Lady Ardele is the first person that comes to mind when the medics come back with a health report of the men who jumped us the other day. The bandits are not what they had seemed. They are extremely dangerous. And she only she would know what to do.
Her emerald eyes widen a bit from shock but recovers fast.
"What happened?"
Pushing off the doorpost, I stand up straight, "Come look for yourself."
Together we stride down the halls, and I can feel her anxiousness. The situation is bad, and with her expertise with magic, I am sure she will know what is going on.
Earlier this morning, the guards retrieved the bodies that she and I battled late last night and put them into the informatory room where most people are put to heal after battle.
I lead her down to the large white room, and her face hardens when she spots the black decayed men. There are green symbols embedded into their skin, and their eyes are fully black.
"Dark magic," she mutters. "It seems to be at least a tier 8 or 9 witch... if not higher."
Witches who deal with dark magic are fools, as they will later go corrupt later on in their lives for tampering around with magic that were never meant to be touched. Witches, wizards, and warlocks all have ten tiers that they are categorized in.
Most of the population who wield magic are women, and the average witch and wizard are a tier 3. Witches are the females who can wield magic, and wizards are the male. Warlocks are older, experienced men who can wield magic. Warlocks do not tend to live long once they reach that status as younger magic wielders tend to kill them off.
Leonidas seems to be carrying on fine. Leonidas, my father's ally, is a warlock, and is known for his extensive knowledge of magic. He has been granted prestigious medals from many empires.
Lady Ardele walks over to the decaying bodies and moves her hand above them. Black vines shoots out, trying to stick itself to her, but her body deflects the probing vines.
I pull out my sword, but she shakes her head. Lady Ardele places a spell, chanting ancient words, and yellow rings that spin appear on the black bodies.
The yellow rings starts to spin faster and faster, and the dark aura starts to fade. It looks like she is absorbing the dark magic out of them. Lady Ardele is spinning a dark weave, the black threads tangling in her hands.
She disperses the threads, the dark aura smothered to nothingness. The room is static with power and it settles. The room is now pure.
She blows a strand of hair out her face while turning to me.
"I purified their bodies as best as I can. But they have to die for them to full rest."
She examines the bodies again, and she sighs.
"It is unfortunate that they got corrupt. But they had no chance. The witch that caused this must have took control of their souls to get this level of corruption. Not many magic wielders are skilled enough to that."
I motion some guards over to do the task, and I can feel Lady Ardele placing a calming aura over the room. It takes some of stress of the decayed creatures' minds. All beings deserve a peaceful death. It is unfortunate many don't receive it.
I lead her into the adjacent room, which is the weapons room that leads into the weapons barrack.
"Can you tell a witch by their magic?" I ask, as I sheath my sword.
"Some scout witches can. But I do not have that ability."
"What kind of witch are you then?"
She shrugs, nonchalantly. "I do not know. I never got to take the aptitude test."
"Which means that you do not know your tier either."
"Correct. If you are asking me to take an aptitude test, I will kindly decline."
I smirk at her. "You have a choice, Lady Ardele. I'll never take that away from you. But if you want to hear my opinion, yes. Take an aptitude test."
She crosses my position to examine the weapons on the table on the far right of the weapon's room. Lady Ardele pauses at the arrows, and her brows come together.
"These weapons are fairly usual for the crooks to have, your highness."
I nod. That is true. These weapons are used more in traditional Northern empires. Either the bandits were born of Northern land decent, or plainly hired by a Northern empire to attack us.
She slides the tip of her forefinger across the point, and the pungent smell of blood hits my nose.
I grab her wrist. "What are you doing?"
"It is just as I thought."
"What is it?"
She remains silent, and my frustration starts to boil up the surface. She does not explain her absurd action, and her behavior makes my guards go up. I cannot read her at all. But I know I am the same way.
My eye starts to twitch in irritation. Her dullness is going to send me to my grave. I know that she has information that is valuable which is why I cannot assassinate her.
"Lady Ardele."
She rips her wrist out of my grip, and her eyes flash with anger.
"Stop acting like that, your highness."
"Like what?"
She lifts her hand between us, and I close my mouth.
"I cannot think when you are always irritated at me."
I almost roll my eyes at her audacity. "If you were not so foolish all the time, it could have been different."
"I do not have to explain every single action to you!"
"If it will keep you from injuring yourself, or putting people in danger, you might as well. I know that you have information, so spit it out."
"Stop. I had a long day, give me some slack!" she shouts.
"So have I, darling," I growl, my canines elongating, at the scent her blood.
The wine-colored blood is now dripping onto the floor, and my eyes start to cross. Her frame is radiating with fury as she clutches her hand. I have not had blood wine for a couple days now, and the bloodlust is coming in hard.
Her eyes catches what is happening and her mouth curves into a mischievous smile. Lady Ardele brings her bloodied finger to my lips, and my lips dart out to lick the heavenly liquid. She thinks that she hold power over me, but she is incorrect.
Before she can pull back, I take the whole finger into my mouth, and I hear her sharp intake of air. Her body unconsciously leans closer into me, and I tuck her in tighter. The taste of her blood explodes in my mouth, and I let her finger drop from my mouth before I take things further.
A flush creeps up her neck despite her eyes flashing with anger.
"Listen to me. Those arrows are similar to the ones I used at the old kingdom I once lived at. I got hit by an arrow a while back and I would remember the sharpness of the point if I felt it again."
"What is your calculation?"
"They are the same."
"What kingdom?"
She hesitates before answering. "Clairemont."