Darkness of Magic (Soul of Magic Book 2)

SEVEN

The sun had barely risen over the Capital when Kyra, Richard and Lucian were out saddling their horses in preparation for the journey ahead. Initially, both Kyra and Richard had decided to go without Lucian seeing that Isidora’s deal had actually been to take the both of them to see the leader of the Dark Hearts Coven. And if it turned out that the dark witch was going to lead into a trap, they wanted someone to remain behind with enough wits about him to lead a charge against the coven and rescue them.

However, the blonde-haired warrior had refused so vehemently that they had had no choice but to change their minds. Lucian argued that he was a lot better in combat and the likes than any man they'd ever encountered; maybe even better than Richard although the latter never seconded that fact. But he also had been with Kyra from the very beginning of the quest and excluding him from such an important headway in it wasn’t strategy, it was being greatly unfair. And so, Lucian was allowed to join in on the travel.

Just as they finished saddling the horses, Isidora was led out from the dungeons by a coupled of guards to a black horse prepared for specifically to detain her even as it allowed her a comfortable enough ride. Even in the morning sunlight, the dark witch’s face was a blanket of emotions. She was apathetic to everything going on around, unreactive even as she was helped up her horse. It became almost as if she had mentally detached herself from the realm; the passage of time nothing but noise to her. But her unresponsive state wasn’t taken for granted as her hands and legs were still bound by in chains, although of a lighter weight than the ones used to hold her in the dungeon; and the Bloodstone still hung around her neck. Those were Kyra’s explicit orders; the dark witch wasn’t to be given even a modicum of an attempt at escape.

As Isidora was secured, Commander Roan came out with about three knights from the great house of Winchmore marching behind him to see Richard. The commander made no attempt the fact that he was a lot far from pleased as the king had declined the services of the army in his quest to meet the leader of the Dark Hearts Coven. "Sire, I still think it will be better if you let the army come with you," he said as he reached Richard who was keeping an eye on Isidora. "The Dark Hearts Coven may not be large but they're still the most monstrous bunch you'll ever find in the land. At least, let me and a few men come with you."

"I understand your concern, Commander," replied Richard, putting a hand to the man's shoulder in a gesture of respect and appreciation. "But I prefer not to take the army. We have the element of surprise on our side now and riding out with an army will be giving that up. Besides, the leader of this coven, whoever he is, sounds very much like a handful and I want him to be stopped with as few bloodshed as possible. The only way to ensure that is with the Soul of magic and I alone."

Commander Roan didn't exactly agree with Richard's plan of stealth over strength but he did respect it. The king had fought in as much battles as he had; and even against mightier foes too. "Alright, your Majesty, we'll do it as you say," he finally agreed, bowing before walking away with the guards in a tow; it was all up to the three of them now.

Kyra and Lucian were ready and they and Richard were about to start riding out when they suddenly turned to see Lorraine running towards them and shouting for them to wait. "Steal out of the Capital without so much as a goodbye to me, is that it?" she said accusatorially when she finally reached them. Her face was flushed from running and she sweated profusely even though it was still the early hours of the morning; but they all still smiled at her.

"Of course not, Lorraine," Richard replied as he dismounted to properly greet his sister. "We just thought that you'd still be in bed by now and didn't want to wake you up." Kyra and Lucian nodded in agreement and the princess seemed to find their excuse reasonable; not that she was any happier about it though.

"Do you have to go?" she asked Richard, her face as sad as it always was whenever he left home. "I mean you're king now, do you really have to still go riding out like before?"

"We all have our roles to play, Lorraine," he said to her, saying the same words he always did to her whenever he was leaving. "Besides, Kyra and Lucian will be with me. I mean, do you really want them to go up against a peace-hating dark wizards’ coven without me to watch their backs?"

“Of course not.” Lorraine might not be happy about her brother going out to face the Dark Hearts Coevn, but she did know that he, Kyra and Lucian work best together; they had proven that to the realm when they defeated Valatu months ago. "Take very good care of yourselves and watch each other's backs," she said as she took the time to hug each of them; the hug longest with Lucian to the point that Richard groaned before they parted.

Just as the king wanted to mount again, Lorraine pulled him back and whispered, “Be very careful of that dark witch Isidora, brother. I can’t say how but I feel it in my bones that she’s up to something.”

"Let us worry about her and you worry about the kingdom," Richard replied, smiling. "You know that you're regent now that I'm gone, right?"

Lorraine had known about it already actually; Richard announced it in the royal court the previous night and she was in attendance. But she still groaned in frustration when she heard him say it again. The princess loved a number of things in her life, politics and rulership had never been a part of them. "Do I have to?" she literally whined, making a face as if hoping that something would just happen and she won't have to.

In truth, it wasn’t a must she takes over; there were definitely a number of lords in the great house of Winchmore who were specifically trained and even some with the experience to act as regents in cases like that. But Richard had wanted Lorraine to know exactly how Cyrian was run in case anything happened to him. And as his heart told him, there was no better opportunity to start than the present one. "We all have our roles to play, Lorraine," he said again, giving her a smile as he stroked her hair the way she loved it. "Be wise, trust your guts, and maybe a few of the lords, and you'll be fine." And with that, he mounted his horse and they began to move.

"We’re done with the ridiculous niceties?" Isidora suddenly seemed to snap back to reality and the others turned to face her in surprise; not that the dark witch took notice of them. "Good. Now, let’s go face our fates." And face their fates, they all would; even the most apathetic of them.