The President’s Wedding
The Dragon Clan party transported to the plaza in front of Castle Ytherium, where hundreds of well-dressed wedding guests were already queued up to pass through security. The many wizards, dressed in glittering raiment, greeted each other amiably, but for some reason Ophelia kept warning Jon.
“Everyone looks friendly, but there are hostile wizards here,” he told his father and Quixoran.
Dr. Hansen frowned. “I feel it too.”
“There’s a good reason for the security spell on the castle,” Quixoran said. “Perhaps I should have extended it to the plaza as well.”
Dorsit scanned the crowd, puzzled. “I will rest easier once we’re inside.”
Fred stuck an elbow in Jon’s ribs. “Look at those fancy duds.” He jerked his head toward several well-heeled men who wore jackets festooned with varying patterns of shiny embroidery. “I guess you’re in good company.”
“I would still rather be wearing my plain black tux.”
“When on Yden, do as the Ydenites do,” Casey quipped.
A festive mood of anticipation filled the plaza, heightened by street performers entertaining the waiting guests. Colorfully clad jugglers tossed around scarves, balls, and flaming torches. Stilt walkers tottered about in long robes, like giants. Pretty little girls in fairy costumes performed amazing gymnastic feats. Trios of musicians strolled up and down the lines taking requests.
“Do ye think they’d ken Loch Lomond?” Ian joked.
A castle representative beckoned to Quixoran and directed his party to a side entrance reserved for Very Important Wizards. After the security guard checked their names off a list, the Dragon Isle contingent was ushered inside. As soon as Jon passed through the door, an unpleasant sensation made him shudder. Quixoran’s suspension of magic spell. He attempted a fingertip flame, to no avail.
“This is weird,” Max muttered. “I feel like one of my wheels just fell off.”
“Yeah, Quixoran told me it would be uncomfortable,” Jon replied.
“What’re you talking about?” Fred asked.
“The security spell is a little disorienting,” Jon replied.
“Don’t worry, the sensation will pass,” Dr. Hansen said.
The Dragon Clan had a whole section reserved in the chapel, up front where the marriage ceremony was to take place. Jon felt flattered the president had made special arrangements for his party. He squeezed Sela’s hand as she slid into the pew at his side.
“It seems we have friends in high places,” Jon whispered to her. “Are you looking forward to meeting the president and his wife?”
“Yeah. Is he nice?”
“Very nice.”
Sela’s gaze lingered on Jon’s embroidery. “Your jacket is funny.”
“Thanks.”
As the hall filled with guests, a small orchestra made up of stringed instruments began to play. The music possessed the haunting lilt reminiscent of a Celtic arrangement. Dorsit, now dressed in full wizard regalia, joined the Dragon Clan section. When he took his seat, some of the women in other pews stared, transfixed, as if the Leopard Clan wizard were a rock star.
A beautiful woman with a distinct greenish-blue cast to her skin sang an enchanting melody. Dr. Hansen told Jon later the singer was a sea nymph known as a Siren. While she sang, the wedding party entered from either side of the hall. Clad in a spiffy suit with shiny braid at the shoulders, President Szul crackled with energy. As Szul’s best man, Governor Gnoam was similarly attired. When Ami and Kira appeared, gasps echoed through the chapel. The bride was breathtaking in a floating apricot-colored gown with tiny crystals and pearls sewn onto the fabric. Sela had an enraptured expression on her face, but Jon’s attention was riveted onto Kira. I can’t believe she’s the same girl I was sparring with yesterday. Jewel-encrusted combs held her long hair away from her exquisite features, while the rest cascaded down her back. Max twisted around in his seat to catch Jon’s reaction.
“What?” Jon whispered.
“Nothing.” Max smirked.
“Shut up.”
As part of the marriage ceremony, the clergyman asked Kira and Gnoam to pour water from two identical pitchers into a single vessel, symbolic of two people blending together in marriage as one. Afterwards came the exchange of vows. The ceremony was simple, and not overly long. Jon was relieved since his attention span for romantic ritual was low, but Sela sighed when it was over.
“Do you think Uncle Charles and Lynn will get married like that?” she asked Jon.
“No, but I’m sure their wedding will be just as great.”
After the ceremony had concluded, guests were directed to the interior courtyard. The usual picnic-style tables and food carts had disappeared, replaced by scores of long trestle tables. Dorsit’s exquisite ice carvings were focal points wherever appetizers and drinks were available. Jon enjoyed the gorgeous ice renderings of different kinds of magical creatures, but the Earth animals such as giraffes, penguins, and elephants created a big stir among the Yden guests. Jon also noticed replicas of Earth landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty. These ice sculptures are worth a trip in themselves.
