KazAlkemi

Darke Magyk - Concluded

---

---

Cuyler Eysteinsson

---

Location: Inside Wizard Tower

---

Cuyler was rather enjoying the effect he was having on Ayra. If only because the effect was mirrored in him also. He stepped away from Ayra, giving her a moment to recoup while Atkin explained the pot in more detail. Cuyler glanced into the pot himself to see if he could see writing on the stones but they all looked blank to him. Perhaps hidden by Magyk. The fact that this pot had been empty for years but suddenly filled, made Cuyler wonder if that whoever had broken in was the one to replenish the stones. Atkin then stepped forward and pulled a stone out. Cuyler looked at him with alarm for he remembered the ghost that Appeared to him yesterday explaining of the danger the ExtraOrdinary Wizard Apprentice was in. This pot with the replenished Questing stones seemed to be a good bet into his safety. This one happened to be blank but Cuyler still turned around to look at Ayra.
He found her kneeling on the ground, holding her head with an expression that looked like pain. Cuyler stepped forward, about to place a hand on her back and question if she was alright when Ayra stood and looked at Atkin. Her eyes widened in horror before she screamed at him. Cuyler jumped back, alarmed by her sudden outburst. In all the years Cuyler had known Arya, he was sure he had never heard her raise her voice.
She scolded Atkin and Cuyler looked away, feeling as if he himself was being scolded for something he didn’t do. He shifted his furs, getting warmer now that they were indoors and ended up taking them off as Ayra spoke. He examined the detailing, deciding that new ones needed to be made before winters’ end so he had the new furs by the following winter.
At the mention of Queen Meliscente’s death, Cuyler refocused on Ayra. So it had been a witch to take their Queen. He had a strong feeling it was them, it was always the witches that seemed to cause death and destruction. In Cuyler’s mind there was no good witch. He looked over at Sylvi when Ayra fell silent. What if the witches knew of her? What would happen then? Of course she had lost her place to rule and perhaps she didn’t want to rule his homeland, but that never seemed to stop anyone from destroying each other.
“Arya, would you mind if I spoke to you in private for a moment?” Cuyler asked tentatively. He understood there was much to be done and so much more had come to light but he had the images of those words still in his head and her responding blush. Now was the time to ask for he probably wouldn’t see her for a few days and Cuyler didn’t want the moment to pass both of them by. Besides, he still had to tell her of Halley.

---

---

Amarantha

---

Location: Young Army Caravan

---

The atmosphere seemed to change with the medic’s announcement. Amarantha followed at a bit of a daze. A baby, born? While all this death was happening? How strange the world was. Amarantha looked at her people as she passed them, seeming only to be able to focus on a few faces that she passed. These were the people who had stayed. The people who either had nowhere to go or nowhere else that they wanted to be. They were faithful to her and they trusted her. She would give them something new to hold onto; revenge. The chance to fight for those they lost and to defend the family they had left. Most of those remaining may just be children, but they had more heart than most people twice their age. Amarantha would make sure they were trained, that they were respected and feared. She would give them all the chance they deserved.
Her vision became clouded when she stepped into the tent. There were many injured and a few that had fallen to death inside this tent. Amarantha paused, looking down at the familiar faces who had passed on. She couldn’t help but feel frustrated at their diminished numbers but a baby cooing drew her attention back to the reason she was here.
She walked over to the young woman, holding her newborn daughter. Her blue eyes stood out from everything, much like Amarantha’s own ice, blue eyes. They looked at each other a moment, discovering who the other was.
When Girl 118 invited her to meet her daughter, Amarantha found her arms reaching down to grab the child. She shifted, fussing for a moment until she found the next warm body and curled in. The little one popped her finger into her mouth and sucked on it, eyes opening and closing as she fought sleep. The hardened woman couldn’t help but feel a little bit of internal warmth at the sight. Amarantha took a step back and walked down the length of the cot and up the makeshift hallway. She brushed her fingers over the baby’s soft head and cradled her close.
”A new dawn, a new day,” she whispered.

Darke Magyk - Concluded

---

---

Cuyler Eysteinsson

---

Location: Inside Wizard Tower

---

Cuyler caught Ayra’s eye and for a second he was sure he saw jealousy in her eyes until she saw him looking at her. Her cheeks flushed and it only made Cuyler grin more. Perhaps there was something there that wasn’t there before.
Atkin drew his focus back and then Ayra spoke up as well in regards to Cuyler’s statement.
”Well, there is a brand new window in place on the second floor and a couple of stones have shifted and been hastily replaced. The scratches on the stone and around the window are what pushed me into this conclusion.” The concern was very present in Cuyler’s voice as he spoke of the details he saw outside. Something so human, or animal, being able to break into Wizard Tower like that? This place had always seemed an impenetrable fortress to him. Even as a child he was fascinated with the building and the brilliant white colour that seemed to make the Tower glow even at night time.
The group moved into the Tower and he followed Ayra over to a wall that she touched. The wall seemed to shimmer purple before opening up for them. As Cuyler walked across the floor, new words cropped up for everyone to see.

JUST KISS HER ALREADY,
NORTHERN TRADER!

