Chapter 16: Suspicions
It was Cedric.
Terrified beyond reason the sorcerer shook from the ends of his grey bangs to the tips of his toes as the lightning blast landed mere feet from where he stood. What was he doing here? By the stars above, THAT was why he was scared earlier, THIS was what Rolland had commanded him to do. No wonder he'd been gripping onto her in the war room with trembling hands. Anger at her stepfather for putting his beautiful soul in danger erupted. This man who was so completely unaccustomed to combat had been forced into the middle of a war zone. Her anger's only salve was the intense fear that he'd be hurt in this chaos.
Out of the corner of her eye she spotted a peasant running at Cedric with hedge shears as a weapon, and the sorcerer yelped in horror, taking several steps back and trying desperately to conjure something to save his life. Sofia flung herself forward and conjured a gigantic rock that fell to the earth between them, sparing Cedric an impaling. The sorcerer jumped backward from the impact, covering his head in his hands. She was still so far away, and Edith seemed not to care about his well-being, having started her approach at Sofia. A burning miasma was launched at the disguised princess, and she rolled in the dirt to avoid its sting. Pivoting she launched a hex worthy of Lucinda's grandfather at Cedric's sister, but the woman dodged easily and came running toward Sofia, a fire in her eyes and wand glowing red. Her single-minded hatred was her undoing, as Westin launched his shield at the woman's head, striking her. She fell unconscious to the ground. Even magic can't save someone driven to distraction in a battle. A yelp of horror, and Sofia spun to see Cedric had frozen the arm and a leg of an extremely muscular villager who'd come at him with a sword stolen off a Maldonian soldier. The man was still swinging the iron weapon at the sorcerer, who'd tripped over his own feet and fallen onto his backside trying to jump away.
"NO!"
Sofia pulled her legs underneath her and the world moved in slow motion. A footfall. Then two. Then three. She was still too far away. There was a Maldonian soldier who crossed between her position and where Cedric was crawling backward to escape the sword's radius. She blasted the roadblock backward with the wind tunnel. The man fell next to where Cedric was sprawled on the ground and the half-frozen peasant took the opportunity to end the soldier instead of the sorcerer. Cedric cried out in horror and the sword swung around again.
Sofia lunged forward and wrapped her arms around the kneeling sorcerer's head, taking him along for the ride as gravity and momentum carried them a ways down the hillside. They finally stopped rolling and she let his head go. The man fell away from her and they sat there on the hillside, staring at each other.
Cedric was transfixed on her face. His mouth fell open, and it was if he'd forgotten that there was a battle raging around them and his head had almost been lobbed clean off.
"Anne."
Who? In the corner of her eye Sofia caught sight of a Maldonian soldier running at her, sword drawn. She started to swing her arm around to freeze the Maldonian but Cedric had lunged forward and wrapped his arms around her. "No!"
She pried the sorcerer off of the front of her but there wasn't enough time. The soldier was going to kill them both by impaling them with his sword. To great relief his iron was met in kind by a soldier wearing Friezenburg regalia. Some if not all of the Friezenburg soldiers had switched sides to the rebellion. Saved, if only for a moment her eyes again caught Cedric's, and he was shaking his head in disbelief. "Anne. It's not possible. I watched you die, I saw…."
"Who is Anne?" He obviously didn't recognize her in this disguise and thought she was someone else, but as she said it his mouth dropped open. Another loud scream originated behind her. Sofia turned to see a Maldonian soldier about to impale her father. Sofia screamed, "PAPA!" and launched forward, and she watched in horror as her dearest father spun too slowly to defend himself from the blow.
CLANG.
Westin had jumped from a nearby rock and landed on the soldier. She stood and ran the few steps to where her Papa and Westin stood. Westin turned and wrapped her in a great hug, then pulled her back. "Did you take all the witches out?"
"Yes but—"
The rock behind them froze over. Cedric had stood, a seeming fire lit beneath him. His wand glowed white at its end, and he's finally launched a spell more than a few feet. Westin stiffened, and ripped a shield off the fallen soldier as he ran toward Cedric.
"AAGGHH!" Her father cried out, and Sofia turned to see Birk knocked onto the ground, a soldier above him swinging an axe overhead. Sofia launched a freezing spell, and the soldier was immobilized.
Cedric yelped in horror, and Sofia pivoted to witness Westin body check the poor guy. Cedric's spell had missed and Westin, with his tall muscular frame had knocked the sorcerer backward several feet. Sofia ran and jumped on Westin's back, preventing her cousin from pummeling her mentor.
