The Feast

by Rowan Bree

  You make it out of the party and down through the castle back towards the feast. When you reach the main entrance you see the splintered remains of the huge doors hanging off their hinges. Is the castle being attacked?

  You can see movement in the courtyard, but in the dark it is hard to determine what is happening. You hear screams, yells, and a loud grating sound like iron rending apart. Panic grips you and raw animal instinct awakens in your gut. You run outside despite your nakedness.

  When you get outside you notice the night sky is covered in black clouds. Not storm clouds, but a roiling pitch black sea that makes you feel like you have been buried alive.

  A full-blown battle is being fought in the courtyard. The king’s guard does their best to keep back the intruders. You can see monstrous shapes in the dark and think they might not be human.

  You skirt the side of the castle to avoid the worst of the fighting. There is no one around the back, but you can hear echoes of the battle. You stay low and out of sight, hoping you can find a break in the wall to escape into the wilderness away from the town. As you round a corner you see dark shapes coming your way. There is an animal sound coming from them, like growling mixed with heavy breathing.

  You tuck back around the corner and press yourself against the wall. You feel a space in it about waist-high and duck into the small alcove hoping you won’t be seen. You can hear voices through the stones like someone is just on the other side, but there is no way through to where they are.

  “Demons,” a voice says.

  “Hundreds of them,” another voice adds.

  “Where did they come from?”

  “The Dorians. I was there. They sacrificed some elf and the sky turned all black. They called forth these monsters from the nether realm.”

  An elf? Do they mean Eli? You feel sick to your stomach thinking that he died because you decided to indulge your lust rather than find him. And now the world’s ending and that’s your fault too.

  A piercing shriek fills the air. A woman’s distressed cries echo through the castle courtyard then go silent. You back tighter into your hiding spot, praying to the gods that the king’s guard will prevail and all will be better in the morning.

  Epilogue.

  You turn your back on the party and continue up the spiral staircase. As you near the top you hear the unmistakable sound of footsteps. You slow and round the bend to glimpse a boot on the top landing. You follow cautiously.

  Ahead of you are Eli and the mage. The mage hovers a hand over Eli’s lifeless body, using magic to drag the elf along the castle corridors. There is a deep gash on Eli’s forehead and his jaw is slack. You hope he is just knocked out and not dead. His boots knock loudly against the stone floor.

  You follow up another set of stairs, wincing as Eli’s head smacks into each step on the way up. The mage seems unbothered. He enters a stone archway draped with black curtains. After a little while you follow.

  It is dark beyond the archway, offering you plenty of room to hide. You see a room filled with robed figures, along with some guests from the feast in their fine clothes. Red candles like those in the mage’s room are placed on different surfaces and in sconces. An open space has been cleared in the middle of the room and a familiar circular symbol carved into the stone floor. Perhaps the mage has been practicing for this moment.

  The mage positions Eli on his knees in the center of the circle. The elf’s head lolls forward against his chest, unconscious.

  The mage snaps his fingers. Eli’s eyes flutter and he wakes with a stream of epithets for the Order. The mage silences him with an invisible gag. Eli’s arms are bound likewise by magic to his sides. His face turns purple as he tries to fight them.

  “The sacrifice is ready. All we need is your word,” the mage says over Eli’s angry grunts.

  A man sits on a plush chair off to the side. He is wearing a golden crown and the finest robes coin can buy. Beside him are several stiff-looking guardsmen. They look to one another in unease but avoid the gaze of their king.

  “He is a traitor to the kingdom?”

  The mage nods gravely. “Your guardsmen will recognize him from the prisons. He only escaped recently. Among his outstanding charges are public indecency, resisting arrest, belligerent drunkenness, and treason. He has been spreading the lies of the rebellion and causing unrest amongst your people. And I believe the punishment in Tyven for treason is death?”

  The king strokes his beard in thought. “And if you make this sacrifice, my wife will return?”

  The mage nods again. “Returned to full life as if she had never left. She will feel as though she was ill for a long time but won’t remember her death.”

  A pained look appears on the king’s face. He coughs to cover it.

  “Very well. I grant you permission to proceed.”

  It might be a trick of the light but you think you see the mage’s eyes flash red. He smiles and rubs his hands together.

  “Looks like this is the end for you,” he says to Eli, pulling a dagger from his robes.

  Eli’s eyes bulge with fear at the sight of the weapon.

  “You don’t know how long I’ve waited to gut you. Too bad Jasper’s not here to see you die.”

  He raises the dagger and begins to chant. The candles in the room flare brighter and a wind stirs though there are no open windows. If you do nothing Eli is going to be sacrificed, but do you stand a chance against a room full of mages and three of the king’s guards?

  Save Eli.

  Save yourself.

  You turn your back on the party and continue up the spiral staircase. As you near the top you hear the unmistakable sound of footsteps. You slow and round the bend to glimpse a boot on the top landing. You follow cautiously.

