Mage Magic

Dedication

To all the fans who have stuck with me from the beginning; your praise, encouragement, and faith keep me going. Thanks! To Shelly; thanks for every nudge and prod.

I desperately needed them!

Prologue

Serena was in love. She had been from the moment she knew her child existed. Now, with the slight rise in her belly making her condition more noticeable, she was grateful for the long robes her station required. And yet she had never felt less worthy of being a priestess. She had fallen for the smooth words of a man and given him the life-changing gift of her virginity. He had used that gift to somehow pull a small portion of her power that had been bestowed from the goddess. Serena still didn’t know how he’d achieved that.

She did know that once she had fancied herself in love with him, and she had believed he was in love with her as well. But then she’d come across him with her friend, Lydia, and the steamy scene her gaze had taken in proved that he felt nothing for her. A few months later she’d discovered she was pregnant with Wilhelm’s child and knew that she must make plans to leave the castle and her friend, Queen Ona, before anyone else became aware. It was acceptable for a priestess to bring new life into the world, but not as an unmated woman.

She brushed her hands softly over the slight bulge of her growing child as she stood on the terrace of the Queen’s Temple and planned her journey to the Temple of the Goddess.

Only by leaving could she ensure that her child would be safe. Serena could already feel the immense strength her nurturing babe held. This child would have more power than any priestess had ever known. The goddess had appeared to Serena in a vision and told her that she must journey by the next full moon, leaving her friends and the only home she’d ever known behind. And the moon would be full this night.

“Priestess.” Queen Ona’s voice pulled her from her thoughts as her friend joined her on the terrace. Ona was like a sister to her. They had been close since they were mere children and it broke Serena’s heart to realise she would never glance upon Ona’s face again.

“My Queen,” she said and gave a bow of her head in deference to the title her friend held. When she looked up and met Ona’s eyes, she saw the glisten of unshed tears there.

“What is it? What has happened?”

“Everything changes this night,” Ona said as Serena grasped her hands and held tight.

Rarely did they use the designations they were entitled to when alone. Here they were friends, sisters, and the Priestess and Queen just didn’t exist.

“What changes?” Serena asked and gasped when Ona slipped one of her hands down to cradle the bulge of Serena’s belly. “How did you know?”

“There is much I have been shown,” Ona answered. “And there is little time to see it all done.”

“What have you seen? What is it that comes our way?” Serena asked.

“The goddess has bestowed the gift of foresight on me for this event,” Ona said. “I know that with the dawn of tonight’s full moon you will begin your journey to her temple.”

Serena nodded, lost for words. Why would the goddess share this wisdom with another? Then she shook her head at the touch of jealousy and focused on speaking with Ona. Her friend was good and pure, and the queen they all loved and respected. Why not share it with her?

“Yes, I will travel at the first touch of the moon in the sky,” Serena told her.

“Yet, there is one more task I must ask of you before you leave,” Ona beseeched her.

“One thing that you must do to ensure all is set for the future.”

“What is it?” Serena asked. “I will do whatever the goddess has bid you to ask of me.”

“I know you will, sister,” Ona said and hugged Serena close.

They stood that way for a long moment, just holding onto each other, both seeking and giving comfort to one another. Finally Ona pulled back and led Serena back into the heart of the Queen’s Temple. She stopped in front of the golden chest and, taking a chain from her neck, she bent to open it, revealing the Staff of Light.

It glowed, a mixture of the gold and pure white that formed it.

“What are you doing, Ona?” Serena gasped.

Never was the Staff to be removed from the protective case. If it fell into the wrong hands there was no limit to the destruction that could be caused.

“You must take this with you to the Temple of the Goddess,” Ona said. “It is the only thing you will carry on your journey. It will hide you so that no one will see you as you travel. It will protect you from the elements and see you safely to your destination. Once you

reach the Temple you will be met by the keepers. One will show you another container much like this one that will be the new home for the Staff.”

“I don’t understand,” Serena said. “Is it no longer safe within these walls?”

“No,” Ona answered. “There is one that hunts for it even now. It must not fall into his hands.”

Serena held Ona’s gaze and knew beyond a shadow of a doubt just who was looking for the Staff. Slowly she nodded, taking the Staff of Light from Ona’s hand. A zip of power flowed through her body and she swore she felt it settle in her womb before the feeling dissipated.

Ona took her free hand and led her back out to the terrace. They both looked towards the sky and knew the moon would soon appear as it continued to darken.

“Walk with me,” Ona said.

They left the temple for the woods that surrounded it. Serena knew where they were headed and didn’t question why her friend was leading her there. Ona would have a reason and she would share it only when she was ready.

They entered the clearing where many of the warriors came to
practice
or banter with one another. It was a place of joy and camaraderie and the echo of laughter lingered on the breeze.

Ona dropped her hand and moved a few feet away. With a weary sigh she gripped the hilt of her sword and pulled it free from the scabbard on her belt. Serena watched as Ona cradled the blade like she would one of her twins, almost as if she were saying goodbye. But that surely couldn’t be right.

Ona turned to her then slowly held the gleaming blade out to her. The large blue stone encrusted in the hilt shone, and Serena could make out the series of letters that seemed to form some saying on the sharp edge, but it was in a language she did not understand.

“What are you doing, Ona?” she demanded, stepping away from the hand that held the sword towards her, shaking her head as she moved.

“You must take it, Serena,” Ona said. “You must take it and hide it within this glade so that only the one it is meant for will be able to see it, to find it when the time is right.”