"No! You can't hurt him! Please you can't!" Sofia screamed. Westin immediately stopped advancing and Sofia slumped off his shoulders. Cedric just sat there, stunned senseless that 'the enemy' was protecting him. Westin reached down and grabbed the wand, "I got it!" Cedric snapped out of it and launched upward, trying to grab the wand back. A simple shove and the sorcerer was again knocked onto his backside.
Sofia flew to his side, and wrapped her arms around the desperately confused sorcerer's neck, "No! You can't take his wand! He HAS to have it! It's the only way he can fight!"
"But he's a bad guy!"
"No he's NOT! This is all King Rolland's fault!" Sofia screamed it back at Westin, tears streaming down her face. Even with his wand Cedric may not survive this, but without it he had zero chance. Cedric was still reeling from being knocked backward, but upon hearing Sofia's words his head dropped to the side, overtaken by confusion.
Westin nodded and dropped the wand in the torn up dirt below, turning around to survey the nearby fighting. She turned to Cedric expecting him to immediately pick it up, but instead he was staring at her, as if trying to peer into her soul was more important than defending himself. His eyes trailed upward toward her hair, then bulged from their sockets again. A horn blew in the distance, and Westin grabbed Sofia's arm. "The villagers are safe, we've got to get out of here sweetie."
"But I can't leave him here! He'll be killed!"
Birk was motioning frantically for Westin and Sofia to follow him back up the hillside, as several of the men in Friezenburg regalia were fending off the unified front of the Maldonian forces that had coalesced behind them.
"We've got to go NOW!"
Sofia spun to see Cedric extending his arms to embrace her, but she was pulled backward. Westin had scooped her up onto his shoulder, her legs trailing at his sides, and was running up the hill hillside as her long blonde hair flowed behind them. Cedric cried out frantically and started groping at the torn up ground below him for his wand. He finally grabbed the wand and started running after her as she screamed, "No! I can't leave him here, he'll be killed! No!"
She kicked and screamed and Westin dropped her, "What's the matter with you? Everyone's safe so we've got to get out of here now."
"But Mr. Cedric, he'll die."
Westin's mouth dropped open. "That's Cedric?"
Birk had run up alongside them. "Go now. NOW."
BOOM.
A huge blast of energy exploded the ground between where Cedric was running and Sofia stood. There was cackling piercing through the air. Edith had regained consciousness. The gigantic plume of dirt obscured everyone's view, and Sofia was pulled backward, away from the battle. Birk was dragging her as tears streamed down her face. Did Cedric survive that blast? Oh no, NO NO! What if Edith hurt him, what if she killed him. Oh no, anything but that, anything.
Sofia was screaming and flailed as Birk dragged her away from the battle. He finally planted a hard hand on her shoulder. "Sweet pea, you are going to get KILLED if you try and fight like this!" He gestured lengthwise up and down the frantically sobbing girl's frame. "Sweetie today's battle is over. If he's dead he's already dead, and if he's not he'll be fine."
"BWAAAAHHHHH!" Sofia lost it. What if he'd died? Oh no, by all the stars in the skies above let it not be true.
The dust began to settle and Sofia scanned the field beyond the crater desperately for him. A gigantic wave of relief washed over her, as he stood frantic on the opposite side of a great ravine that had been dug into the earth by Edith's spell. He was alive. She stood there gasping for breath while Birk shouted, "Wes, get her out of here!"
The man nodded and lifted Sofia up off the ground that her head and shoulders were flung over one side. Unable to compose herself, her arms fell over his back as her cousin carried her away from the battle. She watched Cedric flailing in the distance, and then the sorcerer halted, staring after her as they disappeared behind rugged terrain.
They ran like the wind, and Birk called out often for Sofia to magically cover over their tracks. The last of the peasants and some defecting soldiers of Friezenburg ran alongside them.
They finally made it to safety. It seemed that no one had been able to track them through the trees and rocky hillsides. Sofia whistled to Minimus, but the horse did not come quickly. There before them stood the waterfall, and at its base stood Lucinda. There were wounded, and set to one side was the man who'd stopped Amalthea. Over his body hovered an elderly woman singing the funeral lamentation. It was heartbreaking.
Sofia collapsed into an emotional puddle alongside her dear friend, and the witch spent a solid minute comforting the girl. She finally pulled back and the missing horse sailed into the tiny valley from above, landing nearby. With him was her magical medical supplies, and there was no time to linger on how this was entirely Sofia's fault. Every single injury, and even the man who'd given his life were all her burden to bear. She emptied the contents of her bag upon the ground and Lucinda took to their administration. How could she do this? How was this even possible? Hunched over, Sofia flopped to one side upon the ground and curled into the fetal position, overcome with guilt. She always tried her utmost to do the right thing, and look where it had led?
