\u201cHow did they appear?\u201d<\/p>\n
There\u2019s chaos in the banquet hall. The Blighted King is questioning the guard who raised the alarm. Other soldiers are rushing for the doors, creating blockades in the corridors. But most of the guards and people are staying put. Waiting. Listening.<\/p>\n
Fear is in the air. My stomach is churning. What can I do? What should I do?<\/p>\n
He was right. I was right. But how did the Demons get here?<\/p>\n
\u201cTeleportation magic. A scroll\u2014possibly artifacts. To teleport so many, the Demon King must have used every magical item in his possession.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nereshal is conferring with a group of [Mages]. His eyes are on the projection. And then I see movement from the courtyard.<\/p>\n
The Demons are streaming into the castle, most through the main gates. But they\u2019re also moving along the battlements. One group is clustered around the left wall. I see an explosion, and a different group appears.<\/p>\n
Humans. Two Humans, a man and an old woman. A Gnoll, and a Selphid. They cut down the Demons and charge into the courtyard, running along the battlements. The Blighted King\u2019s champions.<\/p>\n
A cheer goes up through the room as the people see the four champions charging the Demons. But the Blighted King and his advisors don\u2019t cheer. They watch, intently, as the four warriors rush a group in the center of the courtyard.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere. Their leader is a mage.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nereshal points. A female Demon wearing robes is standing in the courtyard, staff aloft. By her side is a male Demon, holding a bow taller than he is. It must be seven feet tall. He wears no armor. One of the champions raises his own bow, draws an arrow, looses it in a moment.<\/p>\n
The arrow vanishes before it reaches the Demon with the bow. He puts an arrow to his bow, draws, fires. The Gnoll who fired tries to dodge, but the arrow curves<\/em> in the air and strikes him in the chest. He falls.<\/p>\n Lady Xersia, a man with a shortsword, and the Selphid holding two greatswords are left. They charge into a group of Demons coming up the stairs. The Selphid impales two on each sword; the Demons run into<\/em> the blades. He disappears, covered by the Demons who don\u2019t flinch as Xersia and the man with the short sword cut them down one by one.<\/p>\n \u201cFearless.\u201d<\/p>\n Nereshal speaks the word like a curse. More of the Demons are flooding towards the two champions. The man with the shortsword dodges left\u2014an arrow slashes his leg. The Demon with the bow puts another arrow in the air, and I see it pierce through the man\u2019s armor as if it weren\u2019t there.<\/p>\n \u201cMagic-piercing arrows.\u201d<\/p>\n The Blighted Queen speaks. Silence reigns. Xersia is last. The old woman dashes towards the Demon with the bow like lightning across the ground. The Demon puts an arrow to his bow and looses it. She curves around the arrow like lightning. She lunges with her spear\u2014<\/p>\n And vanishes. Everyone stares at the image of the courtyard. The Blighted King turns to Nereshal.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe [Mage] is specialized in teleportation magic.\u201d<\/p>\n The time mage speaks quietly. His eyes are fixed on the projection in the air. The Blighted Queen looks around the courtyard.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere was she sent?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUp.\u201d<\/p>\n A shape, tumbling down through the air. Thousands of feet overhead, falling like a comet. Tiny, still clutching her spear.<\/p>\n Xersia.<\/p>\n She falls out of the sky. The Blighted King, the people in the banquet hall, everyone, watch in silence as Lady Xersia hits the ground. She threw her spear at the end\u2014the Demon with the bow shoots it out of the sky.<\/p>\n The Blighted King watches it all, as the two, the teleportation [Mage] and the Demon [Archer], calmly turn back to their business. The [Mage] raises her staff and seems to chant. The [Archer] takes a position on the wall and begins shooting down towards the city.<\/p>\n \u201cUnforgivable.\u201d<\/p>\n The Blighted King\u2019s voice is cold. Nereshal studies the projection, and I see more of the Demons, the Fearless, streaming into the castle. Hundreds of them. The time mage turns to his King, face grave.<\/p>\n \u201cI know the archer, Your Majesty. And the mage. They are both high-level, thought to be over Level 40 at the least. The Demon King has sent two of his best warriors to hold this ground. One to protect, the other to open a gate.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd let his army pour through. Nereshal, how long do we have?\u201d<\/p>\n All eyes are on the [Chronomancer] as he thinks. He turns to confer with the Centaur [Mage], and then raises his voice.<\/p>\n \u201cTeleportation spells are exceedingly complex. Assuming the mage knows where she wants to open a portal to, and her Skills are focused in that area\u2026anywhere from two hours to forty minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou are sure? Could they not speed up the spell if they were prepared? I have seen you teleport short distances within minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n The Blighted Queen has a long mace, black like obsidian, in her hand. She rests the head on the ground as she looks at Nereshal. He nods.<\/p>\n \u201cAny competent mage can teleport short distances relatively quickly, but a portal hundreds of miles or more away? Your Majesty, no [Mage] in the world could perform such calculations in ten minutes or less. Not even an Archmage. However, she should not be able to cast such spells at all! The anti-teleportation ward\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014Is clearly not working. We have less than an hour, then. We must repel the Fearless invading the palace. They surely seek the Blighted King\u2019s head. And the [Mage] must die.\u201d<\/p>\n The Blighted Queen is full of action, ready to move out. The King is deliberate. He looks at Nereshal.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy is the ward stone not working, Nereshal? Find me answers. Until then, if the teleportation spell is not working, is it possible to send a force to deal with the [Mage]? Ambush her?\u201d<\/p>\n Nereshal hesitates.<\/p>\n \u201cWe lack warriors on the level of the two in the courtyard, Your Majesty. Lady Xersia was the highest-level warrior present. I could attempt to battle myself with Her Majesty, but\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf we lose you, we step one moment closer to the end. As for our consort\u2014no.\u201d<\/p>\n The Blighted Queen turns to her husband.<\/p>\n \u201cWith respect, my lord, if we fail to repel the Demons, all is lost.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen we shall consider it a matter of last resort.\u201d<\/p>\n He nods. The Blighted King rises, and turns to a [Strategist] at his side. They confer out loud.<\/p>\n \u201cIt seems we must push back the Demons instead. I will use my Skills, but it falls to you and the other warriors present in the palace to push back their line.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt will be difficult, my King.\u201d<\/p>\n A Dullahan with a scar down her face grimaces, her face set. She brings out a map and spreads it out on the table.<\/p>\n \u201cDefensively, we could hold these halls and wear down a superior force over the course of days, or barricade ourselves in for weeks. But with a second force on the way, we must retake the castle and the courtyard within the hour. And the soldiers flooding the castle are elites. The Fearless have been sent in numbers. We will fight them to the death.\u201d<\/p>\n The Blighted King curses.<\/p>\n \u201cThey struck us at our weakest moment! How did the Demon King know? If we must take the courtyard, it will be numbers against those two. Their levels will create a slaughter. For the army we need, we must rally the guards. Where are they stationed? Who in this room can fight? Act quickly; we have little time.\u201d<\/p>\n The Blighted King turns, and like that the spell of paralysis on the room breaks. Men and women rush towards the doors, some dashing out of them, others barricading entrances. Richard and Emily are on their feet, and they rush towards the Blighted King with the other people with combat classes. The rest of the people in the room, noncombatants, talk, afraid. Some are weeping; I can see the Fool standing with Erille and Isodore, their faces pale.