A Fool's Tale

Chapter 37 - Only the Beginning

I rushed to Talia. Her eyes were open and she was slowly moving to a sitting position. I kneeled in front of her. "Are you okay?"

She groaned and rubbed her temple. "I've got a massive headache, but I'll be fine." She took my hand. "Thank you so much. Without you, we'd all be dead."

I shrugged, unconcerned. I was just happy to hear her voice, but now that Kyla seemed fine I focused on the king and queen. They were still immobile on the high backed chairs. Was there a way to help them recover?

Feet pounded outside the door and two soldiers burst inside. "An intruder was spotted escaping the king's chambers."

"The intruder's gone, and the threat is over, but please fetch Master Isidor. The king and queen seem to be under the effect of a spell," Talia ordered. One of the guards ran off and the other rushed to the broken window, scanning the courtyard below.

Talia waved her fingers in front of the king and queen, and although their eyes followed the motions of her hand, their bodies seemed frozen in place. She looked toward me. "Is there anything you can do?"

"Maybe, but I think it would be better to wait for Isidor."

Talia started pacing the room, and although it seemed to take forever, I suspect very little time passed before Isidor rushed inside. He glanced at the king and queen then shot me an accusatory glare. "What happened?" Though to my ears it sounded more like what did you do now?

"Kyla was an assassin. We think she cast some sort of spell on them," Talia responded.

"Not just an ordinary killer then," Isidor mused. "An assassin mage." He stroked his chin and regarded King Roland and Queen Vivien. "A powerful one. I believe their nerves have been stun locked." He touched the side of their necks and his eyes glazed over.

After a few seconds Isidor blinked and looked at us. "I could try to unlock them, but they seem to be recovering. It would be safer to let the spell wear off. It shouldn't take long."

And so we waited. It was incredibly awkward. I believe Isidor wanted to interrogate me about what had happened, but with Talia there, he held his tongue. He no longer trusted me and probably thought I was somehow to blame for their condition. Talia sensed the tension between us and she didn't understand how to alleviate it, and so the three of us were quiet, hoping for the king and queen to recover as quickly as possible.

I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw King Roland's finger twitch. It was soon followed by a tremor in one of Queen Vivien's feet.

Isidor quickly grasped King Roland's shoulders worried he would fall forward and Talia did the same for Queen Vivien, but they needn't have been concerned. It appeared the spell wore off rapidly, and they soon regained full control of their bodies.

Isidor bowed his head. "Your majesties, how do you feel?"

King Roland placed a concerned hand on Queen Vivien's leg and looked toward her. "Are you well my dear?"

She nodded. "Yes, thank you. That was disconcerting, but I'm already feeling like my old self."

"We appear to be recovering rapidly. Thank you Master Isidor," King Roland affirmed.

He then looked to Talia and me. "But my full gratitude belongs with Talia and Gael. I may have been paralyzed, but I saw everything that occurred. You both saved our lives, and Gael, yet again, I find myself in your debt, without even having paid off the original one."

"The queen was generous enough to buy me some nice outfits," I replied humbly.

"That was but a small gesture," Queen Vivienne interjected. "It most definitely was not your reward for saving King Roland's life."

I bowed low. "Your majesty, as I said before. All I want is to live here in the castle and serve you in whatever capacity you desire, be it stable boy, jester, or mage."

"Ha, ha, perhaps we shall call you a jester mage once you are fully trained. It seems to be a fitting title for your skills," King Roland boomed. "What say you Isidor, does your apprentice seem to be capable of becoming a full mage one of these days?"

Isidor frowned. Conflicting emotions raced across his face. He wanted to please the king and yet had already discarded me as his apprentice.

I lowered my head toward him. "Master Isidor, it would be my greatest desire to become a mage, and I think you would find that although I may make mistakes, my loyalty to Castle Brimstone could never be called into question."

He sighed and his eyes softened. "I must admit, your devotion to the Brimstone family has been nothing short of remarkable."

Isidor regarded the king. "Yes, Gael has the talent to become a full mage and I shall be his guide, although he does need to control his somewhat headstrong attitude."

I grinned. It might take months to rebuild Isidor's trust, but at least I'd been given another chance.

"Well then if that is all," King Roland spoke in a hearty voice. "I am looking forward to a day that I do not have to worry about plots from Kertan sorcerers and secret assassins. Gael, Queen Vivien and I shall decide on an appropriate reward for your services, beyond your somewhat simple request, at a later date." He nodded, dismissing us.

After leaving the room, Isidor regarded me. I think he wanted to both chastise and praise me at the same time. He settled on the middle ground. "Come to the tower tomorrow morning, Gael. I believe it's time I taught you a new spell. It will be extraordinarily painful." He gave me a tight smile then bowed to the princess and departed.

Talia and I stood in the hall together. And it was comfortable, just like the many days we'd spent in the forest glade.

"So, how does it feel to be the hero of the story?" Talia grinned.

I smiled and took her hand. "I think we're both heroes, but you know what's different about this than all the stories we used to read."

"What's that?"

"This isn't the end. It feels more like the beginning."