A drop of sweat rolled down my face. I had to act quick not to be killed by this strange creature. My sixth sense were thumping in my head. Think, think hard End’horis. Then I realized that I had some precious stones in the bag hidden behind the bookshelf.
“Be calm, Gideur, you will receive your precious stones,” I said, voice trembling as I tried to stay as confident as I could.
I grabbed the bag from the hollow and emptied it. The glittering emerald stones fell into my palms.
“Do you accept these?” I asked with a dry throat.
Its otherwise emotionless eyes glowered up. It pointed at the stones with its tiny claws, making them float in front of his face, obeying some mysterious power. It grabbed one and observed it professionally. Suddenly it sniffed it up its trunk and to my greatest surprise, I heard how he chewed and swallowed it. So its mouth is in its trunk, I concluded.
“Not particularly delicious, it has an average taste,” it uttered, looking disappointed.
“Please excuse me, as these are the only stones I can offer you. I wouldn’t have thought that you would eat them.”
“What else would I do with them, human? I will accept this as an apology for summoning me in vain. You are lucky sir, for compensating me quickly, so I am willing to do you one small favour in the future in exchange for all the stones in that bag. And now I’m going to eat them all!” It stroked its trunk with its tiny clawed hand.
The Alqafka sniffed all of them up, one by one, with its odd trunk. It crackled each of them before swallowing. Then it lay down on the table, with a full stomach, comfortably pulling up one of its legs, as if it was getting ready to sleep.
“Now I will answer your questions, if there is anything you would like to know,” it said, now calmed down.
I wiped my forehead with my hand – this was a close call. I almost made an otherworldly demon irate; it could have easily killed me, based on what I had experienced so far. I coughed to conceal my confusion.
“What kinds of requests are you usually asked when someone summons you?” I looked at the weird creature with curiosity.
“Favours that I am asked range through a variety of things. Theft, obtaining information, infiltration, or often murder.
“Do you accept anything apart from precious stones as remuneration?” I was rubbing my jaw.
“Only precious stones, I care for nothing else! It may be of any kind, as long as it’s precious, or rather, delicious,” it said, patting its stomach. “But I warn you, do not try to deceive me! I am the best expert when it comes to stones in this whole world. If someone ever tries to betray me, they will not have the chance to do that again!” it snorted with its trunk to carefully accentuate its words.
“I have no such intentions; I would never want you to get mad at me.”
“You had better, baron.”
“Are you capable of anything else than moving daggers?”
If it had had any organ resembling a mouth, it would have probably smiled at this point.
“Well, Baron Telron, I can say that I have many hidden skills that I would not want to uncover now. I believe you have received a taste of it already,” it was pointing at the dagger in the wall.
“Yes, I can see you have magical skills.”
The demon didn’t comment on this, only nodded. Who knows what other powers this dreadful creature possesses? Its power might even compete with that of mages who are the mightiest sorcerers in the world.
“Are you skilled at close combat too, or is it only magic that you practice?” I kept interrogating it to gather as much information as possible.
“Yes, if necessary. I can be a ruthless foe.”
I couldn’t tell from its face whether it was telling the truth. I already had experience with other races in Algaron, but I couldn’t make heads or tails of this creature.
“You have also mentioned that I couldn’t harm you with a dagger. What did you mean by this?”
“Your blade exuded no magic. Common steel can cause no harm to me. Enough for today, I am bored of this exchange. I will retreat to where I came from. I have other things to do than to chat with humans. Next time only call me if there is something to do, otherwise I will have no other choice but to kill you” it looked at me with a straight, cold face.
“I will act accordingly, I assure you. I have no more questions, Gideur. Go in peace,” I swallowed convulsively.
The weird creature crawled back to the mirror on the table and disappeared. My thoughts were swirling in my head. On the one hand, I was relieved to have survived this, on the other hand, I realized what a great opportunity I had bumped into. However perilous this might be, now I had the possibility to ask help from this creature to accomplish our plan. It could resolve problems that we could otherwise achieve only with great difficulty. Now I merely had to get hold of some precious stones somehow.
