My mother, perhaps sensing my deep dejection after the humiliating summoning trial, decided to take me out of the castle to the nearby town under the pretext of gathering household supplies. I think she hoped the change of scenery would lift my spirits.
For a little while, it did. The bustling market, so full of life and noise, was a welcome distraction. But, lost in my thoughts, I wandered too far from her side. Judging from my silk dress and the moonstone necklace I wore so proudly, it was no surprise I was targeted. A rough sack was thrown over my head, and I was dragged into a filthy alley and then into a derelict building.
When they demanded to know who my family was so they could demand a ransom, I laughed bitterly. "My father wouldn't pay a dime for me," I told them, my voice surprisingly steady. "You're wasting your time." When that didn't work, I tried the truth. "My name is Gwen. I am the daughter of Reverend Archmage Theron."
They roared with laughter. One of them, a man with a broken nose, taunted me, "If you're the Reverend's daughter, then I'm the king's son! Everyone knows the Archmage has one daughter, the gifted one. You're just some noble's brat."
My blood ran cold. I was the hidden daughter, a secret even to criminals. Then I noticed another one of them staring intently at my bosom, a lewd grin spreading across his face. I accidentally looked down and I could see is member already up .I have learnt enough to know what that means but I was tied up, and there was nothing I could do .i started panicking and chanting every spell I know hoping to get myself out of this . The man who had been staring then suggested to his colleague that since they couldn't get a ransom, they might as well "have some fun" with me.
As they argued over their vile plan, I was desperately working my hands against the ropes, the coarse fibers burning my wrists. At the same time, I focused every ounce of my will, whispering the summoning incantations that had failed me so publicly just days before. I didn't care what I summoned; I just needed a distraction, a weapon.
After many frantic, silent trials, something answered. The air grew cold. Three snarling, malevolent spirits materialized in the room, their forms twisting with dark energy. But just like before, I had no control. They turned on my captors, but also on me, their hatred indiscriminate.
Fortunately, the surge of dark energy was like a beacon to those who know it .The door to the room splintered into pieces…..and never have I been so happy to see my mother . She stood ,her eyes blazing with a fury I had never seen. In one fluid motion, she uttered a binding spell so potent it snuffed the spirits out like candles. Then, before the kidnappers could even react, she drew a dagger from her boot. It was over in seconds. She moved with a lethal, practiced grace I never knew she possessed, silencing them forever with swift, precise cuts.
She had just saved my life, and she had earned my eternal respect. Learning how to fight like that was now at the very top of my list.
She wiped her blade clean on a rag, her breathing barely quickened like she has done this countless times before . She looked at me and said nothing but I knew I was in for an earful when we got back home. But for now, she simply said, "Let's go." Not a word was spoken about the incident. I lifted my soiled skirt and followed her silently to the waiting carriage, the image of the bodies and the cold efficiency in her eyes seared into my mind.
I just know Father is going to skin me alive if he ever finds out.
On our way back to the castle, the silence in the carriage was thick and heavy. The scent of blood and fear still seemed to cling to my clothes, a stark contrast to the peaceful countryside rolling past the window. As much as the situation was awkward, I'm the queen of awkward. The question burned in my throat, demanding to be asked.
"Mother…" I began, my voice barely a whisper. "Where did you learn how to fight like that?"
I could feel her tense beside me, her posture becoming even more rigid. She didn't look at me, her gaze fixed on some distant point beyond the glass. For a long moment, I thought she would ignore me entirely.
Then, she spoke, her tone clipped and final. "My father taught me."
It was an answer, but it was a door slammed shut. I was not satisfied. A hundred more questions bubbled up. *Who was your father? Why did he teach a noblewoman to kill? What else don't I know about you?* But I glanced at her profile, at the firm set of her jaw and the storm in her eyes, and I knew her look said otherwise. The conversation was over.
So, I swallowed my curiosity and turned my head to the window, forcing myself to enjoy the scenery,the green fields, the grazing sheep, the simple freedom of the world outside the castle walls. I didn't know when I would see it again.
On getting to the castle, any thought of my impending scolding vanished from my mind. Parked in the main courtyard were three carriages, each adorned with the royal emblem…a golden griffon on a field of deep blue. My breath caught in my throat. Royal guards stood at attention, their polished armor gleaming in the afternoon sun.
I exchanged a quick, wide-eyed glance with my mother. Her face, still hardened from the events in the town, now showed a new layer of sharp concern. All the unspoken rules between us about the kidnapping were instantly reinforced. Our private disaster was now completely overshadowed by a public one."What business could the king have with us?" I whispered, more to myself than to her.
She didn't answer, her mind already racing ahead. This was no social call. A royal visit, unannounced, meant only one thing: trouble. And trouble from the king was the one thing that could make even my father's displeasure seem insignificant.
As we stepped down from our carriage, the atmosphere was electric with formal tension. The incident in the town, the dead men, the summoned spirits….it all came rushing back to me ,my fear of father's anger was suddenly a trivial thing compared to the terrifying possibility that the king himself might know my secret .