Max reigned in his horse as he and Ansel, who was riding a dark stallion, started to move into a dense area of trees. He steered his own excellent large bay mare going a bit slower than before. Danin had given them two horses to use on their journey. Ansel had guaranteed the horses would be returned or compensated for if return wasn’t possible. They had ridden through the night, and the sun was starting to come up. Max could see it in the trees up ahead. He was hoping they would stop for a rest soon, but Ansel seemed as strong as when they left.

“How far is the place we are going?” asked Max as they entered an area wide enough for Ansel to ride alongside him.

“I’m not sure I remember exactly. I usually travel to Abscon by magic, but I believe no more than four days. It may be less.”

“You do know how to get there this way, don’t you? We won’t get lost?” asked Max.

“I know where we are going, my king. I will not get us lost.”

“Please don’t call me that,” said Max with annoyance. “Call me, Max.”

“You will need to get used to your title. Those who you will meet soon will refer to you as the king.”

“I would prefer it if you would call me Max,”

“Fine, Max. “

The two hadn’t talked much since they had started their journey. Ansel seemed a quiet man, but Max had lots of questions. To this point, he had held them in, not sure how Ansel would take them all, but Max was very tired and thought perhaps some talking would keep him awake.

“So, you can use magic?” asked Max

“Yes,” replied Ansel.

“What can you do with magic? Anything?”

“No, not anything. There are limits and rules. You will learn soon enough.”

“I will try to learn if you want, but I don’t know anything about magic. I can’t use magic.”

“You can and you will,” replied Ansel.

“I never have before. I think at this point I would know if I could use magic. I am 16, if I had magic surely it would show up by now.”

Ansel sighed and patted his horse soothingly. “This is an impressive animal. It’s been a few months since I have been on horseback, but I do enjoy it.”

Max wondered why he was changing the subject, he wanted to know more. “So, you were saying that I can and will use magic. How do you know?”

“It is in your blood and comes with your title. It has been suppressed for so long it might be hard to draw it out, but it is there. It will help when you claim who you truly are. Magic doesn’t like those who don’t know themselves.”

“You talk about it like it is a living thing.”

“It is. Magic is very much alive. We can learn to work with it, but we can never truly control it. We can only trust that it is inside of us and let it guide us. You will have to claim who you truly are at some point, and when you do, I imagine you will be a powerful user of magic.”

Max didn’t know what to say to this. It was all so strange and new. As they rode on, he thought of many comforting things. He thought about being in front of the warm fire in Danin and Nora’s house. He thought of warm bread and butter fresh from Nora’s kitchen. He thought of Issa and the way her soft hand felt in his. He thought about her soft kiss on his cheek. He felt his eyes close as he nodded off for one second before he caught himself as he almost slid off his horse.

Ansel must have seen his slip because he asked, “Are you tired, my king, I mean, Max?”

“Yes,” said Max with a yawn, “and thank you for calling me Max.”

“You should have said something earlier. Let’s find a place to rest for a while. I am used to long periods without sleep, but I should have thought of your comfort.”

“It is fine,” said Max, “but some sleep and a little food and water would be appreciated.”

They found a very small clearing amongst the trees. Max got down slowly from his horse as Ansel dismounted as well. Ansel took the two horses to a small stream nearby and let them drink before he tired them up for the night with plenty of slack so they could eat the grass around them. Next Ansel went around in a circle waving his hands and muttering under his breath.

“What are you doing?” asked Max as he sat down on the ground and ate some bread and cheese Nora had packed for him.

“I’m trying to set up some protective charms around us. I’m trying to make us hard to find, but this has never been something that has come easily to me.” He chuckled lightly. “A protector who is not good at protective charms.”

“Do you expect trouble?” asked Max as he finished his food and pulled out his blanket.

“No, but we need to be careful out here in the open. You are very important, Max whether you believe it or not.”

Max laid on the ground pulling his blanket up over him to warm himself against the cold night. His eyes were heavy with sleep as he heard Ansel rummaging around in his own pack, probably getting food. Max fought sleep for a moment, but he could not win. His eyes closed as the coming dawn surrounded them, and Max was soon fast asleep.

