Sinners of Magic (27 page)

Amella shrugged, unsure of her
visitor and not used to compliments. ‘You’d better go and make
yourself comfortable,’ she said, throwing her gaze at the
chair.

Crystal nodded, dropping like a
stone into the hairy sack.

‘
I sense
you’re running away from someone,’ said Amella, with a twitch. She
crossed the small room and started to light the makeshift
stove.

Crystal bit her lip. There was
no way she could tell her the truth, but if she didn’t tell her
something she would be unable to ask for help. Amella busied
herself preparing a light meal for her guest, but it wasn’t long
before Crystal noticed how Amella’s movements were almost graceful.
She studied her host with sudden fascination, surprised at her
hidden elegance, until the room filled with wonderful smells and
her stomach growled with hunger.

‘
Come on, eat
up,’ said Amella, passing Crystal a simple wooden bowl. ‘It’s only
feefalas and a few woodland vegetables, but it’ll keep your hunger
at bay and help to warm you up.’

‘
Thank you,
you’re very kind,’ said Crystal, taking the bowl with both hands.
‘It’s so very good of you to give me something to eat as well as a
bed for the night.’

Her host eyed her warily. It
was becoming obvious to her that her guest was not some mere
peasant like she had first thought and once Crystal had eaten
Amella came and sat by her side.

The oil lamp was smouldering in
the furthest corner, making the shadows dance along the walls,
cloaking the room in a shroud of mystery, and Crystal couldn’t help
wonder how long Amella had lived like this.

She also realised Amella was
not quite as old as she had first thought but there were obvious
signs the woman had endured a hard life. Her hands were ingrained
with years of dirt and her skin showed signs of exposure to the
sun; however, her face was still youthful and very beautiful.
Crystal saw her hair was thick with natural hazelnut highlights
which shone like copper whenever it caught the light, but her hair
was left to hang over her face like a dark curtain, almost hiding
her away.

‘
So, tell me,
Nienna, who are you running from?’ asked Amella, breaking her train
of thought and offering her a ragged, old shawl.

Crystal hesitated for a moment
but then decided she had choice, she must trust this woman.

‘
Oh, from
King Forusian,’ said Crystal, accepting the garment and then
closing her eyes to conjure up his image. ‘He kidnapped me and then
for some strange reason decided to try and force me to marry him,
but I obviously refused and he hid me away in the forest. By sheer
luck I managed to escape and now I am free, I have just got one
more thing to do, then I can go home.’

She opened her eyes and saw
Amella staring at her.

‘
Where is
home?’ asked the woman.

‘
Erm, the
Kingdom of Nine Winters,’ Crystal lied, dragging her eyes away and
feeling a moment of unease.

‘
Really?’
said Amella, stiffening. ‘You don’t appear to have many
characteristics of an elf, but then it’s been many years since I
entered the realm of King Gamada and you are of a new generation.’
She glanced straight at Crystal’s ears, but they were covered by
her long, thick hair, causing tension to flare over Amella’s
face.

‘
You know
King Gamada?’ asked Crystal, intrigued by her
revelation.

The woman’s eyes clouded and
her mood changed unexpectedly. Hidden barriers made their presence
known and Amella left Crystal’s side to reach for a solitary bottle
sitting high up on a shelf.

‘
I’m afraid I
can’t help you find your way back to the Kingdom of Nine Winters,’
she said, filling her glass and taking a huge mouthful of the amber
liquid. She placed the bottle back on the shelf without offering
any to her visitor.

‘
Oh, no,’
Crystal cried. ‘You don’t understand, I don’t want to go back to my
kingdom, I want to go back to Forusian’s castle and free my friend,
Matt.’

‘
That’s
simply absurd, you won’t stand a chance against Forusian’s men and
you don’t even know how to get out of the forest, let alone into
the castle,’ Amella flounced.

Crystal felt a bolt of
stubbornness rip through her spine.

‘
Perhaps
not,’ she answered in retaliation. ‘But one thing’s for sure, I’m
willing to try. I won’t just sit back and let him kill my friend
without a fight.’

