Fin stared at the glass door with its wrought black iron frame and handle stunned.

Every Sunday afternoon he had gone to help the botanist of the courtyard glass tower as ordered, and he had always found a sign on the door telling him his services were not needed. Today however, there was no message.

Upon entering the tower slowly, having never set foot in it before, the cook’s jaw immediately dropped.

Plants grew above him as tall as any forest. Some of them spanned the entire height of the tower, which surpassed the highest turret of the castle itself. Trees, and other vegetation thrived in the warm moist environment, and as Fin stepped in further, he saw insects buzzing around massive flower blooms that he had never seen before. When he looked upwards, he saw the multiple rings of open balconies with their wrought iron banisters that climbed up the entire structure. Each floor appeared to carry various different types of plant life.

The glass on the exterior of the tower was opaque, and while Fin had expected pots of dirt and green chutes, and gardening tools, he could have never fathomed its true wonder.

“Hello?” Fin called out, his voice echoing into nothing amongst the deep green leaves.

“Are you Finaly Ashowan?” The response was a male voice that Fin was unable to identify, but seemed to come from somewhere above him. There was something else in the air though… some kind of power…

“I am. I was asked by the King to help for an hour on Sundays.”

“Ugh. Of course. I suppose I’ll use you today.”

Fin turned around fully, but still had no idea of where the voice was coming from.

“This place is incredible. Is that a lemon tree? I’ve only heard about them from-”

A figure thudded to his left while his back was turned, falling from one of the balconies above, Fin only saw the gleam of the blade, but sensed the vast power behind him, and automatically lightning flickered in his eyes.

As he faced off against the mysterious man, Fin found himself staring at a swell of green energy, and vines that moved of their own accord.

As they stared at each other, Fin studied the man at the center of the supernatural activity before him. He appeared to be in his early thirties with ebony skin, long dreadlocks, a cream tunic shirt, tan pants, bare feet, and was crouched down close to the ground with a dagger in his right hand, as though ready to spring into action.

Fin’s lightning began striking down on the ground around them in the face of the obvious magic, but as they locked eyes, every threatening magical movement dissolved between the two men.

“You’re a witch.” The mysterious botanist announced, his tone indicating respect.

“I am. As are you. An Earth witch I take it.” Fin replied standing straighter, and feeling himself become more wary.

The two men evaluated one another for a moment.

“A fire witch?” The botanist asked, his face a mask of tension.

“No. I’m a House Witch.”

The botanist wore a strange distant smiled as he studied Fin.

“You are one of the chosen.”

“Pardon?”

The botanist straightened and cracked his neck by first rotating it to the right, then the left.

“In my culture, we are of the belief that what Daxarian people call ‘mutant’ witches, have come into existence due to the evolution of society, and its changing needs. We call these pioneers; the chosen ones. Witches are the ones responsible in maintaining balance in the world between nature, and people. Although now, there is more to it, especially as some traitors of our kind seek to destroy the balance. ”

“… I guess that is better than being called a deficient witch.” Fin managed slowly. The botanist’s power was palatable, and while his dark eyes seemed to glow, there was something wise about him.

“I have heard that is how most of your people in Daxaria think of your kind. However, back in my homeland, it is a very different story.”

Fin could feel the immense power flowing from the man, and couldn’t help but feel curious…

“How did you end up here?” He asked while glancing around the impressive glass tower.

“A merchant tried to sell me to the King.”

“Tried?”

“If you have met our ruler even once, you will know he does not ever accept slavery. The idiot was hung for his slave trading, and as a result, I offered my expertise to his majesty.”

“He knows you’re a witch?!”

“No. I have kept that hidden during my fifteen years here. When I was captured and delivered here, I had been heavily drugged, so my abilities have not ever been apparent.”

Fin felt ashamed. He had barely lasted a month before being discovered…

“You aren’t friends with Mage Lee are you?”

“The overpaid man who is more qualified to be an actor than a ‘magician’?”

Fin let out a sigh of relief.

“Oh thank the Goddess. My name is Finlay Ashowan.”

“Ashowan? Are you related to the great Katherine Ashowan?”

