Almost an hour had passed by the time the hosts of the evening, Duke Orlond and Duchess Victoria appeared with the crown prince, Arion. He was their only son, he must have seen only about seven or eight winters. The Duke was wearing a golden embroidered, violet colored silk tunic and a floor-length burgundy velvet mantle. The jewels in his golden crown glittered in the light. His chestnut eyes conveyed certain superiority; his short, well groomed beard enhanced the wisdom that his appearance exuded. Telron couldn’t be much older than him.
The Duchess was a few inches shorter and a good ten years younger than her husband. Her waist was slender, her sparkling eyes peacock-blue, her face apple-cheeked, her nose slightly curved in. She was a real beauty. She had waist-length amber blonde curly locks and she was dressed in a floor-length embroidered ball-dress shining bright in all shades of gold, leaving her lean arms to be seen. She was wearing a similar crown to her husband’s, only slightly smaller and less elaborately decorated. She was known as a kind but determined woman. The Baron had known the Duke for nearly fifteen years, they were considered friends. This is what I wanted to take advantage of. The appearance of Gideur had changed my plan significantly, making it much easier to accomplish. The guests soon surrounded the Duke and the Duchess, the former shushed the crowd.
“My dear guests and friends! I am delighted to see you all at the ball this year again, an event that has become a tradition in our country. We gather here to bid farewell to the summer and prepare ourselves for another frosty winter. We offer our gratitude to the gods if they have blessed us with abundant crop and we beg for their forgiveness, if not. I would like you to enjoy yourselves, take as much food and drink as you wish! I wouldn’t want the work of so many good people who had conscientiously prepared these delightful meals to go to waste,” he smiled. “And now I will ask my dear wife, Victoria, to join me for the opening dance. Troubadours, music!”
They started playing their instruments, providing a pleasant rhythm to the dance. The Duke and the Duchess began dancing like two butterflies graciously fluttering their wings above blossoming fields. They waltzed along elegantly as if they had danced together a thousand times. Everybody applauded and cheered. At the end of the song, they both bowed to the crowd, holding each other’s hands.
“And now, dear guests, the floor is yours. Don’t be shy, grab your partner’s waist and don’t spare those shoes.” his Excellency said.
The crowd had drunk enough wine to enjoy themselves enough and start dancing, young and the old all went to the dance floor.
“Come on, Telron, let’s go!” Kirona pulled me to the crowd and I suddenly found myself dancing.
I was trying to follow the Duke with my eyes, not to miss sight of him. After a few melodies, I whispered to the Baroness.
“Dear Wife, I must speak to his Excellency. Please pardon my leave.”
“You are leaving me alone in this huge crowd, Telron?”
“You will manage, Kirona, I am not afraid of that. I am sure men will want to ask a dance from you,” I said, winking at her.
“Do you think so?” she blushed.
“I am convinced.” I said and kissed her on the cheek.
“Alright, but make sure to be back soon, I don’t want to be seen without you for long!”
“I will.”
The Duke was engaging in a conversation with some honorable guests not too far away. His guards with the dragonhead coats of arms on their full plate armor were strictly following each of his steps like a shadow. A man carrying a broadsword on his back stood out from the guards, he was a head taller than all the others. I couldn’t see his face because he was wearing a close knight’s helm but my senses alarmed me only by looking at him that he was highly dangerous. I swallowed and joined the group of people, trying to get into the conversation.
“As I have said, your majesty, due to the great drought, we don’t have enough crops to cover our need for the winter. We will be obliged to import wheat, barley, and maize from the neighboring states.”
“So, what you are saying, Velron, is that our expenses are going to increase considerably to what we had expected?”
“Without a doubt, your majesty.”
“I was hoping that we would survive with the stock that we kept in the storage.”
“Your majesty, I agree with Chancellor Velron. This year the crop is rather scarce on my lands too,” I said, inserting myself into the discussion, stepping closer to the Duke who was facing another direction. He turned around surprised.
