Spellbound

Part Two - Eagle Bay

The journey to Eagle Bay from Dyanda had taken them two weeks. A majority of Levina’s time was spent in the prince’s carriage where they discussed the intricacies of how they planned to fracture his cousin’s court. They debated the pressure points and the strengths, where to strike, and when. Levina’s mind was overloaded with the names of court officials, their employment, desires, fears. Each one was mentally cataloged with meticulous care.

Their nights were spent in inns or roadside camping. They decided if the ruse of their relationship were to be successful, they were best to start now. Besides, even amongst Dante’s most trusted men, it was impossible to rule out the possibility of reporting eyes and ears. They shared a bed or in the event of roadside camping a bedroll which was significantly more intimate. They made sure to exchange small glances, laughs, and touches, anything to make the two appear so madly in love that the crowned prince had brought home a commoner from Dyandra.

At first, she had found it difficult to sleep next to him… A stranger. The first night at the inn her heart was racing and her breathing irregular. She had tried to calm her heart, it’s not like she was a novice to sharing a bed with a man, and yet, something about him had unnerved her in a way she was not used to. Her fears quickly dissipated; He had been a perfect gentleman, creating enough space in their bed so they needn’t touch. He spoke to her about stories of his life in the palace. She had reciprocated with stories of her childhood in the Wilderlands. Slowly the nerves dissipated, and she had fallen asleep.

The bedrolls on the other hand gave no option for modesty or gentlemanly considerations, their bodies were pressed together, she could feel his heartbeat on his perfectly muscled chest…

She shook her head out of the memory, focusing instead on the sight before her. The Castle of Eagle bay was grand, spectacular even. It was the first thing she saw entering from the city gates. It rose impossibly high, a glistening picture of white stone perched along a cliffside overlooking a dangerous and yet enchanting ocean.

She ran the names of the nobles through her head once again, tried to picture what to expect, how to react, what role she would play. Levina and Dante had decided that she would be best suited to playing the role of the devoted country girl, utterly in love with her prince, meek, soft, harmless. Little would they know that they had invited a guest more deadly than almost anyone in the city. She reached for her power, calming the fizzing in her nerves, and making sure her Druid tattoos were hidden with the glamour she had applied. She fixed her white-blonde hair, ensuring the braid was still neat and intact. The gown that Dante had gifted was a lovely shade of pale blue with silver embroidery, perfectly acceptable for a girl of modest means. It felt stiff and uncomfortable compared to the loose-fitting Druid attire she was used to, but she would adjust.

They neared the gates of the palace, pausing as they noticed a rotting smell overwhelming their carriage. Levina poked her head out of the carriage to identify the source of the smell.

“Levina wait” Dante called grabbing her hand to pull her back into the carriage. She shook him off focusing on the streets until she spotted the source of the smell. A small whimper escaped her lips. Nailed to a post in the middle of a town square was the mutilated and burnt body of a Druid. He looked no older than eighteen, his head had been shorn and his skin was covered in blisters. The smell was his burnt skin. She thought she may vomit. He hung limp until a man with a torch approached him. The Druid boy lifted his head and whimpered, begged. Horror roiled through her, he was still alive; and they were going to burn him again. Her magic rose and she reached for the door of the carriage, picturing the charred remains of the man with the torch and his city beyond. Distracted by rage, Dante pulled her from behind. He pinned her to the seat with surprising strength.

“Let me go” she warned her voice more a feral growl than that of the lady she was supposed to play.

“There’s nothing you can do for him,” he said desperately. He squeezed her hands in his.

“But I can’t-“she began but he shook his head.

“We will make them pay I promise,” he said his voice low and full of promise.

Her stomach flipped and tears surged to her eyes. A wave of helplessness consumed her, quickly followed by rage. Cold, burning rage that stilled something inside her. She would not fail; she would bring King Hartley down and anyone else who stood in her way. She blocked out the sounds of the Druids' screams as they rolled through the palace gates. She schooled her face into neutrality, trying to find an ember of emotion she could manipulate to look like love and devotion for the man before her.

She looked up at him and noticed he had been studying her.

“Your eyes” he breathed.

“They glowed silver.”

She took a deep breath and re-examined her glamour, giving a final check that all was in place for their entrance.

“Better?” she asked.

He nodded numbly, “but how? Why?” he started. The carriage jolted as it rolled to a holt.

The door was opened by a squirrelly servant who smelt of talcum powder and roses.

“Your Highness” he beamed nodding in Dante’s direction.

“Hugh” Dante acknowledged which set a smile on the servants’ lips. He looked toward Levina and then back to the prince.

“You’ve brought a guest, prince?” he asked giving Dante a knowing look.

Dante returned the look with a roguish smile.

Levina bit her lip to stop herself from rolling her eyes, if only he actually knew she mused to herself.

“Yes, Hugh, and a hungry one at that I’m betting after our long day of travel. Has my cousin started his afternoon banquet yet?”

Hugh nodded eagerly, “Yes your Highness, his Majesty will be most happy to see you back. Your presence has been sorely missed at court.”

Dante nodded, “very well, take us to him”.

They followed Hugh out of the carriage through the courtyards en-route to the royal banquet.

She grabbed Dante’s hand and shot him a sweet smile, meek and devoted. He returned the gesture pausing slightly at the change in her demeanor but squeezed her hand encouragingly.

A chill went through Levina, she was the first Druid to enter this palace in the history of their people. Oh, how they would come to regret it.