212: After-party

As dessert wrapped up, I had to hold back a laugh as Lily got up from the cushion and put on a very performative stretch. I noticed she was intentionally showing off her claws, and yawning just happened to show off all her teeth before she vanished into the shadows.

This scene did not go unnoticed, as the noise in the hall went quiet for a moment, as nearly every eye in the room landed on Lily, then on me.

The only person who didn’t look terrified was Liane, who must have seen it like I did, because she was holding back a laugh.

The dinner didn’t end there, however, as everyone was brought out more drinks and started to walk between the tables, all getting together in their groups again. Lestillia, however, did not leave the table, instead just looking out at the rest.

“They are afraid of you. How curious,” they said.

I laughed. “They are probably afraid of Lily, not me.”

Lestillia shook their head. “No. They fear you. I can see it in their faces, the way they look to this table. You are an incredible curiosity, Lord Ashmoon.”

“Please, just Trevor,” I said out of reflex, completely forgetting the instructions of Milo.

“I also suspect my placement at this table was by design, as most tend to fear me also,” Lestillia said with a bitter laugh.

“Why?” I asked curiously.

“My nation has a reputation for being ruthless, with some powerful magic, and our gods are neutral at best, though here some see it as evil. I don’t agree,” Lestillia explained quietly.

“You’re a mage? I’ve loved seeing magic in action since I hit the road. There’s something special about it,” I said.

Liane let out a snort of laughter. “That’s all he got out of that.”

“And it’s becoming clearer why they fear you, even if you do not say, or know,” Lestillia commented, looking back at the crowd.

The King and Queen both stood, causing the entire room to fall silent.

Marcus stepped forward. “Thank you all for attending. Please enjoy yourselves. Snacks and drinks will be provided throughout the evening, but remember my warnings. These are not idle threats.”

They then left the room, with Kathrine, Luis, and Elijah following.

“In answer to your question, yes, I am a mage, but we’ll have to continue this conversation later. It’s been an absolute pleasure meeting you, and you have piqued my curiosity, so hopefully we’ll meet again.”

Moments later, they were also gone through a side door.

The volume in the room grew around me now that the royals had left, with everyone happily chatting and drinking. I was saved fairly quickly as the man who came to me with the invitation arrived again.

“Lord Ashmoon, if you’d like to follow me, I will lead the way for you,” he said, bowing.

Looking back to make sure Crisplet and Liane were with me, I gave him a nod, following him towards the rear door.

As I took a step through the door, there was a small sound of metal on metal. Turning around, I saw what appeared to be a small metal dart on the floor. Curious, I went to pick it up when a second dart hit the back of my hand, piercing deep but without much pain.

Notification:

• You have suffered 1 damage.
• Poison attempt failed: Poison immunity.

Recoiling my hand, I didn’t think twice, looking in the direction it came from, which was up high, almost as if from the beams or one of the high windows.

“Lily, someone tried to attack me!” I yelled, pointing in the direction I thought it came from.

What happened next happened in a blur. The pressure that filled the room was unlike anything I had felt, which was saying something because I actually felt it, like ice-cold water had been dumped down my back with someone standing on my shoulders. Everyone else, however, did not fare so well. Nearly the entire room dropped to their knees or straight to the ground in a crumpled heap. The only people still on their feet were three Royal Guards, one of whom was Liam.

Lily didn’t wait, vanishing a moment later, but the pressure never lifted.

“Don’t kill them, Lily. We’ll get answers first.”

This request was for naught, as the moment the words came out of my mouth, a body dressed in brown fell from the beams above, landing in the crowd, where it appeared to have a seizure, just as Lily arrived.

Liam and the two other guards who kept their composure ran forward towards the person, but I suspected it was too late. Lily was too fast.

“Lily, could you check for others? Try to keep them alive,” I asked, knowing she could hear me through the scarf.

While all this was going on, Liane was back to her feet, daggers out, pushing me back through the door, while Crisplet was larger than I was, his flame nearly black with the crown looking like jagged molten teeth.

Lily’s pressure lessened slightly. I assumed she was branching out her search as I was pushed through the door, with Liane shutting it before grabbing my hand.

“It’s poisoned,” I got out just as she was about to grab it, stopping a second later.

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I pulled it out myself. Again, there was really no pain as the thin piece of metal was removed and dropped to the floor.

I barely got a moment to think when a door burst open from the end of the hall, as Kathrine, Elijah, and the King appeared.

“What happened?” Marcus’s voice boomed.

“Trevor was attacked. Poison dart,” Liane said, still pushing me back away from the door, which was currently smoking.

Shouts were coming from the other side of the door, but they were too muffled to make out. Only the sound of heavy footsteps as Marcus was running up the hall, still in his ceremonial armour.

There was a thud as a body dressed in brown clothes with a strange-looking cloak that was difficult to look at fell to the floor, Lily appearing a moment later, standing between me and the body.

There was still shouting on the opposite side of the door, now a clearer voice coming through.

“Crisplet, please let us pass.” I could have sworn it was the sound of Liam.

Marcus arrived at the body. “Is this the assassin?”

Kathrine ran past both of us, heading for the door leading back to the hall, while Elijah had his own sword out, following her.

“Uh, I think so, yes. I saw someone fall from the beams,” I said, looking behind me.

Marcus began to examine the body, removing their hood and mask, while my attention was drawn behind me. Kathrine had just pulled open the door, which was completely charred and smoking, with Crisplet blocking the doorway.

“Crisplet, it’s okay. Please let us pass,” Kathrine said.