Riding into the courtyard, he was immediately greeted by General Gautho and a newly arrived councilor from Chendas. They must have received news of his arrival. The councilor was a tall man, old and wiry in both body and facial hair. Erich thought he recognized him from previous trips to Iseldis, but he couldn’t place the man’s name.
“Thank you for your haste, Captain,” General Gautho said. “Your diligent search took a great weight off my shoulders.”
Erich felt his chest fill with pride at the older man’s praise. “Where was she apprehended?”
“Near the sea not far from here,” Gautho answered his question. “My patrol came across her while she was sleeping and was able to overpower her quite easily.”
Erich nodded, wanting to move the conversation in a new direction—one that didn’t dwell on the fact that he had essentially failed his month-long search despite the general’s appreciation of it.
“Since she was apprehended on Iseldis land,” the councilor explained as General Gautho led them through the monastery, “she is under your jurisdiction. Hence the reason a representative of King Frederich—yourself—was summoned here along with myself.”
Erich nodded. He had dispatched messengers to his father before he left Allys to decide how to proceed with the matter. The sorceress was technically a prisoner of the kingdom of Iseldis, but only Chendas had the necessary knowledge for dealing with the Majis.
“King Gareth has offered to hold her in Chendas if Iseldis does not have the means of doing so,” the councilor continued, as if reading Erich’s mind.
“I received a message from my father this morning,” Erich responded. “He agrees that she should be sent to Chendas. The Council will have a better understanding of how she can be safely removed from the upcoming war.”
Erich had not yet decided if he was in agreement with his father. Only one of them had been on the sea that day, witnessing the vast amount of destruction she had wrought—not only against the ship and its sailors, but also all along the coastline where the massive overflow of water had flooded into villages, homes, and farms. This one person had crippled them in a single day. Erich wanted justice. Justice for his people, justice for his month-long search, and justice for his repeating nightmares.
“I will escort her to Chendas myself,” Erich added. Perhaps if he saw the matter through to the end, he would find peace.
General Gautho stopped walking and turned back to Erich. He seemed to have aged five years in the four weeks since Erich had seen him last, but his expression looked more relieved and respectful than Erich had ever seen. “Frankly, Captain, I am thankful to hear you say it. This woman is dangerous and she must be our singular priority until she is safely under the care of the examiners. They will be able to keep her harmful magic away from our homes and families. In the best scenario, they may even find a way for her to turn the tides of this war in our direction. She might be our miracle.”
Ahead of them, the hulking Mingus swung open a heavy wooden door, revealing a staircase that led into an undercroft below ground.
The councilor stopped right at the top. “I appreciate your enthusiasm for this offer, General, but if I may speak plainly?”
“What is on your mind?” Gautho asked.
“The prince is young,” the councilor continued, speaking slowly in a diplomatic voice. “Yes, he is a son of the renowned King Frederich, but is he truly up for a task such as this? This sorceress is cunning. She evaded his capture for days. And, she is beautiful, an enchantress, a seductress. Dealing with her will be entirely different than dealing with a violent warrior. Her tactics will be far more... manipulative.” The councilor turned to Erich. “No offense at all toward Your Highness, of course.”
“Of course,” Erich responded, smiling over clenched teeth. He felt insignificant in front of this frail old man who had likely never lifted a sword in his life. “However, Councilor, I was here with the general during the last attack and I saw my boat crushed to splinters in the jaws of the sea itself. I have seen the evil this sorceress commands and I am under no illusion as to what we are dealing with here.”
“The prince carried himself with remarkable maturity during that difficult time,” General Gautho said.
Despite the hardened man’s lack of emotion, Erich once again felt humbled by his affirmative words.
“As you say, General. I do not doubt you.” The councilor handed a folded parchment to Erich. “You will need to sign this. I shall accompany you back to Chendas, of course.”
Erich opened the document, scanning it quickly.
Transfer of Political Prisoner from Iseldis to Chendas
Majis Sorceress Aizel, accused of leaving the Isle of Exile and instigating sea storms along the eastern coastline.
Highest danger level.
Though he had read these standard reports several times, Erich still felt his stomach tighten at the danger level warning.
The councilor and general had started down the steps that had been carved out of the sandstone earth itself, so he folded the parchment and followed them. He would sign it when he delivered the sorceress—Azel, a name he had never heard before—to the Council.
He glared at the back of the councilor’s head, thinking that the wispy man was more likely to slow them down than aid them in any way. He looked as though his thin, white beard would simply deteriorate in the wind.
Erich held back his smirk. Now was not the time to be making jests. “Your knowledge would be most welcome,” he said instead, wishing his father was present to witness his incredible amount of self-restraint. “Would you be able to spare a few guards to help escort this sorceress?” Erich asked General Gautho.
“Sadly, I do not know that I have anyone to spare,” Gautho replied. “I will have to rely upon your skill once again.”
Erich pursed his lips but did not complain. The coast was still their most vulnerable position and they were undermanned as it was.
