Ch 21: The King's Bargain

Five days that were supposed to be spent celebrating the return of the Prince had been turned to hell and horror. No one outside of the Magic Advisory and the royal family had any idea though. Things had carried on as if nothing out of the ordinary was happening in order to keep the people from panicking.

And so, while Astasha and Calder had been suffering and fighting for each other and their lives, the people of Trenue had drank and sang and danced. And now, as Astasha sat in her room, a prisoner to her circumstances, the closing festivities were in full swing.

Once back in her room, Astasha had immediately used her fire to pull energy. Being so depleted, she had expected it to take a long time, but the power had flowed into her easily and it felt as if it was burning harder and brighter than before. It even took less energy than she expected to reinforce the demon’s trap.

All of this was strange. Helia had been able to piece together part of what was happening, but there were still so many things that hadn’t been explained. So after washing herself and applying more herbs to her wounds, Tasha settled in and started pouring over everything she had found on demons and blood magic. There had to be something she had missed, something that might explain the parts that still didn’t make sense.

Her mind kept drifting to Calder. She knew he was at the closing festivities but didn’t want to be. She could feel a pull coming from the direction of the main garden along with the feeling of frustration and longing. After what Helia had said about their connection, Astasha had begun to realize that some of the things she was feeling had to be transference from Cal.

She wanted to see him, to go to him, but she knew she couldn’t leave her room. Had things been different, she would have been in the main garden, his eyes watching her as she and the rest of the Advisory placed blessings on his upcoming rise to the throne. Her gaze would wander occasionally to meet his, her heart racing. Perhaps they would have slipped away, their love still a secret, to share a private moment that was theirs and theirs alone. But things weren’t different, and the reality was for them to be alone, away from each other, acting as if they weren’t bonded in a way that couldn’t be explained.

They both had been given instruction to rest but she knew neither of them really had. She was afraid to sleep, afraid that the demon would take hold. Everything was a mess.

A sigh of her own frustration escaped her lips. Nothing she was going over was helping her understand what was happening any better. The wound running down between her breasts ached along with her head. Despite the herbs Bryn had been bringing, she knew it would be awhile before it healed and that the scar would be a brutal one. She would bear it along with the one on her hand and across her heart forever, a constant reminder of her decisions and her love of a man she couldn’t be with.

Standing from her chair, she walked over to her desk where the last batch of herbs was. The dress she wore wrapped around the front like a robe, held closed by her sash which she now undid, letting the gown fall open and exposing the wound. Her irritation got the better of her and she was more callous than intended when applying the salve, causing her to hiss in pain as it radiated through her skin.

For some reason, panic seeped into her chest, a feeling of anxiety that caught her breath. Something was off, and she quickly wrapped her dress around herself, hastily tying her sash just as her door flew open.

Spinning around, Astasha threw her hands up, ready to cast an attack. But blue eyes and blond shaggy hair caused her to stop herself.

"Cal!" The Prince stood in the doorway, panic turning to relief on his face.

"Are you alright?" He closed the distance between them, his hands reaching out for her arms.

"What are you doing here?"

"I've been wanting to see you, but the sorcerers wouldn't let me. They're all at the festival so I snuck away. I was almost here when I felt pain in my chest and thought you were in danger."

Astasha shook her head but a smile played on her lips. "I'm alright. It was just the wound from applying the herbs a little rougher than I meant to.”

Cal looked down. In her haste, Astasha hadn't managed to close her gown all the way and she saw his gaze travel to the exposed gash on her chest, a look in his eyes of anger and hurt.

His hand moved from her arm, gingerly running his fingers over the skin next to the scar. Her heart jumped at his touch. "I'm so sorry. I should have protected you. This is all my fault."

Astasha could feel the emotions coming from him through her. She found herself reaching up to cup his cheek with her hand. "No, you did everything you could. I'm ok Cal, I'll be ok."

He looked into her eyes. She suddenly realized this was the first time they had been this close since the blood ritual without anyone else around. Her heart raced, his fingers still lingering on her chest. His smell was intoxicating. She wanted to taste his lips, feel his fingers drift over the rest of her skin.

She could feel the passion between them like flames spreading through her body and knew Cal felt it too.

"Tasha." His voice was barely a whisper and he stepped even closer to her, his head tipping down towards her.

"Your highness!"

Astasha and Calder stepped quickly away from each other, turning to see Errant and the rest of the Magic Advisory in the doorway.

Of course, Cal had probably set off the magical alerts by crossing the barriers in front of her door.

"What the hell is happening here?!" Errant was furious, Astasha could feel the energy coming off of him in droves, not to mention the look visible across his face.

