The Dragon Kings' Forbidden Witch

But ten silver marks a month...

That could change everything.

”I don’t know,” Morgana said slowly. ”My mother...”

”Your mother would want you to do this,” Rowan interrupted firmly. ”You know she would. She’d never say it, but she’s terrified of being a burden on you. If you could send money home, if you could pay for her treatment...”

Morgana swallowed hard. ”What if something happens while I’m gone? What if she gets worse and I’m not there?”

Rowan’s expression gentled. ”Then you come home. The palace is only half a day’s ride away. If something happens, someone will send word. You’ll be back before nightfall.”

Morgana wanted to believe her.

But the thought of leaving her mother alone, of being trapped inside the palace walls surrounded by strangers...

”I’ll think about it,” she said finally.

Rowan grinned. ”That’s not a no.”

”It’s not a yes either.”

”Yet.” Rowan winked and turned back toward the bakery. ”Three days, Morgana! Don’t take too long to decide!”

Morgana watched her go, then turned back to Bess.

The older woman was watching her with knowing eyes.

”She’s right, you know,” Bess said quietly, handing Morgana the bundle of lavender. ”About your ma.”

Morgana’s throat tightened. ”I can’t leave her.”

”You can’t save her by staying either.” Bess’s voice was gentle but firm. ”That medicine she needs? It costs more than you’ll make in five years working odd jobs around the village. But ten silver marks a month...”

She trailed off, letting the implication hang in the air.

Morgana took the lavender, her fingers trembling slightly. ”Thank you, Bess.”

The flower seller smiled sadly. ”Take care of yourself, child. Whatever you decide.”

***

That night at dinner, Morgana finally brought it up.

”I’m going to apply.”

The words came out quietly, but they landed like stones in still water.

Her mother’s spoon paused halfway to her mouth. She set it down slowly, her expression unreadable.

”Apply for what?”

”The palace. The maid positions.” Morgana kept her voice steady. ”Rowan and I are going to go together. The wages are good...ten silver marks a month. With room and board, I could send everything home. It would be enough for your medicine. Real medicine. Not just....”

”No.”

The word was flat. Final.

Morgana blinked. ”What?”

”I said no.” Her mother’s voice was quiet, but there was steel beneath it. ”You’re not going to the palace.”

”But—....”

”Morgana.” Her mother leaned forward, her eyes sharp despite the exhaustion carved into her face. ”Do you have any idea how dangerous that would be for you?”

”It’s just a job...”

”It’s not just anything.” Her mother’s hands flattened against the table. ”The palace is crawling with guards, with nobles, with people trained to detect magic users. They have wards. Watchers. Mages who can sense power even when it’s hidden.”

Morgana’s chest tightened. ”I’ll be careful.”

”You can barely control it here, in our home, where no one is watching!” Her mother’s voice rose slightly, edged with fear. ”What happens when you’re exhausted from working all day? When someone pushes you too far? When your temper slips for just a second?”

”I won’t let it...”

”You can’t promise that.” Her mother stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor. ”You don’t even know how to use your magic properly, Morgana. You’ve spent your whole life suppressing it, hiding it, shoving it down. But it’s still there. And the more you suppress it, the more dangerous it becomes.”

Morgana stood too, her hands clenched at her sides. ”Then what am I supposed to do? Stay here and watch you die?”

Her mother flinched.

”That’s what’s happening, isn’t it?” Morgana’s voice cracked. ”You’re getting worse. The herbalist can’t help you. We don’t have money for real medicine. And every day I watch you get thinner, weaker, and there’s nothing I can do....”

”So you’ll risk your life instead?”

”If it means saving yours? Yes.”

The silence that followed was suffocating.

Her mother’s expression crumpled for just a moment, grief and fear and something that looked like pride all tangled together. Then she straightened, her face hardening.

”You think you’re the only one who’s afraid?” she said quietly. ”You think I don’t lie awake at night terrified that one day you’ll slip, and they’ll take you, and I’ll never see you again?”

Morgana’s throat closed.

”I would rather die,” her mother continued, her voice trembling, ”than send you into a place where one mistake could get you burned at the stake.”

”It won’t come to that...”

”You don’t know that.”

”Then teach me!” Morgana’s voice broke. ”Teach me how to control it properly. Teach me how to hide it better. I’ll practice every day, I’ll...”

”I can’t.” Her mother’s voice cracked. ”I don’t have magic, Morgana. I can’t teach you what I don’t understand. All I can do is tell you to hide. To run. To stay away from places like the palace.”

”But I can’t.” Morgana stepped closer, her eyes burning. ”Don’t you see? This is our only chance. Ten silver marks a month...that’s more than we’ll ever make here. I could pay for your medicine. I could hire someone to look after you. I could...”

”I don’t want you to look after me!” Her mother’s voice rose, sharp and desperate. ”I want you to be safe!”

”I’ll never be safe!” The words tore out of Morgana before she could stop them. ”Not here, not anywhere. As long as I have this....” She held up her hands, heat flickering beneath her skin. ”....I’ll never be safe. So I might as well use it to do something that matters.”

Her mother stared at her, breathing hard.

”I’ll be careful,” Morgana said, softer now. ”I promise. I’ll keep my head down. I’ll work hard. I won’t draw attention. And if it gets too dangerous, I’ll leave. I’ll come home before the year is up. But please...” Her voice broke. ”Please let me try.”

Her mother’s eyes glistened.

For a long moment, she said nothing.

Then she turned away, her shoulders shaking.

”I can’t lose you,” she whispered.

”You won’t.”

”You don’t know that.”

Morgana reached for her, but her mother stepped back, shaking her head.

”I need to think,” she said, her voice barely audible.

And before Morgana could respond, her mother walked out of the room and disappeared into her chamber.

The door closed with a quiet click.

Morgana stood alone in the dim light of the dying fire, her hands still trembling.

She didn’t know how to convince her.

She didn’t know if she could.

But she had to try.

Because if she didn’t...

Her mother would die.

And she would never forgive herself.