Pain, agony, and misery for the people of Friezenburg. There were strong hands underneath her that lifted the princess up. "What are you doing Westin?" Came from the tear-streaked girl.
He seemed conciliatory, and set the princess alongside the older woman who sang the lamentation. The woman reached out a sinewy hand and took Sofia's shaking fingers into her own.
"You are our blessing child."
It set off a fresh round of crying for the princess. "Please do not weep. Do you see my son? His wife and son were taken, my grandbaby was taken." Sofia tried to suck up the tears as the woman spoke with kindness.
"But it's all my fault. I wish Amalthea had killed me instead of him."
The woman reached up for Sofia's hair. She'd forgotten to remove the disguise, and slowly did so. The enchantments melted away, and she curled over the fallen man.
"My boy, he would have given anything to set them free. You mustn't blame yourself child. You are one of us, and you are our savior. You've freed the sons of Friezenburg and opened our eyes. We owe you everything, and one day our people will be free."
The woman wrapped her arms around the princess, and Sofia sobbed into the woman's shoulder. Westin sat next to her and leaned his side up against the princess, and began chanting lamentations of loss. Other's joined in as Lucinda rose. The elderly woman cried through her song, and Lucinda lifted the ground below the man, creating a grave.
He was granted this burial, a hallowed Friezenburg tradition to usher the dead to the abyss beyond. Minimus whinnied in distress, eager to flee this area and Lucinda closed over the grave.
"I'm sorry Sofia, I know it was awful. This is my fault, I shouldn't have convinced you to go." Westin was stroking the girl's head with obvious regret.
"Don't say that! Look at all these people we saved." Lucinda retorted. "Sofia, YOU saved them, just as much as I did or you father."
Sofia glanced around, and there were dozens if not hundreds of frightened villagers making their way behind the waterfall and into the caves. It was true, in the last war Maldonia simply stole everyone left behind as labor for the work camps, and who knows what else.
"Thanks friend."
"So what now?" Lucinda inquired.
Birk had come to stand over the group seated on the ground, and responded to Lucinda's query. "Now you all go home. You two back to Enchancia, and you." He pointed a most displeased finger at Westin, "I'm going to have a quite a talk with your father about this Wes."
The young man hung in head in shame. "I know, I shouldn't have brought Sofia to the battle. I'm sorry Uncle."
"Not nearly as sorry as you're going to be when Sal gets through with you. Just look at how upset she is."
Westin nodded slightly, hugged Sofia goodbye and marched himself behind the waterfall. Lucinda rose up to challenge Birk. "But I can fight! I want to fight! You need the help, there are witches out there and—"
"NO. You've done enough for now." The witch's lips quivered and hands clenched, but Birk wasn't done yet. "Luci you've got a family that loves you, and I'm sure they're worried about you, just like I'm worried about my little Sofia." He turned to look down at his daughter, still aching inside from the pain witnessed this afternoon.
"My family doesn't mind at all! They're all witches that like the idea of me finally making mischief somewhere. In their eyes I'm finally keeping up the family traditions!"
"No. Luci, can you just take Sofia home? Please, she's too upset to go alone and I promise to send for you if needed."
With that he bent down and wrapped his arms around Sofia, ignoring Lucinda's further protestations. "I love you sweet pea."
"I love you too Papa." Off behind the waterfall he disappeared.
The last of the villagers cleared out, leaving Lucinda and Sofia alone. The grave before Sofia taunted her psyche, how many others would meet a similar fate before this was over?
The girls flew back to Enchancia, Lucinda fuming all the while. "It's just not fair, none of them can do magic. Why is he being so stubborn!"
"Because he cares Lucinda." It took the girls indignation down a couple notches.
"But it's just not a good idea Sofia. He's their leader, but he's letting his personal feelings dictate his decisions."
"But Lucinda, if he didn't try to do what he thought was right and protect us, how would he be any different from King Aaron, or King Victor."
It knocked the wind out of Lucinda, and for several moments they flew in silence.
"Or Axel." It came out of Lucinda cold and menacingly. Sofia's head shot up.
"Wait! Axel's a good guy!" The witch reared away from Minimus, incredulous at the princess's statement, but this needed to be said. "Lucinda believe me, I spoke with him this morning and he's been trying to find out what happened. He went looking for court records and everything. He knows it's all a lie and he's fuming mad about it."
A look of disbelief faded from the witch, and small glimmers of hope rose up in her. "You mean it?"
"Yeah!"