Max didn’t know how long he slept, but he was awoken by a gentle shove by Ansel.

“Max, get up. We’ve got to go,” Ansel whispered.

The sun was high in the sky. Everything was already packed up and the horses were ready to go. Max sat up from under his blanket.

“Is something wrong?” he asked sleepily.

“Shhh,” whispered Ansel. He held out his hand, and Max took it as he got up off the ground. “There are a few men nearby on horses. Look like some soldiers from Aurumist. Probably out patrolling the forest while the sun is still up. I don’t know what they are looking for, but we definitely don’t want to be found by them.”

Max nodded and walked over and mounted his bay mare. Ansel did the same with his dark stallion. Soon they were journeying on, Ansel leading the way. They rode swiftly, sneaking in between trees, Ansel eyes darting all around, always looking for something. Max didn’t dare speak. He just followed Ansel on his horse. All of his weariness was gone, replaced with tension.

They rode on for hours in this quiet unease. The sun was low in the sky when Max thought perhaps the danger had passed because Ansel was looking less tense.

“Do you think the threat has passed? Are the soldiers still around?” asked Max quietly.

“Probably not. I haven’t heard anything in a while, and it will be dark soon. Most non-magical folk don’t like being in the forest after dark. Hopefully, they are finding their way out as we speak. We should keep moving for a while. I don’t think stopping in the open is something we should do again.”

Max wondered what this would mean. Would Ansel want him to ride on for three more days with no rest, no chance to eat or relieve himself? Almost as if Ansel was reading his mind, he spoke on.

“I know a place we can go to rest. It will take a few hours to get there. I hope you are able to make it. We can only take a few short rests until then, but I will feel much better if we can rest for a longer period indoors somewhere.”

“Indoors? Is there a house around her?” asked Max looking around and seeing only trees. “Do folk actually live in the forest?”

“I don’t know if I would use the word house, but yes there are a few dwellings in the forest. Unfortunately, there are even fewer that have owners that I know and trust. It will be a while before we can take a real rest.”

They rode on for a while, taking one short rest to stretch, drink water, and relieve themselves. The silence was getting to Max, and he was curious about where they were going. He didn’t feel comfortable around Ansel as Ansel seemed constantly annoyed and worried. He didn’t seem an easy man to get to know, but eventually Max’s curiosity won out.

“Where are we going? I mean, where will we rest?”

“A tree dwelling of a sorceress I know. She usually lives within the village of Abscon, but she comes out here to work.”

“Hopefully, we are lucky, and she is out here working then and not at home,” said Max.

Max saw Ansel give a little smile, the first he had seen since they had left Clarton.

“Actually, we may be luckier if she is out,” Ansel muttered. “It’s no matter if she is there or not. I can get in if she isn’t in her tree dwelling. It will be a warm safe place to stay for a rest.”

Max didn’t quite know what to say at this. Who was this sorceress they were going to meet? Was he imagining things, or did Ansel seem more fidgety now, like he was unsettled?

“You trust this sorceress?” asked Max.

“Yes, undoubtedly. If she is there, she will keep us safe. She is much better at protection wards and charms than me. If she is not there, her place is hard to find for someone not looking for it.”

“Oh, It just seems like you’re a little nervous,” replied Max. “Like you aren’t really sure about this yourself.”

“I’m sure. Griffa is just, well, she can be a little unsettling. You will see.”

“Griffa?” asked Max.

“Gryphon Keene. She is one of the most powerful sorceress I have ever met.”

“She’s a sorceress?” asked Max. “What does that mean?”

“There are different types of magic users. Griffa is a sorceress. She is a very advanced magic user. Sorcerers and sorceresses usually are. They are very skilled in potion making as well.”

“What other types of magic users are there?” asked Max.

“There are mages. Mages tend to be very good at elemental magic. They can manipulate weather, and things in nature. They are very good with fire and water. Enchanters and Enchantresses are known for persuasive magic. You have to be careful around them. Most magical users are witches or warlocks. They are usually proficient with most magical spells and cruses.”

“What are you?” asked Max

“I’m a little different. I’m a protector. Much of my magic comes from my duty to protect the king or queen of Regventus.”

