Land of Strength and Sorrow by Cassandra Fear

Malador leaned closer to Jovi. “How long can you keep this block up?”

  Jovi shrugged but held the necklace, which was now so hot she could barely stand to touch it. “I don’t have a clue. I didn’t even know it could do this.”

  “Well, keep it going as long as you can. We have to run from this battle, or we will all die here. Right now.”

  “How will we run?”

  Malador winked. “You really have no idea about our magic, do you?”

  Jovi shook her head, tired of trying to hold a conversation while she hung on to whatever magic the necklace brought forth.

  “Watch, then.”

  She did; her eyes followed Malador as he went to King Ryan. A blue chill settled through the air, and goose bumps broke out down Jovi’s arms. A puff of blue smoke had surrounded Malador and King Ryan before they disappeared. Only Malador came into view several seconds later.

  “What was that?” she asked as her jaw hung toward the floor.

  “We will talk about it later. For now, hold that bubble of protection as long as you can.”

  She did. Malador and the other Frost Mages got to work, disappearing people left and right.

  Belisandre chiseled away at Jovi’s block and caused her to shake each time the sorceress slapped it with her magic, but somehow, Jovi held it in place.

  Although, her limbs felt like they might collapse at any minute.

  Ball after ball of fire flew to the pink bubble, bounced off, and fizzed out before her eyes. Whatever this necklace held inside, there must have been a reason the shopkeeper had given it to her. Why he’d wanted her to have it so badly. But she didn’t have the answers yet. She’d have to find them, along with all the other answers she so desperately needed.

  Finally, after what seemed like forever, Malador returned. They were the only two who still stood in the throne room, other than their enemies.

  Malador faced the Fire Mages and Belisandre. “You may have won this battle, but you’ve only dented the war. We will return to fight another day.”

  With that, Jovi let her hand fall to her side, and a blue tunnel stretched before her as it spiraled down and down. She fell, tumbling head first until she landed in a soft patch of powdery white snow. Then, darkness dragged her down, and she surrendered willingly.

  Belisandre seethed. Her insides were quivering. How did the Frost Mages teleport everyone away? And how had Jovi put a protection shield around them while they did it? It made no sense. Jovi had no power. Did she? Did she?

  Obviously, she did, somehow. Now, Belisandre had to find out what else the girl had up her sleeves. Not many ever got the upper hand on her, and to let a child do it now…

  To say it annoyed her, well, that was putting it mildly.

  “Well, that didn’t go quite the way we’d hoped.” Phenix sidled up beside her.

  She turned wide eyes to him. “No, it didn’t. Thanks so much for noticing.”

  “What the heck was that spell the Princess cast? I’ve never seen anything like it.”

  Belisandre clenched her teeth. “Yes, well, neither have I.”

  “Great. Then I guess we have some research to do.” Phenix smirked. “Since you don’t know half as much as you thought. We will still require our payment.”

  Belisandre dug in the pocket in her dress and pulled out seven vials. “There is your cure. It should be enough for most of your women, but you may need more. I suppose you’ll have to stick around and finish this war, if you expect to get it, that is.”

  Phenix raised his eyebrows. “I don’t recall making that deal.”

  “I don’t recall saying it was a deal.” She narrowed her eyes. “Make yourselves at home inside the castle. There are plenty of rooms for all your people. I must leave for a short while, but I will return.”

  “Where are you going?” Phenix asked.

  “Somewhere.” Belisandre turned and stalked out of the throne room and into the kitchens. She ducked through the pantry, descending into the passage below. The guards thought they’d been the only ones to know about the escape hatch, but she’d known about it all along. She'd had a hand in building the tunnel.

  But nobody needed to know that.

  Her magic pulsed inside of her, wrapping her in shadows all on its own. It had become more powerful. She’d become more powerful. Never had she hoped to have the magic she did. And, to be beaten by a child…

  She stomped down the shaft, making quick time of it. When she came out, she jogged to the Grove of Shadows, weaving in between dead trees and dried up bushes until she made it to the cave.

