Chapter 7: Misgivings

There were two witches bent on her destruction and only one Sofia. She needed to take out the weaker link, which was probably Cecelia, then worry about Amalthea again. Last time she'd caught the old witch off guard, but now this woman was fully prepared for what Sofia had to offer.

Sofia launched forward toward Cecilia, took a sideways step to easily avoid a similar wind blast to what the young witch had shot at her during the tournament and planted a foot solidly, flinging a lightening spell directly at the girl. Amalthea repelled it to protect her daughter as Cecelia froze. Sofia shot the ground in front of them with the explosion spell and great plumes of dust rose into the air, obscuring the Maldonian witches view. Sofia had to take this chance, and guessed Amalthea had dodged to a new position but Cecelia was too inexperienced to move, and shot a freeing spell through the ashen haze at where the younger witch had previously stood. A loud gasping cry and then silence came from the dirt cloud. Sofia had found her mark, and as the dust began to settle the form of a frozen maiden clutching her wand and cowering started to reveal itself.

One down.

Amalthea came barging out of the side of the dust plume fighting mad, and launched a series of burning hexes, as if intentionally ignoring her daughter's frozen plight. Sofia jumped side to side in an erratic manner, retreating backwards to establish some distance with which to maneuver. The elder witch was too close and thoroughly dominated the offensive.

Too many blasts, and Sofia lost her footing on a burning root below her, sliding sideways a bit. Her momentary disruption was all the witch needed, and a great plume of what could only be described as sharp air pummeled Sofia backward several dozen feet backward into some dried bushes to the side of the path. In an instant the bush was on fire. She needed air, and escape. NOW.

"Levitato!"

The spell launched her up above the tree tops, and a suspended Sofia could see the sorceress Amalthea staring at the bush below her. Somehow the dry underbrush and smoke had disguised her ascent, and the elder witch thought her quarry was still languishing in the bush below. This afforded her a moment to access the situation. Her family was fleeing on foot through the dry and increasingly incinerated chaparral. Quickly before the fire spread further she would need to squelch the blaze, and hopefully utilize the aerial advantage.

Sofia summoned a torrential watery blast and released the liquid tornado directly at the elder witch. It knocked the old woman backward several yards and seemed to disorient her. The residual water dispersed in all directions, extinguishing most of the blaze. Amalthea's arms went out as she tried to recover her bearings and began screaming with fury. Suddenly the woman's eyes locked on Sofia's disguised form and a powerful lightning blast erupted from the elder woman's wand, which took a great deal of skill and focus to redirect but somehow Sofia managed. Unfortunately it ricocheted off into some of the previously unaffected trees on the opposite side of the road, igniting them anew. This woman seemed intent on collateral damage. "What is WRONG with you? Why are you trying to burn down this kingdom?"

She shot an angry look back at Sofia. "I was born in this kingdom and I will do as I please, which includes defeating you MAGE!"

WAIT. This woman was the Royal Sorcerer of Maldonia, wasn't she? The prison was in Maldonia after all… What did she mean she came from Friezenburg?

There was no time to dwell on it as the intense staring match was broken by Amalthea's wand flick.

BOOM.

Another blast from the elder witch and only an inch spared Sofia from incineration. This woman had a predilection for burning things it would seem. Perhaps one could fight fire with fire. Sofia dug her foot into the ground and hurled a gigantic fireball back at the witch. Their opposing spells connected midway between, causing a massive explosion. This was her chance.

Sofia used her youthful speed and the distraction of the explosion to leap forward through the smoke and launch a sleeping spell at Amalthea, stunning the witch. The elder woman crumpled to the ground and the battle was over. The adrenaline still coursing through her veins, Sofia took several deep breaths to stem the shaking of her hands. She had been inches from death this time. Not a very nice place to be.

There came some groaning from the pile of guards strewn in the middle of the road, and it brought Sofia back to reality. The snapping wood and smoke rising into the air would serve as cover but needed to be quelled before the entire forest and it's peasant occupants were consumed by the flames, so she conjured a small rain cloud to cover the area and wash away her tracks. With that the disguised princess ran off into the darkened forest after her family, disappearing into the night.

She illuminated her way with the tip of her wand, and found them huddled under a rock near a stream, with Minimus trotting in a worried circle nearby. "Oh Papa! I was so worried about you!"

He looked at her strangely from under the lee of the stone where they crouched in near darkness, and the long blonde tresses dangling at her sides were probably the source of his confusion. She let the enchantments melt away, revealing her normal visage. A look of surprise shot across his face, and he grabbed her into a great bear hug. "By the stars above it's you sweet pea, and you're okay! Oh those witches, however did you survive?"

He was clasping her tightly, but then other arms wrapped around her too. They were all hugging her. It was a bit stifling if incredibly touching.

"Air!" squeezed out of her.

