Kapitel 373: Doppelgangers
The doctor's mouth hung agape as the Empress and her helper's wore amused grins.
"It isn't sorcery, Doctor. It isn't even magic. Look closely."
As the four people neared, the physician began to realize that it was actually only three people, and they were three people he knew. Dressed identically to the Empress, Anna ambled along beside Ezer, whose hair and eyebrows were colored a silvery grey. He wore a plain black tunic with sleeves that could be pinned back, and even mirrored the slight hunch that the old doctor had due to years of pouring over books and patients. In his hand, wrapped tightly in an identical cloth to that which Colvyr wore, was what looked like a baby, but was in fact a doll.
The third member of the group was the least convincing though the most confident. Junayd hurried ahead and neared the group many moments before the other two. "Your Majesty," the Emperor's advisor bowed. "What a coincidence running into you here in the middle of no where. It is almost like we planned it."
"Enough of that nonsense, you fool," Nurlan huffed.
"That is 'Advisor Fool' to you, dear general," Junayd corrected him as he batted his eyelashes. "Because of course I am here in an official capacity."
"Well, then get on with it, in your official capacity!" The old soldier ordered, then looked apologetically at the Empress into whose ear he had just yelled. "That is, if it pleases Your Majesty."
Aurora relaxed her tense face and nodded. "Nurlan is quite right. We do not want the others to get suspicious. Best move quickly."
Anna and Ezer approached and bowed, "Glory to the Empress."
"We are ready to fulfill our duty, Your Majesty," Ezer said respectfully. His low husky voice sounded strange and the doctor straightened his back in indignation.
"I do not sound like that!" he argued. When no one else would meet his eye, he sighed. "Well, I don't. It is best not to talk at all." The physician scowled.
"Of course, Doctor. I am here to help you, not offend you," Ezer assured him. The Councilman had no desire to come at the wrong end of the doctor's care at a later date. It was much better to stay on his good side.
The naturally grey-headed man let the matter go as his mind caught onto one tiny detail. "I understand why Anna and Ezer are here with that tiny bundle..." The doctor paused as Colvyr slapped him gently on the cheek with a strange gurgling sound. Chuckling, the doctor corrected himself, "Forgive me, young prince, that handsome bundle...I get why they are here, but why is advisor Junayd?"
"He is going to be Chief Zan for the rest of the Chief's journey." Aurora lifted her good arm to release the man with the long black hair. He smiled warmly at the ruler, causing his eyes to narrow to a slit.
"But...but Junayd looks nothing like the Chief!" The clothes are close, but the body, face and hair are nowhere near the same. You should have at least done some make-up like you did on Ezer. With his hood pulled up, he might even be able to fool me--as long as he keeps his mouth shut." The Physician narrowed his eyes at his doppelganger, who looked away innocently.
"You make a valid point, which is why Zan has decided to make a great sacrifice." There was a question on the Empress's face to the Chief which he answered with a reassuring nod.
With a flourish, he disengaged the clasp of his cloak and passed it over to the greedy arms of a waiting Junayd. The advisor tossed his own cloak to the other man, who draped it across his back with one fluid motion. "Don't you dare mess it up," the Chief warned with a dangerous glint in his eyes.
"I've been dying to get my hands on this!" Junayd's voice cracked with delight.
"Hurt it and I might actually kill you." Zan responded evenly.
The doctor watched the whole exchange with confusion written on his face. "I don't see how changing cloaks will do anything but--OH!"
Junayd donned the cloak and flipped up the hood. The place where his face should have been was now a black void, and his body, which was enshrouded by the black garment, no longer seemed to have a definite shape or size.
"Miraculous!" The physician had no other words.
"That is magic, Doctor. Did we not mention that Zan was a Guardian for the Fates?" Aurora tilted up one corner of her mouth.
"I have heard the rumors, but did not think they were true."
"Well," Zan shrugged nonchalantly, "they are."
Aurora took the veil off her head and handed it to Anna. With Ezer's help-- the Empress cringed as she saw the fake Colvyr tucked under one arm as the man assisted his wife-- the veil was pinned such that Anna's face and dark eyes were hidden from view.
"Have a safe journey, Your Majesty. I hope you find healing and the answers you seek," Anna said with a curtsey.
