Court of Snakes: This Desert Cage

Rune Guildenhart - The Tavern | June of the Second Year

"Everything is prepared, yes?"

"I think so."

"Clothes?"

"I got a brand-new wardrobe from Naa'a last week."

"Alibi?"

"Due to Councilman Guildenhart's sudden death, the Sovereign called for a replacement. As his... 'son,' I am his replacement."

"Perfect," The King said, and pulled out his cards. They glided past his fingertips as he shuffled them. "We have prepared nearly two years for this, Terran. Are you sure you can handle it?"

"I'm sure."

"Remember what our goal is," the King muttered and leaned closer to Terran. "You're to find the Sovereign, and you're to find out whatever foul play he's got tucked in sleeves. You've got to become his best friend, Terran, and then we can take him down from the inside out."

Terran gazed at the candle behind the fake window, burden weighing on his shoulders. He had never done anything this important in his entire life, and guilt hung in his heart. He felt as though he were planning a coup against his parents, though they were already gone. "I know."

"Now, for your disguise..."

The King picked up Terran's deck and drew The Magician on the first try. "Remember," he said, "the card only lasts at maximum... twelve hours. Dawn till dusk, or dusk till dawn. As soon as it wears off, you're discovered."

Terran swallowed thickly and joked, "This is like a story I read in an ancient book, about a princess who became beautiful using the magick of a wise woman, but the spell wore off at dawn."

"Here's to hoping this card doesn't turn you into a beautiful princess."

It wouldn't. Terran knew it wouldn't. He had read every book he could on the cards, and now better understood their rules. They were intuitive, but he, as the card user, still had some control. Though the cards worked differently for everyone, certain cards, the Major Arcana, had set spells attached to them. The Magician was one of them. With The Magician, a card user could change their appearance at will, transforming into anything that they needed. With intent in mind, the card user could control the outcome... to some extent. The Magician would last as long as The King had detailed, dawn till dusk or dusk till dawn, and that was all. Terran could draw the card at will from the deck, just as The King did, with the proper practice and this card was about to become his weapon of choice.

"Let's do it," he said. "The cards will make it right."

The King handed Terran the card and Terran placed it on his hand. The metal uncoiled and wrapped itself around his hand like thin, metal fingers, and on the back of his skin a five-pointed star surrounded by odd symbols revealed itself. When the card finished, Terran looked at himself, expecting a great change, but saw nothing. He did not feel any different. The last card he had used had been something incredible, but now he felt as if nothing had happened at all.

Then, The King started to laugh. When Terran looked up at him, he held out the small hand mirror and Terran looked at himself. The face he saw there he did not recognize. It was far older, and his white-blond hair had been replaced with fire locks, much like The King's. The King chuckled, "If I didn't know any better, I would have guessed you were my own kid."

Terran smiled, "So, I just head to the front gates of the Embassy palace, then?"

"Yes. But remember... wander first. If guards are watching, we want it to look like you were just shopping."

"I need to get my story straight."

"You're from another settlement, somewhere far away."

"Sulphur."

"Right, Sulphur."

"But Sulphur is full of raiders and criminals, exiles from Segeno. Why would the son of a Councilmember be out—"

"You're a creative kid. I trust you. You'll come up with something. And Terran—"

"Not Terran. Rune Guildenhart, son of Adriann Guildenhart."

"Terran," The King affirmed, stood, and grabbed him firmly by the shoulders, "be careful."

"Are you actually saying you care about me?"

The King straightened up and frowned, a scowl plastered on his otherwise youthful lips. "I'm not saying any such thing. You're just a large part of my operation, is all, and if I lose you, I'm sunk. You're only a street rat, remember?"

"Of course." Terran bowed. "I won't fail you, Your Majesty."