The Light & The Dark

Chapter 6 - Laws and Chains - P3

Callicarpa watched the world change around her with growing anxiety over the next week. She waited on pins and needles for the ruling to be announced two days later and it was the very next day that Lady Astra called her florists in for a talk.

She was not invited to it. They all returned with silver collars.

The old manager was released from his job and a new one was appointed. She was the Mage to which all the florists were a catalyst to. They all answered to her and she released their blessings back to them as she saw fit each day.

On the first day it was chaos to get the chores done when everyone had to keep returning to their manager for access to this blessing or that blessing to do a task. A few faces stopped coming to the morning breakfast where all the servants were together.

"They were unhappy," Kel whispered, "I don't blame them." She ran a finger between the metal and her skin. "They are heavy, but at least I now have a piece of jewelry." She shared a soft, sad smile.

Callicarpa nearly cried for her friend, but just returned the same sad smile. They both knew what happened to those unhappy with the ruling from the Crown. A life of service was still a life in the end.

The work became more strenuous as Lady Astra let people go. The rumors of how expensive the Mage Academy managers now ran through the market and estate.

"We can't afford to send you to the castle anymore," Lady Astra had called in for a meeting late in the afternoon. "We will have you make the bouquets here, but we need your hands for the garden chores now too."

"Yes, Milady," the words were distant from her. Emotions had long spilled over and it felt like she was hiding in the darkness of herself. Someone else at the controls.

"We can't increase your wages either for the extra chores," she continued pacing her office. "We are very tight and don't want to drop anyone's wages but we also can't increase them either."

"Understood." The markets had told her that many new 'Keepers,' as they had started to call themselves, had instantly turned to greatly reducing the wages of their now collared employees. Callicarpa was at least thankful for the honest nature of her mistress.

"You are such a good worker, Callicarpa." She finally stopped pacing to give her a loving smile. "I am so thankful that the River Goddess blessed us with you that rainy night."

She only gave a curtsey in reply. To say thanks was to be prideful to her mistress, she just accepted the compliment in silence as she had been taught so long ago.

"Would you make me a little bluebell and bellflower bouquet, when you have the time?" She seemed so stressed, it was a genuine request, not an order or a command.

"Anything for Milady." Callicarpa curtseyed again and took her leave for the garden.

'I can stop anytime,' the dark voice said as they picked weeds hours later. 'I like how you are calling on me, but hiding from your problems won't help.'

Disassociating was easy though. Let someone else run her hands and body while she sat in her mind and cried. Wailing and panicking while outside she was calm and collected.

'It is not ideal for this to go on as long as it has,' the voice continued. 'I don't mind an hour but this has been days of near continual hiding.'

Callicarpa didn't respond to her. She just turned and slunk into the shadows more.

'I don't recommend running from me.' The voice was getting firmer with her now.

She didn't listen though. She just moved further into the shadows of her mind. Deeper and deeper she moved to get away from the voice until the black void she hid in swallowed her whole.

Here she floated in a little ball. There was nothingness here, just the darkness and the anxiety of what awaited her out there.

"Get up."

Callicarpa instantly compiled before the goddess. She stood before the porcelain skinned goddess. Her white skin matched Callicarpa's arms and hands. Her cloak of the night sky cascaded around her, obscuring her silver and black dress. A long starry veil covered her midnight hair.

"I have had enough of you hiding from the world." The Great Goddess Nxyne berated her. "I have blessed you with my gift not so you can hide but so you can put forth the change in the world that is needed."

"I can't do it." Callicarpa wailed at her feet. "Bless someone else. Let me be normal."

"If I wanted someone else, I would have picked them." She picked her child up and stood her upright again. "I picked you."

"What could you want of me?" Tears streamed down Callicarpa's face now.

"At the right moment, you will know." She wiped the tears away. "Right now, I just need you to be present and aware. The board is still being set up, it is not yet time for our movement to be made."

Callicarpa just looked at her night sky eyes and radiant smile in confusion.

"You don't have to understand, but just be patient and be present. I need to go collect someone very important. Can't trust them to make their way to me on their own." Nxyne kissed Callicarpa's forehead as she departed.

Callicarpa was under the willow tree in that safe spot between all the tall grasses and the curtain of leaves and branches. She saw what Nxyne saw for just a moment more. The King's bedside; surrounded by healers, attendants, and other officials. Nxyne softly pulled at the King's hand and his soul softly and easily lifted to follow her. A knowing smile on the goddess's face was the last thing Callicarpa saw before she was completely back in herself.

Loud, low toned bells started ringing from the castle and they continued to be rung by each temple that heard them.

King Tysen was dead, Crown Prince Atrophin was now King of Listaviel. 

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What a serendipitous time to pass away... Hopefully Callicarpa can make it out of this situation in a better state than King Tysen