I watched as the royal family members walked into the room and the young man took the master chair at the head of the table as befitting his station and his mother sat to his left. I saw her ears color a shade darker when she stared at Reginald with a mix of hunger and want. The young man looked for all purposes to be full of vigor and the energy of youth as he tapped the chair arm with some nervous energy. His eyes kept glancing at Heather and his cheeks would darken at whatever look she was returning to him. I couldn’t tell as her back was to me.
The Duke sat at the other end of the table and stood. It was a small gathering and a rather private dinner that seemed to enhance the feelings of an intimate talk needing to be had. The push to arrange a marriage and the seductive nature of Heather would combine nicely if they could convince these two to rally for such a chance to happen. Finally the duke took a deep breath and spoke, “I want to thank you for coming to our humble house this fine evening for an exotic dinner that we have prepared from the far east.”
Lifting a small brass bell that shined in the light pouring into the room it chimed musically and carried across the room. The doors to the dining room opened and a line of servants carrying trays of various sizes started to funnel into the room and line the middle of the table with the covered delicacies. The heavy scent of spices and the aroma of perfectly cooked food filled the dining room.
Each tray was unveiled and the variety of the dishes was astounding. To think a single cook had masterminded each dish to show off his home country's cuisine in such a spectacular manner was inspiring. The duke gave me a harsh look and barely visibly rolled his fingers in order for me to start playing some music.
I let my fingers dance across the strings as I fought off the desire to play the eastern music that would have truly set the tone of the meal perfectly. There was a deep red skinned boar in the center. The skin looked crispy and seasoned like stripes of alternating colors down its back reminding me of the jungle cats I had once seen. A small bird lay in front of each guest, its head bent and cooked whole. I could see something stuffed inside the carcass from where I sat but nothing I could identify.
Cooked foreign vegetables lay seared and with some char on one plate and piled high was a bowl of noodles tossed with vegetables, some sort of dark sauce. I watched as the same servants took the plates and started to pile the food onto them and bring them to their betters at the table. You could see the young Edward practically salivating at the food now that it was in front of him and he waited for everyone to be ready.
The food’s true quality was shown at the silence that descended the room as they ate. The hums of contemplation and delight filling the air now quiet from idle chatter. Servants stood back and waited for be summoned for whatever their master’s needed. I grew worried deep in my chest that I had failed to plant the idea of the drugs and assassination attempt as everyone remained lucid and wide eyed. Cursing deep down into myself I sighed and continued to play the fine zither that was provided to me.
Out of the corner of my eye I could see Heather motion towards her father. They nodded to one another and Reginald smiled mischievously. His son seemed none the wiser as he enjoyed his meal thoroughly. Soon enough a new dish was brought out and I recognized the man who brought it.
The man was so clean I almost didn’t recognize him as he brought out a small bottle. The liquid inside it seemed to flow slower than water and thick legs of liquid, like what good wine left on a crystal glass. The thin beard that trailed down from his lips and chin was shaved and gone. His hair which was wild and untamed seemed to be slicked back with oils. A second servant walked behind him with small porcelain cups and they slowly poured everyone at the table a small portion of the mysterious liquid.
Reginald stood up and grabbed his own cup. “This fine white wine comes all the way from my personal collection and truly expands upon my tastes. It is a little earthy and is far from the sweet wines we are so accustomed to but I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do.”
Edward and his mother eyed the drinks dubiously until Reginald tilted his own back and smiled as he swished it in his mouth and swallowed. Heather followed suit as well. Soon everyone had drunk what I assumed was a much more powerful drug than planned. A second dose was passed around and the young boy and Reginald were the only ones to partake in a second swallow.
The man patiently faded into the other room. Reginald called out to the room, “Servants may be dismissed while we talk of what comes next in all our lives. I encourage them to eat what we have left behind and make sure everyone in the house experiences the delicacies of the east.”
The trays were collected and brought away as I played quietly and willed myself to fade into the background and not be recognized as someone that was snooping or listening in on the conversation.
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
Once the room was clear of everyone but a single guard standing at the doorway to the kitchen the people in the room moved chairs to all be a little closer to each other and abandon the head seats so that conversation would be easier. They began to speak.
Reginald began, “As I was talking to your dear mother before you arrived we were discussing that it might be a good idea for you to consider my daughter Heather as your first wife. As you can see she is of renowned beauty and I’ve made sure she was quite educated by her mother before my wife’s unfortunate passing.”
Edward opened his mouth only to be cut off by his mother, “Oh it would be such a lovely idea but I can’t see the Portage’s as having taken the first wife position in my son’s life. Maybe as a second wife she would be able to put all of her talents to use and have some more personal freedom she might crave while being so young.”
