Hoodwinked: The Summoning Book One

Chapter 13

Matteais was the first to enter the study. He was followed by the king, Lord Briggon, prince Greggor, and Captain Greypol.

"I don't see how a vision is going to change anything. Zyvon once told me that what one sees in a wizard's vision spell is undefined. It only evolves around the life of the sorcerer or sorceress. It does not reveal faces of other people, for the circumstances can change," Matteais finished talking.

"Nevertheless, Lord Briggon ensures me the vision reveals the prophesied heir of Sulbarolia, and the breaking of Queen Rheena's curse," the king said, turning away from the prince and approaching the looking glass that lay upon the desk, "Thus proving the oath he made several years ago, to be void."

"Princess Otswana," Prince Greggor greeted.

Otswana turned around after she set the enchanted pen on the page. Her eyes were focused solely on the looking glass so the scribe would not write of anything except for where she laid her eyes.

"Are we ready to begin, your majesty?" Otti asked the king. Her eyes never strayed from her reflection.

"Is that pen moving by itself?" Matteais asked.

"It's enchanted to act as a scribe, it will make a record of everything we see in the vision," Lord Briggon explained.

"Let's begin," King Nathar said. The men gathered closely around the desk to have a clear view into the glass surface. Otti avoided the eyes that curiously studied hers in the reflection and concentrated on the enchantment.

Otti turned her ring so the gem was facing inward. She pressed it against the edge of the glass. She slowly began chanting the spell aloud, as well as in her head. Otti moved the gem along the edge as she chanted until she had finished touching the gem to the entire perimeter of the glass. "Mosetra-moi-futoria, mosetra-moi-futoria, mosetra-moi-futoria."

Otti noticed Matteais held in his breath for a moment as their reflections appeared to dissolve into a silver liquid that rippled. It was as if a pebble was dropped at the center of the dissolving reflecting glass.

The liquid smoothed with a scene of Otswana standing in a dungeon, clinging to bars. A woman in a filthy purple dress was on the other side of the bars.

The scene changed to Princess Otswana standing with her back to a group of men. A miniature dark dragon swarmed them and blew out fire towards the dark creatures that surrounded their group.

The next scene showed Princess Otswana in the great hall of the castle wearing a tiara. She was standing beside a man who was being crowned King. His only shown feature was a dark head of hair reflecting the light from the window behind him.

The fourth scene showed Otswana clinging to a ledge as her feet dangled without finding purchase. A scarred and bloody hand reached for hers. Otti grabbed the proffered hand and she smiled up at her rescuer. Below Otswana, was a forest, ablaze in fire. The hand that gripped hers suddenly let go and Otswana fell into the flames.

The fifth scene showed a newborn boy in a man's arms, his opened, bloody shirt revealed the Dregan family crest inked into his skin. The wailing baby was placed into Otswana's arms as she reclined against a tree. The baby was pressed to her person to be fed.

The sixth scene showed Otswana fighting a woman in rags. The princess was blasting flashes of bright light at the supposed witch, who easily deflected the spells. A man came to Otswana's side and threw a long glowing knife at the woman, who in turn gripped the enchanted knife that pierced her chest.

The seventh scene showed Otswana standing outside on the snow-covered castle grounds, surrounded by hundreds of people. She was dressed head to toe in a white gown. In her hands, she held a bundle of bright blue morning glories. The princess approaches a man dressed in black, silver and white, the Dregan Royal colors. She took both his hands. His right hand was covered in several scars. She presents him with a gold band with a small dragon etched into it.