Page 50 of Vow of Magic
I ran one of my hands down Livia’s face and the other down the back of Sita’s hair. Anything to help ground me and prove to my brain that they were here and they were real. They were all caked in dirt and smelled horrid but they were here. That was all that mattered. Dark circles marked under their eyes and bruises covered every visible inch of their skin.
“When the attack happened, I took my family to higher ground. We hid until most of the keep was completely destroyed.” Livia’s face fell. “Getting out of the keep proved to bea challenge. Several people that escaped with my family fell to their deaths or monsters took them.”
Sita nodded. “I was in my tent when I heard the first screams. I hid in one of my trunks until most of the chaos was over. I was able to sneak through the tunnels, days later, delirious from lack of food and water. Livia found me barely hanging onto life.”
“We covered ourselves in slain monster pelts and somehow made it across the Wastes. Many did the same behind us and we had a whole pack. It wasn’t until we saw the wharf on fire that we knew we were doomed. We would have to make lives for ourselves in the villages and we would probably never see you again.” Livia’s face brightened as her story continued. “We were about to find some kind of refuge when we saw a boat in the distance. We couldn’t believe it was Grove and Leo! There was hope to be had.”
I closed my eyes and leaned into the comfort of their touch. I couldn’t believe it.
“They helped us locate others and we were able to sneak them across the sea to the beach where they waited for us to come with more people.” Grove untangled herself from Reva and we all gaped at her.
“There’s more of you?”
Sita grinned as tears streamed down her bronzed cheeks. “Hundreds, my queen.”
It was my turn to cry. Everything I’d done to prepare for them hadn’t been in vain. I never thought I’d see the day. Grove placed a hand on my shoulder. “If it makes you feel any better, you have an army. It’s a small one but we were able to locate many soldiers fighting their way through the Wastes.”
“And the fraud empire?”
Leo shrugged. “They have gone home to their luxury. I don’t know if we will ever see them again until they’re ready to fight.I think they assumed the Wastes would pick off the rest of the survivors.”
“Honestly,” Grove shook her head sadly. “If we hadn’t shown up when we did, the monsters would have picked them off slowly. They were tired, exhausted, and didn’t have any clue of where to go. They were wandering aimlessly through the snowy desert.”
“Where are they now?” Reva looked around my friends to the empty hallways.
"They are settling into their new homes in the city outside this castle. The city I know my queen built with her magic!” Leo wrapped his arms around my middle and swung me around in a small circle.
I pointed to the empty rooms on either side of the hall. “Please, have baths and get some rest. I’m sure Edna is preparing warm meals for all of us now and we can catch up more over a warm meal.”
Disbelief coursedthrough me as I stripped my salt-heavy clothes from my body. I pulled a fluffy robe over my nakedness and opened my curtains. I hadn’t opened them since that first night, too saddened by the lack of people in this place. But now it was different. Smoke billowed and curled from various areas and people scurried between houses with armfuls of firewood and what looked to be hunted game. My chest tightened as I watched all the activity happening before me. All in one day everything changed. I wanted to hear their stories, I wanted to know their faces. I pressed one of my hands against the cold glass and swiped at my tears with the other. This was what I’d been waiting for all along. I pulled the curtains closed behind me and quickly made my way to the bathing chambers. I couldn’twait for a bath but as I passed my sitting area, I noticed something between my two armchairs.
Sitting on the low, wooden table was a basket made of shells. Confused, I approached it slowly until I remembered Lilli’s words that she would send me a care package soon. There was a little note tucked on the top of it.
You aren’t the only one with magic, though I’m sure yours is a lot easier to use and has far more resources than ours does. In this basket, you’ll find everything you need to return to our kingdom or to call us to you. The big winding shell in the bottom will call all of your people when you need us. Simply blow on one end and we will know to assemble. There is a little baggie that you can put the snails in so you can come visit us for as long as you wish. The saltwater can be harsh on everyone’s skin, you’ll find a small tub of special lotion in there, sorry, it is made out of snails but it’ll leave your skin feeling like heaven. We use it when we leave the water for our blood moons and procreation. Though both of those things haven’t happened in a long time. Our people are dying and we hope you are our salvation. I can’t wait to see you again soon, Lilli.
The shell mentioned in her note was at the bottom of the basket, just as she said. It was a dark emerald green and glitteredwhen I moved it around in the light. It was about the size of my hand, big enough to be able to travel with me. The little jar of tan cream made me wince but I unscrewed the cap all the same to sniff it. Much to my relief, it didn’t smell like anything at all. I wondered if I would actually need it or not. The baggie she mentioned was strange. I’d never seen anything like it before. It was small and the sides on it were clear. It was almost soft to the touch. What was it made out of? I unpacked each of the items and placed the beautiful shell basket on the shelf beside my fireplace. It was a beautiful adornment and I would always cherish it.
The jar of cream found a new home beside my sink in the bathing chamber and the shell sat on the table where I read my books.
Steam poured from the faucet as I turned the water on and watched the tub fill. I couldn’t believe my friends were here. I couldn’t believe the town was filling up. I’d been so heartbroken to see the homes empty but now they wouldn’t be again. This was a new era.
The smellof breakfast woke me up the next morning. A smile curled my lips as I rolled over and came face to face with Livia. From somewhere else in my bedroom, I could hear Sita muttering to herself. She was probably in my closet.
I shoved my hair from my face with both hands, stretched my arms above my head, and then kicked the thick blankets from my legs.
“Good morning, Your Highness,” Livia curtsied and I smirked.
“You don’t have to do all of that. You’ve been around long enough and you’re my friend.”
Sita poked her head out of my closet. Bingo. “When she’s around others below your station she will need to address you accordingly. I know you don’t like it but it is protocol.”
A strand of hair fell in front of my face and I tried, unsuccessfully, to blow it away. My eyes skipped over the room until I found a tray full of biscuits, pancakes, and oatmeal. There was also a large glass of juice.
“What’s all of this?” We could address protocol later.
Livia twisted her hands in front of her. “Edna told us we could live here in the castle and find ways to serve you or we could live out in the city. My family is out in the city with my partner, but it didn’t feel right for me to be so far from you when we just became reunited.”
“Your family is more than welcome to live here with you. I’m sure the castle has more than enough room.”
