Mark of the Princess (7 page)

Evyette looked at Kaleb and tilted her head slightly, before turning to Tristan. Before Kaleb could introduce his friend, Tristan stepped forward and spoke.

“I am Tristan. Kaleb’s best friend.” He said in a deep, soothing voice, kissing her hand and bowing slightly.

Evyette watched the way his golden hair was illuminated by the sunlight. His thin yet muscular arm reached toward Alannah’s hand, but she saw his light blue eyes looking at her. His clothes was much like his friend’s except for that his shirt was black. She still saw though, that he had as many Markings as his friend as some crept out from beneath his collar.

Tristan was amazed to find that the eyes he so badly wanted to see were the same honey color as her hair. He had never seen a faerie more beautiful than her. She bore more Markings than her sister. They were thin intricate lines that came over her shoulder and around her arm.
Beautiful
he thought again.

“Please, just call me Kaleb.” He said as Evyette nodded in return. “We were just flying by and actually had noticed the sun gleaming off the pond in such a manner that it caught my eye.” Kaleb finished catching up and walking alongside of Alannah.

They walked over to where the horses were standing. The girls stood in awe of what they were looking at. They had heard so many stories but to see not one but two Pegasus, had them feeling overwhelmed with honor. Slowly, they walked over, placing their hands on the mane and neck of the Pegasus, feeling the smooth hair on their palms.

Kaleb and Tristan took their seats on their steeds and extended their hands to Alannah and Evyette. They each grabbed the hand of their rider and hopped onto the saddle behind them.

“You might want to hold on.” Tristan said over his shoulder. Evyette leaned forward and wrapped her arms around his waist clasping her hands together, feeling his muscles tighten beneath his shirt.

“Thank you!” The deep voice startled the entire group causing them to jump. King Alcander emerged from a shadowed hallway nearby chuckling to himself. “My apologies, I could not help myself.”

The group of faeries all burst into laughter.

“And who are these two lovely fae?” Alcander asked walking closer, examining Alannah and Evyette. He cleverly snuck a smirk to his son and his friend.

“Father, these are the Princesses of Meira, Alannah and Evyette.” Kaleb said as Alannah and Evyette bowed to the King.

“It is my pleasure to see you both. I hope your parents are doing well?” Alcander’s asked, his powerful voice somehow softer.

“Yes sir, thank you. They are wonderful.” Alannah replied trying to be sure not to stare at king as she realized where Kaleb had gotten his looks from. However, she couldn’t remember seeing a faerie so tall. The king towered over them resembling one of the Warrior Fae that she had learned about.

~
Chapter
6~

Celina stood watching from afar while Kaleb and Tristan walked into the castle with their guests.
He may not be mine, yet. But he will never be yours,
she thought to herself, feeling herself fill with anger and rage. Celina waited on her horse nearby and watched as the new found friends left the castle to advise Alannah’s parents about their dinner invitation.

“Would you like to see a bit more of the kingdom?” Kaleb asked while grabbing the reigns to his horse. Without hesitation, Alannah and Evyette nodded and walked closer to the horses to mount.
Celina watched the prince as he spoke and flirted with the princess. Her blood boiled with jealousy at the site of watching the two smile intensely at each other.

Unnoticed, far above them in the trees sat Saros. He watched as the Prince and Princess flirted with one another. Realizing that he was not the only one following them, he turned to watch Celina and her interest in the situation.
An accomplice.
Thought Maligo, as he watched through Saros.

Sensing his master’s interest Saros swooped down in front of Celina’s horse, frightening the creature and forcing him to stop.

“It’s just a bird you stupid horse!” She shouted angrily, pulling on the reins and watching Saros double back looking twice the size he was the first time. “Wha…” Celina closed her eyes and shook her head.
Not possible
she thought to herself.

Saros landed in front of the horse not allowing him to pass.

“Great ! Now I have a stupid horse and a big ugly bird! Shoo, Shoo.” She said, waving her hands at Saros.

Saros rose of the ground and hovered over Celina for a moment, before placing his large claws on her shoulders and lifting her off her horse.

“Do you know who I am, bird?” Celina exclaimed, watching Saros fly away.
“No, but I do.” A deep menacing voice said from within the cave.

Celina was slowly becoming terrified., and she felt her stomach dropping quickly to her feet. “Who are you? What do you want with me?”

“You will see soon enough.” Came the voice in response.

Celina tried looking around and found no-one. She scanned her memory thoroughly to find that the voice was completely unfamiliar. She grew increasingly frustrated and angry, as she hated playing games.

“I will know NOW!” She shouted into the cave, her voice echoing off the walls.

Celina’s attitude did not please Maligo, but if she was to be used, he could not get cross with her, yet. He walked out from the dark corners of the cave to show himself and hopefully strike much fear into Celina’s cold heart.