Sofia pulled on the reigns to bring Minimus closer, "Ouch! Watch it Sofia."
"Sorry Friend."
"Lucinda, he's worried sick about you." The witch's eyes were darting around, as if to piece together the reality that her moral code and attraction to the prince were not inherently incompatible.
"He is? But Sofia he told me in no uncertain terms there shall be no witches in his bed, only princesses."
"But Lucinda, he really cares about you, AND he's realizing that this honor code his father is holding him too is not really all that honorable."
Sofia looked off into the distance. "I think King Victor is the real evil in all this. He's the one forcing Axel, Aaron, and my father into a corner. He's probably got Amalthea pinned in some way too."
"WHAT. Alright you're telling me everything, right now Ms. Princess." Lucinda demanded.
Sofia proceeded to relay the ways in which Aaron had squirmed under Victor's pressure, and how even king Rolland had succumbed, as well as the discussion with Amalthea in the cave. Restating Rolland's actions made the fires of animosity ignite in the princess, and she grit her teeth while relaying Rollands' crimes against her sorcerer.
"Rolland sent my Cedric to fight these people. My slightly mischievous but never truly evil Cedric, whose never won a fight in his life, he sent him into a battle where he was almost certain to die. Didn't you see him?" The rage boiling within her was breaking through the surface.
Lucinda reared back, completely shocked, "No! I didn't see him at all. Are you sure? I only saw that older woman with the brown and grey hair."
"Amalthea."
"Yeah, and I hexed her real good."
"He was there, and so was his sister. Lucinda, Rolland also gave some flying horses to King Aaron, as scouts to find the cottages."
Lucinda practically shot fire from her eyes. "This is beyond the pale. Actively helping to hurt people. He's crossed a line Sofia."
"I know Lucinda. I know." How could Rolland have sent Cedric into that mess? The more she thought about it, the more livid she became. Was Cedric's life simply not worth it? He must have known the odds were against the poor man. That he'd put Cedric in so much danger made explosions go off in the girl's mind, and for what? What did he really think Cedric could do in that battle anyway when Edith and Amalthea were already there?
It must have been for political appearances, and nothing more. A false showing of support. The thought that her Cedric could have died for something so trivial made her seethe with violent contempt.
Sofia made it to Lucinda's cottage just before dinnertime and changed back into her princess's outfit, stuffing the incriminating green dress back into her bag along with the map and left over ointments. She snuck back into the castle, depositing Minimus at the stables and dropped her bag off on her dresser before hurrying down to dinner, where she was sure to be expected. But upon arrival she was greeted by no one. Amber, James and Miranda were still at Clio's play, along with the rest of their entourage. Rolland was busy in late meetings. Half way through the silent meal Rolland entered, Baileywick at his side per usual. He strode up and patted Sofia's head, then took his seat and began eating.
What could she say? Expressing her outrage at Rolland's decisions would mean revealing where she'd been that day. But perhaps she could get him to divulge it.
"So how was your day Sofia?"
"It was… Unpleasant."
"Oh, and why's that?"
"I noticed Mr. Cedric wasn't in his tower today. Do you know what happened to him?"
Rolland coughed to clear his throat. "Why yes, he had official royal business to attend to."
Sofia felt adrenaline course through her veins. "And what was the 'official royal business' Rolland?"
The king froze. He closed his eyes and set his goblet down gently upon the table. Slowly he reopened his eyes and turned to the girl, a look of pain across his face.
"Rolland?"
Oops. She'd called him Dad for years now, in this angry state he seemed less a father and more a dictator than ever before. They stared at each other for quite some time, Sofia trying all the while to suppress the growing hate while Rolland seemed determined not to answer her question. Finally the silence broke by the creaking of the dinning room door.
Rolland seemed relieved, "Well, speak of a sorcerer! There he is Sofia, you can stop staring at me." Heads turned to observe Cedric walking slowly into the dining room. A dark cloud followed the sorcerer, as if death itself had accompanied him home, and he stood there with a narrowed gaze. "So Cedric, were you able to assist your sister in the capture of the mystery mage?"
Cedric just stood there for what seemed like an age before finally answering. "No."
Roland seemed unsurprised. "Well, I'm still glad you went." Cedric's eyes were still narrowed and his jaw was clenched. Sofia felt awful for the sorcerer, he should never have been put in that position. Rolland again addressed the sorcerer, "Was the battle in Friezenburg won?"
"It was n-n-not a victory s-s-sire. It was a s-s-slaughter."
Rolland began massaging his brow, "Cedric, that is… disconcerting."
Sofia could endure no longer. She slammed down her cup and addressed her father directly. "How could you send Mr. Cedric to Friezenburg!"
