Prologue
Roderick
“This needs to be done discreetly.” His back faces me as he stands tall, looking down towards the kingdom, silhouetted by the moonlight seeping through the window. “I want only those loyal to our cause present. We need her to suspect nothing”.
His voice broke as he turned to meet my eyes, and just for a moment I glimpse weakness in his resolve. “I need her to suspect nothing. She doesn’t deserve this. Of all my disciples, she should have been the one by my side until the very end. When we finally defeated magics hold”
I could do little but stand there and wait for instructions. My chest constricted and a harsh breath escaped me as the king sentenced another elemental to death for crimes outside of their control. For being born with a spark of something that can only make them shine brighter in a world of darkness. For being born different in the eyes of their King. For being born with magic.
King Byford reigned over the Kingdom of Fagan’s Hold with barely a clue on how to rule his people. He outlawed all types of magic, making it a crime punishable by death for those who are found to use it or are simply born with it.
We lost half of the kingdom overnight. Children crying for their mothers as they were torn from their families, husbands and wives grieved the loss of their loves, and the towns burned by fires that were started in murderous rage. I can still hear the screams when I close my eyes at night.
The king turns and walks closer to me, lowering his voice as he places a friendly hand on my shoulder. “Can I trust you to handle this? Raydon has discovered who the Elemental is and is waiting for you in his chambers to go over the details. I can’t bring myself to be a part of this sentence.” He pauses, “This dinner will show everyone just how much I am willing to sacrifice for what we believe in. It will secure our Kingdom’s stance against magic and magic users for good.”
I don’t say a word, merely nodding in acceptance of my duties as I turn my back on the King. There is little I can do to change his mind.
A million things were floating through my head while I walked myself out.
As I open the door, I hear the King mumble in denial. “She will understand that it needs to be done. She will understand that she needs to die for there to be peace. And I will be there by her side, as she has been for me, till her end”.
As I turned to grab the handle and close the door behind me, I caught the King staring back at me. His eyes glimmered in the moonlight as if crying, an impossible feat for a man with no soul.
As the door clicks closed a thought occurs to me. There are only 2 people the King cares for enough to break him like his. His wife, who is already dead,
and his daughter.