"High Sorcerer, I'm sorry..." She didn't know what to do or say, how to explain herself. Just because they had decided not to perform the extraction ritual didn't mean she and Calder were allowed to be together. In fact, it hadn't been spoken of at all. But Calder protectively stepped in front of her.

“If you want to be upset with someone Errant, it should be me. I could feel that she was in pain and needed to know she was ok."

The High Sorcerer was clearly exasperated. “Then you should have come to me, not gone rushing into the one place you shouldn’t be alone! First you disappear, then the barrier spell goes off… You could have been in trouble! We all assumed you were!”

"What the hell is going on?" The King had now joined the group, slightly out of breath like he had ran the whole way there.

"Your majesty," began Errant but Josnen held his hand up.

"I was speaking to my son."

Errant's brow furrowed but he stayed silent.

"Father, as I told the High Sorcerer, I could sense that Astasha was in sudden pain and I needed to know she was alright. You all have kept me barred from seeing her since yesterday, not knowing what's happening, not knowing if she's ok, not telling me a damn thing. I panicked when I felt she might be in danger, I had to know she was alright.” Calder turned to Astasha, taking her hand in his.

Josnen’s eyes flickered to their hands. “Leave us." He said to the group of sorcerers. He was watching his son intently, and Astasha was watching him. The King’s energy was level, but there was something else there. Was it, pity?

Errant was beside himself. "My King, I must protest."

Josnen turned to the High Sorcerer. "Errant, you and the entire Advisory can stand guard just outside, I don’t give a damn, but I would like a moment to speak to my son and the Sorceress Astasha alone.”

Errant opened his mouth to object but the authoritative energy that was coming off the King must have made him change his mind, because he nodded curtly and responded with "As you wish, your highness."

Astasha didn't move, nor did Calder from his stance in front of her, as Errant and the others left the room. Josnen closed the door behind them and turned to face the couple.

"Father, please understand…” Calder began, but his father simply held up his hand as he walked to where Astasha had been going over her notes and spells.

"I see you've been researching."

Astasha stepped next to Calder. "Yes, your majesty. I'm trying to understand what's happening."

"We aren't in front of Errant child, you may call me Josnen. Your majesty sounds far too formal considering the circumstances."

Astasha was trying to read the King, to see what his intent was, but there was only genuine kindness. She nodded in acknowledgment.

"I didn't need to see your memories or have magical powers to know you two have a connection." Astasha involuntarily touched the scar over her heart but Josnen shook his head. "A connection deeper than the one formed during the ritual."

Nervousness crept into Astasha but whether it came from herself or Calder, she couldn't tell.

"I told you, Father, I love her. I can't hide that anymore." Calder’s grasp on Astasha’s hand tightened.

"And she loves you. I should have known it wasn’t anything other than that when she was willing to sacrifice herself to save you. But this love, it is against every law laid forth in all the lands. Even if I were to convince Errant to allow it, once other kingdoms heard that a royal and a witch were together, they would do everything in their power to stop the creation of a magical heir.”

So it had been pity that Astasha had felt coming from Josnen. He pitied them because he knew they could never be together, not without death and war. There would be no happily ever after for them, and suddenly, she felt her chest tighten.

"I set out on my journey with the promise that someday I would change those laws. I have no plans to give that up." While Astasha felt defeated, she couldn't help but admire Cal for his determination.

Josnen smiled softly at his son. "And someday, perhaps you can. But right now, they are as they are. Errant has been patient, but I can see it wearing thin. He doesn't like things he can't understand, and all of this, he doesn't understand. The focus right now must be on destroying the demon and learning all that we can about what is happening between you. This affair, it only serves as a distraction, and a dangerous one at that. We cannot afford to be distracted with the threat we face.”

The tightness in her chest continued to grow and she knew Calder could sense it because he wrapped his arm around her. How could they have been so selfish? The King was right. There were bigger things at hand than their relationship. She bowed her head in shame.

Josnen approached the two and reached his hand out, lifting Astasha’s chin to meet his gaze. “You cannot help how you feel so do not be ashamed. Love, it is a powerful and confusing thing.” The two watched each other for a moment and then the King stepped away toward the door. “For love’s sake, I will convince Errant to give you tonight, but I suggest you use that time to make peace with what has to happen. That is the bargain I offer. Tonight, be in love, but tomorrow, you must be a sorceress and a Prince, nothing more, for the sake of this kingdom and all that you love.”

Calder drew Astasha in closer to himself. She knew he wanted to fight his father, convince him that there was another way. But in her heart, she knew they both knew, this would be their last night together.


**Author’s Note** *Hello my lovelies! I hope you are all enjoying the story thus far! Get ready for some romance and drama because I’ve got both coming your way! Leave a comment and let me know what you think! Love and light!*