5. The Street Performer
5
The Street Performer
“ P resenting, Her Royal Highness Princess Astoria!”
Astoria lifted her chin and entered the throne room as the great double doors opened for her. Skylar was at her heels.
“Ah, there is my beautiful daughter!” The king rose from his throne with both arms outstretched towards her and a grin on his face. Marcia sat to his right with her fake, sickening smile.
Same words, same facade. Like every time a new bunch of suitors was brought in for her.
Astoria held herself from rolling her eyes as she strode in. She stopped at the center of the room before her eyes latched onto the young man below the dais.
She did a double take.
He looked slightly older than Emmett, with messy raven hair and a thick, unkempt beard. He had dark eyes, his clothes were tattered and worn, and he had a faded cloak draped loosely around his shoulders.
He looked nothing like the beggars Astoria had seen before. The attire, yes. But his rather healthy stature, youthful face, and confident smoldering eyes? No.
Astoria looked away from him to her father. “So, what I heard is right, I assume? I have a new suitor to duel?”
“That is quite right, my dear.”
“And he is a Mage?” She arched a skeptical eyebrow. “A beggar Mage? I never knew one existed.”
The king gave her a warning look concealed behind a smile. “My dear, Silas here is a—”
“ Silas ?” She pressed her fingers to her lips to stifle a laugh. “What misfortune has my suitor share my second brother’s name? Doom must be my fate.”
“Silas is a street performer, sweetheart, not a beggar.”
“A street performer ?” Astoria exclaimed in shock and sputtered a laugh. “Forgive me, but are you truly out of your mind in your desperation to find me a suitor, dear Father? This is ridiculous! Here I am looking for a Mage who can beat me in a duel and you brought me a street performer ?” She turned to the young man and found him still regarding her silently. “No offence to you, Mr. Silas. I merely think my father is an utter fool.”
The man dipped his chin but he didn’t say anything.
Astoria turned back to her father and met his glare. “Where did you find him?”
The king barely composed himself and answered, “My men informed me there was a new street performer Mage in the market square and that the people were mesmerized by his performance. Therefore, I sent for him, and I must say, in all my years, I have never seen a street performer as talented as him. Your stepmother and I had the pleasure of witnessing his performance before I sent for you, Daughter,” he explained, trying to sound as cool as he could.
“Still, a street performer ?” Astoria shook her head. She had meant it sarcastically when she asked her father to bring her Mages even from among beggars. She hadn’t thought he would actually find one.
“Like I said—” her father began, but his words drowned out as Skylar began to speak.
Princess, I must say, this man is something. I cannot sniff his emotions.
Astoria’s eyes snapped down to Skylar in surprise and saw him narrowing his eyes at the young man. She followed his gaze and found Mr. Silas still staring at her, his dark eyes smoldering.
Now that she noticed it, there was something different about him from her previous suitors. He had an air of confidence. And his eyes weren’t drooling on her.
Their eyes locked. For a moment, they held each other’s gaze, as though challenging one another silently. Then, there was a twitch at the corner of his lips.
Astoria returned it. She turned her attention back to her father, who was watching their silent exchange in bewilderment. “Alright. I shall challenge Mr. Silas in a duel. Unless… Mr. Silas would like to refuse?”
She sent him a mirthful, questioning glance.
“I would only be honored, Your Highness.” He touched a hand to his heart and dipped his chin again, eyes dancing. He had a smooth, deep voice. “When do you wish for the duel to take place?”
“Tomorrow,” she declared, and glanced at her father who looked pathetically hopeful and satisfied. “We shall hold it in the castle arena instead of the public one since there is only one suitor this time. People would be disappointed if the duel ended as soon as it started.”
She turned her smirking face to Mr. Silas.
“If I am allowed,” he said, stepping forward and turning to the king and queen. “I must insist on a public audience.” He turned back to Astoria. “Don’t worry, Princess, I can assure you that your people will have quite the entertainment.”
Astoria regarded him for a moment. When he raised an eyebrow, she said, “They’d better.”
Princess, I don’t like him.
Oh, shush, Sky. He’s begging me to prove what an oaf and a fool he is.
* * *
Astoria stood at the entrance of the arena the next day. The cheers of the crowd filled the air as her grandpa announced her. When she stepped into view, the crowd went wild.
Commoners and peasants were the best choice for an audience.
