Eric winced as he pulled the bandage free of flesh, frowning at splotches of black that marred the stains of blood. He had gotten hit last week from a black winged sprite and it would take time for the magic to leave his wound. He cursed miserably under his breath. He had joined the king's army after having lost his ship to dirty pirates. That had been three years ago, and somehow in-between now and then he had gotten suckered into being captain of the guard. Some days he wished he had never left the sea, and somedays he never wanted to go back.
The sick tent he was currently confined to was full, fuller than it should be, and he wasn't happy. War had been bad enough before magic had gotten involved, and now they were battling forces with the Enchantress. Four armies of the Five Realms had gathered, but it wasn't enough. They were getting beat down at every turn and they would not last much longer. He was getting sick of watching his men die.
Air stirred through the tent, carrying the barest hint of a fresh breeze and he looked towards the entrance. Prince Philip stood there, and was evidently looking for Eric because when he spotted him in the back, Philip came forward.
"How are you?" He asked, with real concern, and Eric nodded,
"Doing alright, my lord, better than a lot of men here."
Philip nodded, looking around at his men, a graveness overtaking his eye. Eric shifted; he had noticed from day one how this prince sincerely cared for the men who served him. It had warranted respect that had turned into an odd sort of friendship. He still "my lord'ed" him for duty's sake, but Philip had asked him to speak freely with him months ago, and the man had been doing so ever since.
Philip sat on the cot beside him, "How long 'til you're out and about?"
"Not soon enough," Eric answered honestly. It was a small wound to his right side that normally would hardly slow him, but for the magic. It was leaving his system, just slowly, and painfully. "How are things looking out there?"
Philip just looked at him in response, the grim line of his brow enough of an answer in itself.
"What about reinforcements?" Eric asked, and Philip almost laughed.
"Every kingdom willing to fight has sent all they can. No one else is coming. And there's no one else to ask."
"Well that's not rightly true." Eric growled as a flash of pain hit his side. Philip looked at him in concern but Eric waved him off. "There's one kingdom you haven't even asked."
Philip looked away, shifting, "I can't ask him into this fight."
"Why the devil not!" Eric shot back, and at Philip's raised brow he added, "My lord."
A ghost of a smile touched Philip's face then he sighed, "You know why, Eric."
After having this same conversation, a number of times, Philip had finally given in and told Eric about King Marcus's magic. Philip knew Marcus would never use his magical forces in a war, and he respected the man too much to even ask. Eric thought Marcus having magic was all the more reason for the man to join their fight. Magic against magic seemed only fair.
"Besides," Philip added, "He's already doing so much for me.'
Eric sent him a "Like what?" look, but a horn sounded outside before Philip could tell him to mind his own business. His father would be returning from a skirmish and Philip rose quickly to meet him, telling Eric to hurry up and heal as he left.
Marcus walked into the darkening valley, watching the sun as it slipped from the horizon. Any moment now the night wings would be out, carrying young tree fairie around that had not yet learned to fly. He kept his connection to the magic low. Enough that they would recognize his energy, but not enough for him to fully see. There where areas of his kingdom that he felt should be untouched, and he walked through an area whose magic was more ancient than the sea. He felt in a way that new eyes could change old magic, and he wanted this place kept in simplicity.
He reached the end of the valley and entered the tree. It was dark here, and cooler than the outer night, as the cold breath of the fern nymphs stirred in the leaves. He walked a quiet path, feeling the trees shift around him, a subtle bow to their king. He walked a long while, deeper into a wood that grew so dense it forgot it was a forest and not just one living tree, until abruptly he came to a clearing.
A home stood nestled at the back, laid from uneven stone, and smoke drifted from a chimney at the back. The king blinked, his eyes giving their sharp flash as he took in the cabin with new eyes.
Two peds stood guard by the door, and each bowed as they saw their king. They were both squat and round, with grey skin and glittering eyes. They looked almost like broken boulders, but the king was not deceived, they were sharp and fast predators capable of killing almost any creature who had the misfortune of tangling with them. This was their home, and it was here Aurora had safely lived for the past year.
"Good evening, my king," one spoke, but not in the deep rumbling tones of their own language, though Marcus would have understood.
"All is quiet, my lord." the other added just as the other stopped speaking, and Marcus bowed his head in thanks. Before he could speak, the door was pulled open and Aurora stuck her head out.
"Did you say something, Lefty?" She asked the general direction the Ped on the left, and Marcus realized why they had spoken as they had. They were subtly alerting her of his presence. Her gaze swept over the place both stood, obviously knowing they were somewhere around, but still unable to see them, when her gaze roamed the clearing and landed with a start on him.
"Oh," She squeaked, a hand flying to her mouth.
Marcus bowed, "Good evening, Lady Aurora."
Aurora stood for a moment, calming her heart. She had not been expecting King Marcus to come by, and his sudden appearance had frightened her. She had seen him connected to the magic before, and had almost grown accustomed to it, but not quite. The sight of him standing at the edge of her clearing, warm skin darkened by the shadows, a large silhouette against the trees with eyes that reflected the moon with an almost animalistic edge to his stance, was not something she was prepared for.