<\/p>\n At my table, the [Lords] and [Ladies] are speaking urgently. Yebior rises to his feet, unsheathing a dagger from his belt.<\/p>\n \u201cTime to fight, my friends. If we can put but a single body between the Demons and our King\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n He strides towards the gathering warriors with a few [Lords]. Zekyria turns to the others and pulls something off her finger. A ring, the gem glowing with an inner light.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have artifacts. Let us gather them for the warriors. Come now, hold nothing back.\u201d<\/p>\n A flurry of motion breaks out. I look around the table and feel lost. Afraid.<\/p>\n What can I do? Fight? I\u2019m no warrior, but\u2014everyone\u2019s needed. I should volunteer. Or I could stay, keep them safe if it comes to the worst. Richard\u2019s there, face grim, and so is Emily, Eddy, Vincent\u2014they\u2019re all ready to fight and die. I should be too.<\/p>\n I go to stand up. I put my hands on the table and stand.<\/p>\n My legs don\u2019t move. I stare. Blink. I try again. My legs don\u2019t move.<\/p>\n I look down. Or try to. My head doesn\u2019t move. I\u2019m telling it to look, to move, but it doesn\u2019t. I try to raise my hands. Nothing happens.<\/p>\n Nothing works. I can\u2019t even blink. What\u2019s going on? I can\u2019t\u2014I\u2019ve lost control of my body.<\/p>\n My hand rises. I stare at it as I pick up a fork. And then my head does turn. It stares left, towards a silver pitcher filled with wine. The metal is clear and polished, it reflects my face. A clown stares back at me, face painted, dressed in a ludicrous costume stained with blood. And then, to my horror, he grins at me.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, it seems like everything\u2019s going wrong, doesn\u2019t it? My turn to come out, I think.\u201d<\/p>\n No. No. Oh, no, no, no, no, no\u2014<\/em>not now. This can\u2019t be happening. Slowly, the hand with the fork rises. In the mirror, Tom twirls it, as the people around him panic and more screams begin to echo through the hall.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had a lot of fun, didn\u2019t we, Tom? When you thought I wasn\u2019t real, when you were so sure<\/em> that you\u2019d beaten me? As if you could beat yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t real. This isn\u2019t happening. I can\u2019t be going insane. Not now! I tried so hard! I didn\u2019t let you out!<\/em><\/p>\n I can\u2019t speak. I\u2019m only a voice in his head. In my head. Tom laughs, and it\u2019s not my laughter. It\u2019s darker, wilder, with an edge of madness in it.<\/p>\n \u201cLet me out? You can\u2019t let me out<\/em>, you idiot! There\u2019s nothing to let out! You and I are the same. How can you stop yourself? See?\u201d<\/p>\n He lifts the fork and begins to pick at his teeth with it, casually. I try to stop him, to seize control of my hand.<\/p>\n You\u2019re not me! You\u2019re something else! Give me back my body\u2014<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cTom, Tom!\u201d<\/p>\n He raises his voice. I can sense Zekyria turning her head to stare at him. Me. Tom ignores the look. I ignore the look. I look into my reflection\u2019s eyes, see the panicked look there. Hah. I hate him so much, that other me. I speak to him.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s always been you, Tom. There\u2019s no one in here but you. And me. Heh. Haha.\u201d<\/p>\n I giggle. I hear his voice.<\/p>\n You can\u2019t do this. The Demons are attacking. We need to help. We need\u2014<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cNeed?\u201d<\/p>\n I cut him off, harshly. I spin, pointing around the room. The Blighted King has lost control. His warriors are gathered around him as he, Nereshal, and a few advisors plot feverishly. The view of the courtyard has shifted. Now I see inner corridors of the castle. It\u2019s a maze, but the Fearless are flooding down it, cutting down servants, fighting pockets of guards.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you think they have a chance? Really, Tom? They\u2019re doomed, unless someone helps them. And we both know you\u2019re not the man for the job.\u201d<\/p>\n Don\u2019t. You can\u2019t!<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cCan\u2019t I?\u201d<\/p>\n I raise my voice, lift the delicate fork up. People are shouting, asking their King what they should do. He\u2019s trying to get them to shut up. What a poor [King]! Can\u2019t he see the truth?<\/p>\n Stop! I won\u2019t let you cause a massacre again! I won\u2019t! I\u2019d rather die!<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cSir Tom? What are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n Now Lady Zekyria is looking at me. I grin at her. She likes me. I wonder if she\u2019ll like me after this?<\/p>\n Don\u2019t hurt her!<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cSir Tom? Are you going to fight? I believe you are needed.\u201d<\/p>\n Yebior is calling out to the Blighted King. Idiot.<\/p>\n \u201cMy King, what should I\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Stop! STOP!<\/em><\/p>\n Voices. So many voices! Too many. I raise the fork high overhead and bring it down. Onto my other hand.<\/p>\n \u201cEnough!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The tines of the fork go through my hand and hit bone. The voice in my head shuts up. I hear it scream and fade. And the room goes silent. I stand, and yank the fork out of my hand. I stare at the bent tines and try to fix one. Disappointing.<\/p>\n \u201cThey don\u2019t make them like they used to. Hey there!\u201d<\/p>\n The Blighted King is looking at me! I stroll over, laughing as I see his guards raising their weapons and looking uncertainly at me. I raise my hands.<\/p>\n \u201cPardon me, Your Majesty. Sorry for the interruption, but I needed your attention.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c[Clown]. What do you want?\u201d<\/p>\n He stares at me. I smile at him.<\/p>\n \u201cJust a word, old man. By the way, I don\u2019t think we\u2019ve met. I\u2019m Tom.<\/em> Pleased to meet you.\u201d<\/p>\n I stick my hand in his face. He recoils. What? Oh, that\u2019s the bloody one. How rude. The Blighted Queen hisses.<\/p>\n \u201cHow dare<\/em> you?\u201d<\/p>\n The Blighted King raises a hand, staring at me uncertainly.<\/p>\n \u201cI know who you are.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, you don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n I wag a finger at the King and point to my chest.<\/p>\n \u201cYou see, you met Tom. I\u2019m Tom.<\/em> The same, but different. Better. I tell jokes. He\u2019s one big, fat joke. And he\u2019s taking a break so I can come out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTom\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Richard. He pales as I swing around, grinning at him. Emily backs up.<\/p>\n \u201cRichard!<\/em> Hey, we never got a chance to talk. I\u2019d love to chat, but I\u2019m a bit busy. If you could just hold on\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe are wasting time. Remove him. Guards.\u201d<\/p>\n Nereshal looks at me. Ooh, he\u2019s<\/em> not bothered by me at all, I can tell. I trip up the first guard who comes towards me and throw my arm around the time mage. He stiffens, but doesn\u2019t throw me off. Maybe because of the dagger I have pressed against his throat? Now I have everyone\u2019s attention.<\/p>\n \u201cGood! I don\u2019t want to be a bother, Mister Important Blighted Guy, but I just wanted to point something out. You\u2019re all hot and bothered about this Demon army that appeared, but did anyone think to ask how they got here?\u201d<\/p>\n Nereshal shifts. I push the dagger into his throat and he stops moving his hand oh-so-stealthily up.<\/p>\n \u201cTeleportation magic\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, yeah. We got<\/em> that the first time, old man. What I mean is, how\u2019d they get past your special teleportation blocker? You were talking about it all day.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI do not know. It is here<\/em>, but it isn\u2019t working.\u201d<\/p>\n Nereshal turns his head and I stare at a younger [Mage] holding a stone in his hands. I grin. All the pieces are falling into place! Just like that.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, well. That makes sense. Hey, Your Majesty. Wanna know something funny?\u201d<\/p>\n The Blighted King stares at me.<\/p>\n \u201cRelease Nereshal, [Clown].