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Ch. 16 I am Your Right Hand
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Fire's Determination Ch. 17 Too Warm
Gil covered my hand with his. "That's the future. Don't worry about it right now. Live in the present. Right here. With me. In the garden you love so much," he said softly, and I looked up, meeting his golden-brown eyes—the ones that looked so much like Ignatius's. "No, don't go there. Don't dwell in that dark place in your mind. Stay here, with me. In this garden, with this beautiful Morning Glory vine that Enid absolutely hates because it's a waste of space and kills everything it touches," he crooned. He always seemed to know what I needed, even before I did. My thoughts, which had been a jumbled mess just moments ago, began to dissipate, pushed back enough to give me time to breathe and relax. He understood my struggle to prioritize my thoughts sometimes and always did what he could to give me a break from the constant noise of ideas and emotions in my head. "Don't think about earlier. Don't think about tomorrow. Just think about right now. Just this," he whispered right before
Fire's Determination Ch. 18 Not in a Hurry
Sylvren's voice cut through the air like ice, her tone sharp as if crackles of electricity surrounded the Queen Mage. I watched Gil very slowly wiping his fingers on his pants, his face as red as my hair, which I was hurriedly trying to fix. As if regaining control of my wind-blown hair could erase what my mother had just witnessed. "A little inappropriate, don't you think, now that you're engaged?" Sylvren's words lingered in the air, tinged with disapproval. "Technically," I breathed out, more of a pant than a response, attempting to mask my embarrassment with false bravado. "I'm not engaged yet." I added, my hand grasping for the contract. When my fingers only felt the hard stone of the bench, I looked over and saw the contract lazily making its way back towards me on a soft breeze—our passion tornado had rehomed it several feet away. Snatching it from the air, I whispered, "Thank you," to Gil under my breath. I extended the paperwork to my mother, who ripped it from my grasp. "
Fire's Determination Ch. 19 An Exemplary Leader
The smell of food was intoxicating as we walked through the doors into the dining hall. Mages from all over the island came here to eat, so it was rarely a quiet occasion. My stomach twisted painfully as I inhaled the aroma of fresh bread and seasoned meats. This was the only good outcome of yesterday’s tragedy; those who managed to return safely hadn’t abandoned the spoils of their hunting ventures. My people would eat well for a few weeks before another hunting party would need to be dispatched. The mages who offered up their services to cook and prepare meals always laid out the choices buffet-style on a long table. Everyone understood the importance of being mindful of their portions. We had little food to share between a large group of mages. I helped myself to a slice of venison, some fresh vegetables from the royal gardens, and one of Godfrey’s fresh rolls. He had absolutely perfected them. They had a beautifully crisp exterior, and once you took a bite, you would discover a
Fire's Determination Ch. 1 There were Screams
I stared down at the names on the scroll in front of me: Twenty-seven. Almost thirty more of us gone—dead and abducted. Twelve had been found dead at the site, while the other fifteen were unknown—either captured or killed. Without bodies, we had no way of knowing.I rubbed at my eyes, the weariness of the past few weeks weighing on me heavier with this grim news. Standing up, I pushed the chair back, and my mother's eyes moved to meet mine. She looked as tired as I felt, but there was a determination in her gaze that I admired. "Your father and I can take care of this. Go and get some rest, Lyra. I'll send word if any more news reaches us."I nodded mutely, not trusting myself to speak. It had been weeks since I had gotten a good night's sleep, and I knew tonight would be no better. Those names, their faces... they'd haunt me along with my past. The halls of the Villa were quiet as I trudged down them. I couldn't think of a way out of this. Every time we tried to make a move for our
Fire's Determination Ch. 2 Meeting with the Queen Mage
"Lyra!" someone yelled, shaking me awake, my hand shot to my neck as my eyes flung open to find myself looking into Lilly's. Her gaze reflected the exact same shade of golden brown as her father, Nael's. "You were sweating and tossing around. I thought you were seizing," Lilly explained, unaware of the inner turmoil I was fighting. There was no way she could know what I had just dreamed about or what she had saved me from reliving again. She didn't know about that night when everything went wrong. She didn't know that the fire magic I wielded had once belonged to her brother, or that I treasured it as much as I treasured Ignatius' memory."Sorry," I gasped, wiping the sweat from my forehead. I was soaked through with it."Bad dream again?" Lilly asked, stepping back to resume the respectful distance that all mages kept from their leaders. "Yeah," I mumbled, swinging my feet out of bed."Same one as usual?" Lilly pressed, and I looked at her again. A pained expression crossed her face
Fire's Determination Ch. 3 I'll Still Belong to the King
I stood on the balcony of the Southern edge of the Villa, my hands resting on an intricately carved banister. The wood slid smoothly across my palms as I comforted myself with its familiar surface. I had just arrived a few minutes ago, having sent one of the other mages to fetch my mother while the wind I was heating up whipped through my hair."Lyra," my mother greeted, and I turned my head to the side, offering Sylvren, the Queen Mage a nod and a small smile. The events of last night still lingered in her eyes, and my heart clenched."Good morning, Mother," I replied softly. The Queen Mage came to stand beside me, joining me in looking out over the expanse of swirling mist that separated Keystone Island from the mainland."I've received a reply from the kingdom of Scepterfall," my mother began, getting straight to business as always. There was no need for small talk whenever Sylvren Belle was involved. "Kingdom?" I asked, shooting her a glance. "I didn't even know that you had reach
