The Feast

by Rowan Bree

  A third guard hurries towards them from the hall. He starts to close the doors.

  “What are you doing?” one of the door guards asks.

  “The king said to close the doors. No more guests. We can’t risk any more of the creatures getting in.”

  The woman continues to plead to be let in even as the doors close on her. A final few other guests manage to slip in at the last moment, including the spider-goblin whom no one seems to notice. Vale chuckles as it skitters past you and up the stairs. You feel sick to your stomach.

  The great hall is a little emptier than you would have expected, no doubt due to the king’s decision to close the doors early. Even so, the vast tables are lively with food, drink, and fine nobles being boisterous as fits a celebration such as this.

  Vale touches the small of your back as he nods to an acquaintance, an elderly man swathed in indulgent silk robes. The man’s eyes roam over you, appraising and approving. If only the man knew how you were being kept here against your will.

  A serving girl passes with a tray of wine glasses. You reach for one but Vale stays your hand.

  “I have a job for you,” he tells you. He pulls you to the side where it is quieter. “The Order is hosting our own more private party upstairs. I need you to invite a few select nobles to join us. The more we can sway to our side the better, but be wary of those who might not be so sympathetic to our cause.”

  “Why are you doing this to me?” you ask.

  Vale smiles. “I’m simply giving you an opportunity to be a part of the world you helped create. Don’t be ungrateful. I’m not usually this generous.”

  “And if I refuse?”

  Vale’s smile widens. Invisible needles stab your body. You stand in silent terror as you endure the excruciating pain. Vale stops smiling and the pain disappears.

  “I’ll be attending the guests upstairs. But don't worry, kitten. There are plenty of Order members around to keep an eye on you.” He leaves you standing alone and uncertain amidst the festivities of the feast.

  “Don’t listen to him.”

  You turn to see a faun wearing an intricate mask over his eyes. He winks at you. You recognize him as the demon from the garden, in a slightly different form.

  “I’ll take care of inviting people to Vale’s party,” he says. “But you, my dear, should have fun. You have the power to seduce any man or woman in here. It would be a pity to let the opportunity go to waste.”

  He winks again and slips away into the crowd.

  You look around the room, keeping in mind the demon’s words. A centaur trots past. He goes to sit at the benchless end of one of the feast tables next to a minotaur and an elven woman. Sitting further down is a tanned, bare-chested Adonis of a man already surrounded by a flock of beautiful women all vying for his attention. The maidens among the serving staff are doing their best to catch his eye as they ply him with food and drink. He accepts the food politely, smiling at each in turn. You are keen enough to notice the subtle looks of embarrassment as the women run their hands along his fine muscles to try and coax a response out of him.

  Introduce yourself to the centaur and his friends.

  Seduce the bare-chested man away from his would-be suitors.

  Avoid seducing anyone and pass the time alone.

  Guests are streaming into the great hall as you enter the feast on Vale’s arm. Your upper arm aches where he is tightly grasping you, as if forgetting that his magic keeps you bound to him regardless. You ignore the feeling of Sybil’s jealous eyes boring into your back.

  You are wearing a fine dress of midnight blue with black lace, and a necklace bearing a blood red stone. Vale says it is for your protection but you are not so sure. Try as you might, you are unable to undo the clasp and must wear it until Vale deems it fit to take it off you.

  “That’s the prince of Ollvyn.” Vale points out a serious man with dark curly hair. “He is a friend of ours. I’ve been working on him all week. He has already allied his lands to ours, and finds the changes we’ve brought to the realm most welcoming.”

  There is a commotion at the front doors opposite the great hall. The guards are furiously trying to block the entrance while onlookers watch in mixed horror and disgust.

  “Please let me in! I have an invitation! The king is expecting me!” Through a break in the crowd you see a horribly disfigured woman being driven back by the points of the guards’ swords. There is a large, writhing lump on her back with protrusions that wrap around to the front of her body. The guards poke at one of the protrusions and it extends towards them, then the whole lump detaches. You realize that it wasn’t a disfigurement at all but a separate entity. The creature looks like a mix between a spider and a goblin, humanoid in shape but with too many limbs. It challenges the guards with a hiss.

  A third guard hurries towards them from the hall. He starts to close the doors.

  “What are you doing?” one of the door guards asks.

  “The king said to close the doors. No more guests. We can’t risk any more of the creatures getting in.”

  The woman continues to plead to be let in even as the doors close on her. A final few other guests manage to slip in at the last moment, including the spider-goblin whom no one seems to notice. Vale chuckles as it skitters past you and up the stairs. You feel sick to your stomach.

  The great hall is a little emptier than you would have expected, no doubt due to the king’s decision to close the doors early. Even so, the vast tables are lively with food, drink, and fine nobles being boisterous as fits a celebration such as this.

  Vale touches the small of your back as he nods to an acquaintance, an elderly man swathed in indulgent silk robes. The man’s eyes roam over you, appraising and approving. If only the man knew how you were being kept here against your will.

  A serving girl passes with a tray of wine glasses. You reach for one but Vale stays your hand.

