Page 92
Story: Of Mischief and Mages
“Yes, and I learned my lesson by suggesting that damn relic to you.”
Adira drew in a sharp breath. I’d left out the detail of Destin being the one to bring up the Well of Urd. No mistake, he now carried unspoken guilt with the result.
“It won’t happen again,” I said. “Besides I?—”
“There is no telling what will happen to her if her magic all at once flooded her veins,” Destin interrupted. Muscles pulsed over the hinges of his jaw. “If the goddess wished for her power to be restored straight away, she would’ve allowed it.”
I closed my eyes, head back, wholly aggravated. “Not everything relies on fate, Destin. Do you not think your goddess might want us to think for ourselves at times? You are allowing fear to cloud your judgment.”
He didn’t answer, but anger flashed in his eyes. In the next heartbeat, Destin softened his expression, painted a grin on his lips, and held a hand out. “Adira, you must trust me on this.”
She cast me a wary glance. “Prince Kage seems confident it will help.”
“Prince Kage is a Soturi. They are trained to act first and boldly, but often do not weigh the risks. He is also desperate, as I’m sure you’ve learned.”
“I would not risk her for my own healing,” I gritted through my teeth.
Again, my damn brother ignored me and tugged Adira away.
“I assure you, I shall not make your journey to the sanctuary of little value,” Destin told her. “Here we have grand repositories of all manner of magic. There are seers and mind workers who will guide you through meditations and inner searching. I’ve been assured by our most brilliant minds that restoring your full abilities naturally is the safest way to accomplish our tasks.”
“I thought you wanted the crowns,” I shouted.
Destin slowed his step. “I value her life more than a crown, Brother. I urge you to do the same.”
Remorseful as I’d felt upon arrival, now I wanted to crack a fist over his nose. “Don’t insinuate I do not care.”
“I’ve no need to insinuate, Kagesh.” Destin faced me at the doorway. Adira stood beside him, brow furrowed, as though utterly lost. Two guards stepped in front of them at Destin’s signal. “Your actions speak volumes on what matters most to you.”
“What about Kage’s life?” Adira whispered.
Destin’s brow arched. “Pardon?”
“The crowns. We need the power of the land to fight back against the degeneration. We need them to fight for Kage’s life.”
Destin’s shoulders slumped, but he continued urging Adira away. She continued to let him.
“I will do all I can for my brother, but you are here for the greater good of Magiaria. Not only for one life.”
With that, he spun into the sanctuary, the guards slamming the door behind him.
“Destin.” I made a lunge for the doors, but Hugo and his boulderish body impeded my path. “Move aside, Byrne.”
“Forgive me, My Prince, but I cannot.”
Cy gripped my shoulder, urging me back, but he faced Hugo. Flirtation, levity, all of it was absent in Cy’s face now. “You broughther to him, Hugo. You led her to where your heart said she would learn the most, yet you stand in the way now.”
Hugo curled his inked fingers at his side. Beneath the golden scruff of his beard, his lips pulled tight. “We all do what we can, Cyland. Then we must remember our place. Do the same.”
“Oh, I will, sweet one. And I will not forget those who put me there.” Cy tugged on my arm and lifted his voice for the folk beyond the doors could hear. “Surely the rest of this place still holds respect for their bone prince and will have his chambers waiting.”
Soon enough, a squirrely seer bowed no less than six times and assured us the royal tower for the second prince was always at the ready.
The room was spacious—a washroom with a gilded mirror, two sitting rooms, a guest chamber, and even a sparring chamber filled with blades, axes, garrotes, and targets. The bed was large enough in the main bedroom to fit five bodies. A cut at my character when Destin had felt particularly irksome several weaves back.
“We both know your proclivity to take several lovers,” he’d teased. “Might as well see to it your chambers, while visiting, are able to tolerate your activities.”
Where the rumors of my reckless bedroom antics began, I didn’t know. It was quite the opposite. Attempts that always failed, as though something, some force would not allow me to even consider touching another.
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90
- Page 91
- Page 92 (Reading here)
- Page 93
- Page 94
- Page 95
- Page 96
- Page 97
- Page 98
- Page 99
- Page 100
- Page 101
- Page 102
- Page 103
- Page 104
- Page 105
- Page 106
- Page 107
- Page 108
- Page 109
- Page 110
- Page 111
- Page 112
- Page 113
- Page 114
- Page 115
- Page 116
- Page 117
- Page 118
- Page 119
- Page 120
- Page 121
- Page 122
- Page 123
- Page 124
- Page 125
- Page 126
- Page 127
- Page 128
- Page 129
- Page 130
- Page 131
- Page 132
- Page 133
- Page 134
- Page 135
- Page 136
- Page 137
- Page 138
- Page 139
- Page 140
- Page 141
- Page 142
- Page 143
- Page 144
- Page 145
- Page 146
- Page 147
- Page 148
- Page 149
- Page 150
- Page 151