Chapter Twenty Six
1125 Words
“That went well don’t you think?”
Dawson was giddy with glee. He had delivered one of his best pretentious performances and everybody had gobbled it all up. Women had stripped, men had rolled on the dust draped ground; everyone had sworn vengeance.
“I do not know how I feel about humans coming after us but I do applaud your theatrics…I suppose this is where we terminate our genial relations?”
The reflection in the mirror smiled to reveal his brilliantly white teeth. He too was pleased with how the day’s events had panned out. If all went well, his plans would fall into play.
“Certainly dear old friend…all that is remaining is for you to fulfil your end of the bargain…Sure the people are very upset right now but they are not riled up enough to want blood…Kill Baric and pandemonium will be unleashed on your kind…”
Daniel repressed rolling his eyes, the human was getting on his nerves. He not only had to take orders from his irksome wife on a daily basis, but apparently he also had to take orders from from…a mere human.
“Patience is a virtue that never ages…I promised results on your king-“
“Need I remind you that you failed on that particular task? The girl somehow healed the king rendering your spell useless…I had to use my creativity to carry out our plans…”
Once again, Daniel suppressed the urge to roll his eyes. He bit the inner sides of his cheeks instead. Dawson held the reflection’s unwavering gaze. There was a glint of pride in his eyes. He couldn’t help it. Everything was falling into place.
Soon he will be sitting on the throne whipping up plans for a war.
“You mentioned that the human Prince was on his way to the realm?”
Dawson's smile vanished. Yes, there was but one hiccup in his well orchestrated ploy. Luke was out there somewhere, whether he was alive or dead remained to be unknown. But those woods, those woods were full of rogue magical creatures. Surely he was dead by now…
“He should be dead but we need to be certain…”
“He is but one man Dawson, what harm could he possibly cause to our plans?”
Dawson smiled wryly. He had watched Matthias’ children closely since their birth. He had had to, it was the only way he could get the Chi throne. At first it had been Baric who had seemed like the biggest threat but then Tamara came into her powers and the dynamics of power had shifted. Luke, quiet, withdrawn, coy Luke had suddenly evolved into a brazen lad ready to fill his father’s shoes and atone for his sister’s mistake. Dawson would not underestimate the boy.
“Find out if he is alive and if he is kill him…meanwhile I will assemble an army slowly by slowly…soon we will both have what we desire…”
The reflection in the mirror stroked his chin. He did not like the odds of this potential war. Granted, mages were automatically stronger and way superior than humans but the vessel, the vessel would give humans the upper hand. Daniel would have to obtain the vessel before the war.
“Certainly…one last thing, where is the vessel kept?”
Dawson chuckled humorlessly. Did the wizard think he was that foolish? Without the vessel, humans had no chance. They might as well hang themselves in the gallows!
“I will applaud your bold attempt but I do not appreciate it. I know you deem our species weak but I was not aware that you thought us stupid…”
The reflection in the mirror let a smile play on his lips. Dawson mimicked it. For a moment, the two were locked in a ferocious eye battle, a prediction of what was to come.
“Farewell old friend…”
“As to you wizard…”
Daniel waved his hand in the air creating wisps of faint smoke. After a short while he had disappeared from Dawson’s enchanted mirror. The wizard rose from his glimmering silver chair. Martha watched his every move, her calculating eyes trailing her master’s every move.
“We need to get our hands on that vessel…”
Martha swallowed a sigh. They had been through this before.
“With all due respect master, the human border is surrounded by guardians who possess weaponry draped in the vessel…sending a magical creature to penetrate their walls would be akin to suicide…”
“We infiltrated their precious kingdom…why can't you?”
“Did you not have help? Your human friend-“
“He is no friend of mine!”
Everything went deathly quiet. Martha shivered, she had already spotted a faint mist crawling up the wall.
“My apologies master, that was simply a slip of the tongue…Perhaps there is a way to acquire the vessel without putting our kind in danger…”
Martha watched as her master’s face brightened. The mist that had began forming immediately dissipated. She had his undivided attention.
“The human girl…”
“What about her? From what I gather the humans dislike her. They think she is a witch. My human puppet went as far as indicating that the girl had been involved in King Matthias' death…”
“Still, if we are able to strike a bargain with her…I am certain she could obtain the location of the vessel and guide us into Chi…we will destroy that wretched kingdom as well as every human or rogue in the lands…”
Daniel could not help the smile that was creeping on his lips. Martha was no ordinary puppet. She was agile and clever but most of all loyal. She had never failed him in the past and what was even more remarkable was that his wife remained clueless as to where Martha’s allegiance stood.
“What does the human girl want?”
“Something we can easily offer, a portal to her time…”
“Very well, find the girl and bring her to me. Tamara is relying on her to heal her brother. Go after her and sabotage her plans at all costs. Make it seem as if we are the only hope she has if she still wishes to go back home…”
- Writer
