52. Magdalena

Queen Sanyal was limp, her body laying on the ground at an awkward angle. The vines not only strangled her, they were full of thorns that shredded the queen’s neck.

Magda stood over the queen alongside her two daughters.

By the guardians…she was really dead. It couldn’t be. Why had her magic turned against her?

Kiran was sobbing beside her mother, unable to catch her breath.“Why did they kill mom!?”

“I’m here.” Ishani engulfed Kiran in a warm hug. She squeezed her tightly and did not let go.

“I’m so sorry.” Magda couldn’t bring herself to look any more.

“They tried to kill us too,” Kiran said in between sobs.

Magda said, “They were wearing masks identical to the assassins that came after my family.”

Ishani held her sister intensely, not releasing Kiran until she pulled away. Then Ishani shook her head before her hands clenched to fists. She looked as if she was about to explode from anger, and Magda couldn’t blame her, for she knew how it felt to lose a parent.

Ishani grabbed one of her axes that was on the floor and said, “I’m going to kill that assassin.”

“What?” Kiran said, reaching out to her sister.

“Don’t stop me,” Ishani pulled away.

“Don’t leave me.” Kiran wept.

Ishani’s face was stoic. “You’re in danger…both of you. It’s clear that all the guardians are being attacked. I received word from one of my contacts that Guardian Sora was also killed, and Celestaire is planning on taking out Ilusauri.”

“What?” gasped Magda. “It can’t be.” Dagmara was in more danger than ever before.

Kiran tried to wipe her eyes, but she could still barely talk through the emotion, “But why would this happen to mom?! Of all people!”

Ishani turned away so the other two wouldn’t see her wiping her eyes.

Magda knew the assassin would run back to her superiors and report that Kiran was still alive. Also, they could report that Magda was in Flaustra, if they recognized her. They had also seen Magda use Soul magic. Letting the assassin go free was a mistake.

Also, if Prince Claude got word Magda was in Flaustra, and found out that he had been deceived this entire time, it would be disastrous. It could mean a possible death sentence for Dagmara. And what would happen once everyone found out that Queen Sanyal had been killed?

“We have to go after the assassin,” Ishani seemed to read Magda’s mind.

“And we have to protect Kiran,” Magda said. “She’s the only remaining guardian from Flaustra.”

“And you from Azurem,” Kiran said softly.

“So, in theory, if what your mother said was true, and we’re tied to the land, there’s only three true guardians left with magic. Me, Kiran, and Claude,” said Magda.

“But your branches of magic have been severed,” Ishani pointed out. “Claude’s was severed when his parents died, Guardian Sora’s must be cut off now, and you…,” she trailed off.

“You don’t have to say it,” Magda said.

“Meaning…,” Kiran perked up.

“You’re more important than ever,” said Magda, reaching down to hug her friend, “and more people might come after you.”

“And you,” Kiran sniffled.

Ishani stared at them both, her anger boiling, until she said to Kiran, “I should’ve never let you take the powers.”

“Then you would be a target and not me,” Kiran said.

“Better me than you,” said Ishani. “Not a single guardian is prepared for this!”

Magda realized that she had a point. Never in her life had she actually been worried about imminent danger. She had always gone out into the poppy fields, racing with her horse and with Odie. Sometimes, Magda would run away for days on end, exploring until the ends of the coasts, and never once had her father or brother shown any fear.

But Dagmara had been doing some sort of undercover work for her father. What had really been going on behind closed doors?

Glancing over her shoulder, Magda saw the jacket the assassin discarded, wrapped in vines. She approached it, tearing it from the thorns and examining it. On the inside of the jacket was an embroidered insignia of a beast.

“We can’t let her get away,” Magda said assertively.

“How will we find her?” Kiran asked.

Magda flashed the inside of the jacket to the two princesses.

Ishani froze. “The Marauders.”

“That doesn’t make sense though,” Magda muttered. “The assassins that came after me were Ilusaurian. Now they’re Flaustran?”

“They could easily be taking on disguises,” Ishani said. “Or, Claude realized sending assassins in his kingdom’s attire was a poor choice, and so he sent these disguised as Flaustrans.”

“We’ll do it together,” Magda told Ishani.

Ishani nodded, before giving her sister a hug, and saying that she would order fifteen of her men to not take a single eye off of Kiran. Until Ishani came back to the palace, they were ordered to stay locked in a bunker on the second floor.

