Chapter 14

  “Why can’t I come?”

  Fia sat, swinging her legs back and forth, anxiously kicking them.

  “Not today,” Sophie sighed, her head peeking out from behind the counter. “It's just” —she tugged on her sleeves, struggling with the many clasps and bronze buttons of her livery— “not a good time.” There was a crash as she stumbled over her robes, toppling to the floor. “I’m alright! I’m alright!” She cried out, drowning in the pooling fabrics.

  “But why?”

  “Fia, don’t be difficult. We’ve had a new mage, Evi, join our order. We’re bringing her to meet the King. I’m sorry, but you’re not a mage.

  “I could be a mage,” she grumbled, reaching out and freeing the dark elm staff from between the seat cushions. “I’ve been getting so much better; you said so yourself.” The staff sparked faintly as she lifted it, a pathetic showing.

  “Oh, Fia.” Sophie reappeared, straightening her collar, hands running over cloth, smoothing out the wrinkles in her uniform. “I would not want that for you.” She bounced across the room, squeezing herself between her sister and the plush leather. “You are getting better,” she said, running her fingers through Fia’s hair. “But the King’s magic would be wasted on you.”

  “I could do it!” She pouted. “I’m a better fighter than you think! You just never teach me anything! Silly little spells, is all, nothing actually dangerous!”

  “Oh, you want to be dangerous, do you?” Sophie laughed, her fingertips dancing over Fia, poking and prodding at her sides. “Think you can fight me?”

  “Stop! Stop it!” She gasped, squirming and wriggling, desperate to break free.

  Sophie’s fingers grew still, but her laughter did not end. Body shaking, she wrapped her arms around Fia, burying her face in the cushions to stifle the sound.

  It was a long while before she lifted her head, but when she did, her eyes sparkled dangerously, and there was a wicked grin splashed across her face.

  “Why don’t you paint something while I’m gone?” Her smile widened. “I’ll be back just after midday, when I return” —her gaze shifted mischievously— “we’ll go down to the Aurin, and I’ll show you something special. A spell just for you. One that that none of the King’s Magi could ever dream of.”

  Tick, Tick.

  There was a wrapping on the window of the shop. A cane scratching against the glass. Outside, basking in the morning sun, was Albrecht. Behind him, the streets were bare save for a cluster of four hooded figures, their golden dress peaking out from beneath dark cloaks.

  “Just a moment,” Sophie called as Fia ran to the window, waving excitedly.

  “Albrecht!” Fia cried. “Albrecht, watch this!” She raised her staff, tapping it on the window. The air began to glow as a golden shield formed between them.

  The deep lines of the Magistar’s face creased and shifted, folding into a warm smile. “Excellent, Fia! Well done! Well done indeed, there's just one” —his hand began to vibrate as he pushed it through the glass like it was a pool of water taking hold of the shield— “problem.” He gripped it tight, twisting his wrist, and the spell broke, shattering into dust.

  Her face fell, and with it the staff, clattering to the stone floor below.

  “It was really quite close,” he said, consoling her from the street. “There's a trick to it, which I will be happy to share with you in our next lesson.” He peered through the window, searching deep into the shop. “Get a move on, Sophie, we don’t want to be late!”

  “Coming!” Sophie appeared beside Fia, her bag filled with all sorts of trinkets, quills and grimoires spilling over its edges

  “Which one is Evi?” Fia asked, face pressed up against the window, pointing at the magi.

  “The short one—Look, Fia, I’m sorry, I have to go!” The shop bell rang as she threw the door open, running out into the street to join her companions. “I’ll be home after lunch, and I’m expecting to see another masterpiece from you!” she shouted back as the door swung closed behind her.

  The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Fia watched as the magi followed the cobblestone path up the hill. At the back walked a small thing; not even coming up to the shoulders of any of the others. Her hair was jet black and cropped at the waist; in her hands was a silver rod beset with precious stones.

  Just before the group disappeared over the hill, the tiny girl turned back, cold eyes locking with Fia’s. Dark olive, with flecks of gold.

  ***

  Evi,” whispered Fia. The young girl stepped out of the ring of magi, eyes blazing, the gold in them growing to devour its green.

  Ella stood between them, stone-faced and silent. She slammed her staff into the dirt, and a glow rippled within its emerald jewel. The light swelled, erupting from the stone, crashing like waves towards the magi.

  But a prism formed in the air, catching the light between its walls, sending it ricocheting off of every mirrored face until, finally, it flew off, deflected into the horizon. But as it tore through the sky, the air melted around it like an inferno. Dripping away and peeling back at the edges to reveal the storm outside and the battle below it.

  The magi stood, eyes wide, faces twisted in shock.

  “It does not seem to be going well,” a voice uttered. “Should we join them?”