Mr. Silas stood in his place, chin lifted, hands tied behind him, posture straight. It was amusing that he had a noble look about him, even in his beggar’s attire. Almost like he and his clothes were oil and water.
Astoria waved at the crowd and took her place. As usual, her eyes darted up to the royal box. Silas, her brother, slumped in his chair with a bored look, while Emmett was the picture of distress. Ever since she had accidentally slipped Skylar’s words to him—that he couldn’t sniff Mr. Silas’ emotions like every other Mage—he had been far too concerned for her.
Astoria waved aside his concern, as much as she appreciated it. She knew she could do this. She had beaten all her previous suitors in a single round, almost as soon as the duel had started, and this Mr. Silas wasn’t any different. He was soon going to be another loser.
She smiled inwardly at the thought. Grandpa Cassius blew the whistle.
“Shall I begin, Princess, or would you like to start?”
“How about we start with a simple question?” she said.
Mr. Silas arched an eyebrow, surprise evident on his face. “A question, Princess?” He looked amused.
“Yes.” She walked up to him, her lips twitching. “Don’t worry, it’s a simple one.”
“Alright.” He crossed his arms, looking ready. His eyes roamed over her face and her braided hair as she approached. His lips twitched slightly at the corner. “I didn’t get a chance to tell you how deadly you look today, Princess, ready to slay your dragon of a suitor.”
Astoria smirked, stopping in front of him. “Oh please, don’t flatter yourself, Mr. Silas. You are anything but a dragon. I must admit, I’ve never found a dragon of a suitor in the entire last year since this ‘husband hunting’ began. I doubt I ever will.”
He smirked. “Then I suppose all I have to do is prove you wrong.”
“Oh, really?” She snorted, crossing her arms. This man was something, she would give him that.
“Do you know that the colour of your eyes matches the dragon emblem on the Draken empire’s flag?” he asked suddenly, his smoldering eyes staring into hers. “Lavender-grey.”
Astoria blinked. “How do you know that?”
“I have seen the emblem during my many travels, and your eyes remind me of it.”
“My eyes are purple,” she said defiantly.
He had the audacity to chuckle. “Believe it or not, Princess, the colour of your eyes is lavender-grey. Purple is an entirely different shade.”
“Of course, mine is a different purple.” She didn’t like that he had noticed her eyes, thus snatching away her chance to insult him in front of the audience. She hadn’t played this game since Wizard Orion.
“And that different purple is called lavender-grey, Princess.” He held up two fingers before her eyes, flames igniting at their tips like candles. One of them matched the colour of her eyes, and the other was darker, but with less black to it.
Astoria stared at the flames in disbelief, her mind unable to process what he had just done. Colourful projection. He could project colourful magic!
Skylar?
Princess, I think he’s someone like you.
Not dark magic?
You surely don’t sense it, nor do I. So, no. Absolutely not.
So he’s a natural, you say?
There are no assumptions to make otherwise. Maybe he’s a hidden gem.
Would a hidden gem ever be just a street performer, Sky? You don’t think I do not stand a chance against him, do you?
You are afraid, Princess? Pfft. I don’t think he is as powerful as you, even if he’s a hidden gem. You are the second most powerful to Emperor Cyrus, remember that. If there’s anyone who can best you—
—it’s Emperor Cyrus. And since I’m destined to bring him to his knees, I suppose that leaves me the most powerful Mage over Cyrus himself.
A sense of relief washed over her at the thought. She could do this.
Astoria looked up at Mr. Silas’ face from the flickering flames, only to find him watching her intently.
“Did your pet distract you?”
Her jaw dropped slightly. How did he know she was communicating with Skylar?
He merely smirked. “Don’t be so surprised. It’s obvious when you have a mystical red panda for a pet.”
She scowled at him. She didn’t like how observant he was. It was a creepy trait, in her opinion.
“I believe you wanted to ask me something?”
“Never mind.” Astoria huffed. She turned on her heels and stomped back to her place before whirling around to face him, preparing her stance. “Ready to lose, Mr. Silas?”
“You should be too, Princess,” he said with an infuriating smirk. “Once this is over, you’ll be mine.”
This man had some nerve.
She scoffed. “That’s what my previous suitors thought, too.”
“But they never said it out loud, did they?”
Irritation gnawed at her chest, and she struck first.