  “I have a job for you,” he tells you. He pulls you to the side where it is quieter. “The Order is hosting our own more private party upstairs. I need you to invite a few select nobles to join us. The more we can sway to our side the better, but be wary of those who might not be so sympathetic to our cause.”

  “Why are you doing this to me?” you ask.

  Vale smiles. “I’m simply giving you an opportunity to be a part of the world you helped create. Don’t be ungrateful. I’m not usually this generous.”

  “And if I refuse?”

  Vale’s smile widens. Invisible needles stab your body. You stand in silent terror as you endure the excruciating pain. Vale stops smiling and the pain disappears.

  “I’ll be attending the guests upstairs. But don't worry, kitten. There are plenty of Order members around to keep an eye on you.” He leaves you standing alone and uncertain amidst the festivities of the feast.

  The king is at the far end of the hall at a special table on a dais. His son sits beside him, shy but already red-cheeked from the ale. Sitting further down is a tanned, bare-chested Adonis of a man already surrounded by a flock of beautiful women all vying for his attention. The maidens among the serving staff are doing their best to catch his eye as they ply him with food and drink. He accepts the food politely, smiling at each in turn. You are keen enough to notice the subtle looks of embarrassment as the women run their hands along his fine muscles to try and coax a response out of him.

  From what you have heard, the king may already be sympathetic to the Order. If you wanted to escape, he wouldn’t be the right person to ask for help. The bare-chested man, however, might be kinder to your plight. He looks like he might also be in need of a way out of here.

  Another option, of course, is to try to find a way out yourself.

  Approach Mr. Popular.

  Try to escape on your own.

  “I don’t want it,” you tell the demon.

  He steps back from you, his reflection disappearing from the black surface of the fountain.
/>   “If that is what you wish,” he says.

  Your breath hitches in your chest, afraid he will harm you for refusing him.

  You turn to see him stalk off into the trees, his hoofs leaving deep depressions in the earth. After a while you hear a distant scream and a bellow. The Old One has resumed his hunting. And you are safe.

  Vale rushes into the clearing, face sweaty and even paler than usual. “I thought that scream was yours,” he says.

  “And you were worried?” you ask, not masking the resentment in your voice. If the demon was telling the truth, Vale has imprisoned you because of his lust for power. All the sweet nothings of wanting to share the new world with you are lies.

  Vale orders you, “Don’t wander. Now come along.”

  You feel a warning sting of pain in your legs and follow the mage.

  He presses his finger to his lips for you to keep quiet as you approach the gazebo.

  “Thought you’d sneak a peek did you?” A woman in a beautiful gold dress and black lace emerges from the dark gazebo. “Well you’re out of luck. I’m not so base as to indulge those creatures. I was only enjoying the night air and the glory of the new world.”

  Vale sucks in a breath. “Sybil,” he says.

  Her smile is sickly sweet. She runs a hand down Vale’s cheek. He swats her hand away. She touches his chest, undeterred.

  “There’s no need to fear a jealous ex,” she croons. “He’s long gone by now. Though who knows? Maybe he’ll be at the feast.”

  Vale scowls. “Did you get her dress and invitation?”

  Sybil withdraws her hand. She looks hurt. “Yes, I did. They’re right there,” she nods back towards the gazebo. “You don’t know how hard it was. The old dressmaker took forever and charged me an arm and a leg, and then the castle wanted to know why we needed another invitation.”

  Vale replies dismissively, “The sacrifices you’ve made for our Order will be immortalized in song. But now we must go to the feast.”

  He touches the small of your back. “Go get dressed, kitten.”

  You go into the gazebo and find the dress you are meant to wear to the feast. Long creeper vines shelter the structure from outside view so you do not feel vulnerable stripping down to get dressed. The gown is a midnight blue with black embroidery, with long sleeves and a deep neckline. It fits you perfectly. You slip the invitation under the neckline of your dress and exit the gazebo.

  Vale comes to take your arm. You flinch slightly as he touches you. “You look exquisite,” he says. “Truly.”

  To the feast…

  You fear Vale’s punishment and do as you were told, inviting Hawke to the Order’s party.

  “Do you want to go somewhere?” you ask the sea chief. “Just until the king’s announcement.” You tell him about the private party. “I don’t think there are any women from Hilfair there.”

  Hawke laughs. “Unfortunately Hilfair isn’t the only place trying to snatch me up. But who are you to know about such an exclusive party?”

  You force a smile, playing coy to keep from having to answer his question.

  Hawke rubs his chin. “I appreciate the invitation but I think I’ll stay with the masses. More anonymity, more places to hide.”

  “Are you sure?” you ask.

  Hawke nods and starts away from you.

  You feel a sharp jolt of pain that brings you to your knees. Hawke turns and kneels at your side.

  “Are you okay?” he asks.

  You feel the pain tear into you again. You fall forward and Hawke grabs you.

  “Come with me,” he says, half-carrying you towards the exit as your muscles seize up.