I spent the rest of the day discovering the castle, walking through all its corners, from the basement to the guard towers. The night descended quickly, so I lied next to the baroness. She was snoring quietly in her gown, pulling the blanket up to her neck. I stayed awake for quite a while, formulating plans for the future.
The next day, I began the preparations for our journey in three days, together with captain Ravdel, the captain of the castle in the absence of the baron. We selected two dozen soldiers to escort us on the journey, I arranged to have rooms reserved in one of the inns on the way, I purchased an astounding Felrond mare to offer as a present and I arranged all the urgent financial matters. Everything went smoothly. One day I took out my opal blue crystal ball to send another message to my brother. I whispered the secret words, the ball glowed, and a familiar face appeared therein.
“Brother Randar, it is I, End’horis.”
“Greetings! Is everything alright?”
“Fortunately, yes. There have been new developments. Baron Telron Muran was in possession of a gilded coffer, containing an exquisitely elaborated granite statue, holding onto a ruby. The other day, as I was observing it, some of my blood flew onto the ruby by accident, which summoned a dreadful little fiend that crawled out of the mirror next to me.”
“This sounds truly bizarre. You didn’t get injured, did you?”
“No, Andor protected me. The dangerous creature called itself Gideur. It is an Alqafka living in another dimension or something like that. It’s some kind of demon. It completes missions in exchange for precious stones, which it consumes. Obtaining information, theft, even murder. I believe it could be of good use to us.”
“This sounds interesting. I would have never thought that a demon existed that eats precious stones. By all means, these creatures are extremely dangerous. I will inquire with the elders if they have ever heard about them. However, please avoid it until then! On another note, I managed to put on my disguise in the duchy, everything is fine.”
“I promise you that I will not contact it before we have more information. I am delighted to hear, brother, that you have infiltrated the duchy. I am looking forward to your efforts in that regard. Now I have to break the connection.”
“Be careful, End’horis!”
“You too, brother. May Andor guide you on your way.”
The light ceased and I was holding a plain crystal ball again, which I placed back to its hiding place next to the coffer.
I quickly adapted to my new identity, I was quite experienced. Nobody had the slightest idea that I was not the real baron. I completely identified with Telron’s personality, taking up his habits, his way of speaking and his behaviour. I went hunting just as he would. I started to get to know more of his life and the people surrounding him. When I had the opportunity, I enjoyed getting naked and transforming back to my own body, always behind closed doors. I would observe my body in the mirror. Humans and other races would have probably thought differently. Due to my absolutely transparent skin, all my organs and blood vessels were visible. The irises of my patchouli eyes were that of a reptile. This was pure perfecti
on, the ultimate shape. I could be whoever I wanted to be in this world. Out of all the intelligent species, it was us who Andor created the first, this must not have been an accident. He intended the world to be controlled by us.
I received a notification about the demon one day before our departure. The crystal ball flashed repeatedly, signaling that someone wanted to talk to me.
“Zriv al zund,” I uttered.
“Greetings, End’horis!”
“Greetings to you too, brother.”
“I have news about the mirror-dwelling creature.”
“Does this mean that it is reliable?”
“One of our elders had already encountered such a creature. According to his experience, they were rather shrewd and ruthless. They had a sophisticated knowledge of magic, but once paid with precious stones, they would complete their duty. They keep their words under any circumstances.”
“We have acquired a strong ally, Randar,” I smiled.
“Thanks be to the will of our Creator.”
“Tell me, Randar, how could our race lose the war against the humans and other races, if our Creator was watching over us all along?”
“I do not know the answer to this question. He may have wanted to teach us a lesson to learn from our mistakes committed in the past.”
“In such a cruel way that we were cast to the brink of extinction?”
“You know how the gods are, sometimes they are capricious. They plan for thousands of years ahead. We cannot possibly know what plans they have with us.”