Now it was Cuyler’s turn for his cheeks to burn. He slipped closer to Ayra and leaned down to whisper into her ear for her only.
”Your floor is rather persistent isn’t it?” he commented, letting his arm brush against hers as he leaned in. It also had horrible timing. Cuyler wasn’t about to kiss her in a room full of people. Especially when it would be their first kiss.
Cuyler followed Ayra into the new room and noticed a pot sitting in the middle. Ayra softly explained what the stones in the pot ment. Cuyler looked from the stones to Ayra with sympathy. There was more than just the Palace destruction that was going on. Many things happened behind closed doors that others never cared to take notice of.

---

---

Amarantha

---

Location: The Servants Quarters -- Outside Lyra’s Room ---> Her Room ---> Young Army Caravan

---

Lyra’s obvious discomfort was rather satisfying to Amarantha. She enjoyed putting people on edge. It made it easier to get inside their heads and plant things that slowly destroyed them. Amarantha had a feeling she would have more contact with Lyra in the coming months and she was looking forward to the games that would ensue.
”Excellent,” Amarantha said to Asha. She had many plans in her head but she needed to survey who she still had left before she presented her plans to the Queen.
”If you excuse me ladies, the water is calling my name. If you have any further questions my door will be unlocked,” Amarantha said and winked at Lyra before she turned and strode back to her room, which was only a couple steps away.
Once in the confines of her room, Amarantha let out a shaky breath. There was no possible way Amarantha would ever step down this hallway again or into Lyra’s room. When a person died, their ghost remained in that place for a year and a day. Amarantha had no desire to see that man ever again. Letting the image of Puck drift from her mind she walked forward, unbuttoning her jacket as she went and tossed it aside before she walked into the bathing chamber. What modern wonders the Palace had. Enchanted water that never stopped flowing or dropped in temperature. Amarantha was used to bathing in streams or the occasional heated tub Puck provided her but that usually came with a catch.
After removing her pants she stepped under the flowing water and released an audible sigh of pleasure. The water washed more than dirt and blood away. Much had transpired in the last twenty-four hours and there was much more to do in the coming twenty-four hours.

Cleaned and redressed, Amarantha pulled her boots back on, stood and admired her appearance in the mirror before she left her cozy room and the Palace. The cold air hit her face in an odd combination of soothing and alarming. As the woman made her way through the streets, surveying the destruction and smelling the sickly, sweet scent of burning bodies, she heard a boy yelling at her, demanding she leave the Castle. She turned her head in time to see the little thing throw stones at her. Amarantha’s full lips slid into a viper’s grin.
”If you desire to actually hit your target one day, you will come to the Castle and find me,” she told the boy sweetly. She continued on her journey, finding a few familiar faces laying in the streets but they would never greet her as their Deputy again. Or their new commander.
The Young Army Caravan sat just outside the Castle walls and instead of the bustling noise, children's laughter and cries, there was silence. A complete and empty silence. Amarantha walked into the middle of the Caravan and stood there, taking it all in. Her body tensed from the emotion that rocked through her but she didn’t let it cross her face. Instead she hardened her appearance as the medic from earlier came out to greet her, along with their diminished numbers.

Darke Magyk - Concluded

---

---

Cuyler Eysteinsson

---

Location: Outside Wizard Tower

---

Cuyler glanced at the bard. It was not uncommon to find someone from the Land of Lost Nights lurking within the Castle but to be at the Wizards Tower together, that was a strange coincidence. However, the probing questions would have to wait, for the door opened and Arya stood there. Cuyler focused on her, a smile coming to his face as he let out a relieved breath.
”I could say the same thing,” he confessed. When they stepped inside Cuyler noticed the writing on the floor. Crown Princess? The words on the floor began to shift but Cuyler was already looking at Sylvi. Surely the floor was speaking of her but the Crown Princess here was Luna. That left the Crown Princess that went missing in the Land of Lost Nights years ago. Cuyler’s eyes widened, shocked and in disbelief. He looked back at the floor, wanting to confirm what it said but different words looked up at him for all to see.

YOU SHOULD KISS THE GIRL,
NORTHERN TRADER

Cuyler stared at the floor, speechless for once as his muscles seemed to twitch funnily. He looked at Ayra, not even thinking the floor was talking of the bard he just met. A smile slid across his full lips and turned into a grin that was about to give way to comment until he remembered they were not quite alone. He cleared his throat and shifted uncomfortably, running a hand over his scrap of a beard.
”Are you aware that someone has broken into Wizard Tower recently?”
Many things had happened today. All of which would have to come before the suggestion of the floor. Make no mistake, Cuyler would revisit its obvious suggestion.