The Dragon Clan party was shown to two tables with Dragon centerpieces on them. Each seat had a place card with a name written in runes. Jon searched for his name, but was dismayed to discover his card was missing.
“Maybe I’ll have to slink off to the kitchen to get something to eat,” he told Fred.
“I’d give you my scraps, but I’m so hungry there won’t be any,” Fred replied.
A waiter appeared at Jon’s elbow. “Excuse me, Dragon Wizard, but you’re seated at the president’s table.”
“Um… why?”
“You are President Szul’s special guest, of course. Follow me.”
Jon’s father chuckled and waved him along.
“Have fun,” his mother added.
****
The president’s long, elaborately decorated table was on a raised platform at the far end of the courtyard. Jon passed the table reserved for the Executive Council, which included Treefoul. Because they were inside the castle, the security spell guaranteed Ophelia’s silence. Nevertheless, Jon’s personal red alert went off. The Fox Clan wizard nodded at Jon with a smug expression on his cruel face. Jon’s eyes narrowed, but he forced himself to look away. The president’s wedding was neither the time nor the place for hostilities.
President Szul and Ami greeted Jon warmly and introduced him to Governor Gnoam, his wife, and the other special guests at the table. Kira’s place card was next to Jon’s, but she had not yet arrived. He finally caught a glimpse of her winding her way through the reception, pausing to greet people she knew. The palms of his hands began to perspire as she approached, and his stomach knotted. He held Kira’s chair for her as she sat down.
“Thank you, Jon.”
“You look beautiful, Kira.”
A blush crept across her cheekbones. “I’m glad you think so.”
President Szul stood. Calls for silence echoed across the courtyard. The president greeted his guests, thanked them for coming, and introduced his wife one more time. He took the opportunity to say some nice things about Governor Gnoam. Then he directed a couple of his aides to bring forward a covered painting. Jon’s eyes grew wide with alarm.
“On this happy occasion, I would like to unveil a new portrait of the first family which will hang here at Castle Ytherium. It is the creation of Jon Hansen of the Dragon Clan. I hereby dedicate it to my wife, daughter, and to the citizens of the United Territories.”
The aides unveiled the painting, which had been mounted in an ornate, carved wooden frame. Amidst the applause, Kira kicked Jon under the table.
“My father wants you to take a bow.”
Rats.
Flushed with embarrassment, Jon rose from his chair. He was pretty sure the heightened enthusiasm had something to do with the endless bottles of Ubbliton ale at every table. Max is so going to make me pay for this later on. He sank back into his seat as soon as possible.
“Why did your dad have to do that?” Jon muttered to Kira. “I’m a behind-the-scenes kind of guy.”
“Really? Then why are you wearing that spectacular jacket?”
“Dorsit insisted, that’s why! I wanted to wear my tux, but—”
“I’m teasing you, Jon. You look very elegant, and I’m pleased to have you seated next to me.”
The wedding feast began to arrive on carts, served by uniformed waiters. A savory, steaming hot soup occupied Jon’s attention. It was so delicious, he was sorry to see the bottom of the bowl. He tipped the bowl forward to capture the last few drops.
“Save some room!” Kira admonished. “There is much more to come.”
Several courses and an hour later, desserts were finally served. A small orchestra began to tune their instruments and wedding guests queued up with President Szul and his bride for a group dance. Quixoran and Dorsit were amongst the dancers, but Jon had no intention of trying to learn what to do on the fly. He gave Kira a rueful smile.
“I’m sorry, but if I went out there I’d only make a fool of myself. Maybe they’ll play something else later and we can dance the box step.”
“I’m certain—”
“Excuse me, Kira,” Reye appeared over her shoulder. “Will you join me in the dance?”
As Reye escorted Kira toward the dance floor, he shot Jon a triumphant glance. Jon rolled his eyes. He tried to eat his caramel-drizzled chocolate puff pastry, but his appetite had long since been sated. He pushed his chair back and went in search of Fred and Casey. Before he’d taken more than a few steps, Finn grabbed Jon’s sleeve. He said something, but Jon couldn’t hear him over the music and conversation.
“Sorry, what?”
Finn jerked his head toward the nearest door and beckoned Jon to follow. They left the courtyard and stepped into a corridor where the din was minimal.
“What’s going on?” Jon asked.
“Sela was bored and wanted to explore the castle. Dr. Greg asked me to accompany her but she and I got separated.”
“Uh-oh.”