"Now Sofia, please calm down."
It was over, there was no more maintaining calm. "No! No I will not calm down! It's not okay! How could you send him off to fight with her! Don't you realize Edith is just after his job?! Don't you even care about him at all?! He could have died! Is that what you wanted?!"
"THAT'S ENOUGH SOFIA." Rolland had risen to his feet, hands planted on the table. "How did you know he was with Edith today?"
Sofia reared back, "I… uh…I" She looked over at Cedric, unsure if he was supposed to divulge the information to her earlier, and the sorcerer's brows had furrowed with worry. Oh no, he probably wasn't supposed to tell her.
"I'm waiting Sofia."
She started to hyperventilate, but then a nervous, "I… t-t-t-told her your M-M-Majesty."
Rolland growled, "Cedric what did I—"
"That's not the point Rolland! How could you trust that woman with his safety! She's a menace, she—"
"You can't possibly understand what's going on Sofia! Cedric is my servant, and if he's not able to perform the duties I require then I might just have to consider my options."
Sofia gasped in horror, as Rolland was outright suggesting replacement of the sorcerer, probably with his sister. She spun to see Cedric, jaw clenched and breathing heavily through his teeth. "No! No please! Edith is evil, I know it! Please you can't possibly consider this, NO!"
Sofia turned back to see Rolland massaging his forehead. "Sofia calm down, Edith isn't 'evil'."
"Yes she is! She… She…"
"Sofia s-s-s-stop." Cedric managed to squeak the words out through his clenched jaw.
"But no, no Mr. Cedric! I have to say something, I have too!"
She turned to her stepfather, she had to do something, anything. If anyone was a innocent in all of this, it just had to be Cedric.
"N-N-No p-p-p-princess. Please no." Cedric stuttered.
"Edith was the one who set me on fire!"
Rolland pulled his hands off the table and stood straight, his yelling halted. "Sofia that's not possible."
"Sofia." The princess turned to see Cedric's eyes had softened a bit into sadness, and his shoulders had slumped.
"Sofia there is no way Edith set you on fire."
"But Dad it had to be her!"
The king just shook his head. "Sofia I could see Edith's hands at that dinner, both of them. There was no way she cast the spell."
WHAT. "But no, she had to have. It must have been her."
Rolland took several deep breaths and took a few steps toward the angry, hurt and extremely confused girl. "Sofia these are trying times. Please dear, I think you need to get some more rest. Please return to your room." A sideways nod toward the exit, and it was more of a command than a suggestion.
Being angry wasn't helping. She needed to appeal to the man's better nature. All those years of witnessing the best king Enchancia had ever known, he had to be in there, somewhere. "Please Dad, never send Mr. Cedric to do something so dangerous again."
The appellative seemed to soften his demeanor. She turned to stare at her half eaten dinner plate. "It would break my heart if he died. He's my best friend Dad, so please never send him again."
"Oh Sofia I don't think you need to worry about that. King Aaron will probably stop asking for his help now anyway." Cedric hadn't been able to help with the battle, so it was plausible. Sofia turned to see Cedric. He looked positively hurt. Guilt at bringing up Edith overwhelmed her, it had almost cost Cedric his beloved job. The sorcerer was now glancing around at the floor in front of himself. Rolland dismissed himself to continue working, and once he departed she ran and flung her arms around the sorcerer, nuzzling her face into his neckline.
"I was so worried about you Mr. Cedric."
Uncharacteristically he didn't hug her back, nor did he respond, but instead kept staring at the floor in front of him. Sofia didn't notice at first, as she was consumed by the feeling of relief that he'd survived. Finally the sorcerer took a step backward, extracting himself from her arms.
He was so incredibly upset. "I'll never forgive Rolland for this Mr. Cedric. I can't believe he put you in so much danger."
The sorcerer hunched over a bit, eyes narrowed and face contorted into the menacing scowl he'd tossed around frequently as of late. "Indeed princess. The world is a dangerous place, and one shouldn't wander into danger."
Sofia started to shake her head, "Mr. Cedric I'm so sorry about just now. I'll never let Rolland replace you, and I was sure your sister was the one who burned me."
He took a step backward and turned away. Worried, Sofia took a step in kind nearer to the sorcerer, "Mr. Cedric, are you okay? What's wrong?"
He turned and left without another word.
Left alone in the awkward moment, Sofia was taken aback. He hadn't recognized her at the battle, and he hadn't seen Lucinda either, so why did he seem so upset? She caught herself. This wasn't about her, he'd been subjected to the horrors of war, just as she had, and he was hurting. He probably needed some space to process what had happened today, she could afford him that. The princess slowly made her way back to her room and opened the door. Shattered glass crunched below her feet. WHAT.
