There were eight Demons, actually. The other six were waiting outside Isodore\u2019s room. They might have gotten her too, but my raising the alarm with the [Princess] saved her.<\/p>\n
I learn that after I wake. That was still in Erille\u2019s bedroom, the floor and walls still splattered with my blood and that of the Demon soldiers. There is no young [Princess], though. Just a [Healer] tending to me and the Fool, several guards, and the two dead bodies.<\/p>\n
Later, I can remember trying to sit up, feeling the pain which makes me almost scream, and the [Healer] telling me to lie still while the potions do their work. Soon, the pain becomes a memory, but ah, what a memory.<\/p>\n
In this world it\u2019s possible to heal a wound in seconds where it would take months in my world. But the pain means that few people can stand to fight after taking such injuries. All but the best healing potions make you tired, sometimes nauseous\u2014<\/p>\n
And the agony of it can kill some people. The shock of it can stop a heart. I see the Fool convulsing as the [Healer] tends to him, crying out as his severed innards grow together and have to be pushed into his stomach before being healed.<\/p>\n
But he is alive. And so is Erille. She is kept in a safe place, under highest guard while the entire palace and the rest of the city is put on high alert and searched. No other Demons are found, but watchful of more assassins, the Blighted King keeps his guards searching through the night and into the next day.<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t get to see any of it. I sleep after being treated, sleep through the night and late into the day. When I get up later, head spinning, feeling at the unbroken skin on my stomach, I\u2019m in a different room. Not mine, nor Erille\u2019s.<\/p>\n
A grand room. And I am lying in a bed, a large, king-sized one. One with silk sheets. They\u2019re oddly a refreshing light green color for some reason, and the bed is complete with plush pillows which are also green and embroidered with gold threads.<\/p>\n
That is my bed. The rest of my room holds a large table and chairs to sit around it, a private bathroom, a bookshelf with a few books on it, a side table on which a few bottles of precious-looking tonics or other potions are resting\u2026and a lot more. In short, I wake up in richness.<\/p>\n
I get up, wobbling, and feel my knees trembling like jelly. I pat at my stomach again, feel it whole, and then remember.<\/p>\n
\u201cI did it! I\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
I laugh, and then shake, feeling hot, then cold, and tremble at the memory of icy fear, of seeing the Demon with the bloody sword, of fighting\u2014<\/p>\n
But I did it. I killed them. And Erille.<\/p>\n
She\u2019s alive. Right? And the Fool, I remember seeing him. But where are they? Not here, obviously. I need to ask.<\/p>\n
I stumble to the doorway, then realize someone undressed me save for my underwear and pants earlier.<\/p>\n
\u201cWait. Crap. This isn\u2019t my old underwear! Oh god.\u201d<\/p>\n
Panicked, I have a crisis where the worst thought running through my head is that someone saw my private parts. Then I laugh and find some clothes to wear. After all I\u2019ve just been through, that\u2019s the least of my concerns.<\/p>\n
I just really hope it wasn\u2019t a guy. Or wait\u2014would a girl be worse? An old woman? A young woman? I imagine an old [Butler] having to strip me down and shudder. I really, really hope no one talked about what they saw.<\/p>\n
I guess I\u2019ll find out soon enough.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2014-<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou may approach the throne.\u201d<\/p>\n
The voice echoes throughout the hall. It bounces off the black and white marble tiles, and from the ceiling where a series of intercrossing stone beams overhead hold up the rest of the palace. I\u2019d look up, but I know that there are guards with bows and arrows and wands standing on the beams. Plus, I have to walk forwards.<\/p>\n
So I do. I cross the distance to the twisted throne ahead of me. It sits on a dais, drawing every eye in the throne room. Those that aren\u2019t fixed on me, that is.<\/p>\n
The Blighted King\u2019s throne. It is made of twisted ivory. The bones of some ancient monsters, carved into a huge seat and enchanted. Or maybe the magic is in the bones? The throne seems to shudder and grow as I walk towards it.<\/p>\n
Just an illusion. But it makes the man sitting in the throne all the more foreboding because of it. I stare up at the Blighted King and remember how afraid of him I was the first time I saw him. Now I see an old man.<\/p>\n
I kneel. The cold marble is hard on my knee, but that\u2019s protocol. The Blighted King studies me, and then bids me to rise. Around me, I see the kneeling people getting to their feet.<\/p>\n
The nobility, champions of the King, dignitaries, common people\u2014that is to say, wealthy [Merchants] and servants and powerful individuals who aren\u2019t nobility or sworn to the crown\u2014and my friends look at me. I stare towards the Blighted King and the three people who stand beside him on the throne.<\/p>\n