---

---

Amarantha

---

Location: The Servants Quarters -- Outside Lyra’s Room

---

Amarantha’s fingers twitched at her side in anticipation. She shifted ever so slightly, feeling the change of tension and watched Lyra jump between them. Senseless violence? Hardly. Violence was always warranted and needed. How else would people assert their dominance and take over? She rose an eyebrow at Lyra, taking her step back and crossed her arms. Perhaps this knight had more fight than she let on. A little naive but if the girl saw much more of Amarantha, she would pop that cherry quickly.
Asha began to speak, ignoring Lyra and answered Amarantha’s question with that very fire the hunter noticed in the beginning. She looked back at the woman with the glowing necklace and began to squeeze her arms where her hands lay. The pain Asha spoke of inflicting made Amarantha’s eyes shift with mild delight. A cold, burning glint shone in her blue eyes as she thought of what Asha may have seen in her time and what pleasure the woman would have taken in administering this torture on the late Gwydon Puck. Amarantha took pleasure in the torture she delivered, the control she possessed over the people she held. And she always got her answers. It was something she would always be good at. Perhaps the Young Army was a bit barbaric but the training she received pushed her to the point where no one would be able to control her. No one would be able to break her.
”Now that would have been a sight. One I’m sure our friend here would not have been able to stomach. Puck’s burning was a mercy,” Amarantha found herself agreeing with Asha. She looked at Lyra as she spoke this. Her compassion was going to be a weakness to her, especially in this place. If she was made to protect Valda, she would have to learn quickly.
”And since the one who took my dear commander is no longer among us, I see no need to cause harm to either of you. Thank you for telling me his fate and his deserved fate. Perhaps in another life I would agree with you,” Amarantha said to Asha. ”But as I do not, I will retain control of what is left of the Young Army. I do hope you stick around to see what I have planned.”

Darke Magyk - Concluded

---

---

Cuyler Eysteinsson

---

Location: Outside Wizard Tower

---

What business brought him to the tower? Cuyler pondered that for a moment. He came to check on Arya of course and had spent the entire walk thinking if she was alive and well or dying and how either idea felt to him. He felt a strange constricting feeling and remained silent as the bard walked up to Wizard Tower and whispered something to its closed door.
Thia watched the woman curiously. She smelled of many different things but there was a similar scent that drew the dog closer to her. She walked around Sylvi, sniffing the air around her in order to further understand that familiar smell.
In Cuyler’s silence he looked up at the vast Wizard Tower. It seemed to be a beacon of some sort for the Castle. It was the first thing he saw coming in from the waters and it always brought a smile to his face. He had always been curious of Magyk and the discrepancies of it. It seemed every town, island or country he visited had their own take on Magyk and what it could be. His eyes roamed over each window, each crack and smooth surface of the old building but a blemish caught his eye. He merely thought it was a trick of the light but he came back to that same window and peered closer at it, completely forgetting about the woman who had asked him a question only minutes ago. The shine of the second floor window was unmistakable now that he was paying attention. It was brand new and a couple of the stones looked fresh as well. From a distance they wouldn’t be noticeable but this close you could see the inconsistency of the placement and the quickness of the repair. The scratches along the stone seemed to scream at Cuyler that something had happened that shouldn’t have. The Tower was probably one of the best guarded places, next to the Palace itself so how could someone have scaled the building and broken through? But the signs were as plain as the snow on Cuyler’s furs. Someone had broken in, the question now was, did they find what they were looking for?
Cuyler looked back at the door and stepped forward so he was beside the woman. He placed his hand on the door, looking for an opening or something that would get their attention in a hurry. He didn’t doubt the bard new the password that would allow them entry but once again, Cuyler was in a rush to get to Ayra. The hand he placed on the door happened to contain the purple badge Arya sent to him earlier that morning.
”The Land of Lost Nights,” Cuyler said, having understood that the bard now asked another question of him. Perhaps he should not ignore two questions. ”Langatóftir to be exact,”

---

---

Amarantha

---

Location: The Servants Quarters -- Outside Lyra’s Room

---

Her eyes shifted away from the foreigner and watched Lyra. She was clearly uncomfortable with Amarantha’s choice of conversation. The Hunter’s eyes tracked the knight as she looked about her room, fixating on a certain point before looking back at Amarantha. So Puck had died in her room it seemed, threatening and throwing his control around. Amarantha shouldn’t have be surprised. She did try to warn the man of the dragon before she was sent off to complete her mission. Lyra’s reaction was most peculiar though. She seemed positively distraught over the whole thing and was attempting to consol Amarantha.
She smirked, not being able to help it. This knight, Queen Valda’s personal guard, did not seem all that tough, at least in the face of death. Amarantha took a moment to consider this. Perhaps she should through her name into the ring to look after the Queen or at the very least, the Crown Princess. After all, she had seen and done her fair share of killing. She knew what it would take to protect anyone of royal title.
Asha then spoke, confirming Lyra’s story but took a different approach than the fair haired knight.
Amarantha moved away from the wall and took a step towards Asha. It was an act to intimidate but she was also wanting to direct her views straight at the woman.
“And what exactly, do you think my commander deserved?”
Amarantha liked Asha. There was a fire that burned consistently inside her and Amarantha felt a certain degree of sameness towards her. She felt no ill will towards this woman or how she felt about Puck. The man was a bitter thing to swallow. Her wormy tasting drink from earlier was a summer punch compared to that man; however, he was still the reason for her being here so she would defend him one last time.

