“Here we are,” Zoran announced. “My room. Crap! Pardon the mess; it is just like I left it last year.” Indeed, stuff was scattered everywhere. Memories of his hasty packing returned. “I had to leave in a big hurry. No one’s been in here to clean up. Okay, first action, search for any hidden spy devices and spells.”
At once, spells detonated right and left. They found none. “Well, that’s a relief. Okay, I will let Lida and Rayna know that we are here. Undoubtedly, the Baron will soon discover this as well.” He concentrated and told his sisters he had arrived.
Rayna explained. We have to greet Uncle Milan and Aunt Marjeta. Dad is having us perform mom’s old duties, greeting our guests. Stay put until we can come to you. It is not safe. Dad has spies everywhere!
“Now we wait,” he announced. Meanwhile, the women set about cleaning up the place. Slightly embarrassed, Zoran lent them a hand. Karel conjured two large sofas so that they would all have a place to sit down and chat with his sisters.
A while later, a knock on his door announced their arrival. Zoran let his two sisters into the room. All three continually glanced around the halls making sure they were not detected entering. Once inside, a three-way hug ensued.
“We’ve missed you so much, little brother,” Rayna whispered.
His team finally got a look at the twin sisters. Now twenty, they had blossomed into lovely young women, who looked nearly identical, save for the way they wore their hair. Rayna had shoulder length light brown hair and sparkling blue eyes. Lida had identical colored hair, but wore hers much shorter, the only way one could tell them apart. Both wore black silk gowns that billowed out below their waists. A hint of lavender betrayed their presence.
Rayna, seeing the six waiting patiently by the sofas, giggled. She saw three women, one with unusual golden hued skin and said, “Okay little brother. Introduce your friends and tell us which one is your fiancé! We are both dying to know and meet her!”
“Okay, okay. I can take a hint. Gang, this is Rayna, longer hair, and Lida, shorter hair, my twin sisters. This is my fiancé, Archmage Zdenka. I will tell you her last name in about a month.” Both twins moved to her and gave her a warm hug and embrace.
“Congratulations, Zdenka! Archmage? Incredible! Honestly, we never thought anyone would ever capture little brother’s heart. You are really very pretty too. He didn’t mention that to us,” Rayna teased him. Zdenka blushed slightly, knowing that she was with two Duskas, two very powerful women in their own right.
“And this is Mage Jarka, Mage Bernard, Mage Karel, and the twins Archmage Emil and Archmage Renata. The twins are from a distant land, studying with us,” Zoran explained, still fearful of revealing too much about them — no last names for sure, not just yet.
“Wow, three Archmages and three Mages! You sure have come prepared!” exclaimed Lida, as she greeted each of them warmly.
“Four Archmages,” Zoran decided to add a bit more hope to his sisters.
“Where? Is someone invisible” Rayna asked, looking around for another companion.
“Me. Apparently I have set some kind of new record. A Duska has become an Archmage.”
Both sisters opened their mouths in utter shock and surprise. “Really? Is that even possible?” Lida exclaimed at last.
Rayna finally found her voice, “Zoran! That’s never, ever happened. We are still not yet Mages even! How did you do it? You can cast those top power spells? Incredible! Wow! Congratulations indeed!”
“Yes, congratulations, little brother. Does anyone know of this?” Lida asked.
“No, we are keeping it a secret for a month or so before it is revealed to the world. Please keep it a secret a little longer. I just wanted you to have a little more hope. We are sure in a fine mess, aren’t we?”
“Oh Zoran, what are we going to do?” Lida sank into the sofa beside her brother. “Leo’s here; he told me that he plans on taking me back with him. I’m going to pack tonight and be ready for whatever happens tomorrow. I’d rather be dead than marry that ugly Strom Clav. He’s worse than dad and has terribly bad manners and stinks. Yet, if I run off, what will become of Rayna? Dad will only force her to marry the pig!”
“Stefan’s not here yet. I think he’s coming in the early morning,” Rayna explained. “Honestly, if we run off with these families, there will be hell to pay. It could start another dispute and war between these houses!”
