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Ch 45: The Fear Of A Mother
Last Updated:
2023-05-12 02:42:32
B. ColeHello Lovelies! I do hope you've been enjoying the story so far! If you have, please let me know in the comments or with a gem or review! An author is nothing without their readers and I truly appreciate each one of you who has followed Astasha and Calder's journey thus far! Love & Light Everyone!
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Blood Magic's Bond Ch 46: The Simple Solution
It was a silent walk back to the castle. Astasha had performed the protective spells around her mother’s house as Calder filled Talib in on what they had discovered, but she was grateful neither pressed her as they made their way through the village. She could feel Cal watching her from the corner of his eye, and the raging mix of emotions emanating from him wore on her already downtrodden soul. He was scared and worried, and she knew he was trying to figure out any way to change the fate she was tied to. But there were no answers, and it frustrated him. Talib had sent his man ahead to inform Errant that they needed to call a meeting of those involved as soon as they returned, and so everyone was waiting in the Grand Sorcerer’s study when they arrived. Still, Astasha said nothing as the Prince filled them all in on what they had learned. She stood in downcast silence as she felt the energy of the room shift from anticipation, to fear and nervousness. They had brought the ri
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**TRIGGER WARNING** There was chaos in the halls as Astasha and Calder raced to find the rest of the Advisory and his Guard. They were exactly where they thought they would be; in position, ready to defend the castle from the battlements. A young man, part of the Prince’s Guard as Astasha could tell from his crest, met them at the opening to the vast walkway between the palace turrets. “What’s happening?” asked Calder. He was no longer a prince or a lover, but a knight and commander. “It’s a single woman, Your Highness. She claims she’s not alone, though our scouts have yet to find anyone in the surrounding forest.” They walked as they spoke. “She said she would only speak with you, and the Fire Sorceress.” The pair quickly exchanged a worried glance. Astasha spotted Errant, who stood with the King, the Captain of the King’s Guard, and Talib. The Grand Sorcerer’s eyes met her own and his voice echoed in her head with a single word. Cordelia. She grabbed Calder’s wrist to stop
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**TRIGGER WARNING** What hope they had had of keeping panic at bay and the truth hidden, was shattered. Josnen and Talib had been extraordinarily careful about what they had said to their military leaders and soldiers, but Cordelia’s arrival and extremely public threats and demands now meant the secret was out; demons were among them and not only did they want the Prince, but his lover too, who happened to be the King’s Fire Sorceress. The gossip had spread like wildfire through the palace in just the short time it took to get the wounded to the Healing Ward and call a meeting in the War Room. The chatter was so loud it was deafening as everyone gathered. There was the King and all of his advisors, councilors, and Captains, Calder, Talib, and the entirety of the Magical Advisory, including Astasha. They all spoke at once while nothing was actually heard. Tasha found herself shrinking into the corner, the sound overwhelming her. Her mind had stayed focused on the fight, but the
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Calder stood outside the door to his mother’s chambers… Astasha’s chambers. What would he say? What could he say? He thought he had known the horrors she had faced in that clearing. But deep down, if he was being honest with himself, there was a part of him that had known it was far worse than even the most horrendous things he was aware of. He had just been too afraid to find out for sure. Everything in the War Room had happened so quickly… The second Helia left, he ordered the piece of shit, Argryn, stripped of his title and removed to the cells in the tower. No one, not even his father, dared to disobey. He would deal with that bastard later. Calder had been ready to cut off the asshole’s manhood himself before Astasha snapped, so he understood her rage. But he had never seen her like that before, nor felt the likes of the emotions pouring through their connection. Her pain and anguish and anger had almost taken him to his knees. He tried to tell the guards to stand down whe
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The answer seemed so obvious now that they had come to it. No one knew how the sacred stone in the Land of the Dead had come to be, but sorcerers from across the world had studied its power for ages. It held a perfect balance between light and dark, life and death, and acted as judge, jury and executioner for those who asked. The tradition of Trenue’s leaders using the Stone of Balance as a final test had been around for as long as history could remember, and only once had a ruler failed. The stone had weighed the ancient Prince as unworthy, and marked him, burning a sigil into his chest for all to see. Should the Forest of the Damned actually exist beyond the stone, there was no knowing what else could lie between the worlds. But unless they could find how it worked, it didn’t matter. There was only one way to figure it out; they needed to go to the Land of the Dead. “We have to leave tonight,” Said Calder. “You won’t be safe once the High Council gets here tomorrow. If we’re t