"AAAAAAAHHHHHH!"
Her room had been trashed. Her closet was torn apart and her bed sheets tossed. Her dresser drawers had been rifled through, and the furniture was even moved. Sofia panicked and ran to her dresser.
The wand was gone.
Her bag of supplies and the map they contained missing as well. The only thing not disturbed was the little nest Wormwood had been making for her phoenix. The bird was flapping wildly. What in all the lands had happened? WHO had done this?
She stood there examining the horror, clasping her hands to her face and trying to grasp what had happened. Suddenly there was breath on her shoulder. "EEEPPPP!"
She jumped back to see Cedric standing there, the same hardened expression and deadly eyes from when he'd walked into dinner. "Mr. Cedric do you see this? What happened here?"
He took a couple of slow steps into the room and looked around in a deliberate fashion.
"Mr. Cedric?"
He stood amongst the carnage, and refused to turn and address her directly. "It looks like someone was looking for something Princess. Searching for answers, searching for clues. Simply searching."
"I guessed that by the horrible mess, but who would do such a thing? Who could do such a thing?"
There was a long deliberate pause.
"This is the mark of desperation princess." It drifted out of him in an unearthly tone, unlike one she'd ever heard him utter.
"I guess so… I just feel so violated. This is my room. Whoever it was took my wand, and my things."
The sorcerer turned, and she could have sworn he chuckled a bit. "It wasn't always your room, was it."
"What does that mean Mr. Cedric? This has been my room for years."
Again there was a long, unnerving pause. It seemed that even the air had grown uncomfortably heavy.
"But it's your father's castle. Maybe you should inform him of this violation of trust."
"Do you think so?"
"Oh yes. One should never violate another's trust, should they Princess?"
"Of course not Mr. Cedric."
"Of course."
Silence, as if to somehow drive home an unspoken point the sorcerer simply stared off into the distance leaving the confused and frightened princess to grapple with its meaning.
"Oh my word! What happened here?!" Baileywick had come running from the opposite side of the castle, summoned by Sofia's screaming.
"Baileywick someone broke into my room and tore it apart!"
The steward looked around in horror, then snapped to attention. "But who could have done this? There's been no suspicious activity all day."
Suddenly the image of the cloaked man sprang into Sofia's mind. "Baileywick! I saw that cloaked man again."
The steward's mouth dropped open, and Cedric turned, shocked by her statement. "Princess Sofia, if you saw a suspicious man why didn't you report it?"
"Ah…. Well I was just in a hurry to ride Minimus this morning."
"I'll have security scour the grounds, and I'll send a maid to clean your room Sofia, but you really need to report these things immediately."
The unnerved girl nodded and the steward was gone. She was left alone in the room with the sorcerer once more. He simply stood there, no kind words of comfort, no conciliatory gestures. There could be a madman roaming the castle, and he didn't seem to care.
"Mr. Cedric, I'm scared. What if Baileywick can't find the cloaked man?"
After a long pause he finally answered. "Then I suppose you'll never know who did this then, will you princess?"
She moved to hug the sorcerer, but he pulled away. She stood there, arms clutched to her chest and feeling desperately alone and frightened. Without her wand she was incredibly vulnerable.
"Mr. Cedric, you don't think they're still here in the castle. Do you?"
He turned slightly, that she could see the tip of his nose and not much else upon his face. "Yes princess, I suppose the demons could be in the walls. One never knows."
Sofia started to shake with terror. What if they were around any corner, behind any pillar, just waiting to strike? Someone could have found out about her involvement in the war, they could be after her. She reached out for the sorcerer but he recoiled. "Goodnight Princess." In the next instant he was gone. A pair of maids came and silently began cleaning while Sofia sat upon the bed and stroked her phoenix's head to calm the bird down. It was truly a shame she couldn't speak, the bird could have relayed who did this. The maids left, and Sofia was again alone.
Every creak, every shadow dancing in her room seemed to be the cloaked figure, waiting to strike. Terror gripped her, and no longer able to stand the tension she rose and began pacing her room. Each turn she expected to be overtaken by the hooded menace, that her skin prickled and breath quickened with every step. She finally succumbed to the terror and pressed her back against the wall cowering in the corner of her room, that they might not overtake her from behind.
