Chapter 10
"But why are you in such a hurry to leave!" Briar exclaimed. He followed Eugenia as she bundled her few possessions into a travelling pack. "You're not in any trouble about Niko. In fact, he wants you to stay and show him more spells" Eugenia shook her head.
"You don't get it! That's the reason we have to leave. People would do anything to get their hands on our power. We bring out the evil in other humans." Eugenia shouted. She shoved past Briar and flung an armful of clothes into her bag.
"You don't bring out the evil in me. You bring out my love." Briar muttered. Eugenia steadied herself against the end of the bed and looked at Briar. The boy was almost in tears. She shook her head; she should have stopped this ages ago.
"Dear child," She said, taking his hands in her own, "What you feel isn't love."
"Yes it is." Briar insisted.
"NO!" Eugenia snapped. Briar flinched slightly but did not let go of her hands. "The buzz you feel when I enter a room. That sinking feeling you get when I'm not around. It's not love; it's addiction." Briar's legs went weak and he dropped to his knees.
"No, your lying." He hugged her legs close to his chest. He knew some how that what she was saying was true but he didn't want to believe it. This was the happiest he had felt in a long time. He had thought that the Emperor and the war had robbed him of any chance of happiness. But ever since he met Eugenia he had not dreamt of that terrible time. Indeed his dreams were filled with such wondrous images and beautiful places that sometimes he thought his heart would overflow with joy. Eugenia stroked Briar's hair lovingly.
"Of course it is. The magic we carry, the blood that runs through our veins, is addictive. It imbues everything we touch; merely being in our presence is enough to hook some people. Briar did Eric tell you that where I come from I'm a queen?" Briar shook his head, pressing his face into the folds of Eugenia's dress. He cried silently. Briar didn't care; he didn't want to live without her. "Well I am. Even among the Children of Light an artist mage is very rare. I was suppose to learn all about the world and then settle back home to be queen of my clan. We have clans you see, and there are nine kings or queens who form our rulers. The mountains are our home, we build small villages for show, and for the traders to use, but most of our city lies inside the mountains. Would you like to hear about it?" Briar nodded. Eugenia pulled him to his feet and led him over to the bed. She sat up and let him lay his head in her lap. "The walls of the great caverns are carved out of black stone, polished so that it reflects the magical orbs of light that float around the ceiling. In my chamber there is a seam of gold ore that runs along the wall beside my bed. It shimmers and dances in the light. The hallways are always echoing with music and the wonderful smell of cooking drifted out from the grand kitchen in one of the main caverns. Pancakes and bacon around breakfast time, roast meat and vegetables at lunchtime… and the desserts for after supper! Masterpieces the likes of which you've never tasted before."
"But what I miss most is the water. It could cool and crisp, straight from the snow-capped mountains, or hot and steamy, from the molten earth below. It was like a drug; a drop would make you worries go away and cure anything that ailed you. Mother always use to say that that was because the magic of the mountain seeped into the water. She said that because the Children of the Light drink the water our blood changed to liquid magic, and the mountain continued to protect us by giving us shelter from outsiders. My siblings and I are some of the first to venture from the safety of the mountain. Probably some of the last as well," Eugenia laughed, "you're one of the first males outside of the city to have shown any interest in me. Back home the only people allowed among us are the White Traders, and only those we have been trading with for at least half a century. The Children of Light aren't accustomed to outsiders. I do like you, you know? It's just hard to get to know someone you're born to… Briar?" But Briar had drifted off to sleep. Eugenia leaned back against the head rest and began to hum an old lullaby she remembered from childhood. "Just sleep Briar, let a rose protect you for once."