\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, no<\/em>, that\u2019s not the important bit. The knife is\u2014whoops, sorry, scratched you there, didn\u2019t I? Ignore me. Focus on the big picture. I know who let the Demons in.\u201d<\/p>\n Everyone stares at me, an audience of suckers waiting for the punchline. I grin. The Blighted Queen leans forward.<\/p>\n \u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHim.\u201d<\/p>\n I let go of Nereshal to point across the room. It\u2019s obvious, of course. Everything pointed to him, but Tom was too stupid to put the pieces together. Good thing I\u2019m as smart as he is. Just as ugly, though.<\/p>\n The Fool stops in his tracks, one hand on the door, the other holding Princess Erille\u2019s hand. He turns. I laugh at him.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere are you going,<\/em> Fool? Don\u2019t you want to meet your buddies?\u201d<\/p>\n He looks at me. I wink. The Fool looks around the room. What\u2019s he going to do? He could probably pass it off, pretend he was trying to get Erille to safety, call me mad (which is totally fair), but\u2014oh, no, he\u2019s running!<\/p>\n He nearly makes it out of the door. I think he would have, and with Erille too, if good old Neres didn\u2019t get up and point at the Fool. He freezes in place, one hand flinging the door wide. Time stopped.<\/p>\n \u201cSee? Only the guilty run. And idiots. And joggers. The worst of all.\u201d<\/p>\n I laugh as soldiers charge at the Fool. The Blighted King stares at him as the Fool is dragged over.<\/p>\n \u201cFool?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAw, don\u2019t look so surprised. It was bound to happen. Bad parenting, poor leadership, probably some evil crime the Fool found out about, maybe he thinks he\u2019s her real father. You certainly do a bad job of it, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n I sling an arm around the Blighted King and watch him tense up. Hah! I laugh and plant a kiss on his cheek, and spin away. Someone puts a sword to my throat. The Blighted King stares at me.<\/p>\n \u201cHow did you know?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m smart. Hey, nice sword.\u201d<\/p>\n I grab it from the guard and watch as he recoils. Aha! The Blighted Queen lifts her mace. I toss the sword down.<\/p>\n \u201cOh hush, it was only a kiss.<\/em> Don\u2019t get all jealous on me now. Anyways, Your Majesty, that explains it all. The Fool marked the spot in the courtyard for his buddies to come through, tried to abduct the [Princesses] beforehand\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut how did he disable the teleportation ward? It\u2019s right here\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Nereshal strides over to a glowing stone. I stare at it.<\/p>\n \u201cPretty. Also: fake.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cImpossible.\u201d<\/p>\n I kick him in the groin. What? He was asking for it and it\u2019s funny. Nereshal goes white. I pick up the stone from where he dropped it and lift the glowing thing into the air. Sparkly. It\u2019s like a glowing purple\u2026stone. You know what? I\u2019m not good with pictures. I drop the stone and stomp on it.<\/p>\n It breaks. Again, there\u2019s the entire \u2018bladed weapons raised\u2019, but I decide to ignore it. The Blighted King stares down at the stone. The fragments disappear as he watches.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is this?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s fake. The [Fool] made it. It\u2019s a Skill of his. Try to keep up. I don\u2019t know how he got<\/em> it, but I suppose that\u2019s your fault, hmm?\u201d<\/p>\n I glance at Nereshal as he bends over, clutching at his unmentionables. You would have thought his fancy robes would have been spelled to protect him against that.<\/em> The [Mage] glares at me.<\/p>\n \u201cI should kill you\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNereshal. Enough. This\u2014Tom has given us the answers. Restrain the Fool. I wish to question him afterwards. But we must repel the Demons. Now.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The Blighted King whirls away from me. I laugh. He turns back. Oh, now he\u2019s getting upset. I\u2019d kiss him again, but he\u2019s too far away.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n I stroll towards him and a big mace blocks my way. I stare at the Blighted Queen and then lick her arm. She backhands me.<\/p>\n \u201cOw.\u201d<\/p>\n I think she knocked a tooth out! Wait\u2014yes she did. I get up, laughing, and see the faces. Oh, the faces<\/em>. They\u2019re all staring at me. Some shocked, others horrified\u2014the way I like it.<\/p>\n Who says I\u2019m not a people person?<\/p>\n \u201cSorry. Pardon me<\/em>, Your Majesty. I just think it\u2019s funny. That\u2019s all. You people talk about war and \u2018tactics\u2019 when you\u2019re missing the point. If you want these\u2014heh\u2014Demons<\/em> gone, just ask me. I told you how they got in, didn\u2019t I? I\u2019ve got tons of good ideas on how to get rid of them, too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSpeak, then.\u201d<\/p>\n The Blighted King looks at me. I stand, clear my throat.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, have you thought about asking them nicely?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n He stares. The Blighted Queen raises her mace. I roll my eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cFine. <\/em>It\u2019s nighttime. They\u2019re rushing through the corridors, probably right here if the Fool told them where you are.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo\u2026<\/em>make it harder? Your hallways are nice and bright. There\u2019s too much light! I say\u2026douse the lights. Make it dark.\u201d<\/p>\n The Blighted King looks at Nereshal. The [Mage] hesitates, nods.<\/p>\n \u201cThat could slow their progress, confuse them. The palace is labyrinthian.\u201d<\/p>\n I tap my foot on the ground. Wait a second, I forgot my big shoes! I\u2019d better go get them\u2014well, maybe later.<\/p>\n \u201cNow might be nice.\u201d<\/p>\n Nereshal stares at me, and then raises his hand. I see flashing symbols, bright lights as he commands the castle\u2019s magic\u2014I edge over to where Isodore is standing, pale-faced.<\/p>\n \u201cShove over a bit, will you? I never got a chance at the bread basket.\u201d<\/p>\n She stares at me and flees. I munch down on a loaf as Nereshal does something magical. Bloody. And toothy. That\u2019s<\/em> going to hurt coming out.<\/p>\n \u201cThe lights have been extinguished. Now. [Heart of Darkness].\u201d<\/p>\n He intones a spell or something and the other mages join in. Darkness spins from his fingertips, flooding out the corridors, turning the hallways pitch black. I grin.<\/p>\n \u201cLights out.\u201d<\/p>\n Now the Demons are obscured from view. But I\u2019ll just bet they\u2019re having a bad time finding their way. The Blighted King stares at me. I grin.<\/p>\n \u201cWell? Time to get a sword and start chopping.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe cannot see the enemy. Should we not barricade ourselves?\u201d<\/p>\n I roll my eyes. He\u2019s really not good at this, is he?<\/p>\n \u201cIf you want to wait for the Demon King to show up with an army, sure. <\/em>Otherwise, I\u2019d go corridor by corridor and cut up everything you see with those shiny swords you give out. By the way, where\u2019s mine?\u201d<\/p>\n He ignores that. Skinflint. The Blighted King looks at the projection of his palace in the air. Nereshal\u2019s changed it to a map of the castle. I stare at it. Lots of corridors, rooms\u2026hey, is that my room I see?<\/p>\n \u201cThere are servants in the halls. Guests <\/em>of the crown. If we cannot see our enemy, we may cut them down by mistake.\u201d<\/p>\n I look at him, tilting my head to one side and the other.<\/p>\n \u201cSo? They\u2019re dead anyways. If you want, send in your pretty little [Knights] and have them die. But then you\u2019ll lose valuable warriors as opposed to, well, people<\/em>. If I were you, I\u2019d just blast each corridor with magic. One by one.\u201d<\/p>\n He stares at me. I grin. The Blighted King looks around and realizes he has an audience. He shakes his head.<\/p>\n \u201cNereshal. Go. Take six of the eight [Mages] here and every warrior that may be spared. Blast the corridors only as a last resort. My lady\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will go.\u201d<\/p>\n The Blighted Queen walks past me, mace in hand. I laugh. And turn.