The Blighted Queen, imperious, stone-faced. Isodore, looking pale, but pretty collected, and Erille, who half hides behind her step-sister, peering at me. She looks sideways, and I see a flash of color out of the corner of my eyes. The Fool stands, healed, watching me.<\/p>\n
\u201cSir Thomas. The [Clown]. You have done our kingdom a great service this day. You protected our daughter, Princess Erille, when our guards failed us. Against assassins. Demons.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The Blighted King\u2019s voice blazes with silent fury. The people around the room shift. I look up at him. I don\u2019t want to be here, but I was spirited to the throne room as soon as I left my room.<\/p>\n At least I\u2019m not required to really say much unless asked. The people in the throne room watch me as I stand, awkward, gazing at the Blighted King\u2019s navel.<\/p>\n \u201cYou<\/em> killed two assassins meant for my daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n He says it like a question. The Blighted King stares at me.<\/p>\n \u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2026had a knife, Your Majesty. I killed one Demon with that. And I took the other one\u2019s dagger.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou disarmed a soldier?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, sire. I can steal things if I\u2019m close enough. I can take a sword out of someone\u2019s hands. It\u2019s\u2026well, a trick.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShow us.\u201d<\/p>\n There\u2019s a moment of hesitation, and then Nereshal strides forwards. He has a dagger in his hand, the metal of the blade tinted light purple. He holds it, and I gingerly grab it out of his hands. I don\u2019t need to touch his hands or the blade to do it. I hear a quiet susurration, and hand the blade back to Nereshal, hilt-first. He accepts the blade. The Blighted King leans forwards a bit on his throne, eyes narrowing.<\/p>\n \u201cIntriguing. A trick indeed. We saw it performed before, but it seemed paltry, then. What do you make of it, Nereshal?\u201d<\/p>\n The time mage studies me for a moment, impassive. He doesn\u2019t seem wary of me so much as\u2026intrigued. Everyone\u2019s giving me that look, really. I guess saving Erille makes me important again.<\/p>\n Crap.<\/p>\n The [Chronomancer] turns back to the Blighted King. He bows.<\/p>\n \u201cIt appears to be a Skill similar to a bag of holding, my King. The Fool can do the same. I have heard of other classes with similar skills. [Rangers] whose quivers can hold a seemingly endless number of arrows. Classes like [Thief] who can create secret containers about their person. I suppose these\u2014[Clowns]\u2014are known for the same feats?\u201d<\/p>\n I think of improbably small clown cars, tricks with coins behind the ears, and a surplus of balloons for every occasion.<\/p>\n \u201cSomething like that, yeah.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA worthy Skill. Useful in battle. Tell me, Sir Tom. You claim to be no warrior, but you killed two elite Demon soldiers by yourself. Are [Clowns] truly entertainers and not warriors as you claim? Do they not fight?\u201d<\/p>\n The Blighted King stares at me. I want to laugh in his face. Sir Tom? A warrior? I\u2019m just\u2026no.<\/p>\n His question\u2019s ridiculous, but he doesn\u2019t know our world. So I take it seriously and think for a moment before replying.<\/p>\n Do clowns fight? What a question. Are you counting movie clowns who have supernatural abilities and eat kids, or do you mean real life ones? Even then, there are serial killer clowns\u2026<\/p>\n Rodeo clowns are known for being badasses. Dante told me about it\u2014he\u2019s actually seen them dodging bulls in arenas. But an actual clown who fights for a living? I shake my head.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Your Majesty. [Clowns] have tricks suited for combat, but they\u2014aren\u2019t warriors.\u201d<\/p>\n The Blighted King looks at me, eyes boring into me. I return the gaze. He nods slowly.<\/p>\n \u201cA pity. We search for Skills that might aid our people, classes that might be worth taking. It is a shame that this [Clown] class is not suited to war. But we understand more of your nature. We give you our thanks, Tom the [Clown].\u201d<\/p>\n He inclines his head a fraction. I bow, prompted by Nereshal\u2019s whisper. The Blighted King looks at me a moment longer, and then dismisses me from his thoughts again.<\/p>\n \u201cWe invite you to join our personage in the gardens shortly. We shall deliberate on a suitable reward tonight. Now onto more pressing matters. Nereshal, summon the commander of the palace guard. Failure must be met with appropriate punishment.\u201d<\/p>\n Like that, I\u2019m ushered out of the throne room. I walk away as another man, pale and sweating, takes my place. Some of the people in the room disperse, and once we\u2019re outside and the massive doors to the room have swung shut, I hear them cheering.