by J. D. Wright
“And who might you be?” Silas said, looking at Rowan, who didn’t answer. “Strong and daring looking, I’ll bet you are the one my daughter had her way with, hmm? You look just as she described you! Oh, this is such a pleasant surprise,” Silas beamed. His dark blue robes swayed every time he spoke with such excitement. Dagan had never met anyone so cynical. Who would be happy to find trespassers?
A large man entered the room. Dagan gulped, eyeing the man who looked like he could tackle a troll and live to tell the tale. Things weren’t looking good for them, at this moment.
“Look who I found, wandering in the hallway,” the man said. Just then Dahlia, or Sidonie rather, entered the room. She glanced back and forth between Dagan and Rowan, then her eyes settled on Silas. Dagan could feel the terror soaring through his veins. Sidonie was never supposed to make contact with Silas. If he suspected she wasn’t his daughter, there was no telling what he would do to her.
Another thought came to his mind, however. If she had been caught, there was a good chance that their entire plan had failed. He wanted to ask her if Cicilly had made it out of the castle, but he knew better than to draw attention to himself or give any clue that he might know the king’s daughter. But even though he avoided eye contact with her, the air around them was beginning to buzz, which could have been caused by the fusion or the incredible fear he felt, he wasn’t sure. Unless someone in the room had magic, though, they wouldn’t be able to sense it. It was the only bit of good news that he could cling to.
“Dahlia, my dear! Yet another surprise. How did you manage to escape?”
Sidonie tried to think of a reply, quick.
“The queen set me free. However, judging from your company, I gather she did so to have me followed. These two work for her.” She hoped Silas would be convinced.
“I see. Well, as disappointed as I am that you allowed yourself to be followed, I must say that I am quite pleased to see you.”
I really doubt you are, Sidonie thought to herself. Dahlia was right to betray you.
“I am happy to be home,” she lied, holding her breath as Silas took her hand and kissed it.
He turned his attention back to his visitors, then motioned to Simon.
“Simon, would you please send someone to check on our special guest, upstairs? I want to make sure that she is safe and comfortable. In case our new visitors brought company with them, search the grounds.”
Simon nodded and gestured to one of the soldiers, speaking with him briefly then sending him out of the room just as Vallica entered from the back doorway.
“So that’s where you’ve been keeping her? Upstairs in the royal chambers, with me locked up just down the hall?”
At hearing Vallica’s voice, Sidonie panicked and backed away from Silas. Should Vallica decide to tell Silas about their conversation, she wanted to be as close to an exit as possible. But Vallica wasn’t paying Sidonie any attention. Her eyes were like spears, stabbing at the king as she walked toward him.
“Yes, of course. Where else would I keep a former queen?” he said, turning to Vallica, who was now just a few feet away from him.
“You are a vile pig of a man!” She spit in her husband’s face. Silas wiped his cheek with the back of his sleeve, then waved his wife away.
“Vallica dear, as you can see, I am quite busy with our new visitors. This conversation will have to take place another time. Besides, you look as if you need a bath, my dear. Your appearance is quite frightening to present before company. I am not sure how you managed to escape your chambers, but you will return to them, immediately. I will be along later to deliver your punishment for disobeying me.”
“No, Silas. I am your queen and I deserve to be treated--”
Silas smacked Vallica across the face with his hand, knocking her to the floor. When Simon moved forward to help her, Silas held out his arm and blocked Simon from approaching her.
“No, Simon. Leave her be,” he said.
Vallica whimpered and crawled across the floor to the edge of the room, holding a hand to her face which burned and stung like it had been set ablaze. The tiny whimpers she made were not from the pain she felt, but from the embarrassment and rage that filled her.
“Now then, where were we?” Silas said, turning back to Dagan and Rowan. “Ah, yes. We were introducing ourselves. I apologize for the theatrics. You see, my dear wife, Vallica, has had a hard time of late. You’ll have to excuse her behavior. Though I must say, I am very curious as to how you were able to find your way into the castle, what with my well-trained soldiers and all. Not to mention, my wizard has been extra careful to ensure the security of my kingdom. It would be well in your best interests to explain how you came to be in my presence, without my knowledge.”
