Astasha had left the King's quarters with her mind reeling. All she knew about blood magic was what she had read in that book, and now she had barely any time to find a way to use it to free Calder. It had very much been insinuated, that should she get caught, there was nothing the King could do, and rightfully so. Josnen was indeed the ruler of the land, but when it came to magic and the laws that bound it, the High Council of Sorcery was in charge. Should a mage break any of the rules put in place by them, their punishment could not be overruled by the court. It was a delicate dance between who stood where with the laws of royalty and magic, but a necessary one. Therefore, the King had done all he could to help Astasha by informing Errant that a replacement Fire Witch was to be brought in before he would allow the ritual to move forward, so that Astasha could be left to recover from her ordeal. While she was sure the Grand Sorcerer had his suspicions, he could not go against Josn
Whatever happened now, there was no going back. She had sealed her fate, and with it, Cal’s. If she failed, they would both suffer greatly. The demon clapped its hands together, making her jump slightly. "Wonderful! Now, let's get me out of this body and your precious Prince returned to you.” It turned and sauntered into the sitting area, plopping down into a chair. “I’m assuming you’d like to know how.” Astasha followed, taking a seat across from it. “That would be helpful. Considering you’re a demon, I’m assuming whatever ritual you have in mind will require the use of a less favorable magic?” It put its fingertips together. “Such a clever girl. It does indeed require something a little more to my tastes, blood magic, to be precise, although I’m sure you’ve worked that out already. You’ll need a sacrifice too, a human one.” Astasha blanched. "Absolutely not." As much as she wanted to free her Prince, she refused to harm another being to do it. The demon raised its eyebrows.
Once Astasha knew how the power of ‘the sacrifice’ (as the demon called it) worked, it had given her detailed instructions as to how to actually perform the ritual. After that, she left the Prince's chambers as quickly as possible, wishing nothing more than to cleanse herself of their lascivious encounter. Returning swiftly to her room, she immediately bathed, her cheeks burning red as she washed away the traces of her former arousal. She didn't know if she would ever be able to forgive herself for what she had done, what she was about to do, but she would deal with those consequences later. For now, she needed to focus on the more pressing issue at hand… preparing for the ritual without getting caught. Once washed and dressed, Astasha slipped out of the castle to the woods, taking with her all the supplies she would need. Her little clearing would be the perfect location; hidden, and known only to her. No one would accidentally stumble upon what was happening without knowing where t
Despite her racing heart, Astasha forced a calmness over herself. Not only was she about to break more magical laws than she had ever thought possible, she was also sneaking the most dangerous being in the kingdom out of the only place it was secure. There was no time for second thoughts now, though. Once again, she urged the flames outside the Prince’s door apart. But before stepping through, she paused. The moment the demon crossed that barrier, her life was forfeit. She thought about the promises she had made, the oaths she had sworn, to the Advisory, the King, Cal, even herself. Somehow, each of them had led her there, to that moment, and with a final breath of freedom, she walked through the parted fire and into the hall, the demon right behind her. Making their way out of the castle was slow going and full of anxious pauses. Each second, she waited for the alarm to sound, every corner, for Errant to come into view. But after a handful of quick ducks into small corridors, an
The joy Astasha had felt only moments before, turned quickly to horror and dread as she looked up at the Grand Sorcerer trembling in rage before her. Grabbing her dress, she pulled it on and stood to face him.Errant looked as though he could destroy the entire clearing with the wave of his hand, and it was utterly terrifying. His eyes were dark, his hands balled into fists at his sides. She didn't know exactly how he had found them out, but the vile look on Cordelia’s face left little room for doubt that the bitch had had something to do with it. However, regardless of how he had gotten there, Errant was indeed there, and Astasha had no way of knowing how much he had actually witnessed.It didn’t take magic to sense the amount of trouble she was in, but even if she had wanted to, there was no energy left within her to try to read him.“Grand Sorcerer, I can explain.""Silence!" His voice had never had that tone before. He looked at Astasha and then the Prince, who was fastening hi
He had had her in his arms, after everything he had fought through to return to her, she was there, in his grasp, and now, she was about to be gone forever. Calder couldn't even begin to process what was happening. He remembered the first time he had laid eyes on the beautiful redhead in the market. Her smile melted his heart, and her eyes burned into his soul. He didn't fully understand why, but he needed to be near her, to know her, protect her, love her. It didn't matter to him when he found out she was a witch, he would find a way to be with her. She was kinder and stronger than he could imagine, and brilliant in more ways than he could count. She was perfectly flawed and the only woman he ever wanted by his side. The night before his trials, he had made love to her, the passion like burning coals within him. There was no experience he could compare it to, but he knew, a part of him would burn eternally for her. So he swore to himself that he would return from his journey swifter
As Errant and Tasha disappeared into the woods, Calder tried to rush after them, but the young blonde witch who had stayed behind, wove her hands about and a wall of silvery water laced through the air, blocking his way. "I'm sorry your highness, but I have strict instructions to keep you here until the traitor is locked away." There was something in her voice, almost a sick satisfaction, and it made Calder's blood boil. "You would do well, sorceress, to remember your place." "As it would have done you to remember yours when you consorted with a witch. If you truly wanted to save her, you should have stayed away from her in the first place.” The bitch had some nerve speaking to him that way, even though he knew she was right. It was his fault Tasha was going to be stripped of her power and banished, or more likely killed in the process. But there had to be something he could do to stop it. "I suggest you let me pass." He said coolly. "I’m sorry, but I cannot allow you to leave he
Calder had spent the last hours of darkness before the sun rose, pouring over books that made absolutely no sense to him. He had demanded access to the Magical Archives Library, determined to find another way to extract the demon from Tasha and destroy it. Nothing was going to deter him. He would find a way no matter what it took. But time continued to pass, and the runes in the books were foreign to him, and when the King at last came to him with his face grim, the Prince’s heart clenched. "Calder..." "I just need a little more time." He grabbed another book and ripped it open. Josnen put a hand on his son's arm. "Calder, Errant would not be swayed. And his reasons are sound. I am sorry, but the ritual will proceed. There is nothing more that can be done." His blood went cold. "No." The King's hand tightened on his arm. "They are preparing her now." He thought his heart would rip through his chest. “But it isn't sunrise yet." “It’s about to be, and Errant isn't risking you mak
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
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
“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
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
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
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
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
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
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