Darke Magyk - Concluded

---

---

Cuyler Eysteinsson

---

Location: The Ramblings ---> Outside The Winking Duck ---> Outside Wizard Tower

---

The snow raged around Cuyler as he walked. Thia trotted along beside him, watching the children play within the snow. They threw snowballs and walked around sticking their tongues out until a snowflake stuck. It was peculiar to see such innocence amongst such destruction. Cuyler turned his head and walked a little faster.
He stopped in front of the tavern, seeing what used to be in complete ashes. The devastation was second to the woman standing in front of the destruction. There was a stillness about her as the snow seemed to part around her. A dark mass of hair slipped past her shoulders, framed by the snow that fell around her. The white stood out dramatically against the dark shape, seeming to form a crown even as the snow dusted the ground below their feet. She began speaking to him, knowing his name even though Cuyler did not recognize her at all. Thia however seemed to and she walked right up to the woman before sitting beside her. The Norwegian Elkhound watched as the woman's hands began to glow red and weave some sort of Magyk. Cuyler took a step back, watching all of this with a careful eye. The ashes she swirled continued to build and build, taking the shape of a man until it solidified and a man did indeed stand in front of Cuyler but it couldn’t be. Cuyler stumbled back, shocked. He hadn’t heard of death being reversed. That power belonged to a God, or perhaps a child of a God. The woman looked back at him before she disappeared.
A strange sensation worked through Cuyler, it was a mixture of elation and bewilderment. Cuyler knew the Gods existed, but to see one, to have one speak to him was something else. Snapping out of it he went to Halvor’s side. His hands came to rest on his face, examining him for himself. Thia barked happily, standing and wagging her tail at the very much alive Halvor.
”We need to get you back to Olaf,” Cuyler said. He took Halvor by the hand and pulled him along quickly to the Trader’s Docks.
Cuyler and Thia dropped Halvor off at the docks, not staying for long due to the fact that he still needed to get to Ayra. With a final look, grinning despite the situation, Cuyler walked back into the Ramblings and headed for Wizard Tower instead. The wind started to whip around him as they walked with an increased pace. Another storm was on the horizon but Cuyler felt positively warm. His friend was alive and the Gods were alive and well. Halley was not responsible for the destruction that had befallen the Castle last night and to add to it, she most likely knew who had brought death to his doorstep four years ago. Reinvigorated, Cuyler made quick work of getting to the Wizard Tower. He looked up at the tower, wondering how he would get admittance. When he looked back at the door he saw that he wasn’t the only one looking to get in. For a moment Cuyler thought it would be Halley again but the yellow hair threw that idea out the window. He walked up beside her and stared at the door.
”Perhaps the Magyk word is Open Sesame?” Cuyler suggested with a wry smile.

---

---

Amarantha

---

Location: The Servants Quarters -- Outside Lyra’s Room

---

A slow smile spread across Amarantha’s full lips when she saw a petite blonde open her door. She looked elated to see Asha at her door but her colour drained rather quickly at seeing Amarantha standing there as well. With one more admiring look at her, Amarantha turned her head back to address Asha.
”My commander left with you yesterday to investigate the whereabouts of that dragons’ egg. And you, were the one who held it,” Amarantha realized as she looked back at the woman standing in the doorway. What a fortuitous circumstance to have two people who had last seen Puck in front of her. ”I am under the impression that you were the last to see him alive. I want to know what happened.” Amarantha leaned against the wall beside the open door and looked between the women.
To anyone passing by, Amarantha was the epitome of calm but beneath the surface was a viper ready to strike. Sure she detested Puck, he had taken her from her mother but at the very least, he had provided a roof over her head and a bed to call her own. As his former Deputy Hunter, she owned him one final courtesy of getting to the bottom of his death and avenging him.
Being rooted in the Young Army the way she was brought her no regret. They made her who she was and they were the only family she cared to remember. That family, from what she understood from her medic, was now gone. She wanted answers. As for the fate of the those remaining in the Young Army, Amarantha included, that answer would come after she received hers.