“To say nothing of all the assassins running around after our lives and Leo’s and Stefan’s,” Lida added what she feared most.
“We need to stall for time; in another month I will be shaking up the Baron and all of the other Houses,” Zoran said defiantly. “Sorry I cannot be more specific just now. I just need to stall a month. If the Baron tries to force either of you to marry, somehow, someway, we have to get you two out of here.”
“They would probably be safest with us, Zoran,” Zdenka suggested.
“You are right, love, but their boyfriends and our Uncles may see it differently. We cannot tell them just yet why they would be safer with us. I’ll talk to them when I get the chance. Just make sure you both keep every protection spell you know on your rooms tonight.”
“We will. Are all of your friends going to sleep in here with you? The girls can share our rooms. Besides we have proper clothes for all of you,” Rayna asked.
“I’m all for that, Zoran. This way, we can help protect your sisters tonight,” Jarka volunteered, eager to chat with either of the two Duskas.
Just then, Zoran’s inner sense alerted him. “Dad’s coming. Zdenka, go with Rayna. Jarka, Renata, you are with Lida. Shadow Walk them immediately into your rooms. Mages, put every possible protection spell on their doors and rooms. Action now!” he was insistent.
At once, his sisters took hold of the women’s hands and vanished. Karel, Emil, and Bernard took up a defensive semi-circle around Zoran, who headed for his door. “It will be the Baron,” he said with a sigh, knowing a nasty confrontation was about to occur.
“Ah here you are at last, my one remaining son,” the Baron exclaimed as Zoran opened the door and allowed him to enter. Zoran noticed a dozen security men had accompanied him, but they stayed out of his room. They had not been invited inside and wouldn’t be unless so ordered by the Baron.
“Baron,” Zoran replied, refusing to call him father or to acknowledge the greeting.
“Where have you been son? We have all been so worried that some ill had befallen you?” he continued ignoring Zoran’s cold greeting.
“I’m just fine, never better Baron. Thank you for honoring our mother with the Ceremony of Passing. She deserves it.” He stayed totally non-committal.
“Well, yes. Good to see you looking fit, perhaps fitter than when I last saw you. I do believe that you have filled out some. Been eating well, I see. I was worried that perhaps you were starving to death in some hole somewhere. You have heard about your brother?”
Ah, now he was getting to the point, he thought. “Yes, Radek followed your ruthless despotism and see where it led him? Burned and crippled for life, unable to fight, barely able to walk. Bet you ignored him and he couldn’t take it any longer. He ought to have known better, but then he always did idolized you as long as I can remember.”
“Yes, he proved valiant on the battlefield, as any son of mine should. Excellent warrior. It was those hideous, vile creatures that caused his burns. Son, dragons have come to Adapazan! Now is the time for us all to drop our hostilities towards each other. We must join together, if we have any chance of defending our lands and our peoples from these mean, vicious dragon lizards! If we cannot put aside our differences, all of Adapazan will fall into utter chaos and total ruin, destroyed by these vile, evil creatures.” Zoran wondered how Emil was taking all this, but didn’t dare throw him a glance. Later Bernard told him that Emil fought hard to keep from laughing hysterically.
“Ah, so then these dragons have been attacking other towns and cities here on Adapazan, Baron?” Zoran cleverly inquired
.
“Not as yet, just burned Sholov Province to the ground, murdering thousands of my troops. It is only a matter of time before they do advance beyond Sholov Province, which is now completely deserted, by the way. Not a single living person dwells there, a ghost province.”
“Your invasion, then, had nothing to do with forcing the people in Sholov Province to flee for their lives to avoid becoming your slave workforce?” he couldn’t resist taunting the Baron. However, as soon as he made his outburst, he regretted it. It only antagonized the Baron further.
“Of course not, son. I am slowly bringing law and order to the Wild Lands, which are controlled by wicked, lawless warlords. You know that. These men rape and pillage and steal to make a living. Son, times are bad. Radek is gone. Your mother is gone. I am coming tonight to see if we cannot heal the wounds between us. Come back to me. Join me. Follow my lead, and I will name you my heir at tomorrow’s celebration. Don’t you wish to one day be known as Baron Zoran?”
