Alanna paused feeling some sadness at hearing that. “And if he wins?”
Alkamire laughed sadly, “If by some miracle, he bests me... then he will have proven himself, and there will be no issues between us. You will still honour your engagement...” The king looked at Alanna waiting for a cue to continue.
Alanna nodded.
“Then Thomas will be in line to be the prince of BlueShift, with ties to Westminster. He will be able to bring the Westminster wizards in line with us to face the oncoming crisis.”
Alanna nodded more to herself than to her father.
Alkamire grew grim. “Either way presents serious issues regarding Gatsby. You must know that his father intends to see you married to Gatsby. If they can't bestow doubt upon my would-be allies, and usurp my authority, then he will try to manoeuver Gatsby into marrying you, and take the number two spot under the Alkamire Dragons. They don't intend to loose in this battle. If Thomas should win...”
“You think that Gatsby would threaten Thomas?!” Alanna found that hard to believe. No matter what Gatsby had said, she didn't believe that he would harm Thomas.
“I do.”
“I will have to see Gatsby and find out what I can.” Alanna said sounding more determined than she felt. For the first time ever, she was a little afraid of what her friend was capable of.
“I'm afraid you will have to wait until after the event. Gatsby is keeping to himself somewhere in the city. I don't believe that he feels comfortable inside the palace.”
Nothing seemed to go smoothly for Alanna these days. “Oh! The Seer wanted me to give you this.” Alanna said almost forgetting the scroll that she was holding. She handed it over to her father, who took it and immediately opened it.
Alkamire's expression grew dark.
“What is it?” Alanna had wanted to know what was written in the scroll ever since leaving the Seer's place.
“Confirmation I am afraid.” Alkamire then smiled. “Don't worry yourself about it. It just has to do with some questions I had. Tomorrow will likely be a big day. Tell Thomas he doesn't have to worry about tonight. He should come into the castle to stay as usual. He has to maintain his image, at the very least, until after the hearing.”
Alanna turned to leave when Alakamire added, “And Alanna, please let him know it's not personal.” Alkamire gave Alanna the warmest smile, “Based on what you have told me, he's going to grow into a fine man you know.” Alanna smiled back, and turned to leave once more. She was still worried about what to say to Thomas, but she felt more confident than she had that somehow things would work out.
*****
“Flippin fleas but you are inept. Hold the sword up!” veins on Tretchbolt's forehead were starting to pop out. It was starting to make Thomas nervous.
Thomas tried to hold the sword without his arms wavering, but it was proving to be a very difficult task. The sword was amazingly heavy for an object of its size. “It's a little, um... heavier than I would have expected.”
“Of course it's heavy. It's solid cast iron. It's training for your muscles as well as you.”
Thomas groaned. If not for hauling Alanna around for the previous month, he didn't believe that he would have been able to even lift the sword.
“You don't want to be one of those weak, wiry wizards that are all cloth and no flesh. Biggest downfall for a wizard is their inability to protect themselves in a situation that negates their abilty to do magic.” Tretchbolt wacked Thomas in the back of the knee. “Keep your balance!” Thomas was about to give in when Alanna returned. He could tell by the grim look on her face that all was not well.
Alanna looked somewhat surprised to see Thomas holding a sword. “Tretchbolt thankyou for...” Alanna cocked her head to one side as Thomas struggled and groaned as he tried to lift the sword into a ready position. “...taking care of Thomas.
“It's nothing. I wasn't doing anything. I just don't believe that he should be sent in with absolutely no preparation.” Tretchbolt seemed uncomfortable with the acknowledgement and started shifting and looking at the ground.
Thomas sighed. “I guess I should thank you as well. Now at least I know how to point the sword. Maybe someday I actually will know the proper way to swing one. I just wish we had had time to get somewhere.”
Tretchbolt nodded.
“Thomas, we should talk.” Alanna pulled Thomas aside and whispered to him in hushed tones.
“It's alright. I should be getting back to my duties now anyway.” Tretchbolt said as he headed out the door.
