A Series of Observations

The woman begged her lady’s maid to move more swiftly, their heavy skirts forcing their steps to be more labored than they might otherwise be.

“My lady, you know I must at least warn you that this is not a smart choice you are making tonight.” The maid held back her further sarcasm.

“Yes, of course, otherwise you would be a far worse lady’s maid than you already are.” The woman scoffed. Her lady’s maid tugged her cloak to make her trip slightly.

“Oh sure Princess, make fun of the help! You’re lucky I’m even willing to go with you on these otherwise ill-advised nightly adventures. To what are we hunting for tonight?” she asked.

This encouraged a wider, more genuine smile from the Princess, to which was quickly returned by the viciously rolled eyes of her maid.

“I am told magic is being performed in the Great Woods tonight, I should like to observe their rituals.” The Princess told.

Switching the heavy iron lamp to the other arm, the Princess secured her waist belt with the other, containing her daggers and extra coin should trouble find them. Taking her lady’s maid’s hand, the Princess escorted her further, towards the entrance to the tunnels that would take them to the outskirts of the castle walls.

There were many ways to reach the tunnels, entrances from every royal’s room if they knew where to look, the kitchens, the library, the council rooms, but the knowledge of these tunnels fell from mind many decades ago, at least it was supposed to have.

The Princess had an affinity for reading, with a great and pressing need to escape her reality daily, so she found solace in pages that opened the world around her. With the right book, her home became a larger playground than many realized when she was very young, and she made it her personal duty to document and maintain each passage she discovered.

The chosen passage tonight was a less commonly trekked one, as it wasn’t always easy to access privately, but the Princess knew it would bring them closer to their goal to enter from this one as opposed to finding their way through the tunnels the entire way.

The two women wore matching garb of the low born of the kingdom, in the varying shades of blue that were designated to the staff of the castle and would disguise them as anything but what they are. The Princess, at least until free from the confines of the stone that surrounded her, covered her hair with a veil, hiding the white, blonde strands from revealing her identity. Careful still to keep a low gaze whenever they found themselves in company, as what would expose her in far more obvious ways would be her silver eyes.

The Princess brought her maid into an alcove, hiding behind a large statue that was exhibited there as guards walked by, making loud conversation as their heavy armor clanked with each step.

The two women peered around the statue, the maid crossing her body in the designated way to offer thanks to the gods that offered them a moment of protection. The Princess then carried on their pursuit towards the tunnels. She reached to her neck as they walked, a tick she had gained over the years to ensure that the necklace she never took off still sat safely in her reach. The locket pendant was a prized possession, given to her by her mother when she had come into womanhood, which offered symbols no other could understand or read, and of which she was never able to open. Her mother told her magic would keep it shut until magic was ready to open it again.

She was promised that as its keeper, it would keep her safe when she needed it most. Tonight, it was simply a comfort, a reminder of a mother with a wild spirit like hers that now danced within the stars. Her hand then travelled to her hip again, to find the only key that could offer her the freedom she craved tonight.

Her footsteps echoed around the hall they quickly paced down, but the mind of the Princess was always many steps ahead, through the tunnels, out of the gates, and into the open night, the city, and all its possibilities. She was always eager to shed the skin of her identity for a night, gaining autonomy for the briefest of moments, when she was able to steal them.

The visions that brought her to the Great Wood tonight had been growing more prominent. Visions, or waking dreams, she wasn’t sure which, but she knew that the only way to know would be find the source. She had kept her manifestation of magic a secret thus far, knowing how it would be used if her father found out about her gift. She was still young enough to know that more was likely to manifest as she grew into her power further, the bloodlines that created her ensuring it.

Her brothers, both powerful, had heeded enough of their mothers teachings and warnings to have not had their minds poisoned by growing up in preparation to become kings. They held onto their honor and morality like a vice, where others would encourage they barter their souls to gain more than they should be willed to have. The Princess was the youngest of the three children, and she maintained her individuality and freedom of heart as an act of defiance to those that would shape her to be otherwise for their own benefit. The three children of the northern kingdom found solace in each other, but equally understood the parts they were instructed to play within their family.

Parts they played well, but the Princess had long reached an age where she was expected to wed, to leave the safety of her current kingdom to benefit the king of another. Her spirit had been dampened by the growing threats of marriage, though she felt prepared, as her tunnels allowed her to collect plenty of useful information in addition to her nightly freedoms.

She chose to leave each night to find herself, so even if she was given away, she would never be far from herself. She never told a soul that she hoped trouble would find her on these nights, as she was restless and in many ways, did not want to have to face her fate at all.

