The Crimson Chains That Bind Us

Chapter 6: Magic

The morning was radiant and strikingly clear, although the morning air was bitterly cold. Ashton guided me along steep cliffside paths that carried the faint scent of salty sea breezes. I was surprised by him offering to show me around, even the maids who attended to us during breakfast seemed surprised. We spent the morning touring the castle, although the charred halls he avoided like the plague. By lunch time he showed me the gardens, and now we found ourselves at the cliff over the oceans. And at a secluded vantage point overlooking the churning ocean, a feast was spread out. Two knights stood somberly beneath the  a dead tree, keeping guard of their master.

As we relished our meal in an uncomfortable silence, Ashton's somber gaze drifted towards the seagull-tracked currents below. "This location holds a plethora of memories, the majority of which are tinged with tragedy," he murmured softly. "My parents were devoted guardians of Dragmyr's magic." I shyly reached my hand to place upon his black gloved hand resting on his knee. But he pulled away, I ended up messing with the hem of my cloak. Shivering in the cold. "On that fateful night, fire devoured everything except these unyielding cliffs and towers under some malevolent spell."

I listened attentively, sensing the deep sorrow hidden beneath these new revelations. Grasping his hands tightly, I whispered, "I can't fathom such despair. But this land's resilience stems from your devotion, and your parents' legacy lives on through you, my lord."

Ashton's grey eyes peered into mine, I was unable to read his emotions which if feared would be his normalcy. I half expected for him to pull away, but he squeezed my hand. "Come," he jumped to his feet, slowly helping me off the cold ground. "Let us return and escape the cold." Ashton offered me the crook of his arm, I gracefully accepted. "A curse continues to plague us, its release the sole thing maintaining hope among my people. Yet in sharing this place with you, its haunting past seems marginally less burdensome." He continued his story, never once letting me bask in his gaze. He only stared onward up the path.

The cries of seabirds carried on the offshore winds as intricately etched shells were uncovered, the playful enigmas of magic rediscovered. Ages-old relationships were rekindled anew on this rocky outcrop overlooking a sea of secrets and redemption. Perhaps our bond had solidified as surely as the tenacious wildflowers that would sure to come in few months time.

When we were back to the garden, Ashton let my arm go as we were greeted by two maids. Their black dress much cleaner, and nicer then those that I have seen during our walk in the halls. Not a stain nor torn on the white aprons. One of the girls was tall and thin, her brown hair was wild and trying to make its way from the bonnet on top of her head. Her hazel eyes were dull as freckles that basked her face. In simple words she was plain, while the young girl beside her was her counterpart. Her red hair was neat, not a single strand out of place. Her piercing blue eyes were bright, and filled with joy even if they were hidden by spectacles. "Good, you have arrived." Ashton nodded as he crossed his arms over chest. "Lady Farrah these are your lady maids Catherine and Mary. They will show you to your new corridors, and entertain you as well. I will find a knight to guard you, but now I must take my leave." He bowed, taking my hand in his and placing a small kiss on my knuckles before turning and leaving me with the maids.

"Well then," the tall brown hair maid smoothed the front of her apron. "I am Mary, and this is Catherine." She was dutifully, and her voice was soft. "We are your faithful servants."

"Perhaps we should start by getting you out of the cold." Catherine stated, wrinkling her nose. "My lady, shall you see you chambers?"

"Oh yes." I nodded and followed the two girls back into castle. We walked through the corridors, Catherine chatting excitedly with me about the Lore of Wintermarsh Castle. Mary was the quiet out of the two, or perhaps her mind was elsewhere. But I was thankful to have ladies to converse with. My bed chamber was simpler than the one back at home. Consisted of a dark wooden wardrobe, a bed covered with furs, a sofa with two chairs sat in front of the large hearth with a fire already burning in it. Beside the large windows that faced the outside wall was a small table and two chairs. In the corner hidden by a divider was a wooden bath. The nice part of my simple room was the doors that lead to the small balcony that overlooked the sea.