  Every step becomes harder, like your body is turning to stone. The pain blinds you to little besides Hawke’s frantic tugging and his voice telling you to keep moving. You can’t even get out words.

  People are starting to look your way. Hawke drags you behind a pillar and crouches down beside you.

  “Who did this to you?” he asks. “Is it poison? Were you drugged?”

  Your tongue feels like it’s made of pins.

  “Out of the way.” A woman’s face swims into your field of vision. A familiar voice, a familiar scent. Sybil is there stroking your sweaty forehead. You want to scream but can’t. Hawke is standing by while this evil woman has you at her mercy.

  Sybil presses her forehead to yours, muttering something in an unknown tongue. You can feel the pain ebbing from your body. You must be dying. It’s your punishment for failing the Order, for Hawke trying to help you. You would be sad about your dying, if it weren’t for the blessed relief from the blinding pain that comes with it. Your muscles relax. You feel you can speak again, though you do not. There is no reason to speak, to think. You are leaving this world for good.

  “Is she dead?” Hawke asks.

  “Breathing. She should be fine.”

  You open your eyes. You are still behind the pillar in the great hall, Sybil and Hawke leaning over you. Sybil smiles.

  “Don’t be afraid,” she says. “I reversed Vale’s spell.”

  Why would Sybil do that? It must be a trick.

  “I should have tried harder to help you. I’m so sorry. But for now you need to go. Vale will soon realize his control has been severed.”

  The pain is gone. Hawke helps you stand.

  “Through here,” Sybil opens a door leading down a dark hallway.

  You aren’t sure you can trust her. It is obvious she wants Vale to herself, and this might be a trap to get you killed or worse. You ask her why she is helping you.

  “I don’t have time to explain now, but you’ve escaped Doria once and I’m not going to let them drag you back there. I don’t work for Vale. I’ve been trying to stop him. But now I need you to go before I’m found out. Get as far away from Tyven as you can. Don’t tell anyone who you are. The kingdom hasn’t fallen yet and there are still safe places.”

  She pushes you into the hallway while a concerned Hawke looks on.

  Ask Hawke to come with you.

  Escape on your own.

  You fear Vale’s punishment and do as you were told, inviting Hawke to the Order’s party.

  “Do you want to go somewhere?” you ask the sea chief. “Just until the king’s announcement.” You tell him about the private party. “I don’t think there are any women from Hilfair there.”

  Hawke laughs. “Unfortunately Hilfair isn’t the only place trying to snatch me up. But who are you to know about such an exclusive party?”

  You force a smile, playing coy to keep from having to answer his question.

  Hawke rubs his chin. “I appreciate the invitation but I think I’ll stay with the masses. More anonymity, more places to hide.”

  “Are you sure?” you ask.

  Hawke nods and starts away from you.

  You feel a sharp jolt of pain that brings you to your knees. Hawke turns and kneels at your side.

  “Are you okay?” he asks.

  You feel the pain tear into you again. You fall forward and Hawke grabs you.

  “Come with me,” he says, half-carrying you towards the exit as your muscles seize up.

  Every step becomes harder, like your body is turning to stone. The pain blinds you to little besides Hawke’s frantic tugging and his voice telling you to keep moving. You can’t even get out words.

  People are starting to look your way. Hawke drags you behind a pillar and crouches down beside you.

  “Who did this to you?” he asks. “Is it poison? Were you drugged?”

  Your tongue feels like it’s made of pins.

  “Out of the way.” A woman’s face swims into your field of vision. A familiar voice, a familiar scent. Sybil is there stroking your sweaty forehead. You want to scream but can’t. Hawke is standing by while this evil woman has you at her mercy.

  Sybil presses her forehead to yours, muttering something in an unknown tongue. You can feel the pain ebbing
from your body. You must be dying. It’s your punishment for failing the Order, for Hawke trying to help you. You would be sad about your dying, if it weren’t for the blessed relief from the blinding pain that comes with it. Your muscles relax. You feel you can speak again, though you do not. There is no reason to speak, to think. You are leaving this world for good.

  “Is she dead?” Hawke asks.

  “Breathing. She should be fine.”

  You open your eyes. You are still behind the pillar in the great hall, Sybil and Hawke leaning over you. Sybil smiles.

  “Don’t be afraid,” she says. “I reversed Vale’s spell.”

  Why would Sybil do that? It must be a trick.

  “I should have tried harder to help you. I’m so sorry. But for now you need to go. Vale will soon realize his control has been severed.”

  The pain is gone. Hawke helps you stand.

  “Through here,” Sybil opens a door leading down a dark hallway.

  You aren’t sure you can trust her. It is obvious she wants Vale to herself, and this might be a trap to get you killed or worse. You ask her why she is helping you.

  “I don’t have time to explain now, but you’ve escaped Doria once and I’m not going to let them drag you back there. I don’t work for Vale. I’ve been trying to stop him. But now I need you to go before I’m found out. Get as far away from Tyven as you can. Don’t tell anyone who you are. The kingdom hasn’t fallen yet and there are still safe places.”

  She pushes you into the hallway while a concerned Hawke looks on.