Her childhood beckoned her, where her mother and a free expression of magic was promised, but she was never able to reach it, her steps only taking her farther into womanhood than she ever wanted to be without her mother’s guidance.

Her lady’s maid grabbed her arm roughly, bringing her back to reality and pausing the pair in the middle of a large entryway.

“More guards come my lady, we must hurry.” The maid changed positions with the Princess to lead. They found themselves on the other side of the entryway to the doors that led to the private temple in the castle.

Once inside, the smell of incense calmed the women, candles flickering gently to a breeze that entered from the opened, stained-glass windows that lined the aisle towards the altar.

Approaching the statues and paintings depicting the great gods that are worshiped within the continent, the Princess approached a statue to the right side of the altar.

The bright full moon illuminated her eyes farther as she gazed towards the statue of the God of Night. Positioned perfectly so that the moon always stood at his back through the windows each night, to offer him the greatest amount of power over his domain.

She took a moment to remove her veil, the heat of the summer causing sweat to gather at the base of her neck. Bowing her head in reverence, as she was the only person that bowed in awe of this god as opposed to fear, she reached towards the carving of the divine blade he carried. The name had been long lost to time, as had the blade itself, but its power and the death it promised had never been forgotten. Her pale hand outstretched to touch the carved hilt, where a deep sapphire gemstone would have sat within the real blade. Pressing the stone, the floor groaned as it exposed the entrance to the staircase the base of the statue hid.

The Princess looked to her maid, who had finished ensuring they were not being followed and nodded for them to continue.

They grasped hands and travelled into the darkness that was the heart of the castle, though the Princess had never feared of the dark.

Magic felt more alive in these tunnels, where it was free to exist without manipulation, and the darkness always wrapped around her like the comfort of an embrace, as if welcoming her back.

The doorway to the surface had closed securely behind them, and the Princess took a moment to focus, bringing her magic to the edges of her mind and body to produce a ball of light in her hand. Holding it high, it illuminated the entirety of the forgotten tunnel, which had been preserved perfectly due to the magic that played freely here.

Other tunnels did not have that benefit, which the Princess discovered through trial and error, but now she believed she had discovered every tunnel, intact or otherwise, that carried her all over the inner city, let alone the castle itself.

This part of their journey came far more quickly, and as they moved swiftly towards the edges of the kingdom; the sound of rushing water rose to meet them. The Princess found herself feeling fortunate that these waters were clean, intended to be used for drinking and plumbing, where waste was disposed of in other means, at an entirely different point of the castle.

Attached to the bank of the small river was a boat that could comfortably support the two women. This river supplied the water to the entire kingdom, brought in with large mills that propelled the water with great force, and disguised their voice from any echo’s that might betray them.

“This is the part where I remind you that you do not have to join me, it has always been my choice to leave, I do not wish to threaten your livelihood by forcing you to come.” The princess took the hand of her maid, her only true friend.

“This is the part where I remind you that I am happy to find adventure with you, in fact I welcome it. Dangers and consequences be damned.” Her maid squeezed her hands tightly as she spoke.

With an exhalation of breath and a wide smile, they both removed the heavy skirts of their disguise to uncover the leather pants they hid underneath. Corsets had been left behind at the start, but blouses and other overclothes also hid more leather underneath; shawls were replaced for cloaks.

The women hid their disguises for when they returned, and the Princess replaced her belt of daggers and coin to her waist.

“My finest, most gentle lady, your boat awaits.” The Princess jested with her maid, offering her hand to enter the boat safely and a moment to forget their stations, as they always did when they were together.

Her maid giggled in response, “oh most gracious sir, thank you!” she took her hand and entered the boat.

The Princess worked quickly to untie the boat and kick it from the edge, jumping into the bow and seating herself in swift motions.

“When do you ever have time to prepare such things, Princess?” the maid asked.

“You know when I am intended to be learning mathematics?”

The maid nodded.

“Well, my instructor is a notorious gambler and drinker, which often leads to him to feel entirely too tired to teach. My brother teaches me the lessons and when the professor sleeps, I leave him to it.”

The two women shared a laugh, and the princess propelled them against the current of the water, which would take them away from the direction of the city center and bring them instead to the stables.

This was likely to be the worst of the escape, through the Princess ensured that she trained in many ways that challenged her body, as well as her mind. To the untrained eye, she was the perfect depiction of poise and grace, unknowing the strength that lies beneath.