“Telron, my friend, I am delighted to see you! Where have you left Kirona?” he extended his hand for me to kiss it, following etiquette.
“She is happily dancing in the crowd, your majesty.”
“I am glad to hear that. I hope you have tasted the desserts, our fruit cake is divine.”
“Yes, we had the pleasure and we loved it. Your majesty, if you allow me, I would love to have a few words with you in private regarding an important matter, if you could spare me a few moments from your precious time.
“If it allows of no delay, I will listen to you as a good friend and a decent host. Let’s go to a calmer place and you can tell me what bothers you.”
“Thank you for taking the time, your majesty.”
“Gentlemen, we will come back to this matter later. Now, please excuse me.”
We walked to the garden in search of a quiet corner. The guards surrounded us in a circle a bit further away.
“We can talk undisturbed here, my friend. What would that important matter be?”
“Your majesty, I would rather go to the palace and discuss this behind closed doors.”
“You are very mysterious, Telron. I hope there is no trouble?” the Duke asked.
“I must be cautious but you will soon see why, your majesty.”
“You can call me on my first name now, Telron, now we are only two friends speaking.”
“Thank you, Orlond, I was about to ask.”
“I prefer not to leave the guests alone, but if you wish so, let’s move inside. Come after me, please.”
We entered the palace with the guards, leaving the noisy crowd behind. I knew that if it was Telron who asked him, he wouldn’t ignore my request.
“Colossus, stay at the door with the knights, and lock the door after us. I have something to discuss with Baron Telron,” he turned to the giant.
“But your majesty, protocol dictates that I cannot leave you alone,” the man replied in his deep, moaning voice.
“The Baron is a good old friend of mine and I am the Duke. Are you objecting to the command of your Duke?” he raised his voice a bit.
“No, Duke Orlond, as you wish,” the giant-sized knight said as he bowed his head.
I was deeply relieved. If this behemoth were to stay with us, I didn’t stand a chance. We retreated to a spacious hall and sat down to a table, finally only the two of us.
“Here we are alone, now you can tell me what bothers you,” his Excellency turned to me curiously, waiting for me to talk.
“Orlond, I have great news for you! We managed to find peace with Baron Yuraj, the decade-long conflict is over now.”
“I am pleased to hear that, this had been disagreeable for me too. I had to stay out of your disputes not to be accused by my political opponents that I was siding with you.”
“Politics is a filthy business. I am familiar with the rules.”
“What had cracked the frozen waters between you two?” The Duke crossed his arms.
“Let’s say that he had received what he desired and so did I. Now we don’t bother each other anymore.”
“I hope it will stay this way in the future. Tell me, do you still succumb to the temptation of young girls?” He pulled up his eyebrows.
“I can see you are not beating about the bush,” I stroked my chin. “It has happened that I was weak to resist, but lately my relationship with Kirona has been harmonious.”
“I am happy to hear that, my friend. Appreciate you
r woman. You are not young anymore, if a disease lays you low, it is your wife who is going to take care of you, not some girls you occasionally fuck.”
“I know that, Orlond. But I don’t want to take much of your time. I have brought you a little surprise. It is nearly nothing but I hope you will like it.”
I took the hand mirror from the bag and I placed it in front of him. In the meantime, I pulled the little statue holding a blood-red ruby out of my pocket, and cutting my skin with my fingernails, I let the blood drip on it while I was squeezing it tightly.
“You have brought me a mirror, Telron. What is it good for?”
“Just observe it patiently, it is a magic mirror,” I leaned closer to him to get ready for the moment. My heart was thumping in my chest, if I made a mistake, everything would be over.
“But nothing is happening! Are you playing a joke on me?”
