Page 14 of Legends of Sorcery
“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.”
“You mean not from the palace. There are others, like the sons of prominent landowners in other parts of Gavalon, you idiot,” Jeffrid told him.
“I heard they were bringing in outsiders from other six kingdoms,” Kyler added.
“That’s rubbish. No way would the princess marry from outside the kingdom. Right, Arion?” Garron asked.
He shrugged. “How would I know?”
“I’m sure she’ll give you an invitation the next time you see her.”
Arion laughed. “Garron, I barely know the princess. I highly doubt that, I mean why would she?”
“Why wouldn’t she? You’re the apprentice,” Kyler said again. “Who better in all of Gavalon to be our next prince and future king?”
Arion scowled and shook his head. “It’s not like that. The High Keeper must do without many things. Unfortunately, a family is one of them.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Garron said.
“You’d really give up the chance of a family of your own someday, a woman you love, to be the High Keeper?” Kyler asked.
Arion shrugged. “I’ve never had a family. Wouldn’t even know what I was missing.” He grinned trying to put a positive face on, even while they attacked his deepest concern with accepting the apprenticeship.
“Sorry, mate, we didn’t realize. I mean we knew you were chosen at a young age, but not that,” Jeffrid stopped unsure of what to say next.