“Baron, the true reality is that you are a ruthless, evil, sadistic dictator, a slave master who suppresses all living people to your own ends. I will never follow in your footsteps. You can name me your heir apparent, but as I stand here living and breathing, I swear to you that the moment that I become Baron taking your place, I will undo absolutely everything that you have ever done — abolish every last law you’ve set down — fire every last person who has ever committed any vile actions against the people of Adapazan and try them for high treason against the people of Adapazan. Go ahead and name me your heir, if you can live with that.”
The Baron’s face cringed with suppressed anger. His face turned bright red from the effort to keep from exploding and attacking his son this very instant. “Very well. You are no longer a son of mine! So be it!” He turned and left, angrier than Zoran had ever seen him before!
“So that’s our Baron,” Bernard said bored again.
“He didn’t take that none too kindly,” Karel put in.
“What did he mean by his last statement? Was that a threat?” Emil asked, totally unfamiliar with human relations.
“He meant that he has disowned me and that he will likely be sending out assassins to kill me. At least this time, I will know who is behind the assassination attempts. I never did figure out who was trying to kill me when I was last here.”
“Damn,” Karel exclaimed angrily.
“Figures,” Bernard added in a monotonous tone.
“We best put up every protection spell we can and immediately,” Zoran suggested. For over ten minutes the Mages cast spell after spell. Zoran also relayed to the five women what had happened and checked on their protection spells.
“One of us should remain awake and on guard through the night,” Karel ordered. “I’ll take first watch. Bernard can have the second one.” After conjuring some more beds, which pretty well filled Zoran’s room, they retired for the night.
Next morning, as the men began dressing in the black silk suits that Rayna and Lida had provided for them, they chatted about the night. “Well, someone tried to break in on my watch,” Karel pointed out. “Didn’t get past the Alarm spell, though.”
“Same on my watch,” Bernard added. “Failed miserably to gain entrance.”
“Someone tried to Charm me into opening the door,” Emil said in a matter-of-fact tone. “The idiot.”
The men found it a struggle to get into their suits. There were so many buttons and attachments that they spent an hour getting into them. “Pack up everything else, Shrink them, and stow them in our pockets. We may have to make an emergency escape,” Zoran advised and also relayed that in a message to the women, including his sisters.
Now they had to wait on the women, who took even longer to get ready. At last, Rayna sent word to Zoran. “Okay, we move out. Have you all gotten your defensive spells cast on yourselves?” They had. “We will pick up the others and head to the Formal Breakfast in the Great Hall. Keep your eyes open; we could be attacked nearly anywhere.” Cautiously, he opened his door. Seeing an empty hall, the four men slipped out and went down the hall to Rayna’s room and knocked.
“Wow! Zdenka! You look fabulous!” Zoran was shocked to see how Zdenka now looked wearing her large silk dress. Rayna had done up her hair and given her a green emerald necklace to wear.
“See what I can do, little brother,” Rayna proudly teased him. Zdenka blushed and took his hand.
Lida had also helped Jarka and Renata look equally at their best. Bernard swooped immediately to Jarka’s side, swearing that he would be her escort. Jarka loved every minute of this. Such a dress she had never worn nor dreamed existed. Renata was mostly bored with all this human fuss. However, she loved the emerald that she had been given to wear around her neck.
They formed into a group, with Emil and Karel walking in front of Zoran and Zdenka. Lida and Rayna followed; Renata followed them, with Bernard and Jarka bringing up the rear, a position Jarka normally desired. It was a long walk to the Great Hall, down one flight of stairs, only to enter another long hall. On the party walked.
Suddenly, Zoran’s inner sense kicked in. “Danger!” he whispered. Lida and Rayna also sensed it as well. A man wearing all black became visible as he rushed towards Zoran. He had been invisible, waiting for him to pass by. Unfortunately for the assassin, Emil was in his way. Without breaking his stride, Emil gave the rushing assassin a left punch in his head. The assassin’s head was crushed almost beyond recognition and his body smashed hard into the granite stone wall of the hall. The party marched on without saying a word.