“Thanks again.” Thomas added as Tretchbolt grunted and closed the door behind him.
“So. I'm a little afraid to ask, but since there is no way around it either.” Thomas started.
“My father wants to apologize to you for the circumstances that have forced him into this position. He really holds you no ill will Thomas.”
“No, I know, I have Gatsby to thank for my current situation. Honestly, how did I get sucked into this? It's like one sucessive disaster after another.”
“So it's all been a disaster?” Alanna asked.
“Well, maybe not entirely. At least the company has been good for the most part.” Thomas replied a little bashfully. “So what is going to happen?”
“You are to stay in the castle tonight. Father wants you to keep up your appearance. If you should face him, and win, he wants your image to be intact. It's important that the lords believe that you are a powerful wizard.”
“Win. You make it sound like it will be a physical battle.”
Alanna didn't say anything.
“Does everyone believe that this will end in a fight?”
Alanna still didn't say anything.
“Does anyone seriously believe I could battle the king of the Alkamire Dragons and triumph? I'm not sure how likely that is Alanna, I'm barely a wizard. I'm not even sure I should say I'm a wizard. If not for the ring...”
“Whatever you do, don't let that get out. You have enough problems Thomas.” Alanna was clearly worried about what would happen if people discovered that the ring was a source of wizard powers.
“Right. You don't have to tell me twice.” Taking a deep breath Thomas mentally prepared himself. “So off to the palace again then?” Alanna nodded and took his arm.
Alanna seemed to show more open affection toward Thomas lately. He looked at Alanna in an inquiring manner.
“Keeping up appearances. Remember, we are engaged.”
Thomas nodded slowly. “Alanna? Do you mind me staying there?”
“Of course not silly.” Alanna pulled Thomas in and wrapped an arm over his shoulder. “I've become rather used to you.”
Despite the impending meeting with the king, Thomas found himself smiling the rest of the day.
CHAPTER 27
BATTLE OF THE CLOWNS
As inevitable as rain at a spring picnic, the next day came. Thomas had slept amazingly well considering the crushing stress he was under. Alanna was beside him, already long since awake.
“You're up already?” Thomas asked Alanna.
“I never slept.” Alanna sighed. “I honestly don't know how you can sleep.”
Thomas thought about it for moment. He had been running from one danger to another for a while now. “I guess I have somehow grown accustomed to impending doom. At some point you have to sleep.”
“Well I'm not.” Alanna was sitting on the bed, arms wrapped around her knees, staring at her feet.
Alanna's concern for Thomas' situation, warmed his heart. He place a hand on her shoulder, and she looked over at him.
“Don't worry. Things will turn out alright.” Thomas smiled reassuringly.
“I have two people to worry about Thomas. My father, and you. I saw what you did with the Shadow, I'm worried what might happen out there if my father seriously presses you.”
“I promise, I won't do anything to harm him Alanna. Well, not much anyway.”
“You may not have a choice.”
A knock came at the door. “The king has summoned you to the arena, Thomas. Five minutes.” came the nervous voice of Popkin from behind the door.
At least Thomas wasn't going to have to wait around and wonder when it would be time to face the king.
Thomas swung his legs over the bed and stretched. He ran a hand through his unkempt hair and breathed in and out heavily waiting for his head to clear from the fog of the dreamworld. Thomas didn't bother saying very much as he got dressed and walked out to meet Popkin.
“Be careful Thomas.” Alanna said as Thomas reached to open the door.
“Thanks.” Thomas smiled and exited the room.
Popkin looked nervous as Thomas came out into the hall. “I'm really sorry about this Sir Thomas.”
“It's alright Popkin. I'd rather have someone I know taking me there than a stranger.”
Popkin straighened a little and gave Thomas a little smile.
Thomas was doing his best for everyone's sake to look confident. Inside he was still dealing with the butterflies in his stomach. The king wanted him to appear the part of a powerful wizard, calm and collected. Thomas was going to do his best to put on a show that no one would forget. He just hoped he could think fast enough on his feet... and that the magic of the ring didn't fail him. Thomas felt for his ring to make sure, not for the first time, that it was still there.