Neither of them spoke, but their silence was interrupted when a soldier burst into the room, shouting.
“She’s gone! The Queen Mother has been taken!”
“What do you mean, she’s gone? Check her chambers again. She’s probably hiding,” Silas replied.
“No, Your Highness. I and two others have searched the room. She is nowhere to be found.”
Sensing the king would not be pleased with this news, Rowan moved closer to Dagan, gripping his daggers even tighter. Dagan had a hand behind his back, already trying to summon a bolt of lightning in his palm. He sighed a small breath of relief when he felt a tingle in his hand. He could use his magic in the castle, after all.
Silas was enraged, and for the first time since Rowan, Dagan, and Sidonie entered the room, he looked every bit like the maniacal monster they thought him to be.
“Seize them!” Silas shouted.
Chaos erupted as Dagan and Rowan fought the men with bolt and blade as the soldiers charged them with their swords. There was shouting coming from all sides of the room and sounds of metal clinking and zaps of lightning. Blood splattered across Sidonie’s dress and arms. She didn’t have time to figure out whose blood it was as she tried desperately to reach the belt tied under her skirts. Just when she got her grip on the belt, the knife came loose from the end of it and slid across the floor. She chased after it, ducking to avoid being hit by the tip of a sword flying near her head.
Vallica saw the knife land a few feet away from her and she dove for it, picking it up before Sidonie could reach it. Sidonie froze as Vallica stood and ran toward her, certain that Vallica was about to kill her stepdaughter. But instead, Vallica flew past Sidonie with the knife in her hand.
Before Silas had time to turn around, Vallica plunged the knife into his back, screaming and crying. She pulled it out and stabbed him again, this time a bit higher. Simon stopped fighting when he heard Vallica scream and ran toward her and the king. He grabbed Vallica by the waist and pulled her away. With the knife still in his back, Silas slumped to the floor, blood beginning to pool around him as he groaned in shock.
Stunned by their king being stabbed right before their eyes, the soldiers stopped fighting and froze. Sidonie rushed to Dagan. Then she panicked as she tried to stop the bleeding coming from a huge gash on his arm.
Suddenly Larkin flew into the room and straight to his king’s side, crying out hysterically. Then he pulled the knife out of Silas’ back and took the king’s head into his lap. Silas was no longer moving. He appeared to be dead. Larkin started to chant something that sounded like a spell.
“Don’t you dare try to save him!” Vallica screamed and broke away from Simon, rushing to Larkin and shoving him off of the king.
“Get back you wicked woman!” Larkin shouted, crawling back to Silas.
Simon grabbed Vallica again, pulling her off of Larkin’s back as she fought him.
Seeing this as their opportunity to escape, Rowan, Dagan, and Sidonie slipped out of the throne room, which went unnoticed. Once in the hall, Rowan sent Dagan and Sidonie ahead, staying behind to overhear the shouting coming from the throne room.
“I am the Queen! I order you to leave him alone!”
“I serve Silas,” Larkin shouted, “I serve the king!”
“The king is dead. You will swear loyalty to me. All of you!”
The soldiers that survived the fighting took one knee. Simon let go of Vallica and dropped to the floor as well, bowing before his queen.
“No.” Larkin’s voice was shaking, but his resolve was firm. He would never declare loyalty to the woman who killed his beloved king. Never. Holding Silas’ body close, he began to chant again. Vallica rushed forward, but it was too late. Larkin disappeared into thin air, taking Silas’ body with him. Vallica screamed and cursed, picking up Silas’ crown from the floor and flinging it across the room.
“He will pay for betraying me. They all will, including my husband’s whore. Simon, send men to find her. She couldn’t have gotten far in the middle of the night. Find her and bring her to me. Now!”
