A Ward's Tale

Chapter 17

I don't know what I expected to feel walking through the protective barrier, but it was as if I merely walked through a curtain in the castle. I came out on the other side to the Master standing there smiling softly. Her hood is down, and the mask is gone. Her face is gentle and kind as she spreads her arms out to welcome me.

"This, my friend, is one of our villages." The Master says cheerfully. "Come, I will introduce you."

I was shocked by her openness. She must feel comfortable enough here to drop the masquerade of male Master of Evil. Is this her home?

We walked the short distance to the edge of the village. As we approached, people started to stir and run around. Some ran inside houses shouting that Miss Valarie was back. Others came up pelting us with so many questions my head began to hurt.

If this is one of the mage villages, does that mean all these people have magic? I reach out to feel their magic, like Peter taught me, I notice that indeed everyone does have magic. A whole village of magic using people, this surprises me. I have not heard of such a thing living in the castle. I am learning I have not heard of a lot of things happening in the kingdom. I thought I knew almost everything that was happening within the kingdom with being a part of the King's circle, but this is untrue.

"Miss Valarie! Where have you been?" a young woman asks.

"How were your travels?" an older gentleman asks.

"Do you have anything for me?" a young child with bright big eyes asks expectantly.

"Oh, me too!" another young child adds then hiccups and a rose grows out of her head. She bows her head bashfully as she plucks the flower off her head.

The Master, Miss Valarie, laughs and with a swish of her wrist there are toys in the children's hands.

"This is so cool!" the first child exclaims holding a doll which was obviously made within the castle walls. Most likely for one of the Duke's daughters.

I hold my tongue knowing that toy was most likely stolen during the raid on the castle.

Someone finally noticed me, "Who is this young woman, Miss Valarie?"

"This is my friend, Clarissa. I've brought her from a village that was attacked."

"Oh that's terrible!" the woman gasps, "You are more than welcome to stay here as long as you would like." She puts a gentle hand on my shoulder to comfort me. I nod accepting the gesture even though what the Master/Miss Valarie says is untrue.

"Thank you, Madame." I say with a kind smile. Secretly I am glaring at the Master/ Miss Valarie on the inside because my "village" was attacked by her. How would these people react to hearing that? I almost say something but my curiosity of wanting to get to know these people over rules it.

"Come, let's get you inside. Have you two eaten this morning?" the woman asks as she leads us further into the village.

On the way to the house everyone makes some motion or welcoming comment to "Miss Valarie". I watch in amazement at the esteem and love I see from these people towards my capturer. The same person who bound me and locked me away for almost two weeks. The one who put me through strenuous testing to see if I was the Chosen One or not.

I look at these people's faces and see a whole different person in front of me. She is not the Master, but Miss Valarie, a fellow villager. What is her backstory? What made her crave power and become the Master? What is her ultimate plan? How could one person be so two-sided?