章 124: An Escape and an Intrusion
Leaving the palace from the closer exit, Cafer came out and mingled among the people as quickly as he could. There was a decent crowd in the streets as workers headed home and young children played in the streets.
Suddenly soldiers appeared in the avenue. They headed directly for the alley from whence Cafer had just come. They were obviously looking for him. The gnome moved quickly down the road as more troops appeared and began to question those in the streets. He needed to get out but turning the corner revealed a blockade. The gnome was cornered.
Cafer bumped into a woman with long flowing hair. She was too distracted by the soldiers to notice him. "Excuse me!" The woman said as she passed on. Thinking quickly, Cafer grabbed at a strand of her hair. It broke from the woman's head and remained in his hand as she hurried down the way. Cafer took the bracelet from his pouch and held it to the bracelet. Concealing the bangle in his cloak, the gnome shielded the bracelet's glow from the passers-by. Then sinking into the hood of his cloak and facing a wall, the gnome transformed into the beautiful lady he had just seen. Even his clothing appeared different to match his new physique.
Cafer turned to attempt a pass at the barricade when he came face to face with a large soldier. Although it been many years, he recognized the man as a direct subordinate of Captain Caleb, the Captain over all the palace guard. The gnome took a deep breath and prepared to defend himself.
"Excuse me, ma'am," the soldier said with a tilt of his head. "Have you seen anyone resembling former Chief Cafer?"
"No sir," Cafer said, realizing at once that his voice had not changed. He attempted to relax and raise his pitch. "Should I be worried?"
The soldier could see that something was not right, but was not sure exactly what. He was looking for a man, not a lady. But the voice did not match the face. "Wait a second!" Before the soldier could think any further, Cafer pushed back into the crowd. He would not get past the blockade with that lousy impression of a woman. He needed to stay out of the way until the troops passed on.
Cafer ducked into a tavern and slunk into the nearest table. "Buy you a drink?" the man across from him asked. It was very seldom a lady joined him so willingly. The gnome only nodded. A drink was brought just as a lieutenant pushed into the room.
"Everyone here! I am looking for someone who resembles former Chief Cafer. Everyone will show their face."
"Eh I am busy! Buzz off," the drunken man across from Cafer called. He winked at Cafer. It was obvious he was trying to impress the dark-haired woman he saw. Cafer attempted to smile coyly. The gnome was many things, but he was certainly not a flirt.
The lieutenant did not appreciate the drunken man's words, and he hoisted him out of his seat. "Hit him!" Cafer said quietly, his whisper disguising his manly voice.
The man smiled, "As you wish!" A wild swing landed the lieutenant on the ground, out cold. He had not been anticipating the hit, and it caught him across the jaw.
"Get him out of here," the barkeep called, worried about the trouble it could bring. "Take him out back and wake him up!"
Cafer helped to drag the lieutenant into the alley behind the tavern. Without explanation, the gnome stripped the man of his uniform and stored it away.
"How do we wake him up?" The drunk man asked.
"Give me a piece of your hair," Cafer demanded. The man gripped his head and yanked a large chunk of his hair—roots and all—and handed it to the gnome. Cafer winced.
"Now what?" The man asked eagerly.
Cafer held out his hand with fine powder in it. "Sleep." He said gently. Using a strand from the clump of hair, Cafer exited the alley way looking identical to the drunk man he left in the dirt.
————-
Aurora took a deep breath. If she did not speak quickly, she might not have the courage to tell Alaron what haunted her. "The reason I went to the Fates was because I had a vision. In my vision you took a sword and split the world, destroying it. The pain and bloodshed I saw were unimaginable. Even your sister was enveloped in the chaos. I went to the Fates because I thought the key to stopping this prediction was finding out who was born first, but I was wrong. The key was rooting out Cafer from your life. He is poison. The Maker called him that." The Empress let her words sink in.
"I don't want to destroy the world, and I certainly don't want to hurt Mairwen," Alaron was surprised by his mother's words.
"I don't want you to either, which is why we did everything possible to protect you from that." Aurora sat down next to the prince and placed her hand on his knee. "There's more."
Those in the room shifted uncomfortably. The blue-eyed boy stood and shot away from the woman, "I cannot handle any more."
"But it needs to be said, I am not.."
Zan, Brinn and Gandr, drew their swords and faced the Empress's bedchamber. "Someone is coming," the spymaster said quietly.
Sure enough, a blue-eyed girl burst in from the bedroom and ran straight to her brother.
"Mairwen?" Devrim and Aurora exclaimed. Alaron hugged his sister so tight he nearly crushed her.
"How did you get in here?" The Emperor asked in shock.
"I came through the tunnels. Your entrance isn't terribly well hidden, Father. I have been wanting to try it for years. Your room is well marked, Mother. The 'EA' for 'Empress Aurora' was very helpful." The girl's voice was matter of fact. She thought her answers were obvious.
"But how did you get away from your escort?" Aurora was in disbelief at her soldiers' incompetence.
The princess looked embarrassed. "When the soldiers got bored and restless, I got really quiet and just faded into the background until I could sneak out. They probably do not even know I am gone."
A panicked knock rapt against the Empress's chamber door. "I think they know," Gandr said with a smirk.
"You would make a pretty good spy," Brinn said to the Princess in hushed tones.
"Thank you!" Mairwen blushed.
"Do not encourage her!" Aurora was at a loss. Another, more fervent knock, invaded the room. The Empress stormed over to answer the door herself. A startled soldier, who had obviously drawn the short straw, stood cowering in the hallway. "If this is about the Princess, she is safe and with me. Tell the others that I want all of you to report to Chief Zan in the morning for questioning." The dark haired woman slammed the door in the man's face before he could even speak. Aurora spun and no one dared to make eye contact.
"I'm glad you are ok!" Mairwen spoke gently to her brother as she held his face in her palms.
"I would never hurt you," Alaron blurted. His eyes were brimming with tears.
"I know," the girl said. "Why would you even need to say such a thing?"
"Mother said I am the destroyer of the world and that I will hurt you. But it can't be true." Alaron, who had been so defiant, was now graciously accepting another hug from his sister.
Mairwen furrowed her brow. Aurora corrected her son, "I had a vision where he did those things. We did what we could to prevent it, but the prince has thwarted our efforts."
Now the princess swiveled her head toward her brother. Alaron averted his gaze. "I have been talking to Cafer and met him just now."
Mairwen's eyes went wide. "I see," she answered calmly. "Let me handle this," she said to her parents.
The Emperor looked at his wife, whose face was unusually pale. He sighed. "Very well, you can escort your brother to his room. We will talk again in the morning." Everyone filed out of the room.
Zan spoke in Devrim's ear as she left, "I'll make sure there is a detail of guards outside his room. If anything happens, we will notify you."
"Thank you." Devrim nodded his appreciation. When the room was clear of all but Aurora, he knelt down beside her at the foot of the couch. "It will be alright, my love," he said gently, taking her hands in his.
"Will it? If he is mad about my vision, how much angrier will he be when he finds out we are not his parents?"
The mirror, which was on the table, began to glow. Instinctively, the Empress lifted the glass. Cafer's image appeared and spoke, "I am safe, young prince, but I think the Empress may have discovered us. Do not tell her what you know."
Aurora couldn't help but laugh. For once she knew something the gnome did not. She gripped the mirror and spoke, hoping the gnome would hear. "Too late, Cafer. Whatever you have planned, we will stop you."
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