Coming to the small gates that protected the running river and kept out unwanted visitors from entering the castle, the Princess removed the key from her belt and unlocked the mechanism that would raise the gate and allow them to pass. On the other side, her maid relocked the gate and they ensured it lowered entirely until they pressed on.

Careful to exert only the exact amount of energy she needed to in rowing them along the river, the pair had slowly made their way to the stables. The Princess jumped from the boat to shore, the maid tossing the rope to secure it in a tighter knot than most skilled sailors could capture.

Simultaneously, the maid fetched their respective horses, which had long since been prepared thanks to their only other trusted friend, the maid’s brother, who encouraged their antics and bravery.

Freedom was in reach, at least until the sun returned to its throne in the sky.

“Where is it this time?” The maid asked, always left without the knowledge of their excursions in case she was taken for questioning.

“Farther than we are used to, I’m afraid. You have your weapons in case?”

“Always, my poisons too.”

“Good, let’s go.”

The horses carried them faithfully each night, as if in search of freedom themselves. The wood grew thicker, and the guidance of the moon’s light grew strained, but the Princess still did not falter, she could feel the pulse of magic around her, the small thread that connected to her soul and urged her in the direction she knew would reveal answers.

She had been hunting this trail night after night, only stopping when she had no choice but to turn back or risk her exposure. Tonight, they moved faster than they ever had, and the magic felt fresh and alive in a way she had never experienced it before.

Again the darkness closed in, and still she sat in her saddle, she was not afraid of the dark. Its persistence reminded her of an old friend that had grown with her, its magic and strength mirroring her own.

She slowed her horse, allowing her friend to quickly catch up to her.

“We are close, I can feel it. We should go the rest of the way on foot.” She tossed the reigns back, allowing the horse to roam freely, knowing it would not leave her here without command.

Reaching for her daggers, she gripped each glistening hilt in hand. Diamonds in the formation of stars cascaded along the black obsidian hilt, capturing the moons glow that came from both the sky and her eyes. The etchings within the blades glowed with her magic, a quick flare that reminded her that she was never alone.

The walk through the deepest parts of the Great Wood were not easy even under the full watch of the sun, but the Princess carried them with the certainty of the magic that pulled her.

They came to a gentle creek, which they took deep gulps of water and filled their canteens from. Going across the water, the two women felt a caress of energy run along their bodies, lifting the hairs that lined their arms and causing them to both gasp in surprise.

“Have we crossed a border?” The maid had begun to feel a sense of panic, as her primary focus was keeping her friend safe, and that would be made difficult if magic was taken from them.

“No, at least no known border to me.” at this the Princess even questioned herself, though made a mental note to research it later.

“We have gone even farther than I predicted, I believe that we are close to the Divine Mountain now, at the center of the woods. I suppose I should have suspected this would be a place for such things.” The Princess spoke aloud, to reassure her friend that they were in the boarders of their kingdom, but also to allow herself a moment to think.

Books had not given her all the information she sought but told her enough of the otherwise unstudied societies of magic that had been extinguished over time throughout the continents known history. Societies of magic she did not believe were gone from this world.

The connection to her magic began to pulse, taking away in waves her concentration and replacing it quickly with flashes of the visions she has read recently.

“This is it.” She spoke.

The water of the small stream flowed into the mouth of a cave hidden behind a nature-made archway of fallen trees and their wealth of leaves.

As if in a trance, the Princess moved forwards toward that cave, following still the connection of magic and the pure waters of the stream. Through the cave they were welcomed to an expanse of land that resembled a large courtyard and would continue to lead towards the mountain if trekked across. But before they could move again, they heard the faint chants of spells and magic.

The trees still grew thick and strong here, though the presence of the moon could not be denied as its light had grown again to full strength here. The women walked along where crumbling walls and archways of stone that were likely once grand formations lined. The women found this peculiar, and their look to each other confirmed that neither knew of anything that had ever been built here.

The maid pointed to her hair, which reminded the Princess to regain her hood to disguise her noticeable hair.

The chanting grew louder, and the magic inside the Princess grew with it. It began to burn at her chest, not unbearable, but a heat of the energy felt before growing inside her. Her palms sweat as the saw the flames of torches up ahead.

The light came from another part of the forgotten city, closer to the base of the mountain. They followed, hidden in whatever darkness they could find, and found themselves at the outskirts of what looked to once be an outdoor temple. Pools of the pristine water gathered in greater quantities here, flowing into and from the mountain to reflect images of the fallen architecture around them, and the ever-present power of the moon above them.

Motioning with her body, the Princess instructed the maid they needed to find a higher point to observe the rituals before they were noticed.

