#levelground

Alec Lightwood entered the courtroom room with an ounce of excitement. Sorcerers were not uncommon, but his family did not trust any being proficient in magic and rarely let them inside the castle walls. When he was young, he would sneak out at night to watch their magic displays. Not everyone outside the royal family trusted magic wielders either, but their beautiful fireworks and story telling had enthralled Alec as a child, he was excited to meet the Master Sourer of the Black Forest. Comparatively, the sorcerers he had meet were unremarkable. Magnus Bane was renowned as being very powerful, and in all Alecs 24 years, he had never had the opportunity to meet one of his ability. His excitement did cause him a pang of guilt over the circumstances, he youngest brother, Max was seriously ill. No other healer or Sorcerer had been able to cure him, but Alecs parents had been assured that Magnus was the best in the kingdom.

Stepping up beside his elder brother Jace and younger sister Issabelle, Alec stood beside his mother and fathers thrones. As second in line, he stood next to Jace, who was closest to his fathers seat.

Magnus Bane stood before the massive doors of the castles courtroom, frustrated at the guards gruff attitude towards him, his mood had already begun to sour. The King and Queens distaste towards sorcerers was no secret, however the reward for curing their youngest heir had been so high every sorcerer in the kingdom had flocked to the palace, except Magnus. He had little interest in money, he already had plenty, and was surprised none of the other sorcerers had managed to cure the child. Besides, for him it was a long journey across the great water to Idris. He could have ridden the long way around, but that wouldn’t taken even longer, an unpleasant boat journey was preferable. One of the guards nodded at him and huffed

“The King will see you now.”

Stepping foreward, they opened the large, gold encrusted doors and called

"May I present! the Master sorcerer of the Black Forest....Magnus Bane!"

Trumpets sounded, and the most stunning man Alec had ever seen swept through the doors and strode down the long walkway towards the steps leading up to the thrones. He was dressed in a shimmering blue outfit, silver detailing covering his tunic. Large, detailed buttons and a lavish belt pulled it tight around his toned figure. His cloak was a slightly darker blue with a black interior, it draped over one shoulder, joined by a large, silver broach on his right shoulder. What stunned Alec the most however, was the unusual, golden colour of his eyes. It wasn't all that unnatural looking, almost as if someone had flecked gold flakes into more common brown eyes.

Leaning a casual hand on the sheath of his sword, Magnus stopped at the base of the stairs and bowed a little deeper than was necessary. His piercing eyes moved across each figure before him, they lingered a little longer on Alec, causing a shiver to spread down his spine. He addressed the king first, as per custom

"Your majesty. An honor to be summoned to your...most magnificent castle."

Nothing about Magnus tone was directly disrespectful, but there was an undercurrent of distaste. His father replied so quickly, with such impatience, Alec wondered if perhaps they had met before.

"Magnus Bane...I've heard much about you and your ability, your reputation precedes you."

"I imagine it does your highness."

Once again, his golden eyes flicked to Alec.

"I shall skip the pleasantries and tell you why you are here. My youngest son is ill, we fear he is close to his death. You are our last hope."

Despite the dark circumstances, Robert stubbornly refused to drop his condescending tone. Magnus tilted his head slightly, placing one, booted foot on the bottom step

"And what price do you put on your boys life my king?"

"The price of you head still remaining on your body!"

Alecs father snapped angrily, Magnus seemed unbothered by the threat, his father asked more calmly

"Does you life mean so little to you sorcerer?"

Magnus waved his hand casually Alec noted multiple rings adorning his fingers

"It means little to me. I ask again, what price my king?"

Sitting back from the edge he had sat himself on, Robert rolled his shoulders and caved

"Any. My son is priceless."

Magnus grinned slyly, his eyes casually wandered around the castle as he thought. He had all the power and he knew it.

"I have a simple price my Lord, I would like to be granted free access to the castle…"

He was looking at Alec again, His father went to speak but Magnus cut him off with a single raised finger

"...for the purpose of my craft. You have facilities and ingredients I do not have access to."

Fuming, his father's face was turning beet red. Alec quickly shuffled around Jace and whispered in his father's ear

"Father, this sorcerer could work to our advantage if he cures Max. Perhaps he could put his skills to use in medicine for the entire kingdom if he wishes to use the castles resources?"

