Ch 60: The Allies & Allegiances

“Astasha! Helia! It’s so good to see you both again!” Norelle turned to Talib who looked shocked and relieved all at the same time. “I told you, three travelers, returning safe. You must trust the runes or they won’t trust you.”

Calder was desperately trying to hide a smirk. “Yes, I can see you were terribly worried about us.”

“I knew you were fine. The whole bloody camp was hooting and hollering about your safe return.” Countered the Captain.

“It’s so good to see you both.” Interjected Astasha before the banter could continue between the two friends.

“I’m surprised we got to see you so quickly.” Said Talib. “I would have thought it was a different tent you’d be off to first.” He winked and Cal shot him a look that was unmistakably a warning to shut his mouth.

They were all saved further awkwardness, however, at the entrance of another friendly face.

“Your highness! I heard you had returned. I have good news.”

“Zephyr!” Tasha was shocked to see the old mage enter the tent. She hadn’t expected to see anyone from the palace ever again, little lone a good portion of the advisory.

“Sorceress Astasha, I’m so glad you are alright. And you Sorceress Helia.”

The joy Astasha felt at seeing all these familiar faces was short lived, however, as the implications of their presence sank it. “What are you doing here?”

He exchanged a look with the water witch, Prince, and Captain before taking a deep breath. “Well, after your escape, the Highest Sorcerer deemed the King’s Magical Advisory unfit for our duty, and we were relieved of our posts immediately.”

“What?? No! None of this was your doing. He can’t do that!” Anger and guilt raged within Astasha. Zephyr had served the King since he was practically a boy. His entire life had been dedicated to his position, and he was so close to being given his formal release; to surrender his powers to the Goddess and live out his days in peace at the Sanctuary in the North, just as the fire sorceress before Astasha had, just as so many who had served ahead of them had before that.

“They were given a choice.” Said Cal putting his hand on her back to help calm her.

Talib scoffed. “That wasn’t a choice, it was a fucking trap.”

“What choice?” She asked looking around the room and landing on her Prince.

He studied her for a moment, and she could feel him urge peace into her. Whatever he was about to tell her, he knew she wasn’t going to like it.

“Join the High Council’s hunt for you, as penance, or be stripped of their magic.”

There was silence as Astasha processed what she had been told. Calder was right to try to sooth her. She could feel the darkness begin to squirm inside.

“What of Errant?” There was a quaver in Helia’s voice though she tried to hide it. Astasha knew her fellow fire witch was afraid of the answer, just as she was.

“He is fine.” Said Cal quickly. “Alaric continuously forgets what my father is like when someone oversteps their bounds. When he tried to remove the High Sorcerer from his position, it was met with quite the outrage. Only the King may approve the replacement of one of his top advisors. And while I’m sure he isn’t happy to have the High Council’s lakkey as his Earth Sorcerer still, Errant was more than pleased to be able to keep his word to stay by my father’s side.”

“Fucking coward.” Spat Talib.

Norelle put her hand on his arm. “Sorcerer Terrin was only doing his duty.” She turned to Astasha after giving the Captain a reassuring smile. “His majesty came to us with an alternative option that night.”

“It would mark them as a traitor to their kind, as you two have been,” said Calder nodding toward the fire sorceresses. “But they could join me, help us to defeat the actual enemy.”

Astasha shook her head. “That isn't fair. None of you should be punished because of me.”

Zephyr offered her a kind smile. “It is not your fault my dear. To be frank, it was almost a relief, to be given a reason to leave my post and join the Prince in aiding you. Neither Sorceress Norelle nor myself could have stood to watch what the Highest Sorcerer had in store for you had you not escaped, knowing what we did.”

“Then he still believes Astasha to be behind it all?” Asked Helia.

There was a grim silence that followed.

“Even with proof I am not, Highest Sorcerer Alaric will always see me as the enemy.” Said Tasha, and she felt Cal’s arm wrap protectively around her.

“Oh enough of this damn dark chatter.” Talib exclaimed suddenly. “What was this good news you had for us?” His eyes looked to Zephyr.