She was released, and the glint of happiness was reflected in the wand light illuminating their faces. "Thank you sweet pea but you shouldn't have come back. It's dangerous now. All those years and I didn't realize what had happened."

Sofia crouched in front of the huddled bodies, desperately confused. "Tell me what's going on Papa, anything you know."

Sal spoke. "They came for us first Sofia. They knew your father was our leader, so they wanted us captured first."

Birk interrupted him. "Yes, and this is only the beginning. They're after all of us. They wanted to send us back to that forsaken hole. It's our own people Sofia, our own king sent these men and those witches after us."

Sofia nodded. "I know." Shocked faces met her statement, so the princess elaborated. "I was at a party this evening and Prince Hugo of Maldonia insisted on dancing with me. I wanted to hear what he thought about all this, and he spilled all the secrets he knew while we danced. I knew I had to come find you, and save you, before they stuffed you away into a prison again or did something worse. But why did they take you Aunt Nelly?"

The woman was shaking, and Birk held her to comfort the woman. "I don't know."

Birk's eyes narrowed. "I have a bad feeling about all this."

They all stood there. Sal turned to Birk, "So, what's the next step brother? We can't go back to Mom's house."

Birk nodded his head back and forth a bit. "Yes, we cannot go back, but I have traveled extensively through these lands. I know of several abandoned cottages and dense forests."

Nelly spoke, "But my babies and Mom, I need to go back and get them."

Sofia shook her head, "I already got them out and they're on their way to your husband's family."

The woman looked at the other man in their group and he reached out to hold her hand. He must be her husband. They hadn't been prisoners in Maldonia, so why were they taken? It made Sofia so uneasy, the answer probably wasn't going to be good. Departing hugs were granted and Aunt Nelly took off with her husband into the night in search of their children.

Sofia turned to her father. Both Sal and Westin were looking to him for guidance. "We need to get our comrades safe. You beat the mages, yes honey?" Sofia nodded. "But you didn't kill them, did you sweet pea?" Sofia shook her head in the negative. "Right. So they will be coming for us again, and they will probably recruit help. Everyone, let's get to a shelter, the nearest one I know is about two miles from here, straight into the forbidden forest."

Sofia took Minimus by the reigns and they all rushed hurriedly through the dense forest, tripping and staggering as best they could through the dark. Sofia made sure to cover their tracks by sweeping dust over their footprints and tried to provide some illumination to hurry their journey, but not so much as to be discovered by a blinding light bouncing though the forest. Anyone reasonable would assume they had used the river to escape, and no sounds of pursuit could be heard. The group finally stood in front of a meager cottage with a thatched roof, a popular building style for this country. It looked to be abandoned for decades as Birk had assumed, and they proceeded to occupy the hut. There were holes in the walls that let the wind whistle through, and spider's webs clung to crevices high and low. Once there, Sofia increased the luminosity her wand was emitting and Birk rummaged through the few belongings still inside, knocking bugs and dirt aside to inspect the found items. "What are you looking for Papa?"

He began rummaging through a litter pile in the corner, "some parchment, and if I'm lucky a quill."

Sofia smiled. "Done."

Poof! The requested items appeared before him, hovering in place. Westin jumped up and down in delight, "You're so amazing cousin! Just absolutely spectacular. Oh man, if I could do magic like you I would be so happy."

Sofia turned to her delighted cousin as her Papa proceeded to draw something on the paper. "Well, why don't you learn magic?"

The young man stopped giddily jumping around and looked at her mystified. "Do you really think I could? I'm not that special, well not special like you, even if you are covered in soot." He let loose a gigantic smile and stroked a finger along her cheek, then rubbed his fingers together feeling the texture of the ash on her from the battle. It made Sofia feel flush and she let loose a tiny nervous giggle. Was she really covered in soot? She must look awful right now. Waves of self consciousness washed over her and she twisted her hair in her fingers.

"Um... well, anyone can learn magic Westin. I just had a really good teacher."

"You did?"

"Uh-huh. Hi name is Cedric and he's the most amazing sorcerer in the world."

Westin took a step back and seemed to restrain himself. "He must be really fond of you too to teach you all his magic."

"I guess so, he's one of my dearest friends. Most people don't understand him, but underneath the asperity he's just the best."

Sal interjected. "Okay enough you too, it's bad enough we're out here in the forbidden forest, if Westin takes up magic the mountains are almost assured to steal him away."

Sofia watched her cousin slump into a pile on the stone floor and felt indignation rise. If this young man wanted to learn magic Sofia wasn't going to let some cultural misgivings keep him from that goal. No way.

Before the princess could object Birk stood abruptly and slammed his hand on the table in triumph. "AHA!"

Startled, Sofia turned her attention to what he'd been illustrating. It was actually a really good drawing of Friezenburg.

"What are you doing Papa?"

He looked up at her. "I'm planning sweet pea."