His voice calmed her some, and his bow was as gentlemanly as ever, though his eyes did not change back. He still held on to his magic, and when he turned to her right and spoke to one of the Pegs she understood why.
"I would like to give the Lady sight, if I may?"
Aurora thought it a might odd that he asked then, he was the king after all and could do whatever he pleased, but he waited patiently for them to respond. Aurora did not hear their response, which meant they either spoke in their language human ears could not hear or just nodded, because Marcus then smiled.
"Thank you." He looked to Aurora. "Would you like to see?"
But Aurora was already coming forward.
It was her favorite moments of her life here. Marcus came when he could, knowing she was stuck in solitude, to make sure she was safe and to check on her. He brought news of her brother and her father, and would sometimes stay and teach different things of the forest. But what Aurora loved most was when he would share his magic enough so that she could see the true forest around her.
He had done it the night he had first brought her here. He had touched her arm lightly and told her to open her eyes, and that when she opened them, she was not to be afraid, for there was someone she needed to meet.
She had been introduced to the ped that night. There was little more than half a dozen of them, and they were to be her guardians. She had been taken back, but amazed as each little rock person had bowed and spoke to her, carefully it seemed, in her own tongue. They did not have names, not in the sense she could use, and she had taken to calling them wherever they were normally stationed. Righty and Lefty guarded the doors. Edgy walked the perimeter. High and Low both had different stations throughout the woods. Runner patrolled and sometimes brought others home with him. Constant was, well, always right underfoot and was tasked with watching her every move. It was unnerving to learn that once Marcus left, she would not be able to see them, and that they would be continuously around her without her knowing. Although it was comforting in a way to know she had such stealthy guards, she was very thankful for rare the moments when they spoke up in a language she could hear, and held conversations with herself and each other.
Marcus took her arm lightly, the touch helping the connection, and turned her towards the wood. He showed her a little more each time he did this, not wanting to overwhelm her, and Aurora was eager to see what creatures she would learn about tonight. They always amazed her, but sometimes, more often than she cared to admit, they frightened her.
Tonight, he did not lead he very far into the wood before he stopped. He stood to the side, never standing close despite the touch on her arm. In some ways he was a very strange, distant man, and Aurora wondered how her lively brother had become such friends with him. But her brother obviously trusted him enough to leave her in his care.
Normally he would speak before he showed her things, but Aurora felt the slight tingling in her arm without warning, and looked around excitedly. He often chose to show her one type of creature at a time, somehow singling them out with his magic, and she would have to look about to catch sight of the small glowing fingers. She would never forget the first time she had witnessed a fairie, softly glowing on a simple golden leaf. It was then she had learned that it was not only the wind that stirred in these trees.
But tonight, it was not one creature that came to light. Instead it was as if the very air began to glow. The trees became etched in iridescent lines of bark and vine that reached through every leaf and ran down into the earth. Fern and leaf and sky came alive with a soft flowing energy and Aurora gasped as a shimmer or wind moved across her.
"This, Lady Aurora, is the energy of this land, the magic that connects it. Every creature, every tree, they all share this energy."
Aurora's eyes took in it all, and she glanced in his direction meaning to speak, to say it was beautiful, but when her eyes landed on him, she choked on the words.
The light of magic that filled this wood covered him, it ran in patterns of veins on his skin, it pulsed in the rhythm of his heart and she realized suddenly that this magic was in his blood itself. She followed the light down his arm to where he touched her own and saw with shock the faint veins of light spreading onto her skin where he touched her. With a gasp she stepped back, breaking the connection, overwhelmed with sudden uncertainty and fear.
Marcus looked at her, reaction held behind an even gaze.
"I'm sorry," she stuttered, "Forgive me, Lord Marcus, you surprised me."
Marcus smiled politely as if to say he understood, but didn't offer his arm to show her again. Instead he motioned her back to her cabin. They walked a moment in silence, Aurora suddenly much more mindful of where she walked, and the plant life she touched, whether she was afraid to disturb it or afraid it would touch her, Marcus didn't know. After a few moments he spoke.
"I showed you this, Lady Aurora, because I need you to understand something. Your brother is fighting a war, a very valiant one against a terrible foe. There are kingdoms that have joined him and perhaps many has wondered why I have not."
Aurora's gaze fell to her feet and a slight blush stained her cheeks, confirming his suspicion that she had wondered that very thing.
"I have not," Marcus continued, "Because to involve my kingdom in a war would be more than to involve my people. Far more lives in this land than just man, as you have seen a little of, but there is no taking one and leaving the other behind. We are all connected, and I can not risk bringing this magic into the world or bringing the world into the magic. It is secret and so it is safe, and so the world is safe. If the Enchantress found a way into this magic, she could use it. It is my responsibility to make sure that doesn't happen."