“Humans are so frail and predictable. I cannot understand why we have been hiding under the ground like rats, waiting for a better age to come. I asked the Council of Elders about the reasons behind our failure. I received only evasive answers and nonsense. In the name of Andor, the takeover is possible, and these imbeciles won’t even realize what had happened!”
“The Council of Elders is highly prudent, you know that. What counts is that you managed to convince them to approve of your plan. I can hear some noise coming from outside. I must take my leave, End’horis. May Andor protect you.”
“May he guide you on your way, brother.”
This was excellent news. I went to bed with the reassuring thought that I had found a powerful ally.
CHAPTER THREE
Cortel Farland
The beams of the rising sun fought their way through the mountains, chasing the darkness away, colouring the sky in a golden shade. The light of the stars soon faded away and the clouds of the mackerel-sky lingered, glancing down on us with curiosity. Our carriage was awaiting us, ready to leave, loaded with immense paraphernalia that might be of use later in our journey. The noble black mare, the Bishop’s gift, was tied behind the carriage. The peculiar granite statue was hiding in my pocket, I didn’t want to leave without it. Somehow a feeling captured me that I had better keep it with me.
“Have you made them pack everything, Telron?” the baroness was asking me, excitement in her eyes, as I mounted the carriage.
“I left nothing behind,” I answered.
“I do hope that the last time won’t repeat itself, when we had to turn back halfway because you forgot something important,” Kirona warned me, annoyingly moving her index finger left and right in front of my face. I frowned and moved closer to her.
“Everything is here, woman. Worry for nothing, it harms your beauty. Those wrinkles will appear on your forehead and spread.”
“If you wish to mock me, I’d rather you kept it to yourself!” she reacted, casting a sharp look at me.
“I was just being lovely, woman, can’t I do that?”
“Stop playing your dull games, they bore me.” she said. “Let us leave!”
I signalled the escort that we could leave. The horses started walking at foot pace at the spur of the soldiers, their hooves knocking on the cobblestones of the courtyard as we left the fortress. The guards at the gate rubbed their eyes and pretended to be wide awake on their shift but in reality, they couldn’t wait to fall into their own beds. We set to the north, leaving behind the mountains running along the border. We proceeded on dusty roads, no rain had touched the ground for weeks. The withered stems of wheat and maize were begging for the divine blessing that had avoided the parched lands for too long. The whole day passed uneventful. Only a few wanderers and merchants crossed our caravan. Peace and tranquillity prevailed across the whole duchy. We only stopped to eat in order to arrive to the inn before night descended. The Goldenbeam Inn was situated in a tiresome little village halfway between Rockclaw and Tizland. Who had named this? Goldenbeam, how pure and sublime the word sounds, and it was built in the middle of a dump hole a few hundred people call a village. Anyway, we arrived, and we could finally have a roof over our heads.
The two-story building was built in the centre of the village and could boast being the second largest building after the temple dedicated to goddess Ismar. We occupied the whole upper floor for the night. Me and Kirona were naturally sleeping in the same room, and our escort, including the One Eyed, took the rooms beside ours. The inn-owner sent some delightful hot meals and ale to our rooms. Such important guests barely appeared in such a remote place like this was. He was trying to please us in all different ways to encourage us to stay here again the next time, an effort I recompensed with a heavy bag of silver coins.
“Don’t you dare try something tonight, Telron!”
“What are you thinking, woman? I don’t have to settle for you, I can find a woman for myself any time I fancy it.”
“What are you saying? As for me, off you go, the night is yours to find some wench, I only ask you not to make me listen to it. Good night,” she turned away and fell asleep after a little while.
As the night descended, a strong eastern wind began to roar that had finally brought storm clouds from the sea. Before long, a thunderstorm was raging. The wind violently tore branches apart, tree trunks yielded to the fierce power of nature, and raindrops were playing a steady rhythm on the timeworn tiles covering the roof of the building. The dried crop could finally revive in the pouring warm summer rain.
