Ch 3: The Authentication Ritual

Astasha had never run through the halls of the palace faster. She was desperate to get away, away from the one thing her heart was crying out for most. She needed to breathe, to clear her head, needed time to ground herself and process the heartbreak that was ripping through her soul.

Finally, she reached the Magic Quarters and flung herself into her chambers, slamming the stout oak door behind her.

It was a decently sized room. In one corner, sat a large canopy bed, its thin drapes pulled back, a wardrobe next to it. In the other, a tub and washing basin. On the opposite side, there was what used to be a study, but had been converted into a witch's workshop, with dried herbs and crystals, a scrying glass, bottles and containers of all kinds, and above it, a window built into the ceiling, opening up to the sky.

Astasha rushed to the fireplace next to her workstation. Usually, she could create fire from her very fingertips, but there was no energy left in her to do so. Fumbling with a flint as her hands shook, she desperately tried to light the hearth. Pulling energy from flame wasn't as stable as from the earth, but she was a fire witch, and the source would provide her with the power she needed to contain the rush of her beating, breaking heart.

At last, a spark ignited the wood within, and blowing on it, she watched it grow and spread, until the heat warmed her face, and the sound of crackling and popping filled the room. Closing her eyes, she knelt on the floor before it, reaching her fingers toward the flames. Once again, her lips moved as she muttered under her breath, and the warmth began to flow into her, dancing in her blood, swimming in her veins. She breathed deep and relaxed, focused only on consuming the energy before her. It was like a high, one that all sorcerers craved, and as the feeling of exuberance coursed through her, she couldn’t help the small smile that crept across her lips.

Satiated, Astasha leaned back and sighed. Meticulously, she rebuilt the wall around her heart and steadied her mind, centering herself to prepare for what she knew she would soon have to face.

A knock sounded at the door, startling her from her work. "Sorceress Astasha!" It was Errant. That man never gave her a moment.

She stood quickly, and with the whisper of a couple words and a wave of her hand, extinguished the fire before approaching the door and opening it.

"Yes, Grand Sorcerer? How may I be of service?"

The doors in the castle were all sealed with magic so that none could hear or feel what was happening behind them, something she was extremely grateful for at that moment, as she could tell he was reading her.

A crease appeared on Errant's brow, but whatever it was he felt, he shook it off. "The King has requested that we authenticate the Prince's journey sooner rather than later. Our presence is required immediately."

Of course. How could she forget? It was their job to read into the Prince's past and ascertain that he had, in fact, accomplished his quest. It was common for the King to call for a celebration ahead of this, seeing as no prince had ever dared try to lie or cheat his way to the throne, not with the Royal Magic Advisors and their Authentication Ritual.

The ritual in itself was complicated, and required all five members to be absolutely in sync. It was used only for specific and important reasons and was never taken lightly. Delving into a person’s memories was a delicate process, one that if done wrong could have catastrophic consequences. Sorcerers had become lost in the minds of those they had tried to perform it on without consent, and subjects driven mad by sloppy spellwork.

Authenticating the Prince’s trials was more than a tradition, it was a necessity, and no Prince had ever refused. Of course, Calder would be no exception.

Astasha steeled herself for what was to come and bowed her head. "Of course. Lead the way." Errant turned and she took a deep breath, focusing on the little orb in her chest.

There were three main rooms within the palace walls, aside from the many apartments and gardens. The Throne Room, Banquet Hall, and what could only be described as a War Room. The latter was where the two were headed.

It was a vast space with a large round wooden table in the middle and several smaller ones set off to the side. This was where all the advisors would gather to discuss and plan and plot. Through two great doors at the back of it, however, was a garden that bordered on the forest, used only for rituals and ceremonies of the Royal Magic Advisory.

Astasha and Errant finally arrived to find the remaining three sorcerers and the King waiting. There were always a total of five mages in the King's cabinet. Four represented each of the elements, and the fifth was the Grand Sorcerer, the spirit of all combined. Errant looked around at the other three; Cordelia, a tall, blond witch of water, Bryn, a stout sorcerer of earth, and Zephyr, an old and lanky wielder of air.

"Ah good! There you are!" Said the King. "Calder is ready and waiting for you all."

He turned and headed to the doors, a couple of stationed guards opening them as the group approached.

Astasha reinforced the small bubble around her heart, knowing this was no time for her feelings to get in the way. The ritual had to be precise and she would be connected to each of the others in the Advisory. If ever she had to focus, now was the time.

Following them out, she kept her eyes somewhat downcast. Surrounding the medium-sized garden, were five points marked by monoliths, which stood in a circle around a stone table in the center. Four were inscribed with an element, each represented by different objects in their vicinity; a small fountain by the water stone, ivy growing over the one of earth, a wind chime hanging from a branch over the air stone, and a small ever-burning pyre by the one representing fire, which Astasha took her place in front of. At the point of the pentacle was the one of spirit, adorned with an altar where each of the tools required for the ritual rested.

