"You shouldn't have followed me," Freasia shouted loudly as he pushed me behind a row of rune-etched bookshelves. The scent of burned sage lingered in the library air, mingling with the coppery tang of ancient ink and waxed parchment.
"I'm not letting you go in alone," I snapped, breathless, the adrenaline from the chase still racing through my veins. My wings buzzed faintly, masked by the illusion spell but trembling from strain.
The shadow sentries advanced towards wielding flash swords, they were faceless, masked figures, they looked like shadows more than men. Their eyes glowed like coals, and their fluttering made no sound. Magic twined around them like smoke.
"We can take them," I whispered, my sword held tightly in my hand, my pulse pounding.
"No. We run."
Freasia cast a blink ward, a shimmering veil of silver light, and we darted for the side passage. As we ran I could feel the sentries closely behind us.
A sharp crack split the air and the illusion shattered. Pain burst in my shoulder as something I did not see, it may have been an energy dart hit me.
I saw the Shadow sentries caputure Freasia, pining him down, his wings painfully contorted. I felt something sharp hit the back of my neck.
I suddenly felt dizzy, I touched the back of my neck and painfully pulled out a dart
"Ev!" Freasia's voice faded as everything blurred into black stillness.
I blinked twice, feeling a raging ache in my head. I opened my eyes slowly seeing figures, my vision was blurry. Then it finally cleared. I and Freasis were bound up in the courtroom where my father the king gives his judgement.
The courtroom buzzed like an angry hive as I and Freasis were dragged up on our feet, my legs felt weak and wobbly and our hands was bound by enchanted chains that numbed our wings. Freasia looked at me once, only once before the guard forced him to kneel before the king.
I didn't see fear in his eyes, instead a saw a thousand mixed emotions, but fear wasn't one of it.
I raised my chin despite the sting of humiliation. I would not give Morgana the satisfaction, I will not appear weak or defeated.
I stared at the faces of the noble pixie lords, the royal concubines of the palace harem and my sisters who sat close to my father their eyes transfixed to the ground.. not willing to meet mine.
My father stood at the dais, tall and regal in embroidered gold, but his eyes were hollow, his powerful gold wings looked weal. A crown sat heavy on his head, a crown I no longer recognized, a crown the pixie realm no longer knew, a crown controlled by a witch's dark sorcerery.
"You violated sacred law," he declared. His voice rang hollow, it even sounded lifeless. "You trespassed into the Forbidden Archives, corrupted by forbidden magics. You dishonor this court, what is your defense"
My father queried Freasis.
"Your Majesty...."
I interjected before Freasia could defend himself
"Morgana's the one casting spells!" I shouted. "You're all blind, blind I tell you. can't you see she's poisoned your mind? wake up father"
I heard the mumur ripple through the crowd.
Gasps echoed and whispers from noblemen.
Suddenly a cry broke through the tension in the air like knife slicing through cake.
It was a sharp cry from the side of the court from my sister Maravine, she looked like one of the ancient divine spirit we Pixies believed guards the sacred Orchard of life.
Maravine had collapsed out of Shame or perhaps pity for me, she always was the weakest one of us.
Father's eyes turned stormy. "Enough!"
Freasia struggled against his chains. "She's trying to save you all! There's proof in the spellbook.. just take a look at it for yourself"
"Silence!"
He fell quiet, lips bleeding where he bit down hard. I knew he did it to stop himself from cursing the entire royal line.
He possesed the power and could do that.
The king's eyes settled on me. "You are confined to the Moonspire Tower until your condition improves."
"Condition?" I laughed bitterly. "You mean until I break, until I forget the truth about what is really happening here?"
He looked away, and walked back into the palace holding Morganas hand like a child. The nobles and courtiers all started to leave, none of them opposed the decision of the Lord...my father, they wouldn't dare it.
In the pixie realm the kings decree is law and no ond dared to oppose as that could be considered as treason, and the punishment is death.
The palace guards dragged me to the tower, my hands still chained but my mind sharp.
When we go to a cell in the tower, the guards took the chains off, finally, I sighed writhing my wrist, the handcuffs had
The tower walls were cold, the wind keening through the glass slits. They hadn't even given me proper bedding.
Freasia was set free with a warning never to be seen close to me or the palace anymore.
I was confined for a week in the tower, fed, served right inside my cell.
My sisters visited me when I was confined in the tower, Roseline visited me once, she brought a scarf, our mother's old scarf and set it silently at the foot of my bed, stared at me for a split moment, her maidens trailing behind her.
"I can't stand up to him," she said, her voice trembling. "But I still believe you."
I clutched her hand, "That's enough Roseline, we will find a way out."
The cell door creaked and Maravine entered, her shoulders stiff with polished pride. "You embarrassed us again u spoilt brat, I have always known you will turn out this way, mum spoilt you".
I stood slowly facing her, trying to control my rage "You're angry because you're afraid."
"I'm angry because you act like you're the only one who lost her. We all lost Mother, Evangeline."
"You mourned her by sewing lace into your betrothal gown two moons later."
She slapped me. "Grow up."
I unsheathed my sword, it's edge kissed her throat and she froze in fear.
"Don't you ever mock our mother again," I whispered.
She stepped back. "You need help."
"No," I said. "You need courage."
At midnight I heard a soft thump on my cell door, it was Freasia.
"How did you get here"
I was pleasantly surprised to see him again
"I sneaked in Eva, now listen to me, once they let you out maks sure you come to my place, I have a plan, and please princess_ disguise yourself"
"Ok, but..."
He was gone as quickly as he appeared.