Aurora lifted her gaze to his, this time not starting at the light in his eye, though she did not quite like it. "I understand, and I appreciate all you and your kingdom does in protecting me."
She gave a slight curtsy and went to move inside, but Marcus spoke again.
"That's not all, Lady Aurora,"
She paused and looked back.
"Your brother has written to me. It was a brief missive," He added at her hopeful look, "But the battle does not wage well. I am wondering if I should go."
Her brow furrowed, "But did you not just say you could not?"
He gave a wry smile, "I said I could not involve my kingdom. But I, the man, could go as a soldier with no magic."
She opened her mouth, then seemed to check herself, "I mean no offense, Lord Marcus. But what could one man without magic do?"
He smiled a little, "No offense taken, Lady Aurora. I command many soldiers, and there are a good number of them with no connection or even knowledge of the real power of this land. It is not an overly large force, but we may be able to help, and I believe your brother could use it."
Aurora was watching him silently, but her mind spun. If her brother and her father needed aide, of course she wanted him and any soldiers he had to go, but she was honestly uncertain why he was even discussing it with her.
"If I go, Lady Aurora," he stated quietly, sensing her confusion, "You will be quite alone here. I may be gone for some time."
He did not state that he may not come back at all, although Aurora understood the reality of it. She wondered suddenly if encouraging him to go would be unforgivably selfish, but the thought of her brother on the frontline of a losing battle terrified her.
"I won't be so alone," Aurora said, forcing brightness, "I will have Lefty, and Righty," She waved in their general direction. "I feel quite safe here, Lord Marcus," She answered in all honesty, and after a moment's deliberation, Marcus nodded.
"If you're certain, Lady Aurora. Before I go," he pulled a small chain from his pocket. From it dangled a single blue stone. Aurora looked at it curiously.
"This is a spell amulet, it can hold certain magic for some time," Marcus explained. He spoke the words heavily, though she didn't seem to notice his reservation. He had not performed a spell in some time, and although he was quite certain of his abilities, he always wondered at the necessity of it. Every spell he cast drew energy from this land.
This at least was a small spell, and it would perhaps give her some comfort while trapped here alone. He held it to his lips, speaking lowly and quickly, eyes brightening as magic flowed. When it was done, he handed it to Aurora.
"This amulet will allow you to see into the magic around you. Hold it in your palm until it warms to you and it will work. It is limited, and it can drain, so do not use it all the time. But if you wish to speak with the peds, or watch the fairie some nights, please, do so."
She smiled brightly as she took it, thanking him, as she slipped it about her neck. King Marcus bowed, "Take care, Lady Aurora. I will see you when I return."
She curtsied, telling him to take care in his journey. It wasn't until he had gone, and she was left standing in darkness, that the fullness of it hit her. She was alone. Her last human connection had just walked away. Turning she hurried inside, and curled herself up by the warmth the fire. She held the amulet in her hand, careful not to grip it and activate it, and wondered when this solitude would end.
Maurice O'Malley woke to a pounding on his door. With a grumble he strode to the door and swung it open.
"What!" He croaked, straightening when he saw the king's guard standing there.
"A petition to serve, for Maurice O'Malley."
The man gawked at the paper in their hand. He'd joined the extra ranks of the king's army some time before for the extra coin it gave, but had never expected to do anything. This was a peaceful land. "Serve? in what war?"
"To join Aberlese in their fight against the Enchantress." The guard snapped, and Maurice paled, the Enchantress? No he couldn't, he couldn't fight in an army against that witchcraft.
"No, I, I can't, I uh-" He scratched his chin looking for an excuse. The guard produced another paper as if he couldn't be bothered to wait.
"Any one refusing to fight owes a servant's ransom. Failure to pay debt is a life of servitude, sign on the line, it will be collected after the war."
With that the armed guard turned and marched to the home a few doors down. Maurice watched him go, then scowled down at the paper in his hand. Servant's ransom? Service to be paid to the king equal to the service of war. He turned inside just as his daughter came into the room. Her brown hair was pulled back with a tattered ribbon that at one time had matched the faded blue apron she wore.
"Who was that, father?" she asked, and Maurice frowned
'Oh, just a missive." He stopped suddenly and looked at her. She was a scrawny thing, the only thing left of his marriage to a miserable woman. But she was young and fit and far more able to do any sort of service. Besides he had fed her and clothed her her whole life, she owed him something. He coughed. "It's a missive for you. They're doing a survey of all the young ladies."
"Why?" she asked, coming forward, brown eyes interested.
Maurice waved a hand, "Beats me, but just sign on the line there," He tossed the paper to her and she held it, squinting down at the writing Maurice knew she couldn't understand. His daughter had never been smart enough to know how to read.
"Just sign here?" she asked, pointing at line as she headed to the worn desk in the corner to find some ink and the quill.
"Yup." Maurice pulled on his shirt, "Why you gotta take so long, girl!" He snapped, irritated she hadn't just signed already. With a huff he snatched the paper as soon as she was done, and read the signature written with unsteady hand that read,
Belle O'Malley
