Magical Hearts chapter 3

Of love and The Duke: Chapter 3



The priestess was browsing the market and shops of house Morgan when she overheard the rumor that a blessed couple, a young wizard and Isabel Morgan have entered the tent of her father. The goddess spoke to her giving her the feeling that she must see the couple. She dropped what she was doing and immediately walked to the tent of Jeremiah Morgan.

Entering she witnessed for herself the couple glowing, and proclaim that they are a blessed couple. She lingered having the feeling she needed to witness a little more. The couple kissed again and she wondered why Jeremiah become irritated seeing them glow. It is a gift from the goddess to the couple.

The priestess watches in wonder as the young wizard displays and offers his dowry to Jeremiah. A large gold block that opens to present an astonishing number of uncut diamonds that are even more valuable than gold, she has never seen a dowry so large. Truly, a dowry fit for a princess. When she hears the young wizard proclaim it to be mere dust compared to his love, she can hear the truth in his words. She then takes her leave, thinking the goddess for letting her witness a love so great.

The priestess of Aphrodite returns to the Temple as quickly as she can walk, it would be undignified and lack the grace required of her if she ran. Entering the temple, she needed to discuss the events she has witnessed with the head priestess and what she had learned. After a long and intense discussion between the priestess and head priestess of Camarillo’s Temple of Aphrodite, they send a message by magical means to the high priestess in New Cowan. They fear the Duke has become unstable. They also know of the love’s discovery spell in limited time the couple have. The message simply informs the high priestess of what they intend to do, and request her blessing.

The priestess wondered why the Duke insisted on such a hastily performed wedding between Isabel and his youngest son. Even though house Morgan was quite wealthy, surely, other matches would be available for the young boy, someone of higher standing, another Royal closer to the King perhaps. Isabel’s dowry was quite extensive, but barely met what one would say expected for a commoner marrying a noble. Isabel had not truly wanted to wed the Duke’s son, a boy four years younger than she is.

It will take hours before the message received at New Cowan, and most likely the morning before reply sent. The head priestess does not believe there is enough time; she believed the wedding between Julius and Isabel should be this evening if possible. If the two give into their carnal lust, they would incur the wrath of Aphrodite, as tradition and experience in these matters have taught. The head priestess wondered if there would be time to summon the clan, and prepare the Temple for the wedding this evening. Surely if the girl is already married, the Duke would give up.

The Duke had been strongly insisting that the wedding performed as soon as Isabel could be located. Now with her return to the city, it fell to the priestess to inform the Duke that no ceremony between Isabel and his son will ever occur.

The head priestess orders that no one should perform the marriage ceremony requested by the Duke. To do so would be an affront to Aphrodite herself, not something any of her priestesses would ever consider doing. The head priestess retired to her chamber to pray for Aphrodite’s intervention, as she sent the priestess to inform the Duke.

The priestess enters the keep, requesting an audience with the Duke. An hour passed before she granted an audience with the Duke and brought to the lavish and over ornamented audience chamber where the Duke waited impatiently. She kneels before the Duke and begins to explain, “Your Lordship, with all humility I regret to inform you that your son’s wedding to Isabel Morgan cannot be performed.”

The Duke infuriated shouts, “You dare come before me to tell me you cannot do something your head priestess has already promised.”

The priestess tries to remain rational and calm, knowing it would be death to show anger at his superior attitude. It would not be the first time someone it had an audience with this particular Duke only to be struck dead by him.