Quill of Thieves

Chapter 18

It didn't take long for the three of them to arrive in the Grand Gallery, a long room that held those dizzyingly tall windows on one side and mirrors on the other. The room appeared to stretch into eternity, the large panels of glass reflecting onto the mirrors. It was near blinding, the way the white of the snow decorated the mountains' peaks. What really awaited on the other side of those windows was the precipice, a slim walkway wrapped around the cliff face that led to the royal proclamations' balcony.

Set in the center of the windows and disguised as glass itself was a single door that would lead out onto a narrow walkway. The door was currently closed and two guards stood on either side of it. One of them was Astrid's own Icicle named Savon. She didn't look at Astrid, her neck held taut. The other was Melvin. He straightened as they approached, his gaze locked forwards.

"I apologize for my daughter recklessly pulling you into our concerns, Mister d'Aximos," Queen Davina said. She materialized from the mirrors, having blended into the snowy reflections in them. A long, white furred cloak was fastened beneath her chin with a large sapphire pin. Her crown sat perfectly poised upon her dark hair as she strode towards them. "But are we not all united now in preserving our kingdom and its people?"

Sebastian inclined his head, glancing from Astrid to Davina. "You have the same eyes."

The queen laughed softly, and Astrid scowled at the tinkling sound. "Let us go, then. Follow after me."

Melvin opened the door and held it as Davina stepped onto the narrow walkway. The coldness of the air hit Astrid first, brushing her man-made curls over her bare shoulders. She shivered. Behind her, Sebastian gasped at the dangerous sight of the walkway. His soul's elemental thread twined with hers in fear. Astrid glanced back at him. His cheeks had paled again.

Thankfully, for Sebastian's sake because he looked about to faint, the mountainside walkway wasn't more than two meters long. When it widened out into the sprawling marble of the balcony, Queen Davina strode regally out onto it. Astrid kept back, Matthias a step behind her left shoulder and Sebastian to her right. She could hear the muffled cheers of the people gathered below in Halorian Square. The square had been built in a rather ingenious way so that the curvature of the walls amplified the noise of anyone who spoke down from the balcony.

So, it was no surprise to Astrid when her mother's voice rang out, clear and true, above the noise of the crowd. "My beloved citizens! I have heard the rumors being spread that an evil has caused a tower of the fortress to fall. I am here to inform you it was not of evil doing, but of a magical origin."

Sebastian stepped close to Astrid's side, his arm brushing against her own. When she glanced at him, he seemed to be mouthing the word magic again and again.

And again.

Davina nodded to the assembled crowd as if Sebastian's shock was mirrored there. "Yes, it is with wondrous news that you heard me correctly. The magic of the seven elements has returned to our kingdom. Many of you are beginning to reclaim memories of the truth behind the Purge. Soleita had set out to steal from us, to diminish our threads of magic and take it for themselves. Today, I stand before you to say: they did not succeed!"

A thunderous noise arose from the Halorian Square. Astrid heard the cries of exultation, the cheers, but she also heard the hesitant pauses and imagined the shifted looks citizens' would share. Her heart beat quicker; she swiped her palms against the folds of her dress.

"I dedicated my life to being Rainier's saviour, and we survived the Purge. We defeated those who desired to steal our very souls, but our souls were not all that was saved that day. I was able to preserve a few remnants of magic before Soleita leeched us dry. Remnants that took life in the growing form of my daughter."

A swelling gasp exploded from the crowd and then fell into a hushed silence like forming waves on the coast of Sebastian's Eilibir. Astrid knew what they were anticipating. Her blood vibrated with their energy, her cuff pulsing in response to her rise in adrenaline.

She watched as her mother held her arms wide as if preparing to embrace her. "Citizens of Rainier! I view all of you as children of my soul, but let me introduce my blood-born daughter: Astrid Nicoletta Salvera, Princess of Halorium!"

Again the crowd went wild, as if they were not surprised to see they had a fully grown princess hidden in a tower.

Astrid snapped her shoulders back and sucked down a breath. She poised her neck, stuck out her chin, and, for the first time, went to meet the people of Rainier as their heir apparent. A disjointed staccato of noise erupted from the square below as if no one was quite sure how to react. Cheers stuttered, started, and stopped like broken wind-up dolls. From above, the people looked like nothing more than a swirl of flesh colored spheres--browns, pinks, beige, yellows. She blinked against the rays of sun that dared to sneak out from behind the heavy cloud coverage and, feeling her mother's eyes on her, forced her numb lips into a confident smirk.

The staccato smoothed as she took her place beside the queen; Davina reached out and rested a soft hand on her daughter's shoulder in a sign of unity. 

Queen Davina lowered her head in a show of humility. "All of you know of my late husband, Niklaus, who sacrificed his own life for mine at the end of the Purge. What many of you may now be remembering is that he was an Author, trained in the art of preserving the elemental threads and ensuring magic's place in our human world. Astrid is of my blood as well as his, and it's his blood that will save us all.

"Our glorious, humble kingdom has always fallen under constant threat from magic wielders in the western lands. I was once your Saviour, but last night a curse was broken by another that was not myself. Magic returns to Rainier, and it is time for the torch to be passed on to those responsible."

Those? 

The crowd held its breath, but Astrid felt she couldn't get enough air. Her mother planned to stick Astrid and Sebastian together, but how? Her stomach dropped. Marriage. She clenched her hands in fists behind her back.

"My daughter was not the sole curse-breaker responsible for this miracle. There appears to be a second descendent with the elements in his veins, and he's appeared to us in our greatest time of need. With the return of magic, I fear we may fall in danger once more, and a saviour is needed again. Thus, a tournament shall take place to celebrate the elements' return to us and help ease our memories as we transition into the truths stolen from us."

The crowd erupted into noise again, a maniacal, anticipatory sound that seemed to shake the marble pillars of the balcony. Either that, or Sebastian was losing control of his magic again. Astrid chanced a look back at him and met his wide-eyed stare. They watched each other as Matthias brought him forwards.

Her mother gestured towards Sebastian. "May I also introduce Sebastian d'Aximos of Eilibir!"

He stumbled to Astrid's side, one of his boots tangling in the train of her ridiculous dress. His shoulders hunched around his ears as Matthias released his hold on him and retreated back to his post.

After the cheers died down, Davina swept out her hands and clasped them in front of her as if in prayer. "I have dedicated my life to protecting these lands, and with the magic these two possess, we shall be safer than ever. Our souls have fully been returned to us. The Saviour's Tournament will be a series of three tasks, all of which will be accessible for your viewing. Let us relish in the return of the elements, and give grace to ourselves and others as we navigate this new normal."

From beside her, the elemental threads around Sebastian quivered, reacting to his disbelief and twining around her cuff. For better or for worse, she was now tied to this boy.

At least it wasn't a wedding.

_ _ _

We sure do love a good magical tournament! Anyone else? :)

I'm currently sick and home from work, so we decided to post two chapters today. Let us know what you think!