6. Magdalena

“There you are!” Magda shouted. They were tucked away in a side-hallway, deep in the royal wing of the castle. Odie was beside her, and brushed up against Dagmara, his tail wagging happily. Magda was grateful Odie had led her right to her friend.

“I thought you were getting ready for the coronation,” Dagmara replied, reaching down to acknowledge Magda’s pet and gently stroking his fur.

Magda didn’t know where to begin. How could she tell Dagmara she had exhibited Soul magic? Even the thought was impossible. Beyond that, how could she explain to her friend that she wouldn’t be able to display water magic at the upcoming coronation ceremony?

So she said, “I have a huge problem.”

“Add it to the list.” Dagmara sighed, her face paler than usual. She sat down beside Odie, letting out a deep sigh, and proceeded to scratch behind his ear. Odie tilted his head, his tail wagging.

Knowing her friend was using Odie as an excuse to sit down, Magda took a seat on the cold stone beside her. “Why, what’s wrong?” asked Magda.

“First you.”

“Fine, but after we deal with my problem we deal with yours,” Magda said assertively.

Magda hesitated before speaking the next words. Although she considered Dagmara her best friend in the fortress, it still scared her to reveal that she had magical abilities no one ever anticipated. The ramifications of this decision were beyond what she could logically imagine.

“Promise me you won’t tell anyone what I’m about to tell you.”

“I promise.”

“It would destroy me and my family…including my brother.”

Dagmara’s brow furrowed. “Tell me.”

“I think…,” Magda gulped. “I think I have…Soul magic.”

“Like…a Soul Guardian? You can control the earth?”

Magda nodded.

Dagmara froze. “That’s impossible.”

Magda reached into the front of her apron to pull out a set of poppy petals that she had stolen from the bouquet in her room. She opened her palm facing upward to Dagmara. A soft glow emitted from Magda’s hand, and slowly, the petals dried out, curling into a set of wilted, dead ashes.

Odie turned away from the girls and sniffed at the dead flowers that scattered the ground.

Dagmara’s hand flew to cover her open mouth. “How is that possible?”

Magda stood, unable to remain in one position with the nerves racing through her. “I don’t know.”

“But…Bogdan is your father. You’re supposed to be a Guardian of Life, right?”

“I don’t know!” Magda let out a huff, her emotions getting to her. Then she calmed down. “That’s what I need to find out,” she said, “but right now we have a bigger problem. Hundreds of guests from all over the kingdoms are coming to watch me display my magic…water magic.”

Dagmara nodded, realizing the gravity of the situation. “If they think you are some sort of imposter, they would imprison you immediately until they figured out what to do with you, and the outcome would be much worse.”

“Which is why I need to run away,” said Magda.

“No.” Dagmara shook her head. “Then everyone will know you have something to hide.”

“Then we need to stop the coronation. Cause a scene that will prevent me from actually going through the entirety of the ceremony. We can figure out the rest later.”

“Do you realize what you’re asking me to do? If people knew I sabotaged the coronation, it would end my job and position here at the court. And Teos…”

“I thought you were good at not getting caught,” Magda said, a pleading smile forming on her face.

“Not anymore it seems,” she grumbled.

“What?”

“Nevermind.”

Magda crouched to be at eye-level with her friend. “Please, Dagmara. You know I would do anything for you.”

Dagmara was slowly coming to terms with the situation. “This is bigger than us,” she said.

“Why do I have the feeling this has something to do with your problem?” asked Magda.

“We’ll get to that later,” said Dagmara, using the wall as a support as she climbed to her feet. “Just get ready. Go through the motions. I promise you I’ll find a way to stop the ceremony.”