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Chapter 28 - Tossed About

Friedrich grinned at Hans with maniacal glee, and as he lifted his hands, the air stirred, rushing and gathering behind the chief magician like water behind a dam.

Hans centered his mind and used his magic force to anchor the three in the boat in preparation for the gale that would undoubtedly send them out into the midst of the sea where they would then presumably die. Hans noted John's response to his use of magic and was intrigued. Hans surmise that it was the struggle between the boy and the magician that had awaken his abilities, and now, John displayed a prowess in magic that Hans could not even fathom. Maybe when they were well at sea, he could call Heinrich to help him train the boy. It would be in both John and the princess' best interest for the child to be trained as it would mean protection for them. As it stood, Hans doubted that they would be spending much time in each other's company once they were able to make it to a bordering country.

When the magician launched his torrent at the pitiful sailboat that the three were prisoners aboard, the boat hurled wildly away from the shore, causing Hans' stomach to clench with nausea. By the time the boat had slowed, they had been propelled miles out to sea with nothing to help them direct their way. The obvious intent was not merely to exile them but to kill them in such a way so as to provide the least discomfort to the king.

The boat came to a dead halt as the wind suddenly ceased. There was not a breath of a breeze, and Hans' intuition told him that this was not a natural occurrence. Master Friedrich was a vindictive sort, and it was not enough to have his enemies banished from the kingdom, he would like them to be killed in an excruciatingly slow manner.

Hans wondered how it was that the master was able to exert his power from so great a distance.

Cordelia sat as in a daze staring out at the horizon in the direction of the only place she had ever lived, tears oozing out of her eyes and running sluggishly down her cheeks. John was sleeping fitfully, using his mother's lap as a pillow, as she ran her fingers thoughtlessly through his cropped hair. They spoke not a word for hours as the sun made its slow crawl across the sky and began it's daily meeting with the horizon. The bright, red glow bled across the line where sky and sea met, and Hans prayed absently to the Maker that the wind would resume so they could escape this watery desert. The king had given them no provisions, and they would not last many more days on this glassy sea with no water.

"Do you suppose," Cordelia said slowly, still staring out at the horizon, "That had I told my father about John immediately, he may have spared me this miserable death?"

Hans simply stared at the woman, horrified that these were her first words to him since their banishment.

Cordelia turned her tear-stained face to him, and Hans simply shook his head, "I knew you wouldn't have an answer, but I can't help thinking that it wouldn't have mattered when or how I had told him. He still would have assumed the worst of me."

John whimpered pitifully and turned onto his side, facing his mother's stomach, sparking a keen sense of apprehension in Hans. It had merely been a day, and already John appeared to be fading away before him.

Hans breathed in deeply as he braced his legs against the sides of the tiny sailboat, wincing at the pain that shot up through his back. There was a niggling sense of doubt that he was making the wrong decision, but the concurrent thought that this innocent child might suffer further harm prompted him to continue. Hans began to channel his magic, hoping to call upon his greatest ally. As the magic current channeled through him, Hans' lungs stung. Though he attempted to draw a breath, he felt as though he was being held under water. No matter how much he tried to suck air into his starving lungs, he could not. While panic seized his mind, sweat began to pour dawn his face. What is happening? Him mind screamed as his head began to swim. John stirred, turned his face to Hans, and stared intently. A blue light flashed from the child's eyes, and the man Hans had been summoning stood before them, standing upon the air just outside the boat, a sardonic smile twisting his lips.

"I was wondering why you called," Lord Heinrich said leisurely, taking in their situation: the boat and the stillness of the sea. He turned to Hans and arched a brow. "Surely, you did not call simply for this?"

"It is not as simple as it seems," Hans wheezed, trying to catch his breath after that disturbing ordeal.

"Please, by all means, Hans, enlighten me." Lord Heinrich wave his hand dismissively.

Hans scowled at his teacher, "The chief magician has resumed his post, and King Wilhelm has expelled the three of us from the kingdom."

Lord Heinrich's expression drain of all amusement as he looked at the woman and child for the first time since he'd arrived. "Forgive me, my lady," his voice was filled with astonishment as he bowed at the waist in respect, "I had not noticed you."

When Hans looked over at Cordelia, a thundercloud, it seemed, had taken residence above her. Her eyes were like granite, and he could see that she was clenching her teeth together by the muscle bunching in her jaw. Hans' heart sank, and with it, his head followed.

"There is no need for such formalities here," she said tightly. "Besides which, my father has banished me. It would naturally follow that my title and privileges are removed as well."

Heinrich straightened slowly, "Be that as it may, my lady. You are still the King's daughter, and much more importantly, a lady who has, long before now, earned my respect."

Cordelia's expression betrayed incredulity as she scoffed, but Heinrich seemed in no way dissuaded or perturbed. Hans, on the other hand, felt the weight of his secrecy bear down on his shoulders. A wight which, apparently, Lord Heinrich seemed to be blissfully unencumbered by. Hans could not dismiss the notion that soon all of his secrets would be revealed, and the woman he respected so greatly would soon come to hate him. The only reality that pressed upon him now was a keen sense of emptiness that filled his inner being at the thought of losing such a friend.