“So, if I can use magic, do you know what I might be?”

“Not yet,” replied Ansel. “If you are like most of your ancestors, you will be a sorcerer.”

“This sorceress, Griffa, what is she like?” asked Max.

Ansel gave a small chuckled and shook his head slightly.

“She comes from a very powerful magical family. Her family has been very influential with magical folk for many years. Her father was on the Ring of Nine. She should have followed in his stead after his death, but she’s a little different.”

“Different? How?”

Ansel huffed. “Some would call her crazy or untamed, and for magic-folk to say that it means something. She doesn’t like following rules. She has her own ideas for the future, and what we should do.”

“Is she against me? Does she not believe I should be king?” asked Max. He wouldn’t fault her if she did. He didn’t believe it himself.

“She won’t be against you. She will make you earn her trust though. She won’t accept you as king just because the Ring declares it so. She’s not big on prophecy.”

“She doesn’t seem crazy at all. She sounds quite sensible.”

Ansel laughed a little. “Maybe to you, but to magical-folk she is a sort of oddity. Our world is built on history and prophecy. We cling to legends for hope. We look to the Ring and our diviner for the way. Griffa is more about choices, earning your way.”

“Like I said, she sounds quite sensible.”

“Probably her mother’s blood. Her mother was non-magical. She was from one of the villages in The Great Surrounding, I believe. She didn’t last long after Griffa’s birth.”

“How long have you known Griffa?” asked Max.

“I was learning under her father when she was born. I was thirteen and trying to learn potion making. Potions never was my skill, really. I held her the night she was born, and I was there when her mother died. I have known her all her life. I watched over her when her father died. She’s grown now,” said Ansel quietly.

Max thought perhaps Ansel had gotten lost in his own thoughts and forgotten Max was there for a moment.

“She sounds pretty young for a powerful sorceress,” said Max.

“Yes, I suppose she is still considered young, but you would never know it. You’ll see for yourself soon. Watch yourself though, she has a biting tongue, and she won’t hold back.”

Max was a little excited to meet this Griffa. She sounded quite interesting. It would be good to be around someone who didn’t insist he was this king they were looking for. Maybe she could convince Ansel this was madness. It seemed like Ansel knew her very well.

They rode on mostly in silence as darkness started to fall. This deep in the forest, the night seemed even colder than the one before. Max shuddered and was once again dreaming about warm, cozy nights around the fire in his old home. He even thought fondly of nights burrowed in the hay as he nursed a sick horse. He would have loved a hot cup of tea or some warm bread. He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn’t notice that Ansel had stopped riding.

“Max,” Ansel called softly. “Wait a moment.”

Max turned to see Ansel dismounting his horse and cautiously walking in a wide circle, his hands up, ready as if to fight. Max started to dismount himself, but Ansel stopped him.

“No, stay there. If something happens run straight. I will find you.”

Fear and apprehension started to creep out on Max. He felt the hairs stand up on the back of his neck. It wasn’t just Ansel’s words; the air was charged. He felt it, there had been a change around them.

“Ansel, what is it?” asked Max.

“Shh, I think I know. I’m not sure, it’s just….”

“If you’re going to be riding through a dark forest with the king, you should at least attempt some kind of stealth charm,” came a voice full of sarcasm. “Though sadly I think I remember that is not exactly your strength.”

Max saw Ansel’s shoulders drop as his hands went down to his sides. “Gods, Griffa, why do you have to sneak up like that?”

“I didn’t really sneak. You just weren’t being vigilant,” said Griffa as she stepped closer to Ansel and into Max’s view.

It was dark, but Max could almost make out a face and a lot of curly hair. Griffa was clothed in a simple dress and cloak. Max could see that she carried some kind of staff. It was too dark to get a good look.

“Griffa, we need some cover. A place to rest for the night.”

Griffa turned to look at Max, “I see. Well, better come in then. I was out gathering some herbs, but I have all I need.”

Ansel nodded. He didn’t get back on his horse. He brought the reins down so he could lead it. Ansel walked by Griffa’s side and motioned for Max to come.

Max urged his horse forward and hoped it was at least warm, wherever they were going.