Chapter 11 #2
“Right, right, the ball.” I blinked and took a few steps back to take in all of my options.
They were all magnificent, but only one called out to me.
I crept toward it slowly as though any sudden movement might make it disappear.
Before I could open my mouth to speak, magic swirled around me and my chosen mannequin.
My body tingled, from the very center of my core and all the way to my fingers and toes.
When the prickling stopped and the magic cleared, a mirror appeared before me.
My lean muscled form was clothed in supple leather, a sword on my hip and a shield on my back.
A mask made of wood and gold sat upon my face, obscuring my identifying features.
Only my mouth and eyes were left exposed, even more striking due to the gold and jewels framing them.
The raccoons had surrounded me at some point, tiny hands inspecting the bottom of my costume. They seemed to marvel at the fineness of the leather, and they pulled at the sword in its sheath.
“Okay, which of you want to be his valet and footman?” Sage broke into their tittering, “And who will be the horse?”
The raccoons looked at each other, then at Sage, then at me. The largest stepped forward and tilted his head at Sage and chittered as if to say, “We don’t know how to be any of those things.”
“Don’t worry little friend, you will.” They assured him. “Now we need a carriage.”
“You speak to raccoons?”
Sage shushed me and scanned the yard around us, their eyes stopping on an old, busted up wheelbarrow. “That will do just fine.”
Once again, a flicker of their wand surrounded us in magic.
The raccoons vanished, replaced by two quite attractive men and an ebony horse.
The wheelbarrow became a beautiful black carriage trimmed in silver.
I stared in awe for a moment. Magical costumes were one thing, but turning an animal into other creatures?
That was preposterous. Yet, there they stood.
“Come on, come on, there’s no time to waste. Jump in the carriage so you can be off to the ball!” Sage gestured at me to get a move on.
I approached the carriage and my valet opened the door, then offered me a hand to help me inside. “I can never thank you enough for this, Sage.”
“Don’t worry about that. It was my pleasure.
” They smiled, then their face shifted as though they had forgotten something.
“Cyprien, make sure you are home before the final stroke of midnight. My magic only lasts until then. Everything will return to its original state, and you don’t want to be caught wandering around in the middle of the night naked with three raccoons and a broken wheelbarrow. ”
With that, they swirled their wand around and disappeared in an explosion of light. I settled into the carriage, and we began moving toward my supposed happy ending.
ALARIC
The night of the ball, I stood with my family high above the crowd as people filed in, wearing the most fantastical costumes. Each family was announced, but I paid no attention to that: Cyprien’s stepfamily had already arrived and he was not with them.
Music played softly as everyone mingled with each other.
So many bodies in one place had made the ballroom unseasonably warm and I was almost grateful that my costume lacked any excess fabric.
My poor sister sat next to my mother, struggling to breathe in her heavily corseted dress while feigning interest in the people below.
My heart went out to her, but I had my own problems. Besides, a corset was better than glued on clamshells.
My father had chosen several young ladies to have paraded before me in the hopes one or more of them would pique my interest. Each had an eager Mama or Papa at their arm, extolling their virtues and smiling eagerly at me.
I agreed to have a dance with a few of them in the hopes that it would keep my father off of my back, at least temporarily.
When the last of the group of young ladies left, I began scanning the crowd again.
I noticed movement in the entryway and saw a male figure sneak in, unnoticed and unannounced.
He wore the clothing of a gladiator, sneaking around the perimeter of the room.
Honestly, I can’t say why he caught my attention, aside from the uniqueness of his costume.
I was certain I didn’t know him, yet he walked as though he belonged there.
As I watched, several Mamas and Aunties pulled their female charges along behind them and managed to trap him in a corner.
His expression was hidden behind his finely carved mask so I couldn’t be sure, but I imagined that he was quite overwhelmed.
“What has you so distracted?” My father’s harsh whisper shocked me back into the moment.
“Nothing, Father. I’m simply watching the crowd in the hopes that I find the perfect bride.”
My father let out a cruel burst of air that sounded like a pathetic attempt at a laugh and turned away from me.
I was relieved to have his attention elsewhere.
My eyes scanned the crowded ballroom, but I was unable to find the gladiator again.
A frustrated sigh escaped my lips just as my father stood to address the party below.
Silence fell across the ballroom without so much as a sound or word uttered to command it and all eyes were on us.
“Welcome one and all on this very auspicious occasion. Before we begin celebrating in earnest, I wanted to make sure everyone understands the purpose of this ball.” The king gestured for my sister and I to stand and we complied, plastering on our best smiles that didn’t quite reach our eyes.
“Tonight, each of my children shall pick their future spouses from those of you who have gathered here. If you’re here by invitation, you have the potential to be chosen to rule beside one of my children. ”
Those crowded below glanced around at their competition, then turned their hungry eyes to us. I suppressed a shudder and glanced at Lydia out of the corner of my eye. She looked miserable, but was making an effort to smile for the piranhas on the ballroom floor.
“Now,” my father clapped his hands and the room went quiet again, “start up the band and dancing! Let us continue the festivities at once!”
Everyone cheered and cleared the dancefloor as a string quartet began to play some song that was probably popular for a single day thirty years ago.
The ladies I had promised a dance to gathered at the bottom of the curved staircase next to me.
I felt an elbow in my ribs and turned to my father.
“You will not fail me tonight,” he hissed.
My body dipped into a bow, then I stood to meet his eyes. “Of course not, your Majesty. I wouldn’t dream of it.” With that, I turned my smile up and headed down the stairs.