Sal took an immediate interest in Birk's efforts, "You drawing maps again brother?" Birk just smiled and Sal looked over toward Sofia. "Your Dad, he was always the adventurous sort. We used to go into the capital city for grain rations when we were children, and your Dad would study the maps. When we got home he would draw them in the dirt."

Sal walked over and gave her Papa a hearty slap on the back. "Guess that's when your wanderlust started, ey Birk?"

"You may be right brother, but anyway it's done."

Sofia giggled. The men looked at her strangely. "Oh it's just that I love to travel and have adventures too. I guess I inherited that from you Papa."

Birk shoved the drawing forward and began to explain. "Sofia, do you see these mountains I've drawn here?"

"Yes."

'They start a mile or so from this cottage and run lengthwise along the kingdom. I've drawn the cottage we're at with a little 'x' here." He pointed and sure enough, there was the cottage. "Now all these little villages are the towns in Friezenburg, I've labeled them in tiny little font see." Sofia peered over and sure enough, there was tiny writing next to small groupings of squares, clearly meant to be houses. "I've marked the ones where our compatriots hailed from with a circle. There were about a dozen villages marked.

Sofia couldn't help it, "So many. How did you know where they all live? How are we going to save them all? And will they even believe us when we tell them what's happening?"

Sal shot Sofia a confident look. "We spent years with them Sofia. Each man has a home, and people they loved. Also, Birk was our leader. He kept everyone safe, made sure everyone was fed for all those years in the prison. They will believe us, and we've got to get them out and make sure their families know not to tell of their return, or the same thing could happen to all of them."

Birk turned to his daughter. "Sofia, please take me with you on your horse. We will go and warn people, and I will draw them a map to a safe house in the dirt. We'll have them congregate at these houses. Once they're safe we'll figure out what to do."

Westin shot up from his slumped over spot on the stone floor, "I'm coming too!"

Birk shrugged him off. "No Westin, I want you to go to this house marked here." He showed Westin the map and pointed to a small 'x' located several miles north. "Use your youth and get to this place fast Westin, wait for our friends there. They will be nervous. Stay there with them until we come for you." He turned to Sal. "Brother, you do the same here okay."

Westin looked nervous, "I'll try to find my way Uncle, and I'll make you proud."

That's right, how was he ever to navigate through unfamiliar forest in the dark? It struck Sofia as very brave but naive that Westin was willing to go running through the 'forbidden forest' in the dark with witches potentially out there hunting him. But her Papa's road would be the more dangerous. She had to go with her father, even ifshe might have felt a slight tug inside to go with Westin.

Sofia conjured a candle, but it blew out almost instantly from the wind ripping through the holes in the walls. No good. It would never last. Birk reached into his pocket and pulled out the stone he'd stolen from the prison wall. It still glowed. He handed it to the boy. "Here, it will light your way and won't blow out."

They both nodded, and Sofia set off on Minimus with her father in tow and watched as Westin ran off into the distance. "What was that stone Papa?"

"It's something we mined in Friezenburg. Well, one of the lesser quality ones. I don't know what it is exactly, but I've always had this nagging suspicion about it because the guards were afraid to touch them."

Yet another mystery. Both her Papa and Westin seemed unaffected by handling the stone, so what could it be?

Flying was a LOT faster than any other method of transportation, and they reached the homes of the frightened men with ease. Birk had a special knock he used to alert the men, which had been developed in the prison as a means of communication. As soon as Birk spoke each and every one of them agreed to flee, most of them to protect their families from a similar harrowing experience that Sofia's had met, but several of the men just seemed willing to do whatever Birk said.

They finally reached the last house, in the northernmost part of Friezenburg just before daybreak. Despite the danger the adrenaline rush of earlier had begun to wear off and Sofia found herself yawning heavily as they landed outside the dilapidated door of this last hovel. The characteristic knock on the wall Birk performed woke whoever was inside. The door opened and a very old woman answered. Birk addressed her, "Hello, you must be Martha. Daniel told us so much about you. Is he here?"

The older lady was already hunched from age, and seemed saddened by their presence. "Yes, my husband is here and he is still sleeping. He has been sleeping since he arrived home. But I knew this would come." Birk and Sofia glanced at each other in worry, and the woman bade them come in. It was the last house, so they could afford a few minutes break after riding all night. She presented them with an early simple breakfast of bread and water that they munched quietly, and she spoke in low, serious tones. "I must tell you that I am very old, and I have seen much." Sofia didn't like where this was going. "It has been happening since my youth, many generations. The war was but an excuse, one of so many. My sister was also taken as a young girl."

Sofia looked at this old woman. What was she saying? The woman looked directly at her Papa, and the man's expression had grown hard, the kitchen hearth's firelight illuminating the weary wrinkles along his face earned by toil in the mines. The old woman raised a bony finger whose joints were swollen to the point of disfigurement, pointing it squarely at Sofia's father.

"You are now 'the lost'."