Naiari stiffened and turned around in a panic, her heart racing and her face blanched. She was sure that she had heard wrong, there was no way Lady Kassandra just said magic.
"What?!" She croaked, her voice hoarse with fear while her eyes darted around the room in fear.
"You are reeking of its essence, i could perceive it immediately you stepped foot inside the throne room."
"You are mistaken, it is my perfume. It's foreignness must be affecting you negatively." Naiari babbled desperately.
Lady Kassandra rolled her eyes.
"There is no use denying it, I know exactly what is emanating from you."
Naiari stopped and stared at the woman standing before her while her heart raced. It must be the spell that had been casted on her that was making Kassandra perceive magic from her, surely she was going to be put to death.
Her knees felt weak and almost crumbled from the fear that clutched her heart like an icy hand. She felt the back of her eyes prickle from the tears that had started to form.
"Oh don't look so terrified, no one has to know." Kassandra waved a hand dismissively and Naiari tilted her head and stared at the beautiful woman.
What reason did Lady Kassandra have to not expose her? Something felt very wrong with that, come to think of it, how was she the only one who was able to perceive the magic in the first place?
Her eyes narrowed suspiciously and she continued to stare.
"How did you know that I was reeking of magic?" Naiari demanded and Lady Kassandra smiled a secret smile then she leaned forward and whispered.
"Because I have magic." She said and Naiari stumbled back and stared at her in horror while Lady Kassandra just continued to smirk.
How could someone tell someone they had just met that they had magic, was she not afraid of being discovered? She could be put to death for it and Naiari would get the same sentence just for discussing it with her.
"But.." Naiari trailed off as she was unable to form a coherence thought in her head, there were too many thoughts.
"You are wondering how I have been able to survive being here all this while without being discovered? It is because I am a very powerful woman with allies." She said confidently then walked away and sat amongst the cushions.
"You are going to keep an eye on Kael for me, everything you see, anything at all he does, you will report back to me."
Naiari gasped at the implication of Kassandra's words. Was she asking her to spy on the king? That was a sure death sentence.
Without thinking, Naiari shook her head. "No." She whispered.
Kassandra stood up abruptly, all traces of friendliness removed from her face. In its place was a cold brutal intensity that made Natzin shiver and she felt a burning cold bite at her chest that caused a shortness of breath and she fell to the floor gasping while Kassandra stood over her.
"Who are you to tell me no? From today I own your life!"
The pain eased up and Naiari was finally able to breathe easily. She looked up with red rimmed eyes and Kassandra then said defiantly.
"I will tell the king that you are a witch who has asked me to spy on him."
Kassandra stared at her as if shocked by her audacity then she burst into laughter until she was at the brink of tears.
"Oh poor innocent child! Tell me, who do you think they will believe?" She asked when she had caught her breath, "You the daughter of some nearly impoverished human monarch or me, the aunt of the king who was loved and nurtured him since the death of his parents?"
Feeling defeated, Naiari rested her head on the floor.
"Don't be stupid, there is no point in wasting your life when you can simply do as I say and live." She said.
The next thing Naiari heard was the swish of Kassandra's dress as she walked past her then she spoke brightly, sounding how she had first sounded, friendly and sweet.
"Food has already been served, eat up and rest for the ceremony tonight." Then Naiari heard a knock on the door before it was opened then shut.
The closing of the doors opened up a flood of tears and Naiari sobbed at the realization of how horrible her situation truly was it was an impossible situation. If she had had even a little thought that there was a chance of happiness it was now entirely eclipsed.
At least while she had been in her father's house she had been tormented by the queen but she had not really been under the threat of death, just pain. Here however, it felt like the sword of Damocles hung over her and for something that was not even her fault.
It was an impossible fate. When she was spent from crying she sat up resolutely knowing that there was no way she could live this way. Then she came to a decision.
As much as she hated to disappoint her father, she had no other choice if she was to survive.
*
Kael sat in the tower where he was able to oversee the entirety of the city and far beyond. He liked to come here were no one could bother him and he could reflect on his thoughts without interruptions when his peaceful musings were interrupted by the bells in the bell tower ringing.
He looked in the direction of the tower and did not have to wait too long, he heard the voice of his paladin in his head.
"Sorgords have been sighted coming in from the north side."
"Fine, deal with it." Kael said.
He looked around as people scampered around, running into places and seeking cover then he saw an irregularity, a tiny figure running away towards the west.