"Me and Mary's room is just beyond that door." Catherine pointed to a door I almost didn't notice, it looked much newer then the one leading into the room. And it was out of place. "This is the nicest room that we could do." Catherine attempted to soothe me.

"The original room for lady of the house was burned in the fire." Mary stared down at her feet, perhaps waiting for a violent outburst from me. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before offering my two companions a soft smile.

"It will be fine." I reassured them and myself. "I am grateful." Mary relaxed, relief washing over her face.

"What would like for us to do now?" Catherine clapped her hands happily.

"I would like to change from these clothes," I made my way deeper into the room as the door was shut behind me. "And then I would like to see the library."

With a thrill coursing through my veins, I danced a seductive waltz with the whispers of ancient secrets that mingled in the velvet dimness of the fortress library. Catherine and Mary guided me through hallowed halls of Wintermarsh Castle, Catherine spun tantalizing tales of forgotten lore and powerful enchantments. Stories that she had been whispered in the five years of service to the Duke.

As we ascended the vaulted heights, I traced intricate friezes that sparkled with life, my fingers tracing the contours of dust motes bathed in golden light. They left me to my own devices, leaving me to attend to their chores. I made my way through the towering shelves of ancient texts when I came to one and spotted my husband.
The embossed tomes blinked under the mystic glow, and with a flick of Ashton's wrist, the runes came to life, a wriggling dance of symbols that weaved their way into insightful revelations.

I spied on him, not feeling proud of my actions. But I was enchanted by him, when the world was young magic existed. But now, it was all but gone. Rumors had circulated that the Dragmyr family still dabbled in magic since their ancestors had once been dragon riders.

Alembics bubbled and hissed, casting their fiery spells as Ashton's distilled dragonsblood into vibrant elixirs. Silvery vapor curled into ephemeral script that breathed vivid histories into the air. My heart aflutter, as I savored the tantalizing taste of life's mysteries, my mind eager to absorb every whispered word, every whispered secret.

Basking in the scorching glow as if from the desert sun seeping through the stained glass windows, I pondered the enigmatic magic that swirled around me. The shadows that once shrouded her understanding gave way to chilling clarity, a sense of purpose long dormant now soaring on the wings of dragons, riding on the promise of untold possibilities and boundless empowerment.

With each whispered glance at Ashton, I felt my soul awaken, my senses ignite, my heart yearn for more. Here in this secret haven of enchantment, he unlocked the doors to the mysteries that lie within, transforming me into a maestro of fate, wielding powerful magic that dances on the precipice between light and darkness, love and despair, forgiveness and vengeance. Eventually, when the magic calmed and he returned to books back upon the shelves I slipped away before being caught.

And that night, my mind raced with dreams of soaring upon the wings of dragons above the cliffs of Dragmyr. Beneath me, the vastness of the mountains stretched into the horizon, emerging from the mist like a painting that had come to life.

I was awakened with the salty taste of seawater on my lips and the windswept hair still clinging to my face. But despite the abruptness of my dream, my heart still brimmed with excitement. Flipping onto my side, I pondered the remnants of the dying hearth embers. It was still dark outside, and my maids had retired long ago. I would feel terrible to awake them to build a fire, so I laid there under my fur blankets.

Ashton had always been an enigma, but our bond had grown stronger in the short few days of our marriage. My memory of the event of the library I had felt an undercurrent, a pulse of magic and motive that went far beyond the confines of these crumbling stone walls. Was Ashton merely an ally, or did he have more in common with those who were causing unrest in the kingdom? What role did he play in the rebellions springing up?

As the moon rose higher, I slipped back into a restless sleep. My mind buzzed with questions, like a cacophony of voices that needed to be silenced. I sensed that the solution lay hidden within the ancient runes in Dragmyr's library, if only I could decipher them clearly enough to unravel this newest puzzle. But for now, answers continued to elude me, like mirages amidst endless deserts.