<\/p>\n \u201cOoh, you\u2019re joining in on the fun? In that case, let\u2019s have a competition, Queen lady. Who can kill more?\u201d<\/p>\n She glares at me.<\/p>\n \u201cI do not compete with peasants.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I don\u2019t compete with Queens. But I\u2019ll make an exception for you.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n She doesn\u2019t reply. She strides towards a door, and the warriors follow. I sigh. The Blighted King looks at me.<\/p>\n \u201cThat may not be enough. The mage attempting to create a portal is the real threat.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou think? And here I thought you were stupid. Leave the mage to me.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n I grin at him. The King looks uncertain.<\/p>\n \u201cYou think you can defeat two of the Demon King\u2019s champions?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEh\u2026it looks like fun?\u201d<\/p>\n I scratch my head and shrug. He stares at me.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you are able, we will shower you with wealth and whatever you desire.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPancakes?\u201d<\/p>\n Blank look. No one else laughs either. Tough crowd. I turn. The little voice in my head is back. Oh no, what have you done, what are you doing, so on and so forth. I ignore him. Now, I had a good idea. What was it?<\/p>\n I snap my fingers. The Blighted King blinks. Nereshal raises a hand. Touchy. You\u2019d think I nailed him in the balls or something.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got it! I\u2019ll take care of your mage. I just need a few things. Time, for one.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhatever you need, within reason we will give it to you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA map, a [Mage] who can cast a few spells for me, and a few shiny knives, Your Majesty. Give me that and I\u2019ll solve your problems for you. Oh, and I want your sword.\u201d<\/p>\n He stares at me. I scratch my head.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, and some healing potions. I\u2019m going to have to kill some people as well. You said those Demons are all fearless? Sounds like fun.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n I grin. And my smile is bloody. Missing tooth. The Blighted King looks at me as if I\u2019m crazy.<\/p>\n Which I completely am.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2013<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The Demons run through the palace of the Blighted King in Rhir. They are armed for war, prepared for this day. Enchanted swords in hand, they slaughter anyone they come across. They have a target.<\/p>\n But they cannot find him. The darkness is all-consuming. The lights that had illuminated their way have vanished. Now a magical darkness steals through the castle, so that those without powerful Skills or magic are unable to see. And those who can see\u2014<\/p>\n Are fighting.<\/p>\n Humans, Drakes, Selphids, creatures of every species hold corridors, fighting. Some are [Lords], others [Merchants] or simple [Warriors]. Some aren\u2019t even meant to fight. But they hold the line as the Blighted King\u2019s orders fill them with strength. Their flesh is like iron, and they do not break.<\/p>\n But their enemies do not fall back. They are Fearless, elite. Chosen. And they push their way further and further into the palace, killing, searching.<\/p>\n A group of sixteen warriors runs down a narrow corridor, weapons at the ready. They are ready for an ambush. They are not ready to hear the sound echoing down the corridor ahead of them.<\/p>\n Humming. A voice in the darkness. The Fearless pause, and their leader holds up a hand. One of them has a shortbow and he fires it ahead. They hear a thunk<\/em>, an impact.<\/p>\n The humming stops. The Demons move ahead, cautiously. Then they see him.<\/p>\n A Human. He\u2019s large, heavy, shorter than average. His face is dead white, his nose and mouth red. An arrow sticks out of his shoulder. He\u2019s standing in the hallway.<\/p>\n And he\u2019s laughing.<\/em><\/p>\n Giggling, as if the arrow sticking out of his shoulder is funny. The Fearless stare at him for a second. They are without fear. Their leader points, they charge.<\/p>\n \u201cHi there. My name is Tom!\u201d<\/p>\n Shadows in the night. The [Clown] laughs as he tears the sword away from the first Demon and runs the second through. The warriors stab into his stomach. One nearly cuts his arm off. The [Clown] laughs. He grabs one of the warriors, ignoring the blade in his stomach.<\/p>\n \u201cHahahahahahaha\u2014gotcha!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n He vanishes along with the warrior he\u2019s holding. The Demons turn. They search for their comrade as one of their number bleeds and dies on the ground. The Human is nowhere to be seen. They continue onwards. They go for ten feet when they hear a voice.<\/p>\n \u201cHey. Miss me?\u201d<\/p>\n Someone steps out from the shadows behind them. The [Clown] grins. His wounds on his stomach are closed. His arm is intact. He raises two knives and throws them as the Fearless turn. One strikes just above an ear; the other Demon dodges.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s one. Two, if you count the guy I killed. And the girl I grabbed. That was a girl, right?\u201d<\/p>\n The Fearless are without fear. They charge at him, trying to maneuver in the tight corridor. The [Clown] laughs as he cuts into them. Without fear. They cut each other. He grabs another and vanishes. They turn and run.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you want to know how I got these scars? Wait a second\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n He appears down the next corridor, laughing. His wounds are closed. He smiles at the Fearless.<\/p>\n \u201cHave we met before?\u201d<\/p>\n They pause. They stare at him. The Fearless feel no fear. They cannot. Unease, trepidation, terror\u2014all are emotions they have forgotten. But they still feel. And what they feel is\u2014<\/p>\n Disturbed. The [Clown] strolls towards them. They back up. This time they loose arrows at him. They burn his body with magic. He vanishes, laughing.<\/p>\n He appears again minutes later. The Fearless split up. They feel no fear. But they do not understand. He\u2019s laughing. As they cut him, he laughs, as he bleeds, he laughs. And each time they grow fewer in number.<\/p>\n The next time the [Clown] appears, the Fearless retreat. They do not feel fear. But that means they do not understand it either. All they feel is confusion. Uncertainty. They break and run against an enemy they cannot kill. And the [Clown] laughs. He turns.<\/p>\n And vanishes.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014-<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I love a good show. So when I appear in the banquet hall, I twirl. The [Mage] who teleported me steps back. I pat his cheek.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks for the pickup! Beam me up\u2026uh, your name isn\u2019t Scotty, is it?\u201d<\/p>\n He\u2019s panting too hard to speak. Nereshal walks towards me. He has a gash on a cheek. I saw him freeze a corridor full of Demons. All I had to do was walk up and stab them. He takes all the fun out of life.<\/p>\n \u201cAre the Demons still present in that corridor?\u201d<\/p>\n I shrug.<\/p>\n \u201cThey ran.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe Fearless?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. False advertising, I call that. Anyways, how are things?\u201d<\/p>\n He ignores me and walks over to a map. The Blighted King is standing over it, plotting the Demons\u2019 advance. Nereshal flicks his fingers, and a corridor clears. One corridor. Most are red, showing Demon-controlled territory, or contested. I lean on the [Mage] who teleported me until he falls down.<\/p>\n \u201cHey King, what\u2019s up? Are we losing? I bet we are.\u201d<\/p>\n The Blighted King stares at me as I bounce over. Isodore, standing at his side, stares at me. At my stomach.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re bleeding.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAm I? I barely noticed. Wait a second, how bad is it?\u201d<\/p>\n I turn, and the people at the table gasp. I look at my back.<\/p>\n \u201cHuh. I could have sworn I had flesh there. Is my spine supposed to look like that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHealing potion!