“Ah! Yes! A raven just returned.” Exclaimed the old air sorcerer. “The Sorcerers of the Moon Garden shall be here by tomorrow night, all five of them.”

Astasha and Helia turned to look at Calder with curiosity. “The Sorcerers of the Moon Garden? How ever did you convince them to leave their post?” Asked the elder of the two.

A small smile played on the Prince’s lips. “It seems we are not the only ones displeased with the Highest Sorcerer and his antics. They fear for the safety of their paradise, and when we informed them of Alaric’s disregard for what we truly believed the threat to be, they offered their aid.”

“Have either of you been to the Moon Garden?” Norelle asked the fire witches.

While Astasha shook her head, Helia smiled softly. “I happened across it in my travels. It truly is a paradise. I can see why they would worry.”

“You said a raven carried word from them?” Asked Tasha.

A sorcerer could use their power to project their voice into the mind of someone nearby, but it took a lot of energy to do so. If there were one of each element present, however, they could channel together, using the combination to communicate across greater lengths.

“Yes.” Answered Cal. “You see, the problem with sorcerers like Alaric, is they forget that there are those who can’t just use magic for everything. I doubt it ever crossed his mind we would find another way to communicate aside from channeling, even knowing we didn't have a full set.”

“It also made it easy to set a false trail.” Added Talib.

“What do you mean?” Astasha cocked her head.

“Your witches’ fire gave me the idea.” Smirked the Prince. “As of our last reports, the Highest Sorcerer has been following a lookalike of me tracking a trail of magical incidents reported to the SouthEast. He should have just recently received word from my father that I had returned home before heading North. All of our actual movements have been without the use of magic, which has left Alaric to follow the only route available, the one we set for him.”

“Brilliant.” Whispered Helia.

“We’ve been quietly sending messages via falcon and raven since you left, to allies across the kingdom.” Added the Captain. “It was tricky getting the whole guard here without that piece of shit finding out, but we somehow managed.”

“It’s quite the group you’ve managed to convince to aid us.” Said Astasha.

“Yes.” agreed the older fire sorceress. “How did you manage to convince them all?”

Tasha could feel Calder tense at the mention.

“Oh, so you haven’t told them then?” There was a look on Talib’s face, but even more so, the feeling of friction in the room was palpable. The Prince gave his Captain a stern gaze but it didn’t seem to phase him as his own turned to Astasha. “Perhaps now that you’re here, you can talk him out of it, sorceress.”

She turned to look at her love. “Talk you out of what Cal? What did you offer?”

She could tell he didn’t want to say, not because he wanted to keep it secret from her, but because there was worry pouring through their connection. He studied her for a moment and then sighed. “I met all kinds of people on my travels during my trials, and many pledged their allegiance to me. Those are who we’ve been summoning. Some came simply because they are loyal to me, to the crown. Some, because they feared repercussions. Then there were those who reveled in the idea of an all-powerful King, one who they believe, with my powers, will help them conquer the far reach of the lands, well beyond our borders. But then there were the ones that needed more convincing, ones that truly feared the idea of me on the throne now that I’m… different.”

“And there were other fucking ways of doing that!” Exclaimed Talib.

Norelle gently took the Captain’s hand to try to sooth him.

What had Calder done that would upset his most trusted companion like this? Cal’s worry became Astasha’s as she looked into his eyes, silently pleading that he hadn’t done anything too rash, knowing, he had done whatever it was he thought would help save her, even at a cost she feared to know.

“Cal…” She urged him. “What did you offer them?”

He took a deep breath. “I offered for their leaders to be eligible to join the trials for the Transfer of Houses, when I step down as Prince and heir.”


**Author’s Note:** *Hello Lovelies! Sorry for the lack of update yesterday, had some family stuff come up. I’m going to try to be posting for Blood Magic’s Bond every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, with my other book, The Fallen (you can find it under my author page) updating Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. I’m only human, so there might be weeks where I’m not able to hit all six days, but I will do my best to get you all at least two new chapters for each story a week! What do you think of the deal Calder made? Stay tuned for more! Love & Light Everyone!*