“She’s my mother, and you are?” Fin redirected the conversation pointedly.

“Please call me Kasim. Tell me please, is it true you are the sole child of a mutated witch and a pure fire witch?”

The cook wanted to be sick. He liked the man in front of him already... but he hated hearing his history recounted. Especially given how the details were often smudged.

“It is.” He managed shortly, his voice hoarse as he tried to strategize how to end the conversation regarding his parentage.

“What is a House Witch exactly?” Kasim queried instead, his awe undisguised, which made Fin feel all the more discomforted.

“I…I…” He began clenching and unclenching his hands. He could hear the taunting of his peers from times past, could hear the ridiculing of the children on the Island…

His cheeks burned, and his shoulders hunched. He had come this far to avoid this kind of relationship.

“I would prefer to keep it private.”

The botanist stared at him skeptically.

“You act ashamed friend. Why is that?” Kasim pondered while inching closer.

“Please, I do not want to talk about that. The King assigned me as your aide, how can I help?”

Kasim continued to stare at him gravely, assessing the slightly younger man before him.

“Why are you embarrassed as a chosen one?”

Fin could’ve cursed. The man was just not letting it go!

“I am not very powerful. Why are we dwelling on it?”

Kasim laughed, a hearty boom of a sound.

“Finlay, I felt the small burst of your ability, you are not a weak witch.”

He didn’t know why, but those simple words, choked Fin.

“I am. I can only do things to promote peace.”

“You think that is weakness?! Countries go to war not because they are strong, but because they are weak! Peace is strength, Finlay. You are far stronger than you know. I feel it. I feel it in my chest, and in my belly,” Kasim pounded his stomach with a firm fist. “Just as I feel my son, and daughter will be fortunate. I feel you will have a great destiny, and I am never wrong. I feel the Earth in its slow but strong movements everyday, and I know when it will shift for greatness.”

Fin didn’t trust his new friend’s words. Didn’t trust the alleged ‘destiny’ forecasted for him. The cook knew all he was, was a peasant. A peasant that was a copper a dozen, with a skill for food, but no bearing on the land, and that was okay. To be normal, was a greater wish than many knew.

“Come, you will help me with the lemon trees today.” Kasim had at long last decided to move on from the discussion as he strode forward confidently, while beckoning Fin with his index finger.

“Believe it or not, somehow you are not the craziest person in this castle.” Fin called out as he slowly snapped out of the stiffness of shock.

Kasim only laughed.

***

Annika remained on her knees before the King and Queen of Daxaria as she gave them her report. They were in the King’s bed chamber, with the noble couple standing with their backs to the windows as Annika knelt and informed them of what was to come.

“You are absolutely certain that it is fifty thousand soldiers?” The King inquired while attempting to keep his voice level.

“Yes your majesty. According to my brother, this has been in the works for more than a year.”

“Why is it we have not heard of it sooner?” The Queen demanded.

“It is my guess that they trained these soldiers in several smaller groups throughout the land to not raise warning signs.” Annika kept herself bowed to the couple.

“Can we manage this war in your opinion, without Zinfera?”

Annika raised her eyes only slightly.

“Over preparedness is better than under preparedness.” She worded delicately.

“In other words; you believe our armies ineffective against them?”

“That is not what I said.” Annika remarked while bowing her head even closer to the floor before continuing.

“Troivackian’s will slaughter whatever stands in their way. They are remarkable soldiers, and will not delay in their pursuit of what they want. Your majesty’s propensity for fairness and kindness will be used against him, so we will need a remarkable strategy.” She raised her head slightly to gaze upon the King and her friend. “Sadly, we do not know at which port they will first attack, nor the extent of power they wield through their witches.”

“We can rule out Sorlia City as it is on the West side of our continent, and there is no way we wouldn’t notice war ships entering their waters. Rollom is too far from the castle in the South, not to mention navigating through the Islands would be difficult. It is far more likely that they will attack Xava or Austice to wage war first.” The Queen reasoned aloud.

The King stroked his beard thoughtfully.

“We need Zinferans to cover Rollom, and Xava, while we focus sixty percent of our military on Austice. The remainder should watch Sorlia just in case.” Annika announced confidently.

