She stalled for a moment, still unused to being ordered to do anything besides smile, wave, and show up on time for meals and events that required her presence. Then she took off and ran the remainder of the way.
When Garron and Arion arrived, the palace vet, the head stable master, and a number of others had gathered to assist.
“I’ve never seen anything like this before,” the vet said.
“Can you help her?” Arion asked.
“I do not know,” he said honestly. “They look similar to our horses, but very little is known about the care of unicorns. I have never seen or heard of one getting sick like this.”
“He said he could feel dark magic. Could magic make the unicorn sick?” Garron asked.
The vet frowned. “Dark magic? I’ve never heard of such a thing. That would be a question for Zallon, the High Keeper of Magic, boy. Do not be spouting nonsense you know nothing about.”
“I know what I felt,” Arion said defensively.
“And just who do you think you are?” the stable master asked.
“This is Arion, apprentice to Zallon. Zallon personally sent him to check on this beast. You would do well to hold your tongues lest you anger him. I have seen personally how powerful our next High Keeper of Magic is,” Valaria told them.
Arion’s eyes nearly bugged out his head. He was going to be in so much trouble if she kept telling people that.
As the men looked over the unicorn for any obvious issues, Arion pulled Garron and the princess aside.
“Whatever you think you saw me do out there, it never happened. Are we clear?” he said.
“But it did happen, Arion. We both saw you,” Garron insisted.
“It never happened,” Arion insisted again.
“But why?” Garron persisted.
“Because people of magic are frowned upon in the kingdom. That’s why we have only one High Keeper of Magic, to control what many fears or at least that’s what they think. I know of others that have magic. It’s rare, and they are forbidden to use it inside Gavalon’s walls, but it happens on occasion,” Valaria whispered.
“That’s not possible,” Arion said. “Only Zallon has true magic.”
“And you,” Garron said. “We saw you.”
“You’re right. I’m sure it’s just childhood bedtime stories,” Valaria conceded a little too easily. “Perhaps Zallon has already began to transition some of his magic to you in preparation for your apprenticeship.”
“That’s what I was thinking!” Garron said. “This has been the greatest day ever.”
“A great day?” Arion questioned, feeling anger and frustration bubbling up in him. “Callia may be dying. It’s far from a great day.”
“Sorry,” Garron murmured as he hung his head and walked away.
“You didn’t have to be so hard on him,” Valaria said softly. “He can’t possibly understand how it is for us.”
“Us? There is no us,” Arion snapped.
“I didn’t mean us like that,” the princess defended, blushing. “Like it or not we are more alike than you realize, and people of magic are not just fairytales, Arion. I’ve seen them.”
“Then why were you so quick to agree,” he challenged.
“Because magical people were supposed to have been eradicated centuries ago and all magic channeled to the High Keeper. Zallon knew you had magic. That’s why you were chosen so young. People never expect I’m listening and often even forget I’m in the room, but I hear and see everything,” Valaria said.
Before Arion could question her, a booming voice yelled. “Valaria!”
She cringed and turned then politely curtsied. “Father,” she said.
Arion had never met the king before personally. The rare occasions he came to the House of Magic, Zallon had always told him to go to his room. He immediately dropped to his knees, gritting his teeth to hide the pain of his cut, and stared at the ground.
“Who is this?” the King demanded.
“Father, this is Arion. Zallon sent him to check on the sick unicorn.”
He was quiet for a minute as Arion continued to stare at his King’s feet.
“Oh yes, our soon-to-be apprentice. Rise, Arion. There is no need for formalities. What news have you of the unicorn?” the King asked.
Arion was shaking when he stood and looked up to his King for the first time. He expected a large commanding man, but he looked like any other man in the kingdom. There was absolutely nothing distinguishing about him.
“There appears to be nothing obviously wrong with her, sir, but I can attest personally that this is not normal behavior for Callia,” Arion said, surprised by how steady his voice was.
“Callia?” the King asked.
“That’s the unicorn’s name, father,” Valaria explained.
“I fear there may be magic involved, sir,” Arion blurted out his suspicions.
“Magic?” the king asked. He slowly turned to look at the unicorn. “You can feel it?”
Arion looked towards Valaria who nodded her head in encouragement for him to continue. “Yes sir. I believe I do, but Zallon would be best qualified to confirm that.”
The king nodded in agreement. “I’ll send for him at once.”
Chapter 4
Arion and Valaria sat quietly in the stable next to Callia while Zallon looked her over. Arion knew the moment he felt the dark magic too as Zallon’s eyes widened and shot towards the boys.
“Well?” the King demanded.
“I’ve never felt anything like this before. It is definitely of magic, a dark, cold sort of sorcery that I have only read about in books,” Zallon said.
“What sort of person could cast such a spell?” the King asked.
“I do not know,” Zallon admitted. “The legends speak of nothing like this since the days the dark wizard roamed the lands.”
“The dark wizard?” Arion asked, his curiosity piquing.
“The legends of Ryze,” Valaria whispered. “I’ve read everything I could find in the royal library that was ever written of him. It’s all myths and legends though, right father?”
Zallon looked towards his King who shook his head and nodded towards the stable hands.
“Only myths and legends, my dear,” the King confirmed, but the look he shared with Zallon told Arion and Valaria that it was far from the truth.
They knew enough to keep their mouths shut. With Callia stable and comfortable, the King personally escorted Zallon and Arion back to the House of Magic. It was a quiet journey. Valaria could barely contain herself from asking questions along the way.
The moments they were inside the House of Magic, the inquiries began.
“Father, there must be some truth behind the legends of Ryze. There simply must be,” Valaria insisted.
“All myths and legends stem from some historical truths, child,” Zallon said.
“I knew it!” Valaria said excitedly.
“To understand this sort of magic, we must dive into the legends of sorcery.”
“The what?” Arion asked Zallon having never heard him speak of something like that before.
“It’s the myths of how magic came to Gavalon, Arion,” Zallon started. “A long long time ago, this area was filled with pure magic. The people of the land could channel it and Gavalon grew and prospered. We revered those that could use magic, but then the darkness rose.”