The women would have opted for the ancient trees that surrounded them but wanted to ensure an option for quick escape should the need arise. They continued to follow around the base of the stone wall to get as close as they could to the altar, which was occupied by many cloaked figures under the wide mouth of a destroyed dome. The walls of the dome cascaded down to stand firmly behind familiar statues. Statues of their gods.

“This makes no sense, why would such a site be left to ruin?” the Princess whispered.

“Your guess is no better than my own.” Her companion responded.

The Princess took in the remainder of the ancient site. She had no doubts that it was somehow connected to the power of the mountain, which she now guessed housed more secrets than she would ever have the time or opportunity to explore, at least for now.

She would not have seen how vast the forgotten structure was through the courtyard if they had not been in their current position. Parts of the earth; its greenery, and trees, reclaimed it without restraint, aiming to hide the already forgotten city further. The pools of water outlined the alter in a great circle, with streams coming from the prominent statue at the center, the statue of the sun god, traveling layer by layer down the aisles, disappearing far enough away that she could not see where. The statues of the gods had not been disturbed by whatever had taken down the rest of the structure, signifying that a deep magic had persisted here. She felt its influence still encouraging her to get closer.

She must have begun to move, as her friend gripped her shoulder to keep her in place.

“We can’t move now; the ritual is starting.” She whispered.   

The Princess kept her head low, the hood of her cloak pulled closely around her face, she could tell her eyes were filled with her magic, and she had yet to know how to control that tell, if there even was such a way.

The cloaked figures chanted as they created a semi-circle at the heart of the round altar, water turning red from the reflection of the cloth of their robes. The acolytes that were not involved in the immediate rite lined the stone steps that led to the altar, chanting, and holding additional torches.

Fire erupted from the base of each statue of the gods, illuminating the space greater as the two women crouched farther down. From the flames light, the Princess could see engravings in the stone of the altar, and she pulled her daggers from her belt to compare the markings.

“The markings, they’re the exact same as my blades.” She dared to speak again.

“Have you yet to find their meaning?” her maid’s eyes bounced between her blades and the stone.

“My mother did not explain the symbols before she passed, she said I was not yet ready.” The Princess felt a spark of hope as she said this, because she had presumed this knowledge would be lost forever, though here lied proof that there were memories of this magic that existed.

The chanting continued as a tall, black cloaked figure travelled the steps. The man walked with intention towards the leaders of the ritual at the altar and knelt at its base, removing his hood to reveal deep black hair and the artistic workings of dark markings along his arms, travelling into his armor and reappearing from the neckline.

As he was revealed, the power inside the Princess threatened to overtake her. The Princess was no stranger to the workings and pleasantries that men could provide. Yet there was never one, in all her sun-focused kingdom, that possessed the same striking beauty that this man did. His dark features reflected his dark essence, his energy the strongest she had ever experienced. Black hair curled at its ends in ways that ached to be disturbed, and his muscles rippled with the action of removing his sword from its sheath.

“Princess? You are burning up, should we turn back? Are you alright?”

The Princess could hardly hear her friend through the drumming of the acolytes’ instruments and deep voices but grabbed her hand as an anchor to reality if she slipped into a vision on accident.

“I’ve seen this before.” She said breathlessly.

The man at the center of the ritual, a warrior with heavy weaponry adorning his strong frame, was the very same that entered each of her dreams and visions.

Her mind whirled with questions and speculation, so much she would need to commit to memory and research later.

All the while, the string of magic that was connected to her had never felt stronger. As if a line she could reach out and touch, she felt its darkness, the same that welcomed her in the tunnels of the castle. The same that guided her back to her body when she was lost to a vision.

It was never her own magic, she knew, because hers manifested in light, but she had always assumed it was because she was gods-blessed that she felt the energies of others power around her, could see the threads of magic and follow them to their sources.

The chanting came to an abrupt halt, and the head priestess stepped forward to anoint the man, who bowed again with his sword aloft to be anointed as well. The Princess wished she could see the sword more clearly, as she felt a sense of familiarity when it was exposed, but it was gone before she could decipher much else.

The warrior began to rise, and at his full height, the string of power that brought her here disappeared entirely. She felt empty and cold without its essence to warm her, and with her own magic she began to seek it out again.

The man’s eyes found her own, despite discrete hiding place, and his intense gaze pierced her as if he knew her too.

“Time to go.” The maid pulled the Princess quickly from her seat and they ran back through the broken archways to their horses, which carried them back to the safety of the castle walls despite the many hours they had been gone.