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For the second time since Calder’s return, Astasha found herself locked away in a cell in the castle tower. The first time, she had been heartbroken, scared, and uncertain. This time, however, she was resolute. There would be no more tears, no more fear. Deep down, she did fear for Calder, for what could happen to him, but she couldn’t let that consume her. She needed to keep her resolve. When the High Council had arrived, it was obvious that they would immediately bind her magic. Which was why she found herself shocked when they had tried, and failed. How could it be that the greatest sorcerer in the land had been unable to do what Errant had done so easily not so long ago? But she didn’t dare let on. If they truly believed her powers had been muted, so be it. She would play their game for now, until she figured out what to do. Calder’s determination had come through their connection with brute force. The wheels had been turning in his head from the moment the council had appeare
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Astasha could feel the chaos before she heard it. Something was happening. A commotion began outside the tower doors and she could hear voices shouting and armor clattering. The Water Sorcerer and the guards set to watch her, exchanged worried glances. The soldiers took up their arms as the High Council member strode to the door and pulled it open. A blast of fire met him, and though he was able to protect himself from the flames for the most part, he was thrown back. Astasha used the moment to unleash her own magic, quickly subduing the knights who seemed to have no clue what was happening, and catching the Water Sorcerer off guard again. She was supposed to be bound, and from the look on his face, he hadn’t suspected for a second that she wasn’t. As he tried to recover, through the door strode Helia, her powers in full force, and the two worked together to overpower him. Astasha had no desire to do the mage any harm, but as he slumped against the wall and slid to the fl
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Blood Magic's Bond Ch 73: The Banners Of Love & War
If Astasha had been in awe of Calder before, it was nothing compared to the utter reverence and wonderment she felt as she watched him before their army. The energy had shifted so drastically it was like night and day, and the buzz of optimism only continued to grow from there as everyone made ready to move out, into the Land of the Dead and onto the Stone of Balance. Only hours before, she had fought to keep the darkness at bay, Zephyr’s words haunting her as she realized the severity of her situation. Which was why she had asked of Helia something no one else could know of; should she be captured, should the demon’s plan work, and her soul broken and the darkness take her, her fellow Fire Witch was to do the only thing that could stop the Dark Mage from using her as a weapon… end Astasha’s life before it was too late. Helia had stood there in silence for what felt like eternity after she pleaded her case, but she knew the older Sorceress was the only one who truly understood wh
Blood Magic's Bond Ch 72: The Prince Of Hope
The first gray of morning was just starting to crawl over the horizon as Calder looked down at the ground stained with the blood of his father’s Air Sorcerer. He knew he should be exhausted, but sleep was something he had grown used to going without. He and Astasha had spent the last several hours trying to find how their combined power worked, but to no avail. Over and over they had tried to recreate the blast that had knocked back their enemy and seared the flesh from its bones, but each time their hands touched, nothing happened. The only times they had used it successfully, they had been under threat of death by a demon… perhaps that was the only way for it to work. It didn’t matter now, though. He still had to find a way to rally his troops, to convince all those who were about to gather, that they stood a chance against the most deadly army to ever exist. Tasha had gone with Helia to check on Zephyr, leaving him alone with his thoughts, and as much as he didn’t want to admit
Blood Magic's Bond Ch 71: The Troubles Of Calder
“Half the camp is in a right state, ready to tuck tail and run. They’re scared, and rightfully so. Most have little, if any, experience with magic, and none have seen the likes of a demon. It fucking blinded a man without even being near him. You can imagine the whispers.” “And the other half?” Calder continued staring at the candlelit maps before him as his Captain filled him in on the latest reports. “The other half, well, they’re not so easily swayed. Most are convinced more now than ever that this enemy has to be dealt with, here and now.” The Prince sighed deeply before finally looking up. “Do you think half will leave?” Talib shook his head. “I’ve got Olander and Kashor and whoever else can speak to it trying to convince them not to. But, we should prepare for the worst.” Someone had to be working against them, spreading fear and doubt, and there was only one person he could think of who would do such a thing. Cal could feel the darkness, it was stronger when Tasha f
Blood Magic's Bond Ch 70: The Tragedy Of The Air Sorcerer