<\/p>\n I wish they wouldn\u2019t. But I\u2019m still glad. My friends cluster around me, slapping me on the back, congratulating me. For killing the Demons? For being sane while doing it? I don\u2019t know. I don\u2019t really care. I\u2019m happy enough for the praise, whatever the reason.<\/p>\n After that, I go to the gardens for lunch. I was dragged before the Blighted King before I could get anything to eat and I am starving.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014-<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Politics. Intrigue. Wait, are those the same words? They\u2019re here even in Rhir, in the Blighted Kingdom. People vie to become the most important person, the most valuable asset to the Blighted King, or to control more power. Naturally, my friends and I are all small fry, but again, saving a [Princess] is usually a big deal no matter where you go.<\/p>\n That\u2019s probably why I got the fancy new room. Richard, Emily, and the others certainly didn\u2019t get an upgrade. And that\u2019s also why I was invited to the gardens. Again, no one else from my group was. And finally, that\u2019s how I end up sitting with a bunch of the nobility of Rhir, listening to them gossip and talk over matters of the realm while the Fool performs for their children, some mages display illusions, and a [Bard] plays soft music in the background.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t care. I\u2019m here for the food. The servants offer me a cut of meat from a weird, long tongue. I take it and chew the soft meat without a second\u2019s thought. It resists in my mouth for a second, then it\u2019s soft, juicy. Succulent. I\u2019m too hungry to quibble about the tongue bit.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014Naturally we must retaliate in kind. I am not debating that point, Lord Yebior. But I assert that it would be a mistake to use [Assassins].\u201d<\/p>\n There\u2019s a light debate raging at the moment. I\u2019m sitting in a circle of about sixteen nobles, one of many groups in the gardens. Others are strolling about, talking, and the Blighted King has his own group, of course. Since I have bad allergies, I\u2019m staying as far away from the flowers and whatnot as possible. The people around me are some form of important, and my only input to the conversation has been to nod when everyone else does.<\/p>\n The woman who\u2019s speaking is Lady Zekyria, wearing a pink and red outfit that looks a lot more practical than the dress I saw her in last time. As in, you could probably run in this one without tripping. It\u2019s a cross between a riding dress and trousers, which looks great on her. I try not to stare.<\/p>\n Red. It\u2019s the color she\u2019s wearing, as is her sister who sits next to her, chewing on some tongue, and quite a few other ladies in the gathering. It appears as a splash of color whenever I see it.<\/p>\n Miscarriages. I wonder if the corruption on Rhir causes it? But Lady Zekyria is fierce, even in mourning.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is a fact that Rhir cannot field the same quality of [Assassins] as other continents. Purely because there is no Assassin\u2019s Guild in our nation. Infighting of that sort is too detrimental, of course, but it leaves us with a deficit of such killers in moments like these.\u201d<\/p>\n Lord Yebior, a big guy with a beard and a scimitar at his hip, frowns. I take a plum tart from a plate and bite into it. Yum. I wonder what he\u2019s gonna say? I have no idea.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t disagree, Lady Zekyria. However, how else would we send a message to the Demon King other than by stealth? I am not proposing we send low-level [Assassins] either\u2014but surely we could contract the Assassin\u2019s Guild on another continent?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFor a suicide mission into Demon territory? And to send one of their best across the sea? Assuming it could be done, think of the cost!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Zekyria scoffs openly and I nod along with some of the others. Good point. Hey, is that a fruit drink I see being served? I could use a glass.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd what do you think your reward from His Majesty will be, Sir Tom?\u201d<\/p>\n A voice speaks and I nearly jump out of my skin. A [Lady] leans over to me, elegant, eyes on my face. I start sweating as I realize I\u2019ve lost track of the conversation.<\/p>\n \u201cMe? I uh\u2026I have no idea. I don\u2019t really need a reward.\u201d<\/p>\n The others make polite scoffing sounds. Lady Zekyria tosses back her hair, which makes me sweat harder. Beautiful women talking to me is not a normal occurrence, and all the women around me are [Ladies]. Steady on, Tom.<\/p>\n \u201cSurely there is something you desire? The Blighted King\u2019s gifts are no trifles. I imagine he might present you with a dagger from his armory, perhaps a powerful artifact? Do you have a preference for enchantments, Sir Tom? I\u2019ve always been a fan of ward enchantments myself, but for a knife specialist, perhaps you prefer contact enchantments?