  Ahead of you are Eli and the mage. The mage hovers a hand over Eli’s lifeless body, using magic to drag the elf along the castle corridors. There is a deep gash on Eli’s forehead and his jaw is slack. You hope he is just knocked out and not dead. His boots knock loudly against the stone floor.

  You follow up another set of stairs, wincing as Eli’s head smacks into each step on the way up. The mage seems unbothered. He enters a stone archway draped with black curtains. After a little while you follow.

  It is dark beyond the archway, offering you plenty of room to hide. You see a room filled with robed figures, along with some guests from the feast in their fine clothes. Red candles like those in the mage’s room are placed on different surfaces and in sconces. An open space has been cleared in the middle of the room and a familiar circular symbol carved into the stone floor. Perhaps the mage has been practicing for this moment.

  The mage positions Eli on his knees in the center of the circle. The elf’s head lolls forward against his chest, unconscious.

  The mage snaps his fingers. Eli’s eyes flutter and he wakes with a stream of epithets for the Order. The mage silences him with an invisible gag. Eli’s arms are bound likewise by magic to his sides. His face turns purple as he tries to fight them.

  “The sacrifice is ready. All we need is your word,” the mage says over Eli’s angry grunts.

  A man sits on a plush chair off to the side. He is wearing a golden crown and the finest robes coin can buy. Beside him are several stiff-looking guardsmen. They look to one another in unease but avoid the gaze of their king.

  “He is a traitor to the kingdom?”

  The mage nods gravely. “Your guardsmen will recognize him from the prisons. He only escaped recently. Among his outstanding charges are public indecency, resisting arrest, belligerent drunkenness, and treason. He has been spreading the lies of the rebellion and causing unrest amongst your people. And I believe the punishment in Tyven for treason is death?”

  The king strokes his beard in thought. “And if you make this sacrifice, my wife will return?”

  The mage nods again. “Returned to full life as if she had never left. She will feel as though she was ill for a long time
but won’t remember her death.”

  A pained look appears on the king’s face. He coughs to cover it.

  “Very well. I grant you permission to proceed.”

  It might be a trick of the light but you think you see the mage’s eyes flash red. He smiles and rubs his hands together.

  “Looks like this is the end for you,” he says to Eli, pulling a dagger from his robes.

  Eli’s eyes bulge with fear at the sight of the weapon.

  “You don’t know how long I’ve waited to gut you. Too bad Jasper’s not here to see you die.”

  He raises the dagger and begins to chant. The candles in the room flare brighter and a wind stirs though there are no open windows. If you do nothing Eli is going to be sacrificed, but do you stand a chance against a room full of mages and three of the king’s guards?

  Save Eli.

  Save yourself.

  It might be reckless, but you have to try. While everyone’s eyes are on the mage you sneak over to one of the candles and wrench it from its sconce, ignoring the hot wax dripping over your fingers. You lift the flame to one of the black curtains and it goes up a lot quicker than you expected. You hurl the burning candle across the room hitting more of the billowy fabric.

  Chaos erupts as the room fills with flame. The mage stops chanting and Eli takes the opportunity to snatch the dagger.

  “This way!” You shout at the elf and he follows you into the hallway where the smoke is already making things hazy.

  “I thought you’d abandoned me,” Eli chokes.

  You shake your head. “Later. We have to get out of here.”

  You start down the hall but Eli grabs your arm. “Wait. My friend’s in there.” He points back to the ritual room, no longer visible with all the smoke filling the hallway.

  You didn’t see anyone besides the mages and the king’s guests. You have no idea what he’s talking about.

  “She’s our getaway,” Eli says.

  “Is that all I am to you?” A woman in a gold and black dress appears out of the smoke. She looks mildly annoyed, but far too composed for having just left a burning room.

  “Let’s go,” she says.

  Eli struggles to talk as the three of you hurry out of the castle.

  “Where’s Jasper?”

  The woman waits for his coughing fit to subside before replying.

  “You’d think with all the smoking you’d be used to this,” she says. “Jasper’s on his way to the rendezvous point already. I was planning on finishing things before you showed up and ruined it.”

  She slows as you reach the bottom of the staircase and gestures you to be quiet. You can hear the faint tolling of bells. The alarm has been sounded and the guards will be looking for you. That is, if they’re not all drunk and sluggish from the feast.

  You somehow make it out of the castle without running into any guards or wandering guests. The city streets are quiet, but the woman keeps to the shadows nevertheless. After a while she cuts on to the main thoroughfare and leads you to a cart parked there. It’s packed to the top with crates and barrels and there’s a young man standing beside it.

  “What’s he doing here?” The man asks. He has dark wavy hair and piercing green eyes.

  You don't know him.

  You have met this man before.

  It might be reckless, but you have to try. While everyone’s eyes are on the mage you sneak over to one of the candles and wrench it from its sconce, ignoring the hot wax dripping over your fingers. You lift the flame to one of the black curtains and it goes up a lot quicker than you expected. You hurl the burning candle across the room hitting more of the billowy fabric.

  Chaos erupts as the room fills with flame. The mage stops chanting and Eli takes the opportunity to snatch the dagger.

