Kara (27 page)

“The wizard…” Jesset began.

“Is he dead too?” She moved to sit up, but
the pain spike halted that movement.

Hambone reached out a hand to motion for her
to stay put.

“He’s alive, but…sleeping.” Jesset said, and
quickly continued. “It’s a deep, deep sleep. Almost like
hibernation. His body is repairing itself.”

Her mind tried to take in all the
information. “But he was fine during the fight.”

Snow laid her hand on Kara now. Her
grey-brown eyes were watery yet a true friend spoke from behind the
veil of tears. “His last spell saved your life. The captain’s sword
was headed for your neck.”

Kara was speechless. Ynob, the rude magician
who really didn’t want anything to do with her, had used one last
spell to partially block her attacker.

Tears for Grace came, which brought forth the
memory of Dante. More tears for her fallen friend trickled from her
eyes, and her body shook with slow mournful sobs. Snow’s emotions
broke also, and they both cried together. Snow’s head lay on Kara’s
chest. Jesset and Hambone watched, their grief wrestling inside a
hard exterior. They remained strong for the others.

It was a nice cry, and when enough tears and
sadness had poured forth, both clasped hands, smiled and then
laughed. Kara wanted to sit up, and with help from Hambone and
Jesset, she managed. Jesset ran off to fix food, and a moment later
Hambone went to help.

Snow sat next to Kara, her arm around Kara’s
waist. A few more tears came, and a few little laughs before anyone
spoke again.

“I really don’t remember much.”

“Well, you defeated the evil.”

“Hooray for me…ow.” Kara went to lift her
arms in mock cheer, but the pain reminded her she was one of the
wounded. Snow squeezed her tighter, and let out a small laugh.

“So the princess, the evil is dead?” Kara
asked, looking directly at Snow. Their foreheads touched.

“The princess…she’s alive…but the thing that
was inside her…is gone.”

Kara pulled a bit apart from Snow to try to
read her expression. “You don’t sound sure.”

Snow looked right back at Kara. “I’m not.
When you cracked the mirror with the necklace—”

“I cracked the mirror with the necklace? I
sort of remember that.”

“Don’t interrupt. It’s confusing enough
without you asking questions…at least right now. When you cracked
the mirror, a pulse of dark blue light rippled out.” Snow looked to
Kara to see if she understood.

“The princess creature, whatever, fell as the
light hit her. She crumpled as if her legs and arms gave out on
her.”

“And the captain, his sword hit you, but then
he also collapsed. You were out cold. I thought you were dead too.
There was so much blood.” Snow paused and smiled. She drew Kara in
for a hug.

“Okay, but what happened next?”

Jesset appeared suddenly. “Food is on. Do you
want it here or at the table?” He looked at Kara and then at Snow
when they both didn’t respond. “Or do you want it later after she
finishes telling—”

“No…I need to eat…I think.”

Snow stood and helped Kara to her feet. It
felt as if she hadn’t walked in weeks, but soon her legs were
getting the hang of it. Hambone was finishing setting the
table.

Bark! Bark! Bark!

Paws scampered quickly toward her and she
felt the familiar hello lick from Birch. She leaned down gently to
ruffle the dog’s fur. “Birch!”

“I told him he could come see you now that
you were up. I don’t think he slept much all night. He wanted to be
in bed with you, but I didn’t think you needed that yet.” Jesset
said, helping guide Kara to her chair.

“Father!”

At the table sat Kirt. He smiled weakly. Kara
made her way over and hugged him. They both shivered from their own
pain, but endured it.

Once all found a seat around the table, they
dug into the fresh bread and vegetables. There were eggs and huge
flapjacks that exuded a hint of cinnamon. All ate as if they were
hungry farm animals, stuffing it in and not caring if they caused a
mess.

After an intense food war, all sat back
satisfied. Kara tossed scraps to Birch and laughed as he tried
unsuccessfully to catch them midair. Hambone was last to finish,
making sure there were no leftovers to worry about.

“So, how far did you get with the tale?”
Jesset asked, nodding at Snow.

“Not very far. But the food was worth the
interruption.”