"Thank you, Anna. Your help is invaluable." Aurora reached out and clasped the other woman's hand. "Be safe. Don't take any unnecessary risk." The lady-in-waiting had always been a bit of an older sister to the Empress. Her affection for the woman ran deep.
"Please follow your own advice," Anna responded seriously. "I cannot bear to think of an Empire without you. Glory to the Empress."
"Glory to the Empress," the others repeated.
Nurlan handed Aurora off to Chief Zan, looping her arm across the other's shoulders. The stoic soldier and the advisor wrapped their arms around the fake Empress to support her like she was injured.
"Watch your hands!" Ezer warned.
Junayd gasped. "I am highly offended. As if I would ever try anything with a married lady! At least I would never do it if I knew she was married, and certainly not in front of her husband." The two began to bicker until a sharp glance from Anna, which the two men could feel more than see, silenced them.
"Please excuse us, Your Majesty." Nurlan dipped his head. With Anna, Ezer, and Junayd, who was holding the fake baby with his free arm, the General made his way back to the carriages. "I will return shortly," he promised to the remaining group.
"It is probably better to let me sit a while. We should all get comfortable," Aurora urged the men. Helping the Empress to the ground, Zan rubbed his shoulders and shivered.
"It is chillier than I remembered," he commented, his silver eyes flashing.
"Well, that cloak of yours does keep you the same temperature all the time. It must be quite a shock." The fiery-haired woman sympathized. The cloak had protected her from the cold of the ice barrier, which had nearly killed Devrim before they had even gotten married. Taking it off and feeling the real temperature of things would be quite disorienting.
"I miss it already, if one can miss an object." Zan sighed.
Nearby, the doctor allowed Colvyr to walk around on the grass. The child toddled around finding every stick and rock to put in his mouth. The physician tried to keep the prince from choking on all the little goodies that littered the forest floor. Unaccustomed to children, the man quickly became exasperated.
"It's a miracle any of us live to adulthood!" he cried as Colvyr found a beetle that looked delicious (it wasn't, but the child did not seem to care).
Aurora laughed quietly as she leaned against a tree in their hidden cove. She glanced at Zan, who had an unreadable expression as he watched the prince and doctor interact.
'I wonder if in the hundreds of years Zan has lived if he has had any children. Surely he would have mentioned it. Perhaps his expression is for what might have been.'
It was not a far leap. Where they were headed, Zan would be reminded of his past all over again. For a moment, Aurora thought to dismiss him and let him go back to the palace, but she knew the Guardian would not accept.
Zan was too loyal to let his feelings, however valid, get in the way of his duty. Aurora wondered idly if anything could ever break him. He was strong inside and out.
After a time, the sound of horse hooves filled the air as Nurlan neared a second time. The group turned to greet him with great expectation.
Placing his arm across his chest, the General bowed after dismounting. "Everyone has headed on. No one seemed to think twice when I started bellowing orders that we needed to get a move on because Her Majesty was fatigued. I told them I saw something that needed to be investigated and hurried the group on their way. Everyone played their part beautifully, even Junayd, the old fool."
"Very good. Then we will move forward." Aurora motioned to the Chief and he helped her to stand. "Now which one of you wants to do the honors?"
The General and Guardian looked at one another. Zan raised his eyebrows, clearly saying that he was 'not it.'
Outranked but one of the Fates' Chosen, Nurlan slumped his shoulders. "Forgive me, Your Majesty."
The General wrapped his strong hands around the Empress's waist and lifted her into the saddle of his steed. His reddening ears made Aurora giggle. "No need to apologize. Thank you, Nurlan. I could not have gotten up here on my own in my condition. Doctor?" Aurora shifted her gaze from the embarrassed soldier.
Scooping up Colvyr, the doctor passed the child up to sit in the saddle as well. It was not the most comfortable arrangement, but by far the most efficient.
Sensing her discomfort, the doctor spoke words of comfort. "Do not worry, Your Majesty. We will get back to the carriage in no time."
The others all laughed. "Both carriages are gone, Doctor." Zan said. "Anna and Ezer have gone back to the palace and Junayd has gone to Duchess Ashleigh's in my place."
"But I thought the second carriage was for us!" The doctor had assumed the first would leave while the second made some circular path back to them.
Aurora shook her head. "I realize we have deceived you doctor, but I am afraid no carriage can get us where we will be going today. I hope you like to walk."
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein