The first witch gazed at the vials with a pleased smile. The seven glass tubes were carefully set out on the low table, though one vial was set apart from the others…

  “You have done well,” Aradia looked at the three familiars that sat just beyond the table and gave a nod of approval. “I thank you for your efforts.”

  Two out of the three familiar’s bowed, though the cat with its eyes stuck staring in opposite directions didn’t give any indication he had heard the first witch’s praise.

  “I have arranged for your preferred treats to be prepared for you and sent home with your witches. Please return to them.”

  All three of the familiar’s turned and filed out of the first witch’s quarters in a single file, leaving Aradia alone with Ansar.

  He moved over to stand just behind Aradia’s left shoulder and peered down at the vials with a tilt of his head.

  “Whatever is all this?”

  “Water from the Goddess’s Pool from the midday waters,” Aradia informed him lightly while rising to a stand.

  Ansar raised a quizzical eyebrow.

  Aradia sighed. “With these vials, and the mage crystals you kept for me, I can once again wield magic of the four elements as a mage does.”

  Ansar straightened. “Wouldn’t you simply need the mage crystals if you know the language of the mages?”

  The first witch shook her head. “Not with my curse cutting off a part of my humanity.”

  A pained look overtook Ansar’s features as he drew himself up straight. “Is there really nothing that will break the curse?”

  Aradia’s calm expression stiffened. “No. I have had this curse for centuries. If it came about because of a simple overextension of power, like a regular witch, it would have faded after a hundred years…”

  “Aradia, I… I know you are reluctant to share the details of the fight that took place with your brother, but… Could I please ask about it more?”

  The first witch raised an eyebrow.

  She did not want to talk about the battle that had left her stranded and powerless in the human world. But something gave way in herself when she saw the warm worry in Ansar’s eyes.

  “I cursed my brother to be stuck here, and because I cannot die, the consequence was that I locked away my magic and lost certain emotions. It is simple. It is why I had Theodor Phendor, the witch blacksmith, try and create a blade for me that would unlock my abilities. When really it simply acted as a more powerful mage crystal. You may recall I could add ingredients or mixtures to the blade to change what it could do as well. Which was how I was able to cut a hole and force a doorway to the Forest of the Afterlife back during the civil war in Troivack.”

  “Why didn’t you simply use the water and mage crystals when you were in Troivack? Why reveal the blade?”

  “I can’t go to the Forest of the Afterlife on my own, and that is where the Goddess’s Pool is. I needed familiars who are able to traverse that realm in order to do so. Troivack’s coven was in hiding while I was there, and no one was going to take many risks with their familiars. And very few of them even had familiars given that they were quite literally underground for so many years.”

  Ansar nodded slowly as he listened. “I see. So now that you have the vials of water and the crystals, what is your plan?”

  At this, Aradia relaxed enough to give a confident half smile. “This afternoon, I’m going to retrieve the children. I will then immediately send Penelope aboard the ship with the remaining Coven of Wittica members, and I will leave with my brother tonight during the prince’s birthday with the Coven of Giong witches and Wixim.”

  “Wouldn’t it be best to send the devil and yourself off sooner than later?”

  Aradia shook her head. “I need to stay behind in order to help occupy Katarina Reyes. The Daxarian king most likely has received the ransom letter.”

  A rueful quirk curved the corners of Ansar’s lips. “I know that she is minding the children, but I’m rather surprised that she hasn’t already declared war.”

  Aradia’s eyes darted to the morning sky as two magpies darted across the rich blue scene. “That’s because Katarina Reyes has no idea she is being ransomed. This way her husband goes into a panic, and she doesn’t act out.”

  Ansar’s eyebrows rose. He was visibly impressed with this plan.

  “No, this evening Katarina Reyes will be problematic because the children will be gone, not because of the ransom. Therefore she will most likely make a scene trying to find them, but because she won’t want any harm coming to them, she will behave. Not to mention Soo Hebin is poisoning a great deal of her attendees tonight. It will be fine, though. Wixim will come to transport my brother and to board the other ship, and one or two witches from the Coven of Wittica will remain behind as well, just in case Soo Hebin has found a way to craft another deal with the Giong Coven behind my back.” Aradia turned toward the doorway.