At this moment, the face of the Mirror Dweller appeared and reached out to our world with its tiny clawed fingers. His majesty’s eyes were wide open and he was about to shout. I quickly covered his mouth, gripped his neck, and pushed against his artery with my other hand. He didn’t resist for long, he lost consciousness after a few moments. He wasn’t expecting one of his best friends to deceive him and brutally attack him in his palace. But I was not Telron, he had been dead for weeks, worms were feasting on his corpse on the field beside the forest where I shed his blood.
Gideur stepped on the table and using one of its hands, pulled my brother from the mirror world like he was a light feather that the wind could easily drift away. Randar fell on the floor, gasping for breath. He was still wearing the body of the young, blonde servant girl. He was tightly holding on to his magical ball. He seemed to have been shattered by the hours he had spent in the strange world. I shushed him and signalled him to whisper quietly.
“Are you fine, brother?” I asked him as he was trying to get on his feet, still having trouble breathing.
“I will never ever return there, End’horis, don’t even try to ask me!”
“There will be no need for that, calm down. Time is pressing, let’s remove the clothes from the Duke immediately! Gideur, please watch the door, if anyone enters, they must die.”
“No problem, shapeshifter,” he responded.
There were knocks on the door.
“Is everything alright, your majesty? We heard some strange noises” Colossus was asking from outside.
I changed my voice to imitate the Duke and I replied.
“Everything is okay, we will soon join the ball again.”
“Yes, your majesty.”
I quickly took off my clothes and we stripped Duke Orlond too, he was quite knocked out. I started the transformation and I placed my hand on his forehead, at the same time holding Randar’s hand to transfer the baron’s memories and the recent happenings to his mind. Our sharp hearing noticed some fidgeting outside.
“End’horis, we must stop copying the memories, they can discover us at any time!”
“I don’t need much more.” I tried to focus on sucking out the important memories at least.
“We are short of time, we must halt now! I am sorry!” he said and released my hand. He started dressing in Telron’s clothes, taking his shape in the meantime.
I couldn’t do anything else, I cursed to myself and following my brother, I lifted my hand from Orlond’s head and rapidly started dressing.
“Gideur, grab the Duke and take him to your world, he can never return from there!”
The creature nodded, grabbed the hands of the unconscious man and dragged his naked body through the mirror. It meant no problem to bundle the large and heavy body that surpassed its own size into the mirror. I assume this might have been one of its extraordinary abilities. We heard knocking again.
“Sir, excuse me for disturbing you, but the Duchess would like to see you urgently.”
“I am coming, just a second!” I shouted as I pulled on the Duke’s trousers and other clothes lying on the floor.
In the meantime, Gideur had hidden the real Duke and looked at me with its huge, sulphur yellow gaze.
“I have completed your request, shapeshifter! I will take my leave.”
“Go in peace, Mirror Dweller. Enjoy the stones.”
It nodded, turned around, and crawled back to the mirror. We had just finished dressing when Colossus opened the door.
“Your majesty, with all due respect, you must come now,” he moaned in his deep voice.
“I am coming right away.” I adjusted the crown on my head. “I have finished my discussion with the Baron,” I said and winked at the man sitting beside me.
“I believe I can leave now, your majesty,” he played his part.
I patted Randar’s shoulder and whispered to him.
“We have succeeded, brother! Bring my crystal ball to me, I have hidden it in a chest in the carriage. Now off you go and behave like a respectable baron.”
“As you wish, your majesty,” he made a bow and smiled. He took the bag, the mirror, and his crystal ball.
I slid the granite statue to my pocket and we stepped to the corridor. The knights wearing full plate armour were impatiently waiting for us at the door. I had to be careful because I didn’t have the opportunity to copy all important memories within such a brief time but I had finally become the monarch of one of the most powerful duchies of the north. This made all the effort and risks that I had taken on the way worthwhile.
“Duke, follow us, we will take you to the Duchess,” the guard captain said.
“Alright. Baron Telron, don’t forget what I have asked you to do,” I addressed my brother.
“I will not, your majesty,” he bowed before we left.
