Obsidian Monarchy

Beginning

Before she could question why he knew where the stolen books where he continued. “Monarch Jordan came here before fleeing the village, she entrusted the location of the first book to me. I have never read it, for fear of giving your location away. You, my girl, need as many advantages as I can give you. It’s time for you to go, for that same reason.”

“Papa, I have so many questions. Please just answer a few.” Seraphina dropped her hands to her side, part of her already knowing his answer.

He stepped forward, his boney hands reached up and touched her cheek. “Sera, you deserve all the answers this world has to offer. You do not have the time to hear them.” He met her eyes, sadness in his. “Monarch Jordan gave you the power to get those answers, you need to go find them.”

Frustrated at the lack of instruction she had received from her mentor on how to use that gift of the Monarch without going through a ceremony, she pursed her lips. “Jordan inherited half of the power of the Monarch the day she ascended. She could talk to her predecessor that day. She never taught me to commune without a ceremony.”

Papa turned her around to face the kitchen, through the window she could see the outline of the forest. “The Seraphina I know and love would find a way. Before that, girl, you need time. Go, this was a steep cost to get you this window for your escape.”

Without giving her another chance to argue, he led her out the back door.

After their brief stay at the hut, the duo was walked out to the edge of the village. There was a simple stacked wood barrier between the village and the forest, making their escape easier. After getting over the fence, she looked back at Zephyr hoping that she would be back soon.

“Papa Zephyr, I will be a good Monarch.” If that was the last thing he heard from her, she would be content with that.

He smiled at her, motioning her into the woods. “I know you will, my girl. First, safety.”

She nodded at him then turned around to face the forest, Aster was already in the tree line patiently waiting for her. Seraphina strode out to him, weighed down by simple pack and heavier clothes. As soon as she crossed the tree line she could feel the hum of the forest, she glanced back one more time but Zephyr was already walking back to the hut.

She turned to Aster then, her companion for the foreseeable future. “I will follow.”

The man shook his head, silently he handed his bag to her and stepped back from her. A few feet away he emitted a large amount of magical energy before shaking into a large wolf. His coat was the same shade of brown as his hair was, his eyes the same shade of black. He stood taller at the shoulder than she stood. He laid down and looked at her expectantly, leaning to make it easier to get on.

“Are you sure?” She was answered by a brief nod. She then put the extra bag on her chest before reaching up to his shoulders. She pulled herself up and patted him on the shoulder when she was confident, she wouldn’t fall. As he stood, she curled her fingers into the tuff of fur on his neck for stability. He stood quickly, glancing over his shoulder at her to make sure she was secure.

“When you are ready.” She whispered into the night moments before they lurched into the woods. It was the middle of the night however as soon as they were far enough into the forest it felt like dawn. There were many creatures that lived on the edge of the forest that glowed, many plants hummed with their own internal light as well.

They bounded through the trees for a while, soon she was able to get his running rhythm down enough for her to admire the night time world around her. It had been so many years since she had seen these woods, and with joy she felt she was finally going home. The further into the woods they went the more creatures poked their heads out to watch them fly by. Stags with glowing horns, bears with swirling lights down their backs.

For a few hours some flying creatures she had long forgotten the name of flew with them, behind them trailed wisps of light. By the time dawn arrived, they had made enough distance between the village and themselves that they were able to stop by a small stream. This was likely the intended first stop for her. She needed to swim in the water and wash any magical residue from her skin and clothes before they could continue.

They knew that the Guard would only travel into the forest in large groups and would need to stay within the passage ways they were allowed access to by the fae. Otherwise, they would struggle to make it back out of the forest. The duo had none of those restraints but would need to make their trail harder to follow. The Guard had tracker badgers that could follow magical traces for mountain ranges.

The waters of the forest had the ability to wash away magical traces, which they would then use to their advantage. They could still be followed but it would be made much more difficult. Seraphina slid from his back and pointed to the stream. “I need to wash the magic off; I will be as quick as I can.”

He slowly nodded his large head and turned around, facing the tree line they had just emerged from. After setting down the bags next to his rear, she walked over the water. She would wipe the bags off when she was finished cleaning herself. First, she took of her shoes and dunked them in the water, little glowing swirls drifted out of the water and was carried away by the slight breeze.

Before she could undress little sprites flew out of a mushroom bed. There were three of them each a different shade of green. Aster jumped to his feet and was on her shoulder growling before she could greet them. Seraphina reached up and touched his shoulder, shaking his head. “It’s OK, they are curious about what I am doing. They mean no harm. Go, I need to do this quickly.”

He locked eyes with each of the chattering creatures before walking back to his resting place. Smiling back at the shapeshifter, she looked back at the irritated-looking sprites. “I am Seraphina, I need to wash off the magic that is clinging to me.” She was careful to use statements and no questions. Sprites were curious creatures but will see a question as a contract. Sometimes it could be something innocent, sometimes harmful. It was safer to be selective with the words she chose.