  She wanted to have a relaxing tea before she went ahead and took back the children. It’d be the last time in the garden since she would be leaving that night and she’d be busy guarding the children in the meantime.

  “Have you decided who is going to be the next person to inherit the Zinferan throne?”

  Aradia paused in her journey. “I’m torn between putting in some extra effort and somehow placing Jiho Ryu on the throne, or the concubine named Deoh Rin. None of the children that remain are capable or bold enough. Which is most likely why Soo Hebin hasn’t been too worried about them.”

  “Deoh Rin doesn’t have many supporters, and no one has any thoughts of the Ryu’s taking over. Neither of those people would be able to hold onto the power of the throne for long.”

  Aradia shrugged. “Maybe they would, maybe they wouldn’t. Jiho Ryu rose up from the position of a lowly dock worker, and he has only gained more power, wealth, and connections with every inch he has been given. The common people love him, and many of the nobility have come to respect him.”

  “Isn’t he one of the party attendee’s this evening who is supposed to be poisoned?”

  Aradia nodded. “He and his eldest son, Lord Bong, are attending, and both are supposed to die… But I’ll decide if I should let that happen after our tea.”

  Turning back to the doorway, Aradia proceeded out with a spring in her step, leaving Ansar to carefully collect the vials, store them in a locked box, and carry it with him out into the garden.

  It was going to be a very busy couple of days.

  ***

  Annika looked up from the missive a maid had discreetly slipped into her palm while claiming to be cutting a loose thread from the duchess’s dress.

  She looked to Kat who was seated cross legged on the floor while Penelope proceeded to add a fourth braid to the queen’s hairstyle while Luca contented himself on the floor by the window with a plate of tea cakes and a book.

  “Tam’s in Gondol.”

  Everyone looked up with a jolt.

  “My dad’s here?” Luca burst out while jumping to his feet and rushing over, the book still in hand.

  Penelope inched forward a little, too. “Is Eli with him? And Harris?”

  “I believe so. They are hiding in one of the brothel’s we own… However, he also is warning us that he has heard about something terrible that is supposed to happen tonight at the birthday.”

  Kat arched an eyebrow. “I’m going to pretend to be sick so that I can stay behind and protect the children. So we should be safe.”

  “I want you to make sure you try to eat any of the food that arrives before the children. If I were to make a guess? I would say Soo Hebin would want to poison people. That seems more her style given that she does not have many brutish forces remaining.”

  Kat nodded in understanding. “Have you already warned the Ryu’s?”

  “I have,” Annika responded calmly before leaning over to a nearby candle and lighting the missive on fire. Once the flames began licking a little closer to her hand, she dropped the remaining corner into her teacup… Where the flames didn’t extinguish, but in fact flared with new life.

  Kat grinned at her mother, who brushed away imaginary lint from her skirts.

  “Do you have alcohol in your tea?” Luca asked with an innocent tilt of his head.

  Annika cleared her throat delicately. “I do. How did you know that alcohol is flammable?”

  “My mother told me. She owns a tavern.”

  “Ah, yes,” Annika nodded demurely.

  “Luca, Penelope, do you mind going behind the screen for a bit? I want to talk with my mum about something,” the Daxarian queen looked at the children with a kind smile.

  The children shared curious looks, but proceeded back behind the painted screen that was to the left of the window as instructed without complaint.

  “Mum… I have to say… I… I kind of think Luca is actually Tam’s son. I know it just didn’t seem plausible before, but the more I’ve gotten to know that kid…” Kat trailed off and gave a quiet laugh. “I think my brother really did have a little bundle of surprise.”

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  Annika leaned her elbow on the table and touched her chin, then her mouth, as her brown eyes waded through the complex emotions that seized her when faced with her daughter’s opinion.