But wait, if they had her wand they could just make the walls disappear. Once the thought occurred it was over. Nothing and nowhere in this room was safe. With the hours ticking by into the night she scooped up her little phoenix and roamed the halls seeking somewhere, anywhere to feel secure. If only Amber was here, perhaps she could have slept next to her sister. Amber slept lightly, and her scream could pierce the thickest armor. Sofia lingered outside the desolate rooms of her siblings, but no solace was to be found there. Onward she roamed and found herself standing outside her parent's bedroom. Normally she would seek solace with her mother, but the woman had probably agreed to spend the night in Corinthia and return home in the morning. Travel in her state was expectedly limited. She undid the latch and crept as quiet as a mouse into the receiving chamber. Inside she could hear Rolland snoring.
Unable to bring herself to wake him, to express her fears, to trust him as she once did the princess leaned against the wall lost in thought. He'd probably just tell her to 'calm down' and assure her that the guards were being extra vigilant. Defeated, Sofia left and continued to roam the halls. Sleepiness started to take her, dulling her senses and heightening her anxiety, that each shadow seemed a haunted figure. If only she had her wand, then she could at least protect against an unknown menace.
Cedric had wands. Lots of them actually. Many more than just his family wand. Sofia climbed the steps to his tower and luckily the latch was unlocked. She entered the workshop and was met by his raven perched upon the windowsill, seemingly asleep. Quietly she tiptoed toward the collection of wands positioned casually upon his desk. A little security blanket for these terrifying times. She reached out for a wand and her phoenix let out a "cheep cheep."
Oh no. Wormwood awoke immediately and started cawing. Sofia grabbed a wand and turned, but it was too late.
"Sofia."
She cringed, and turned to face the man. "Mr. Cedric I'm so sorry to wake you, but I was just so scared. I-" She froze. He was standing there in not but his pants with his undone robe draped over his shoulders. No vest, no shirt. Oh man, he'd been asleep. Oops. But then how did he get up so quickly? He walked straight up to her, interrogating her with angry eyes. He caught sight of the wand in her hand and reached forward, yanking it from her.
"I suppose we should add stealing to your list of crimes Princess."
"Mr. Cedric I'm sorry I took it but I just feel so afraid and I wanted to protect myself from that scary cloaked man who destroyed my room."
As she said it he cringed, then returned the wand to the jar. "I suppose you aren't the only one whose guilty of this particular crime Princess, but I must say your offenses of late require a penance be paid."
The crime of stealing. Sofia grabbed her amulet. He had taken it for his own, long ago. "So, you'll forgive me Mr. Cedric?"
"You my dear inspire many emotions in me. Some are pleasant, and some very unpleasant."
It felt like she'd been punched in the gut. "Mr. Cedric please don't be angry with me, I was just so afraid." She looked out the window at the lonely night, "I'm still afraid."
Suddenly he grabbed her wrist, pulling her behind the curtain and into his bedchambers. He released her, and she spun to stare at him. He tossed her robe at her head, then turned to leave.
"Wait, Mr. Cedric are you going to let me sleep here tonight?" His head lowered, and he gave the slightest nod. "Are you, going to protect me from the intruder?"
He gulped strangely, "I told you before Sofia, the evil is inside the walls." He then turned to look directly at her, "But I will try to save you. I'll always try."
He left and she changed into the robe, then settled into the soft blankets once more. His family wand was sitting right there on the end table. No one would come looking for her here, and even if they did there was a wand right there should the need arise, and with Cedric awake in the workshop he'd probably hear anyone approaching and howl in fright.
She heard the rustle of curtains and soft footsteps. "Mr. Cedric what are you—"
The blankets shifted and the mattress groaned ever so slightly. He'd lain down next to her.
"EEK! Mr. Cedric we can't be here like this!"
He held a finger to her lips and whispered, "Shhhh". It quieted her startled yelping. He slowly retracted the finger and curled up on his side of the mattress, closing his eyes.
She just stared at him, flabbergasted he'd lay there next to her like this. How was she supposed to sleep with him lying there half naked?
"Mr. Cedric?"
He didn't respond.
"Mr. Cedric?"
He opened his eyes and looked at her. The strangest expression was on his face. He reached up and touched her hair, resting his hand onto the silver star hairclip she still wore.
"It's still in your hair."
Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. What in the world was going through his mind?
"Still in your hair."
"Well yeah, I only take it out to brush my hair and then I put it back. I told you I really like it, after all you gave it to me. That has nothing to do with us lying here like this. It could be really bad for you if someone sees us, and I don't want to get you in any more trouble Mr. Cedric."
"You needn't worry about anyone discovering us here Princess. No one enters by bedchamber."
"But you can't be sure! Remember when you walked in on me? What if Baileywick comes with orders from Rolland, what if—"
"No one comes into my bedchambers Sofia. No one cares about me. N-n-no one but y-y-you."
