Chapter 3 - A Haunting Reflection
1642 Words
It had been over three months since the great battle at Kreeth and things were as it seemed looking up for Magnus. The atmosphere was chaotic as he sat casually chatting and drinking with his fellow soldiers in the Great Hall of the massive castle.
A fabulous event called the ‘Great Feast’ had been prepared to celebrate yet another heroic victory for the army of Dremivia. Their hospitable King had apparently organised this celebration as a reward for his soldiers, as a token of his gratitude for their loyalty and courageous efforts.
In a short period of time Magnus had been quickly promoted to Captain of the great army and along with this respectable title came even greater responsibilities. He would have many men serving under his command and would therefore need to be fearless in the eyes of his enemies, not that this was a problem for him. He of course rose to the challenge with ease and was naturally a fantastic leader, many men idolised him and were proud to serve under his command.
Magnus was seated with a few of his closer friends and fellow soldiers who had served under his command for the last month or so. Tonight they had the intended goal of drinking their fill of ale, as did the other two hundred or so men surrounding them in the Great Hall.
“No, no, no... that’s not the way it went at all.” Henrick insisted, shaking his head as he looked over at Liston and Payne through glistening eyes, “Now tell it how it really happened Liston, stop twisting the truth!”
“It IS the bloody truth I tell you!” Liston pressed, seeming perfectly sure of himself as he frowned with frustration, “None of you fuckers ever believe anything I say.”
He shook his head and pretended to pout.
Liston had been drinking for most of the afternoon, longer than any of them and he was clearly drunk. His eyes were bloodshot and his body swayed slowly from one side to the other as he sat in his chair hunched over with his arms resting on his knees. His hand grasped his wooden mug of ale as if it were the most important thing in the world to him.
“I believe you Liston.” Magnus announced coming to his apparent rescue and smiling playfully as he pat his friend and comrade in arms on the shoulder.
Liston looked up and toward his faithful Captain with a smile, raising his eyebrows in appreciation. He pointed at Magnus and nodded his head to thank him.
“Thank you, Captain- hiccup!”
Liston apparently not yet aware of just how drunk he actually was, seemed startled by his hiccup, but then went back to leaning over as the room began to spin around him once more.
“I think Liston might need to hit the hay.” Kaine pointed out with a snicker, “Look at him, he can hardly sit let alone hold his ale.”
They all chuckled to themselves as Liston raised his head and looked around glaring at them one at a time, “Hey, who said that?”
Magnus chuckled quietly with a brazen smile. His smile was quite handsome as it appeared to spread wide across his entire face causing his eyes to squint slightly.
“Na, I think we just need more ale!” yelled Payne as he stood up onto his stool and held his chalice in the air above his head; a small amount of it spilled out over his face but he didn’t seem to notice.
“More ale! Bring us more ale!” he shouted aloud for no one in particular to hear his request.
All five men cheered along with him, raising their chalices along with him. It was certainly going to be a long night and little did they know it had only just begun.
This was a night that would be remembered for many years to come.
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Meanwhile King Leofilliah was hidden away in his chambers and was being dressed for his appearance at the Great Feast. He stood in front of his gold framed full length mirror admiring his regal attire for the night with a stern expression painted across his well-groomed face as the servants around him worked silently to finish dressing him.
He was quite short standing at five feet, four inches and had a thinner than average build with spindly arms and short legs. His salt and pepper white hair had come in when he was quite young, giving him the appearance that he was much older than he actually was. But it made little difference to him; he possessed power and that was all that mattered to men like him.
At the ripe old age of forty-five Leofilliah and had been King of Dremivia for almost twelve years now and since his reign had begun his sole focus had been that of conquering his enemies and subsequently inheriting their lands. As he was obviously accustomed to a certain type of lifestyle he did not mingle with servants or commoners, nor did he care about the wellbeing of the people he ruled over. The King believed that he was the most important thing in the world and expected everyone around him to believe that as well.
Two beautiful handmaidens were currently working on attaching a long red cape to the golden clasps at the top of his shoulders. Quietly checking that the cape was fastened at either side of his shoulders correctly the handmaidens worked to ensure that it was free of creases and spread it out carefully along the floor behind him as he stood admiring himself.
Finally, the brunette handmaiden crossed the room, stopping behind him and carefully placing the King’s golden crown on top of his head, ensuring it was perfectly positioned in the centre. As she worked the King watched her closely from the mirror’s reflection. He needed to look the part for his appearance at the Great Feast tonight, before all of his faithful soldiers.
With the finishing piece in place King Leofilliah was finally ready to make his appearance and he stood admiring himself for a moment longer, a proud smirk spread across his face as he revelled in himself, a true sign of his conceit.
“Go, leave me. All of you!” he commanded suddenly.
Using his hand to gesture for everyone to exit the room, Leofilliah turned and walked across to a nearby table where his golden chalice already sat filled with red wine.
As the doors closed and he was alone at last, he proceeded to take a large sip from his golden chalice, walking back across to stand before the mirror again.
It appeared that he could not get enough of himself.
“Now there’s a handsome King.” he announced, chalice in hand as he smiled with delight at his reflection.
But his expression suddenly changed as the surface of the mirror began to grow hazy, as if a thick fog were somehow emerging from the glass and seeping out from it.
"Strange."
Frowning with confusion Leofilliah lowered his chalice slowly as he began to step closer towards the mirror with his free hand outstretched to meet the surface of the glass.
“What... is this?” he whispered to himself, stepping right up in front of the mirror and reaching his fingers out with intrigue.
One of his ruby encrusted rings of gold glistened brightly on his finger as the tips of his fingers were about to meet the mirror’s clouded surface. He was in a daze, unable to glance away even if he wanted to.
Suddenly a slender hand reached out from the mirror and grabbed his wrist tightly and before he had the chance to cry out for help he sucked in a sharp breath and froze, his eyes widened with a strange kind of paralysing fear.
The long pale fingers gripping his wrist firmly forced him to move back as the hooded figure incredibly emerged from the foggy surface of the mirror, stepping out through the mirror and onto the floor in front of the terrified King.
Swallowing nervously Leofilliah could do nothing but stare at the tall, black robed figure as his glowing white eyes beamed out from beneath his giant shadowed hood. It was Alabam, the same demonic Master Mage who had marked Magnus three months earlier at the battle of Kreeth.
But why was he here, visiting the King of all people?
Leofilliah was in shock, completely stunned by this dark magical figure looming over him as Alabam sensed his obvious fear and gave a sinister grin.
“Leofilliah… I have heard much about the King of humans...” the demon’s hauntingly raspy voice sent chills racing up the ruler’s spine as he remained still in unrelenting horror, "I'm afraid your reputation precedes you, your highness."
“Who… who are you?” he muttered through trembling lips.
“Silence! Listen well, King of humans… If you want to keep your crown and your life, you will do exactly as I tell you. Do you understand?”
Still paralysed with fear and with the demonic creature’s slender hand wrapped tightly around his wrist, the King only nodded his response.
A massive and haunting grin spread across Alabam’s white pasty face revealing the many long jagged teeth that filled his mouth.
“Good.” he hissed into the cool air.
- Writer
