Page 8 of Legends of Sorcery
“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.