‘
Brave words
from one so weak,’ said Amella, swinging round to stare at Crystal
as though seeing her for the first time.

‘
What do you
mean?’’ asked Crystal, becoming infuriated. ‘Why do you judge me
so?’

The woman’s lips tightened.

‘
I’m not
judging you,’ she said, her eyes wide with surprise. ‘I’m merely
telling you the truth. How do you intend to fight the guards, let
alone the king? I am puzzled by you. You have no weapon and know no
wizardry with which to protect yourself. An elf of your breeding
should know more magic and sorcery than you appear to possess, yet
you seem worldlier
than a mere innocent of
your kind should be.’

Crystal wriggled in her
seat.

‘
Please stop
analysing me. I realise I’m not quite what you think I should be,
but the issue here is rescuing my friend. I’ve managed to save
Matt’s life once before and I am willing to try again,’ she added,
still squirming under her gaze. ‘Forusian needs to learn that not
everyone will lie down and die just because he has commanded it,
and he cannot have everything he wants just because he has power
and has taught the Nonhawk to fear him.’

‘
You’re very
courageous for one so young,’ said Amella, with a sigh. ‘You know,
it’s strange, but you remind me of someone I once knew, someone I
thought to be brave and kind but who turned out to be only weak and
spineless. Let’s hope you don’t fail like the friend I once held
dear.’

‘
I’m sorry
about your friend, but I’m not like them,’ snapped Crystal, raising
her chin in disdain. ‘I must get Matt out of the castle and back to
Nine Winters.’

‘
You’re
right,’ said Amella, placing her drink on the table, ‘but you’re
going to need help to kill King Forusian.’

‘
Hey, wait a
minute,’ said Crystal, shaking her head in despair, ‘I never said
anything about killing him.’

Amella laughed a hearty laugh,
leaving Crystal feeling foolish.

‘
You
have
to defeat him,’
Amella told her, ‘or you will never see your friend alive again.
Forusian will not allow you to just take him and when he finds out
it is you who has turned against him he will not rest until you are
dead too.’

Crystal gulped.

‘
I will do
whatever it takes,’ she said, folding her arms across her small
chest. ‘I will save Matt at any cost.’

‘
Very well,’
said Amella, throwing her a moth-eaten blanket and downing the last
of her drink. ‘I had better make you a bed and let you get some
sleep if you are so intent on changing both of our destinies
tomorrow.’

Chapter
1
6

Despite Nekton feeling much
better it was apparent he was slowing down the group. Time was of
the essence, and so it was agreed they should take an alternative
route and stop in the realm of the dwarves so that Nekton could
rest and fully recover. They entered without any resistance and
rode through the marketplace, stopping at a tavern renowned for its
hospitality to strangers. The wizards were impatient to be on their
way and did not wish to sample any of the delights the dwarves
openly offered, and Amadeus felt genuine despair when the time came
to bid his new friend farewell.

‘
Remember to
visit me in Fortune’s End,’ said Nekton, trying to clear his throat
of any trace of emotion.

‘
Of course, I
will,’ answered Amadeus, giving him a heart-warming grin. ‘Where
else would I get such cheap entertainment? And anyhow, I must
return the king’s horse to him before you’re accused of being a
thief.’

They laughed the laugh that new
friends share when parting, before hugging each other with a firm
grip. The wizards’ horses became restless and Amadeus sensed it was
time to leave. With a heavy heart he mounted his steed and, without
looking back, spurred it on to rejoin the others.

Nekton watched the band of
mages ride off to meet their destiny and a crushing wave of regret
washed over him when he realised he would never be a part of it. He
had always been the keeper at Fortune’s End and had never known any
other life. Now he’d had a taste of adventure he longed with a
burning desire to go with the group on what he believed to be an
invigorating quest.