Shortly, Rayna whispered, “How did he do that? The assassin’s head was crushed! Emil must be super-strong!”
“Archmage,” Zoran whispered, finding a clever way to hide Emil’s dragon strength.
“Wow!” his sister exclaimed.
At long last they arrived at the main doors to the Great Hall. There was a line waiting to be announced and enter. Zoran could already see the Baron sitting with Archmage Milos at the front table. A number of other barons from other planets who were allies of his had already been announced and had entered, sitting at the tables closest to the Baron’s table. As the next party prepared to enter, the Door Speaker announced in a loud voice, “Baron Milan Matous of Gladno, Baroness Marjeta, and Duke Leo.” He also announced several more of their children He tried to see them, but there were too many in line ahead of them.
A bit later, the Door Speaker announced, “Baron Viktor Pavel of Valtr, Baroness Ivana, and Duke Stefan.” Two other siblings were also announced.
Several other Barons were introduced, and at last Zoran and his friends reached the entrance and waited on the Door Speaker. After a moment, Zoran realized the Door Speaker was under orders not to announce him. He cast a simple magnify spell and announced himself, “Duke Zoran Vladislov, Duchess Rayna, Duchess Lida, and party.” Every eye in the room suddenly stared at the small group as they entered. He saw at once that those who were opposed to the Baron were being forced to sit at tables on either side of the room, far from the Baron. Uncle Milan flashed him a hand signal, and Zoran led them over to their table.
While the Door Speaker continued to announce other arriving barons, Zoran formally introduced his uncle and family to his friends. Leo insisted on sitting beside Lida, however. Uncle Milan explained, “We will be safe here at the tables. Every baron of the Federation of Planets will be here shortly. He would not dare try anything at this Last Breakfast for Baroness Katerina. We are safe for a little while. We can talk later.”
As soon as the last baron and his family entered, the Baron rose and spoke loudly. “Welcome my fellow Barons, Baronesses, Dukes, and Duchesses to my time of grief and morning during the Last Breakfast for my lovely Baroness Katerina, who we all loved and admired. Enjoy the finest food available on Adapazan. At one p.m., we will meet here in my Great Hall for Katerina’s Ceremony of Passing. Thank you all for honoring the memory of a wonderful Duska, baroness, and wife.”
His words were all
lies. Zoran fumed; not one ounce of truth did he utter. He loathed his wife, especially after her fall had scrambled her mental facilities. He made no mention that she had decided to end her own life.
The table talk was light and friendly. Uncle Milan was fifty-one, a little overweight, with well-trimmed brown hair, more like a business man than a fighter. His uncle was impressed with his friends. “Three Archmages, my Zoran, the company you now keep. Impressive. Have your Archmages accepted employment with any Royal House yet?”
Zoran answered for them, “We are all still in training a bit longer, but yes they have chosen a Royal House, though just yet, which House must remain a secret.” He winked playfully at his uncle.
“Well, I must admit, Zdenka, I have never met a prettier Archmage!” Uncle Milan complimented her.
Aunt Marjeta commented, “Well, Zoran, you had us all so worried about you. I had visions of you starving to death out there somewhere in the wilds. It really is so good to see that you are even fitter than the last time I saw you, which was, now let me see, well, it’s been at least two years now.” She chatted on.
Bernard whispered to Jarka, sitting beside him, “What are you doing?”
“Committing the faces of all the barons to memory. This is a chance in a lifetime, you know. We get to see all of them in one place. Can you imagine a room full of Duskas? The most powerful beings in all the Federation!” She continued to look around at the many faces, some old, and others young. Some of their children were still teens or younger. Jarka had never mentioned that she had a photographic memory. She would be able to recall every face here anytime that she desired.
As the barons finished up, many rose to leave; some would stroll the castle, others would gather in side rooms to chat. As he was about to get up, Uncle Milan requested, “Zoran, remain seated a while longer.” When the table next to theirs freed up, Baron Viktor Pavel and his family slowly moved over to join them. Zoran guessed that the two barons had arranged to meet and was right.
Zoran Chronicles Volume 1 A Dragon in Our Town Page 17