The Goblin Princess

Chapter 3

Veena raced down the corridor, laughing. Her twin brother followed behind her. They were running from their father with his wispy blond hair bouncing in the breeze as he chased them. He caught up to them just as they reached the entrance to a massive room.

Together they laughed as their father caught them. Not too far off they could hear their elder brothers and their mother.

"Why don't we go see what those three are doing?"

Veena smiled up at him, "Can we surprise them?"

He smiled down at her, "Of course Precious."

Chapter 3

Over a month later Veena stood in the bright cheery library of Castle Grayskull without any help. Hoping that she would finally do something besides reading, she shifted her weight from one foot to the other. She had finally finished the damned books a week ago. She had read before going to bed each night and when Adam hadn't been able to visit. He didn't have a schedule, but he came often. Veena was really beginning to miss him.

The Sorceress stood not too far away with a frown on her face, "Veena."

Veena shook her head slightly, causing her side braid to move slightly. “Sorry, what did you say?"

The Sorceress shook head as she lifted her empty to cover a smile. "I think you are finally ready to begin casting spells."

Veena nodded. "I was hoping I would start soon. I mean I did finish the books." Hopefully it would be more interesting than those books had been for her. She wasn’t really excited about learning how to cast spells, but she was interested.

The Sorceress smiled, "I know, but you were not strong enough to try to spells." After leaning her staff against the side of a chair, the Sorceress walked over to a glass case. "First, I need to give you the gift your father left in my keeping. " She opened the door and pulled out what appeared to be a cloth wrapped around a rather large stick. Walking back to Veena she began to unwrap it.

Slowly, a blue crystal shard upon a craved wood staff was unveiled. The Sorceress draped the cloth over her arm as she stood before Veena. "It may be beautiful, but do not let that fool you. It holds a great power, or so your father told me." Gently, she handed it to Veena.

Veena looked at the cravings in the wood. They seemed so familiar, but she couldn't place them. She could almost recall seeing them before, somewhere important. A memory seemed to flutter just out of reach, but soon it disappeared.

While Veena was studying her new staff, the Sorceress placed the cloth on a chair and picked up her own staff. "Mostly, it will help you focus when you cast large spells. It can also be used as a weapon, but I can not teach you that skill."

Veena looked up from the staff, "Then who will? I have a feeling that wouldn't be a bad idea. I mean magic might only work so far."

The Sorceresses nodded, "I have someone in mind, but as of yet I have not asked her. True, magic can only do so much, and there will be times when magic should be used as a last resort."

Veena lowered the staff, "I still can't believe I actually have magic powers."

The Sorceress smiled, "More than likely you have used them, but you did not noticed."

"But wouldn't I have?" Veena looked at her. She couldn’t remember anything unexplained happening around her. Her head started to hurt slightly, but once she stopped trying to remember, the pain slowly faded away.

"Depends on which type of magic you have an affinity for. Considering your father's power, more than likely you will have an affinity for illusion magic."