“Fine, I’ll go hide. But promise me nothing will happen to you,” said Kiran.

“I promise. I’ll come back here, and we’ll bury mom properly.”

Kiran held back tears, turning her face away from Magda as she dashed out of the room.

Ishani approached Magda. “Up for another adventure to Vex’s hideout?”

“Another?” Magda question.

“Don’t be so naive. I know you killed Vex.”

“How did you even find out—” Magda started, but Ishani cut her off.

“You’re gonna have to keep up if you’re one of the three remaining guardians left in the world.”

The words stung, but Magda changed the subject, “How do you know the assassin will be there?”

“I don’t. But where else should we start looking?”

“Fair point. But first I need to talk to someone, and for that to happen, I need you to release someone from jail. His name is Ravi Kalal. The officers just locked him up a few hours ago even though he didn’t commit any major crimes.”

“The boy that you hang out with all over the city? Sentencing is now Kiran’s decision as the reigning guardian,” Ishani shrugged.

“That doesn’t matter,” said Magda, “As a guardian, I outrank you.”

“Princess, I think I’m a much better partner to take on a mission to hunt down an assassin.”

“What, jealous much?”

“Not really. Are you sleeping together?”

Magda’s face flushed bright red. She didn’t have to answer to Ishani…in fact, she didn’t have to answer to anyone. “That’s none of your business.”

“By the guardians, it’s not that big of a deal. Tell me.”

“In Azurem, you only talk about those things with people you’re close to.”

“Well, we’ll be spending a lot of time together from now on,” said Ishani with a twinkle in her eye.

“What makes you think that?” asked Magda.

“Princess,” Ishani shook her head in annoyance, almost in the exact mannerism as she had to her sister, “because I’m the only person left on this planet that actually knows how to use Soul magic.”

“Just get Ravi,” Magda rolled her eyes. “And my dog.”

“Fine,” Ishani laughed, sauntering away. “Let me go fetch both your pets.”

“And Ishani,” Magda called. “I need to send a Scribestone to Ilusauri. It’s urgent.”

Magda hugged Odie for as long as she could when she saw him again. He was safe, and in her arms, wagging his tail with so much excitement that his entire body wiggled. He was one of the few family members she had left, and she would not let him be taken from her again.

She brought Odie with her to the Flaustran Scribestone, knowing time was running short. The Scribestone was raised on a gorgeous pedestal covered in vines and flowers. The stone book was a vibrant turquoise, resting in an archway decorated with more greenery. She placed her palm against the blank, magical page, and words appeared.

One message from Dagmara Zosia, Ilusauri.

The wedding is today. I have no idea where you are, and I’m praying you didn’t die on your way to Flaustra. Are you safe?

I have yet to find any proof of Claude’s involvement, but if I’m legally wed, I have access to his royal chambers. By the guardians, I don’t know what I’m doing. Both the Captain and my guard are onto me.

Yeah, the Captain? He’s alive, and he’s here.

Also, I found a cave with monstrous hounds and a note ‘The First Prince will Rise.’ There’s something going on that’s bigger than the both of us.

Magda felt her blood turn to ice. The Captain…Dagmara claimed she had killed him the day before the coronation. He could blow her cover!

Magda hastily wrote a reply:

I hope you get this before the wedding. Get out of there, it’s not worth it to search his chambers. Queen Sanyal says he’s hunting for the tomb of the First Prince, and I believe her. He’s been in communication with guild leaders.

Queen Sanyal is dead. Assassins were here wearing the same masks as the men who killed my father and Aleksy. They will stop at nothing to kill the guardians which means posing as me is putting your life in danger.

The assassins were wearing Flaustran attire, but honestly, I didn’t realize how powerful Claude’s magic is. He can make people see anything he wants. Anything. I underestimated him.

Get out. Come find me. We will figure this out together.

She prayed Dagmara would read it before it was too late.

Magda waited in the courtyard of Queen Sanyal’s palace, anxiously pacing back and forth while she waited for Ravi to be brought to her. It was dark now, and the clear sky revealed a dazzling display of bright stars. The full moon cast an evening glow on the gardens and domed towers.

She was alone in the courtyard except for a few straggling officers, for she had told Ishani that she wanted to speak to Ravi by herself.