  “There are an alarming number of similarities, but we assume nothing,” Annika said firmly. “Why do you bring this up now?”

  Kat hesitated then glanced over her shoulder at the screen before leaning closer to her mother and dropping her voice even more. “If Luca isn’t the devil then… where is he? What if Luca was a distraction and the first witch already has the devil locked up somewhere? What if the only thing Aradia is worried about is starting a war with the kingdoms and the covens?”

  Annika tilted her head. “I doubt that very much. Otherwise she would have already left the palace.”

  “She didn’t leave when she had captured the devil last time during the war in Troivack,” Kat argued.

  Annika settled back in her chair, the last of the flames from her tea cup finally dwindling. “It would be risky to leave without a distraction when tensions are so high right now.”

  Kat sat up straighter. “You think she’s going to try and kidnap the children back so she can leave when the party takes place?”

  “Yes. I do.”

  Kat pressed her lips together, as though holding back a snarl before allowing herself to say, “How can we get Tam here with us?”

  Annika tilted her head, and opened her mouth to say something, when a knock on the door interrupted her.

  “Who is it?” Kat came to her feet and instantly crossed the room to the screen where the children were hidden while her mother followed her in rising, only she moved over to the door.

  “The representatives from Troivack have arrived, Your Majesty,” a maid announced.

  Kat perked up. “Oh, thank the Gods!”

  Annika held up a hand, signalling her daughter to calm down. “And who are the representatives?”

  “It is a Sir Hugo Cas and Princess Kezia, the Royal Court Mage.”

  Kat’s jaw dropped and her eyes rounded.

  Annika warily opened the door to find herself staring behind the maid at a clean shaven blond man with soft cheeks, and blue eyes who inclined himself to her. And at his side, a woman with long waving silky black hair, olive toned skin, and the most exquisite blue eyes she had ever seen.

  “Thank you,” the duchess said to the maid curtly before standing aside. “Won’t you two come in? Her Majesty has been looking forward to seeing you.”

  The Daxarian born knight bowed as the woman swept into the room, then he followed suit.

  When the door was closed Kat descended upon the Troivackian princess who was married to the king’s younger brother.

  “KEZIA!” Kat flung her arms around the woman who laughed musically and returned the embrace.

  “Ryshka, I’ve missed you, too,” she said affectionately.

  When the Daxarian queen finally released the woman, she merely leaned away to cup Kezia’s face.

  “Gods. Still far too beautiful to be mortal.”

  The princess laughed again.

  “It is good to see you again as well, Your Majesty.” Sir Cas bowed, a broad, warm smile of his own lighting his features.

  Kat punched him in the shoulder before pulling him into a hug next. “Still breaking hearts over in Troivack, you big softie?”

  “Oh, I’ve been far too busy for that,” Sir Cas chortled.

  In truth, Kat had already heard from the Troivackian queen how the knight had been the object of the affections of many women, but he himself had never reciprocated and instead chose to focus on his career.

  “Mum,” Kat addressed the duchess. “You remember Sir Cas and Kezia.”

  The duchess smiled. “I do indeed. It is wonderful to see you both in good health, though I wish it were under better circumstances.”

  At mention of what had drawn them all to the same place at the same time, everyone’s joyful expressions faded.

  “What have you learned about the alleged devil sightings?” Kezia asked quickly.

  “Uh… First of all, wasn’t Mr. Kraft supposed to be coming? Why isn’t he here? I’m shocked Henry let you come,” Kat changed the subject quickly, while fixing her attention on Kezia.

  It was indeed strange that the Troivackian prince would allow his wife to go to a foreign kingdom that was on the brink of utter chaos.

  Kezia’s eyes lingered on Kat’s face. She seemed to sense there was a reason that her old friend was dodging the question, but indulged her regardless. “Mr. Kraft was struck with a terrible flu around the time we needed to leave. Part of the reason for the delayed departure was the Troivackian king had hoped he would recover enough to leave. However, Mr. Kraft was left significantly weaker, and so I volunteered.”