Although most faeries were indescribably beautiful and young looking, this faerie was unlike any other. The curses and banishments put on him by the kings had taken their toll on his appearance.

He fought a battle daily trying to free himself of the curses and tried in vain to step out of the boundaries to which he was confined. His face was wicked. Evil seemed to ooze from his eyes, and there seemed to be a long history behind them, locked away. His long withered grey beard much desired a cut or comb. His messy grey hair fell like prickly straw from under his hood. But the most disturbing and difficult feature to look at were his hands. So much had he fiddled with potions to rid the curses that his hands were scarred and withered. He was dressed as usual in a plain, long, heavy black robe.

Celina walked backwards in the cave, until she bumped into the far wall, staring up at him in horror.

“Who, or what are you? And what do you want with me?” She asked, her voice trembling with uncertainty and fear. Her attitude and courageousness had been overshadowed by the presence of his evil.

“Interesting Raynor Bird is he not?” Maligo said, ignoring her questions.

“What?” Celina looked out the cave expecting Saros to return.

“He is different. It was a potion that was a long time in the making but it worked.” Maligo said, looking at Celina, momentarily noticing that she was about to say something but stood confused. “His ability to multiply in size, at his own will. Taxing of course on his energy, but well applied.”

“I don’t think you understand!” Maligo sneered so loudly that it echoed in the cave. He came out from the shadows a bit more. “You will help me or you will die." He walked around, his tone softening. "Besides, when you really put it in perspective I am helping you.” He dragged his withered finger across her back.

“How do you mean?” Celina asked, intrigued.

“I will give you something that I need you to give to the prince.”

“Now I know your crazy old man! I’d rather die first before hurting him. And besides, I’d be killed if I did anything of the sort.”

Maligo had just about enough of her uncooperative attitude. He charged up to her so quickly she had no time to move. Staring into her eyes he sneered once more. “You will be killed if you do not!”

She stared into his dark almost black eyes. He backed off of her a bit and closed his eyes for a moment, taking deep breaths to regain his composure. He motioned her to a table nearby. She walked over and saw a silver bracelet at the bottom of an open velvet satchel. It was decorated with such fine details one would almost say that the maker twisted real vines together and somehow turned them to a metal.

Celina reached for the bracelet and Maligo quickly slapped her hand away. "Ouch!" Celina cradled one hand in the other and took a step back. "Why did you do that?" Celina snapped. Maligo moved to stand where Celina had been, keeping her from seeing the bracelet.

"You will not touch this. This bracelet is for your Prince. You will give this to him, and" Maligo was cut off again by the annoying tone of Celina's voice.

"I am not a messenger. If you want to give him something, you can give it to him yourself!"

Maligo's rage grew. He reached into the satchel at his waist and dusted his hands with what seemed to be a whitish translucent powder. Quickly, he thrust his knarred hand towards the girl, just barely missing her throat. "Levictum Thrownas!"

Celina's feet lifted from the ground, and she was thrown against and then pulled up the wall. She felt his hands crushing her throat, but when she looked at him she saw that Maligo was about six feet away from her. She struggled to look for the ground with her feet but to no avail. She felt fingers tightening around her throat as her eyes began to water, and she began gasping for air. Maligo walked over to her, and in a calm, yet threatening tone he spoke. "I don't
need
you. So if you interrupt me again I will kill you." He said, dropping his hands and turning away. He made sure that she could not see him as he shook his hand and tried to regain the energy that spell took from him.

She fell to the floor grasping her throat, and coughing hysterically to pull air back into her lungs. She slowly stood to her feet and walked over to Maligo, who was again in front of the bracelet, marveling at his own work.

Maligo did not take his eyes off the trinket as he began to speak to her. "You will give this bracelet to the prince and be sure that he is the only one who touches it. This bracelet has been drowned in a potion that will enter the prince's skin on contact and help him to forget all about the princess. Giving you an open opportunity to swoop in to her place. I will need an ally on the throne one day."

Celina opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. She thought of the fingers around her neck and kept her thoughts to herself.
I would not help you once I am princess. In fact, I will have you killed for what you have done to me today
. She thought calmly, trying to form a plan of her own.
Celina turned her attention back to the bracelet ,daydreaming about her own plans to rule and claim the prince's heart.

~
Chapter
7~

The sky was the lightest blue they had ever seen. Thin clouds drifted by as the winged horses flew as high as they were able. As far the girls knew, only Dragon's flew this high.

Alannah’s arms tightened around Kaleb’s waist as she brushed her face against his ear, to ensure she would be heard. "This is amazing.” She whispered in the quietest of tones. The usually loud, excitable girl was almost silenced by the awe of the site before her. Her attention was drawn to the horse that pulled up beside her. She looked at Evyette and smiled. They had never ridden on such magical steeds, or ever been this high in the sky going so fast.