The Year of Magic

Ok I got allot of requests within the first day asking me to write more chapters so here is chapter two.

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"SHE WHAT?!!!!!" Bartholomew's voice echoed through the halls of the entire castle. Pepin was terrified; he'd seen his father angry before but never like this. He shrank away from his father but still replied. "Yes, sir. Yolei has escaped." Bartholomew's face became beet red. "HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?!!!" It was obvious that he wasn't going to calm down anytime soon. "She, somehow, temporarily liquefied the wall of the garden then stepped through it. When my men tried to follow her, they crashed into a solid wall." The image of his men stuck to the wall flashed through his mind. Pepin thought he would laugh but then he remembered his current situation. "WHAT ABOUT THE ARCHER POSTED AND THE MAID THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN WATCHING HER?!!!" Once again his voice boomed. "I've brought them to see you." Pepin said, hoping to take some of the heat off of himself. "You two, come here." He ordered. Tai and Kari stepped forward to meet the wraith of the king. "WHY DIDN'T YOU ALERT THE GAURDS?!" Bartholomew screamed at Kari. "I was watching her sir, but then it felt like someone reached into my mind and just turned it off." Kari explained. "We found her on the ground unconscious." Pepin's voice could be heard behind them. "AND WHAT ABOUT YOU?!! WHY DIDN'T YOU SHOOT HER LEG OR TRY TO STOP HER?!!" Bartholomew turned his wraith on Tai. "I don't know why sir, but every shot I fired veered off course." Tai could feel his heart in his throat. "We found many arrows father. He did try to stop her, but it appears that she somehow kept them from hitting her." Pepin once again explained. "I don't care what it takes; I want my sorceress found and brought back immediately. UNDERSTAND!!!" He may have calmed, but Bartholomew still screamed the last word to reinforce the order. "Yes father. We leave now." Pepin was glad that he was leaving the wraith of his father behind him.

*****Meanwhile.

Ken was helping Yolei walk. Her ankle was bothering her more than she would admit. At first she limped along on her own, but after awhile, the pain became too much. She was leaning against Ken; he was doing most of her walking for her. She still didn't know what it was, but she felt as if she could trust him. She felt as if he would protect her. Ken was beginning to notice that Yolei's breathing was labored. She was worn out but she didn't say anything about it. He admired her independence but he knew that she wasn't going to make it very far without his help. Yolei could feel her energy draining away and her body was beginning to slump. Ken noticed this; he wanted to let her rest but he knew they had to get as far away from Vendalun's castle as they could. There was only one thing he could do; he just hoped she would not struggle. He stopped walking, this surprised Yolei. "What are you do..." Yolei didn't get a chance to finish her sentence as Ken lifted her into his arms. Yolei was stunned but she didn't resist, she just let him hold her. Ken was surprised that she didn't struggle or yell at him to put her down. For some reason, they both thought that it just felt right. "We have to keep moving." Ken told her. Yolei nodded weakly. They walked on with Prowler close behind.

The timber wolf watched silently. He knew there was something about that young man. They walked on silently for about and hour. Yolei, wrapped in the warmth of Ken strong arms, began to drift into sleep. When Ken saw this he decided it was time to stop. The area they were standing in had a small clearing just large enough to build a fire. Ken sat Yolei down against a tree then set off to find some firewood. Prowler curled up next to Yolei and placed his head on her lap. It was the same comforting position he had taken up seven years ago. Yolei began to stroke his fur. "What do you think Prowler? Should we trust him?" Yolei asked the timber wolf. What does your heart tell you, my lady? Yolei looked in the direction Ken had gone. "I don't think he wants to hurt me, but he's hiding something." Prowler looked into her eyes. What do you think it is? Yolei shook her head. "I don't know." Prowler looked down for a moment then back at her. My I tell you a secret my lady. Yolei looked at him surprised, but she nodded. I lead him to you. Yolei's eyes went wide. "What?" She asked in disbelief. When I saw you run from the castle I knew I had to help, but I didn't know how. I heard him walking through the forest and when I saw him, something about him told me that he would help you. I chased him to you and he did exactly what I thought he would. I trust him my lady, but if you tell me to, I will chase him away. Tears began to well up in Yolei's eyes. She knew how much Prowler cared about her and she had watched him fight off the leader of the guards to save her.