Duke Portage spoke next, “I would like to point out that the Portage family has grown in influence quite a lot since it was time to marry in the previous generation. My father’s work in establishing and keeping the silk trade lines intact has greatly improved the wealth of the country and our family as a whole. I think Heather would make a fantastic first wife as she has much of the same knowledge as father and even speaks the language of the foreigners. Quite an asset if the kingdom wants to establish a more diplomatic relationship across the world.”
Reginald pressed further, “I’d hate to have to pull my support of your family back a little. Especially with a war going on. I know that it is mostly put on the shoulders of the Ursal family but we are all sending troops in order for things to go smoothly and for all our lands to be safe by next winter. Our money can go a long way to making that happen.”
Edward cut in before his mother could talk, “You would hold the kingdom hostage in order to further your goals? How classless.”
Heather reached over and stroked his arm slowly causing him to flush and his eyes to dilate. “Oh, we have to look out for me don’t we? I’m sure father would provide quite the dowry for his precious and only daughter. Wouldn’t your family like that boon to you all?”
Duke Portage glared at his sister for a moment at the presumption to touch the young nephew of the king. But then his eyes seemed to glaze over a little. Just enough for him to shake his head, “Yes, we could very well discuss a dowry with your father if you consider my sister as your first wife. I won’t settle for her being any less than that though.”
Reginald scooted closer to Orianna and I watched as he reached over subtly to her dress. Her cheeks flushed deep through her makeup and her son seemed captivated by Heather’s bountiful chest. I could practically smell the lust being built up by the drugs they had taken. “I’m sure there are some things we can discuss here though before you go talking to your uncle and father about who you might choose to be a good wife for you.”
The duke stood up and loosened the clasp at his neck, he looked a little flushed and dazed, “If you all would excuse me I have to step out and use the restroom. Don’t discuss things much further without me.”
He walked out of the room and the guard looked bored as he passed by. The man’s eyes were drifting off into nothing as his mind seemed empty of all thought. The Acreages looked distracted as Heather and Reginald leaned into their ears and whispered sweet nothings into them. I listened as their words grew slower as their tongues grew heavy. Words trailed off in long sentences.
Edward stared at the ceiling with his mouth agape. The touching of Heather seemed to be far from his mind as he was taken away by the power of the drugs he had taken. Heather seemed to slump against him as she giggled to herself softly.
“Reginald, what did you do to those two?” Came the slurred words of Orianna.
“Oh, just an eastern treat. It affects the young much more strongly than us. I slipped something in our drinks earlier that made us a little more resistant to it. Now, they won’t be able to pay attention or remember much of what they would see. Can you imagine what their minds might whip up? What they might watch and not remember?” His smile made my skin crawl but it had quite the potent effect on Orianna.
“We mustn't. That would be so improper. What if word got out, that guard could tell anyone.” She leaned into Reginald and they kissed lightly.
Neither of them or the guard saw the farmer slip into the room with a curved knife in his hands. In a flash the neck of the guard was opened up and he gurgled just loud enough to catch the attention of the other two. They were too stunned or drugged to call out for help as the farmer rushed young Edward.
I lept into action and jumped between the attacker and his planned target. I made sure my movements were sloppy and showed none of the training I had accomplished over the years. I paused in front of him leaving myself open.
A swinging slash would have opened my belly if I didn’t pull back just far enough for it to leave a nasty cut across my skin. Then the man shoved at me to knock my aside as he focused on his target. The mad desire for him to finish him off keeping him from seeing me as a true threat.
Just then Duke Portage came through the doors wiping his mouth and froze as he took on the scene. His eyes were sharp and unclouded as he looked on. Though his mouth seemed glued shut as shock from the scene set in.
“GUARDS! ASSASSIN!” I screamed as I grabbed the knife in a lunge. I made sure not to modify my hand in any way to make it tougher as it sheared through my left fingers, slicing three of them off but keeping the blade from ripping open the throat of Edward. The doors busted in behind us as I rammed my weight into the assassin and knocked us both to the ground, tangling our legs together as he thrashed. The blade descended into my back, too shallow to pierce anything important but I pulled away. My mortal form having taken enough damage for me to be a pivotal part of saving the King’s nephew.
The guards pounced on the man, none of them had time to draw their blades and soon the very assassin I had made was subdued. I clutched at my painful hand. The fingers I had sacrificed lay strewn about the floor as blood flowed from me. The searing pain of the stab wound on my back kept my mind sharp and unforgiving as chaos reigned.
Reginald and Orianna watched on in horror at what had nearly happened. I hoped deep down that their minds weren’t too addled for them to have seen what I had done. Though the Duke looked down with me, not with disgust but with admiration.
It had worked.