Fire's Determination Ch. 4 Loyal Little Princess
I forced a quick grin at my mother before taking the letter from her hand, my eyes skimming its contents. "So, these men will be here later tonight or tomorrow morning, and then what? If this guy decides I'm—" I flicked back to the relevant section, narrowing my eyes at the phrasing. "Found to be favorable." I glared at her. "Then what? He leaves to report back to the king that I'm good enough for the royal line? While I sit here, waiting with packed bags for the verdict; for them to come load me up to go live in a kingdom full of humans?" My mother took the letter back and tucked it into her pocket. "You'd be leaving with the King's men when they leave tomorrow," she said softly, her gaze drifting away from mine.A knot formed in my stomach. "I didn't see that in the letter," I replied, my voice quieter than I'd expected. I was struggling to comprehend the idea of leaving my home—the only place I had known—so soon."It was in the other letter. Your father and I thought that one was a
Fire's Determination Ch. 5 Life as I Knew it
The small island that we mages called home floated in the middle of a giant crater that held nothing but water below. It was connected to the mainland by a single land bridge that was just big enough for three horses to walk side by side comfortably. There weren't many people that dared to bring a wagon over it. I had lived my entire life in this magical place. Our ancestors, while trying to avoid persecution, were searching for a way to keep their people safe. They had found this small chunk of land in the bottom of the chasm and lifted the little haven up and held it there with some of the most powerful magic ever wielded. Magic that was long ago lost to the mages of our time. By doing this, they'd effectively made an impenetrable stronghold for their people to find refuge from the prejudices of their time. I reflected for a moment how I was similarly working on a way to free my people from the oppression that after centuries of peace had resurfaced over the past few decades. Onl
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Fire's Determination Ch. 19 An Exemplary Leader
The smell of food was intoxicating as we walked through the doors into the dining hall. Mages from all over the island came here to eat, so it was rarely a quiet occasion. My stomach twisted painfully as I inhaled the aroma of fresh bread and seasoned meats. This was the only good outcome of yesterday’s tragedy; those who managed to return safely hadn’t abandoned the spoils of their hunting ventures. My people would eat well for a few weeks before another hunting party would need to be dispatched. The mages who offered up their services to cook and prepare meals always laid out the choices buffet-style on a long table. Everyone understood the importance of being mindful of their portions. We had little food to share between a large group of mages. I helped myself to a slice of venison, some fresh vegetables from the royal gardens, and one of Godfrey’s fresh rolls. He had absolutely perfected them. They had a beautifully crisp exterior, and once you took a bite, you would discover a
Fire's Determination Ch. 18 Not in a Hurry
Sylvren's voice cut through the air like ice, her tone sharp as if crackles of electricity surrounded the Queen Mage. I watched Gil very slowly wiping his fingers on his pants, his face as red as my hair, which I was hurriedly trying to fix. As if regaining control of my wind-blown hair could erase what my mother had just witnessed. "A little inappropriate, don't you think, now that you're engaged?" Sylvren's words lingered in the air, tinged with disapproval. "Technically," I breathed out, more of a pant than a response, attempting to mask my embarrassment with false bravado. "I'm not engaged yet." I added, my hand grasping for the contract. When my fingers only felt the hard stone of the bench, I looked over and saw the contract lazily making its way back towards me on a soft breeze—our passion tornado had rehomed it several feet away. Snatching it from the air, I whispered, "Thank you," to Gil under my breath. I extended the paperwork to my mother, who ripped it from my grasp. "
Fire's Determination Ch. 17 Too Warm
Gil covered my hand with his. "That's the future. Don't worry about it right now. Live in the present. Right here. With me. In the garden you love so much," he said softly, and I looked up, meeting his golden-brown eyes—the ones that looked so much like Ignatius's. "No, don't go there. Don't dwell in that dark place in your mind. Stay here, with me. In this garden, with this beautiful Morning Glory vine that Enid absolutely hates because it's a waste of space and kills everything it touches," he crooned. He always seemed to know what I needed, even before I did. My thoughts, which had been a jumbled mess just moments ago, began to dissipate, pushed back enough to give me time to breathe and relax. He understood my struggle to prioritize my thoughts sometimes and always did what he could to give me a break from the constant noise of ideas and emotions in my head. "Don't think about earlier. Don't think about tomorrow. Just think about right now. Just this," he whispered right before
Fire's Determination Ch. 16 I am Your Right Hand