My race required less sleep than humans did, our body regain its strength more quickly. The baroness, fully covered with the blanket, was calmly snoring beside me, she was not bothered by the distant noise of thunder. I was staring at the sky through the window. Lighting flashed and then disappeared as instantly as they had appeared. I found it interesting that the blasting sound following the lightning always came delayed. Why was it so? Why is the light of lightning faster than the sound of thunder? Did the gods decide that it should be so? It must have been after midnight by the time the thunderstorm began to calm down. The staccato of the raindrops on the roof slowed down, the wind tamed, and I was about to turn to my other side when, at the light from the lightning, I noticed something unusual.
A shadow came to life outside, as if it was a life form of its own. I heard a soft clicking noise as the window lock opened. I jumped out of bed and took Bloodgusher into my hands. I quickly hid my pillow under the blanket to create the impression that someone was lying there on my side. I hid next to the wardrobe by my bed and carefully pulled Bloodgusher out of its scabbard. I was no expert swordsmen but I could feel the great balance it had. It felt as if it was the continuation of my arm.
The window of the first floor opened slowly, I could hear a discreet noise. I could hear two people entering the room. Whoever these cutthroats were, I would not let them catch me.
I waited for the moment until they approached the bed. The two figures were holding crossbows and ready to shoot. With hoods on their heads, their bodies were protected by a pitch-black armour, made of riveted baize, allowing them to move in silence. Emerging from the shadow, my attack caught them on the hop. I pushed the crossbow out of the hands of one, slashing through his arm, making him cry out from the agonizing pain. I kicked the other in the stomach and he fell onto the table behind him with a loud crashing noise as he was lifting his crossbow tow
ards me. He depressed the trigger. The quarrel passed by my face an inch and stuck into the wall behind me. Both of them pulled out their swords. Kirona awoke and began screaming when she saw the attackers. She pulled the quilt on herself and hid behind the bed, shivering.
The man with the injured arm managed to avert my strike to his head. He tried to hit me in the nose with the hilt of his sword, but I could bend in time and I thrusted my sword, much to his surprise. I could feel how the metal plates behind the leather armour yield to the power of Bloodgusher slashing along his abdomen. He painfully hissed and backed off. He was already bleeding at two places. His fellow angrily thrusted towards my neck, but I could bend aside at the last second. Another sword thrust and the injured assassin, resisting the pain, kept fighting. I backed up, cursing, using the wall to support me. Even this short time was enough for me to see that they were experienced fighters, not some common bandits.
Sounds of fighting were coming from outside, my soldiers were struggling with the intruders who apparently came in a group. I was cornered, one of the foe’s slashes found a hole on my defense and reached my shoulder, piercing the skin. I hissed from the familiar feeling of a metal blade penetrating my body. It was not the first time that I was cut, but I could never get accustomed to it. They were skilled swordsmen, I knew that it was only a matter of time before they would defeat me. A feeling of rage and helplessness took over me, I wasn’t skilled enough to conquer both of them. If they killed me, I would transform back to my original body and then all our plans would be destroyed, despite all the preparation. I could not fail now, I was infuriated. Andor help me.
Soon, the door blew open and Hrindel emerged in chainmail armor, like some guardian angel. The greatsword was dark red. He rushed against one of my attackers like a rabid hound. The wounded cutthroat backed towards the window. He was trying to escape, covering his wound with his left hand. Regaining some of my energy, I managed to block his way. My guard was a highly talented swordsman, my own eyes bore witness to it. Shoving aside a blade that was raving towards him, he got into close combat. He knocked out his enemy with his head, whose broken nose crackled with a terrible sound. Taking advantage of his enemy’s confusion, he stabbed his blade into the assassin’s stomach, the blade that was craving blood. His brigandine armor proved to be too weak to protect against a thrust of such power. He dropped his sword rattling, falling on his knees. The One Eyed kicked once more to free the sword. Blood spattered all around on the ground as the inanimate body of my attacker dropped on it.
Faceless: The Takeover (The Shapeshifters Book 1) Page 3