\u201d<\/p>\n I stare at her blankly. What is<\/em> it with people in this nation? The nobles are bloodthirsty. I guess being at war for thousands of years makes this kind of thinking normal. I cough.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not an expert at uh, enchantments. All of my knives are non-magical.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? Then you surely need better equipment. All of the King\u2019s champions have artifacts of their own\u2014I shall petition His Majesty that you be awarded a blade worthy of your accomplishments tonight!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? No, that\u2019s really\u2026I wouldn\u2019t want to take a valuable weapon. Not when someone else might need it, you know?\u201d<\/p>\n The others laugh. Lord Yebior gives me a pitying look.<\/p>\n \u201cSir Tom, His Majesty has enough arms to outfit an army. He has opened his armory in the past in times of need, but in safer times\u2026it is an honor to receive an artifact from his vaults, not a burden, I assure you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh? There\u2019s a lot of artifacts?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course! This is Rhir<\/em>, after all. We have accumulated treasures for generations. Each champion is accorded items worthy of any Named Adventurer if they did not have one already. Consider Sir Hesseras, over there. The Naga. You see him? He holds the Battleaxe of Caxel. A fascinating weapon\u2014if held, the blade doubles in size but swings as fast as any hatchet. And Lord Meliore? The Shortsword of Weeping. Poisoned, obviously, which is why he has to keep it sheathed at all times. But my favorite artifact is perhaps the King\u2019s own blade, Blightbane, which has several enchantments. I haven\u2019t seen it drawn in years, but it is a sight\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Lord Yebior begins talking enthusiastically about the artifacts around him, the others chiming in their examples. I blink and stare from person to person in the gathering. And I\u2019m<\/em> going to get a weapon like that? Well\u2026it would be cool.<\/p>\n One of the people in the gathering is the old woman who dueled Richard earlier. When I ask about what she got, the others laugh. Zekyria leans over to me and whispers.<\/p>\n \u201cBefore she became a [Marchioness], Lady Xersia was known far and wide as a Named Adventurer. She was called Xersia the Scorpion. She has her own spear\u2014I believe she was gifted with an amulet from the treasury for her service.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh. Named Adventurers can become nobility?\u201d<\/p>\n Zekyria looks puzzled.<\/p>\n \u201cNaturally! For their services against the enemy, famous adventurers are often granted lands and wealth. It is one of the things that draws them here. Alas, we lose them to age or battle too frequently.\u201d<\/p>\n I look over at the old woman. She\u2019s happily chewing on a tart. I don\u2019t think she has many teeth.<\/p>\n \u201cShe looked pretty good when she was dueling the others last night.\u201d<\/p>\n Zekyria sighs.<\/p>\n \u201cA Named Adventurer never loses their Skills, of course, but age is<\/em> a limiting factor. Lady Xersia can only fight at her best for a few minutes before tiring, which is why she seldom returns to the front. If only Lord Nereshal could halt the aging of multiple individuals in our realm\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDoes he do it for only the Blighted King?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHim, and perhaps the Queen. I believe Nereshal uses the spell on himself, but his mana may not extend beyond that.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Lords] and [Ladies] nod. One of them clears his throat.<\/p>\n \u201cSpeaking of warriors, Sir Thomas, Her Majesty was a famed warrior on the battlefield before she became the Blighted Queen. No doubt it was one of the reasons why His Majesty was so enamored with her.\u201d<\/p>\n I glance at the Blighted Queen. I can imagine her smashing someone over the head with a mace. Yup, yup. Next to Zekyria, her sister, Lady Theras sighs longingly, her eyes on her King.<\/p>\n \u201cAh, if only I had become a [Lady] suited to the battlefield, rather than the manor\u2026far better to die with a sword in hand rather than waste away in old age.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s many uses for your Skills outside of battle.\u201d<\/p>\n Zekyria reassures her twin, smiling. Yebior nods.<\/p>\n \u201cA warrior is not all that is needed in service of the realm. Consider the role the Lady Reinhart occupies in her lands for instance\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Theras scoffs openly.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Flower of Izril? Hah! That brazen hussy\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Zekyria tsks softly.