Popkin led Thomas down through several long halls, and finally up to a large door that was being guarded by several men in full ceremonial armour. A big deal had been made out of this meeting. Thomas imagined that such things didn't happen too often. Confident. He wanted it to look like he was coming of his own free will rather than being dragged by his heels. Thomas took a deep breath and stepped up to the door.
“I, Thomas Kindercook, have arrived to answer the request for an audience. Open the gates for me!”
The guards looked at each other, and then walked to the sides of the massive gate. The larger of the guards cranked a massive wheel that turned a chain on a pulley system. This opened the gate to the arena with no small amount of noise.
The arena was a large oval building. The seating area seemed to be carved out of a grey and white marble material. The railings were carved out of lapis stone, which wasn't unusual as much of the architecture in BlueShift utilized this material. Dragons and beasts adorned the posts and stairs that ran up the sides of the aisles. It was beautiful, but it caught Thomas off guard. The arena was built with dragons in mind. The seating area housed thousands of individuals, all in their dragon state. The only humanoid other than Thomas inside of the building, was on a dais in the center of the backwall of the arena. The king was sitting on a raised throne of red and gold.
Seeing thousands of dragons was not going to make this any easier. You're a powerful wizard, act like it Thomas.
There was a hush over the crowd as everyone turned to see Thomas entering the arena.
He walked as calmly as he could toward the king. He tried to imagine that he was a king in his own right. A powerful wizard, come to consort with another King. He hoped he could convey what he didn't feel.
Thomas came to a stop at the bottom of the dais, and inclined his head slightly toward the king. “You summoned me your magesty?”
“Thomas Kindercook.” The king stood from his throne and walked to the edge of the dais. “Some serious allegations have been made against you.”
“I understand the nature of the accusations.”
“Then what do you have to say for yourself?”
“I assume that you have talked to your daughter and know of the events of our voyage?”
“I have heard what has been reported, but as I was not there to witness, I cannot make a claim to the validity of your encounter with the Shadow.”
Thomas arched his eyebrow. “You doubt your daughter's account?”
The king's eyes shone dangerously as his head tilted forward. Very deliberately he paused before answering Thomas. “What I think matters not. I am not the one who will judge you.” The king motioned to four dragons that were seated on their own, yet shorter, dias to the king's right.
“They will be judging whether or not you make false claims. They have requested a contest of strength between you and the dragon of my choosing. As there has been some speculation of my commitment to finding the truth in this regard, I have volunteered to test you.”
“Wait! This is ludicrous. I beg your pardon Alkamire, but what do these other dragons have to do with my being a wizard?”
Thomas looked over to the panel of lords that would be judging him. He was fairly certain that he didn't know any of them save one. The panel consisted of a Green Dragon, a Gold Dragon, a White Dragon, and there on the end, trying to hide himself behind the others, was the only Red Dragon in the Arena. Gatsby!
Turning his attention back to the king, Thomas couldn't help but feel it was the worst scenario that he could have hoped for. He was to battle with Alkamire Aqual. There were as many reasons as grains of sand on the floor as to why this was a bad idea. Strangely, the one that bothered him most was fighting the father of the girl that he loved while she looked on. Thomas gazed at the stands. At least, he believed she would be here somewhere.
“I requested their assistance in choosing a suitable means in which to prove your claims.”
“You're going to fight with me? I don't want to hurt you.” Thomas gave up trying to find Alanna amongst the sea of blue, and turned his attention back to the king.
“You should spend more time worrying about yourself.” The king advanced, moving forward, his body rapidly changed into the monsterous dragon Thomas remembered from the dinner of their first meeting. There was no care to remove clothing, which split apart like tissue being torn from a Christmas morning gift.