Darke Magyk - Concluded

---

---

Cuyler Eysteinsson

---

Location: The Hefring - The Traders’ Docks

---

The Hefring was Cuyler’s home not only in the open water, but when it was docked as well. It had been his father’s ship but since his death Cuyler had made some changes to it. On the deck, one of the first things the young carpenter added was a creative design of Yggdrasil, with the symbol of Valhalla carved in the center of the tree. Under the bowsprit however, was Cuyler’s calling card and whenever you saw the God of the Sea coming, you knew it was the Hefring. He had painstakingly carved out a rough design of what he imagined the God of the Sea, Aegir, to look like. Ironically, Aegir was a known Magyk user and although Cuyler feared Magyk and what it had done, he respected it; therefore, represented it on his ship in hopes of safe passage across the seas. With such love put into this ship, Cuyler found no need to build a house on land back in the Land of Lost Nights. Besides, he had no real ties to that place anymore. So when the rioting started in the Castle, this is where Cuyler sat with Thia. She sat beside her companion, in her wolf form, watching the other Traders walk up and down the docks to converse about what was going on. The firelight from the riots danced in her yellow eyes, making it look like fire was in her eyes itself.
Cuyler was already safely at the docks before the rioting started, so when the Palace guard, along with some Young Army personal, pushed all of the Northern Traders and other traders back onto the docks before locking the gates, Cuyler was busy below deck. When he heard the increase in noise and shouts, he came above to see the fire and hear the shouting and crys of people beyond the Castle walls. It was a sight to see with all the burning occuring to the right of them but the screaming seemed to come from all around. On the other side of the wall though, it was eerily quiet. The waters were still below the ships and even the Traders watched on in silence. Those from the Land of Lost Nights all had their mind on one thing. Instinctively, Cuyler looked up at the heavens and sighed.
”Halley, what have you done?” One by one the Traders boarded their own boats and fell asleep to the sounds of rioting. Cuyler went below deck but Thia stayed above, keeping on eye on everything while her companion slept.
First light came and Cuyler was already sitting on the deck of his boat. He wore the same furs he took back from Ayra when he left her the evening before. His mind drifted to her for a moment but he didn’t have time to worry for her. Even though Halvor had arrived to the Castle with his friend, the pair of them had had a friendly competition going and Cuyler was surprised to have not seen Halvor board his boat to talk. Cuyler jumped off his ship, leaving Thia fast asleep back in her Norwegian Elkhound form and went to confront the guard at the gate. When Cuyler questioned them, they didn’t even turn to acknowledge him but continued to stare into the streets and ignored him. Frustrated, Cuyler hit the gate with his fist before he turned and walked down the docks towards Halvor’s ship. Along the way he stopped and talked to other Traders to see if they had seen him. No one knew anything other than the Traders would be kept on the docks until further notice. Apparently, there was a possibility that this was started by them. Ridiculous.
Cuyler reached Halvor’s ship and found his best friend sitting there, head in his hands as he trembled from the cold. Cuyler boarded the ship and walked over to the boy who was not much older than Cuyler. It was here that Cuyler heard the sniffling and realized that the boy was not simply shivering from the cold. Fear gripped Cuyler’s heart.
”Olaf, where is Halvor?” He placed a hand on the boy’s knee as he questioned him. It didn’t take much coaxing for Olaf to tell everything that had happened last night. He spoke through tears but Cuyler heard it all. People pouring out of the Winking Duck tavern, yelling for the Queen’s head and the next thing Olaf knew, the tavern was on fire. He tried getting back in, for Halvor was still inside but people continued to run out and then the building collapsed.
“How are we supposed to bury a missing body? What do I tell his family? Do we even have a funeral? How are we supposed to have a funeral without a body?” Olaf questioned no one in particular before he burst into sobs again.
Cuyler shifted and sat beside the boy and rubbed his back while he cried. The comforting didn’t last long as a rat came scurrying aboard and stopped a foot in front of Cuyler. It questioned his identity before revealing it’s message and handed over a badge to Cuyler. He flipped the purple badge over and over in his hands.
”I will go to the tavern and see what can be found. If there is a body to bring home, I will bring him,” Cuyler told the crying boy. He rested his forehead on Olaf’s head a moment before he stood and left the ship. He gripped the badge tightly in his hand, walking down to his ship to collect Thia before returning to the gate. He shoved his hand through and tapped the guard, showing the badge but refused to let it go.
Many things flooded through Cuyler’s head. Surely if he had received this Arya was fine, but what if Rowland had been the one to send this because something had indeed happened? The fear already in Cuyler’s heart held him tighter, refusing to let go.

---

---

Amarantha

---

Location: The Palace

---

After the Physik looked at Amarantha and told her she essentially would be perfectly fine come morning, she was led out of the infirmary and taken to a room to spend the night in the Palace. Apparently they didn’t want her in the same room as two royals. Pity really. Where she spent the night did not matter. Amarantha didn’t sleep much with the rioting going on outside. She was attuned to everything and even if she tried to drift, a shout or an explosion would signal her awake again. Her army was out there, her people and she had no idea who led them. Amarantha was always in the thick of it with them, she had a general idea of what everyone was doing at all times. Not to mention, Puck had not come to see her or let her know she could sleep forever because once again, he would pick up her slack. Actually, it was more alarming that Puck hadn’t come and enforced himself on her at all.
The night went by slowly and Amarantha perhaps got one solid hour of sleep; however, the little sleep did not seem to hinder her healing process. Gingerly, Amarantha stretched her broken arm to find she had full range and zero pain. She sat up and moved her leg in the same motion. It was hard pressed to ever see a smile of pure bliss on the Deputy Hunter’s face but at this moment, it filled her entire face. She jumped from the bed, ecstatic but the joy was quickly disrupted by a knock on her door and she was brought to a room with other Castle officials, including the Queen and ExtraOrdinary Wizard. She scanned the room as she sat. Puck was nowhere to been seen. It did not take Amarantha long at all to discover what had happened. So who had killed him? There was no possible way that Puck would have gone out into the riots. He would have happily stayed behind the Palace walls until the rioting stopped. So it stood to reason that her commander was now dead. The death toll continued to climb as the meeting went on but none of the numbers were concret. She listened silently, flipping one of her knives back and forth while discussions continued on how to set order to the streets. Amarantha could make no decision until she knew the official numbers of her Army. Killed or deserters, the list of possibilities went on.
With her part currently done and the Palace guard doing most of the maintenance outside, Amarantha retreated back to her rooms. She removed her knives and began throwing them at the wall. One spot for the Wizard that fell on her, that witch that threw her out the window, the Castle and for Puck. This one was considerably lower and proved more of a challenge to hit the center each time. There was another knock on the door and Amarantha swiveled and threw the knife at the door. It hit hard, sticking in well. Frowning because it hit a fraction off center to where she had been aiming, Amarantha walked to the door and opened it to find a messenger. They did not bring good news. One of the medics was there to reveal some information about their numbers but Amarantha hesitated. Why come to her? It only confirmed that Puck was dead. Now she was in a position of power and although most of the Young Army did look up to her and follow her instruction, she worried what this would mean for the presence of the Young Army in the Castle. She walked down the hallway, to the front entrance and met a medic from the Young Army. The numbers weren’t good. They had been cleaning up bodies all night, many of them faces of the Young Army. From what they could gather of those unaccounted for, 60% had been killed, 34% fled to the Port or the Forest and 6% tried to pass themselves off as orphans.
”Return to the caravan, I will be along shortly,” Amarantha instructed before she turned back around and headed into the Palace.
Being in the Palace has its advantages. Running water being one. The water here had been enchanted to run and there seemed to be an endless supply, a luxury Amarantha was going to take full advantage of. Yes, perhaps there were more pressing matters but Amarantha was not going to let the opportunity pass her by. As she approached her room, she noticed a familiar shape a few doors down. Asha the Magykal. Perhaps she could gather some insight on the death of her commander.
”Asha, may I trouble you a moment?”