<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s an ally of the kingdom, Theras. Remember that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNominally. She\u2019d be far better off halting her squabbles for power with the Drakes and sending support here<\/em>. But her complacency is costing her. Did you know I heard she was being targeted by [Assassins]?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSurely not. I\u2019d heard they were under her thumb.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo you might think. But it seems her manor was attacked. Now I don\u2019t know the details, of course\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n The talk turns towards some woman I\u2019ve never heard about. I settle back into my chair, and hear a cheer going up. I look over and see the young children gathering around the Fool, who\u2019s just performed a triple backflip, much to their amazement. I see heads turning, and the faces of the nobles around me are pursed with disapproval at the break in decorum.<\/p>\n \u201cTactless as usual. I suppose the Fool is recovered if he can move around like that\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA waste of a healing potion if you ask me. Why use such high-quality items on him?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe is<\/em> a guest of the palace and entertains Her Highness. Still\u2026I can understand given his level, but a [Fool] is nonetheless a fool, is he not?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHis level? Is the Fool\u2026a high-level?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOne would imagine so, but his performances are usually decidedly lacking.\u201d<\/p>\n Theras sniffs and the other nobles seem to agree. Zekyria explains as she eyes the Fool juggling twelve balls this time. As if that\u2019s easy<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cBefore he came to Rhir and pledged himself to His Majesty, the [Fool] was a noted entertainer who travelled across Baleros and Terandria, putting on performances. There are tales of the grand feats he would perform. However, these days he seems content to entertain children. Worthwhile, of course, for Her Highness\u2019 sake, but if he cannot even repay his debt to our king with his life\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n I cough, feeling obliged to defend the Fool.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was taken hostage, right? And he tried to warn me when the Demons attacked.\u201d<\/p>\n There\u2019s not much sympathy from the others. Zekyria tosses her head dismissively.<\/p>\n \u201cHis injuries are, of course, regrettable. Still, he would do well to learn from your example, Sir Tom. You two are akin, are you not? But he was taken prisoner while you<\/em> fought. Most admirable.\u201d<\/p>\n Is she\u2026hitting on me? She leans over and I do my best not to edge away. I know Zekyria has a husband. She had a kid. But I\u2019m getting a vibe\u2014then again, I\u2019m not good with picking things up. But it seems like\u2014<\/p>\n I\u2019m saved from any thoughts in that direction by an interruption. The people around me rise and I hastily get to my feet as none other than Erille and Isodore approach. We all bow as the [Princesses] stop before me.<\/p>\n \u201cSir Tom.\u201d<\/p>\n Isodore\u2019s voice is polite and her smile appears genuine. But it\u2019s probably fake. She nods towards me, and Erille.<\/p>\n \u201cErille wished to thank you personally for saving her life yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n She nudges her sister, and Erille steps forward. Her hands are in her dress, and she twists them together nervously. She looks up at me, and mumbles.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026you.\u201d<\/p>\n I can\u2019t hear the first part of the sentence. Erille curtseys quickly, looking upset at being the focus of all this attention. I see the Fool grimace as he stands, juggling across the garden. He\u2019s watching her sadly. I bow towards Erille, not wanting to draw out the moment.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m honored to serve, Princess Erille.\u201d<\/p>\n She nods at me and then flees. Isodore curtseys quickly and follows her. I hear a sigh from the other nobles.<\/p>\n \u201cSo young.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a stroke of fortune that the Demons did not kill her, truly. I fear she has so many years to grow, though.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLady Isodore is promising, if young. A few years and she might\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Zekyria turns to me with a bright smile.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure Princess Erille is truly grateful. And perhaps we shall learn what reward will be bestowed on you tonight? I would be most grateful to sit with you at the banquet.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh! Lady Zekyria, I would put myself for the same honor!\u201d<\/p>\n Yebior interrupts. The other nobles turn and begin fighting over me like one of the snacks. I try to excuse myself. Jeeze. Save a [Princess] and suddenly everyone\u2019s your friend.<\/p>\n I wait for a reply in my head and hear none. I smile.