Inktober Day 29: Massive

 Chapter 24

Magda could hardly believe her ears, for the voice she heard was familiar, but deeper, louder, and more terrifying than she remembered.

“Kandra!” it bellowed. The gurgling voice of Kandra’s master echoed in the surrounding forest, and shook even the floor Magda stood upon.

Kandra’s face betrayed true fear at that moment. Magda could only be pleased for a second before she remembered that she was also in peril at the arrival of the demon. Kandra brow furrowed and she looked this way and that before turning to look down at her master below. But she need not have done so, for at that very moment, a massive swell of water from the lake bore Magan to the top of the tower on which they stood. Magda could only stare as Magan’s enormous body balanced on the edge of the battlements. She gasped when she saw to her horror, that he had brought with him two people bound and gagged, sopping wet and kneeling on the floor of the tower.

Mother. Father.

Magda’s parents recovered from their watery trip and found Magda’s gaze. Tears welled in Magda’s eyes as she looked at her parents. She had not looked on them in days and she choked back a sob at the pity in their eyes.

“M-master,” Kandra stuttered, looking  up at Magan.

“I see you have been busy, dear Kandra,” he said. He stepped heavily down from the wall and Magda felt the ground shake once again. It was a wonder the floor could hold him. “I applaud your initiative at retrieving my prize.” He took a step toward her and she inched backward. “I only wonder why you take it upon yourself to wear such a valuable treasure, which you know well belongs to me.”

“I was-” Kandra started.

“Spare me, worm,” Magan said with a flick of his hand. He took another step toward her. “I know what you’re playing at. You think there was not a reason I did not tell you of the circlet before? You think I would have trusted you not to take it for yourself?”

“Master-” Again, Kandra tried to speak, but Magan would not allow it.

“You are mistaken, however, to think you can ever truly wield such a power. You see, the king and queen have been most helpful in informing me of exactly how this power works. Without the power of loyalty to one’s king, this token will never serve you. Without any obligation to those who are above you, you cannot hope to command its power of protection.”

He had continued pushing forward until she was backed against the battlements and he loomed over her, with enormous teeth nearly brushing her face.

“I know of your treachery. You do not think I knew you were listening at the door when the king and queen told me of the circlet’s secrets? YOU THINK ME A FOOL?”

“Oh, I know you’re no fool,” Kandra said. As quick and light as a cornered mouse, Kandra slipped out of her prison between her master and the tower’s wall. “But you are arrogant and you underestimate others.” She whipped her dagger out of its sheath and made to strike him.

It was over in the blink of an eye, and Kandra was never a match for Magan. Even as she had made to strike him, he waved his hand and her body fell to the ground, limp and lifeless, the circlet rolling off her head and her grip on the dagger softening.

“No,” Magan said, stepping up to her body roughly. “I know exactly what you are capable of.” He snatched up the circlet and held it gingerly in both hands, looking on it with barely contained jubilance. “I told you you could not command such a power of this.”

And so Magda, Wendell, and the king and queen of Tircuhachd watched with mounting dread as Magan wrenched the circlet wider and placed the Power of the King upon his own massive head.