Fortuitous Return

Ardele has been whisked away into another facility where injured soldiers heal. The facility has a number of comfortable rooms built for the warriors serving Arcana.

They are sacrificing themselves with loyalty every single time we go to war. The least my family can do is build a nice healing ward.

Rolling my shoulders back, I curve down the familiar corridors, and wince when I open Ardele's room.

The days have not been kind to her; her face is growing more sullen, and her skin still the deathly pale color.

The room is a bright pastel blue, and the sun is high today, casting white light into the room. Hovering over her, I force myself to sit down.

It feels odd not to have her lively presence in the castle. Coralie has been in a weird mood lately, and I am sure Ardele's absence is a large factor in that.

My parents left to go make an alliances with Southern empires and are expected to return in a couple weeks.

Nikolai still has not turned up, and Arcana has been a mess lately. Everyone's morals and patience are thinning, and so are mine.

Coralie is barely keeping everyone together. The amount of speeches I've done over the last few days is tiring more than usual.

Coralie barges into the room, the door hitting the wall so hard, the paintings on the wall shake.

"Fallon! Nikolai has returned. He's here!"

I rise to my feet in shock. Nikolai disappeared for some time now, and it has caused havoc across the castle household staff.

I sent out a search party two weeks ago, and they came back empty handed. Where was he? Thank God he is alive.

I glance back at Ardele, and I run my hand down her cheek. I feel guilty leaving her alone like this. I left her alone for too long, and this happened.

Turning back around, Coralie is puffing out her cheeks, trying not to smile.

"What?"

She grins. "Nothing. Come on."

Together we briskly walk towards the front entrance. Coralie points towards the throne room, and I wearily stride in.

Nikolai's long dark hair is cut short and is a startling silver hue. His ears are pierced with several metal hoops in an odd pattern.

He reeks of manure and other foul smells; his clothing tattered so greatly it is barely clinging to his body.

His dark eyes swing towards me, and immediately folds over into a deep bow.

"Your highness."

"Nikolai," I keep my tone curt. "Have seat."

He crosses his arms, ignoring the request. I motion Coralie over to my side, and she hesitatingly steps over.

Leaning over, I whisper, "Call for Maverick and Isla."

Coralie's face pinches in confusion, but she nods. She turns with a short nod in Nikolai's direction before leaving the throne room.

The door closes us in, and I icily glare at Nikolai. I roll my shoulders, and Nikolai wearily studies my hostile position.

"Explain."

He sighs. "I don't know what happened, your highness. I am still trying to wrap my head around it. I woke up in a dark cellar somewhere. The last memory I had before that was when I was overlooking the gardens."

"Meaning you were never here during the day Daniel attempted assassinate Ardele?"

"What? When was that?"

I name the date, and he nods. "Yes, your highness."

"Emmie recalls you dismissing them from their tasks on that day."

"I think someone took my place. I was never in the castle, Prince Fallon. I swear on my life."

"How could that be? I asked a large group of servants, and they all said that you had dismissed them from their duties, telling them to go home. I brought in a witch skilled in detecting lies, and they were all truthful about the answer."

Nikolai lets out a deep breath. "I think there was a shapeshifter here."

That makes sense. However, shape shifters are very rare and are hard to find. It's crazy to think that one has been in Arcana.

Only one every three centuries are born. Most shapeshifters are reclusive, leaving alone in deep forests, one with nature.

The chance of a shape shifter crawling into normal society is quite low. There is not much information on them, the species a large blank in many species logs. If shapeshifters fall into evil hands, it is chaos waiting to happen, bound to happen.

I cross my arms. "A cellar. You said a cellar. Where?"

Nikolai grimaces. "It was in uncalled for territory. Diseases and death everywhere along the community there. It was north of Arcana."

"How did you get out?"

"Once I realized that I got captured, I tried breaking out immediately. I got out by breaking through the special lock spell on my cell. I knew there was magic in the air. It was so strong anyone could feel it. I just had to figure out what spell was placed. It was an Barikole lock."

My eyes narrow on him, my mouth thinning into a grim expression. It makes sense that Nikolai knows so much about magic. He was raised by Leonidas, my father's long time warlock ally.

I am surprised that the witch hasn't killed him off yet. Of all people him. And Nikolai got lucky. It is likely they didn't know about his history and thought him as an easy target. Huge mistake on their part.

"I placed a key spell on the ground, contradicting the Barikole spell, writing out ancient letters with my blood. The spell made me black out, and I don't know for long. I woke up with intricate patterns on my body. After I broke out of the cell, I realized I was in a cellar, because I was underground surrounded by molding potatoes. I eventually found a way out, which took days. Nobody was checking in on me, so I am sure either nobody knew I was there, or they all expected me to rot in the cell."

Maverick and Isla bursts into the room. Maverick armed with a large club, and Isla's free flowing hair swirling around her. Maverick lowers his club, and Isla whistles when they spot Nikolai tamely speaking.

Isla grins as she scans Nikolai from head to toe. "Hey, Nikolai. Glad you're back."

Nikolai tersely dips his head down. "Yes."

He returns his attention to me.

"I climbed out of the door of the cellar, and I realized that I was not alone. Many eyes were on me, and I think that they are humans. I couldn't tell. The scent of filth was too strong. I had no idea where I was. Luckily, no one was hostile. Everyone ignored each other, and I was just another in that mix."

Maverick is leaning on the wall, his boulder-sized arms tucked against him, and Isla is intently listening sitting on a nearby table.

"There was this old woman who took pity on me, throwing me an old map after I had pestered her for hours. She had a ton of books around her, and I knew she had to have a map amidst all the literature. And she did. I stole a young mare and rode myself dry here."

One thing is for sure. Nikolai is innocent. His actions speak of his valor and persistence.

I am glad that he pulled through. But for there to be a potential shapeshifter on Clairemont's ground is a total gamechanger. It is anyone's game now.

"You are free to go, Nikolai. Take a break and bathe."

Nikolai tiredly nods, and he walks out, his back straight and standing tall as usual.

Maverick lumbers towards me, placing a letter in my hand. Isla is still sitting on the table, and she leans forward.

"So, what are we going to do now, your highness?"

I rip open the letter, scanning the content. In slashed lettering, the three simple words makes me want to tear his heart out. It's your move.

"We wait. We still need to question Daniel if he wakes up from his coma, and we need to wait until Ardele regains her strength."

Maverick sighs. "I have a feeling we are going against a force that we are not aware of."

I tip my head down in agreement.

"We are. There is definitely a witch on Clairemont's side. A powerful one at that. There was said to be a magical presence in our counterattack at Tiril Creek which was a large clue. And the random attack when Ardele and I gathered blood flowers. For a witch to cast a lock spell as binding as a Barikole one, she must be immensely powerful. A tier 9 or above. And for there to be a shapeshifter... it is going to be rough."

Isla's face flares with agitation. "How is King Maximus acquiring all these powerful allies? He must have sold his sold to the devil."

Maverick rolls his shoulder. "He likely cursed himself."

"He very much likely did. Now, we have to find out what that curse entails."

"This is a mess." Isla presses her palm to her eyes.

I pass the leader of Clairemont's letter to her.

"Yes it is."