The Stolen Artifact

It was weird, Queen Dorothy thought. The avengers came into the ballroom to attack but who was their main target? Most of them had already left the ballroom but they were not in any harm. The only battle going on was inside the ballroom. Dorothy became more afraid as the thought of King Henry being the next target disturbed her mind.

'Darleen, please watch over the children, can you?' Dorothy said, feeling very worried.

'Of course Dorothy' Princess Darleen replied. Dorothy went back inside to join the fight. The battle went on for the next few minutes. There were casualties. Soldiers got injured by the avengers' strong magic. Fortunately, no one died. It was like the avengers had some sort of secret powers that only they could hear, like someone calling them. Because immediately, they all stopped the magic and retreated out of the ballroom very quickly. King Henry and some of his guards went to chase them but they were very quick. They went back out of the castle. And just like how they always came, the same way they transformed back into bird-forms and flew into the sky.

'What was that for?!' Queen Dorothy asked, feeling very annoyed that the celebration that was going very well was disrupted.

'That was most probably a diversion, your majesty' Master Mousy said, still observing Master Widow very closely.

'A diversion for what?' Lord Adam asked.

'Perhaps is there, or, are there something valuable to the eyes of the enemy?' Mousy said. King Henry immediately rushed to the right wing hallway upon realising Mousy's point. A few of the king's guards including Bobby and Lord Adam followed. At the centre of the hallway, onto the left, a stairway leads downward, where the dungeons, treasure rooms and huge empty spaces are. The nearest door to the stairway was a strong defensive blockage to unauthorised persons, guarded with enchantments. But it was broken. Someone broke in. Inside was another metal door that was guarded by two soldiers who were now unconscious on the floor. The metal door has a huge hole in it, like it was blasted with dark magic. Henry rushed inside. The octagonal room was like a small vault, full of treasures, jewels, rare items, and sacred items. In the centre was a small stand with nothing on top. A glass case lay unstable on the floor.

'Those rebels are up to something big' Henry exclaimed in frustration. The rest looked at him and at what he was looking at. Bobby's expression became shocked as well. He knelt down on one knee in front of the case to pick it up.

'They have been ignoring Majuza's amulet for a long time, what for, are they needing it now?' Lord Adam said.

Queen Dorothy, Masters Mousy, Widow and Kitty arrived through the door. Dorothy also had the same expression. So did the masters. The object that is missing is a very precious artifact. It is not as important to them as it is to the avengers but it is very important for them to keep it away from the enemy. Majuza's amulet was one of her own deadly weapons, both for attack and defense. A weapon she crafted herself through the years she spent in The Valley of Sorrows, formerly known as The Valley of Dreams. The amulet held a very special place among Majuza's precious objects, that before she died, she sealed the powers in the amulet and enchanted that no one can unseal the powers within except by someone as similar to her in abilities and the person must be of royal blood, a direct descendant from Combi.

'I know what they're up to' Henry said.

'Your majesty!' Mousy exclaimed, almost cutting his last words. She was struggling to choose her words properly. 'The guests first'

'Yes! That first, thank you Mousy' Henry rushed back outside.

Mousy breathed out calmly, glad that nothing was awkward or strange. She did that on purpose. One purpose alone. Master Widow cannot hear and find out whatever knowledge the king has on the enemy. Because she already believe hundred percent whatever Prince Edward's suspicion was, is true.

Everyone except Bobby and the few king's guards, who stayed to clean the mess up, proceeded back to the ballroom. All the guests were still hanging around outside, no longer in fear since they saw the fight inside had stopped. Instead they were busy looking through the windows, very curious to know what's going on or what had just happened. King Henry went through the garden entrance and addressed his guests. He told them that the celebration was over but everything was fine and they need not worry about anything. The guests listened obediently. Some were reluctant at first, they had such a good time before they were interrupted. But they all just left with their mind still curious, questioning themselves a lot about the incident. Sooner or later, word will spread about the disaster that happened at the princess' birthday celebration.

The royals went back to their respective cities and kingdoms, except royals of White Shore, and Princess Darleen who volunteered to help King Henry regarding the crime.

The next two days went by very slowly. King Henry led a group of masters and some of his men to investigate the matter of the stolen amulet. Everyone else resumed their daily activities as per normal. A lot was going on in many of their minds, but they cannot keep on entertaining those thoughts. Everyone has to move on. Prince Edward's lessons at the castle also resume the day after the incident. Henry had told him that Master Widow will be taking over his lessons with Master Jackenzie. Edward was shocked. He tried to convince his father that that was not a good idea.

'Father, please. I don't mind anyone else but please don't let Master Widow teach me' Edward said.

'I'm sorry Edward, I'm too busy at the moment. A lot of meetings to conduct, a lot of matters to discuss. I don't have much time to talk longer. But what's wrong with Master Widow?'

'I… I don't trust her' Edward tried to find a valid reason that does not give away his suspicions. The moment his father takes his theory into consideration, Master Widow would be more careful and tends to not expose herself as a threat.

