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Magda picked up the quill once more.

Kiran,

I’m coming for a visit to Flaustra. Please tell your officers to be expecting me. I can’t wait to see you. I fear we have a lot to catch up on.

Your friend, Magda

After leaving the Scribestone, Magda slipped into her mother’s study. Queen Bernadette had a beautiful workspace that mirrored King Bogdan’s. Magda knew that inside one of the drawers there was a false bottom, where emergency money was kept for safe-keeping.

Before anyone could stop her, Magda crossed to the desk and opened the central drawer. Then she pulled open the bottom and grabbed three, small bags of golden coins. One bag had golden coins stamped with the elk on one side and water on the other, representing the currency of Azurem. The others were the golden coins of Flaustra, stamped with a tiger. Then, she also grabbed a few rings and gemstones from her own closet. There were so many expensive items she had been gifted, and she would be able to survive for years in other kingdoms. When Magda was sure she had enough, she packed a sturdy backpack with a hidden pocket on the bottom, perfect for storing money for her travels.

Two weeks later, the day came that Magda was set to travel to the Kingdom of Ilusauri. She stepped outside into the courtyard with her mother, handmaiden Urszula, and Dagmara. In front of them was a carriage leading a caravan of servants, gifts, and Magda’s chests.

Unlike other days, Dagmara wore an overcoat and a tight wrap around her head. It was necessary if they were going to pull off the switch before they got to Ilusauri.

“Goodbye, sweetheart,” said Bernadette, giving Magda a soft hug.

“Goodbye, mother,” said Magda.

“Remember, Claude killed his parents, and there’s no telling what he’ll do to you if he also killed the rest of our family.”

“That’s precisely why I have to go to him,” said Magda. “I’m a guardian. I’ll be fine.”

“Don’t let him control your mind.”

“Mom, you know his compulsion doesn’t work on other guardians,” Magda assured her.

“Claude will have medicine in case you catch any of the diseases on your journey through the countryside. Don’t be afraid to ask him for it.”

“Mom, I’ll be fine.”

“Yes, yes,” Bernadette said, sniffling. “Do what you need to do. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Giving her mom one final hug, she knew keeping her magic a secret from her mother was the right thing to do. Bernadette most certainly wouldn’t let Magda leave to find the truth about her powers, and learning that the Life magic died with Aleksy and her father would be too much for her mother.

Magda turned to Urszula and Dagmara. “Ready?”

“Ready,” they both nodded in unison.

She nodded to Odie who was prancing in excitement. “You seem ready too,” she laughed.

The knights flanking them on either side stepped forward and opened the carriage for the three girls. The head butler reached out his hand, allowing Magda to place a gloved palm inside it before she stepped into the carriage.

Odie hopped in next, helping himself up onto the bench even though he was too big.

“Oh, Odie!” Magda laughed, ruffling his fur.

“I hope Claude isn’t allergic to dogs,” Urszula laughed.

“Too bad if he is,” said Magda.

The door slammed shut, and Magda looked at Dagmara, who wore a concerned expression.

“Don’t worry,” said Magda, “I hardly remember anything about him from when we met as children. You will be fine.”

Urszula watched the exchange between the two with a confused expression.