Spellbound

Part One - Gifted

It was a brisk morning in Dyanda, the leaves of the pines were misted in fog. Levina lifted her chin to examine the strange city so different from the village she was raised in. The white stone buildings stood no more than two stories throughout the city. The second stories consisted of balconies stuffed with greenery and chairs. The air smelt of lavender with a hint of smoke emerging from the early morning chimneys.

Levina checked her map to confirm she was heading in the right direction. She bit her lip and headed forward to the gated estate in the center of the city. The estate which housed the man the Druid council had sent her here to assist, the man who could change the future of her people. The future and rightful king of Astrus, Prince Dante. Cousin to the future king and next in line to the throne. A throne that reeked corruption and cruelty. A throne she would help him take, no matter the cost.

Upon reaching the gated residence she was checked meticulously by his guard, their opinion of her written plainly on their faces. She was a Druid, she was dangerous and they didn’t want her near their leader. Levina raised her chin, she was used to the prejudice and the fear but a small part of her still hoped for more, for acceptance.

The estate was luxurious, tapestries hung on the tall walls, statues and art were placed tastefully throughout the walkways and rooms she glimpsed. The guards directed her to an airy sitting room with a view of the hillside vineyards beyond. She gasped taking in the view and directed her attention to the man seated before her. He had a lean build and a strong posture. His dark hair was clipped neat, and his soft green eyes bore into hers. She took a moment to take him in, she was expecting a boy, a simpering, spoiled prince who intended to use her for his means. It was clear to her now that the man who sat before her was no boy.

He motioned for her to sit and she obeyed, choosing a soft plush couch from the array of furniture in the room. She nodded her head to him, “your highness” she said softly. She leveled her bright blue eyes to his, watching, assessing.

“Your name?” he asked politely a small tug at the side of his lips threatened.

“Levina, your highness” she responded.

“Dante please, you needn’t be so formal Levina” he smiled back.

She relaxed her shoulders and motioned for him to begin; he had summoned the aid of their people after all.

He cleared his throat, “as you know I called for the assistance of the Druids to acquire my throne. In return for your service and support, you will be granted with your own lands outside of the Wilderlands and the witch-hunts will be outlawed.”

Levina shuddered at the thought of the witch-hunts. Her people chased and slaughtered for sport.

Levina stroked her thumb over the scar on her arm “How can the Druids help the prince? Our numbers are not sufficient for an army. King Hartley made sure of it.”

Dante’s eyes flicked to the scar on her arm, “Have you been subject to king Hartley’s cruelties?” his voice was soft, concerned.

Levina paused, “I was the lucky one,” she said quickly, eager to avoid the subject.

“I’m truly sorry” he began.

She waved him off, “how exactly do you intend for the Druids to serve you?”

He paused slightly, “I want you to come to eagle bay with me.”

Levina’s jaw dropped, “that’s a death sentence for me, for any of my people. You can’t be serious.”

At least here in Oscia the people were tolerant of the Druids. Before Astrus conquered the continent the Oscian’s and Druids lived in harmony. But after years of persecution and fear-mongering, the Druids were forced into hiding in the notoriously dangerous Wilderlands. For a Druid to step into Astrus alone, let alone the palace in the capital city was certain death.

“We can hide your Druid heritage, and your specific skill sets can be used covertly to help overthrow the king from inside his own palace. Even if I mustered an army from Oscia, Riota, and Shana it wouldn’t be enough to defeat the might of the Astrus soldiers. Their weaponry alone is far more advanced and reserved only for our people.”

“What about the Uscaton? We could engage Astrus on two fronts” Levina countered.

Dante shook his head, “the Uscaton are an introverted people, they have no desire for the Astrus to look too closely into their lands and risk being conquered as well. Besides if I want to claim the throne, I will likely be usurped shortly after if my strategy includes the bloodshed of the very people who I intend to rule.”

Levina bristled, the Astrus should burn after all they had done, but she couldn’t deny his logic.

“So how would you hide my heritage from your people? What will stop them from looking too closely when things they can’t explain start happening?”

Dante began to speak but stopped himself, whatever he was about to say was seeming to get caught on his tongue.

“Because no one looks too closely at the mistress of the prince, especially not one of foreign origins.”

Levina raised her eyebrows, “you want me to be your mistress? What exactly would my duties for you be prince?” her voice rang with a dangerous edge.

He blushed, “you wouldn’t actually be my mistress. We’d just put on a bit of a show for the gossips at court, have you seen entering my bed chambers on the odd occasion and the ruse should be enough to divert their attention to why you’re actually there. I’d never ask more of you than you wanted…”

Levina paused, considering her lips twitched into a small smile.

“Okay prince” she mused, “you have your mistress. Let’s tear this king from his throne.”

His answering smile lit a spark inside her.