'Why not? Master Widow is the most senior SHAW master we have. She's the mother of your previous master. I don't see any valid reason why she should not be your master' the king said. 'I know you are still sad by Master Jackenzie's leave, I'm sad too Edward. But you can't let that emotion take over you. The mind has to be strong. Be a good boy, listen to your new master, lessons start tomorrow. I love you'

Henry kissed his son's forehead and walked away.

Edward's lessons continued. Master Mousy's SHAW lesson was the first in the morning. Then came Master Kitty's Common Magic in the afternoon. Bobby's Sword Fighting was late afternoon. And Advanced Magic was in the evening with Master Widow. The lesson was as normal as it was supposed to be with Master Jackenzie. Widow was not so different from her son in the ways they teach. For the whole lesson, Edward kept forgetting that Widow was the enemy. The lesson ended well with Widow complementing Edward before he made his way briskly back to his chamber. He did not stop for even a short moment to realise that Widow was not leaving the castle as how all SHAW masters did after every lesson (to get back home and change before starting another activity even if the activity is at the place where they are now). With her long black dress and headscarf, she dragged them with her into the castle.

At the main entrance, Master Mousy had just reached the main doors. She was there for a meeting with King Henry regarding the stolen artifact. The royal guards greeted her and opened the doors. Mousy stumbled upon the old master in the main hallway.

'Master Widow! You are still in the same dress since morning?' Master Mousy exclaimed, not actually surprised. She already believed Edward's theory and always knew something was up whenever she stumbled upon Widow.

'What's wrong with that?' Master Widow asked innocently, like the question was the most ridiculous thing she had ever heard.

'Usually human masters go home after lessons to change before anything else. Especially you, but you are still in the same dress now even after your lesson with Edward'

'Why must I be the same all the time? And can't I be early for the meeting?'

'The meeting doesn't start until half an hour later. Your house is just down the street after the castle gates, you have plenty of time to go and come back and given the powerful magic you have you have more than plenty'

Mousy noticed Widow's expression changed. She clenched her fists from under the long sleeve dress. Mousy was getting on her nerves.

'You don't decide for me Mousy. I am your head and you're disrespecting me. I have the choice to do whatever I want. Excuse me' Widow said calmly and continued walking to the other side of the castle.

'I have my choice as well' Mousy muttered to herself. She wasn't satisfied with Widow's response. She followed her secretly. Widow scuttled with intent. Like she knows what she was looking for. But if it was the meeting room, it is on another side of the castle. Widow knocked and entered a chamber when there was no reply. It was Princess Erieka's. The doors closed immediately afterwards.

'What is she doing in there?' Mousy's curiosity was bothering her. She partially closed her eyes as she shrunk to a smaller size, like the size of a piece of cake. She pushed the door open with a little extra force and magic for the knob since it's impossible for her to reach it now that her size is that small. Trying her best as possible to not waste her energy to be invisible but just hide from Widow's sight. The princess was not in the chamber. Probably somewhere else in the castle with the queen. Widow did not care for the crib. She went to the window, opened it for a while then closed it back. And then she left. Mousy was confused. What was Widow intending to do? What was all that for? Mousy went out to continue following her after a few seconds. But Widow was nowhere to be seen. Like she had suddenly vanished. Mousy grew back to her normal size. Suddenly, a glowing translucent sphere of energy appeared around her. The sphere rose bringing Mousy along with it. Mousy tried to break it but it won't obey her powers. A lady suddenly appeared in front of her. All black, controlling the sphere. Grinning at her was Master Widow.

'Spying on me Mousy? You do not understand my instructions to not bother me. I purposely came here not for any particular reason but to catch you in the act I thought you would do and you proved me right. You went against my command. And I don't like it' Widow said with emphasis on the last part.

'I knew you were up to something. You are an avenger!' Mousy shouted. But her voice only sounded like normal volume from outside the sphere.

'Now that's a harsh accusation Mousy. You are a master, you should be smarter than that' Widow said in a teasing way. 'Out of curiosity, who else has been spying on me?'

'No one!'

Widow took a good long look at her before deciding that she was most probably telling the truth.

'You have satisfactory powers Mousy. Only satisfactory because you are obviously incomparable with me. You can't even break out of my energy sphere'

'Let me go you old stick' Mousy said with controlled anger.

'You shall not see the light of true land until my mission is over. To the other dimension you will go, alive not dead because you are no use to me either way. But you are certainly useful to the royals by being here. Indeed, my powers are greater than you, with that, I am confident in this curse to be obliged. I seek your permission Lord Grindel of The Northern Kingdom, protector of Forges of Beasts, keeper of beasts and curses. Approve my wish accordingly with its condition, with the price of sparing this animal's life' Widow spoke with intense energy. Her voice changed a little. Her black eyes glowed and black fog spun slowly around her controlling hand. Mousy had never seen such magic before. She heard of curses but never thought that it works. The fog grew thicker and began to spin around the sphere. It passed through the layer and spun around Mousy. Silently, Mousy vanished together with the sphere and the fog. Everything else went back to normal. Widow smiled, a wide evil smile.