We entered the great yard of the palace, the knights led me straight to my new wife who was passing time in the company of some others, sipping on some sweet red wine from the highlands.
“You are here, Orlond, finally! Where have you disappeared? Many important guests would like to see you,” he said in a rather tipsy tone.
“I only had a few words with my old friend, Baron Telron.”
“Great, but don’t forget to ask Kirona for a dance during the night, I am sure she would be delighted.”
“Fine, I will keep it in mind.”
I will have to dance with that woman again, great. I will never rid myself of her, even when I am the Duke.
“Your majesty, do you still stand by what we talked about the last time?” one of the well-dressed noble guests asked me. His characteristic walrus moustache reached down to the chin, lending a distinguishing appearance to the greyish man.
The memories of the Duke said that this was Fonderlic Grivon, marquis of the Farlena province, he was a nobleman possessing one of the strongest armies – after mine, of course, – but I couldn’t remember what they had talked about earlier.
“What are you referring to exactly, lord Fonderlic?” I tried to get more information.
“That your majesty mentioned the last time that you wouldn’t want to avenge the assault of the East Barbarians in the country because the duchy only suffered material loss. The wild men didn’t kill anyone during the raids.”
“I will have to carefully consider this. I might need your famously grand army to show our restless neighbor that their robberies are not to be tolerated anymore.”
“I am glad to hear that his majesty is willing to look at the situation from a different angle and is open to considering the possibility of armed intervention.”
“I feel like I have been reborn today,” I smiled.
This was a great opportunity to generate some chaos in the world. I will declare war against the neighboring countries one after the other, involving our allies as well. The whole north is going to be blazing soon. And we, taking advantage of the turmoil, can finally come out of the darkness of the underground to take our deserved place in the world of humans and other races, offering a resolution to the war as their rulers and masters.
“My dear husband, I will mingle a bit to entertain our dear guests who came in such big numbers, we will see each other later,” Victoria said and disappeared into the crowd followed by four knight guards.
“Marquis Fonderlic, I am happy to have talked to you, I wish you an agreeable evening.”
“Thank you, your majesty, the same to you!” he bowed.
The sun sluggishly hid behind the peaks of the nearby mountains, the servants busily lit the oil lamps and the ball could continue uninterrupted. Some were already giddy from the alcohol. I had conversed with many guests, chatting about matters of no significance to me. When I glimpsed at the face that I was wearing not even that long time ago, I went to him and his wife.
“Baroness Kirona, Baron Telron, how are you enjoying the evening?” I addressed the couple.
“Your majesty.” They both bowed. “We are enjoying it, thank you, this is a wonderful day. It couldn’t have fared better,” Telron squared his shoulders and let a faint smile flicker across his face, knowing that only I would know its real meaning.
“I have worn down my feet dancing, I think I’m beginning to age,” the Baroness replied.
“I would love to ask you for a last dance, you cannot refuse that,” I reached to her hands.
“Your Excellency, it is an honor. I accept it with pleasure, despite my aching legs,” she replied with blushed cheeks and a wide smile.
She didn’t have the slightest idea that only a few hours before I was dancing with her, and even now, it was not the real Duke that had asked her to dance. The crowd let us through and we joined the dancing couples.
“We were talking with Telron and he mentioned that your relationship has improved lately. Is this true, Kirona?” I asked her as we waltzed.
“Yes, he has somehow changed over the last few weeks. I was quite surprised but maybe it is the aging that has had a beneficial effect on his stubborn head.”
“It is possible. He said that he had resolved the tension with your neighbor, Baron Yuraj.”
“Over the last month, your Excellency, we were exposed to several disturbing events and Telron made the conclusion that Baron Yuraj had been involved in the background. Therefore, he paid him a visit and straightened out the situation. Although he conceals it from me how he had achieved that.”
Faceless: The Takeover (The Shapeshifters Book 1) Page 21
