Through the Eyes of a Fae
Chapter 2

The others were already at North Gate when they arrived. Royce waved cheerfully as they approached.

“Master Mage, are we all ready to depart?” Royce teased. Royce and Ludis had grown up in the same village. However, Ludis was as pale as cream, while Royce’s bronze skin gleamed like the sun glowed from within him. Stella blushed faintly at the silly thought. The sun from the inside, really Stella, get a grip! She fussed with her saddlebags to hide her creeping blush. Feeling a warmth at her back, she looked up into Royce’s smiling eyes. He winked as he leaned down, cupping his hands to help her mount. Even her horse, Atsila (a-Gee-la), snorted in exasperation. Everyone knew Stella was not a strong rider. Her neck and face going crimson, she placed her boot in his gloved hands, hauling herself into the saddle. Atsila meant fire in Royce’s native language, making her the perfect horse for Stella. She was a proud and beautiful horse, with quite a temper. Anyone could see, however, that Atsila had a soft spot for Stella. It is as if the mare knew Stella was an incompetent rider and made sure to carry her safely all the time. They had developed a strong bond over the years, and her love for the patient mare had grown tenfold. Looking over to Ludis, now mounted on her dark chestnut gelding who had a star shaped pattern on his forehead, Adanedi (Ah-Da-ne-Dee), Ludis’s violet eyes flashed into the distance, her face grim.

“Let’s be off. It will be close to dark when we arrive. We need to make haste, so we can set up camp before the sun sets.” With that, Ludis turned her steed towards the north road, and they set off. Benjamín and Rickard rode far to the front, and Cade and Joseph to the rear. Royce rode with Stella and Ludis.

“Well, Ludis, what are we looking for?” Royce’s voice was relaxed, as was his body. For such a large man, he looked completely at ease atop his war horse. A big-boned stallion named Utana (U-ta-na), black as his master’s hair-he easily carried the mountain of a man. Though Royce sounded and looked completely at ease, Stella did not miss how his eyes moved over his surroundings or that his sword was loosed just a bit from the scabbard for ease of reach. Ludis huffed, the small puff of air blowing her bangs from her eyes.

“To be honest, I’m not certain. We can sense the power, but it is dormant. I would imagine a stone or crystal of some kind. Something strong enough to store such power for so long. Such a treasure would have been taken by any fleeing enemy if it were small enough to carry, so it must be fair heavy.” Ludis mused, sinking into silence before pulling out a small leaf of parchment and a coal stick. She rapidly began to sketch and from her mutterings, it was clear Ludis was working on different formulas for a spell to contain and move such an item. Nodding her head, Stella also pulled out her parchment and began the same, frowning over her work. If the power was bound to the land, then it may not be able to be moved. It is possible they would need to consider how to destroy it on sight. Glancing over at Ludis and seeing her expression, she knew Ludis, too, had come to this conclusion. For the power to be bound to the land such as it was - it was the only explanation for its strength. As they drew closer to the ruined castle, they could feel it. Pulsing like a heartbeat. Magic was not something that typically came from the land, except in legends and stories, of course. Her mind drifted back to the stories of the Fae she had thought briefly of before. Fae’s magic came from the land, so the legend goes. It was why they were so powerful. While all magic had rules, their power was almost limitless. Due to its source being outside their body, it did not affect their life force to use it, though conducting it could be exhausting. That was why the grey men sought it so. Though, Stella seriously doubted the grey men had a Fae in their pocket - how ridiculous! There was no doubt that they were pulling pure magic from somewhere - elemental magic would turn them gray, no doubt. Dark mages were known for trying to absorb magic from all sources to increase their power. Bitterly remembering mages lost, friends being sucked dry to nothing but bones and skin by the Men of the Grey. Using elemental magic was taxing on the body, since it was meant for the earth. To bend and use it was against the rules of nature. There are consequences for such actions. A brief chill ran up her spine at the daunting thought. She did not want to imagine if the Fae really existed. If they ever did, she prayed to the gods that they were good. An enemy who could bend the magic of the earth without the repercussions like what the grey men faced would be the one to end the world as they knew it. The fall of the grey men circled around the fact they could be taunted and pushed to pull too much power, causing them to combust. Even so, they seemed to figure out how to build a tolerance for it. Myths tell of fae’s who could move the ocean, make the trees walk and the rain come. Volcanoes erupt, and the fires run across the land. Fearsome creatures indeed. No being should have such power. While she was lost in thought, the sun set as the castle came into view, its crumbling walls reflecting the last of the sunlight. She was surprised, glancing around. Had she been so lost in thought that she missed the whole ride? Royce saw her surprised look and laughed.

“That look right there, Stells, is why the king told us to come with you. Mages are always stuck in their books and papers, never looking up.” Stella frowned at the nickname and puffed up in agitation.

“I’ll have you know, Sir Royce, I am quite capable of taking care of myself!”

" Oh aye, that I have no doubt. But I’ve lost count of the skirmishes I’ve pulled you from. You’d have avoided all of them if you had looked up, even just once.” Royce smiled and, again, Stella’s cheeks grew hot. What was wrong with her? Was she ill? Sliding, ungracefully, from the back of her horse, she let Rickard take her reins as she turned her back to Royce, pretending she did not hear him. Ludis, leading Adanedi, walked towards her with a smile that could not be hidden.

“He has a point, you know.” They turned to face the castle. Its walls are covered in vines and moss, towers half broken, stones strewn over the ground from catapults.

" Let’s make camp.”