Legerdemain

CHAPTER-16

An eery silence covered the whole city of Death's kingdom. Even from the cliff, there was no sign of a populated city, no illuminated homes or streets. No bustling crowds, or silent thieves wandering the streets of Death. Despite my curiosity to learn more, I decided against it. I was here for one job—get the ring and get lost. No one would question my true intentions. But I couldn't use my magic to coat lies with the glamour of truth. Somebody would catch me, and I also needed my energy. I wouldn't waste it on stupid magic tricks.

When the downhill journey ended, another started. The woman warrior, Guilia, had always something to comment on. She didn't even spare her guard. I wondered what would it be like for her to get a taste of her own medicine.

My upbringing on the Elsyrian lands did have one advantage for me. Nobody here would recognize me. I hadn't stepped a foot outside my kingdom lands ever. The portal of time was a bit far from the court of Death. Something, that contradicted with other kingdoms. I had never heard of any kingdom having their portal of time anywhere else, but the court itself, for security purposes. Either their king didn't care or there was a reason I couldn't think of.

"What did you say your name was?" Guilia asked.

"Lexie."

"Right. I forget names easily. Especially the ones I don't need remembering." Rude.

I wanted the ring, not insults.

Dark clouds loomed over the kingdom; the sign of a bad omen. The place was as mysterious as it could be. In my kingdom, at this time, or any time, the streets would be buzzing with vendors, taverns would be houseful, and not a single soul would've gone to sleep before midnight.

Amidst the clouds, two tall towers stood on opposite sides of a huge castle—all painted black. The moonlight shone just enough to make the darkest parts of the castle visible. Atop the towers, flags hung from poles. It wasn't long before we stood in front of the gates, with four armored-clad men, their faces painted with patterns in black, guarding them.

On Guilia's command, the gates opened with a loud noise.

My mother would have paid a tremendous amount of gold just to see those gates be turned into glass.

The gates opened to a midnight-blue River gushing below the bridge as we walked. On the other side, another gate was yet to be opened with Guilia's magic. A lightning bolt shot across the sky with a thunder. My hand clutched the small bag on my waist as I looked up. If the King asked me for written proof of the wedding, I'd be doomed.

But if I used my magic to make an invitation appear in my bag, I would be safe.

Then again it would require energy and I didn't have much time to spend rolling in a bed. Be safe or sorry. I glanced at Guilia and her guards who were too busy looking ahead. Then placed a palm on my bag, as magic surged through my veins on my command, and the job was done.

"Lexie!"

"Yes." Did she see me doing that?

She turned to a man ahead. A cloak was placed over his shoulder, his face a bit shaggy and full of wrinkles. A glint of gold flashed when he talked with Guilia.

"Lexie, the chancellor shall take you to the king. I have much better stuff to do than escort you." She rolled her eyes and then was gone in a second, leaving a trail of mist behind her. The man looked at me with his crooked teeth, all flashing at me.

"Come on, darlin'," his voice came out a bit hoarse, as was expected from his age. A pungent odor reeked from his body or his cloak, it made me gag. While the first gate had some visibility to walk through, the second gate opened onto a deep, dark passage. The old man lit a makeshift torch. Too old to wield any magic.

"Where do ya' come from lil' girl?"

"The Elsyrian lands." The passageway was suffocating my lungs.

"My great, great granddaughter lives there. She tells me the princess is a cruel lil' thing. How she managed to secure herself a man of good fortune is far beyond my imagination!" he exclaimed.

"Why? I have met her, you know, sir. And I think that if she is not kind, then she is not cruel." The first time someone said that I was shocked, but now it's outrageous to talk about someone in such a vile way you have never met.

As if I can change what anyone thinks about me!

But it made me sad to some extent.

Five minutes of walking through the darkness and then the chancellor stopped suddenly. With one push he opened the doors. The sight was magnificent. Nothing that I had seen outside prepared me to be led into a contrastingly bright inside. So, was it all a glamour to trick people?

The walls were all painted a sparkling shade of wine with chandeliers hanging from above. Candle floated around the corners. Rugs made of gold laid out before us. Being awe-struck was one thing, but being blinded by surprise was another. The man nodded to the guards as we walked ahead.

Ten steps on the staircase led us to another room that looked the same as the one before me, except that it had more detailed paintings on the walls. The odor from the man was subdued by the heavenly smell surrounding the court of Death. On a raised platform, sat the king of Death. Unlike the room, his side was painted black, his throne of grey marble, and his footstool of gold. The crown that jeweled his head had obsidian and diamond engraved. The ministers sat on either side of the room, passing us looks as we walked by them.

The king had his chin propped up by his hand on the armrest. From this angle, I couldn't see his face.

"Your Majesty," the man excitedly said.

The king raised his head to look at us. Too young to be a king, too young. He looked a few years short of my age. But one could never get the age right if the other didn't die.

"Yes, Atticus?" His voice was rich and smooth. His hair reminded me of Delphinium's shade.

"There is news from the Kingdom of Elsyrian." The old man, Atticus nudged me forward towards the king.

"His Majesty requests your presence on the grand occasion of his daughter's wedding ceremony on the night of the upcoming full moon. The ceremony shall take place on the following day with two nights of ball and feast." I did sound awkwardly out of practice to be delivering royal messages to another kingdom.

"Princess of Elsyrian is getting married?" He sounded shocked but quickly composed himself. I glanced at his fingers. "I shall see to it." There were no rings.

Fuck. Now what?

"You can stay here for one or two days if you'd like. After all, you are our guest," he suggested.

I couldn't deny given I needed time to look for that royal ring. But how would I recognize it? What if he like every other king had tons of rings he adorned?

Fuck!

Atticus led me out of the room. The ministers talked too loudly about the princess' nature. I was confused. I was a lot of things, but cruel, not worthy enough to secure myself a match wasn't how I would describe myself. Even on my worst days, I wasn't mean and vile. They made me sound like a villain in my own story.

"I will escort you to a guest room. But do not venture at night alone, Lexie," he warned me before leading me to a room, equally bright like the stars. The walls were painted a dim shade of white. A king-sized bed occupied the center of the room, with a window covered with silk curtains of red, behind the bedpost. The door snapped close behind me.

The bathroom was attached to the room. Its entrance was covered with a sliding door, that opened to a bathtub in the middle and a few essentials loitering the shelves.

With time my enemy, I didn't have any left for a shower or even to look at my face in the mirror. As I sat on the bed, a plan formed in my mind.