.Eyes Of Void.

-13-

We were woken up a slice of sun after the sunrise.

"So mother?" I asked, having been outside enjoying the fresh air after about a whole day and night in the carriage, stretching out my body before we'd set off again.

"Around her you don't risk anything so I will allow it."

"Thank you." I brightly smiled.

I walked over to Mystery as Amalia left her side.

"A peaceful morning isn't it?" I asked her, looking at the birds.

"Highness." She bowed her head and I give a small one back in greeting.

"Mage."

"And yes it is a peaceful morning, I hope the carriage treated you well?"

"I was just going to ask about something related to it."

"Yes?"

"It bores me to be in it day and night, I already spoke of this with mother and as long as I am careful I can."

"Can what Highness?"

"I would wish to ride with you, if you let me that is. Arial would be able to carry both and I don't want to tire the carriage horses more, the guards' ones also already carrying them and they are partially armored." I told her.

"Highness you are conscious of the dangers?" She looked slightly worried but not that much.

"Of course I am, that's why I am asking you instead of another, because of the horses well-being and because of the potential danger, you'd protect me no?" I rose my brow, daring her to say otherwise.

"With my life Highness, I agreed to join the fight for your hand to protect you." I smiled again at her words, the sweet talking master she seems to be.

"Then I have nothing to fear on Arial, will you let me ride with you?"

"If the queen has agreed to it how could I say no to you Highness?"

She stepped closer to Arial and laced her fingers together, I stepped on them and she helped me get on the horse, I was slightly smaller then Mystery but it changed a lot in getting on this huge horse, she pulled herself on behind me with the ease of practice she has getting on.

"Hold on the pommel tight Highness, wouldn't want you to fall."

"You'd catch me." I said softly.

"Naturally." My cheeks turned a slight pink as I looked ahead.

----------------------------------

I had my feet hang free instead of being in the stirrups because despite sitting in front, Mystery was still the one guiding the horse around, her arms passed around me to grab the reins to do so.

We rode in silence as I observed the surroundings, it was much more beautiful to see it now then inside the carriage where most of the view was blocked out by such small windows.

"What is it like being a mage?" I turned my head to look at her and felt the circlet I forgot I was forced to wear fall off my head, as a commoner would say, shit.

She caught it easily and set it back on my head before grabbing the reins again as if nothing happened.

"Keep your head tilted forwards Highness, wouldn't want to lose your circlet in the forest."

"Right but my question?"

"Well Highness I didn't know a life without being a mage. When I was young people in my village already came to me for the little help I could offer without training, thawing out the well, setting fire to wood and cooking the food with my fire, I was already of help to the people."

"It must be nice to know your worth." I still struggled with thinking I was fit to be queen at moments even if with the mages believing in it it was getting easier.

"Highness you are worth more than anything, we'd lay down our lives for you."

"Always with the compliments mage, should I be suspicious of your intent towards me?" She laughed at my words, I love her laugh.

"Your Highness please I am not some man worming their way in people's hearts to than hurt them."

"Just making sure my mages aren't up to something."

"Never."

"Do you ever miss your home?"

"Always, your mother took me from them without my consent and that I won't forgive her tho now grown I can appreciate what she gave me for a present, a life I could have never had but that one offence won't be washed away by the tides of time."

"That's the reason for that broken bow, you are correct in all you do, all but that one little bow." I now have my answer, I get why she never does it correctly.

"The most respectful way to convey my disrespect because of her choice."

"Anyone else would have lost their head."

"I am not anyone else Highness."

"That was obvious mage."

"Not so obvious."

"Ah yes the forever mystery mage Mystery is." I threw my arms up in the air at her secrecy and she just chuckled at my fake annoyedness, so unwilling to cooperate even the slightest.

"Life is what it is Highness."

"Sure is and do not forget the promise."

"Would never."

"I've seen these before but now there are more." I reached up to grab the little braid on the side of her head, my own undone to sleep and hair left free, they were brown beads with symbols carved into them, a different one for each. "Even different writing."

"You are observant Highness, these are each enchanted with a spell engraved into the surface of the bead with a rune to represent it, I have many which I can mix and match to my needs."

"These are light brown quartz beads, aren't they heavy?"

"Not at all, I can fit eight on it if I leave a thumb space between each and more if I don't but I usually have only three to four... Maybe six."

"And how do they work?" I wished we learnt more magic despite our family having inclination to only a small part of wild magic.

"Like the crystal torches Highness, a brush of magic to activate the spell and another brush to turn it off, it's with one of these I tracked the would be killer that day."

"It would be practical to own one." She looked pensive at my words, I wonder why.

"Highness please grab the reins." I did it without being asked twice and felt her hands pass through my hair and grab a lock of it by the side of my face. I felt her quickly braid it, she must have a lot of practice to go this fast, when she let go to grab the reins I grabbed it and lifted it in front of my face, she fit one of her beads on the little braid.

"What does this one do?" I asked, unable to tell from the symbol only.

"It isn't as much as a spell but it is a charm."

"A charm?"

"Yes, good luck charm, it is said if offered by a person meaning well it will bring you luck and protection and moreover light brown quartz is just found around my village, said to trap good energy into it and protect from evil."

"Then I can't take it." It must mean a lot to her as mages leave their previous families and lives behind to become court mages.

"Take it Highness, I was gifted a whole box of already carved and none carved ones, I can always make a new one, think of it as a gift."

"Thank you mage." I smiled as I looked at it, it was pretty.

"Of course Highness."