure outlined in the center, there were two; from the shapes, she concluded they were meant to represent her and Evander. A tree that looked exactly like those they encountered in the Forest of Illusane had appeared behind the single flame. The final touch appeared in the form of a triangle surrounding the scene. Each line of the triangle was a different color, a solid white line to represent Nikita, a silver line to represent Silverleaf, and a gold one to represent Legacy herself. Everything had fallen into place and she completed the individual destiny Alderwood had laid out for her. Legacy lowered herself into the serene pond, relishing the water as it surrounded her.

  Her mind wandered as her body floated. Before she met Evander, there had never been a moment in her life when she considered that she would survive, fulfilling her destiny. Now, she knew her fate had never truly been hanging in the balance. Legacy now felt that the one person who had an uncertain fate was her brother. Noble was barely alive when she faced him and the Shadow Mages in the Forest of Illusane. She thought back to the conversation about destinies and the marks they received to guide them. If her purpose was to unite the three kingdoms, she had achieved that and could consider her mission complete. The idea that their lives did not just end when they finished the destiny Alderwood asked of them led Legacy to understand that she was called to do more. Not drawn by the wild magic but called by the voice inside her shouting and demanding to be heard. Her fate may not have been in question, but the fate of someone she loved was still hanging in the balance. Noble should not have to fight alone. Legacy would do everything in her power to make sure she was fighting alongside him.

  Legacy climbed from the water and dressed. She twisted her hair into a knot on top of her head and nodded to herself. Her work was far from done. She must keep fighting if she was indeed going to be worthy of the crown placed on her head. She was ready to face whatever the Shadow Mages threw at them if it meant earning Noble’s freedom. Legacy was almost to the edge of the forest when a familiar voice called to her from the tree line.

  “Legacy?”

  “Why is it that whenever I walk away to get a moment to myself, someone has to follow me?” Legacy asked with a smile as she faced Justice.

  He chuckled at her moody response. “Maybe because we all know you do not truly want to be alone. You just need to be reassured by people who love you.”

  “That could be. Tell me, uncle, what wisdom can you impart on me to make me feel less like my world is about to come crashing down around me?”

  He regarded her for a moment. Legacy knew she was being unfair, there was nothing anyone could do to change what was coming, and none of them could offer her any assurance that everything would turn out for the best. Justice seemed to understand her mood because he provided no response. He waited for her to give her own answers.

  “I know that was dramatic. It is not easy to face so much pressure with so little life experience.”

  “I understand why you feel that way. You would not be here if Alderwood did not think you were capable. Think of what you have done so far on your journey. You broke a curse and freed Silverleaf. You brought us all together to crown the rulers that will unite the three kingdoms again. Do not sell yourself short,” Justice offered her his arm.

  “That may be true, but it is not how I feel right now.”

  “You know, you do remind me of your mother. She was constantly second-guessing herself. I have often wondered if that was part of the reason she fell prey to Junius. He manipulated her into believing she needed him to be worth something,” Justice told her.

  Legacy considered his words. She knew he was not intending to make her realize that she was putting herself in danger by second-guessing her worth, but that was precisely what happened. The more she questioned her ability to put an end to the Shadow Mages, the more she opened herself up to the possibility of failure.

  “Thank you, Justice.”

  “Not entirely sure what I did, but I think I can say you are most welcome,” he laughed.

  They made their way back to the others, and Legacy sought out her sister. They had not seen each other in months, and Legacy wanted time to talk with her. It was approaching midday, so it was no surprise to Legacy that preparations for lunch were well underway. Thankfully, the rescue party brought plenty of food to share. Legacy felt her stomach rumble. It seemed so long ago that she had eaten what was left of her provisions and sipped whatever it was Silverleaf gave them to help them sleep. If she knew Rowan, she would find him somewhere near the food preparations. No matter how much he learned about becoming a practitioner, he still loved getting his hands dirty cooking. As she wandered amongst the crowd, she nodded to the people she recognized from both the Resistance and Pallisaide. Seeing so many friendly faces warmed her heart.

  When she finally found Honor and Rowan by the fire with Renata, she raised a hand to wave at her sister and quickly closed the distance between them. Honor took her hand, tossing a wink at Rowan before leading Legacy away from the others. They walked closer to the cliffs than Legacy cared to go. She had no idea if the curse on Illusane had included the cliffs or if they would experience terrifying visions if they got too close.

  “Honor, where are we going?”

  “I have to tell you something and I would rather not have everyone hear it right now,” Honor explained.

  “I think we have made it far enough away that we will not be overheard,” Legacy said as she glanced toward the cliffs.

  “Hey, are you okay?” Honor took her sisters hand.

  “Yes. I am just a little nervous about the cliffs. We had a strange experience with the cliffs closer to the Forest of Illusane.”