"Malorie," I called softly once I was outside the Council Chamber doors, knowing the Potioneer had stayed nearby in case she was needed. The other mage rushed out from around the corner and gave me a quick bow. “Princess,” she acknowledged. "Malorie, could you please show the esteemed Captain to the guest chambers where he can stay for the night? And if he would like to get out and stretch his legs at all throughout the day, make sure someone is there to escort him," I said, fully aware that Tross was listening through the open door, though I didn't turn to look at him. "It will be done, Princess," the Potioneer replied with another bow. I sighed and shook my head slightly. "Seriously, stop with the bowing, Mal," I whispered, and she nodded in compliance. I turned to walk away but paused and looked back over my shoulder at her. "If you run into my mother, and she seems in a foul mood, tell her I'll be in the gardens, would you?" With that, I headed out the side door that led into
Fire's Determination Ch. 15 Courtesy
"No..." He said, pausing to give me another look up and down, as if verifying something in his head. "In the event that she is still too young to marry and fulfill wifely responsibilities, she'd be promised to the Prince until she is old enough to carry out those duties. Obviously, we'd still take her with us and let her finish her childhood in the Kingdom, as per the letter we sent. But the sooner we can present this unity to our people, the better." He offered, looking like he'd rather be discussing anything but my daughter’s "wifely responsibilities" with me. Frustration bubbled up within me; apparently, there had been more in that letter than my mother let on. "Hmmm," I said, leaning back. "So, how old is she? If you don't mind my saying, Queen Mage, you look awfully young to have an heir old enough to be married off," he noted. "The Princess is plenty old enough to be married. She goes into this willingly. Fiery, a little temperamental maybe, but willingly nonetheless." I repli
Fire's Determination Ch. 14 Only So Far
"Your Majesty—" "And stop calling me that." I waved a hand in his direction. "That's a made-up human title meant to bolster and feed the egos of those who wear your unnecessary crowns. Real leaders don't need inflated egos or fancy accessories to prove their worth to their people. So for me to be called as such is insulting," I finished coolly. Tross just stared at me, wide-eyed for a moment, before shaking himself back to the present and clearing his throat. "Yes, Queen Mage. I apologize for any offense. But if I may, what do you mean you don't want to be ruled by the King?" "I mean just that. We'll ally with him; we'll help when needed, when we can. We'll fulfill our part of the contract. But at the end of it all, mages will still be their own people, their own rulers. This alliance, between," I paused, almost saying "myself and the throne," but corrected it to maintain the ruse, "the Princess and the throne, will, as your King put in his letter, be a symbolic marriage to sho
Fire's Determination Ch. 13 Captain of the Guard
I remained standing as the stranger stopped just short of the table, keeping a respectful distance before bowing at the waist. "Queen Mage," he began, but I held up my hand to stop him, and he fell silent. I saw his posture stiffen, but I didn't care. I truly intended to show this man that he wasn't as important to us as his King had probably convinced him he was. If I could unnerve him, all the better for me in what I hoped would be a negotiation. "Thank you, Malorie, for delivering our guest to us. Council, we shall end here for today. Everyone out besides our guest, please." There was scraping of chairs and the soft patter of footfalls as everyone walked towards the door. Given how little I was looking forward to this conversation, it was a painfully short process. The council room wasn't large and extravagant; unlike the types of halls favored by humans, which were always grandiose and expensively made. We preferred simplicity and efficiency when it came to matters of design.
Fire's Determination Ch. 12 Broken Lines
The healer set her shoulders as if steeling herself to say whatever was on her mind, then sighed loudly. "Humans? Princess, they don't care for their people; they own them. They shouldn't be the answer to our plight." She paused to gauge my reaction, and when I merely nodded, allowing her to continue, she pressed on, bolstered by the looks of everyone else around the table—everyone except for Gil, who was still pointedly staring at me. In turn, I continued avoiding his gaze, focusing instead on Amnati. "By doing this, you're not only selling yourself into the ownership of the King; you're selling all of us. We'll lose our way of life, our independence, our beliefs and culture. The humans will drive away everything that makes us who we are and force us to replace it with their own ideals, thoughts and beliefs. And why should we trust these people? They've butchered us, enslaved us and tortured our kind for sheer amusement in the past. They make sports out of grotesque acts. Aeon isn
Fire's Determination Ch. 11 No Secrets
I could feel my mother preparing to jump in when, finally, Triguni spoke up. "We've been waiting a long time for your birth. You'll accomplish much in your lifetime. As you've already shown, you understand the importance of calculated action rather than just merely relying on magic. Aeon would be proud of the woman you've become, Princess." She leaned back in her chair and resumed her silence. I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat at Triguni's words, my gaze once again drifting to Aeon's empty seat. For a moment, no one else spoke until Perrin, tentatively, ventured, "Yes, I see the appeal of this union," the Potioneer mused thoughtfully. "With those added supplies, we wouldn't have to keep stretching Kiell, Liza, Terra and Enid to their breaking points. The workload those four have endured over the last few months is beyond what I thought they could handle. But I fear they might be a little too willing to sacrifice certain things for our future." "What do you mean by