Knowing the hallway would soon be filled with soldiers, Rowan turned and fled the castle.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Bree couldn’t sleep, knowing that just about everyone she loved or cared for was out there, trying to bring her mother home. She paced back and forth in the hall. Sarita had stayed awake as long as she could, but shortly after supper, Bree found her napping, curled up on the throne. Sir Raymun carried Sarita up to her chambers, then returned to wait with the queen. Celeste had been in and out of the hall for most of the evening, trying to distract Bree with conversation and sweets from the kitchens.
Her ears perked up when she heard noises coming from outside of the hall. She rushed out into the courtyard, but what she found was not what she expected. Adelphie was standing there, frowning.
“Adelphie? This is a surprise…”
“Please forgive me for intruding, Your Majesty. I assumed you would be asleep. I had asked your guards if they knew of an inn in the village that I could stay. They insisted that I speak with you. I’m sorry to bother you so late.”
“I wasn’t sleeping. Come inside.”
Adelphie followed Bree into the castle and allowed a servant to remove her furs.
“I will have one of our chambermaids fetch your belongings and take them to a room in the guest wing. Would you like the same room, from before?” Bree asked as Adelphie followed her into the hall.
“That won’t be necessary. I haven’t brought anything with me, except for my furs. I left in a hurry and didn’t have time to pack anything.”
“Oh? Well, no matter. I’m sure we can locate anything you might need. I assume you came to speak with your sister?”
“No, actually, I was hoping to speak with you.”
“You were? Alright. What is on your mind?” Bree led Adelphie over to a table and sat down.
“I wanted to know about your wizard. About his family, his lineage.”
Bree was surprised by the question. She might have expected Adelphie to ask about Dagan, but not about his family.
“Unfortunately, there isn’t very much that I know about his family. Dagan’s grandfather, Elric, was the Elder Mage, until he passed away, recently. His grandfather is the only family member of his that I can remember ever meeting. His mother has also passed. She was killed, about five years ago, I believe.” She paused before speaking about Dagan’s father. Since discovering his father’s amulet, Dagan suspected his father may be alive, but there certainly wasn’t much evidence to prove it. “And Dagan’s father is missing but presumed dead, as well. Dagan was a young boy the last time he saw his father.”
“So he has quite a bit in common with Sid, then? Having both lost their parents. We never actually knew our father, and our mother died when Sidonie was ten years old. I was only fifteen at the time.”
“Yes. It seems they do share that tragic experience. But why do you ask?”
Adelphie looked down at her hands, which were fidgety. She had been nervous to return to Junacave, unsure of how she would be received after fleeing and forcing Sidonie to go with her. It seemed the queen harbored no ill will against her, but Adelphie still felt guilty for leaving when the queen had just learned of her mother’s kidnapping.
“I am interested in his family because I want to know what kind of future he can give to my sister.”
Bree couldn’t help but tilt her head as she considered Adelphie’s words.
“Are you giving them your blessing?”
Adelphie sighed. “I love my sister. She is the only family I have left. And even though I think of my Sabra sisters as family, I only have one real sister. I want her to be happy. And if this wizard is who makes her happy…”
She didn’t finish her sentence, but Bree knew what she meant. Before Bree could reply, she caught movement out of the corner of her eye. Her mother had just walked into the hall.
Cicilly was safe. She was home.
~*~
“Ouch!”
“For such a strong wizard, you sure act like a baby when it comes to stitches. It’s almost as if you’ve never had to seal a cut before…”
Dagan glared at Adelphie as she shoved the needle back into his arm, causing him to wince.
“I haven’t. I usually heal my cuts. Ouch!” He was beginning to think she was enjoying this, being rougher than usual, simply because he was a wizard. But being a wizard wasn’t helping him in this instance. He had used so much magic to create the doorway and fight off the soldiers in the castle, that he had barely had enough left to close the doorway when they left. If he could heal himself now, he certainly wouldn’t be allowing Adelphie to puncture his skin and pride with the large sharp needle.