  Stepping into the hidden cave, she smelled something sweet and smoky. Something…magical.

  I’m home, she sighed.

  She whistled five times, the same sound in quick succession. A secret code nobody knew besides her and her family.

  Her sister emerged from the darkness, holding a candle, the flame silhouetting her face. “Sister. You’ve returned already. We didn’t think to see you so soon. Does this mean what I think it means?”

  Belisandre shrugged. “Partly, Ravyn. But not as much as I hoped.”

  Ravyn’s cherry-red lips spread into a smile as she placed the candle in the holder that hung from the side of the cave. She ran a hand through her long hair, so black it blended into the darkness around her. “Well, what exactly does that mean, sister?”

  Their mother appeared next. Her ebony hair was braided down her back, reaching past her knees. Belisandre had offered to cut it occasionally, but her mother refused every time. She came forward and hugged her daughter, kissed her cheek, and then pulled back, her deep scar highlighted by the dim lighting. “Yes, Belisandre. Whatever does that mean?”

  Belisandre sighed deeply. “We were…outwitted.”

  “We? Dear, please, start at the beginning. We’ve been hiding in this cave the whole time, with no way to know what has been happening out there.” Her mother frowned. “Fill us in.”

  Belisandre did. She started at the beginning; how she deceived the King, gave Princess Jovi a fake cure, then misled them all at the cabin, making them think her kidnapped. She told them of the Fire Mages, how they’d agreed to help her fight the war and take the land if she promised to cure their women, which she already had started.

  Then, she told her family what happened at the castle.

  “How did this human girl have powers?” Ravyn asked.

  “I have no idea. The only thing I noticed was her holding on to her necklace. A pink jewel.”

  Belisandre’s mother’s eyes went wide. “Pink, you said? What did this jewel look like?”

  “I don’t know. It was big and shaped like a circle, but also a diamond. A cross between the two? It was hard to see. She stood at the back of everyone else, like the coward she is.”

  Ravyn blew a breath out and her hair flew up over her face.

  Mother shook her head, over and over, dropping her forehead to her hand. “Belisandre, do you have any idea what necklace the Princess has acquired?” When Belisandre tilted her head, Mother continued. “It is the Pink Jewel of Hyacinth, the last sorceress who ruled these lands. Long ago, Hyacinth was beheaded by her enemies, but before she died, she pumped every bit of her magic into a necklace. A pink jewel, large and very heavy.”

  Belisandre’s jaw dropped.

  “Yes, my dear. Your surprise is accurate.” A faraway look crossed her mother’s face. “I thought it was a myth. All these years, I never thought it would be real…” She paused, meeting Belisandre’s eyes. “We must get that necklace. It will make us unstoppable.” Mother stroked Belisandre’s cheek.

  Belisandre curled her fists at her sides. “You can count on me. I will get that jewel and return it to whom it should belong. Us.”

  With a nod, Mother smiled. “Good.”

  “Since that’s settled, let’s leave this place.” Belisandre gestured them both toward the entrance.

  Ravyn froze. “What are you talking about? We must stay hidden.”

  “And you can do
that just fine from the comforts of the castle we’ve taken as ours.”

  Mother stepped past her. “I suppose we can.”

  Belisandre didn’t hesitate. This cave had been her home for so long…but it had become a place she hated. After the death of her father, her family went into hiding, so no one ever found out the truth. They all stayed in this cave and only snuck out when they needed food or clothes. They waited and hoped for the day to come when they could strike down their enemies. There was one time her mother had disappeared for longer than she should have, but she’d come back. Eventually. She never spoke of what had happened while she’d been gone.

  The day had finally arrived. She could finally release her family from their prison, but Belisandre was not happy about it, not when she’d failed in her mission. Because of a necklace filled with the power of an ancient sorceress. She bet Jovi didn’t even know what it could really do. Heck, Belisandre didn’t know for sure, but she’d heard of Hyacinth. Everyone with magic had.