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n There\u2019s already one coming this way. I grab it. The [Healer] babbles something about using it slowly, not straining my body, and so on. I wrestle with her for the bottle.<\/p>\n \u201cCome on, come on<\/em>, I\u2019m wasting time here. Give me that!\u201d<\/p>\n Potion, meet back. Back\u2026so that\u2019s<\/em> what it\u2019s supposed to look like. I giggle and turn back to the Blighted King. And the map.<\/p>\n \u201cLet me see. There\u2019s a clear corridor here, an empty one here\u2026and I just cleared that one.\u201d<\/p>\n I trace a line down the map. The Blighted King stares at me.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you have what is needed to complete this plan you refuse to speak of?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust a minute, needy! I think\u2026yes! Now I just need some things from you, my good pal Nereshal here, and\u2026the Fool.\u201d<\/p>\n I glance sideways. The banquet hall has been transformed. Tables have been upended, places made ready for people too wounded to fight to rest, and guards are standing at all the entrances. But hey, some things never change.<\/p>\n The Fool\u2019s face has definitely changed. I think someone stepped on it. Or kicked it. Repeatedly. Princess Erille is standing in front of him, tears in her eyes, trying to defend him from further abuse. Touching. I grin and walk over to her.<\/p>\n \u201cStand back.\u201d<\/p>\n Isodore pushes past me. She drags Erille away; the girl kicks at her, fighting, shouting for the Fool. I bend down. The Fool barely looks at me. He\u2019s still under a spell. I think he can\u2019t move.<\/p>\n \u201cHey buddy. Want to go for a walk?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe must know what you intend.\u201d<\/p>\n The Blighted King stares at me as I drag the Fool with me. Nereshal has a wand in his hand. He looks so grim! I shrug.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going to do the hostage negotiation thing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWith the Fool?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The Blighted King looks incredulous.<\/p>\n \u201cJust wait and see! Nereshal thinks it\u2019ll work, don\u2019t you, buddy?\u201d<\/p>\n The mage glares at me, but nods.<\/p>\n \u201cI am aware of what he wants. I believe it may work, Your Majesty. I will teleport myself back in case of trouble. But we are running out of time.\u201d<\/p>\n The King stares at me and his mage. He nods shortly.<\/p>\n \u201cGo, then.\u201d<\/p>\n He stares at the Fool. The Fool glares back. I sigh.<\/p>\n \u201cGet a room, you two.\u201d<\/p>\n They stare at me. I scowl.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? It\u2019s hard to be funny. You want to make a better joke? You<\/em> try coming up with it on the spot.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you call a King who slaughters his own people?\u201d<\/p>\n The Fool mutters, spitting blood. Nereshal hits him. I grin.<\/p>\n \u201cNot bad.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014-<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThis way. Down this corridor, left here\u2026you know, this would be a lot easier if I didn\u2019t have to drag you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n The Fool and I move down the corridors I\u2019ve cleared, me pushing and carrying him. He seems determined not to move. Not that he can. Paralysis spell or something Nereshal used on him. I laugh.<\/p>\n \u201cI wonder where Nereshal went? I guess he\u2019s busy killing Demons. He\u2019s cool like that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere is nothing noble about it. There is nothing about this war that\u2019s worth admiring.\u201d<\/p>\n The Fool mumbles around swollen lips. I laugh at him. I do that a lot.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat, you think the Demons are right? Is that why you did all this?\u201d<\/p>\n The Fool is silent. I round a corridor. Now, was it left, or right? Wait a second, up<\/em>. I drag him up the stairs. He speaks as I reach the top.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Demons are willing to kill for their survival. I don\u2019t think they\u2019re right. But they aren\u2019t wrong either. They fight to live. While the Blighted King\u2014do you know what he has done? All the horrors he has committed in the name of defeating the Demons?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNope. Want to tell me? I could take notes.\u201d<\/p>\n The Fool glares at me as I drag him by his feet down an empty corridor. You know, for variety.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy didn\u2019t you walk away? If you had, I could have gotten Erille to safety, and Isodore! Now they\u2019ll both die, more likely than not. You\u2019re on the wrong side, Tom.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSide? Side?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n I kick him. The Fool groans through gritted teeth. I pick him up by the feet and glare at his knees.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re an idiot, Fool. The Demons, the Blighted King\u2014they\u2019re just sides.<\/em> There\u2019s no right or wrong! I didn\u2019t choose to help these idiots because I thought they were right. I just thought both sides deserved a funny man helping them. It makes things more entertaining that way.\u201d<\/p>\n He doesn\u2019t respond. I drag on. Okay, now I\u2019m up another flight of stairs. I go up, listening to the Fools\u2019 face smack on every step.<\/p>\n He\u2019s barely conscious by the time I get to the top. He mumbles and I have to lean down to listen.<\/p>\n \u201cIt could have all ended today. It could have. Why did you have to speak? Why\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n I blink at him. Shrug.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause, Fool, it\u2019s in my nature. It\u2019s in yours as well. Why do you think people stare at us? We, the two sad idiots who dance around for them. It\u2019s because this war is like a performance, Fool.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t understand.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course you don\u2019t. So I\u2019ll make it simple for you, Fool. Here\u2019s why.\u201d<\/p>\n I pat him on the head and lean down. I whisper in his ear.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to see what comes next.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n He looks up at me.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s all?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPretty much.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDamn you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo they say. But here I am. And here\u2026we are.\u201d<\/p>\n I drag him the rest of the way down the corridor. There\u2019s a man waiting for us there. Nereshal\u2019s got some cuts down one arm, but he looks pretty good considering he took an alternate route here.<\/p>\n \u201cHey.\u201d<\/p>\n I wave at him. Nereshal stares at me.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you ready?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSort of. Hold on\u2014can I go to the bathroom first? No? Fine, I\u2019ll just go off the edge.\u201d<\/p>\n Nereshal drags the Fool upright. I push him towards the end of the corridor, and then out. Out, through a door, and onto the battlements of a tower. High up. I stare down at the courtyard below. At the Demons standing down there, fighting with people at the gates, protecting the [Mage].<\/p>\n They haven\u2019t spotted me. Oh wait. No, they have. One of them, the [Archer] with the big frickin\u2019 bow, is pointing. The Demons look up. I wave.<\/p>\n \u201cDemons!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Nereshal\u2019s voice thunders down at them. He stands back, away from the battlements, hands raised as he concentrates on a spell. I edge over, using the Fool as a shield. My voice, made incredibly large by magic, echoes down at them.<\/p>\n \u201cHi! How are you all doing tonight? Good? May you drink from the blood of a thousand Human skulls and all that. Hey, what\u2019s with all the soldiers these days? It\u2019s like you can\u2019t even assassinate a Blighted King without tripping over them.\u201d<\/p>\n They stare up at me. I grumble.<\/p>\n \u201cNo one likes observational humor. Okay, see this guy? This is your friend. The Fool. Wait, what\u2019s your real name?\u201d<\/p>\n I stare at him. The Fool holds still. He\u2019s staring down at the [Mage] specializing in teleportation magic, far below. Now I finally get a good look at her and\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a lot of tentacles.