The dust settled and with it
his racing heart steadied. He shook his head, admitting he was
being a silly, old fool, and he turned towards the tavern on
hearing the merriment inside. His eyes sparkled when a buxom female
wearing little more than a smile caught his roaming eye and he
grinned, deciding it wouldn’t be quite so bad staying here after
all. His thoughts swept back to Amadeus. If nothing else, he could
take from this journey a new friendship, a friendship that would
remain with him for the rest of his life and with this thought in
mind he indulged himself with far more than a few tankards of
ale...

*

The five wizards continued
along the dusty road on their way to the Kingdom of Nine Winters,
with Amadeus riding by their side.

‘
I’ve never
been to the elf kingdom before,’ muttered Amafar to Voleton once
they had reached the open plain.

‘
Neither have
I,’ replied Voleton, still keeping a watchful eye, ‘but it’s time
we made it clear that they have crossed the line this time.’ Amafar
considered the implications of the wizards entering the elf realm
uninvited.

‘
We may have
bitten off more than we can chew,’ he said, kicking his horse on
when it decided to slow. ‘Gamada is no fool, and we’re unsure as to
who he has allegiances to these days. I don’t know if there is a
connection between Forusian and Gamada, but I can taste changes
ahead and I’m uncertain it’s a good omen. One thing is for sure
though; Bridgemear will not rest until he has his vengeance on
Gamada and this could be just the excuse he’s been waiting
for.’

A sudden burst of laughter
caused him to lower his voice.

‘
I think
we’re heading for a very rocky ride,’ Voleton said, stealing a
glance at Bridgemear. He gripped his reins tighter. ‘However,
whatever happens when we reach the Kingdom of Nine Winters I
promise you, I’ll stand by him. He’s our blood and he’s our
brother, and I will not allow anyone to try and take him down
because of his past.’

Amafar nodded.

‘
You’re
right,’ he said, with a flow of solidarity sweeping through his
bones. ‘We are one and one we shall remain. No one will beat back
the mages who hold Oakwood blood in their veins. The power of the
magician’s wrath hasn’t been felt in over a hundred years. Yes,
you’re right, I too can feel the change which is so imminent
amongst us and I embrace it. If it means a fight then I will fight
at Bridgemear’s side too.’

‘
So be it,’
said Voleton, kicking his horse to spur it on. ‘Our allegiance has
been set once and for all. For the honour and pride of the wizards
of Oakwood we will fight to the death, and hell will have to wait
until eternity ends to claim its prize.’

*

King Gamada watched for the
return of his trusted messenger, Amadeus, with growing
anticipation. He had been gone far too long and with each passing
day Gamada saw the return of Crystal slipping away. In desperation
he had sent Phaphos to find him, who had previously returned with
Arhdel and the boy from the ordinary world, but now they too had
disappeared and a dark foreboding crept unwillingly down his
spine.

He was sat in his luxurious
dining room eating alone when one of his servants came to his side
and placed a small silver platter before him. On it lay a piece of
parchment folded into the shape of a cone. He picked it up and
inspected the vellum before dismissing the servant with a wave of
his hand. The strange letter was sealed with wax and he noted the
bond had been made by a small, circular signet. His name was
written in black, flowing letters, but the handwriting was
unfamiliar to him.

He reached for the crystal
letter opener, shaped like a sliver of ice, and slid it across the
seal. Scanning the few scanty lines, King Gamada took an inward
gasp, his eyes opening wide when he digested the contents of the
letter. Hate and envy lurked uninvited within his darkening soul.
It was just as he feared; Crystal had been captured by the mad King
Forusian and was holding her prisoner, along with his faithful
warrior Arhdel. The words were bold, demanding a substantial amount
of money if he wished to see them both alive again.

The letter stated a rendezvous
would be held at the Tower of Leddour. His kidnapper pulled no
punches; he must come alone and if he was followed his captives
would die. With a strong hand he crumpled the letter into a tight
ball. His frustration fuelled a hot fire in his belly, one he
realised he could not put out, not until he had Crystal back where
she belonged. He felt his fury rise, knowing he had no choice but
to meet the demands of the Nonhawk king.

After a moment’s thought he got
up and crossed the room to look out of the large dome-shaped window
which gave him a splendid view of his city.