Ch 20: The Re-Authentication Ritual

The Royal Magic Advisory had made quick work of bringing the essentials for the ritual to the healing ward. The King was beside himself with fury at all that had occurred while he was barred from the room, and even more furious when he was informed his son was to be read again.

Astasha had watched as Calder calmed his father, reassuring him that everything would be alright. The King had forced his way into the room regardless of Errant's pleas. According to Josnen, the magic Helia had felt in the connecting scars was proof enough that Astasha was in control and he was required to be present for all rituals of this magnitude, especially one concerning the Prince.

At last, the room was ready and Astasha and Calder laid down next to each other on two beds that had been pushed together. Astasha knew there was no other way for them to figure out what was happening, but it still bothered her that their memories would no longer be just between them.

The five sorcerers that now stood around them would know every intimate detail of her relationship with Calder, they would see what took place with the demon in the Prince’s chambers, all of the things she had spent insurmountable amounts of energy to shield from them, she was now openly allowing them to see.

It made sense why her heart raced, but the feeling of Cal taking her hand in his calmed her just a little. She looked over at him and could see the same concern on his face. They shared a moment between them, both knowing this was the last time their story would be their own and no one else's.

The King stepped next to his son and cleared his throat, pulling the two from their thoughts. "I call upon you, the Royal Magic Advisory, to authenticate the story of my son, Calder, heir to the throne of Trenue, and Sorceress Astasha, fire witch to the King."

"As we shall do." answered Errant.

The entire thing felt so vastly different from when Astasha had last performed this ritual authenticating the Prince’s journey. The tone in the King’s voice to the tension in the air… it all felt like a lifetime ago that this whole insane fiasco had started. She never would have believed she would be the one lying there having her entire world put on display. It was all so surreal.

The ritual began, and Cal never let go of her hand, keeping it grasped in his own.

Astasha could feel the energy from the group flow into them and she was suddenly pulled into memories of long ago. Some were her own, others she knew were Calder's. From their first meeting, all the way to their last moment before the King had commenced the ritual, they even witnessed the true story of Calder's time in the Land of the Dead and Astasha's tormented struggle with deciding to join the Advisory.

They had traveled through years of memory, but within moments, the ritual was done and the sorcerers were stepping back. Astasha had dreaded the reactions to the more unsavory memories, and she could see from the red cheeks and Errant's extremely furrowed brow, that everyone was more than a little uncomfortable with what they had witnessed.

The only one who seemed unfazed was Helia. She had a pensive look on her face, which at this point, didn’t really surprise Astasha. The woman seemed unfazed by the unusual or uncomfortable, always looking at things from a different light.

The ritual was called to a close and the King raised his eyebrows expectantly. "Did you find the answers you were looking for? Or do we need to delve more into my son's private memories for you to come to any kind of solution to this problem?”

As much as he should be furious with Calder for having an affair with a witch, Astasha noticed he was far more irritated with the invasion of his son's privacy. Considering his stance on the use of blood magic and the way he had spoken to Astasha when they had met, it was possible there was more to the King than she had been giving him credit for.

It donned on her then that she hadn’t actually seen or spoken to the King since he told her about the Ill Queen, save for his presense during the attempted Extraction Ritual. She was curious how he felt about what she had done to save the Prince. Now that he knew why she had been so set on saving him, she wondered if the conversation would have been different had he known then. She was more than relieved Josnen hadn't witnessed the memories she had of Calder. A more censored version of events was a far easier thing to talk about with your lover’s father.

"Your majesty," it was Helia who spoke which surprised the King who had been fixated on Errant. His gaze turned to the sorceress. “I have studied magic far and wide, but never have I seen what is happening between these two. For a young witch, the blood ritual Sorceress Astasha performed was more advanced than I think even she realized."

Astasha looked questioningly at the older fire witch.

"Advanced, dangerous, and reckless." Spoke Errant. He was almost glaring at Astasha but she refused to cast her eyes down. Yes, she had acted rashly, but who wouldn't in order to save the one they loved? She had been paying the price ever since and yet she would do it all over again for Calder in a heartbeat.

"Regardless," Helia gave Errant a stern gaze. "it seems that when she performed the spell to pull the demon from the Prince into herself, the blood magic required an exchange of some kind. Energy transfers, and so it seems, part of her power transferred to him. And when she bound the demon, because they were engaged in a, more intimate, scenario, it bound the two of them together."

Everyone was silent as they considered what Helia was saying. When Astasha thought about it, it made sense. There was so much unknown about blood magic, just as there was even less known about sex magic, but the combination of the two was completely unheard of. The ritual she had created was derived from magic that used energy from the earth. She had altered it to use energy taken from herself, something that transformed the very fiber of the spell work and something she hadn’t taken into account.