Turning his face up to look at Alec, Roberts face slowly softened, he nodded and agreed

"Always considering your people Alexander, very well. I will grant you what you wish Sorcerer, but only if you succeed in curing my son.”

“A deal is made. When do I start?”

“As soon as possible?”

“Now then.”

“Excellent. Guards, show him to his quarters.”

Alec stepped forward again

“Father I think I should accompany them, to ensure the sorcerer has everything he needs.”

“Very well, keep an eye on him.”

Four guards had encircled Magnus, who was curling his lip in distaste at the intrusion.  Alec lead the way back towards the courtyard.

Magnus had expected no less from the king, but he had not expected the kings middle son to be so handsome. When he walked in, he actually had no idea what price he would ask for in exchange for healing the child. But the thought dawned on him looking at the raven haired prince, that he might find it quite enlightening to spend some time in the realm of royalty. He watched the prince from his irritating position between four brutes, he was tall and broad, striding through the castle corridors as if he walked with more of an audience. He wore a simple, fitted grey tunic with silver detailing up one side of the buttons that clung deliciously to his chest, A long, black cloak trailed behind him as he walked. Around his neck was what Magnus knew to be his royal seal, every heir and member of the family had one personally made at birth. Alecs was a large, circular silver pendant, a pair of birds wings sat in the middle surrounded by beautifully crafted patterns.

Acceding a spiraling flight of stairs, Magnus’s mood lifted a little, at least he wasn’t being put in some damp hole underground. The floor leveled off into a small corridor with 2 doors on either side. Alec swung open the first one on the right and stepped aside, letting Magnus glide past him.

The sorcerer stepped into his quarters and immediately gasped at the untidy state of the room, wiping a single index finger on one of the tables he said

“Normally…I would not turn down a dirty lair, but you could have at least cleaned up a little.”

He looked directly at Alec with a slight mischief in his eyes that made Alec chuckle, even though no one ever spoke to him like that it was oddly endearing  

“The last Sorcerer in here was not exactly tidy….and he left in a hurry.”

Magnus lifted his eyebrows and blinked

“Lorenzo, I assume?”

“You are acquainted?”

Laughing, Magnus stepped past him back out into the corridor, Alec caught a whiff of sandalwood and some kind of sweet smell as he passed

“Acquainted, no, I wouldn’t say that. But I know him well enough to recognize his kind of organized chaos anywhere.”

Picking up a book that was left open on small tablet in the hall, Magnus huffed and slammed it shut, sending a cloud of dust into the air. He disappeared into another room, continuing to ramble

“Lorenzo you pig, you cannot even keep your books in order! It’s a wonder you can even put a simple sleeping potion together…”

Alec called out

“Would you like me to send up some servants to tidy it up for you?”

Magnus poked his head out and furrowed his brows at the prince

“No don’t be ridiculous, do not waste a poor servants time. I can clean up with magic.”

With a snap of his fingers, a blue cloud briefly wafted through the tower. When it cleared, everything was clean and perfectly in place. Grinning, as if he did not preform magic everyday, Magnus looked endlessly pleased with himself. Removing his cloak, he tossed it in the general direction of the bed and announced

“I am comfortable with these quarters, now, may I see the boy?”

“Don’t you need anything?”

Magnus looked at him puzzled

“I have my eyes in my head? If I had to remember those I would be concerned.”

Taken aback by Magnus’s quick tongue and unusual humor, Alec found himself quite enjoying the Sorcerers chatter

“No it’s just the other sorcerers always brought instruments to measure things.”

“Well I’m not other sorcerers, now, so lead on.”

“Very well.”

Magnus walked beside him this time, again, something no one ever did besides his family. Perhaps Magnus was unaware of royal traditions, or perhaps he just didn’t care, Alec suspected it was the latter.

Falling into step with the prince, Magnus had more of an opportunity to watch him out of the corner of his eye. He was unusually drawn to him, Alec had been unbothered by his quips and even appeared to enjoy his informal interaction. And after a quick, questioning glance, he did not protest Magnus walking beside him. In Magnus’s mind, all were equal. Royalty, money and power had little to do with the amount of respect a person deserved. But he liked Alexander,  Magnus had a good eye for judging character, and he sensed Alec was unlike his parents. But if Max was an ill as he suspected, he would have plenty of time to find out more about the prince.

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