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s her hair.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s with her arms?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe was hurt in war.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s looking right at us. Hey you. Mage lady! Hi! Do you know this guy?\u201d<\/p>\n I point to the Fool, balancing him on the edge of the battlements. The [Mage] does seem to know him. She\u2019s staring up at him. And what a stare. I look at the Fool. He\u2019s doing the same kind of stare back at her. Another piece of the puzzle snaps into place.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, wait<\/em> a second\u2026you like her! And she likes you! You said you were talking to your true love back in the courtyard\u2014fancy that!\u201d<\/p>\n I slap my hand to my forehead and nearly drop the Fool. Nereshal hisses at me and I grab him just in time before he goes over the edge and falls a few hundred feet below.<\/p>\n \u201cWhoops. Sorry. Now, that makes me feel awful<\/em> about what\u2019s going to happen next.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cKill me. She won\u2019t betray her mission for me.\u201d<\/p>\n The Fool looks calmly at me. I shake my head.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t be so negative. I believe in true love. And you see\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n I call down at them. The Demon [Archer] is aiming at us, but the Fool\u2019s in the way. I laugh down at them.<\/p>\n \u201cGive up! Surrender or the Fool gets it!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re an idiot. Do you really think that they would all give up their lives for a single Human? For me?\u201d<\/p>\n That really hurts, coming from the Fool himself. I glare at him.<\/p>\n \u201cNo? Maybe I should throw you off. Well? See, she doesn\u2019t like that, does she?\u201d<\/p>\n The [Mage] is pointing at me, arguing with the [Archer]. He\u2019s aiming at us. I see her raising her mangled arms to strike at him, shoulders tensing up, and then sagging. She turns away, and then looks at the Fool. The Demon [Archer] nocks an arrow.<\/p>\n \u201cUh oh. I think she\u2019s giving up on you. Don\u2019t do it! Stop! In the naaaaaaaaaaaame of love!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The Fool ignores me. So do the Demons below. The [Archer] looks like he\u2019s lining up for a good shot. I scowl at him. He\u2019s whispering to her.<\/p>\n \u201cGoodbye.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou suck. I came here for true love, and what do I get? Sacrifice. Heartbreak! Who ever heard of a love story like that?\u201d<\/p>\n The Fool doesn\u2019t answer. He closes his eyes, waiting. I turn to Nereshal. The [Mage]\u2019s brow is creased in concentration. He nods at me. I scowl at him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou suck. I just wanted to say that to you. You suck, and your kingdom sucks, and you\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n I turn to the Fool.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014Suck. And all you Demons suck. You hear me? I\u2019m done with you all! Let\u2019s end it now! Goodbye, cruel world! This is it!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n I see the Demon pulling back the arrow, ready to loose. I grab the Fool. He looks into my eyes, unafraid to die. I grin, push him\u2014<\/p>\n And jump.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014-<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n This is what they see. The Demons, looking high overhead. The Blighted King, watching from the banquet hall. The people of Rhir, staring up at the palace below. They see a body falling from the tower, a laughing man. A fool.<\/p>\n But not the Fool. A [Clown] falls through the air, laughing, his voice echoing. He laughs and laughs as the ground rises to meet him, laughs at the disbelief on the Demons\u2019 faces, laughs at the cry of surprise from the Fool.<\/p>\n And high above him in the tower, the great mage Nereshal casts his spell. As the ground rushes up to reach Tom, he blurs<\/em>. He doesn\u2019t stop falling, but a shield of magic appears around him, a bubble of energy. And he teleports.<\/p>\n Not far. Not to the ground, or vast distances like the [Mage] below him is attempting to do. Nereshal\u2019s spell is simple. It teleports Tom a few hundred feet forwards and to the right. He falls and lands on top of the Demon with the bow.<\/p>\n \u201cOof. <\/em>Hey, that actually hurt. I almost\u2026oh, hi there buddy.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Clown] bounds to his feet. The Demon beneath him twitches. His body is broken. Tom stabs him in the head and he stops moving. He turns to the escort of Demons surrounding the [Mage]. And grins.<\/p>\n \u201cHey there. Want to play catch?\u201d<\/p>\n One runs at him. Tom throws something. A sword. It hums<\/em> through the air and slashes through the Demon, and the one behind him. The other Demons move, and a second sword slices into one\u2019s chest, cutting through magical armor like paper. Tom flicks his hand, and a sword shining with bright light appears.<\/p>\n \u201cThey call this one Blightbane. Or something. I borrowed it from the Blighted King. And now you get it! Catch!\u201d<\/p>\n He throws it. The sword whirls through the air, cuts through a Demon\u2019s head and another\u2019s arm without slowing. Tom pulls another artifact out of the air. Grins.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s all in the wrist. Who wants a scimitar? You? Here!\u201d<\/p>\n The Demons fall. The elite guard drop, and the [Mage] backs up. She raises her staff, points at Tom, cries out. One of his knives sticks from her shoulder, another in her arm. Tom kicks her before she can move.<\/p>\n \u201cAh, ah. I don\u2019t want to learn how to fly today. Turns out I\u2019m no good at it. Now, what shall we do with you?\u201d<\/p>\n He grins at her. The [Mage] gasps. Tom raises a hand.<\/p>\n \u201cWanna see a magic trick?\u201d<\/p>\n He reaches for her face, ignoring the scream from above. He touches her face, reaches behind her ear and pulls out\u2026a gold coin. She stares at it.<\/p>\n \u201cSee? You should always wash! Now, let me see. Do I have a hat? No I do not. And a bunny? No I do not. But I can pull a knife out! How about a slightly rotten apple? No?\u201d<\/p>\n She stares at him and utters a word. It sounds like despair. Her body vanishes underneath Tom and he sits down.<\/p>\n \u201cNo one\u2019s a fan of my tricks. Oh well.\u201d<\/p>\n He gets up, brushes himself off, and looks around. The Demons remaining in the courtyard stare at him. Tom looks up, and grins as Nereshal floats down. The [Chronomancer]\u2019s eyes burn like fire, and magic crackles from his fingertips in the form of lightning.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, it looks like I have an assistant for today. Ladies and gentlemen, Demons all.\u201d<\/p>\n He bows as the soldiers of the Demon King ready their weapons, hearing their comrades falling from the palace. They rush towards him, and Tom straightens. A sword appears in his hand, a dagger in the other. He laughs.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s begin the show.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014-<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n This is how it ends. Boring. I sit on a Demon\u2019s body and hum. Nereshal turns and stares at me. I raise my hands.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you don\u2019t like the song, you pick a better one.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you enjoy acting insane, or is this madness genuine?\u201d<\/p>\n I pause, stare at him. The [Mage] is pretty undamaged for a guy who just killed a few hundred Demons. I shrug.<\/p>\n \u201cWouldn\u2019t you like to know?\u201d<\/p>\n He grunts and turns away. I get up as I see people streaming out of the palace.<\/p>\n \u201cHey! I think I win!\u201d<\/p>\n The Blighted Queen ignores me as she walks out into the courtyard, her beloved Blighted King by her side. Her mace is drenched with gore, and the soldiers around her look wounded and bloody. I see Richard helping Emily out.<\/p>\n \u201cAw. No one important died.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHundreds <\/em>lie dead within the castle and thousands more in the city!\u201d<\/p>\n Nereshal snaps at me. I raise my hands.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, but no one important<\/em> died. Let\u2019s be honest.