Forbidden Magic

Chapter 7

She wished her power would surface again, that it would help her escape from the current predicament she found herself in. But it seemed like something far beyond her reach. Myam pulled her through the door he had entered through, and as it shut behind them, he forced her back to him. His one had still held on tightly to her arm, but she could feel the other as he placed his fingers on the coil that bound her wrists. She instantly felt the rope loosen and then fall away. Prudence snatched her hands to her chest, gently massaging the tender skin at her wrists.

Myam turned her back around to face him, a stern look on his face as he removed his hand from her arm.

“If you try to cause any trouble, I will not hesitate to turn you to ashes where you stand,” he narrowed his eyes at her, “Is that clear?”

Prudence nodded her head.

“If you are to learn anything from me, you are to answer me with respect and with clear verbal answers. Do you understand?”

Prudence nodded again. Suddenly, Myam's hand met her cheek with great force, causing her head to turn sharply to the side. Prudence gasped and brought her hand to her face, feeling the sting of the slap as her skin turned hot and red. She felt tears welling up in her eyes and her bottom lip began to quiver as her vision became blurry.

“I asked you a question. Now what is your answer?” Myam demanded from her once more. His hand was poised and ready for another strike.

“Y-yes.” Prudence stuttered quietly, trying to fight back the tears.

‘If he smacks me again, I’ll tear his hand off and shove it down his throat,’ she thought to herself. Prudence was a little taken aback by that kind of thinking. She was not a saint and stood up for her little brother, and herself, multiple times. However, she also knew when to back down so as to not cause herself to be in danger. Being in the Lord’s castle, and in the presence of a mage, was one of those times when she knew she would have to bide her time and bite her tongue.

“Yes, what?” Myam snapped, pulling her back to the here and now.

“Y-yes, s-s-sir.” She squeaked out trying to speak around the knot in her throat as a few tears escaped to roll down her cheeks.

“That’s better,” he lowered his hand, straightened his posture, spun on his heel, causing his cloak to sway with the motion, and began walking down the corridor.

“Now, come along, I’ll show you to your room, where you’ll get washed up and changed out of those rags,” he glanced back, giving her dress a disapproving look, then turned his focus back to the hallway ahead, “into something more suitable for a mage in training.”

Prudence cast her gaze downwards, examining her attire. It was not her finest ensemble, as she wore it for everyday tasks. Her best clothes were reserved for special occasions, such as the neighbor's annual barn dance or the harvest meet and greet. The fabric of her dress was a rich earthy brown, which served to conceal the dirt that had accumulated throughout the day's chores. Her off-white apron had become stained and spotted due to frequent use. Her worn brown leather shoes, a birthday gift from the previous year, completed the look. Prudence found comfort in knowing that she and Minnie had created most of her clothing, which made them even more special to her.

“Then first thing tomorrow you’ll begin training alongside my apprentice Galen.” Myam continued speaking, “From this point forward, you will refer to me as ‘sir’ or ‘Master Myam.’ And if you listen closely, you might be able to do something useful.”

Myam led her up two flights of stairs and down another hall before coming to a stop and turning to face her.

“These are your quarters,” he gestured towards the wooden door with his hand. As he did so, the handle clicked and the door swung open. Prudence looked up at Myam and then towards the room beyond the threshold. She held her breath for a second before entering. “When not in training with me, this is where you’ll spend your time. You will not be allowed to wander the castle. The only exception to this is if you are invited to sit with Lord Dumont at supper…”

As Myam continued listing the rules of Prudence's stay, Prudence surveyed the space that would be hers. It was much larger than her room back home. A large bed was placed against the wall just behind the door, so it was the first thing she saw when she entered. Across from it was a fireplace that was currently empty, but with the stack of wood and the size, it looked like it could heat the entire room during the winter months. The wall opposite the door was a large window with a small desk and stool. However, what stood out the most to her was the absence of the warm feeling of home. The room was cold, bare, and unwelcoming. As if the space hated her as much as she hated being there.

“I’ll send Galen to fetch you in the morning,” Myam declared as the door was invisibly pulled shut and the lock clicked.

Prudence walked towards the window, her curiosity piqued by the commotion outside. She peered down and saw the training grounds where the guards honed their skills. The courtyard was surrounded by sturdy stone walls and topped with roofs made of clay tiles. At the far end of the yard, a chimney jutted out, spewing a thick cloud of black smoke into the sky. Prudence surmised that it was the smith's workshop, where the sounds of clanging metal and the heat of the forge must have been a constant presence.

The young woman peered out of the castle window, her heart heavy with longing for home. The drop from her window to the yard below was perilously steep and she knew that escaping the castle along that route was not an option. She sighed deeply, feeling trapped and helpless. As she gazed out beyond the castle walls, she saw the bustling town stretching out in every direction, and then the farmlands beyond that. She imagined the sweet scent of wildflowers, the sound of running water, and the sight of different crop fields swaying in the breeze. She hugged herself tightly, wishing she could be there instead of in this cold, forbidding castle.