Astasha finally looked up to see the other members had taken their places, and lying on the stone table in the middle, stripped down to his pants, was Calder. There were a few scars visible on his chiseled chest, but aside from that, he was flawless.

Astasha's mind wandered ever so briefly to a memory... fingers drifting across the Prince’s scarless abdomen. She closed her eyes and shook off the image, clearing her mind. She needed to concentrate.

The King came to stand next to his son. "Advisors of my most trusted magical council, I ask you to call upon the powers of this earth to search my son's past to authenticate the completion of his quest, so that he may be worthy to sit upon the throne of Trenue!"

Errant opened his arms wide. "As we shall do."

Astasha knew this ritual, as she did all the royal rituals. When she had been accepted into the position, she had spent months studying and learning all of the common spells and practices of the palace, as well as the traditions and expectations.

In a single fluid movement, the five sorcerers reached out to their elements and pulled energy from them, before stepping forward to the table, each taking a place around the Prince. Standing next to his feet, she was grateful she wasn’t closer to his face. What a distraction that gorgeous face could be.

In unison, the sorcerers each held their hands over his body and focused.

Errant began muttering under his breath, using a paste of herbs to draw runes across the Prince's torso. In turn, each of the four took up the chant, until the inscription was complete and their incantations synchronized.

Astasha pulled her mind into the circle, linking with the others, and then Calder. It was as if she could see everything he had been through over the past five years; the journey, the battles, everywhere he had been, everything he had done. She could feel his emotions, feel him, everything about him. It was all so familiar, so, Calder. Every choice he had made, everything was exactly as she knew him. Suddenly, however, as they neared the end, something shifted. It was only a split second of a change, but it was enough.

Astasha's eyes, which had been closed, flashed open and her breath caught as she was met with an icy blue gaze.

Calder was looking right at her, and there was something there, something, off. But as fast as it had come, it was gone, and the ritual was over.

Errant called the ceremony to an end, bringing Astasha swiftly back to herself just in time to retreat to her stone along with the others, before bowing to the King, and following the Grand Sorcerer back to the War Room. Josnen smiled at his son before joining them, leaving the Prince alone on the table.

Once inside, the group gathered in the middle. The second they were there and the large doors closed, Errant turned to her.

"What in the Goddess’s name happened out there, Sorceress Astasha? You could have doomed us all to shadow breaking the connection like that." The crease was back on his brow again.

"I'm sorry, Grand Sorcerer, it's just, there was something... something was wrong. It pulled me from my meditative state."

King Josnen looked from one to the other. Clearly, this was not what he had been expecting. He had expected Errant to announce his son's journey complete, the ritual a success.

"Yes, we all felt a disturbance, but it very well could have been you simply losing focus." Continued Errant. "What specifically did you sense?"

She took a deep breath, shaking her head. "I'm not sure. There was something, different, off, like something had changed in him."

"Are you telling me my son failed his quest?" The King looked somewhere between shocked, confused, and angry.

"No, your highness, not at all." Interjected Errant. "Everything we saw authenticates his achievement. It was only a feeling. However, it may serve well to look into whatever Astasha felt. If it was enough to break her from the connection, we don’t want to risk missing something that could cause problems later. Though, I’m sure it’s nothing."

Relief washed over the King's face. "Well, as my advisors, I shall allow you whatever is needed to do that, after tonight's celebration. It would not bode well to raise suspicion."

"Of course your majesty. I would, however, ask that you not mention this to the Prince. If there is something to discover, we cannot risk him hiding it."

The King studied Errant for a moment, no doubt conflicted on the matter, before nodding in agreement. "Very well. I trust you will keep me informed. Now, if you please, the Prince and I have much to discuss and a party to prepare for."

The sorcerers bowed as Josnen headed out to join his son.

“I would like to speak with Sorceress Astasha alone on the matter.” Said the Grand Sorcerer. “The rest of you are dismissed for now, but I expect each of you to be prepared for whatever is decided as the best course of action from here.”

The others muttered in acknowledgement before dispersing.

Once alone with Errant, Astasha tried to keep her energy as calm and collected as possible, despite the nerves she felt threatening to boil over.

He crossed his arms and caught her with his stare. "It seems you were the only one to sense whatever it was that changed in his royal highness, therefore, I think it best that you be the one to see what else you can discover. I trust you know what that means?"

Astasha nodded with trepidation. "Yes, Grand Sorcerer."

"Good, I expect full reports." He hastened away, leaving her alone with her thoughts.

“Damnit.” She uttered to herself. Of all the things he could have asked of her, this was the one she feared most. It meant she would have to get close to the one person she wanted to avoid above all others, the Prince.