Both the King and Queen shared an uncertain look.

“That is relying heavily on the Zinferans. We are asking them to defend two out of four port cities.”

“With all due respect your majesties, my bet would be that the Troivackian King is too impatient to wait for ships to reach Sorlia, and while he may land a few ships in Rollom, he will focus his attack on Xava and Austice in order to capture your majesty and his castle.”

The King didn’t dare look at his wife, he couldn’t bear it.

“Lady Jenoure, are you aware of what joining an alliance with Zinfera will cost?”

“Increased percentage of trades, your highness?”

“Yes, and marriage contracts,”

The Lady stiffened.

“We have a deal your majesty.”

“I’m aware Annika. We either convince Lady Marigold to a marriage with a Zinferan, or you. They have two suitors they would like you to meet with.”

Norman did his best to ignore the way his wife nervously gripped her hands over the bump of her belly. He knew there was no avoiding what needed to be said and done, but it didn’t make the heartbreak any easier.

“I see…”

Annika didn’t know why, but the annoying face of Finlay Ashowan flashed through her mind. The way he had leaned forward and smiled at her in the darkness of the rose maze burned in her mind. Then there was the magical charge she had felt when he had been inches from her body in the King’s chamber…

“Annika?” The Queen’s voice broke through her distracted thoughts.

“I will go through the official marriage offers for the most advantageous choice. Wasn’t the prince planning on throwing a ball?” Annika knew she was grasping at straws but she needed time to think.

“He is, yes.”

“Perhaps using the prince’s birthday, I field the offers of the various suitors. It could be a masquerade, and I could see for myself without the suitors knowing it is me, which of them would be the best possible choice for the Kingdom, and myself.”

The King and Queen shared another telling look.

“You are aware the flood of… noble births that follow masquerades yes?”

“More noble births are a happy added consequence to my finding an advantageous marriage partner in time for the war, no?” Annika countered while feigning unawareness that the King was worried about the amount of bastards that were often conceived at such events.

The Queen glanced at her husband, clearly stressed. She didn’t like this one bit, but they had no choice.

Lady Marigold was a spoiled brat, and even if they forced her to marry, the odds were that she would insult her groom’s family so severely that a whole other war would break out as a result.

“It is decided. As of the masquerade, you will decide who you will marry.”

“Not publically, but to his majesty.” Annika clarified carefully.

“Of course!” Ainsley exclaimed while earning a cautious expression from her husband.

“Annika, I know this is hard, but if there is anyone that could make you happy, please let us know.” The Queen encouraged regardless of the King’s apprehensive glances.

The Lady stood, and immediately dipped into a graceful curtsey.

“I told you when Hank died your highness, there is little chance I will find luck in love again. I only wish to better serve the Kingdom.”

“Thank you Lady Jenoure, you are excused.” The King had an odd emotion on his face as he stared at the woman, and he continued to have an unreadable air as she exited their chambers.

“Please Norman… Please don’t force her into a loveless marriage.” Ainsley begged. The Queen knew she was being idealistic, and that she shouldn’t have such lofty hopes. Yet she couldn’t give up on the idea that her most treasured friend could find her own happiness.

“Whatever is meant to happen my dear, will happen. We must simply accept what comes. However, if I have learned anything about Annika, it is that things will go in her favor if she has any say in it.”

***

Fin was in the midst of preparing dinner, and was enjoying being able to use his magic without restrictions as his aides remained outside washing dishes.

Everything was just about set, when out of the corner of his eye. He noticed a dinner roll slowly inching off the table.

When he snapped his head to see what was happening, saw Kraken with a dinner roll larger than his head in his mouth.

“KRAKEN! GET BACK HERE! SON OF A-” The garden door opened then, and in stepped a young man with long blonde hair that was tied back, and bright blue eyes wearing gray robes, and carried a thick stick in his hanmd that had a crystal embedded in its top.

“-Mage?”

“Hello, my name is Keith. I am the son of Mage Lee, where might I find him?” Fin blinked several times. The theft of the dinner roll long forgotten as he stared at the young man before him.