  “Oh, right. Well, I need to tell you something,” Honor seemed nervous. “While you were gone, before we set out to find you, I learned that Rowan and I are going to be parents. I am expecting a baby!”

  A high-pitched squeal escaped from Legacy before she realized she was even capable of making such a noise. She jumped up and down, clapping her hands in excitement. If Honor was going to have a baby, she was going to be an aunt. Not only that, but their child would be the first child born of their bloodline that was not born out of necessity. This baby would be loved, wanted, and raised in a real family.

  “I am so happy for you!” Legacy cried. “Wait, is it safe for you to be riding a horse around Alderwood looking for me? Should you be back at the castle resting?”

  Honor scowled at her sister, “No. Renata insisted that Arabella accompany us to care for me, but I refused to be left behind. I am only a few months along, b
ut this baby will be here before we know it.”

  “So, you mean to tell me you defied Renata and insisted on joining them on this mission? I would have paid to see that,” Legacy chuckled to herself.

  “She certainly was not impressed, but I cannot say I cared.”

  After a few more moments of celebrating, they returned to the others and sat down to enjoy lunch. Legacy was ecstatic for her sister and brother-in-law, but she could not shake the feeling of overwhelming danger that threatened to steal their happiness. The Shadow Mages would find them soon. Honor would be too stubborn to sit on the sidelines while Legacy handled the threat. It was against her very nature. Honor knew this was Legacy’s responsibility as the Queen of the Kingdom of Man. Legacy was afraid her sister would still try to intervene. She decided that if she did not say something before it was too late, she would regret it for the rest of her life.

  “Honor, you have to let me fight this one.”

  Honor blinked at her sister. “What?”

  “I know you want to be part of the fight; it is simply who you are, but you cannot risk it this time. I was given this destiny for a reason. I must face the Shadow Mages without you in the line of fire,” Legacy paused to look at Rowan and Evander too. “This goes for both of you as well.”

  Rowan, Honor, and Evander looked at each other. Of course, they knew Legacy was being practical, they had to know. She would never ask any of them to stand down if she knew they would be better suited at her side.

  “Normally, I would argue. But Rowan and I have already discussed this. I will do as you ask,” Honor promised.

  “I have no interest in being in the middle of a battle again anytime soon. I will fight if I am needed,” Rowan agreed.

  Evander narrowed his eyes at Legacy. She knew he would be the tough one to convince. If she could not convince him to do it for her, Legacy would have to play dirty. Arabella had only just been reunited with her son. Evander would be doing his mother a cruel injustice by putting himself in danger.

  “Before you say anything, I want you to remember that your mother has not spent more than a few minutes with you since you were a boy. I love you. You know I will always want you beside me, but not this time,” Legacy begged for him to understand.

  Evander looked across the fire at his mother as she laughed with Renata. When his gaze landed back on Legacy, she knew she had won. It may not have been fair to use his mother as her leverage, and she knew it. In the end, her goal was accomplished, and he agreed to her wishes.

  “I will stay with Honor, Rowan, and my mother. But, if you need me, I will be there before you know it, no arguments,” Evander arched an eyebrow in her direction.

  Legacy nodded in agreement, “Agreed. I only have one other request for the three of you. I need you to keep Theon and Justice from throwing themselves in the middle of anything. When the Shadow Mages do find us, they will be looking to tear apart the newly reunited kingdoms. None of you will be targets unless you make yourselves into them”

  Once they had all agreed to stay out of the way, Legacy felt the knot in her stomach loosen a tiny bit. Now, all they had to do was wait for the Shadow Mages to arrive.

  As afternoon approached, everyone was on high alert. Thunder rolled overhead as the temperature dropped. The Shadow Mages were coming.

  Legacy quickly sought out Nikita and Silverleaf. She found the woldigo resting with her pack, the creature was on her feet before Legacy reached her. They exchanged a look that let them both know they could feel the approach of the darkest enemy they had ever faced. Both Nikita and Legacy set off in search of Silverleaf. The queens remembered seeing him with Theon and Justice during lunch. The two men and the elemental had grown close in the limited amount of time they had spent together.

  “I smell him!” Nikita said as she bounded off in the direction her nose led her.

  Legacy decided she would need to have another conversation with the woldigo about smelling others. Despite the danger they faced, Legacy recalled the story Honor told of a time when Harcos had done something similar. Now, as she ran through the tense crowd, she was more than a little thankful that Nikita had the ability to find someone by their scent. It would have taken much longer to find their friend without the woldigo’s keen nose.

  “Silverleaf!” Legacy called as they approached.

  “I know, I was just coming to find you two. They are coming,” Silverleaf joined the others as they charged toward the spot they felt drawn to.