“Can you help me look for her? I’m worried.”
“Thanks for getting me, Finn. You did the right thing.” Jon glanced over his shoulder toward the wedding reception. He wondered if he should corral Fred and Casey, but they weren’t immediately visible in the thick crowd. “Show me where you saw her last.”
Finn led Jon down a long hallway further and further away from the wedding reception.
“I can’t believe Sela came this far,” Jon muttered.
“It’s my fault, probably,” Finn said, downcast. “We were playing hide and seek.”
“She ought to know better. Someone is going to get a scolding and this time it isn’t going to be me.”
When Finn rounded a corner and headed into another wing of the castle, Jon stopped.
“C’mon, are you sure she went this way? This isn’t like Sela at all.”
“She was chasing a cat.”
“I thought you said you were playing hide and seek.”
“We were, at first. Then she saw a cat and followed it. I-I couldn’t stop her.”
After a few more minutes, Finn pointed to a heavy door at the end of the corridor.
“When Sela went through there, I couldn’t find her anymore.”
“Okay, I’m going to look for her, but I might need more help. Go back to the party and get Fred, Casey, and my dad. And don’t look so guilty.” Jon rumpled Finn’s hair. “These things happen to the best of us.”
Finn nodded but his face crumpled. Jon patted his shoulder and sent him off down the corridor. I had no idea he was so sensitive. Jon hauled the door open. When he heard a noise inside the room, relief flowed through him.
“Okay, Sela, come out. Time to quit playing games.”
When she didn’t answer, Jon let the door close behind him. The room was a research library of some kind, he guessed, and large enough to park three garbage trucks inside. Gaslight fixtures sent flickering shadows dancing everywhere. Several heavy wooden tables and chairs sat in the center of the space, and the walls were lined with cubbies stuffed with scrolls and parchments. Eight square columns stretched from floor to ceiling and an enormous unlit fireplace yawned at the far end. The drapes had been drawn over the windows, although daylight had already waned. Jon took a few steps into the room.
“Sela?”
Someone tackled him from behind and he fell to the floor. After a brief struggle, Jon sent a nasty elbow strike into his assailant’s face. He scrambled to his feet and darted toward the door, but shadowy figures had emerged from behind columns and underneath tables to block the exit. An ambush. Jon realized immediately this was a fight he would not win. Finn betrayed me — and there’s absolutely no chance for a rescue. As Fox Clan apprentices surrounded him, a smirk crept onto Jon’s lips.
“Isn’t anybody going to yell surprise?”
Jon kept up with the first two or three, but in the end he wound up bloody, broken, and held down in a chair. His breathing was shallow from the effects of several broken ribs. Blood streamed down his face from a broken nose and several digits of his right hand were blue and bent at unnatural angles. Jon started to black out, but cruel fingers grabbed him by the hair and snapped his head back. His swollen eyes focused on Guinn Tanner, who’d perched himself on the nearest table. A grin lit his face, as if Jon was a wonderful new toy.
“This is a cheap way to crash a party, Guinn,” Jon managed. “Couldn’t your daddy swing a regular invitation?”
Unaccountably pleased with himself, Guinn laughed.
“You’ve got a marvelous sense of humor, Jon. It’s no wonder Brett likes you. Nevertheless, this is no laughing matter. By the way, I must thank Quixoran next time I see him. His security spell has made it possible for us to have this little chat.”
Jon noticed Guinn’s apprentices were all dressed as waiters or attendants. He’d spotted one of them outside, juggling scarves. Fox Clan apprentices had all been hired to work the wedding, while lying in wait.
“Spare me the monologue,” Jon said. “What’s this really about?”
“The Portal Key. You know where it is.”
“I have no idea what you are talking about.”
“I finally caught up to my dear mother-in-law. It’s amazing how people will tell their secrets when you threaten to hurt the ones they love. I had no idea Lialia and Marina were still so close.”
“Does Marina have any idea what kind of monster you are?”
“Lialia says the Portal Key looks an awful lot like this.”
Guinn held up Jon’s history paper with the ankh cover. He must have found it in my room. Jon’s head swam. The amulet he’d retrieved from Efysian’s cave was the Portal Key, and it was hanging around his neck at that exact moment. Finn had seen him wearing it. He must not have known what Guinn was looking for, otherwise he would have already told him.
“My term paper is a Portal Key? No wonder I got an ‘A’.”
Guinn flicked a glance at Squash-nose, who slugged Jon across the face. Jon spat blood back at him. Bailey gripped his broken fingers and twisted. Jon’s body arched in pain and a horrible scream tore at his throat.