The King was shaking his head. Not only was he the only one who hadn't seen the ritual in some manner, but he was a ruler, not a sorcerer. His knowledge of magic was limited to what he had learned in study or from his Advisory. "I don't understand."

"All we need to understand your highness, is how to sever the connection and safely absorb the power from the Prince." said Errant. "Then we can focus on extracting the demon."

Astasha knew what the High Sorcerer's priorities were. Despite his promise not to attempt another Extraction Ritual, she didn't know what other ideas he would potentially come up with that could put her life in danger.

Helia wasn’t as easily convinced though. "Errant, I don't believe there is a way to break this connection. It was created through blood, which now runs in both their veins. You would literally have to find a way to separate his from hers and extract the magic from it, which sounds far more complicated than a basic Extraction Ritual, and we both know that is far from simple.”

Astasha could tell Errant was having a hard time processing or accepting what the sorceress was saying. But Helia continued on anyway addressing the entire group.

“I think the more important thing now is to reinforce the trap the demon is in until we can find a way to draw it out and destroy it.” Her eyes went back to Errant, her look stern. “Your haste before, Errant, was what drove Astasha to attempt such unknown magic. We need to take the time to evaluate and plan before we make things even more dangerous and complicated.”

Astasha's eyes opened wide. No one spoke to the High Sorcerer that way. Whoever this woman was, she clearly wasn't intimidated by Errant.

Errant looked anything but pleased, in fact, he looked as though he wanted to curse Astasha where she sat.

There was an uncomfortable silence that seemed to fill the room.

Finally Errant took a deep breath. “Very well. Sorceress Astasha, you need to regain your energy and strength. Protections will have to be placed, however, in case the trap fails."

She nodded her head in understanding.

The King put his hand on Calder's shoulder who hadn't let go of Astasha's hand the entire time. "These last few days have been exhausting for everyone here. But tomorrow marks the end of celebrations and if we are to keep up appearances, we all must be present. I suggest everyone take rest and make preparations."

"I do not believe it is a good idea for the Sorceress Astasha to be free to roam, your highness." Responded Errant. "The risk is too high."

Josnen considered this, as did Astasha. She knew he was right. Should the demon find a way to take hold while she was present at a celebration including almost everyone of importance in the kingdom, it would be catastrophic.

"High Sorcerer, I know what danger I hold inside." Errant had been refusing to look at her since Helia had defended her, but Astasha forced him to look at her now. "I wish only to be allowed to return to my room. You can place whatever protections you desire there. With Helia present, I won't be needed for the closing festivities and can stay there under guard if that eases some of your worries.”

Cal's hand tightened around hers. "No. I’m sorry but I refuse to allow her to be treated like a damn prisoner."

Astasha turned to Calder. "It's ok. He’s correct to worry. I'll be in my room, not a tower cell. But I don't want to risk anyone else getting hurt."

"Tasha..."

"Very well." interrupted Errant. "You shall be allowed to return to your chambers where we will put shields up as we did before. With that, each of us shall stand guard in turns as added protection just in case the demon takes control and is able to break the barriers in place."

Astasha could tell Calder wanted to argue, but she squeezed his hand. “I agree to the terms. Thank you Errant."

The High Sorcerer barely tilted his head in acknowledgment before turning to the others in the room. "Bryn, Zephyr, please get Astasha to her chamber. Bryn, you will take the first shift. Cordelia, I need you to make sure the protections are in place. Helia, may I speak with you privately?"

The older fire witch nodded as everyone else began to take action.

"I'm not leaving you." Calder said.

Astasha was about to tell him she would be alright, but the King responded before she could.

"Calder, you need rest. I promise you will be allowed to see her again soon enough, but right now, I need you to think as the heir to the throne, not a man in love."

Bryn and Zephyr were at Astasha’s side. "I'll be alright Cal." She touched his face and then the scar on his chest. "You'll be able to feel if something is wrong and can come to me."

"Sorceress..." Zephyr held out his hand to her.

Cal's face told her he wanted to refuse to leave her, but he took a deep breath. Leaning in, he brushed his lips gently against her forehead, and a warmth spread through her. "I love you." He whispered.

"I love you too." she whispered back before taking her hand from his and placing it in Zephyr's. She felt her body become light like air, magic from Zephyr to relieve her the pain of travel, and then Bryn gently lifted her and carried her away.

She watched Calder stand as if to follow, but his father put a hand on his shoulder. Astasha locked eyes with her Prince for a moment, but then the door closed behind her and he was lost from sight.