“I cannot take your sword.” Serena was shaking her head frantically. “To do so would be to leave you unprotected. I will not do that.”

“You have no choice,” Ona said. “As your fate is already set, so is mine.”

Serena looked into her friend’s eyes and felt the tears pool and cascade down her cheeks. She knew without asking just what Ona’s fate was to be. What she didn’t understand was why.

“Why?” she demanded, choking on the sobs she was barely holding back. “Take me instead. I would gladly take your place.”

Ona reached her free hand out and touched Serena’s belly once more, and Serena swore she felt her child kick. “You have another role to play and a very important child to bring into our world. Now quickly, take this sword and hide it so that I may tell you the rest and send you on your way.”

Serena took the sword from Ona’s hand and looked around the clearing. She spotted a tree just slightly different from the others. Its roots were exposed above the ground in many places. One such place held the perfect spot to hide the blade. Walking towards it before she could change her mind, she took the hilt in both hands and held it above her head with the blade pointing down towards the split in the root. Murmuring the words that filled her mind, she felt a ripple in the air as magic embraced her and the sword.

With a final cry, she plunged it towards the earth and buried it to the hilt in the exact spot she had decided on. With another murmured spell and a wave of her hand the blade disappeared from sight. She dropped to her knees and, burying her face in her hands, gave vent to the torrent of tears. By taking the sword she had just rendered her friend helpless, thus enabling Ona’s death.

“It is meant to be,” Ona said as she knelt on the earth beside Serena. She held the Staff in one hand and her sword belt in the other. “I have accepted what is to be and now you must as well.”

“How is it right for you to die?” Serena demanded.

“Because my death will be the catalyst that starts it all,” Ona said. “It is not our battle to fight. And when I breathe my last I will rejoice in the fact that once more I will be with my love.”

Serena knew whom Ona spoke of, her husband, Mikkel. Serena still suspected that Wilhelm had something to do with his brother’s death. Many others believed this as well.

And now Ona would be left with Wilhelm, virtually defenceless without her sword.

“Take these,” Ona said as they both rose to their feet. She held the Staff and sword belt out to Serena. “You must put the belt with the Staff and not touch either until the time is right.”

“I will,” Serena vowed. “I promise.”

“Your child will grow and you might be frightened by the power she holds,” Ona said.

“But as long as you keep her in the Temple of the Goddess it will be tempered. Only when she leaves will the true scheme of her powers be known. You will see the signs and know when that time is. Don’t allow her to leave without the Staff of Light and my belt. Both will be needed by her.”

“My daughter is to journey with the Staff?” Serena asked.

“The Staff has always been meant for your daughter. It is hers and that is why the goddess bade me to ensure you took it with you, to protect her destiny,” Ona said.

“I don’t want to leave you,” Serena said with more tears pouring down her cheeks. “It is as if I leave a piece of myself behind.”

“I love you too,” Ona said, hugging her close again. “But we each have a role assigned to us and there is no changing what is already destined.”

Serena nodded. Knowing and accepting were two very different things. Holding her friend’s gaze, she whispered a spell, then leant forward to touch her lips to Ona’s forehead.

She stood back and watched the glow form around Ona, absorbing into her friend’s skin before disappearing.

“What was that?” Ona asked. “I feel a warmth that I’ve never felt before.”

“I cannot prevent or change what is to be,” Serena said. “But I can protect you in some small way. When the time comes, know this, you will feel no pain. It is the only thing that I have left to give you.”

Ona met her gaze and for once Serena saw tears in her friend’s eyes. “I am not afraid of the pain.”

“No, you wouldn’t be,” Serena said. “I would give anything to stay with you, to take your place or at the very least stand at your side.”

“You hold a far more important task,” Ona said. “Your daughter must be born and sheltered in the Temple of the Goddess until the time is right. She will bring light into a world of dark.”

Serena nodded, too choked up to say anything else.

Ona looked up and smiled. Serena followed her gaze and took in the tranquil beauty of the full moon.

“It is time for you to go,” Ona said softly. “Stop for no one. You will reach the Temple in two days’ time. Keep the Staff on you. It will protect you from all around you.”

Serena nodded and with a sob pulled her friend close again. “I love you, Ona.”

“I love you too,” Ona answered.

With the moon full, Serena headed away through the woods and began her journey to her new home. She glanced back once and watched as Ona headed in the opposite direction, back towards the castle and the death that awaited her.

Chapter One

The mage paced in front of the window, waiting for the presence of the priestess. It was time. Time to leave and head to the castle and Wilhelm. Time for justice to begin. Time for the truth to be known.

“You are not to leave this temple,” the priestess began as soon as she entered the room.

The mage continued to pace, a robe pulled firmly over her head.

“I will not have you out in this,” Priestess Serena exclaimed. “On this you will listen and obey.”

They were interrupted before the mage could answer. Interrupted by the new guest in the temple, a shifter named Lydia. Lydia was a close friend of the priestess and had been brought to the temple to ensure her safety.

“Serena, have you seen the darkness outside?” Lydia exclaimed. “I must get to my girls.

I can’t keep hiding here.” The mage wanted to meet Lydia’s girls. Lydia was mother to Lynx, a shifter, and the surrogate mother to Aurora, and both women held a special place in the mage’s heart.

“So you will allow Wilhelm to capture you? To take you and do as he will?” Priestess Serena queried. “How will your girls deal with that?”