Even though he had only spent a few hours in a holding cell, she was sure that he would be furious with her for keeping secrets from him. The fact that she was a princess…the fact that she was a guardian…the fact that she had exhibited Soul magic…

At the same time, she was angry with him for concealing the real reason that he wanted to get into the palace. Why spend so much time with Magda in the first place? Did he not think he could secure an invitation on his own?

“Dagmara,” his voice sounded from behind her. Firm, but not angry. “I was…”

“Let me stop you right there,” Magda cut him off, whirling to him. Immediately, she was met with his innocent eyes. She wanted to embrace him, feeling his touch against hers, but she stopped short.

“My name’s not Dagmara,” Magda admitted. “It’s Magda.” For a second she felt guilty with such a cold statement, but she didn’t care. Especially after she had stumbled upon him confessing his love to another woman.

“Magda,” he mused, but he didn’t make the connection. “Why did you feel like you couldn’t be honest with me about your name?”

“You’re one to keep secrets,” Magda snapped.

“You didn’t even let me explain what happened in the jail,” Ravi said.

“What could you say that would make it any different? Do you really have another lover? Why did you lie to me about why you wanted to come to the ball in the first place?” Magda blurted out.

“You’ve got it all wrong,” Ravi stepped toward her to embrace her, but when Magda pulled away, he stopped short. “Laila is my sister.”

“What?” Magda asked, suddenly extremely confused. “Why is she in jail?”

Ravi sighed, “My sister Prisha got sick a few years ago. When the trade routes were cut off from Ilusauri, medicine became very expensive here. I knew Vex had the highest quality potions and herbs from Ilusauri that he traded on his black market, so Laila and I started making friends with the guilds. I traded secrets to get close to the guilds so that we could steal the medicine from Vex. Luckily, Prisha got better. However, when Vex found out that we had stolen from him, he wanted someone to punish. Laila took the blame and the entire fall for the goods we stole in order to protect me and the rest of our family. Vex manipulated the officers, and she went to jail for smuggling goods and the handling of illegal substances from Ilusauri. Which is ridiculous cause Vex was the one who brought those things to the kingdom in the first place.”

He paused, as if the story was getting to be too much for him.

“I’m sorry,” said Ravi.

“Why didn’t you just tell me?” asked Magda.

“Because it sounds crazy, and because I didn’t want to get you wrapped up into trouble that could cause you to get thrown in jail as well. I knew Vex was looking to punish me again one way or another. Please forgive me.”

“I do,” said Magda. She suddenly felt terrible for keeping all of her secrets from him. He had wanted to break into the jail to see his sister, and it was a noble endeavor. And all this time, she had kept her entire identity from him. She wanted to make it right.

“I’ll ask Princess Kiran to release your sister,” said Magda, “It’s the least I can do.”

“It’s my word against Vex’s,” Ravi shrugged, “and if I bring it up again, people will find out…,” he lowered his voice to an extreme whisper, “...that I killed him. I’ll be shipped off to a much worse place than the palace dungeon.”

“Trust me. You have my word she’ll be free.”

“How?” Ravi asked.

“Because my name isn’t just Magda. I’m Princess Magdalena Krol, heir to the throne of Azurem.” She let the words hang in the air, worried about his reaction.

For a second, she thought Ravi wouldn’t believe her. He stared at her with a dumbfounded expression, as if he was putting the pieces together, and then he finally said. “So you are a guardian?”

“Yes.”

Ravi’s face broke her heart. It was as if he no longer recognized her. Or maybe he finally understood why they would have no future together. “I guess that explains all the secrets, and it explains the magic. But you wielded Soul magic in the dungeon?”

Magda continued, “I’ll explain everything, but first it’s my turn to apologize. I’m sorry for lying to you. I’m sorry for not telling you who I was when I came here originally. I know this hurts tremendously, and I don’t have a good excuse. I kept telling myself that it was too dangerous to confide in others, but at a certain point I think I secretly wanted to keep up the charade so I wouldn’t risk losing you completely. It was never my plan to meet someone like you in Flaustra.”

Ravi spoke intentionally, “Are you done?”

His words cut through her like a knife. Of course he was mad at her.

Magda nodded.

“Good,” he said, “Because before you started accusing me of having a secret lover, I was rushing out here to make sure you weren’t hurt. Ishani said you were almost killed, and that Queen Sanyal was assassinated. And before that, all I was thinking about in the jail was you…that and hoping Odie wouldn’t bite my hand off,” he laughed. “Every second that went by I was furious with myself for betraying your trust and possibly losing you forever.”