The sound of Zephyr’s screams cut through the air as all chaos broke loose. Astasha was faintly aware of the shouts and cries of fear from the crowd behind her, but her focus was on the man in front of her, his body tensed in agony as blood began to seep from his eyes. “End the ritual, NOW!” Bellowed Calder, but the Grand Sorceress of the Moon Garden stepped in front of him. “No! You risk all their lives if you interfere!” Tasha’s mind worked furiously to find a way to bring him back. “They need to alter their channeling. Shift the direction of the air and use the earth to draw him down.” Belvana looked uncertain for a moment but nodded and turned to the circle. The four other sorcerers were still locked in the ritual, muttering under their breath as sweat dripped down their faces from the strain of holding so long against the power of the demon. “She’s going to try to join with them,” Said Helia. “She just needs to be able to communicate the shift to them.” Narelle chimed in
Blood Magic's Bond Ch 69: The Wind Walker
There was an air of tension about the camp as the mages made preparations for what was now being considered the last opportunity for a fair advantage. While no one had been outwardly informed of what they were doing, whispers ran wild of a delicate and dangerous ritual that could potentially turn the tides. The five sorcerers who would be participating had spent several hours with Astasha going over the details of what it was they were about to attempt, before excusing themselves to gather as much energy as they could hold. An area outside of the camp, near the sorcerers’ lodgings, had been designated for the ritual, and guards posted to ensure no one inadvertently wandered into it, disrupting the carefully drawn runes or buried herbs and stones. Tasha stood overseeing the finishing touches, Olander at her side, as she tried desperately to force down the feeling that had begun to grow in the pit of her stomach. Taking a deep breath, she focused on all the reasons she had given for
Blood Magic's Bond Ch 68: The Looming Guillotine
The moon was high in the night sky as Astasha and Calder made their way back to their tent from the Dorthshire camp, their Captains following close behind. Kashor had bid them to stay longer, but they knew the Sorcerers of the Moon Garden would be arriving at dawn, and Tasha needed time to transcribe her memories of the Wind Walking ritual. “May the Gods bless you dreams of good tidings my King and Queen of fire!” He had called after them as they departed. “I hear you were gifted a name, my Golden Phoenix.” Smiled Cal as they walked. “Yes, though, I don’t know that I deserve the title as much as Kashor seems to think I do.” Calder slowed, pulling Astasha to a stop with him. “May I?” His hands reached for the fur wrapped around her, and she nodded once. He pulled it away, revealing the charcoal symbol on her chest and his fingers danced delicately over it. “I felt the same way when he gave me mine. But he sees things no one else can sometimes. And personally, I think he was
Blood Magic's Bond Ch 67: The White Dragon & The Golden Phoenix
Astasha had wanted to stay and begin work on transcribing her memories of the Wind Walking ritual, but her engagement to the Prince meant that her attention now had to be split between her tasks as a sorceress, and that of Calder’s betrothed. And so, she changed into a warm gown with one of the furs gifted to her over her shoulders, and the two headed out toward Kashor’s camp, their Captains at their side. “So, Talib,” she said as they walked. “I believe you owe me a story.” Calder looked at her curiously, his friend awkwardly clearing his throat. “Oh, uh, well, there’s not much to tell honestly. We’d been traveling together on our way here, gettin’ to know each other along the way. One night, we came across some trouble. I uh, might have been caught off guard a bit—“ “A bit?” Laughed Calder. “You were caught with your trousers down, literally!” Astasha tried desperately not to laugh. “Hey, even the Captain of the Prince’s Guard has to attend to personal business from time to t
Blood Magic's Bond Ch 66: The Many Uses Of Magic
Despite all that was required to be done, the remainder of the day seemed quite calm compared to the meeting in the War Tent. Astasha’s fellow mages all seemed eager to learn more about her plan to trap the demons, and with the protection of her own Captain, Calder felt comfortable enough allowing her to go with them on her own, so long as Olander never left her side. They sat outside in a circle as Astasha explained what it was she had done all that time ago in the clearing to free Calder and ensnare the demon within herself. Once she had finished, the group sat in silence for a moment pondering all they had heard. It wasn’t until the question was raised that Astasha realized she had inadvertently left out a key component of her story. “How did you not drain yourself using your own blood? The energy that spell would have required… it should have killed you!” The man who spoke was an older Water Sorcerer, one of the few Narelle had warned could keep a conversation going far past
Blood Magic's Bond Ch 65: The Princess's Plan
The War Tent felt much smaller with everyone present who was required to be there for strategic meetings. Astasha had spent the better part of the morning being shown around the camp and introduced to many of the leaders and key positions in preparation for it. For the most part, they had all been at least respectful, if not surprisingly kind. Some had even given her gifts of furs or herbs or food. But not all were so welcoming. Now, standing in the confined space of the tent, her senses were on high alert, honed in on those she had already read as potential threats. Thankfully, there were fewer than she had expected, and alone, she didn’t fear them. But with their army of men behind them… she chose not to think about the chaos that could ensue should they choose to end their agreement with the Prince. If Calder was at all nervous, he hid it well, even from her. He stood like a true leader at the front of the congregation, head high, his crest on full display on his tunic. His eyes