“Hold still!” She barked.
Sidonie giggled, which only made Dagan feel worse. Even though he was fairly sure that Sidonie could have stitched him up, it was her idea that Adelphie do it, claiming that her sister had a steadier hand. He now knew that to be a lie.
“Alright, finished,” Adelphie said, releasing Dagan’s arm. She glanced up to see Finn in the doorway, leaning against the side with his arms crossed. She had no idea how long he had been there, but it was good timing on his part. She had planned to speak to him just before she left.
“You can have your wizard back now, Sid,” Adelphie said, smiling. She gave her sister a hug and picked up her furs.
“Leaving so soon?” Finn asked.
“Yes. I left Dyna in charge at home. If you knew her, you would hurry back, as well.” Adelphie glanced back at her sister, who was kissing the wizard’s arm like a mother would do to a child. “Besides, I think my sister is preoccupied right now. She’ll hardly notice I’ve gone.”
Finn moved aside so Adelphie could step out, then he followed alongside her as they walked toward the front gate.
“I wanted to thank you, Finnley. But leaving as quickly as we did, I didn’t get the chance.”
“Thank me? First you patch up a wizard, then you thank a coddled little boy, such as myself? Who are you, and what have you done with my warrior huntress?”
Adelphie turned to face him as they stopped at the gate, her horse waiting with a stable boy.
“Warrior huntress? Well, that is much more flattering than woman who was raised by wild boars.”
Finn smiled. “So it is.”
His smile, paired with the fuzzy feelings in her stomach, were making Adelphie anxious. Unsure of what to do, she held out a hand, expecting him to shake it. Instead, he lifted it, placing a gentle kiss on top.
“M ’lady,” he said, bowing to her.
Adelphie rolled her eyes. “There you go with this “lady” nonsense again…”
The stable boy led her horse over and she climbed up.
“If you ever get bored with this cozy little castle life you have here, you should come visit us in the wilderness sometime. I might make a real man out of you yet.”
Finn handed her the reins. “Would I have to sleep on the ground and kill bears with my bare hands?” he joked.
“That would depend on your behavior,” she said.
> Finn looked down and saw a small piece of white fur had fallen off of the pelt she had around her shoulders. He handed it to her, but she didn’t take it.
“Keep it. Put it under your pillow and maybe you won’t suck your thumb tonight, little boy.” She paused as he laughed. “Look after my sister, will you?”
“Sure. Though, I think she does a fair job of looking after herself. She is like you, in more ways than even she realizes.”
“Perhaps… Goodbye, Finnley.”
Hearing her say his name one last time was just as nice as hearing her say it for the first time. He waved to her as she rode out of sight, then lifted the fur to his nose. It smelled like her, like the forest. He tucked it in his pocket and walked back inside.
~*~
“Are you sure you’ll be alright, dear? I can stay.”
“No, I’ll be fine,” Bree said. “It’s only for a short time. You’ll be home before you realize it. Enjoy your visit. I know how much you’ve missed Grandfather. He’ll be so happy to see you.”
“I will send word once we’ve arrived.” Cicilly pulled her shawl around her shoulders and looked over just as Nick entered the courtyard, with a large bag in tow.
“Ready to go?” he asked her.
“Nick, I didn’t know you were joining us.”
“I’ve asked him to accompany you,” Bree said, “as your personal guard.”
“Silas is dead, dear. There is no need to worry about me anymore,” Cicilly replied.
“Perhaps, but I would still feel better knowing Nick is with you. And if what Rowan overheard is true, Vallica could still be trying to find you.”
“Who will take your place, here?” Cicilly asked Nick.
“Sir Luthias will fill in as First Knight until I return. And he can train with Rowan during my absence. I will be back before his ceremony.” Nick’s chest rose as he spoke of Rowan’s upcoming ceremony of knighthood. After insistence from the queen, his son had agreed to finish his training and receive his accolade, becoming the fourth generation in their family to serve as a Junacave knight.