Darke Magyk - Concluded

---

---

Cuyler Eysteinsson

---

Location: The Long Walk ---> The Palace Landing

---

Cuyler stopped, turning and scowled at Arya and her perfect stubbornness. It would be so much easier if she wasn’t higher up than him. He simply would have taken her away, protests or not but he followed her as she walked past and led the way out of the Castle and down to the landing. He understood the image she needed to present, the strength she had to portray but he wasn’t going to leave her side for a second. He stepped right up behind her until her back was pressed against his chest. He surveyed the people on the barge. For the most part it looked like everyone was doing well. Cold, but alive. Cuyler watched Ayra as she spoke of Myrus. Snowflakes had fallen into her hair and Cuyler’s mind flashed to his sister, running through the snow and trying to catch snowflakes on her tongue while she laughed. He had to resist the urge to touch Ayra’s hair and watch the snowflakes melt from his touch.
Winter held a special place in Cuylers’ heart. In the Land of Lost Nights, there were only a few months of warmth and long days but the majority of the year had below freezing temperatures and snow. He loved the magic of snow and what it possessed. The long nights back home provided a sky he could chart by and it was there that he learned most of his astronomy; however, it became difficult to stay outside the further into winter it got. When winter hit in the Land of Lost Nights, it hit hard and every year was different. The cold seeped into every crack and sometimes it didn’t matter how many furs you wore or slept with at night, the cold had a way of finding you. The cold here however, was far different. In this current state, it felt just like the beginnings of winter compared to what it would be like back home. The people of this land though weren't used to cold winters like Cuyler and the current cold was taking a toll on its people.
”We can discuss the prince and what has happened to the Witches and Princess Luna back inside. Beside a nice warm fire,” Cuyler urged the group.

---

---

Amarantha

---

Location: The Palace Landing ---> The Palace Infirmary

---

Amarantha bowed her head politely at Princess Luna’s thank-yous. Of course the woman would have enjoyed taking the soul credit for the Princess’s return but that was not the case. After Harlianne took the flask back, Amarantha adjusted her position, feeling slightly better as she waited for Boy 512 to return. She stretched out her broken arm, feeling the break still very present but it wasn’t agonizing anymore. With some help from the Young Army’s healer, she was sure to have a much faster recovery then what it would have been several minutes ago.
As Boy 512 disappeared, three other people walked out of the Castle to greet the party on the barge and join the ExtraOrdinary Wizard’s apprentice. Amarantha appraised the ExtraOrdinary Wizard, the apprentice and her teacher as they stood in front of them. There was also a rather tall man behind the ExtraOrdinary Wizard. He seemed anxious for something and Amarantha couldn’t help but wonder if it was because of the person he stood so closely behind.
Amarantha began to shift uncomfortably. She was at a disadvantage being broken and weak in front of so many people. Enemies they really were. The Young Army wasn’t know for working well with others and the Deputy Hunter shared the same feelings, so sitting here with no ability to just walk away or defend herself was proving difficult. It got worse when Boy 512 returned with Palace guards to carry Amarantha back in. She glared as they approached her but in all honesty, they would be able to easily carry her where she needed to go. The cold was really starting to set in as the sun dropped further.
”Well don’t just stand there, help me up,” Amarantha demanded. She held out her good arm to one of them and planted her good foot onto the deck of the barge so she could help bring herself stand and so they knew which parts not to grab on her. She tucked her bad arm against her chest as they approached her and lifted her off the ground.
With one last look at Luna, confirming that was indeed alright, Amarantha focused ahead as Boy 512 ran off ahead into the castle and disappeared. The guards took Amarantha down to the infirmary and laid her in a bed beside Prince Myrus. What had happened to him while they were gone?