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014-<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n After more conversation, more talk and eating and a good deal of time, it\u2019s late in the evening. Just before dinner, which makes me regret eating so much in the gardens. But I can get away at last for a little bit before then, so I make a beeline to my room. There\u2019s something I have to do.<\/p>\n I get lost on the way. I went back to my old room before Richard reminded me where I\u2019m staying now. He grins at me as I throw up my hands.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a gift, Tom. You should enjoy your new place.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI guess. Is anyone else upset? I don\u2019t want them to think I\u2019m asking for special treatment. I could ask the King or Nereshal\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Richard shakes his head.<\/p>\n \u201cEmily\u2019s salty, but we all know you deserve it. Besides, we can\u2019t complain. And you did nearly die.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI guess. I\u2019ll see you at dinner, then? I\u2019m supposed to sit with some of the nobles, but I think I can get away.\u201d<\/p>\n I turn to go. Richard stops me.<\/p>\n \u201cHey Tom.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou did it. You saved a [Princess]. And you did it\u2026without having a problem, right?\u201d<\/p>\n He looks at me. I look back and nod, slowly.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. I guess I did.\u201d<\/p>\n His grip tightens a bit on my shoulder. Richard smiles.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m glad.\u201d<\/p>\n I smile as well and walk away without another word. It takes me twenty minutes to find my rooms, and they\u2019re not that far away in the palace. So many corridors and so far to walk\u2026you could get all your exercise just going from one part of the castle to another. When I finally get to my door, I walk in, a bit tired, elated, and collapse onto the mattress, thinking of a nap.<\/p>\n But my eyes are drawn to one thing in the room besides the bed. The dresser. It\u2019s much like the one in my old room and is, in fact, decorated with my possessions from my old room as well. I stare at the perfect mirror and get out of bed to hobble over to it. I touch my fingers to the cool glass and stare into my eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cI win.\u201d<\/p>\n The Tom in the mirror doesn\u2019t respond. After a minute he raises his hand. I press it against the glass.<\/p>\n \u201cI killed them. Me. It was\u2026I had to do it. And it was terrible and it hurt. But it was me<\/em>, get it? I did that. Me.\u201d<\/p>\n I finish speaking, stare at myself. I stare back, looking a bit tired, a bit triumphant. I wait, but I don\u2019t reply.<\/p>\n \u201cI won\u2019t be afraid of you anymore. I won\u2019t listen. You\u2019re in my head. You\u2019re a part of me. But you don\u2019t control me. I control myself, and I\u2019ve taken responsibility for my actions.\u201d<\/p>\n At last, he stirs. The other Tom looks into my eyes, and his lips grudgingly move.<\/p>\n \u201cKeep telling yourself that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShut up, you idiot. You don\u2019t know anything. You killed two Demons and everyone\u2019s praising your name. But you know you\u2019re not in the clear yet, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n I stare as Tom steps back a bit. My hands go up; he adjusts his shirt.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not over. Do you really think it is? Don\u2019t be stupid, Thomas. I might be insane, but I\u2019m not<\/em> an idiot. Neither are you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n He stares at me, and then walks out of the mirror\u2019s range. I sit on the bed, hearing his voice, my voice, in my ears.<\/p>\n \u201cThink about it. Demon soldiers, appearing in the middle of the night? How? And they just so happen to know where the [Princesses] are sleeping? That\u2019s hard to do, even for assassins. If they were assassins.\u201d<\/p>\n I remember seeing the dead guard outside of Erille\u2019s room and shudder.<\/p>\n \u201cThey seemed pretty intent on killing to me.\u201d<\/p>\n I feel my eyes roll.<\/p>\n \u201cYes. I guess they did. All two of them. And there were six for the other princess. None for the Blighted King, his Queen, or anyone else. Why\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n No response. I get back up, go back to the mirror. Tom stares at me. The black pits of his eyes are dark. Fathomless. I look away.<\/p>\n Someone organized my belongings, such as they are. I glance down at my tin of grease paint, play with the freshly laundered clown suit as he talks.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is just the start. You know that. And you might have killed two Demons, but you know you\u2019re nothing without me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m me.<\/em> You\u2019re in my head. And you can\u2019t control me. I proved that just now. Yesterday, I mean.