Jesset was about to speak again, when his
eyes caught sight of Birch. The dog had gone stiff, listening
intently toward the door. He growled a low ruff. Kara looked down
at Birch and then at Jesset who held almost a similar
expression.

“Horses.”

Panic rose in Kara as her eyes stared at the
door. The horses were now right outside. They came to a halt.

“Have they come back?” Kara said in a
panicked whisper.

She looked to her friends, but all had a look
of shock on their faces. Kara looked back at the door. Taylon came
first through the door.

Kara stood up, ready to run, but her heart
instantly froze when she saw the next intruder. Euphoria glided
through the door. She stopped a few feet in, and looked at the
small group seated there.

The bat pendant hung around the princess’s
neck. It was softly glowing.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Instinct told her to run, and that is what
she did. Even amid the shouts and spikes of pain, Kara ran out the
door. She was only a few strides past the threshold when she
realized they were calling after her. Hambone and Snow were first
out the doorway, followed by Hambone.

Euphoria appeared in the entry last. Kara
stopped and turned around, her eyes growing wide. “You got what you
came for. Why are you still after me?” Kara shouted, still not
understanding why her friends just stood next to the princess.

“You didn’t tell her yet, I assume.” Euphoria
directed the comment at Hambone. He shook his head slightly looking
embarrassed.

“Leave. Let me do it.”

Had this statement been made less than a day
ago, her friends, her family would have stayed and protected her.
Now they all obeyed the order. They did not move as if they were
mindless minions under a spell, but their actions did not help
explain anything for Kara. Euphoria stepped aside to let them
re-enter the cottage. Kara watched her intently, still suspicious
this woman.

“I don’t blame you for not trusting this
form.” She stepped away from the house, looking around at the
forest. “But don’t use your eyes to trust. Use this and this.” The
princess pointed to her head first, and then to her heart.

Kara tensed her body and most of what the
princess said went unheard. Somehow this lady had fooled her
friends, but she wouldn’t go down without a fight. She was ready to
lash out, to run away, even to fight back if need be. But when
Euphoria made the motion indicating to trust with one’s head,
something clicked, and then when she pointed to her heart, another
piece fell into place.

Last night, with the necklace in her hand,
the pulsing light inside her mind, she heard a voice speak.
Trust what I say. Heart and mind over what you see.
Believe.

“Rose?” Kara’s eyes opened wide.

Euphoria only smiled.

“But…how?” Kara hesitated before relaxing her
stiff body.
Was this a trick?

No words were said, only a simple action. The
princess pointed to the necklace. Kara still looked confused. “My
husband was Guillaud. That you know from the dream. Over a century
ago, he was a great wizard. The best, but he could not save me.
This necklace, a gift, trapped my soul. With my soul imprisoned, a
wraith, a very powerful dark spirit found its home in my empty
body. It made me kill.”

Kara breathed a sigh of relief inside. As
Euphoria spoke, the words rang true. Slowly, Kara’s defenses
dropped. She knew that whatever creature had once possessed this
woman was gone. “I saw some of it in my dream.”

“After the murder, the wraith obtained full
control of my physical body. Guillaud, my protector, had no clue at
first, but he was strong with magic. He imprisoned my physical self
in a cage while he learned all he could. My essence, me, was
trapped in this necklace. In the actual stone itself. A rock called
midnight core.

“The pendant kept my physical form alive by
preserving my soul. Guillaud never learned that entirely. The
wraith could never travel anywhere without the stone, for it
protected its right, its claim on my body. Thus, I need to wear
this necklace to preserve my claim.”

Kara interjected as some of the puzzle came
together for her. “But won’t the stone steal your soul again? And
you will be back in the same bind?”

Euphoria looked lost for an answer. “That I
don’t know. Maybe your wizard might know, but he….”

“I know.” And silence settled between them.
Kara’s mind worked this whole magic idea. “So when I smashed the
mirror, I broke this wraith’s claim on Euphoria? I mean on you?
Or….”

The princess chuckled at her stumbling over
the words. “I’m going by Euphoria, because that’s who I look like.
But you are correct. Guillaud gathered up as much midnight core as
he could. He made a mirror with it.”

