Chapter Eight
It had taken two days to put the castle back into working order after the Sabras left to return home.
The queen ordered a troop of soldiers to accompany them and assist in rebuilding their huts and barriers.
Dagan had offered to place a protective shield around their home also.
But of course, the Sabras would not entertain the idea and he understood why.
They’d just been attacked by magical fire.
Dagan and Sidonie spent a few days in the wizard tower, pouring over every book and parchment available, trying to find any information they could about wildfire. Rhea stayed close by, observing at first, then finally deciding to assist.
So far, however, their search had turned up little information other than what they already knew.
Wildfire was conjured, difficult to control, and nearly impossible to extinguish.
Dagan also sent a message to Leitis, informing him of the situation.
Even though he sent the message by eagle, it would still be a several days before they could expect a reply.
Meanwhile, the planning had begun for Junacave’s annual tournament, held soon, in early spring.
The tournament was a legacy that Breestlin was determined to continue.
Unlike the Winter Ball, which was limited to Junacave’s more prominent and noble families, the tournament would be attended by people from the entire kingdom and spectators from neighboring kingdoms and townships, as well.
The tournament was an important event for the people of Junacave.
Boys and men of all ages would participate during the first week, competing in all manners of sport from hunting, fishing, archery, sword fighting, and the like.
Girls and women did compete in the archery and fishing portions, occasionally.
The queen would give coin prizes to each winner.
The second week was reserved for mainly the squires, who would complete a list of challenges to test their agility and endurance.
Many would begin but some would be eliminated each round.
Finally, the remaining four competitors would battle each other in front of the queen. The winner would be knighted.
There were usually only two ways to become a royal knight, either by heroic deeds performed in battle or through training and selection during a tournament.
If you were lucky enough to be born as the son of a current knight, you would automatically become a page for your father around the age of six or seven.
For the many young men in the kingdom without a birthright, their fathers would begin training their sons as soon as they could walk.
Then if a young boy is able to impress a knight when competing during the first week of the tournament, he may be chosen to page for him, leaving his family behind to live and train in the castle.
At the age of thirteen—if sufficient skills have been learned—the boy would become a squire and travel with their knight.
And at the age of sixteen, a squire was eligible to compete in the second week of the tournament.
While it is unlikely that one would win their knighthood at such a young age, it’s good practice for when they’re older.
Royal knights also enjoy flaunting their squires, boasting when their training methods were successful.
It’s good fun for everyone in the kingdom.
Bree looked across the hall at the furthest table and eyed the squires carefully as they ate, wondering which would be the next to wear the royal colors of Junacave—blue and gold.
Her seat on the throne was rather lonely this morning.
Her mother and Sarita had yet to come downstairs for breakfast. Dagan and Sidonie were sitting across the room with Rhea.
And Finn and Rowan were off assisting with preparations for the tournament.
“Your Majesty,” a voice said, taking Bree out of her thoughts.
“Yes?” Bree looked over to find Dahlia, tying her curly blonde hair back with a piece of ribbon. “Oh, Dahlia. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were standing there.”
“No apology necessary. You seemed deep in thought.” Dahlia nodded toward the fairy, noticing Bree had just been staring in her direction. “I can return later…”
“I just don’t understand why she seems so at ease with them. She won’t speak a word to me.”
“Perhaps, it’s because they are alike.”
“What do you mean?”
“They have magic, just like she does.”
“Perhaps… I wondered if I had done something to offend her. What did you come to ask me?”
“I was sent by Garret to see if I may return to my work in the stables? Unless you require my assistance, elsewhere.”
“I can’t thank you enough, Dahlia, for helping Finn during my absence. Of course, you may return to the stables. But I must ask, if given the option, would you rather be doing something else?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, what would you prefer to do if given the choice of any work? Anything at all?”
“I’ve never been given a choice. Not by my father…
” For a moment, Dahlia thought of her father, the controlling and vindictive man who had stolen her childhood and convinced her to use her gift of song to spy on other kingdoms. It was the same man who had chosen his love for his dead brother’s wife over his own daughter, leaving her to hang for doing his bidding.
Thankfully, Breestlin was a forgiving woman.
“Dahlia?” Bree said, softly. She could tell that just the mention of King Silas had affected her cousin’s mood.
“I would go back to what I did… before,” Dahlia replied.
“The singing or the spying?” Bree hoped that joking about what happened would ease any tension between them.
“Either, actually. Or both.” Dahlia laughed, surprised at her own response. “I was really rather good at both.”
“You would choose to be a spy?” The queen couldn’t hide her surprise.
“I would, if you will allow it.”
Bree considered Dahlia’s request for a moment. “Very well. See Raymun when you have a moment and he may have an assignment for you.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Dahlia replied, giving a quick curtsy to the queen before leaving the hall.
~*~
Later that night, Sidonie escorted Rhea to her chambers in the guest wing.
As she had during the past few nights, Sid stayed with the fairy until she was asleep, then she snuck out of the room.
Only this night, instead of going to her own chambers or Dagan’s, she went to the first floor and quietly slipped down the hallway, toward the courtyard.
Rounding the corner, she saw her mate, dressed in his silver wizard robes. His hair was loose and glowed as the moonlight hit the white and silver strands. He turned and smiled when he saw her, which made her even more nervous than she already was.
Tonight was a special night for her. This would be her first time casting a terra circle. The same circle that had revealed her powers to Dagan and changed the course of her future, forever.
“Ready to go?” His voice was smooth, which calmed her nerves a bit.
“Ready as I could be.”
“You’ll do fine. I’ve seen you practice the spell a dozen times.”
“I know… I can do it.” She just wished she believed the words she was saying.
Letting Dagan lead the way, she followed him into the forest. He lit an orb of light in his hand to guide them through the trees.
After walking for a while, they finally stopped at a small clearing.
Dagan took his robes and shoes off, while Sidonie removed her cloak and slippers, leaving her in just an underdress.
When she turned toward him, he snickered.
“What’s so funny?”
“You look cold,” he said, gesturing to her nipples which were razor sharp under the thin cloth.
“I am cold,” she replied, flatly. “It’s still winter for two more weeks. Why do we have to do this while we’re nearly naked anyway?”
“Because,” he said, pulling her close in an attempt to warm her, “magic flows better when it has less to travel through.”
“Oh, really? I think you’re lying because you want to torture me…”
Dagan chuckled. “You’ll warm up in a moment. Trust me. You go first.”
Sidonie took a deep breath and stepped back to get some space. She put her arms to her sides and slowly lifted them up until they were shoulder height. Then she closed her eyes and whispered the spell to herself.
Nothing happened. She opened one eye and saw that Dagan was laughing.
So she summoned a flicker of ice in one hand and hurled it at him, barely missing his handsome face.
It only made him laugh harder. She wished she could summon a full snowball like Dagan could, but her limited magic wouldn’t allow her to.
“Try again,” Dagan said, stepping up beside her. He ran his fingers across her arms, and it made her magic begin to stir inside her. She relaxed—just a little—and took another breath to steady her nerves.
Her second attempt was much better. The moment she finished reciting the spell, she felt it, the humming of power.
She kept her eyes closed, but she knew what was happening.
Light was lifting out of her palms and beginning to enclose her entire body in a circle.
As the sphere grew, so did the energy that was in the air around her.
Once the circle was complete, she began to feel weightless as her feet slowly lifted from the ground and she started to hover. Afraid to speak for fear she may lose control of the magic, she simply nodded after Dagan asked if she was alright.
She didn’t even notice when he moved further away from her and followed suit, opening his own terra circle. The noise of the forest slowly melted away, leaving her calm and quiet in her huge ball of light.