Past Is Prologue

Chapter 15: Journey Home

My sister and I were ten years old when Queen Shuriki conquered Avalor. My father, Count Rodrigo Herrera, was tenth in line to the throne, so as you can imagine our family was watched closely. For the first year of her awful reign, my parents kept hoping someone would rise to take Shuriki on so they could join forces. No one did. The boy duke of Nueva Vista, King Raúl's closest heir, made no effort, (Note: See chapter on Duke Cristóbal Castillo) and Don Esteban Flores was being held hostage in the Palace (Note: see chapter on Chancellor Esteban Flores), so my parents decided to take matters into their own hands. My father rallied a hundred men and women to his banner and they marched to take the palace. It was not enough. They were all destroyed. As my sister and I were still children, we were not held accountable, and Queen Shuriki even acknowledged Delores as Countess, as well as appointing a Northern Isles governess whose first loyalty was to the witch on the throne. My sister and I grew quite adept at hiding our true feelings behind courtly matter. – Lady Yolanda Herrera (no relation to apprentice wizard Olivia Herrera), A People's History of the Reign of Queen Shuriki, compiled by Professor Catalina de Torres

Olivia felt calmer, if not happier, when Rico called a rest after two hours of riding. Antonia had spoken with the apprentice wizard – no, ex-apprentice wizard – as they began the long journey back overland to Avalor City while César and Rico rode on up ahead. Antonia had helped Olivia find perspective. At least Olivia still had magic – she still possessed her tamborita and the knowledge she's acquired after six years of study. And while Mateo was the only master wizard in Avalor, he wasn't the only magical teacher in the Everrealm. If Olivia were willing to travel outside of the country in a few years when she was an adult, she had options.

Antonia also helped Olivia to see Mateo's point of view. She had, after all, disobeyed a direct order when she stowed away on Don Esteban's boat to go to Nueva Vista. He technically had the right to fire her as his apprentice, although Olivia still thought he was way too harsh. She suspected the others did as well.

She and Antonia caught up with Rico and César and they all dismounted. Olivia thought the break was mostly for her benefit since the others all had more experience riding horseback than she did, though Olivia did at least know how to ride a mule. But it wasn't exactly the same thing.

When she tried to apologize to Rico for slowing the group down, he pointed out that none of them knew these particular horses, so it was best not to push them too far too soon. They'd gotten them when Mateo, Rico, and Don Esteban had gone to speak with the captain of the Nueva Vista guard, Catalina Erauso. They'd learned that ships had gone missing and had shared what they knew of Duke Cristóbal and Fiero. Captain Erauso, disturbingly, had warned that Duke Cristóbal still had supporters here and that she didn't know who to trust.

Mateo had been uncharacteristically grim. Though barely twenty three, he suddenly seemed much older. "Lieutenant, I need you and private Bello to return to Avalor City to warn the Queen. You'll need to travel overland. You should take the guard-in-training with you, and please make sure Olivia is safely returned to her parents. Victor, Esteban, and Ixlan will accompany me and we'll lay a trap on the sea."

The three he mentioned all protested – Victor and Don Esteban wanted to search for their children, and Ixlan wanted to stay with her wife. To Victor Mateo said, "Do you really want to force me to dismiss two apprentices in one day?" Victor had shot Olivia a startled look and had demurred. Mateo asked Esteban what report he should make to the queen about her cousin, and Esteban replied that of course his boat was at the royal wizard's disposal.

"You have no authority over me, wizard," Ixlan had pointed out.

"No, but I can tell everyone that you were too afraid to face a foe."

"No one would believe you," Ixlan shook her head. "Are you really so afraid of this Fiero that you would resort to such tactics to elicit my aid?" She'd sounded puzzled, not offended.

"I am," Mateo had replied calmly. "Will you help me defeat one of Avalor's greatest enemies?" Ixlan had consented.

And so Esteban's crew had been split in half, and Olivia found herself accompanying the Guard back to Avalor City. She was determined not to cry in front of them.

Antonia passed travel rations to everyone, and she and Rico began speculating about Mateo's plan. Mateo had wanted to leave right away, but the tide was against him. So at the moment the others were still cooling their heels at the Nueva Vista port.

Olivia stared at the ground morosely. Mateo had been so…disappointed in her. And how was she supposed to explain any of this to her parents? They'd been so supportive of her studies to become a wizard and had been so proud when she became the first teacher of magic at Avalor City Elementary School in forty-five years. What would they think of her now?

Olivia looked up when César put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry about the way things turned out, but I'm glad you came. It's been fun getting to know you."

Olivia managed a small smile. "Thanks. I…"

"Boqato!"

Olivia felt herself being pushed to the other side of the clearing!

"Akatok!" What was happening? Olivia fumbled with her tamborita in her satchel when.. "Meyazami!" Her tamborita flew from her hands and was deftly caught by the spell-caster who then threw the drum wand behind him. Olivia looked up from the ground.