“So he used the mirror to capture and hold
the wraith? But why did the wraith want the necklace?”

“I don’t have all the answers. My guess is
the creature thought that if it could bond with the necklace, it
could leave the mirror behind. It is much easier traveling with a
necklace than a mirror.”

Kara looked content but also had more
questions. Euphoria saw this and walked up to her, placing a hand
on her shoulder. The necklace pulsed.

“I mainly wanted to come and say thank you.
Also to make sure you were doing okay. I was afraid that you too
were in a deep sleep like your wizard friend.”

“I seem to be okay. Other than my
injury.”

Euphoria nodded. “I am deeply sorry for
everything that befell you and your friends. Even though I had
little to do with this mirror, the king, or the Witch Guard, I
still feel responsible. But you, your friends, and family have
nothing to worry about from the crown. Faldoa sees me as the
princess, probably queen soon. I’ll make the new rules. You will be
left alone.”

“But what of the captain, Kreitan?” Kara
worried.

The princess smiled. “I forget that you were
unconscious during the aftermath. The shockwave of magic did
something to his mind. Since he has awoken, he clucks like a
chicken. We aren’t sure if it is temporary or permanent. But you
should not worry.”

“And the other soldiers? What if they
remember and come after us?” Kara asked, still not satisfied.

At that moment, Jesset poked his head out the
door. “Does anyone need anything?” He mainly directed the question
at Kara.

“No, I need to be going. Being in charge of a
kingdom is not an easy chore.” Euphoria said and turned toward the
door.

“Your Highness?” The royal term felt odd
speaking it. “May I ask one more thing?”

“Of course.”

“Where is the real Euphoria? I mean her
spirit, her soul?”

It took the princess a moment to answer, a
look of pondering on her face. “I really don’t know. My spirit
somehow ended up in her body. The mirror is shattered, and so I
don’t know if she’s trapped in there with the wraith or trapped in
this necklace…or gone.”

Kara listened, taking it all in. She
nodded.

“Thank you, all. The crown is in debt to
you.” Euphoria said and then turned to Jesset, Kirt and Kara. “You
do not need to worry about the Witch Guard. I don’t think they will
be around for very much longer. Taylon here will be captain of my
Royal Guard.”

Euphoria embraced Kara before the group
walked out to the battlefield. The signs of the struggle were still
visible: the charred rubble left from the carriage, a sword, and
two broken crossbow bolts.

Dante’s body was gone, but as Kara looked
around, she noticed two new graves close to the forest; one tiny
and one regular sized. Wildflowers covered each, as did a small
pile of stones at the head.

Euphoria mounted her horse. “Dispose of the
mirror’s frame. I am having the pieces scattered, buried and
hopefully lost forever. If the wraith is trapped there, I don’t
want anyone able to put that mirror back together.”

And with that, the two riders departed. Kara
stood and watched them, even when their small forms disappeared on
the horizon. Hambone came to stand beside her.

Her old life had ended in a matter of days.
New friends met and then a few departed. She didn’t know what the
future held for her, but it would at least be bearable with her
friends along for the ride.

Epilogue

Finally, the wall.
Katrena cursed as
she carefully made her way along it towards her secret door. Under
her arm, she still clutched the mahogany box she’d taken from
Kreitan. Furious could not begin to describe the way she was
feeling.

She was still angry and exhausted from the
interrogation room. Patience was not always a virtue of hers, but
Katrena had been tolerant in order to escape. Her bonds weakened
with the help of some magic, and her lock-picking skills came in
handy when dealing with the door.

Overpowering the guard was child’s play and
perhaps luck. His uniform sufficed for an escape, at least out of
the castle. The ill-fitting clothes stood out in the marketplace
and made running difficult.

A merchant in a corner booth hawked his
wares, drawing her attention. Few other humans paid him any mind. A
casual word and a swift uppercut had him at her disposal. His tunic
and turban made a better disguise than the short guard uniform. A
smile flitted across Katrena’s face as she remembered the
merchant’s face when he realized her true intentions.