Mr. Silas dodged it.
Astoria launched a barrage of spells at him, and he either blocked or dodged them.
At this point, all her suitors would have attacked her back. But he didn’t. His dark eyes watched her like a hawk as they circled the arena.
Astoria sent another blast his way, spinning and twirling as she did, and Mr. Silas chuckled. She met his gaze with a fierce glare, silently demanding to know what he found so amusing.
“Graceful yet deadly,” he said, clicking his tongue. “I like that. You are a girl after my own heart.”
“What is that supposed to mean? You are neither of those.” But the moment she said it, she realized how wrong she was. He had grace in his movements, and though ragged, he still possessed a deadly aura—something she had failed to pinpoint.
But he was only a street performer, she told herself.
And then, he attacked.
Astoria was, of course, on her guard. She fought back.
At some point, white fog filled the arena. Astoria tried to clear it, but when it didn’t dissipate, she realized it was his doing.
Their colourful projections filled the air.
He made good on his word that the audience would have quite the show. But things weren’t going well for Astoria. Trepidation sank into her stomach as she realized this was her first duel to last so long since her battle with Wizard Orion.
Her frustration peaked, and she sent another blast towards him. This time, he didn’t block it. Her golden magic hit him in the chest, and he dissipated into the air.
Gasps broke out from the crowd. Astoria stared at the spot where he had been, her jaw dropping in astonishment, a tendril of dread gripping her.
Where—
—Princess, behind you!
Astoria whirled and sent a blast without looking for confirmation. And there he was, Mr. Silas, blocking her attack.
“Highly on guard.” He didn’t hide his admiration, looking almost like he was her trainer and they were having a training session. “I like that. I think ‘Dragon Princess’ suits you better than your current title, Princess. They do you little justice.”
But she wasn’t listening. The retorts she would have normally made now died on the tip of her tongue. For the first time, one of her suitors had rendered her speechless.
“How did you do that?”
“Do what?” He looked too innocent.
“You made an illusion of yourself!”
“Did I?”
Astoria’s frustration boiled over. Her annoyance ignited her magical energy, and she sent it hurling towards him. He did the same, and the air crackled with intensity as their powers collided, creating a dazzling display.
Her breath hitched. This had never happened before.
Skylar?
Even I know too little about you Mages. How is this possible? Never mind. Focus. You can beat him.
Astoria poured her mind and energy into the duel. Her golden magic rushed forward through their link and shortened Mr. Silas’ lavender-grey.
Why he chose that colour was beyond her.
However, a sense of hope and an almost triumphant feeling washed over her as she watched her golden magic overpower his. She lifted her eyes from their collided powers and met his intense gaze that was already on her.
She smirked. He smirked back. But unlike the last times, this time, a wicked glint lit his eyes.
And then it happened.
Astoria felt a sudden shift in the balance of power. Mr. Silas’ magic surged forward with unexpected force.
A jolt of surprise went through her. Her breath caught in her throat as she struggled to regain control, but it was too late.
With a surge of power, Mr. Silas’ magic overwhelmed hers. She watched in horror as his lavender-grey closed in on her gold, and in the next moment, she was thrown off balance.
Astoria swayed backwards but didn’t hit the floor. Utterly relieved, she flicked her wrist, and an ice pillar sprouted from the ground to support her. But even with its help, she found herself paralyzed, unable to straighten up.
Mr. Silas entered her line of sight, a hand outstretched in front of him. His eyes gleamed with the same wicked glint, and she realized it.
Her balance was under his influence.
Blast it. Blast it. Blast it.
He tilted his head and smirked a little before he slowly lowered his hand.
Astoria lost the sensation of the ice pillar at her back. Her body lowered and lowered to the ground, following the motion of his hand.
Mr. Silas stood over her, the sight of victory himself.
No, no, no. Horror gripped her entire being. This wasn’t happening. This couldn’t be!
She had fallen. The Unyielding Princess of Daliston had fallen.
A street performer, a practical beggar , had beaten her in her own game.
The arena fell into a pin-drop silence. No one breathed. No one made a noise.
Astoria gulped. She could sense their shock.
And then, a voice shattered the hush.
“Our victor!” It was the king. “We have a victor!” Her father had never sounded so ecstatic before. “People of Daliston! Behold him! Princess Astoria has finally chosen her suitor!”