"No. I trust your judgment, I trust him. I just wish he would tell me what he's hiding, it's unnerving." After about ten minutes Ken returned with a bundle of sticks in his arms. Within a few moments he had a strong fire burning. He looked to Yolei and noticed that she was rubbing her ankle. He walked over and knelt in front of her. "Do you mind?" He asked gently pointing to her injured ankle. She shook her head. He lifted her ankle and began to examine it; Yolei winced slightly. "I'm sorry." He said calmly. She smiled. "It's alright." Her ankle was swelling and Ken thought she might have sprained it. Thank goodness Joe told how to treat injuries in an emergency. One of Ken's only friends was the healer at his castle, a twenty-two year old man named Joe. He'd taught Ken how to take care of himself and heal wounds if lost in the wild. Ken knew of plenty of herbs that could reduce the swelling and ease the pain of Yolei's injury. "It looks like it might be sprained. I know of some herbs that might help, but I don't know if I'll be able to find them around here." Ken admitted. "It's alright. Prowler knows these woods like the back of his paw, he can help you find them." Yolei calmly stroked the timber wolf's rough fur. Ken looked at the wolf not knowing what to think. "Prowler, Ken needs your help. Do you think you could help him find the herbs he needs?" Yolei asked Prowler. Of course my lady. Prowler stood up and walked up to Ken. "Umm...we won't go far. Just incase those men come back." Ken said eyeing the wolf. It actually looks like it understands her.

As Ken and Prowler searched the woods for the healing plants need to help Yolei, thoughts ran through Ken's mind. How did the wolf know to push Ken toward Yolei? Did it really understand her? Why had those Vedalun knights attacked her? What had happened to the other guard? Why hadn't he attacked? Why had he seemed to glow purple? But the question that raced through his mind the most was, Why does my heart race every time I see her? It took them a little over an hour to find the three herbs that were needed. When they returned to the makeshift camp Ken's eyes once again fell on Yolei. Right on cue his heart began to pound. He placed the plants on the ground and began to mix them into a paste. When the mix was finished, he stood and walked over to Yolei. "Is this going to hurt?" Yolei looked into Ken blue eyes with concern. His heart melted. "No." He managed to reply. Ken applied the mix to Yolei's ankle then tore a piece of his coat off and used it as a bandage. With that done he sat down next to her.

"What are you hiding?" Ken's eyes went wide. "Excuse me?" He looked at Yolei in surprise. "Your hiding something, I know it." Ken didn't know what to say; he just sat with his mouth open. "When you introduced yourself you didn't say Sir Ken Ichijouji, you just said Ken Ichijouji. That means you're not a knight. Your cloths and sword are of a rich quality that means you come from a wealthy family. You know how to take care of an injured person that tells me that you were obviously educated. You also never told me which kingdom your from. I'm guessing you're not from Vendalun because you wouldn't have stood up to the castle knights that way. So what are you hiding?" Ken was amazed at her deduction. He wanted to tell her that he was the prince of Dentra, but he didn't know if he should. His eyes suddenly took on a pained look, which Yolei noticed. Ken opened his mouth to speak but she put a finger to his lips. She shook her head. "If it causes you that much pain you don't have to tell me." She said gently. Ken sighed and nodded.

"What about you?" Yolei looked down. "Why were those men after you?" Yolei took a deep breath. For some reason, Yolei wanted to tell him about her pained past. "What do you know about the prophesy of the year of magic?" Yolei asked quietly. "That there is a sorceress who is the key to world domination. That whoever controls her at the dawn of the year of magic will control the world." Ken said. Yolei nodded. "What do you know about her appearance?" Ken shrugged. "She should be seventeen now with lavender hair and crimson eyes...." Ken's voice trailed off as the realization hit him. He looked at Yolei stunned. "That's right." Yolei said on the verge of tears. "I'm the sorceress." She said meekly. The tears began to gently role down her cheeks. It broke Ken's heart to watch her cry. He pulled her close to him and whispered that everything was going to be all right. Then, to that surprise of both, Ken leaned down and kissed Yolei on the lips.

******In the castle

"Have you found her yet?" Bartholomew was no longer yelling but his harsh whisper was even worse. "No father. But we are on her trail and we know now that she is traveling with a wolf and a young man." Pepin trembled. "Do you know who he is?" Pepin gulped. "We're not sure, but we think that it he may be Prince Ken of Dentra." Bartholomew growled. "If Dentra thinks that they can take my sorceress, then they are sorely mistaken." Bartholomew left the room but still yelled. "FIND HER PEPIN!! OR IT'LL BE ON YOUR HEAD!!!" Pepin trembled and gulped. He had to find her now or his father would kill him. Pepin walked slowly out of the room.

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So what do you think? Should there be more chapters? Please review. Thanx!!!