  They rose into the air, leaving just Evi behind.

  “Clean up this mess!” Barked a man. “Join us when you are done.”

  “We can’t let them enter the battle!” Shouted Malachai.

  Fia nodded. “Ella, stop them,” she commanded. And Ella rose to make chase.

  They were alone with Evi now. Fia, Malachai, and Leif. She was so young.

  “Evi! There’s no need to fight! We don’t want to harm you!”

  The air whipped around her, and from behind the waters of Aurin roared, churning through the air at her command. Her eyes gleamed, swallowed by gold. And it dripped from them, leaking onto her face and down her neck.

  “You,” she screamed over the wind. “You’re one of Sophie’s.”

  “I’m her sister.” Fia stepped closer. “You were friends, right?”

  “Where is she?” An anguished shriek broke from her lips. The gold was pouring from her, burning into her flesh.

  Something moved behind her. “We need to attack now,” Malachai whispered at her back. “This is Thalazan’s curse, the taint of his gold. We must strike before it is complete.”

  “She’s just a child!” Fia turned desperately to Leif. His face was grim.

  “Now!”

  The two men sprang forward, feet pounding on the grass, weapons held high, armor rattling as they ran.

  “No!” Plead Fia. “She’s just a girl!”

  The howling ceased, Evi’s final cry echoing in the growing tempest. And she twisted her head, staff arm raising through the rivers of molten ore.

  They were on her in a flash, the great ax sweeping towards her breast as the morning star fell, arcing towards her face.

  But the swirling water of the Aurin flew past the girl, parrying their strikes and snaring their feet. It swept the men up, carrying them up in its waves. They fought furiously against it, but the waters wrapped around them, lifting them up and encircling them. Lost in the dark abyss, the man struggled, unable to break free.

  “Evi!”

  The girl turned on her. “Where is Sophie?” But the voice was no longer her own. Deep and grating, it scratched at her ears, the words clawing their way into her mind.

  “You know nothing!” The voice spat.

  “Let them go!”

  The waters raged above them as the floundering men grew weak; their thrashing had grown still in quiet acceptance.

  Fia closed her eyes, summoning golden spears around her, and she threw them, flying towards Evi.

  But the voice only cackled, a screeching laugh, catching them in the wind, sending them flying on great gusts.

  And the storm came for her, grabbing Fia and tossing her into the riverbed. The last thing she saw was the waters of the Aurin crashing down on her.

  ***

  “Isn’t this great?” Laughed Sophie. “We can see all the fish up close now!”

  She was right. Beneath the surface of the Aurin, the world shimmered in liquid light. Its soft beams, fractured by the gentle sway of the current, revealing scales of a dozen different hues, that flickered in the glow. Sapphire, emerald, ruby, brilliant jewels weaving in and out of the shadows.

  “It's…pretty,” Fia admitted. “But this isn’t the powerful spell that you promised.

  “I promised you I spell that the other magi couldn’t dream of,” Sophie giggled, splashing in the waves. “They don’t make the grimoire for it anymore, so it's not likely that anyone has read it. No one has time for anything but offensive spells nowadays.”

  She groaned. It was just like Sophie to make these grand promises and then laugh it off like some big joke when they inevitably failed to live up to her expectations. “How do you imagine I could use this to protect myself?”

  “Oh, I’m sure you’d find a way.” Sophie smiled, eyes glittering in the sun. “Besides, it’s far too hot a day to waste time worrying about such things.” She slid back into the Aurin, head bobbing just above the surface. “Come on, Fia, there’s a whole world down here to explore!”

  She sighed, staring down at the book and opening its dusty pages

  ***.

  The water pummeled Fia as she drifted, caught in its vortex. She let her body go limp. There was no sense in fighting against the clashing waves; better to flow with the current and hope you weren’t dashed upon the rocks.

  But at least she wouldn’t drown. A translucent sphere clung to her, covering her mouth and nose in a tensile bubble. A thin sheet, loosely billowing, flexing in and out with each breath. A pocket of air.

  She felt the swell of waves as the Aurin crested above the banks. She climbed with the tide and was thrown onto the shore. She was alive, but where was Evi.

  The girl stood with her back to the river. She was searching for something. With each step, a horrible grinding screech ripped through the air, her bones cracking beneath the hardened metal. The sound made Fia sick to her stomach, but if Evi felt anything, she betrayed no sign of it. She was gone. Lost in the God King's curse.

  The taint of Thalazan’s gold.

  Removing the gold would surely remove the curse. But how? It was burrowed deep into her flesh. Tearing it off would surely rip the poor girl apart. She lay, hiding among the reeds, watching and waiting. But she just kept thinking.

  I cannot fight a child.

  Cycle: Timor 3-2