A savior returned

Saira

Ever since the book came to me, I started having a reoccurring nightmare. After Massell and Aurelia's test fight, we all went to bed to be ready for an early morning. Here I was again trapped in this nightmare yet again. It started with the spell my Mother and Acantha used to help her get pregnant.

My mother was heavy with me in her belly and she was chanting something in an odd language. Her body started to glow with a silver light, at first it was all over her. Then it started to move towards her belly, there it was centered on her stomach. Then she started to cry.

I kept asking what she did or what she was happening, she never heard me and I never found out. Before the scene changed, I tried to run to her, I never got close enough to touch her. Now my mother was alone on a balcony, a few years looked like they had passed by. She was no longer pregnant and had touches of grey in her hair. She looked over her kingdom with affection.

A hooded figure with darkness for face came up behind her. The figure must have said something because my Mother turned around and said something back. I can never hear what they were saying! When the figure raised its cloaked hand, a blast of wind blows my mother over the edge. I try to stop it and save her but my magic never works and her hands pass through mine as if she were made of water. she always dies then I wake up.

Each time I woke my heart was racing. My breathing was deep and difficult to catch. Watching my Mother fall like that had left me feeling weak and useless. How could I save my lands and bring peace? I was quiet and my eyes downcast as we gathered our belongings before we left that day.

Massell's Mother and Father were already in the kitchen with breakfast made. We ate quickly, all of us eager to be on the road again. I had a difficult time feeling comfortable in the home of people that didn't trust warlocks, I could tell from the uneasy glances that Valina was casting my way. There was nothing that I had done to the people of these lands but I would be held accountable for all warlock crimes.

Massell had his own horse to ride and Aurelia offered me to ride Scorch again. Today though, I choose to walk so I might be able to collect some herbs, barks and other things required for my spells. I feel I should create a new name for myself, I could be that of a healer and a helper to those in need.

As we continued along the road, I was able to collect a few interesting items, the most exciting was a poisonous mushroom. Eventually we came near a small town. The town was quiet and barely had any people with in sight. As we walked down the main street there was a fountain of still water. I went closer to wet my hands of all the dirt from my collecting. I stopped just before my hand went in, instead of clear water the basin was filled with blood.

On the other side there was a body half in the water. The town had to have been attacked recently to be in such a state. We walked a bit further before coming to a small square lined with empty shops. In the small square there was three wooden polls with two men and one woman tied to them. They were a ghastly sight to take in.

They had been stripped of all clothing and whipped across both arms and legs. It was such a horrible sight to see, we all had anger in our eyes as we stared at the poor sight in front of us. They all appeared to be dead.

An old woman walked out of the dark corner that had been hidden from out sight. She walked close to us and we could see she was bleeding from a small cut on her forehead. I took pity on her and moved to offer her some medical help.

"My son and daughter. They couldn't pay the taxes so the Queen’s guard took it from their flesh. So many have been put to death in such a way. We have lost all hope and all we can do is wait for our own deaths."

As I put a salve I had made earlier that day on her wound she looked up and met my eyes.

"Silver eyed healer." The old woman got up and walked away from us back to her dark corner, waiting for her own time as she had said.

"Aurelia what are we going to do? We can't leave this town in this state." She met my eyes and I could tell she was feeling the same way. We would have revenge for the dead.

We waited for night to fall once again. We wanted to save the people remaining in this town but we still couldn't risk the Queen knowing we were getting closer to the capital. By the time night had fallen all the guards made their way to the tavern. We watched as they drank and bragged about the crimes they committed against the innocents of this town.

There was only five men in there, they would be no match for Aurelia, Kairios and Massell. The plan was that Aurelia and Kairios would go in and take out as many as possible. If any tried to flee, they would be met by Massell at the door.

They died quickly and in pools of blood. The sounds of their screams of pain and anger were quickly washed out. The owner of the tavern came out from his hiding spot in the back and thanked us. We were given food and drink while the bodies were removed. I took a bit of blood from each of them, adding the evil bloods to my collection when no one as looking.

We spent the night in the town to make sure no other guards were hiding from us. The morning came with gifts from all the remaining people of the town. We left them in peace and were burdened by the weight of their gratitude. We passed by hungry children and gave them some of our extra food. There was a family being attacked by bandits, the road had become a truly dangerous place to be.

Any town, village or market we've crossed that had Capital guards, we stayed until we killed them all. Aurelia and Kairios were efficient in their attacks and no one was ever left alive to send word of what happened. Massell, Acantha and I rarely needed to help fight. Acantha would speak to the people about an uprising that was sure to come. They would all listen to her with awe in their eyes.

She was magnificent at holding the crowd's attention. Many of the people we crossed had injuries so I would use my salves and knowledge to help heal their wounds. I tried to keep my identity as low-key as possible but using my magic to help people started to give me a reputation. Most people were afraid of me, but those who allowed me to treat them, treated me with kindness in return.

Many of the people who hosted us sent us away with something. We all now had our own horses. Mine was named Star and was a fully white mare. She had a lot of personality and I soon found out she hated to wear a saddle. It was hard at first but I learned to ride her bare back, I too came to prefer this as well.