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh yeah?\u201d<\/p>\n He laughs. I look up and glare at him in the mirror. He glares back, and then grins. And then the grin freezes. It slides off my face and I study myself. I shake my head.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s all me. See?\u201d<\/p>\n I wait. The reflection doesn\u2019t respond. I go on.<\/p>\n \u201cMe. I pretend. I get it now. I\u2019m doing this. And I can stop. It\u2019s my choice. Maybe I like thinking I\u2019m insane. But I\u2019m not. And if I don\u2019t let you have a thing, you can stay a voice in my head for all I care.\u201d<\/p>\n No response. I smile bitterly.<\/p>\n \u201cGood chat. Let\u2019s never do this again. I win. No\u2014there was never anyone to play against, was there? Just me.\u201d<\/p>\n I turn. I hear no voice, no mocking reply. It is just me.<\/p>\n Then I hear a whisper in my head.<\/p>\n So you say. I left a little present for you, though. A little reminder I\u2019m here. Want me to tell you what it is?<\/em><\/p>\n I ignore the voice. Turn. What\u2019s the old expression again? Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words\u2026<\/p>\n Words can hurt. Of course they can. And thoughts can be terrible. But they will not control me.<\/p>\n It\u2019s time for the banquet. I absently get ready in front of the mirror. I don\u2019t have many good pairs of clothes, but I do make sure I have a few knives up my sleeves. Just in case.<\/p>\n And then I go. Voiceless. I stride out of the bedroom, feeling better than I have in months. A new room, a friend in the Fool, and some measure of respect. And who knows? Maybe things can get better than this. I don\u2019t know, but I\u2019m hopeful.<\/p>\n I might just enjoy tonight after all.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014-<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I get lost on the way to the banquet hall again. It\u2019s my new room. Plus, I never got to know the old one that well. It\u2019s also hard to get directions. All the servants just stare at me and point. I guess they still don\u2019t think I\u2019m that much of a hero. I know I\u2019m not.<\/p>\n But I still get to the banquet hall in good time. The [Chamberlain] blinks when he sees me, but points me to the table with my friends.<\/p>\n I sense heads turning as I enter the room. People watching me, murmuring. I hate that. But I also know that they\u2019ll stop as soon as something else happens. Give me a week, a month, and people will barely remember my name, let alone call me a hero.<\/p>\n My friends are sitting with their backs to me, laughing with the Drakes. I know I should sit with the nobles, but I want to talk to them first, say hi. Maybe ask if Lady Zekyria has a husband. I dunno, I\u2019m feeling very lucky. Although that\u2019s probably pushing any amount of luck I\u2019d ever have.<\/p>\n \u201cHey guys. What\u2019s up?\u201d<\/p>\n They turn, laughing, at the sound of my voice. Then freeze. Richard pauses, a cup halfway to his mouth. Emily turns pale. Keith and Eddy nearly fall out of their seats. And Cynthia\u2014<\/p>\n Screams.<\/p>\n The sound cuts through every other noise in the banquet hall. It\u2019s pure, genuine terror. I see guards start to run towards us, and sense every eye on me. But why?<\/p>\n \u201cCynthia? What\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n I take a step towards her. She backs out of her seat, hand knocking away plates, dishes\u2014she tries to climb over<\/em> the table to get away from me. I stop and turn towards Eddy. He\u2019s shrinking back in his seat. And then Richard\u2014he has a hand on his sword. His face is white as he stares at me.<\/p>\n \u201cTom?\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s a whisper. And suddenly, my heart\u2019s pounding. Why is he looking at me like that? Why is he looking at me like\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cRichard? Why are you all staring at me?\u201d<\/p>\n He looks shocked. Tongue-tied. Unable to explain. He looks at Emily and she breaks the silence.<\/p>\n \u201cTom. Your face.\u201d<\/p>\n I slowly raise my hands to my face. Uncomprehending. Then I touch my cheeks. Feel a bit of oil, sticky slickness blended with a powder. I stare at my fingers and see white.<\/p>\n \u201cA mirror.\u201d<\/p>\n I look around. Faces, staring. The world blurs. I lunge for the table and people draw back around me. Cynthia screams again. But I just want to see.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a plate holding some grapes. I dump them off and hold up the shiny surface, polishing it with one hand. Why\u2014why is my sleeve yellow<\/em>? What am I wearing?<\/p>\n And then I see. Then I hear laughter in my head, and feel the world shift.<\/em><\/p>\n A clown stares back at me. Face pale and white, eyebrows drawn in black. Shadows under the eyes. A red nose. A crimson splash. And red lips, just waiting to smile. The clown stares back, horrified, dressed in a bright yellow suit, splashed with faint stains the best washing couldn\u2019t remove.