Forbidden Magic

Chapter 1

Prudence and her younger brother Peter ran about the small yard in front of their home, playing a game of knights and dragons. She was sixteen this year, and her brother was eight. Their mother was inside preparing dinner for tonight. The smell of herbs mixed with potatoes and stewed meat was enough to make her mouth water. But it was still too early.

Their father was helping a merchant unload a wagon full of wood in the lane. The merchant had one end of the log and their father had the other as they walked it towards the workshop. This was not an unusual sight, as Owen was a wheel and wagon maker. There were always raw goods and finished products being shipped to and from. However, this wagon did seem to be overburdened with the load, as it was squatted closer to the ground than normal.

Prudence chased after her brother, mimicking the roar of a dragon as Peter ran away laughing.

"Roar! I'm goin' to get you!" Prudence declared in a gruff voice.

"Nu-uh Prue, I'm too fast for you."

He was a gangly boy with dark brown hair and brown eyes. His face was the mirror image of their father. But where Peter’s face still had the boyish curves, their father’s was chiseled and firm. Mother called him ruggedly handsome.

She let out another pretend growl and picked up speed, stomping dramatically for effect, careful not to trip on the hem of her skirt. Her auburn locks swayed back and forth across her back from the movement. Peter squealed in delight and dashed across the yard toward the alley where the wagon of wood was. He grabbed a branch that had broken off one of the logs and held it out as if it were a sword. He took a few brave steps forward, shoving the end through the air towards his sister.

“Back ye’ foul beast.” he declared as he held up the wooden weapon and began to swing wildly.

It struck hard against the wagon, and the side panel holding the logs in gave an annoyed groan. Prudence froze. The boy’s wide eyes were glued onto the cart as the boards of the panel snapped.

“Peter!” Prudence called out as fear and panic gripped her.

“NO!” their father yelled and dropped the end of the log he was helping to carry.

Prudence’s vision went black.

A few moments later, she was crouched over Peter as if trying to shield him with her own body. He stared up at her with awe and fear. Prudence looked at him curiously and quickly checked him for any damage. There was not a single scratch on him.

“You’re alright!” She choked in relief and smiled at him, but then confusion set in. She glanced over her shoulder, expecting the wagon to be right behind her. To her astonishment, the wagon and the logs had been shoved twenty feet away. She could see the grooves of the wheels in the ground where they had slid. It looked like a gust of wind had pushed it across the lane and into the field beside their gravel drive. The logs lay haphazardly around the wagon that was now lying on its side. The side rails were shattered, the wheels were broke, and the axle was bent at an unrepairable angle. How had that happened?

“Prue?” her father’s voice drew her attention away from the scene and towards him. His face mimicked Peter’s only his had a little bit of worry etched across his features as well. He slowly approached her with his hands raised as if he was trying to calm a scared animal. The merchant behind him looked as if he had seen a ghost. His face was blanched and his jaw hung slack. Prudence’s confusion deepened.

“Papa?” she unfurled herself from around Peter and stood up. “What happened?”

“Yo-you don’t know?”

Prudence had never heard her father stammer over his words. He was always a sure-spoken man. She gave him a concerned look. He had also stopped moving toward her.

“No, I don’t,” she shook her head and shrunk back a little, “and you’re starting to scare me.” her voice was barely above a whisper.

“Peter, go inside,” Owen ordered his son, his gaze never left Prudence. Peter did not seem to register the instruction as he did not move from his spot on the ground, his eyes glued to Prudence. This did not make her feel any better.

Fear started to grip her inside, but she did not know why. Everyone was acting as if they were afraid of her. Like she was some evil monster there to tear everything apart. She was just a girl. Prudence tried to hold back the tears that were threatening to fall with a sniffle.

“Peter!” her father’s voice was louder this time and seemed to jar the boy from his daze. Peter sucked in a quick breath and scurried to stand before darting into their home.

“Papa,” her voice cracked a bit, “can you please just tell me what’s going on?”

Owen put his hands down and straightened his stance a bit. Prudence took advantage of the change in his demeanor and rushed towards him. Throwing her arms about his torso in a hug, she buried her face in his chest as she started to sob. Owen was hesitant but returned the gesture, quietly shushing her and running his hand over her hair.

“It’s alright my little dove,” he spoke softly to reassure her, “It’s alright.”

“WITCH!” the merchant screamed. Prudence and her father jumped and turned to look at the man. He stood pointing an accusing finger in Prudence’s direction. “SHE’S A WITCH!”

“Come now Lyle,” Owen addressed the man as he pushed Prudence behind him in a protective manner.

“You know such things do not happen outside the castle walls. Only mages working with the kingdom know how to wield such magic!” Lyle was distraught.

“I’m not a witch.” Prudence piped up to defend herself, peeking from around her father’s shoulder. Owen pushed her further behind him.

‘And I for sure do not know magic.’ she thought to herself.

“Then what are you?! Huh?” Lyle demanded. “Look what you’ve done to my wagon! Look what you could have done to us!”

“But she didn’t,” Owen interjected, “She saved her brother’s life.”

“That is not the point, Owen.” Lyle began to get angry, as his face took on a reddish hue.

“Lyle, let’s not do anything rash.” Owen’s voice had a slightly authoritative tone as he tried to calm the man down.

Prudence looked at the wagon. Had she done that? That was impossible. Only a select few individuals were allowed to use magic in these lands. They were trained from the time they could walk and talk and then placed with the King, Lords, or other members of the council of the realm. She had only heard stories of these people. Never actually seen one. It was just tales she had picked up from the merchants in town.

“Are you that worried about your damned wagon?! I can build you a new one.” her father offered. His voice sounded annoyed this time.

“NO, Owen! Keep the bloody thing!” the merchant growled, turning his on heel toward the stable to fetch his horse.

“Lyle, please don’t.” Owen pleaded, but he was ignored as Lyle climbed aboard his mount and quickly galloped away. Owen let out a sigh.

“Papa, did I do that to the wagon?” Prudence’s voice was small, as she stared at the logs strewn about.

“Yes.”

“How?”

“I’m not sure dove,” Owen ran a hand across his face.

Prudence glanced down at her hands. She was stunned. This was something that she thought was impossible. She was just supposed to be an ordinary girl. A girl would be married soon and have a family of her own. Suddenly, her cozy little world had been turned upside down. She hugged herself and rocked back and forth in an attempt to hold herself together.

“Come on, let’s go inside. Mama and I have something to talk about.”