The Dragon's Jester

Chapter 11

"You two really need to learn how to knock."

"Who are you?" Khaota asked, their brows knitting together in annoyance and confusion. 

"Oh, would you prefer me like..." The figure's body began to melt, mold, and stretch, until finally the old elf they had previously met stood before them.

"You're a changeling."

"Wow, very well done, little dragon. You want a prize?"

"This 'little dragon' will teach you to watch your tone if you don't shut your mouth, I don't care how old you are."

"Ooo, so cold and cruel. I'm truly quivering with fear."

"I don't like it. Can I play with him? Please?" Kithara begged, looking at her scaled friend.

"Not yet." They said before turning back to the Changeling, "So is our deal still on?"

"Straight to the point, you haven't changed a bit in the past couple of days. Although...something in your eyes tells me you have. You've seen something. Those jungle plants really get to you."

"Silence! Is the deal still on?"

The changeling laughed lowly before throwing a heavy sack of gold coins onto the ground in front of the pair, "Of course. I'm no saint, but my word is my bond."

"Kithara."

The clown looked at them with a grin before eagerly picking up the bag and stuffing it into her backpack. Khaota put their hand on her shoulder before turning to leave.

"Well, I'd say it's been a pleasure, but we both know that's a lie. Goodbye, whoever you are--"

"Leaving so soon? I was about to offer you more, but I suppose if you're in such a hurry, I shouldn't stop you."

Khaota practically froze in place like they'd been hit with some sort of ice spell before turning to face the changeling, "More what?"

"More riches. Everything valuable in this house, to be exact. If you think you're strong enough, of course. Then again, not anyone can fight a Flora-Beast and live to tell the tale."

"You knew?"

"Of course I knew, you fool. I sent you there on purpose. I can explain everything if you'd like? Just take a seat."

"How do we know we can trust you?"

"You don't. But isn't it worth the risk for more gold?"

Khaota paused for a moment, narrowing their eyes as the man in front of them as he began to morph back into his 'blank' form. They sighed and walked back into the house. Kithara made a sound similar to a squeak but reluctantly followed behind her friend. The redhead noticed her hesitancy and whispered to her as they walked.

"I don't trust it either. Keep your weapons on hand."

"But what about you?"

"My weapons are my hands."

The two of them sat opposite the Changeling at the kitchen table. It was almost identical to their first sit-down together, although much more serious, and there was no longer an elf sat before them. No one spoke for a full minute, just Khaota and this man staring at each other like they were having some telekinetic battle of wills. Eventually, he broke the silence. 

"So I suppose you're wondering why I disguised myself?"

"Not the most important thing to me, but yes, I can't deny I'm curious."

"That elf you met is an exact copy of my greatest rival. We were in an adventuring party together. The two of us butted heads at almost every single turn. He was adamant about being this goody-two-shoes pacifist no matter how difficult it made things. I, on the other hand, always favoured a more...direct route. It was infuriating. We fought multiple times, yet he always prevailed. And so, eventually, I left the group. But that only made it worse."

The changeling became visibly annoyed, veins bulging on his forehead and his pupils shrinking. He got to his feet and filled a cup with water before coming back over to the table and continuing his story.

"All I ever heard about was this fantastic adventuring party that did great things for people. Saving lives, enriching villages, doing daring tasks. My rival was getting praise, adoration, recognition, treasures...everything I deserved. And so I vowed I would watch him. Watch his every adventure, his every move, everything until I had the chance to defeat him again and take what he had for myself. And then the old fool goes and dies of old age in an old hut in the woods! When I found out, I came here immediately, intending on burning this place to the ground, and then I noticed something was missing. An adventure he never finished. A treasure he never collected. I've spent my whole life chasing that old idiot, I have no use for his treasures now, but I refuse to pass away before I collect the one thing he never got. My last chance to one-up the bastard and finally rest, knowing I am finally better than him."

There was silence. The Changeling man was staring intently at the cup of water he'd previously brought over. The silence was broken some seconds later by snoring. The Changeling man looked up in confusion and soon became aware that Kithara had, in fact, fallen asleep. He turned to Khaota in the hope that at least they were listening, but he felt his head heat up with rage when he saw them fiddling with a crossbow bolt.

"Are you two serious?"

"Oh, you're done now?"

Snoring again. The changeling looked like he was going to pop. Khaota balled up their hand into a fist and slammed it down onto the tabletop, causing their clown companion to instantly sit up with a start.

"'Pop!' goes the weasel!"

"I have a good mind to kick you two sorry messes out of here!"

"Okay, do it, and die without ever obtaining your treasure."

"You're not the only adventurers out there, I can find others."

"You can, but the clock's ticking, old man. We're fast, small in number, so more discreet, we have varied skills, we have no external commitments to interfere with getting the job done, and we aren't exactly humane. You know we're your best bet at succeeding with your pettiness project. So, remain a failure and kick us out, or get over it and tell us where to start searching."

The Changeling looked reluctant to accept their help, but he knew Khaota was right. He sighed and rubbed his temples before getting up and rummaging through some drawers and bringing back several maps.

"This is all I could find in the house to do with the treasure he couldn't get. Just different maps and lists of names of allies. They might have some information you can use."

"And just to clarify, if we succeed at this, you'll give us everything in this house?"

"All of it is yours. The only thing valuable to me now is victory over my rival."

"Splendid."

Khaota's icy-blue eyes practically gleamed with joy as they turned to face Kithara. Their eyes instantly dimmed, however, upon realising she'd fallen asleep again. 

"Clown, wake up!"

"Ding ding, you win a prize!" She said, her head quickly rising upon being awoken.

"We're going on another adventure."

"Yay! Can we play games on the way?"

"Sure, as long as it doesn't delay the journey."

"Yay! Adventure and games!"

"Good luck, you two. I expect you back here before it's too late. There's a curse on this treasure. If I die, it vanishes, so you might want to hurry so I can reverse it for you."

Khaota glared at the man sharply before walking out, swiping the papers he had fetched earlier. Kithara followed behind them happily and giggled. 

And so their story finally begins...