Chapter seven

"The magic uprising was run an organisation called the-the-” 

“Paradimds,” Basil spoke, 

“Yes,” Zelum chuckled nervously, “and they er-er-um-” the man began fumble around with the many books scattered around him, and back up to the chalkboard where he had been detailing the timeline of the magically terrorist attacks.  It was their first theory lesson on magic, and of course the first would be history. Zelum was muttering and stuttering his way through what happened eighteen to twenty years before. None of them found the lesson all that exciting, even Clover failed to see anything worthwhile. Basil, despite Zelums shortcomings, had taken diligent notes, Aster had skimmed through one of the books on the subject, writing down the highlights. The three had begun to want to go back to the training courtyard. 

Thankfully, their lesson was interrupted by Elron, he strode in with a grin on his face as he was excited about something. Aster could guess what it was. “The emperor wishes to see you three in the stables,” 

They were all too eager to leave, “I see you later, for your afternoon lessons.” Aster and Clover suppressed a groan at his words. 

They followed a jolly Elron, who was abuzz with anticipation. Aster would hardly admit that she was delighted that she was going to own a unicorn. But Aster saw the gift for what it was, trying to buy their love. She had begun to think the empress was not as bad as she had thought, but that did not extend to the emperor, with his gloomy moods and sneers. It was as if he didn’t care if they were there or not, and cared more that his previous royal wasn’t to die with him. It hadn’t escaped Aster's notice that Basil seemed to have extra classes separate from their magic ones. It didn’t surprise her, though it was strange to think of themselves as princes and princesses, it made sense that one of them would be the heir, and Basil being the oldest as they had found out, it was him who was thrusted into the role. Aster didn’t evy him, it had him straight in a collision course with the emperor and something told her he wouldn’t tolerate anything but the best. 

Arriving at the stables, there was a flurry of people working, taking the horses out of the paddocks and to the riding pens, grooming and feeding. Elron nodded to a few stable hands as he led them to the very bottom of the stables. Aster had wondered why the unicorns were being kept so far back, she hadn’t asked the empress but it seemed rather odd. 

The emperor stood tall and imposing before the three, his face looking neither happy nor angry. It set nerves down Asters back, he glanced at his children with something Aster read as disdain. 

“Well done, Elron.” 

“Don’t thank me, they were running to get out of their lessons.” 

The emperor hummed, “I hope you will take your studies seriously,” he warned the three. Aster and Clover gulped, as the three nodded. 

“I brought you here, to gift you something. Since your birthday had been recently,” Aster tried not to snort, finding out that their birthday was in last spring, had been a surprise, but no matter what she couldn’t ever think of it as her real birthday. 

He gestured for a stable hand as he went in then out of the paddock, bringing out with him three unicorns. Each with varying coat colours, they swerve tall creatures, with slender necks, and pretty white horns. Their names were long and flowing and their eyes held a wisdom and intelligence unlike any other animal. 

“They are siblings, they were born the same day you were. With each new imperial birth, an enchanted creature is born alongside the child.” Aster figured this was something Zelum should had taught them, it seemed important enough. “Reshire has been my companion since birth,” he continued as a giant red wolf emerged out behind him. Aster took a step back, Clover gripped onto her arm. 

The wolf was not friendly looking, it was savage, wild, the emperor took note how the girls had taken fright from the beast, and sighed, the wolf let out a quiet whine as if it were hurt. But it made Aster even more afraid, staring down at it’s yellow eyes, and fanged teeth. She was right not to want to give the emperor a chance like she did the empress, his beast reflected what he was, a monster. It was shocking. It was the first time they had seen the wolf, they didn’t know where he had been hiding but Aster wished it would go there. 

The three unicorns trotted away from the stable hand, making their way towards the siblings, as if on instnic, each chose a sibling to go to. Both of the females chose Aster and Clover. Clovers was a pale orange, with a golden mane, it nuzzled into the girl's hand, clearly happy with it’s choice. 