\u201d<\/p>\n He turns away from me. I whistle a tune as the Blighted King approaches. He stares at me.<\/p>\n \u201cYou let her go.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCorrection: she didn\u2019t like my magic tricks.\u201d<\/p>\n I\u2019m offended, really I am. The Blighted King stares at me, and looks at the crushed Demon archer guy I landed on. He looks satisfied as he stands over his corpse.<\/p>\n \u201cOne more of the Demon King\u2019s limbs taken away. It will suffice.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe will claim vengeance for this.\u201d<\/p>\n The Blighted Queen\u2019s eyes blaze with battle fury. Nereshal nods. I yawn.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe. Or maybe we all let bygones be bygones?\u201d<\/p>\n They stare at me. I raise my hands.<\/p>\n \u201cFine. Fine. I guess we do it your way.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe must begin to reconstruct. Find the wounded\u2014and whatever Demon soldiers remain in hiding. It will not be safe in the palace, Your Majesty. I recommend caution and staying under guard until\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Nereshal is speaking to the Blighted King as the people stream into the courtyard, and the King is staring around when it happens. I hear the scream. Erille\u2019s voice. She\u2019s pointing. I look up.<\/p>\n \u201cHuh. I didn\u2019t see that coming.\u201d<\/p>\n A body falls from the tower. The same tower Nereshal and I fell from. This time, it\u2019s the Fool. He tumbles through the air, only there\u2019s no magic to slow his fall or break it. He lands on the ground, headfirst.<\/p>\n Thump.<\/em> The impact makes people run back. I see the Fool\u2019s neck twist, and then his body spring<\/em> upwards. He tumbles forwards, mows down two of the people closest to him, and then comes to a stop, legs comically dangling in the air. I blink as the Fool flips onto his feet. He looks unsteady, but grim. And he\u2019s no longer held by magic.<\/p>\n I begin applauding.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was probably the best pratfall I\u2019ve ever seen in my life. Bravo! Do it again!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFool!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The Blighted King snarls. He points, and Nereshal moves, quick as lightning.<\/p>\n \u201c[Hold\u2014]\u201d<\/p>\n He never gets to finish the spell. The Fool flips backwards into the air, doing a double backflip and throws something. A ball bounces off Nereshal\u2019s face and he staggers. I hear a crack<\/em> and see his nose bend out of shape.<\/p>\n \u201cHail to the Blighted King, the murderer of innocents! Your Majesty, you and I have unfinished business. I am the world\u2019s greatest [Fool], and a fool deserving of the title! And today I seek your life, my King. For your sins. And mine, for letting you continue. No more. I will put an end to it today.\u201d<\/p>\n The Fool\u2019s voice booms throughout the courtyard. He lands on his feet and points at the King. I sit back.<\/p>\n \u201cOh man, this is going to be so good.\u201d<\/p>\n The Blighted King looks down at the Fool. His eyes are cold, distant. He turns his head.<\/p>\n \u201cKill the traitor.\u201d<\/p>\n The soldiers rush at the Fool. And the Fool\u2014fights. He cartwheels into the first man, sending the man in armor tumbling comically to the ground. He spins, and two blades appear in his hands. He slashes a [Knight] in armor across his helmetless face, bumps Emily over with his hip, and tosses the second dagger through the heart of a [Mage] fifty feet away.<\/p>\n \u201cOoh, he\u2019s good.\u201d<\/p>\n The Fool spins into the air, flicking daggers at people rushing at him. He rolls under Richard\u2019s sword and trips him up. The [Knight] goes down and the Fool kicks Richard in the head. He bounces about, too fast to be caught.<\/p>\n The Blighted Queen rushes at him. The Fool dances away from her, tossing daggers. She blocks each one with her mace. He throws something. She trips.<\/p>\n A juggling ball. The Blighted Queen is on her feet in a moment, but too late. The Fool races towards the Blighted King. A fireball flies towards him from the left, too fast to dodge\u2014<\/p>\n He turns, grabs for the fire. It disappears. He makes it vanish. I sit up.<\/p>\n \u201cWhoa. Can I<\/em> do that?\u201d<\/p>\n I should take notes! Then I see an angry [Mage] standing in front of the Blighted King. Nereshal\u2019s nose is bloody, but his hands crackle with magic. I carefully lean back.<\/p>\n \u201c[Lightning Storm].\u201d<\/p>\n Bolts of lightning blast from his fingertips, the same ones that emptied the courtyard of life minutes ago. The Fool stands in the center of the electrical storm.<\/p>\n Time slows as the lightning begins to strike the Fool. I see him twist. His hands rise. One bolt of lightning is stretching towards his chest. His hand blocks the bolt, and then the lightning collects in it. The Fool spins, tosses it, and then catches another bolt. He throws it back at Nereshal.<\/p>\n He juggles the lightning.<\/p>\n Explosions. I feel one blast me off my feet. I roll, and see the lightning storm reverse<\/em> course. Countless bolts strike Nereshal. I see him throw up his hands, and then it\u2019s over. In the blink of an eye. Nereshal collapses, a shield of magic disintegrating around him as his eyes roll up in his head.<\/p>\n The Fool stands in front of him, breathing heavily. His hands are blackened, the skin smoking. But he still moves. He races towards the Blighted King and before anyone can stop him, has a knife to his throat.<\/p>\n \u201cNow we come to it, Your Majesty! Now we put an end to this pathetic performance. I should have done this years ago!\u201d<\/p>\n He shouts. The courtyard is still. There are a hundred bows trained on the Fool, [Mages] ready with spells, warriors with blades. None of them dare move. Because the knife at the Blighted King\u2019s throat is faster than them all.<\/p>\n The Blighted King stands still. His voice is calm.<\/p>\n \u201cDo it, then, traitor. But tell us why, first. You pledged your loyalty to us, to this nation. Why betray it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy? Why?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The Fool is trembling. His hands still smoke. There are tears in his voice, but none in his eyes. I can see Erille, standing with her hands on her mouth next to Isodore. The Fool can\u2019t look at her. A tableau.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy do you think? All you\u2019ve done, all the horrors you\u2019ve committed, the crimes\u2014I could understand. That, for war. But the ritual? The cost?<\/em> Never.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat I do, I do for my people. So that they may live.\u201d<\/p>\n The Fool shakes his head. His dagger presses into the King\u2019s throat, drawing blood. I hear a sound from the Blighted Queen. Pain.<\/p>\n \u201cYou do not deserve to be a King. Tell them what you did. Tell them!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. Kill me. I will die first.\u201d<\/p>\n The Fool hesitates. The Blighted King is ready to impale himself on the dagger before either one speaks. I can see him looking, staring at Erille, hand tensing on the hilt\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cMy turn.\u201d<\/p>\n Everyone turns as I stand, brushing myself off. The Fool looks at me. I\u2019m not sure if he hates me, even now.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s nothing you can do, Tom. Step away. The Blighted King dies, and I die too. Let that be an end to it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, come on. It\u2019s not over. You\u2019re here, Fool, and so am I. We can\u2019t let it end with you dying just like that. We need a final grudge match, a proper end. [Fool] vs [Clown]. A battle for the ages. What do you say?\u201d<\/p>\n He stares at me. I grin at him. He looks away.<\/p>\n \u201cYou truly are mad, aren\u2019t you? You\u2026I\u2019m sorry. Sorry you ever came here, Tom.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t say that. Tell you what; I\u2019ll make you an offer you can\u2019t refuse.\u201d<\/p>\n There are two knives in my hand. I have three left. The Fool stares at me.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t scare me with death. I\u2019m ready for it.\u201d<\/p>\n I roll my eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cNot your death, obviously. I\u2019m thinking more poetically.\u201d<\/p>\n I look past the Blighted King, past the Fool. At a girl staring with wide eyes. The Fool\u2019s mouth opens. He screams.