Chronosphere by Adam Witcher

Author:Adam Witcher [Witcher, Adam]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-04-09T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Only one day remained until the wedding, and Ana and Anton were in the process of transforming the castle gardens into an even more magical place. The ceremony was to take place at dusk, when the magicians’ illusions would be better accented by the dwindling twilight.

They set up their usual spread of lights, interspersing them over flowers and tree branches and programming them to twinkle like fireflies. Fog would accompany the princess’ procession. The king thought it would give the bride an other-worldly aura, a request that Anton couldn’t help but chuckle at. The Draconians would provide their own ‘other-worldy aura’.

Wooden chairs from the dining room were set out in rows. Castle servants hunched over them with paintbrushes and sandpaper, rubbing them smooth before adding an extra layer of stain so that the wood was silky and fresh. Gardeners pulled budding weeds from the flower beds. Each time the door to the castle opened, Anton got a whiff of the chefs’ preparations inside. The feast was to be so elegant that it would take a full twenty-four hours to prepare. Every detail was set to make this the most magnificent wedding that Jagari had ever seen.

That is, until the groom was to be brutally murdered during the ceremony.

King Gareth came around intermittently and surveyed the progress. Though he sometimes watched Anton and Ana work, it wasn’t bothersome. His intentions were never more than simple curiosity, and Anton doubted that they were giving away their magical secrets by letting him watch. He’d usually smile and observe for a few minutes, tossing in comments like ‘splendid’ and ‘how delightful’ before continuing his rounds.

Anton had taken a liking to the king. What he lacked in intellect, he made up in enthusiasm and positivity. That didn’t necessarily make him the ideal candidate to run a kingdom, but Anton supposed a well-meaning simpleton was better than a sadistic evil genius.

In the late afternoon, Anton was busy setting up some simple fireworks. An alchemical shop had provided the ingredients to add a pyrotechnic flare to their display. The king had come to visit only a few minutes prior, but Anton found himself in the man’s girthy shadow once again. He turned and nodded. The sunlight hit his eyes so that all he could see was a silhouette.

“What are you working on now… old chap?”

Gareth fumbled those last words. Anton suspected spiced wine was at play. A few feet away, Ana carried on with her duties.

“We have a new display for you,” Anton said. “You’re going to love this one.”

“Is this a new type of magic?”

“New for you, I think,” Anton said. “We haven’t done something like this here in Jagari yet.”

“And do you think, perhaps, you can tell me how this one works?” the king asked. “I’m just dying to know your methods.”

Anton gulped and stood up. The king’s request caught him off guard. He’d assumed the man enjoyed his blissful ignorance. After all, why wait until now to ask?

“A true magician never reveals his secrets, your highness.

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