I was also gifted with a set of throwing knives that were stored in my leather boots. I loved my new riding gear. It was amazing going from a torn and stained dress from our travels to what I had now. I had lived my life wearing dresses and fancy things. Wearing pants and having weapons hidden on me was not something I had expected to love.

I was dressed to match Aurelia. The only difference was where she had a leather jacket, I had a long flowing red cloak with a dragon claw clasp. Kairios remained in his gifted armor from the teacher back home. Massell had been given clean clothing as well and was now fully dressed in black leather. It stood out against his blonde hair, blue eyes and light skin.

We were close to the Capitol now we had ridden around it to see as many towns as possible. Our plan was to have as many people supporting an uprising as possible. Their votes would be of great use when we came to take over the castle.

Most of our nights now were spent planning how we would get in and where in the castle we could find the royal family. Once we got into the city, we had arrangements to stay with a friend of Kairios' family. As we traveled and talked to people, we got a lot of updated information. Every entrance of the city had eight guards working in two shifts our chances of sneaking through the gates were non-existent and we wouldn't be able to fly in like last time.

As Aurelia became known to the people, stories of her began spreading fast; as these people needed the hope it brought. We worried the guards would stop us and know who we were. Our whole plan was that they were too stupid to recognize us. Our only hope of getting into the capital was to walk through the front Gates.

I suggested that we go in two groups. Acantha, Massell and I would go in as one group, Aurelia and Kairios as another. I was planning on using my magic to try and cover Acantha's features. For our group, our biggest problem would be that someone would recognize her as the previous Queen. When I tried it a few times, it didn't last very long and I wasn't able to do more than one person at a time.

If we were able to get through the gates, we had to get to our ally's house. Then from there, we would be able to plan our next step into the castle. As we sat around our small fire a few hours away from the capital, we ate dinner and went over our final plans meet the city.

We were all ready to go to sleep, Kairios and Aurelia went on the small walk together to be alone. Acantha laid down and was heard snoring within minutes. Massell and I were left alone for the first time. I looked at him sitting across the fire from me. We haven't talked very much as I got the feeling, he didn't like me.

Very few times I would catch him looking at me with anger. I was sure he hated me for my warlock heritage; there was nothing I could do about that right now. My main priority with Massell was to stop seeing him as attractive.

There was no future where we could be together. I was very sad about this and wished we could be like Kairios and Aurelia. Massell was beautiful with short blonde hair, blue eyes shrouded with blonde lashes and his beard that covered his lower face was a shade darker than his hair. He was gorgeous, shorter than Kairios but taller than me. I had begun to notice that he was growing more defined in his muscles as we travelled.

"You should get some rest. We need you to be strong for your spell tomorrow. We can't have anyone recognize Acantha until we get into the castle." Massell didn't look at me while he addressed me with a tight voice.

I laid down trying to hold my frustrated tears back. I didn't sleep well that night and I woke up to every sound. Each time I woke, I looked around and everyone seemed to be deeply asleep. Morning came at last and we all got up and ready for the day's task. I didn't eat much while I went over the spell again. Soon the three of us would be on our way to the main gate.

The road was filled with people. They were mostly pulling wagons into the city to sell their goods at market. One cart we passed by had a mix of garden vegetables with a few casks in the back labelled potato wine. Another cart had various butchered animals in the back, the smell was terrible. All the wagons were moving very slow and my nerves were starting to take hold.

"Saira, we should pull off the road here and do the spell. We will be at the main gate soon; I can see them from here." Acantha suggested.

I turned Star off the road and directed her to towards some small trees to hide behind to do my spell. I jumped down and grabbed the package powders and a vial of animal blood out of my bags. Acantha was already sitting on the ground waiting.

She had her simple riding gear on and her hair tied back behind her shoulders. I poured some animal blood onto my finger and began to draw the necessary symbols while chanting the spell. When that part was done, I took the packet of powders and poured it over her head.

As it cascaded down her, her features started to shift. Her hair before had been a reddish-brown now it was solid black. Her eyes changed from green flecked with yellow to a bright sky blue. Her nose became smaller and her lips fuller. She didn't look anything like the Queen the people would remember.

"Let's go quickly."

I jumped on Star and made my way back to the road. We made it to the gate quickly and the spell was still intact.

"What's your business in the capital?" One of the guards rudely asked us.

Massell answered,

"We have come to visit family; they have a home within the city."

"Move along." The guard was clearly annoyed to be working the gate.

We thought we were through without issue but one of the younger guards stop to me.

"What are you doing here Warlock?" The way he said "warlock" was dripping with disdain.

"I'm accompanying my friends on their journey to a family member. I have no ill intentions towards anyone." I said as softly as possible.

"You better watch your back, warlock filth."

"Move them along!" yelled one of the older guards as we blocked the way through for other arrivals.

We rode away from the gate; I couldn't believe we made it through. My spell worked, the younger guard had me unsettled for sure though. As we continued, I could feel his eyes watching until we were out of sight. I really hoped we didn't see him ever again.