“All you need to do to spare yourself any more punishment is to tell me where it is,” Guinn said.
“Lost.”
Guinn nodded to Squash-nose and Bailey. “See if he’s got it on him.”
Brutal hands hauled Jon from his chair. His shredded jacket was stripped off and the pockets searched. Afterward, Jon’s shirt was ripped open. When the gleaming gold ankh was revealed, Guinn gasped with delight.
“After the portal between our two dimensions is open, the children of Yden will be my foot soldiers. Your pathetic Dragon Clan will be obliterated, and I’m going to enjoy every moment.”
Guinn slid off the table and moved toward Jon. When he reached out for the ankh, Ophelia began to sting.
Guinn has his vanyean seed and I’m within its field of magic.
As the Fox Clan wizard grasped the ankh, Jon whispered the copy spell. Guinn’s eyes widened. Although he wrenched the cord from Jon’s neck, the spell had already taken effect and two ankhs rested in Guinn’s palm. His jaw clenched with anger, the Fox Clan wizard held up his clan ring and hit Jon with a punishment spell. A moan escaped from his lips as his head exploded in the most exquisitely painful sensation he’d ever imagined. Ice picks had been shot into his skull by a nail gun, and his brain was on fire. Tears of pain streamed down his face and his knees buckled.
“Let him go,” Guinn said.
Iron fingers unwrapped themselves from Jon’s upper arms and he slumped to the ground, unconscious.
****
Guinn paced next to Jon’s prone body, a muscle quivering in his jaw. “Change of plans.”
Bailey’s eyes gleamed with anticipation. “You want me to kill him now, Master Guinn?”
“Not before he tells me which key is the original. Copies of magical objects are inherently dangerous. If I use the wrong one, it could prove fatal.”
The boy with the squashed nose poked Jon with a finger. “I can wake him up and torture him some more.”
“Jon Hansen isn’t the sort of wizard who will crack, Owen. But if we hurt someone he cares about, he’ll talk.” Guinn’s eyes narrowed as he stared off into space. In the next moment, his mouth curved into a smile. “Bring Finn here. I want him to see Jon’s dead body.”
“But Hansen’s not dead yet,” Bailey said.
“Finn won’t know the difference. And while the Dragon Clan is distracted by the terrible news, we’ll kidnap Jon’s sister.”
****
Tears streamed down Finn’s face as he ran toward the castle courtyard. The festivities showed no signs of slacking off, as more and more guests joined the throngs on the dance floor. Finn craned his neck and jumped up and down trying to find Quixoran. He finally spotted Max and grabbed his arm as if he were drowning.
“They’ve killed Jon,” he said, shouting to be heard over the music. “Please come.”
“What?”
“The Fox Clan has killed Jon.”
Max peered at Finn, incredulous. The boy’s face crumpled.
“It’s all my fault.”
****
Dr. Hansen, Quixoran, Max, and Finn burst into the library at a dead run. The room was unoccupied. Confused, Finn pointed at the huge smear of blood on the wooden floor.
“Jon was right here, I swear it!”
Dr. Hansen knelt to look at the blood. “What makes you think he was dead?”
“Guinn told me Jon was dead and the apprentices were all laughing.”
“Then we don’t know for sure,” Max said.
“Guinn must have taken Jon’s body,” Finn said.
“If that’s true, then there is still hope,” Quixoran said. “If Jon were truly dead, Guinn would have wanted us to know.”
Casey and Fred arrived, accompanied by Mrs. Hansen, Ronny, Mo, and Dorsit. Mrs. Hansen gasped when she saw the blood, and Dorsit had to steady her.
“I didn’t check his pulse, but Jon looked dead.” Finn drew a sleeve across his tear-stained face.
Max held up the remnants of Jon’s brocade jacket, ripped and spattered with dark red stains. “He’s hurt all right.”
“Why would Guinn say Jon was dead if he wasn’t?” Ronny asked.
Dr. Hansen rose. “To lure us from the reception.” His glance darted around the room. “Where’s Sela?”
Already pale, Mrs. Hansen’s face lost all remaining color.
****
The juggling clown knelt in front of Sela as he showed her how to make an animal from one of his scarves.
“Then you pull this end up like so, and you’ve got a giraffe!” the clown exclaimed.
Sela’s bright smile faded. “That’s weird, ’cause there aren’t any giraffes on Yden.” She backed away, right into a couple of waiters. “I want my brother, Jon Hansen.”
“I know where he is,” the taller waiter said.
“We’ll take you to him,” added the second one. “Come on.”