Chapter 7

"Take care of yourself and the house, Arba" Mama was saying to her, being the last to leave the house. "Lock all doors and windows, don't answer any stranger or open for anyone who isn't us, do you hear me?"

"Yes, mama" Arba replied. Every time they had to leave her home, Mama always gave the same instructions, she didn't even need to hear her to know was she was saying.

"Love you, my dear" Mama gave her a brief solid hug before turning to go enter the last of the three carriages that would be conveying her family to the ball. She waved back as they waved at her. Once they drove out the short wooden front gates, she bolted inside and locked the door. Time to attend her first ball.

She hurriedly dressed, tying the strings of the complex ball gown that once belonged to her mom was a bit difficult without someone to help her but she managed. Then she wore her shoes, styled her hair in a simple style and left the golden tresses flow down her back. Finally, she put on her mask, that consisted mainly of simple black lining material and some blue embroidery to match her blue dress. And she dashed out the back door, straight to the stables to go mount the black mare she had earlier prepped.

Arba never felt more free than when she rode on the horse, with the animal picking speed causing her hair to be wildly blown by the wind. In retrospect, she probably should have not let her hair down knowing she is going on horseback. It wasn't until she caught sight of her family's passably presentable carriages down the road, not so far ahead, did she slow her horse.

And then again, she was grateful she learnt horse riding from Erc all those years ago, else by what other means would she have gone.

~.~

The Royal family had finally arrived the town manor, the ball had already begun. They were announced in and seated in the area reserved for them. Caleb wasn't interested in any other thing ongoing as his eyes searched for a certain young woman.

Queen Arsila felt something was going to happen tonight, she didn't need to have the gift of sight like her daughter to have sharp intuition. She felt it in her bones, and somehow feared her daughter would be involved. Speaking of which, she knew her daughter was keeping something from her, no matter how discreet she thought she was being, which is totally unlike Morgetha. She has been hoping she would come to her herself, but she is yet to. She may have to question her some time later tonight.

Morgetha looked and felt extremely bored, being completely oblivious to the fact that the Queen had been observing her with her side view, since her little semi-episode on the steps of the town manor, almost half an hour earlier. She had had another vision about the purple eyed woman, the message of the vision remains unclear, although, this time she saw something else, a symbol. A symbol that represented the Magus, a powerful order of witches and sorcerers. She still didn't know what to tell mother, maybe later tonight she would tell her all she saw and they would be able to piece its meaning together. For now, she was extremely bored watching local townspeople dance around.

Dorge and the King had no worries and were completely oblivious to their family members who seemed to be here in body alone. They danced and laughed along with the towns people, drinking the town's best wine offered to them, which both ladies in their family found disgusting to say the least. Queen Arsila generally regarded her husband with disgust especially when he did things she considered beneath his status and totally contrary to what she expects of him, like how he behaved at the moment.

Arsila looked at the man she had married solely for the power, to be able to rule the land through him, but he turned out more strong-headed than she had thought, now he just annoys her. It seems he has outlived his usefulness to her, if he ever even was, maybe she should just be rid of him already. Or maybe there were reasons why she hasn't ended the king yet, he did give her wonderful children after all; her Caleb who would be the greatest king Korey has ever had (she would make sure of it), and her lovely Morgetha whose powers has helped her squash her enemies continually. Oh yes and Dorge too, although that one is too much like his father.

Also by marrying the king, she achieved a feat no other sorceress has ever achieved, making her order, the Magus, even more powerful and she have successfully been able to stop the killing of her kind in the kingdom and others around.

Caleb bolted upright when he noticed Arba's brothers entering the ball room from where he sat high in the royal sector. Then he begins searching for her in the crowd, frantically with his eyes, not having care for who may notice him or how he may look.

"What on earth are you searching, ever so frantically for, Caleb?" Morgetha asked, bringing her mouth closer to his ears.

"Nothing" he vaguely answered, righting his position, disappointed he didn't find her.

"I don't see h…" Morgetha was saying before she stopped abruptly as she felt something sharp within her. The purple eyed girl is here; she just knew that was the cause of the sensation, why it affected her so, she had no idea.

"Morgetha! What is it?" Caleb asked alarmed, as he held her shoulders. The Queen's attention was now on them, mostly Morgetha.

"Morgetha?" Arsila called her daughter, "What is the matter?"

"I am fine, mother" she replied, recovering as quickly as it came.

"Come with me" Arsila said to her already rising up to go out the back. Morgetha knowing she had been caught followed her without a word, as she sought a secluded place they could discuss.

~.~

Arba had just arrived at the ball, extremely happy with herself that her plan had been successful. There just seemed to be one problem now though as nobody else, it seemed, was wearing a mask. She would look rather odd if she entered with her mask. She just stood outside by a corner thinking what next to do.

Through the glass windows of the manor she looked in, observing her brothers and her parents as they danced gaily. Mama, however, would trail off for some seconds as if in thought and would look sad, then regain composure when Pa would whisper something to her. Arba thought Mama was probably thinking about how she was home alone, whereas her daughter is here watching her dance.

She looked away from them and began looking around, searching for the handsome young man for who she had come, Caleb. She couldn't find him, she felt disappointed, maybe he hadn't come after all. Then she risked a look at the area reserved for the royal family at the front of the hall, she gasped at what she saw. There in the royal sector, all seats were empty save for one, that one which was occupied by Caleb. He couldn't be the king for she had earlier seen the king in all his regalia boogying it down on the dance floor. Then there is only one option left, he must be the Prince or a Prince, she didn't know how many sons the king had.

Unbelievable!

No wonder he had not said his last name, for fear that they might catch on and all his vague answers too. Why would he hide that he is a prince, to what end? Arba could not provide a sufficient answer to this. And then she suddenly realized that she had spoken to a Prince. The first person, she had ever spoken to, other than her family is a prince! They had chatted, laughed, she even helped him! If she never come out after tonight, her life is fulfilled. She had spoken to a Prince!

She giggled happily, she couldn't get over it, how could she? When the only break she ever got from her boring life before now, was once when the animals broke free on the farm and they had to round them up back, ended up searching for three very stubborn ones for about three days; and now, in just one day that had been paled against the charms of a handsome Prince and the first ball she had ever attended in her life. No one could so easily get over that, surely.

The evening is already turning out pretty interesting. Now, how to get inside and talk to the Prince, Caleb, who knows they may even get to dance. She better act fast though, for her family may not stay long and she has to reach home before them.

She just imagined the Prince coming out to meet her, sort of willing him to do so with her mind, as she may not be able to go in to meet him, she felt a soft breeze around her and the next thing she saw him leaving his seat. "No, no" she softly said against the glass, for she feared he was leaving.

Her fears were soon assuaged, for the next minute he had walked outside and by some miracle found his way straight to her.