“I will need more proof than that before I give you detailed information.” Fin announced despite not having a shred of a doubt that the young man in front of him was who he said he was. The eyes were the same as mage Lee’s, and he was very obviously trying to appear ‘mysterious’, and ‘magical’.

Fin already didn’t like him.

“Very well. Send for him. While I wait, I will have a cup of water, and a tankard of ale. Your finest meat I expect as a side dish.”

Fin stared at Keith blankly as he entered the kitchen, and sat in one of the chairs in front of his table.

“Only authorized personnel can sit there. You can wait in the garden until I hear that you are who you say you are.”

“Come now, as a servant you should show proper etiquette for esteemed guests.”

“Go to the front gates and ask the guards then.” Fin resumed cooking while waiting for the massive pain in the ass to leave.

The young man sighed as he rose, and drew his stick with a rock out of his pocket.

Fin gave him a flat expression, and a large sigh.

“Alright kiddo, are you about to draw fire on a civilian in the King’s own castle?” Fin’s lazy tone only aggravated the young man further.

“Cook, there is no need to be stressed by my greatness. As a prodigy of my craft, I make a point of being more understanding of lesser beings, I was merely going to alert my father myself that I have arrived.”

‘…A prodigy of what ? Being conceived and born? Because I cannot fathom how a woman was attracted to you father as a mage…’

“As a child of two mages, I have the natural inclination to-”

“-Make long-winded speeches that go no where, yes I’m aware. Either wait outside, or go speak to the guards at the front.” Fin chopped his blade over the bundle of herbs on his table loudly.

‘Child of two mages…. I never thought I would have to live to see the day… Do I want to keep living now that I know such a creature exist?’

“Look, you don’t need to feel timid in my presence. I know what you’re thinking.”

The cook paused his intense chopping of herbs.

“You’re thinking you would have never lived to see the day where two mages produced another one of their kind.” Keith sighed knowingly.

The witch looked at the young man alarmed. Had the mages learned how to read minds? He knew they were a blasphemous people but to go so far-

“I know that I can be intimidating, but you don’t need to chase me away because you’re afraid. I promise, if you gain the privilege of meeting my father, you will see we do not harm innocent people.”

The cook’s deadened expressionless gaze, made Keith shake his head in a way that was both an attempt to be humble, and slight ridiculing of the plebe before him.

“Tell me, how old are you?” Fin demanded as he put his knife down, and placed his hands on his hips, his expression hard.

“Ahh, trying to humanize me as a performance of the archaic show of dominance through age. Either way, my age of twenty four has no bearing on- what are you doing?”

Fin had rounded his cooking table, pinned Keith’s shoulders to his sides, making his wand clatter to the floor, and began ushering him backwards out of the kitchen.

“If you are twenty four then that means you have one more year to complete your mage studies at least, which means you are prohibited from using your magic outside of school unless under the supervision of a recognized mage by the Academy of Willton. Just wanted to check that you were powerless to stop me escorting you out.” Fin’s steady stream of explanation didn’t falter while the young man balked at being physically removed from the kitchen.

When they reached the threshold of the garden door, Keith tripped backwards and landed flat on his back.

“Go around the castle until you reach the big doors. That’s the entrance. And take your stick with you.” The wand landed firmly on the mage’s chest from within the kitchen. Then without any hesitation, the door closed in the young man’s face as he sat up.

While spluttering on the ground, three massive men appeared over him. Keith visibly shrank back as the newcomers, whom were clearly all hardened Knights, as they all carried….

Peeled vegetables?

“You annoyed the cook didn’t you?” One of the men with deep blue eyes and blonde hair stated more than asked.

None of them seem at all surprised or interested in the stranger on the ground, and instead carried on their way entering the kitchen. They didn’t even pause when they stepped over him, and closed the door firmly behind themselves.

“I suppose he was a little too intimidated by me… mother did say this would happen. Uneducated folk resort to violence so quickly when faced with an unknown great power…” Keith stood and dusted off his robes. “I will just have to help him understand.” He sighed, and redirected himself to the front doors. He would ask his father perhaps on some pointers to help educate the rude cook.