“Well, we can certainly try a boil antidote. Don’t get your hopes up that it will work. Magic such as this is quite sinister, but if it is merely a side affect of it, perhaps a potion will do the trick. Come, we must get to work on it immediately.”
It took three hours to ready the boil antidote. Arion had never been more focused and diligent as he carefully handled each ingredient and paid close attention in case he needed to make more to help the other unicorns.
Once ready, Zallon insisted on carrying it himself as he walked back to the stables with Arion. It made it difficult having to walk slowly when all Arion wanted was to run and test the potion as quickly as possible.
To him it felt like an eternity passed before they reached the royal stables. The new guard standing watch immediately got out of their way without altercation.
“How is she?” Zallon asked Theod.
“Even with the small amount Arion got her to eat, she’s continuing to weaken quickly I’m afraid.”
“Well, let’s hope this helps,” the wizard proclaimed as he knelt down next to the magnificent creature.
Callia grunted and tried to move away from him. She snorted and refused to open her mouth for him, even when he tried to pry it open.
“Let me try. Please,” Arion practically begged hating to see his friend in so much anguish.
Zallon started to protest, then nodded and scooted to the side to allow Arion space to sit next to her head. He reached out and stroked her soft fur along her neck, trying not to flinch as darts of pain shot through his hand in response to the dark magic.
“I know you’re hurting, old friend, but Zallon’s here to help. You have to trust me on this Callia. You know I’d never do anything to harm you.”
Zallon watched in fascination. It truly looked as if the unicorn understood his words. At one point he would have sworn she even nodded her head in agreement.
Arion leaned down and kissed the top of her head. “Good girl.” He stroked along her throat and coaxing her to open up for him. At least she did and Zallon quickly took the chance to pour the potion they’d made into her mouth.
He looked over to Arion and nodded. “Well done. Now we wait.”
It didn’t take long. Less than an hour later, Callia started to whinny and she nudged at Arion with her head, occasionally snorting in frustration. He had not left her side even once but had begun to doze off a little as they waited.
“What is it, girl?” he asked.
She nuzzled against his face and he laughed as he pushed her away.
“Can I get a vet in here?” he yelled out. “I think maybe it’s working. She’s acting a bit more like her normal self.”
Before they all came running back to her stall, Arion took a quick second to check the status of the magic. Still there, he noted with disappointment.
The vet came in and checked her over thoroughly. He was amazed at the fast improvement from the potion.
They offered her some fresh food and she devoured every bit of it. There was a festive feel in the air and much relief.
“There are still so many more affected though,” Theod reminded them. “Callia is but one, and new reports are filing in throughout the kingdom of more fallen unicorns. We do not have the room to care for them all here.”
“Then we’ll take to the fields and help them where they are,” Arion said. “But first, we’re going to need a lot more of that potion.”
Chapter 6
The King sent Garron and two other boys to help the moment he heard the news of Callia’s improvement. They showed up on the front steps of the Hall of Magic before the sun had fully risen the next morning.
Arion was exhausted having stayed up all night helping Zallon make as much potion as possible and now it was time for him to deliver it to the unicorns. As he opened the door to leave, he nearly stumbled over Garron and his two friends.
“What are you doing here?” Arion barked, knowing how close he had come to dropping the basket in his arms that contained the antidotes needed for another fifty unicorns.
Zallon would continue making more as Arion administered the potion to get them back to eating as quickly as possible. He knew it was going to be a long, grueling day fighting fatigue, but his determination to find and help each and every unicorn in the kingdom was what kept him putting one foot in front of the other.
“Sorry Arion. The king sent us to help,” Garron said.
“That’s really him?” one of the boys whispered.
Garron’s eyes lit with pride as he nodded. It wasn’t everyday you could introduce your best mates to someone as famous as the apprentice to the Keeper of magic.
“This is Kyler and Jeffrid. They’re here to help too.”
“Fine, just don’t get in my way. Zallon’s going over to the stables later this morning to address the unicorns there. So your jobs will be to help find the ones that haven’t already been gathered. We’ve had reports of many and fear all the unicorns in the kingdom may be infected by now.”
Arion chose his words carefully. There were only a few people that knew they were dealing with dark magic. Something like that could terrify the people and send unnecessary widespread panic across the lands. He had no way to know for certain how much Kyler and Jeffrid knew.
Their journey didn’t take them far before they encountered the first unicorn. Jeffrid was shocked at the devastation he saw as he looked out across the valley.
“Look, there’s another over there,” he pointed off into the distance. “And there, and there too. They’re everywhere.”
“How many unicorns are in Gavalon?” Kyler whispered humbly.
Arion shook his head. “I don’t think anyone knows for certain. We can try and keep count, but we have to hurry. Without food they will die.”
“So, we’re feeding them?” Garron asked. “All of them?”
Arion laughed. “Sort of. We’re giving them each a potion to feel better so they can eat. Fingers crossed this works.”
For the first half of the day the task wasn’t too bad. They talked and laughed as they set about their duties. There was a celebratory feeling in the air knowing they were making some progress with the unicorns even if it wasn’t an actual cure for them.
“Garron says you’re pretty close with Princess Valaria,” Jeffrid said.
“What? I’ve met her a few times, that’s all,” Arion assured him. He didn’t know the insinuation he heard in Jeffrid’s voice that said he thought there was something more, something scandalous even.
“So you didn’t get an invitation to her party?” Kyler asked sounding disappointed.
“What party?”
“The ball the King is throwing in her honor,” Kyler explained.
“All eligible suitors for the princess are being invited,” Jeffrid said. “Garron made it sound as if that could be you.”
“I did not. I only said that I had helped the apprentice and the princess on a mission,” Garron defended himself.
“If the ball is for suitors, why would you expect I’d get an invitation?” Arion asked.
“Because you’re the apprentice,” Kyler said. “There’s not really any higher status of eligible suitors for her than you, at least not from Gavalon.”