<\/p>\n \u201cNo!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The knife flies past the Blighted King, through the air, towards Erille. Too fast for anyone to block. Anyone, but a Fool.<\/p>\n He lets the Blighted King go and dives for the knife. I\u2019ve never seen a man move that fast. The Fool catches the blade in midair, right in front of Erille\u2019s face. Of course, I knew he\u2019d do that.<\/p>\n That\u2019s why I threw three.<\/p>\n The Fool\u2019s hands blur as he throws all three knives. Two fly towards the Blighted King, striking him in the chest and in the shoulder. The next one strikes me in the stomach. It doesn\u2019t slow me down as I tackle the [Fool]. We roll around on the ground, hands flashing, fighting for daggers, pulling them out of the air, out of each other\u2019s trick spaces.<\/p>\n \u201cYou idiot! You mad monster!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n He screams at me as he slashes my face, my arms and front. I laugh, stabbing back. He dodges, even locked together as we are. He kicks me away and we stand. I throw a dagger, his dagger, and he throws it right back. I snatch it out of the air and we cut at each other, dodging, weaving, too close for anyone to interfere.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy do you do it? Why!?\u201d<\/p>\n He\u2019s shouting, stumbling. His hands don\u2019t grasp the knives properly. I laugh.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you want to know why? Do you know what separates the two of us? Clown and fool? It\u2019s easy!\u201d<\/p>\n I grab his arm. He stabs me, but I don\u2019t let go. I draw him closer as he stabs, looking for my heart.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re a fool. People laugh at you. You make them laugh. But I? I\u2019m a clown. I laugh at the world.\u201d<\/p>\n He stares at me. My free hand reaches out. I grin.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd guess what I just found?\u201d<\/p>\n His eyes widen. I pull the fireball out<\/em> of the air, out of the space he kept it in. He tries to back away\u2014<\/p>\n And there\u2019s fire.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014-<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The Fool\u2019s body lies on the ground, blackened. One of his eyelids is burnt away, exposing an eye. His right hand\u2014gone. The rest of his body is destroyed.<\/p>\n But he is still alive. I walk towards him and pick him up in my arms. I don\u2019t feel my body anymore.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s funny. Are you\u2026crying, Tom?\u201d<\/p>\n He looks at me. I stare down at him. Me. The laughing man in my head is gone.<\/p>\n \u201cI guess I am, Fool. I\u2019m sorry. It was me. I did all this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t say?\u201d<\/p>\n We stand alone in a blackened crater in the courtyard. Alone, but for all the witnesses. The Blighted King lies on the ground, breathing heavily. But he is alive. And the rest, the citizens of Rhir who pour through the gates, the battered Drake company led by Cirille, gather. To see a dying Fool, and the clown who killed him. One, a beloved face turned traitor. The other a monster. A hero.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m so sorry, Fool. I don\u2019t know what I would have done. But\u2014I couldn\u2019t let you. I knew that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI suppose not. You\u2019re not a funny fellow, Tom. Not funny. But you don\u2019t want to be, I think. But do you know what\u2019s funny?\u201d<\/p>\n His voice is hoarse. A whisper. No one else can hear him. I have to put my ear to his lips.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? What is it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe Blighted King. Why do you think I turned on him? It was the day after the ritual that I knew. When you were summoned, I learned the cost.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat cost?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCrimson.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey wear it. Crimson for the lost. Miscarriages, they said. A curse. But it wasn\u2019t. And the price was\u2014high.\u201d<\/p>\n I raise my head. Standing in a group across from me are the ladies of the Blighted King\u2019s court. Lady Zekyria stares at me, her face pale. Her gown is torn and scorched. But light red, closer to pink, and white.<\/p>\n For her dead child.<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n The Fool\u2019s whisper is pitiful. He looks up at me, pain in his eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cTen thousand unborn souls. For you sixty.<\/em> Isn\u2019t that\u2014that\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n His remaining eyelid flickers. His other eye strays before snapping back on me. He\u2019s dying.<\/p>\n \u201cA funny joke, Tom. A terrible joke.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut it\u2019s over, Fool. It\u2019s over and done.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n The Fool reaches up. His hand\u2014flakes away at the touch. But he looks me in the eye.<\/p>\n \u201cA hundred thousand. He wants an army this time. An army. He\u2019d sacrifice so many for any edge. And if a hundred thousand doesn\u2019t work, he\u2019ll sacrifice a million. Every unborn child, to kill Demons. To kill people just like you and me.\u201d<\/p>\n I stare at him. Of course. I can\u2019t be surprised. It makes sense, in the horrible way of this world. I\u2019m almost\u2026numb? But the Fool cares. He cares so much, and the pain in his eyes\u2014he whispers his last words to me.<\/p>\n \u201cI cannot stop him. I couldn\u2019t end it. Or save her. But you can. Protect her. Take her away.\u201d<\/p>\n I look up and see Erille. She stares at me. Me, the man who killed her beloved Fool. He grasps my arm.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease. I wished\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n I wait for the rest. It never comes. The Fool\u2019s hand grips my arm, tight, stiff. He doesn\u2019t let go. Even in death.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014-<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The foolish clown sits in the broken courtyard as the people gather on the balconies, flood through the gates. Royals, knights and mages and dignitaries, common folk and people from another world. He weeps, holding the body of the Fool in his hands.<\/p>\n No one else sheds a tear. No one. They wipe them away, hiding them, like shame. The [Princess] has to hide them. But the clown wears his tears on his face. And then, his sobs turn into laughter.<\/p>\n He laughs at them, at him, at this broken world. And he holds the broken Fool to his body, the hero who tried to put an end to a bad joke.<\/p>\n It should be raining. But the night is cool and still. Yet there is liquid of a kind. Blood flows through the courtyard, pooling. It reflects poorly, but someone watches in that crimson mirror. The devil himself laughs and bows to the audience only he can see. His voice can only be heard by the clown.<\/p>\n \u201cNext time, dear Tom. Next time. They\u2019ll be coming, the lost and afraid. From our world.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n He points, mockingly, to the Blighted King, whose eyes are on the clown, the [Hero] of the day. He laughs, as the clown levels up. As a [Clown] and [Hero] both.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t escape it. Not this. And now, more will come. More, to dance and laugh along with this joke. Can you stop it? You can\u2019t. But I can. And I\u2019ll be with you, each step of the way. Whenever you call\u2014and when you don\u2019t.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n He bows and fades. But his voice remains, echoing, reminding the clown of all he lost. And promising him, telling him of the future.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be waiting.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Previous Chapter<\/a> Next Chapter<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cHow did they appear?\u201d There\u2019s chaos in the banquet hall. The Blighted King is questioning the guard who raised the alarm. Other soldiers are rushing for the doors, creating blockades in the corridors. But most of the guards and people are staying put. Waiting. Listening. Fear is in the air. My stomach is churning. What […]<\/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-4297","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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