Sigrid put her hands on her waist and she scorned in disbelief. "Are you accusing me of something? I cannot believe this."
King Raff scorned as well. "Well you better believe it. Do you think that I am not aware that these awakening potions secretly passing around on this estate were your idea? The mages are selling them at very steep fees to nobles, of course word reached my ears.
Mauve Rosewood was not a mage until you got your hands on her. You must have given her hat awakening potion and now because of you she was quite heroic and outstanding in that rescue effort at the mine. Firron is practically drooling, look at him he is slobbering all over her like one of Roland’s mutts discovering roasted meat for the first time."
"They don’t slobber." Roland mentioned.
His defense of his dogs earned him glares from both the king and Sigrid. The way they looked at him forced him to shut up and continue standing aside like a spectator while they argued.
"His dogs don’t slobber." Sigrid said. "Maybe Sunny does but it was only when he discovered peanut butter for he first time in his life."
"Don’t talk to me about the stupid dogs." The king rapidly fired off even more furious than before. "I want to talk about the Rosewood girl. Get rid of her, keep her as far away from Firron as possible. If he likes mages, make Thalassa a mage."
"Huh!" Sigrid laughed in disbelief. "You cannot make someone a mage. Even with the awakening potion, one needs to have the gift in their blood. The potion simply facilitates an awakening."
"Then find a miracle herb that will awaken her, I don’t care because there is so much resting on this union. All I want is Thalassa as a mage and Firron’s wife." He lowered at her, his eyes promising wrath and pain on her. "Do it or else..." He stormed off after making that warning.
Sigrid could not believe her ears. The disbelief was so much that she snorted and followed it up with a contemptuous smile. "Ha! or else what?" She raised her foot and kicked the air, hissing at the king’s retreating back.
Her angry eyes turned to Roland.
"My father’s words and actions are not my doing. We have established this Sigrid, I am an independent being." He said, immediately.
His panther Void made an entrance, landing on Roland’s shoulder. She showed up of nowhere, on his mouth were crumbs, signs that she had eaten something.
Sigrid had a feeling that the cat had stolen from the Lord mage’s stash of snacks. But that was not the problem which she had presently.
"What does your father mean by or else?" she quizzed her husband.
"I don’t know and I don’t think that I would like to find out." He answered. "Just hide Mauve away for a while and stuff as many awakening potions as you can down Thalassa’s throat. My father doesn’t seem to know that the powers and strength of every mage differ. Just because Thalassa awakens magic does not mean that she will be as great as it as Mauve."
"I don’t think he cares about that." She sighed tiredly. Awakening magic in Mauve was not a challenge to her, she had access to the bank so she could do what the king desired in a heartbeat. What was annoying was being ordered to do it under threat. "Let’s go and play the sheep coaxing game and go home, to The Vale."
It was already evening, after all the excitement of the morning, the day was going to wrapped up with a sheep coaxing duel between the Eldorian royal family and the visiting royals of Solandor and their advisors. Some of their knights too were going to participate in the game to make up the numbers.
The king had taken the game so seriously that he had asked his red knights to scour the capital and neighboring cities for the most notorious sheep, known for their stubbornness.
These sheep were in a pen that had been set up in the center of the grassy meadow on the estate. Mages, workers on the estate and some nobles that had been invited were excitedly showing their side for the different sides.
The game, which was being televised was being promoted as a celebration of diplomacy and camaraderie. Nevertheless, the participants were in a competitive mood because each royal house wanted to outdo the other.
The first round was between the king and Prince Firron. King Raff stood at the designated point on the meadow and the sheep pen was opened. He had some magical clover in his hands that he was waving.
"Come on," he bellowed.
The sheep, which were known for their obstinacy merely stared at him and then started munching on the grass below their hooves.
The Solandorians broke into laughter and then Firron got his turn. He used a whistle and used magic to float the grass in the air. One of the sheep was curious, it walked close but half way to him, it stopped and wandered in the opposite direction. His efforts earned laughter from the spectators.
All around Eldoria, those that were watching the game were giving opinions on what the players should do to coax sheep their way. They fantasized about how they would attain victory had they been at the venue.
After Prince Firron, Roland and Eron were up next. Roland put his panther on the ground, it released a menacing aura and the sheep started to run as a result of fright. Two ended up running Roland’s way and he swooped them up.
"That is cheating." Eron whined.
Roland put the sheep down and shrugged. "My familiar is an extension of myself, it is not cheating."
Eron scoffed. He decided to be unconventional as well breaking off into a song and dance. That was not enough, he somersaulted and clapped. Three sheep were mesmerized. Slowly, they ambled toward him.
The score was two to three. Eldoria was two and Solandor three.
Sigrid was next, she strode forward with confidence and spread he arms out after sighing. "Bring it in." she said.
The sheep that was the most notorious, a mean grumpy large sheep named Sir Cranky was the first to run her way. It was trailed by all ten sheep and they threw themselves at Sigrid as if she was their mother.
"Sir Cranky, she got Sir Cranky, those are fifty points." A knight bellowed.
Eldorian’s screamed crazily, Mauve shook her head in disbelief and the Solandorian’s realized that they would not be winning this battle. Nevertheless, they would keep fighting until the very last man.
The match ended in the Eldorian’s favor thanks to Sigrid and Sir Cranky. The citizens had a lot to discuss, the king’s dark face when he failed, Sigrid’s unexpected twist, Roland using a familiar, Prince Eron’s dance moves and Princess Elarin’s cooing while calling the sheep babies and dears.