Alkamire launched himself into the air high above Thomas. The downbeats of the king's wings caused the sand on the floor of the arena to shift across the open space toward Thomas. He was causing a small sandstorm, aimed at blinding Thomas. Thomas tried his best to shield his face from the sand. As he lifted his arm to protect his eyes, the king launched himself into a dive. Thomas only lifted his head enough at the last second to see the king bearing down on him.
Thomas dived desperately out of the way.
The king tore up a swath of sand as his claws dug into the arena floor where Thomas had been standing seconds earlier. Alkamire circled far above the floor again and prepared to lauch himself at Thomas a second time.
The king was really looked like he was trying to kill! Thomas had to think fast. What could he do? He didn't want to hurt Alkamire, but he had to get him out of the air. The whole situation reminded him of a circus scenario gone terribly wrong. Circus! Thomas suddenly rounded on the king, arm raised at the massive beast, and yelled into the wind and sand.
“Weighted down by many things, a thousand clowns hanging off your wings!”
Thomas' arm lit up bright blue and a bolt of light shot into the sky hitting the king in the chest.
Alkamire was momentarily phased by the bright blue flash and hovered for a second of indecision, then all of a sudden clowns exploded all over his wings. The scene would have been comical were the situation not so dire. There were more clowns than should have been possible to fit the wingspan of Alkamire. They hung from his limbs, rode on his back, he was literally crawling in clowns. Of course, a thousand clowns won't fit on one dragon no matter how big it is. A good many of the clowns were hanging from other clowns that were hanging from other clowns that were holding on to the wings for dear life. Due to the overwhelming shock of being inundated with strangely coloured humans, or possibly it was just the physical weight of the clowns, Alkamire momentarily stopped beating his wings. The moment that he did, he was doomed. He was unable to get his wings moving again with so many people weighing him down, he plummeted into the sand with a large crash, and an enormous cloud.
Thomas wasn't sure where the clowns had come from, but he hoped that they were alrig
ht. He looked over at the panel of lords who were watching the spectacle. Even as a dragon, Gatsby was unable to mask his surprise. Thomas had just used magical powers. He had proven he was a wizard. It wouldn't end of course until the judges weighed in. This had just started, but Thomas felt a small victory at the sudden look of dismay on Gatsby's once smug face.
The dust eventually cleared. The king was picking himself off the ground slowly. It was clear that he was as startled as Gatsby had been, his features were changing and he now wore an expression of fierce concentration. He wasn't going to play around anymore.
The king made a slow exaggerated show of shaking off the sand and dust, and lowered his head toward Thomas. Next to the king a clown had begun to mirror the king's movements, exaggerating the act of dusting his clothes off, and shaking a finger at Thomas. The king looked down at the small clown and his eyes narrowed. The clown looked up at the dragon and waved meekly.
Clowns of every type were pulling themselves up out of the sand and dusting themselves off. Thomas couldn't help but be distracted by the amazing variety of items that the clowns had brought along with them. One clown, particularly short and stout, and wearing an old man's hat, had a tall unicycle stuffed into the back of his pants. How he was able to keep it there was beyond Thomas' comprehension. Two tall lean clowns that appeared to be twins, were pulling pieces of tubing out and setting up something to the side of the arena. They were joined by four others. It was an odd contrast to the events unfolding between Thomas and the king.
Thomas may have been distracted by the clowns activity, but the king wasn't. He launched himself into a charge at Thomas. Thomas had to think fast. How could he stop the king from charging? Then Thomas had it.
“Take off my shoes of brown leather, to my feet, ice skates tether.”
Thomas hands flashed brilliant blue and shot bolts out at his feet causing him to fall backwards into the sand. The audience was in shock. Did he just shoot himself in the foot?
“A ground of sand is not too nice, let's turn it in to shiny ice!”
Thomas bumbled his way back on to his feet as fast as he could and began to skate out of the path of the dragon. The king was definitely having difficulty with the slick surface, but thanks to its enormous claws, it was still able to keep its balance on the ice, and looked like it was starting to pick up speed. Thomas had to eliminate its traction.