  No one had to say it, they all felt the pull of the opposite side of the wild magic. The Shadow Mages may have corrupted the magic with darkness, but they could not change the way it spoke to those who knew it well. They ran past the edge of the crowd, counting on those who made promises to keep them. There was no reason for their friends to be harmed if it could be helped. The Gildi had agreed to follow Honor’s request that they keep the castle guard from following Legacy into battle. The compromise that had been made was that Legacy would not argue about their closest friends following them to the place they would find the mages. The Queen did not have to look behind her to know a small group had followed them. Those who had the most to lose would be there for the final confrontation.

  A black billowing smoke seemed to creep along the ground, meeting them head-on. To her dismay, Legacy noticed a small body riding the smoke as though it was an enchanted carpet. She knew it to be her brother. From what she could see, his condition had deteriorated from the day she encountered him in the Forest of Illusane. Silverleaf signaled for the trio to stop before running directly into the smoke. They wanted to face the mages, not join them. As soon as the rulers halted, those who had followed moved to the side to allow room for them to do the job Alderwood had given them.

  Legacy, Nikita, and Silverleaf stood facing the young boy. Noble looked closer to death than Legacy dreamed possible. The Shadow Mages would drain the life from him entirely if they did not put an end to their control. Honor was nearby, clearly distraught by the appearance of the little brother they had not known long. The army of palace soldiers and warriors of the Gildi were helpless in this final battle. This fight would only be won by pitting the light of those connected to the wild magic against the darkness of the Shadow Mages.

  “Release the boy. You do not need him anymore,” Silverleaf demanded.

  “You may be right, but we want to keep him. He is our pet,” the Shadow Mages replied as one.

  Renata stepped forward from the sidelines. Legacy silently wished she would stay back, if she avoided the fray, maybe she would survive. It was a foolish hope. Renata may have chosen a different path than her siblings, but her fate was intertwined with what was left of the brother and sisters she once knew.

  Noble’s black eyes regarded Renata with curiosity as she walked directly toward him. In her heart, Legacy knew her brother was not in control of his own body. The enemy was using him as a puppet, forcing him to speak and move for them. Their power was waning as he grew weaker. Regardless of how powerful Noble could be with the wild magic, he was still just a human. The Shadow Mages were burning through his body with zero regards to his survival. As he grew weaker, wispy figures swirled around him. The Shadow Mages’ tangible forms were flowing in and out of his body as the ebb and flow of waves upon a sandy shore.

  “The boy will not live much longer if you do not relinquish your control. He needs to rest. Let me care for him,” Renata said softly.

  The truth her words hurt Legacy deeply. Noble was dying. If she had any hope of saving him, they had to get him away from the Shadow Mages. While Renata intended to appeal to their senses, it was clear they had moved past the point of logic. If they wanted to keep him, they needed him alive, but if they handed him over to Renata, the mages knew they were unlikely to get him back. Legacy had a different idea, one that had worked for her in the Forest of Illusane. Appealing to the Shadow Mages did nothing; but appealing to Noble could make all the difference.

  “Noble! I
know you can hear me. They cannot keep you pushed down if you have the will to fight,” Legacy called as she kept her eyes on her brother.

  Honor came to her side and laced their fingers together. The last thing Legacy wanted was for her pregnant sister to get caught in the crossfire. Wordlessly, she glared at her sister to tell her to go away. Honor got the message, but she simply squeezed Legacy’s hand tighter.

  “Deal with it,” Honor whispered in defiance.

  Legacy rolled her eyes and returned her focus to their brother. Noble was the only one who could help turn the tables on their enemies.

  “Noble, please hear me. You do not need to be afraid. We are here, we will protect you,” Legacy took a step forward, bringing Honor with her.

  “Your mother told me to give you a message, she is alive and cannot wait to hold you again. She said it is okay to shine,” Honor said.

  Legacy gave her sister a quizzical look, “What does that mean?”

  Honor shrugged. “She told me he would know.”

  Their attention was brought back to their brother as he began to fight against the shadows that held him. Noble’s head fell back as he was raised from the ground by an unseen force. When he raised his head again, he looked at the sisters with his own eyes.

  “My mother is alive?” Noble’s voice was broken down to a weak mockery of the lively boy.

  “She is. She told me to remind you that it does not have to end with killing the queen,” Honor held tightly to her sister.

  “Raise a King to kill a Queen,” Legacy remembered.

  “Kill the Queen to end it all,” Noble replied with a tear trickling down his face. “I cannot hold them off much longer, but I remember the rest that mother would say when she heard me repeat what father said.”

  Legacy looked at Honor. Somehow, her sister had found the right thing to say to their brother. The phrase had nearly disappeared from her memory; she assumed it was just something her crazy father had drilled into the young prince. Now, she wondered if Daenera had handed him the key to freeing Noble.