"But Baileywick!"
The finger was across her lips again, and the sorcerer drew in a deep breath. "Dearest princess, I'd hoped to never tell you this, but… long ago when I was young and naïve I waited here for someone special to come to me, as they'd promised. Instead they sent Baileywick, and let's just say he intruded on a compromising situation. To our mutual horror we agreed he would never again intrude on my bedchambers, and not ascend my tower until the clock strikes nine. While he might have knocked upon my door, I can assure you he'd never enter this room." He gulped strangely and stared down at her robe, " S-s-so you can be certain p-p-princess, no one will d-d-disss, d-d-dissss. Oooh, Merlin's mushrooms."
Sofia thought back to the previous night. That's probably why he was so comfortable keeping her here. "Is that why no one comes to take care of you when you're sick Mr. Cedric?"
He nodded.
"And is that why you were yelling at Baileywick this morning to go away?"
"Somewhat."
Sofia relaxed a bit. He seemed certain they weren't going to get into trouble, and it was comforting to have someone else there who could at least try to protect her in case the cloaked man made an appearance. He rolled over to face away from her. It seemed to calm his nervousness for some strange reason.
"Mr. Cedric…"
"Ugh, what is it now princess? Weren't you supposed to be tired? I've had a long and harrowing day."
"I am, but… you mentioned there was someone special to you. Who was it?" She saw the sorcerer tense up at the question.
"Please don't make me answer that Sofia, I'd pluck the very stars from the sky and give them to you if it would end this excruciatingly painful conversation and make you drift off to sleep." There was clear agitation in his voice, and the princess thought better than to press the issue.
"Nevermind, I'm sorry Mr. Cedric. Thank you for letting me sleep here."
The man relaxed and rolled back over, "I'd d-d-do anything for you S-S-Sofia. A-a-anything. Now p-p-p-please go to sleep."
"Good night Mr. Cedric."
"G-g-good night Sofia."
She lay facing the wall and kept perfectly still. He'd given her plenty of space and curled up on his side. It wasn't really uncomfortable to be so near him, but it seemed wrong somehow. It was taboo in its very nature to share a bed with someone of the opposite sex who wasn't your family, but then maybe that's how he saw her. Like a beloved daughter, or maybe the sister he'd wished he had. Several minutes passed as Sofia's mind ran over the possibilities lying there still, but then the mattress shifted under her, and there was a slight tugging at her hair.
"I'll never let them take you away from me Sofia. You're mine. All mine." She felt another slight tug on her hair, he had begun running his fingers through her tresses.
No way. He thought she was asleep and was talking to her? And touching her hair! He must be expressing his desire to protect her from the cloaked menace, right? Right? RIGHT? But what was that 'mine' business. He couldn't… he didn't actually…
Long fingers navigated her waist and his breath was upon her ear. He'd curled up alongside her like she was a pillow, spooning her in the night.
An electric shock ran through her. He 'liked' her. LIKED her, maybe even… No way! This couldn't be possible! He was her mentor, her teacher, he was over twice her age! How old was he anyway?
There was no way, no possible way it could be true. But his hand was on her waist, dangerously close to touching her bare skin through the part in the robe. Only lovers touched like this in the night, Sofia was sure of it. Her thoughts ran away with her. The way he'd stood between her and Axel in the war room, the livid expression when she'd spent the afternoon with Hugo, the presents, the possessive behaviors. Oh man, the kisses! And the hugs… and that position they'd been in on his bed this morning! The last few weeks were swirling around inside the princess's mind.
Could it really be true? She rolled over to look at his face. His hand slid across her stomach as she did it, making contact with her skin, and it immediately clenched upon contact. She froze, as did the sorcerer, but his eyes remained shut. After a minute of silent tension his fingers relaxed, a look of utter contentment streaking across his face.
By the stars above, what had she gotten herself into? Small panic attacks consumed her for the next hour. There was just no way, was there? She stared at his sleeping face for what seemed like hours, taking in every inch of him while trying to come to grips with what this revelation meant. Would it change their friendship? How could it not? It was already affecting the way he acted around her. But then counterpoints sprung up in her mind. He had no other friends, and was never close to his sister. Maybe that's all it was, a pure and simple misunderstanding. She couldn't just ask him outright, what if she had misread the signs? He'd be furious, embarrassed, any number of horrible reactions. She needed an expert's opinion. Someone who'd already demonstrated a knack for figuring this kind of stuff out.
She needed Amber. Resolved to consult with her sister, the princess finally managed to table the confusion of the day and drift off into sleep.