Darke Magyk - Concluded

---

---

Cuyler Eysteinsson

---

Location: The Long Walk

---

Cuyler’s attention was already on Arya, so when her hand came to rest on top of his he wasn’t alarmed but he was surprised. He glanced down, feeling a shift as he relaxed from the previous use of Magyk and a curious warming sensation spread through his body. Although it was odd, Cuyler did not shift away from the ExtraOrdinary Wizard, instead he placed his other hand over top of hers and rotated his bottom hand so he held her hand securely between both palms. It wasn't normal for one to be this cold. When someone was this cold they didn’t last long.
More relief flooded through Cuyler when he heard that the party who had left to find Princess Luna had returned and were in fact just outside at the Palace Landing, coming from the Port landing.
With Atkin’s task completed, Cuyler watched him go out and greet the royal party. With them looked after he turned to look at Arya.
”It’s time we got you in front of a fire. It is only going to get colder and the last time I checked, you aren’t immune to cold. You aren’t are you?” Cuyler asked, throwing in a bout of humor to break up his serious tone.
He was genuinely worried about Arya. She had been a true friend to him over these last couple years. Listening to his fears and she knew everything about his family. A friend yes but something pleasant had twisted in his stomach when she blushed from their closeness and it continued to stir as he held onto her hand.
Cuyler shifted, ready to pick up the Wizard if she refused him and in doing so is arm bumped an object hidden on his person. Arya’s gift. He nearly forgot about it in all the commotion of the day; however, now was not the best time to give it to her but he now had a bargaining chip if she refused him.

---

---

Amarantha

---

Location: The Palace Landing

---

No matter how hard Amarantha would beat herself up for not securing the Princess sooner, the Queen had seemed to forgive her. She glanced over her shoulder at the sisters, watching their encounter and gave a curt nod. Well, at least she had given them that. The pirate woman, Harlianne if she remembered correctly, drew her attention away from the reunion and tossed her a flask. She caught it with her good arm, not even able to move her broken arm even if she had attempted. Seemed the cold had completely numbed that apendiage along with her broken leg. Compared to Amarantha’s cold hand, the flask was intensely warm. Magyk. There had to be a potion contained in here, a potion that would speed up healing. Amarantha held the flask up to Harlianne and bowed her head in thanks before she pulled the top off with her teeth, spat the cork aside and took a healthy drink. Poisoned or not she would have drank the mysterious liquid. It either would start to make her feel better like the pirate said or kill her. Either was acceptable right now.
As the warm liquid slid down her throat, it had a rather distinct earthy taste to it but it was more than that and Amarantha had a brief vision of pulling earthworms from the dirt and chasing the other girls in the Young Army with them. What potion was made with earthworms? Interesting. However curious the taste was, the drink began to work and Amarantha felt her limbs loosening, along with that burning ache from before and the numbing pain of now ease. Relief flooded through the woman’s features as it truly did begin to work. She glanced over at the pirate, the flask still at her lips as she took in the pistols at her hip. Amarantha pulled the flask from her lips after she had taken her drink, having decided that she wouldn’t like another wound to inflict more pain on her.
”You said Asha gave this to you? Asha the Magykal?” she asked. The wizard was currently in the Palace, she had attended the ceremony but looking at this rouge pirate and thinking of Asha’s appearance, it was rather peculiar to think how the two had met.
There was a light bump as the barge reached its mark to the Palace Landing. Amarantha breathed a sigh of relief, surprising even herself at her gratefulness. She looked behind her at Boy 512 who was shivering still.
”Go, get warm and find someone to help bring me in,” Amarantha spoke, feeling more generous than usual in her unusual state.

Darke Magyk - Concluded

---

---

Cuyler Eysteinsson

Personality Traits: Loyal * Stubborn * Observant * Cocky * Patient * Hostile (holds grudges)

---

Location: The Long Walk

---

Cuyler stayed close to Ayra after placing his furs on her shoulders. He felt the cold radiating off of her and though he normally would have, he feared placing his arms around her would cross some invisible barrier. The blush that Ayra produced however, did not go unnoticed. She was positively blue so the dramatic change in colour was clearly visible to him. He smirked to himself and glanced away. The Queen spoke and Ayra spoke up but before she could offer her assistance the Queen had vanished. Cuyler squeezed his hands into fists, accidently bumping his arm against Ayra’s in doing so. Magyk would always be hard for Cuyler to be comfortable around and it would cause him to be on edge all winter since he would be stuck here until the thaw. The added irritation came from Valda simply disappearing before Ayra could come with her. This was not the time for rash action; although, a small part of him was grateful for her sudden departure without the ExtraOrdinary wizard.
The wave of anger and fear was short lived when Rowland spoke up. Cuyler’s gaze shifted to the window and he moved forward, standing behind Ayra still as he looked out and saw the orange glow against the white background. A victory? Hardly, yes this was a warning of some kind and Cuyler didn’t think it would come from the Wendron Witches but then again, they had yet to return with the Princess.
”Do we have anyway of keeping track of the Queen?” Cuyler worried she would get caught in the crosshairs and although she was raised to be a witch, Cuyler wasn’t wholly confident in her abilities.
Normally Cuyler would just go out and discover for himself what had happened, what was burning and where the Queen had gone. He had no use for Magyk and what it provided. Cuyler had learned to do most things on his own and he had a unique tracking ability that aided him in all areas of life. Cuyler was sure he would be able to find Valda quickly but Cuyler’s main concern wasn’t with the Queen. It was within the Castle walls so he was wasn’t going to leave. No, Magyk would have to aid them all now.