  The woman was a renowned sorceress, known for her powers of persuasion and protection. She had always been good, though. Never did she harm another soul, only used her magic as a deterrent to anyone who might cross her. Of course, that ended up being her downfall. Beheaded by the people she’d protected for so many years…all because of whispers, rumors that meant nothing. Hyacinth should have killed any and all who opposed her. Letting them all live made the woman weak.

  Belisandre would never be weak.

  She led her mother and sister through the tunnels and entered a secret passage that led to the east wing, which had been blocked off long ago. Once, it had been the chosen room for the first-born child, but when he was killed, the wing was closed off, not accessible to anyone. By the King’s decree, of course.

  A bit overdramatic, in Belisandre’s eyes.

  But, her family could stay safely hidden here, even with the Fire Mages inside the castle.

  Fire Mages. Frost Mages. Belisandre wondered if the Frost Mages had figured it out yet. The curse that took their women made them Immortal. She’d told the Fire Mages, but she assumed the Frost Mages hadn’t a clue. When she’d made the curse, she wanted it to be as long-lasting as she could make it. Of course, she also hadn’t meant for the curse to hit the fire wielders, but it had. Nothing she could have done to stop that. She had started to turn the Fire Mages lives back the way they should have been all these years, though.

  But, the Frost Mages would remain cursed. Their women would never age. Never have children. Never die. Neither would they.

  And she couldn’t wait until the day she shared the news with them that they were Immortal. Unless someone decided to cut their head off, they wouldn’t die, and she didn’t see that happening any time soon.

  Yes, a lot of obstacles stood in her way, but every one of them she had jumped right over. The end game was simple. She’d stop anybody and everybody who opposed her and she would rule Kingsperch, all of Central Orendor, even. And perhaps, she’d take the rest of this world, too. Her sister and mother needed to rule as well. Good thing that Frostspher and Lyenhaus were so close.

  Laughing inside her head, she left her family in their new quarters and went to meet Phenix and his arrogant smile. A smile she wished she could slap right off his face every time she laid eyes on him.

  She found him in the kitchen, filling his mouth with bread and cheese. She placed her hands on her hips and tapped her foot against the floor. “Having fun?”

  He jerked. She’d startled him, a fact that made her secretly swell with happiness. Then came the smug smile. “Actually, yes. This bread. Wow. I haven’t tasted anything like it in so long.”

  Belisandre rolled her eyes. “Good. I’m glad. Now, finish eating so we can work on our next plans.”

  Phenix clicked his tongue but set the food down on a small corner table. “Actually, I’ve been thinking about these ‘plans.’ And…I have to say; I feel like I’m getting the short end of the stick here. Since you told me we’d have the cure if we helped you, which we did, and now only so many bottles have been prepared. Which, let me tell you, isn’t nearly enough for all the women we have.” He paused and drummed his fingers on a small counter next to where a wood-burning stove sat. “Then, there’s the whole kill the King thing. You know, another part of our agreement that never happened. So, you can see how I have some reservations about helping you, right?”

  Belisandre dropped her hands to her side. “Well, you will have all you seek and more. I promise.”

  He angled his head and pressed his lips together. “Yeah, you can see how your promise doesn’t mean a whole lot right now, right?”

  She growled. “You are so…so…frustrating!”

  His grin spread from one ear to the other. “Well, thanks. I’ll take that as a compliment coming from you.”

  She spun around and stormed out of the room, unable to deal with him anymore. He would help her, or he’d be sorry. Either way, she would get what she wanted.

  She always did.

  Before she had the patience to deal with him, she needed a nap. Or a whole day of rest, whichever she could get her hands on.

  Jovi sat up, looking all around her. She had no idea where she was. It must be a tent, but larger than she’d ever seen. In fact, this tent had rooms, sectioned off with walls. She stretched out under thick, fur-lined covers and raised her arms over her head as she yawned.