Fiero!

Frantically she looked around for the others and saw with a sudden, breathtaking dread that they'd all been turned to stone. César's arm was raised as if to ward off what was coming. Antonia's sword was already drawn. Rico had his tamborita out. From the position of his fingers, he'd been close to casting a shield, but not close enough. He'd been faster than Olivia at least. She'd failed them all. She felt a lump in her throat when she saw the life drained from her friends.

Mateo could reverse the spell! She had to get to him. She scrambled to her feet and ran as fast as she could towards her horse.

"Bilicú!" Olivia felt the spell take effect as she heard the staccato beat of Fiero's tamborita and the air around her turned to molasses; she could only move her head. She was at Fiero's mercy.

"Leaving so soon, joven?" the malvago asked affably. "And after I went through all the trouble of arranging this little demonstration just for you. I don't know what your master is teaching you, but it's certainly not courtesy."

"Couldn't turn all of us into stone? Did you miss?" Okay, not the best taunt, but Olivia was having a hard time not letting fear overwhelm her. It was the best she could do in the moment.

The malvago smiled as he stepped closer to her. Olivia wished she could back away. "Now why would I do that, Olivia Herrera, senior apprentice of royal master wizard Mateo de Alva? I do all of this because of you. I need you alive and conscious, at least for the time being.

"But you should not wish to be transformed to stone. It is a terrible fate. I should know. Your precious Mateo de Alva cast that spell on me – twice. The worst part was seeing it coming, knowing that within seconds I would be unaware, unable to move, and completely helpless. Death would have been preferable." Olivia gulped. It did sound pretty awful when Fiero put it like that.

"Here. Let me show you." Fiero put his hands on Olivia's shoulders and turned her to face César. "Observe this poor guardsman. In his current state he is utterly incapable of defending himself if any enemy does…well, this. Contali!" Olivia screamed as the César statue shattered!

Fiero calmly walked over to the figures of Rico and Antonia and casually leaned against both of them. "I suppose I should leave one person to tell the tale. I don't know either of these two. Do you have a preference?"

"Why are you doing this?" Olivia cried out.

The malvago's eyes narrowed. "Alacazar's grandson will pay for everything he and his grandfather have done to me. I will destroy him, and you, my dear, are the perfect bait to draw my enemy into my trap." Olivia gasped. She couldn't let that happen! Knowing she couldn't move yet, the ex-apprentice wizard looked about to see if she could spot her tamborita. There it was, on the grass! Fiero would have to release her from bilicú at some point, if only to cast another spell on her. Olivia would be ready and planned to dive for it the moment she was free…

Then she saw Fiero's mocking smile. He slowly walked over to her tamborita and brought his heel down on the drum, smashing it. Mateo had given her that tamborita when she was only nine years old. It was like a part of her had been destroyed.

"You still haven't made your choice, apprentice Olivia. Whom shall I spare? Or shall I choose at random?" Fiero raised his tamborita and aimed it at the stone figures of the remaining guards.

"No," Olivia whispered. "Please, don't hurt either of them."

"Please?" Fiero seemed surprised. "No one ever says 'please' to me. It's usually insults and angry demands. If I had been shown courtesy all those years ago…" He shook his head. "I suppose my point has already been made. When De Alva stumbles across this delightful tableau, he'll be desperate to get his little apprentice back." The malvago lightly bopped her on the nose. "I will leave both of your friends intact."

Olivia gulped, and remembering what Fiero had said about courtesy, murmured, "Thank you." At least Antonia and Rico would be safe. But César…

"Now how to get De Alva here before the fool sails off?" Fiero mused to himself. He pointed his tamborita to the sky, banged it once, and chanted, "Chihufeti!" Magical fireworks lit the sky. It would certainly draw attention.

Without warning, he banged his tamborita at Olivia and chanted, "Zanamo!" The spell holding her in place abruptly dissipated. Olivia wasn't expecting it and fell to her knees. Fiero hauled her back up by the strap of her satchel, and his eyes narrowed for a second. He drew a small knife and before Olivia could react he cut the strap and tossed the satchel away. She'd used it to not only keep her now destroyed tamborita but also her notebook of spells and several potions. Fiero kept catching her off-guard; she vowed to be quicker next time. She would get away from him and warn Mateo; she'd just have watch for her opportunity and be ready.

The malvago grabbed her arm and said, "Come along, child."

"Where are we going?" Olivia demanded.

Fiero smiled thinly. "I'm taking you to see your king."

AN: A story cannot contain a song, of course. But if you would like one, imagine this: a classic Disney villain song sung by Fiero. No tragic backstory, no conflicted emotions. He knows he's evil and revels in it. He gloats that he will soon perform the greatest spell ever seen in the Everrealm, proving once and for all that he's the greatest wizard of all time. And he now has the means to get rid of that pesky royal wizard, as Olivia will be the perfect bait for his trap.