Forbidden Magic

Chapter 6

Four men escorted her into the large grey stone castle. Two holding her by the arms, one behind them, and then the commander leading the way. If she had not been terrified, she might have gazed in awe at the large fortress.

The radiant afternoon sun cast a golden glow on the three towering spires that reached toward the bright blue sky. The crimson flags of Lord Dumont fluttered proudly in the gentle breeze. Skilled archers stood at their posts, peering through the long, narrow gaps in the brickwork, keeping a watchful eye over the castle. The windows and doors were adorned with intricately carved wood, adding to the grandeur of the structure. As she was directed inside, her senses were immediately overwhelmed by the magnificence of the castle. The plush velvet drapes hung alongside crystal-clear windows, allowing the natural light to fill the hallways. Long, ornate rugs covered the stone floors, and decorative sconces adorned the walls, holding lanterns that were ready to be lit once the sun set. The bustling activity of the servants and guards added to the liveliness of the castle, as they went about their duties with precision and care.

Her escorts directed her through the halls, turning this way and that. She would have believed that they were lost if someone asked. She could not remember the way she came if her life depended on it. Then they stopped in front of two massive oak doors. Every part of her wanted to flee. She wanted to run as fast as she could back to the safety and comfort of her family. But she could not get her body to comply as the fear of being punished, or worse, swirled about her mind.

“Remember your manners,” The commander warned as he and the third guard pulled on the handles, revealing the large throne room inside.

The Commander once again took point and marched towards an older man seated at the end of the room. He was rather plump, and his grey hair was trimmed and pristinely styled even with the large bald spot atop his head. He was dressed in an elegantly made tunic and equally expensive trousers. This had to be Lord Dumont. He eyed the group in a boring fashion.

“Sire,” the commander spoke as he placed his right fist over his heart and bowed his head in a snappy fashion. The other guards followed suit. With the expectation of those holding her, who simply bowed to show their respect.

“Get on with it Easton,” Lord Dumont gestured with his hand, his voice sounded just as bored as his expression.

“We have brought you the magic wielder.”

That seemed to get Dumont’s attention as he leaned forward in his chair, eyeing Prudence. At that moment, she wished the floor would open up and swallow her whole. His gaze caused her skin to crawl.

Then Lord Dumont motioned for them to bring her forward, “Bring her here, let's have a good look at her.”

Prudence was dragged towards the small step that led up to the dais where the Lord’s chair was set. She whimpered against the fabric in her mouth and attempted to dig her heels into the floor, but the smooth surface of the stone and the strength of the guards made it a fruitless attempt. By now Lord Dumont was at the edge of the step looking down at her. She saw his eyes rove over her like he was appraising a cow at the market, trying to decide its worth before purchasing it. Prudence’s stomach twisted.

“Remove the rag,” Lord Dumont demanded, and the commander, whom she now knew went by Easton, did as ordered. When the fabric was removed, Prudence worked her jaw trying to ease the tension that had set in, and attempted to return the moisture to her mouth. But she was interrupted by Lord Dumont grabbing hold of her face with one hand. He squeezed tightly and began moving her head and holding it at multiple angles studying her features.

“Yes, I do believe she will be perfect.” Lord Dumont’s voice was breathy and gleeful. He released her face, he then stepped down and started to circle her. “How does her magic ability compare to others?”

“I’d say she could be on par with your mage, sire.” Easton cleared his throat, “But I cannot be for sure, as I do not believe she has full control over it yet.”

Dumont frowned a bit at the last statement after he returned to the platform, “What makes you think that?”

“She tried to thwart our attempt to capture her, my Lord. But stopped shortly after showing she had any power at all.” Easton glanced sideways at her, “It's not surprising, seeing as she has not had any proper training.”

Dumont straightened his posture, seeming to contemplate something for a moment. “Not what I was expecting, but no matter. She can train with Myam. We still have a few months. He should be able to teach her something to show off by then. Myam!” He clapped his hands together twice.

A few moments later, a tall and lean man strode through a door on the wall behind Lord Dumont’s throne. His cloak, which was embroidered with intricate designs, swayed with each graceful step. He had black hair that was pulled back into a neat ponytail at the base of his neck, that reached to just between his shoulder blades. His eyes were so dark that they appeared the same color as his hair and stood out against his pale skin tone. The features of his rectangular-shaped face were sharp and crisp.

With his hands behind his back, he bowed slightly to Dumont, “My liege.”

Prudence could sense the magic within him. Though she was not sure how. It was an odd sensation, similar to the feeling a person gets when they feel like they are being watched. However, instead of the steady pressure of eyes being on her, this felt like a steady and powerful hum. At least that was the best she could do to describe it.

“Arrange to have the maids get this girl cleaned up. I want her presentable enough that she could be mistaken for a noble lady. Then she will have a room nearest your quarters, so you can begin training her at once. Oh! And make sure to have a couple of guards around in case she tries anything.” Dumont seemed to bounce with excitement. But the figure whom she assumed to be Myam stared down his nose at her. He seemed annoyed to have to deal with any of this and repulsed by her very existence. He also had not made any move to respond to Dumont’s request. Dumont turned to his mage and gave a small knowing smirk before clapping him on the shoulder.

“Fear not my dear Myam, she’s not replacing you.” Dumont released the mage and turned his gaze back toward Prudence, “I have something very special in mind.”

Myam seemed to relax at this explanation for Prudence’s presence in the castle. Prudence, however, could feel the color drain from her face. Fear gripped her insides as her mind swirled with possibilities of what the Lord could be implicating. She swallowed hard.

“I’ll not need your guards, my Lord. What trouble could a little girl cause?” Myam stepped from the dais and grasped her arm before nodding to the two guards. Who promptly let go and took a step back.

“Shall we?” Myam extended his other hand towards the door he entered through, waiting for her to move. Prudence stared wide-eyed at the passageway and refused to take a step. Myam became impatient and sharply jerked her forward, forcing her feet to move to keep herself from falling.