  “This way!” You shout at the elf and he follows you into the hallway where the smoke is already making things hazy.

  “I thought you’d abandoned me,” Eli chokes.

  You shake your head. “Later. We have to get out of here.”

  You start down the hall but Eli grabs your arm. “Wait. My friend’s in there.” He points back to the ritual room, no longer visible with all the smoke filling the hallway.

  You didn’t see anyone besides the mages and the king’s guests. You have no idea what he’s talking about.

  “She’s our getaway,” Eli says.

  “Is that all I am to you?” A woman in a gold and black dress appears out of the smoke. She looks mildly annoyed, but far too composed for having just left a burning room.

  “Let’s go,” she says.

  Eli struggles to talk as the three of you hurry out of the castle.

  “Where’s Jasper?”

  The woman waits for his coughing fit to subside before replying.

  “You’d think with all the smoking you’d be used to this,” she says. “Jasper’s on his way to the rendezvous point already. I was planning on finishing things before you showed up and ruined it.”

  She slows as you reach the bottom of the staircase and gestures you to be quiet. You can hear the faint tolling of bells. The alarm has been sounded and the guards will be looking for you. That is, if they’re not all drunk and sluggish from the feast.

  You somehow make it out of the castle without running into any guards or wandering guests. The city streets are quiet, but the woman keeps to the shadows nevertheless. After a while she cuts on to the main thoroughfare and leads you to a cart parked there. It’s packed to the top with crates and barrels and there’s a young man standing beside it.

  “What’s he doing here?” The man asks. He has dark wavy hair and piercing green eyes.

  Don’t recognize him.

  Jasper?

  The man is wearing fine clothes like that of a noble, though the roguish glint in his eyes tells you he is anything but.

  “Who are you?” you ask.

  He bows with a flourish. You try not to laugh. “Jasper Swift, at your service. I’m an enemy of the order and crusader for freedom. And by the sound of those alarm bells I believe I’m also your escape out of this place.”

  Eli loudly clears his throat and Jasper’s smile falters.

  “So it’s done?” Jasper asks.

  “Vale is dead,” the woman replies.

  Eli hiccups. “Dead? How’d that happen?”

  The woman doesn’t even look at him. “I took care of things in the chaos after you made a mess of our plans. Maybe next time you’ll follow our orders and stay home.”

  Eli flicks the woman a rude gesture. Jasper tells him to cut it out.

  The woman cuts in, “We need to go. They’re looking for us.”

  Eli helps you onto the back of the cart while the other two take the seats up front. There is barely enough room for the two of you behind all the supplies Eli’s friends had packed. They must have been expecting a long journey.

  The cart jerks and you tumble back against Eli. You push yourself back to sitting expecting a snarky comment from the elf. But instead he is quiet. The ragged edge of his ear looks brutal in the moonlight, and for a second you think you can see the bruised little core of his heart usually hidden by his attitude.

  “What’s wrong?” You ask him.

  Eli shrugs. “I liked Tyven.”

  That can’t be all that’s bothering him, but you don’t pursue it. He doesn’t seem in a mood to talk.

  He smiles a little to himself and looks at you. “We’re officially murderers and enemies of the crown. Still wish you went to the feast?”

  You reply, “I’ve had worse nights.”

  Eli laughs and leans in to kiss you. His breath smells like herb smoke and whisky.

  Kiss him back.

  Stop him.

  The man is wearing fine clothes like that of a noble, though the roguish glint in his eyes tells you he is anything but.

  “Who are you?” you ask.

  He bows with a flourish. You try not to lau
gh. “Jasper Swift, at your service. I’m an enemy of the order and crusader for freedom. And by the sound of those alarm bells I believe I’m also your escape out of this place.”

  Eli loudly clears his throat and Jasper’s smile falters.

  “So it’s done?” Jasper asks.

  “Vale is dead,” the woman replies.

  Eli hiccups. “Dead? How’d that happen?”

  The woman doesn’t even look at him. “I took care of things in the chaos after you made a mess of our plans. Maybe next time you’ll follow our orders and stay home.”

  Eli flicks the woman a rude gesture. Jasper tells him to cut it out.

  The woman cuts in, “We need to go. They’re looking for us.”

  Eli helps you onto the back of the cart while the other two take the seats up front. There is barely enough room for the two of you behind all the supplies Eli’s friends had packed. They must have been expecting a long journey.

  The cart jerks and you tumble back against Eli. You push yourself back to sitting expecting a snarky comment from the elf. But instead he is quiet. The ragged edge of his ear looks brutal in the moonlight, and for a second you think you can see the bruised little core of his heart usually hidden by his attitude.

  “What’s wrong?” You ask him.

  Eli shrugs. “I liked Tyven.”

  That can’t be all that’s bothering him, but you don’t pursue it. He doesn’t seem in a mood to talk.

  He smiles a little to himself and looks at you. “We’re officially murderers and enemies of the crown. Still wish you went to the feast?”