---

---

Amarantha

Personality Traits: Patient * Smart-ass * Passionate * Dissociated * Loyal * Intense

---

Location: The Barge

---

Amarantha had been leaning on Boy 512 heavily when Queen Valda appeared out of nowhere. Her good leg was growing weaker with the effort of trying to support her own weight and the biting cold coming off the water was not helping. As it was Boy 512’s teeth were chattering and Amarantha was about to smack them out of his mouth for how it annoyed her. It wasn’t the poor boy’s fault and Amarantha could hardly blame him for the cold was affecting her just as much. No, what was fueling Amarantha’s annoyance was the fact that she needed someone to keep her from falling over. When the Queen had appeared, she immediately pushed herself away from the boy to stand on her own but the weakness in her good leg wouldn’t hold her and it gave out, sending her to the deck of the barge. Squeezing her eyes shut so as not to cry out from the pain, she remained hunched over for a time, breathing deeply before she sat herself down.
”My Queen, I do not believe any Wendon Witches survived our encounter. Jadis did not make her presence known after I was thrown from the window. The Port witches proved, difficult and prolonged my return of your sister unharmed.” Amarantha bowed her head to the young Queen in submission. This was yet another difficult thing for Amarantha, to admit defeat and accept that she had needed help; however, her loyalties remained to the Young Army and whoever sat on the throne so the blow was lessened for Amarantha as she completed her mission in returning Princess Luna to her sister.
Her mission completed Amarantha shuffled to the edge of the barge, away from the inner warmth and embraced the cold as she retreated into herself. It was a bitter-sweet moment. Things did not go the way the planned, the nearly never did but she had hardly expected to be this screwed over. What was going to happen to her when she returned to the Castle and Puck saw her like this? The thought hardened Amarantha’s outward appearance as the fear took her over inside.

Darke Magyk - Concluded

---

---

Cuyler Eysteinsson

---

Location: The Palace Lawn ---> The Long Walk

---

Cuyler watched the floating Myrus drop and then be picked back up again by Magyk before he even hit the ground. The party began to make their way inside and Cuyler looked to Thia, who remained watching Myrus.
”Go back to the Hefring Thia, you’ll be warm there,” he instructed her. There were stables located behind the Hefring where she could lie amongst the animals in the hay. When night fell he wouldn’t worry so much about her as she often did her own thing in her wolf form. Cuyler walked away but Thia lingered until her companion disappeared inside and then she took off.
Cuyler hurried to catch up with the group and he walked along behind Arya who was now speaking to the physician. He heard her stutter and shiver as she spoke. Now that they were inside, Cuyler was a bit warmer so he removed the top most layer of furs and secured them around Ayra’s shoulders. She most likely needed to change out of the clothes and sit by the fire awhile to help her warm up fully but Cuyler hoped that this would do the trick for now.

---

---

Amarantha

---

Location: Outside the Port Witch Coven ---> The Barge

---

Finally the man laying on top of her got to his feet but he picked Amarantha up along with him. With her still frozen from his earlier spell, she could not feel the broken bones shift as he picked her up but she could see when they started to walk and could hear clearly the new spell he began to recite as he walked. Amarantha watched him curiously as he spoke. Odd fellow this one was. She knew he would torture her, play with her until his heart's content and then some, so why make sure she was kept warm and safe? If the roles were reversed Amarantha would simply hogtie him and knock him out to keep him from saying anything. Before Amarantha could voice her opinion on the man, a giant club came down onto his head. He stopped speaking and Amarantha could feel the tingling sensation lift from her body as the spell he used to freeze her was lifted as well. Rhys dropped her from the impact and she hit the frozen ground, hard. She yelped but didn’t lay there for long and she crawled, using her good arm to pull herself to Boy 512. A pair of shots rang out behind her but she didn’t check to see if they made their mark. She slapped the poor boy across his face and he jolted awake but didn’t do much else as the spell was still working its way out of his system.
”Up, get up,” Amarantha said, poking and prodding him. Still Boy 512 did not have much motivation to move. The woman looked up to watch the rest of the party leave, the crazy pirate leading the way while the stranger from the room upstairs carried Luna off. Clearly she was headed to the Castle as well but Amarantha didn’t trust her. She needed to get on that barge, she needed to deliver Princess Luna herself.
Looking around Amarantha spotted the knife she dropped earlier and seized it in her good hand. She pressed the blade to the Boy’s throat, drawing a small amount of blood.
”Get up and I’ll reconsider letting you keep limbs.” Painfully slow, Boy 512 managed to get to his feet. It took him a moment to become stable but once he was he faithfully picked up Amarantha, hoisting her onto her good leg. She tucked her bad arm into her side so Boy 512 could help her move. He was a tiny thing and wouldn’t be able to carry her but he managed to help her limp along. With the cold snapping away at them, Amarantha’s broken limbs and the spell still working out of Boy 512, it took them a good long time to make it to the barge. Amarantha looked up as two men came running past them. She spotted the pirate, the one who gratefully shot the Wizard, commandeer the barge. She urged the boy beside her to move faster. It was awkward and too slow in Amarantha’s mind but they eventually made it to the barge before it left the Port.