A Sorceress From the Future

Chapter Thirteen

“Father, what do you think you are doing?”

King Matthias flung a knife at the marble wall, hitting his intended target accurately. Luke flinched as the knife plunged to the ground with a resounding clank. King Matthias drew his sword and wielded it, swinging it in an elegant yet lethal manner. Luke could not help the swell of pride in his stomach, his father had been a fine warrior once. Rumor has it that he once apprehended ten bandits by himself. Amidst those bandits was one sorcerer. Legend has it that his father had killed him using a part of the vessel that he fused with his sword. This fighting wit would be repeated by Luke and his men while hunting down magical creatures. Luke stole a glance at his sword, it glimmered under the bright light of his father’s inner chamber. The green glow gave Luke some level of confidence. No mage will want to face him as long as he wielded that sword.

“What does it look like I am doing Lucas? It has been a long time since I engaged in war, I have to remind myself a few…”

Luke watched as another dagger was launched towards the wall. Once again it hit his father’s intended target with a precision that made Luke shudder.

“…moves.”

Luke sighed before scratching his scalp. One of these days he will consider going bald as Shanela kept suggesting. He had known that once his father discovered that his son was missing, he would whip up an irrational ploy that would put him and the kingdom in harm’s way. His father might have been a stellar warrior, a kind leader and an intelligent paragon, but above all these lied his vulnerable character as a father. He would always put everything else aside when it came to his family.

Love clouded his judgement, it always had. A lot would have been different otherwise.

“Father, you need to stay behind with the people…once the rumors start there will be chaos and without you on the throne…I am afraid all will be lost…Besides, in case a war was to start, you need to see to it that the warriors are ready and the people protected…”

King Matthias’ hand froze mid air before he weakly brought it down. The sudden zeal that had surged within him deflated with a swiftness that left him feeling hollow and empty. His son was right but how could he sit on the throne while his little Baric was probably suspended on the roof by his legs or sprawled across the cold hard ground? By now his little boy would have been subjected to torture, magical creatures had a bloodlust that could only be quenched by inflicting pain on humans. The opposite was equally true.

“What do they want with my son?”

The way his father’s voice quivered with looming loss made Luke avert his eyes. He did not want to imagine losing his brother. They might not be close now, but they had been once upon a time.

The five of them had been inseparable.

“Perhaps they want the vessel. Perhaps they are tired of living in wastelands while we thrive in fertile lands where the water is sweet and the animals are in plenty. Perhaps they are just out for our blood because they are ominous creatures who wish our kind wiped out…The reason does not matter father. What matters is Baric and making those vile creatures pay.”

King Matthias bobbed his head stoically before swirling to regard Luke. What he saw terrified him. Luke reminded him of his grandfather; consumed and driven by hate and vengeance. He feared that his son would suffer the same fate as his great grandfather.

“It is important to understand the why before you move on to the how…Walking blind into their territory will get you both killed and I…I cannot imagine a world where I lose you…any of you…”

Luke knew they were hovering over dangerous territory. He found himself biting into his tongue until he could taste his own blood.

“After losing Tamara-“

“She is not dead father, she is alive and she is one of them…”

King Matthias heaved out a strenuous sigh. His knees suddenly felt weak, he proceeded to take a seat.

“You speak as if she had a choice son, she didn’t-“

“Yes, she had father! She chose to leave us, she chose to join them, be a part of those creatures! Have you forgotten what we went through? Have you forgotten about mother?”

King Matthias swallowed the bile that had gurgled in his throat during Luke’s outburst. What would he do if he found out the truth?

“Look at the damage she caused father…Baric hardly ever leaves his room because he is forever haunted by what happened that day and you? Ever since she came to her powers you have never been the same…she caused your sickness-“

“I thought the mysterious girl caused my sickness?”

Luke let out a frustrated breath. His father was doing what he did best, defending worthless people.

“She took the lives of people I adore…I will never forgive her for that…”

“She was born that way-“

“Yet she chose to come into her powers…they could have lied dormant like mother’s but she chose, she chose to be one of them!”

“Keep your voice down. Remember that this is a family secret. If people find out that their queen and princess were the very thing they despised they will turn against us…”

Luke heaved, desperate to calm himself down. There was a reason he always fought to regulate his temper. His rage tended to consume him.

“Now listen, you will discretely leave Chi with your assassins before the stroke of the first light…take as much of the vessel parts as you need. Make sure you have enough supplies; water, food and herbs. Once you reach the magical border trade your gold for passage…Goblins will trade their head for a lick of gold…once you cross it locate disguises. Remember to hide your swords and to keep your heads down…This means that you do not just slay every magical creature on your way…The Ninth Order took your brother, it’s the Ninth Order you are after…Misuse of the vessel will render you defenseless and all of you will die… This is a scouting mission, you will send a signal if there is need for war…”

Luke had been listening keenly. It had been a while since he set a foot beyond the wall. Usually, he would orchestrate plans which his army of assassins would execute. With magical creatures fearing chi, Luke had never really had to fight before. Had his father just hinted at the possibility of a war? Luke swallowed, the last time humans and magical creatures fought, the world was obliterated.

“The girl, bring her back…”

“What? But she is one of them! She probably helped them in a way…”

King Matthias was growing weary of his son’s theories. They had wasted too much time already.

“You will see for yourself…now go.”

 What did that mean? Luke turned to leave with determination etched on his face. He paused by the door.

“What if she is the one who has him?”

King Matthias stood transfixed to the spot, his mind alive with a plethora of scenarios. As much as he had never accepted that his daughter was evil, he knew that his son’s words rang true. At least some of them.

“Then you know what to do…Bring Baric home safe Lucas…”

Luke bobbed his head once. He had understood his father’s underlying message.

His sister was expandable, Baric was not.

Let the bloodshed begin.