<\/p>\n A clown. And then I turn, and see the horror on my friends\u2019 faces. The confusion, the look of unease on the others. The guests of the Blighted King have seen the Fool, but they\u2019ve never seen a [Clown]. Never seen a man who dresses himself up to mock the world like I do.<\/p>\n And I feel the floor breaking up underneath me. I didn\u2019t know. I thought I was getting ready. I didn\u2019t\u2014<\/p>\n Is he real? Am I insane?<\/p>\n No. This is just\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just me, guys. I\u2014sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n I back away from the others. Richard\u2019s still staring. Cynthia\u2019s sobbing. Some of them are just staring at me, nervous. Others\u2026some of them saw me afterwards, laughing. They\u2019re the ones who look truly frightened.<\/p>\n I walk away from them, hearing Richard try to explain to the guards what made Cynthia scream, sensing conversation resume in the room. But the eyes follow me.<\/p>\n What could I say to them? What can I say? This was a joke? No. That I didn\u2019t realize I\u2019d put on my costume and the paint? That\u2019s worse.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t know if I should stay. But as I\u2019m debating running for the doors and burning the costume and washing myself, I hear someone call out.<\/p>\n \u201cSir Tom!\u201d<\/p>\n Lady Zekyria. She\u2019s waving to me. She doesn\u2019t appear to be bothered by my appearance. She laughs as I walk over to her.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat a look! And what entertainment, Sir Tom! Is that what a [Clown] is supposed to look like? You\u2019re far more diverting than a [Fool]!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIndeed.\u201d<\/p>\n Sir Yebior sits across from me, eying me appraisingly. He gestures for me to sit. Dreaming, walking in a nightmare, I do.<\/p>\n It\u2019s like I\u2019m in one of those dreams where I go to school and realize I\u2019m naked. Only this time, no one at the table cares. They joke about it, asking why I scared Cynthia so, listening to my garbled explanation with polite smiles. They don\u2019t know.<\/p>\n But I do. I feel cold certainty gripping me at last.<\/p>\n I am not in control.<\/em><\/p>\n What can I do? What should I do? I stare towards the head table. The Blighted King is watching me. He\u2019s supposed to present me with a reward, right? I don\u2019t want it. I need to leave, to find somewhere alone to think\u2014<\/p>\n How angry will he be if I leave now? How rude would that be? I don\u2019t care. The nobility are laughing around me. I go to push out my chair. And stop.<\/p>\n \u201cDemons are attacking!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n A man screams the word. I turn, the world slows. I see a soldier, armor covered in blood, one arm hanging limp, running into the hall, shoving aside the [Chamberlain]. Again there is silence. He rushes towards the Blighted King\u2019s table, blocked by a wall of guards who rush towards him. He stops there, and the Blighted King rises.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe courtyard, Your Majesty! They appeared out of nowhere. A spell\u2014they\u2019re invading the palace and securing the courtyard as we speak!\u201d<\/p>\n I hear screams now, but the Blighted King is on his feet and another man with a greatsword leaps up and roars for silence. He and four other warriors, including Xersia the Scorpion, race out of the hall, their forms a blur.<\/p>\n \u201cNereshal!\u201d<\/p>\n The King shouts one word. The [Chronomancer] runs across the hall and two other mages, a female Centaur and a male half-Elf, run over. Nereshal raises his hand and speaks a word.<\/p>\n A picture floats in the air, clearer than any video, large enough so that I can see it from where I sit. I see the courtyard from above, dark, melting snow covering parts of the flagstone. And dark shapes, hundreds of them, streaming towards the palace. More still hold the gates while others race along the courtyard walls, swords flashing as they cut down the guards stationed there.<\/p>\n Demons.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Previous Chapter<\/a> Next Chapter<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" There were eight Demons, actually. The other six were waiting outside Isodore\u2019s room. They might have gotten her too, but my raising the alarm with the [Princess] saved her. I learn that after I wake. That was still in Erille\u2019s bedroom, the floor and walls still splattered with my blood and that of the Demon […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":52856846,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"patreon-level":0,"patreon_level":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11693084,349],"tags":[7224,250708,4330244,4472517,11693079],"twi_volume":[11693133],"twi_collection":[],"class_list":["post-4295","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-volume-4","category-writing","tag-fantasy","tag-inn","tag-web-novel","tag-web-serial","tag-writing"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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