  Kat raised her eyebrows expectantly.

  Seeing this, Kezia spared a brief guilty smile. “Henry has been in the north overseeing the development of a large coven and mage school. We are trying to merge the two disciplines.”

  At this, Annika jumped in. “That is a very innovative approach. I’ll be interested to hear more about that. I’m surprised their Majesties did not mention this when they were visiting for Katarina’s coronation.”

  “The newly recruited apprentice mages have taken some persuading to join the witches, so it was not a confirmed plan when they were in Daxaria.”

  Kat folded her arms patiently and tilted her head, making Kezia at last confess. “Henry did not know I was going to volunteer. But it would be ridiculous for no one of magical inclination to come to investigate. Now… What is happening here with the devil? I’ve also heard rumors that your brother, Tam, is dead? But given how… yourself you seem, Ryshka, I somehow doubt that is true.”

  So, Katarina proceeded to enlighten Kezia on the status and influence of the corrupt concubine, the two covens that had fallen in line with her, and the first witch.

  Listening to how widespread the trouble was, Kezia’s beautiful face paled, and Sir Cas looked more than a little concerned.

  The Troivackian princess was just getting her wits back together, when out from behind the screen, stepped Luca and Penelope.

  Kezia’s eyes dropped to the two children, but they quickly homed in on Luca with great alarm.

  “Ryshka, who is-”

  A blast of stone and air blew everyone off their feet into the back wall.

  Dust clouded the air, the crashing and crunching echoed loudly, followed shortly by a dull ringing…

  Coughing ensued the chaos, followed by Katarina’s aura flaring.

  “MUM? MUM? ARE YOU ALRIGHT?”

  In the debris of the destroyed quarters, Kat could gradually make out what had happened…

  The entire wall where the window was had been blown to bits from four boulders that had smashed through.

  Kat had managed to shield her mother at some point during the blow, but the duchess seemed to be disoriented, and was struggling to draw breath.

  Scanning the room in a panic for any additional danger, Kat noticed Kezia was lying unconscious on the ground underneath bits of rumble, while Sir Cas was bleeding from the side of his head.

  “The children,” Annika gasped before her eyes suddenly flew to the ceiling. “Fin.”

  Shivering, Kat knew that her mother was utterly terrified.

  Whenever any of the Ashowans were extremely frightened, her father’s magical connection to his loved ones part of his home permitted him to have a vision from wherever he was that gave him a glimpse of what was happening.Though only his wife, Annika, was able to see a vision of Finlay when this happened.

  “LUCA? PENELEOPE?” Kat shouted as her mother’s breaths shuddered.

  She dropped her golden eyes to her mother, and instantly reached down their magical connection, and pushed power down, urging her mother’s strength to be restored.

  It took an agonizing moment, but she did feel her mother’s breathing start to even out once more. Mortals were physically improved when Kat did this. Witches experienced surges of magical power.

  “Sir Cas?” Kat called next.

  The knight squinted his eyes at her, his gaze unfocused.

  “Shit. Shit, shit, shit!”

  Annika slowly pushed herself up to sitting, her fingers trembling as she gingerly poked and prodded herself before saying. “I’ll live… But, Kat… the children. Did they….?”

  Kat’s magic flared as she gently set her mother to the side, then started sifting through the rumble.

  A fraction of relief filled her when she didn’t find their bodies anywhere.

  “I’m going to kill that Godsdamn witch,” Kat seethed.

  “Kat,” her mother coughed. “Get… A physician for the princess and Sir Cas…”

  “We can’t trust a Royal Physician!” Kat peered over the jagged edge of what remained of the wall to the ground, but found the land her window overlooked was empty of people. “We need to get the hell out of here. Now.”

  “They’ll follow us,” Annika explained while taking slow, deep breaths, her hair and face covered in dust and wood chips.

  “If they do, I’ll take care of them,” Kat ground out before swinging around toward where Kezia lay. “But right now we need to retreat and come up with a new plan. Now, where was that brothel you said Tam was at?”