Magda couldn’t believe his words. “You’re not mad?”

“I’m furious how these secrets almost made us look at one another completely differently,” Ravi said, “and how they threatened everything between us. But you underestimate how I feel about you. I told you before that when I saw you in the marketplace, it’s like one song was ending and another symphony was starting. You’ve made me feel alive again, and for once, I feel like I can have hope in a brighter future.”

“You’ve made me feel alive as well,” said Magda, “in ways that I don’t know if I can truly put into words.”

“But, I guess, the fact that you’re a princess does change things between us.”

“It does.”

“You’re betrothed to the Mad King.”

“It’s true.”

“That doesn’t make any sense,” said Ravi. “The Ilusauri royal wedding is taking place now. How can you be in two places at once?”

“...Because I sent my assassin in my place.”

Ravi’s hands flew to his head. Then he crossed to one of the walls surrounding a flower bed, and sat down on it. “By the guardians, Dagmara…Magdalena…whatever your name is…I don’t know how many more twists to this story I can take.”

Magda crossed to the wall and sat down next to him. “You can call me Magda.”

“Magda,” Ravi repeated, looking intently at her. “I can’t believe you’re the Mad King’s betrothed! If Vex was bad, now the Mad King himself is going to try to kill me.”

“Don’t worry. He’ll never find out.”

“You still have to marry him, I guess?”

“I tried to call it off, but if it doesn’t work, then I don’t know what will happen.”

“By the guardians,” Ravi shook his head. “I can’t believe this. I can’t believe I’m falling for King Claude’s soon to be wife. I know I’ll never have you again, but I don’t think I’ll ever be able to get you out of my head.”

“You’re falling for me?”

“Madly,” he replied, “I don’t understand it, but I don’t want it to end.”

“So you don’t hate me?”

“Hate is the opposite of what’s burning inside me right now. I’m happy you’re safe, I’m relieved you don’t hate me, and I loathe the fact that I couldn’t be there to protect you.”

“I’m alright,” Magda reassured him.

“But the thought of you…” he hesitated, before reaching out and tentatively taking her hand. “The thought of the assassin succeeding scares me to death. I know you can take care of yourself, you’re brave and intelligent…and now you’re a guardian!” He let out a soft laugh that took Magda’s breath away. “But life is short. I want to live in the moments while I have them. I can’t imagine if I never had the chance to do this.”

Magda blinked. “Do what?”

He smiled. “I think you know.”

Then he slid his hand to the base of her neck and pulled her toward him. His lips met hers, and butterflies erupted in Magda’s stomach. The world fell away around her. All the fear, guilt, and grief died, and for the first time in a long time, she was happy. She had no idea what future she had with Ravi, but she knew he was right. Life was short, and she wanted him now. Why not act on her feelings for him before someone else tried to kill her?

She laced her arms behind his neck, pulling him even closer. His tongue swooped inside her mouth, deepening the kiss, and warmth flooded through her entire body. Her pulse quickened, and she wanted more of him. She wanted to forget everything and spend the entire night with him.

But she couldn’t. Not until the assassin was caught.

Magda pulled away, her breath heavy and her emotions alight inside her. She ran her hand down his chest, keeping her forehead pressed to his.

“I don’t care if you’re engaged,” he assured her.

“I know. I wish we could do this all night,” she said, breathless.

He grinned. “But…?”

“The assassin is out there. They’re connected to the First Prince and the assassins that killed my family.”

Ravi pulled back so he could meet her gaze. “I’m coming with you.”

“It’s too dangerous. Ishani’s a trained fighter, and I have Soul magic…which still doesn’t make complete sense.”

“Don’t do this to me again,” said Ravi, “You have to let me in.”

“I don’t want you to risk your life for me, especially if I belong to another man,” said Magda.

“I don’t care about a political promise to Claude. I want to be the world you return to every time you come back to Flaustra, and maybe one day, titles won’t stand between us.”

His words overwhelmed her, and her heart beat faster. She said, “Alright, but this is not your fight. It’s mine. These are the people that killed my family, and are killing all the guardians. They won’t stop until we’re all dead…until I’m dead.”

“If you’re dead, then I’ll have nothing to live for,” said Ravi, “I know we fight different battles, you and I, on different fronts. But I’ll be there for you, no matter the cost. No matter if I have to stand on the sidelines.”

Magda smiled, before moving in for another kiss.