Asters was a fierce red, it’s coat was longer than the others, fluffy and looking soft, it snorted as it made its way to Aster, it lowered it’s head waiting for her to pet it. ‘I am Asirie,’ a voice spoke in her head, Aster gazed wide eyed at the creature, it chuckled it her head, ‘i see you shall be a fun companion,’ 

“Er-thanks?” 

Meanwhile Basil's strong dark blue unicorn strided to him, it heyed, stomping it’s front right hoof on the ground, Basil only stared at the creature and after a moment, the unicorn offered its face, as Basil stroked it under its chin. 

The emperor watched content, with their companions, and beginning their magic studies, it was starting to be time to announce their existence to the rest of the continent. He patted his dire wolf's head, who still looked on glumly, it had looked forward to finally meeting the children, yet they were afraid of him. 

“They will come around Reshire,” 

the wolf simply huffed, it turned away from the emperor, pouting. 

✶✶✶

A delegation had arrived without warning, nor letter. The emperor scowled as he sat down on his throne, his wife, set her hand on his, trying to calm him. But it was no use, the delegation had come from Spendia, so they had figured it out. Sila had sent the kill order days before, they might have tangled something from the spy before he died. 

The emperor lifted his hand up signalling for the guards to open the doors to the throne room. A group of men and women dressed richly walked in, they bowed deeply. 

“This better not waste my time, why has your king sent you with no warning?” 

A man stepped forward, “my imperial emperor, we meant no offence, but this of dire circumstances.” 

The emperor scoffed, “I shall believe that when I hear what you have to say.” 

“Our king's soulmate has gone missing.” 

“How terrible, how's that concern us?” the empress spoke up, she hid her indifference well, though the emperor knew she was fuming inside. 

The man grew anxious, shaking visibly, “we had received the intelligence that she was being kept here.” 

The whole delegation seemed to hold their breath waiting for the emperor's reaction. 

“How strange,” he furrowed his brows, “is your king accusing me of something?” 

“I-i-” 

“You should know well that this world was found by my husband's ancestors, that he still, according to the old laws, has precedence over all the kingdoms of this land. He could easily dispose of your king for such words.” 

The man swallowed, he whipped his forehead which grew slick with sweat, “i have been told to say-say-” the man swallowed again, “that if she is not returned he will have no choice but to go to war,” 

The room fell very still. 

“For what grounds?” the emperor growled. 

“Kidnapping, abducting, keeping her hostage,” 

“I fail to see we have done such a thing,” the empress spoke sweetly, “if anything we have brought her to safety.” 

“Safety empress?” 

“Yes, your king was mistreating his soulmate, she was practically starved when she arrived here,” 

“That is a misunderstanding, my king hadn’t-” 

“It is the emperor's right to protect his subjects, you king has no real claim other than them sharing a mark.” 

“A bond between soulmates is-” 

“Sacred. I know. But that does not mean she belongs to him.” 

The delegation began to murmur amongst themselves. 

“If your king wishes for his soulmate to be returned, he will be most disappointed,” the emperor announced. “If that is all you may leave,” 

The man was taken back, “please your imperial majestys, my king is willing to give you anything in return for the girl.” 

Silas eyes rimmed with silver, she stood from her glass throne. “Your king will barter for my daughter as if she were a pig at the market!” 

“Daughter? No-no-i-i-” 

“You will leave,” she commanded, “and pray I never lay my sight on you again.”

All too quickly, the delegation scurried away, once the doors closed before them Sila screamed. 

“That bastard!” she threw a blast of pure energy at the wall, it dissipated against the anti-magic barrier put in place. 

“What does he think she is? As if we would sell her to him,” 

The emperor watched his wife stalk up and down the steps, “I will have released a proclamation,” he grunted, “it will delay whatever that king has planned for his failed attempt today.” 

“Let hope so, for I swear to the goddess, I shall burn his head to a crisp if he dares take our daughter.”