  The walls of the tent were painted with murals of nature and grass and sunlight. It was beautiful. Her gaze turned behind her where a big tree was painted with glittering white snow on the ground around it. The soft bed seemed to swallow her whole, and she reveled in the warmth it brought.

  But, then it all hit her. The last thing she remembered had been her body tumbling down some dark portal…she didn’t know what else to call it. Malador and his Mages had saved every one of her people, with her help.

  And her necklace. She stroked the fine jewel, making sure nobody had taken it from her neck.

  She breathed a sigh of relief when she felt it, heavy and as big as ever.

  “She wakes.”

  Jovi raised her head and eyed Malador as he walked into the room through a make-shift door made of hanging yellow and green string. Everything in the tent was bright and vibrantly colored, unlike what she’d imagined.

  Apparently, she’d been wrong.

  Jovi greeted him with a weak smile. “Hi.”

  He took a couple more steps. “I see you’ve slept well. I’m glad.”

  Suddenly nerves attacked her senses, and she scraped a hand through her hair. “Thanks. This bed is really comfortable.”

  An awkward silence swung through the room. Jovi didn’t know what to say. She’d married this man thinking he’d be cruel and would care nothing for her or her land, but then he saved them both.

  She didn’t know what to do with any of that.

  Malador came over and sat on the edge of the bed, close but not too close. “We lost some people back at the castle, mostly Frost Mages, but we’ve brought them all back here. Every single body, alive or dead, has been retrieved. Thanks to you and your magic.”

  She wouldn’t meet his eyes. “I don’t have magic.”

  “Ah, but you do. You have the most powerful magic of any of us.”

  She looked at him as if he had lost all his marbles. “What are you talking about?”

  “Have you ever heard of Hyacinth?”

  Jovi shook her head.

  He grinned as his gaze hit the ceiling. “Well, she was once a most talented sorceress. The most talented of any magical beings. She only used her powers for good, though. Protection, like the spell you chose, and healing. Things like that.”

  “Well, how did I get her power.”

  Malador reached out and fisted her necklace, but a pink aura surrounded it, shocking him away. “The necklace was hers. Before she was killed, she stored her magic in the necklace, hiding it away. Only someone of good nature could unlock those powers. And you just happ
ened to find the necklace. You know the rest.”

  Jovi sat up straighter as she ran her hands over the soft blanket. Over and over. “Okay, well, I guess I have magic now. Great. Just what I always wanted. And from the looks of it, it’s attached to me.”

  Malador nodded, then he placed a soft hand over hers. “It is. It has melded to your spirit and cannot be removed until you’ve died.”

  “Great. Another target on my back. Just what I need.”

  “It will be a good thing, I’m sure. And, as long as I live, I will keep you safe.”

  Her cheeks smoldered. “Thanks.” After a pause, she remembered something. “How did you get everyone out of the castle?”

  Malador shifted beside her on the bed and his leg brushed up against her side. “It’s called teleportation. Frost Mages have the ability, but the Fire Mages don’t. They’ve always wished they did, though. It is the ability to shift from one place to another, as long as you can picture where you want to go.”

  “Ah. Well, that’s useful.”

  He nodded. “Very.”

  He smelled of peppermint and the brisk cold as he inched closer. The need to pull away from him poked at her. The only way she stopped herself were thoughts of what he’d done for her, but still, he made her uncomfortable, partly because he’d surprised her more than once with his thoughtful ways and kind nature.

  She would never have thought of him like that. She remembered the first time she’d seen him walking down the road of Kingsperch toward the castle, the cold chills that had shot down her spine. They were long gone, though. No more goose bumps. No more chills. She didn’t know when they’d stopped, but they had.

  And that alone scared her.

  How could she grow fond of a man when her heart belonged to another?

  It didn’t matter. She had to put Cappa out of her mind and focus on the man in front of her. He was her husband now, and she wanted to make him happy. Promises were made, ones she wouldn’t break. Marriage was for life; for better or for worse. She would honor her vows. She needed to just cut her tie to Cappa, no matter how hard it was or how fickle it made her feel.