The air in the room was static with tension. Two pairs of eyes wander attentively over the black and red chessboard, following each others fingers, the figures, the smallest gestures of hesitation. Eagerly searching for a clear sign that one or the other has the upper hand or is caught in a corner. The marbled red and black chessboard rests on a wooden round table, separating the two men who participate in the game, sitting in tall, lavish chairs. One is a man with shoulder-length wavy hair with a golden crown resting on his head. His thick dark eyebrows were knitted in ponder and held a hand up to his nose and cheek, hiding nearly half of his face. He licked his lips at certain moments and brushed his thick moustache. The man's cinnamon brown eyes kept throwing a glance across the table to the opponent.
The opponent was the opposite of the man's appearance. He was sitting calmly and up-right in his chair while eyeing the chessboard. His moves were fluid and composed. He barely made a sound except for a few sighs and the soft ruffling of his billowing sleeves and dark gloves. His face wasn't open or bare but hidden behind an elaborate pearly white mask. His eyes were hidden deep within the dark holes.
The man with the crown briefly cleared his throat and repositioned his seat. "Where did you learn to play like that?"
The masked man says nothing and makes a move with his knight.
The king balled his free hand into a fist while glaring at his masked opponent before glancing down on the board. His pawn is cornered by a knight and tower. How could he have missed that obvious trap in that corner? The king pressed his lips to a thin line as he tried to figure a way out.
"My mentor was passionate about chess." Answered the masked man with a calm, clear and soft voice that had the king surprised for a moment.
He blinked at the masked man. The opponent before him is nearly a mystery itself. Recalling the day as he stepped in the throne room unannounced, calm and composed with the same voice challenging to a game of chess. The price is if the masked man loses the king may do as he desires but if the man wins he'll take all that belongs to the king and replace the throne. He is not the first to challenge greatly so but in a game of chess solely is unique. All other men were challenged to a duel in combat to the point of death or exile. But not this man, not him. His calm demeanour is contagious, making everyone around him feel calm and have a sense of safety. All the ladies at court couldn't avert their eyes and hide their flustered expressions when the masked man threw a glance to them with a polite courteous bow. He's been nothing but polite. Even the men couldn't let their eyes off him, intrigued by his mysterious air.326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBzMPzIfkQ
The King glanced at the chessboard with a thoughtful hum that sounded slightly like a grunt. Soon he moved the pawn up close to the knight, willing to risk the next move by the tower, better going down with a fight than being cornered.
Suddenly the masked man made a move and took without hesitation the queen from the board. The king gritted his teeth, biting down his curses as he realized it was a distraction. His knuckles turned white as he balled his hands tighter. Suppressing the urge to stop the game with a wave of his arm and avoid anger taking hold of his mind. That will only result in letting the stranger win and he can't allow that. He's the rightful heir to the throne and he won't step down any time soon. The king is aware that playing chess was never his strong suit but maybe try to talk to the mysterious man to gain time and perhaps ease the distraction. "So I see, what was your mentor's name?" The king forced a smile while he made a move on the chessboard and eyed the stranger.
"His name was Cassius Merula. Who was your mentor?" Answered the stranger calmly as he made his move.
"I can't remember, had too many mentors tutoring me back in the days." The King hesitated as he realised that's the same name as his mentor. A hot unease feeling crept from his stomach to his neck and his palms grew sweaty. The King has suspected there is something to the stranger but is it that what he thinks? Briefly, his eyes wander to the two guards posted at the door and remembering the dagger at his belt. He swallowed thickly as he gazed over the chessboard to make his move.
"Do you want to take a respite from the game? You and I have been playing on this for hours without stop." Suggested the stranger calmly.
How can he be so calm unless he has a trick up his sleeve in this game? The King clenched his teeth and sighed while brushing a hand past his face and hair. "Since you suggest I'd appreciate it. How about a 15-minute respite?"
The stranger gave a nod in response and stood up from their chair. Waiting for the King to walk ahead.
Actually, no one stands up before the King, a smirk split his face at the thought of using the moment to finish the stranger with a point of his dagger cutting out the stranger's guts. Alas the guards will be witness and victory will only be brief at the moment until explained to others with some ridiculous excuse and it will cause only more suspicion and trouble. No, it must be done differently and subtle. He stands up and walks ahead.
In the next room, the servants have prepared a small banquet table with drinks and food. A servant handed to him a golden goblet of red wine and took a sip. Of course, a bit of sleeping or illness potion would throw off the stranger from the game. There will be rumours but they can be trifled with. Hushed the King ordered the servant to bring some strong sleeping potion to still his nerves in the game. Without question, the servant scurried off while the King turned to the stranger. Noticing he doesn't touch the food nor drink and hence his mask sits in place. "You aren't parched or famished?" Wondered the King and took a sip of the wine.
He shook his head and folded his gloved hands behind his back before walking towards the balcony overlooking a part of the kingdom.
As the King wanted to follow the stranger a servant approached with a small bottle. Rapidly the King snatched it and poured a generous amount into a goblet and combined it with some water and grape juice, fresh from the harvest. Soon he followed the masked stranger to the balcony with the goblet at hand and small bottle in his pocket. "May I ask what is the reason for the challenge?" He asked with a composed tone and followed the stranger's glance looking out across the kingdom.326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfF6tvlcpD
The man sighed. "You will know once the game is over, no matter which outcome."
That answer gave the King no further ease as hoped and needs to offer the drink to him soon before time runs out. "Oh, I see. Yet here you stand at the balcony overlooking the kingdom."326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhvchH4nJy
"True yet you didn't say 'my kingdom'. You are aware of my reason."
"And you have an interesting way of wanting it."
"Things aren't simple with me, they never were."
"Hence your air of mystery?" The King smirked.
The man faced the King. "Perhaps." He sniggered amused.
At that moment the King realized how at ease the two were in their conversation as if the challenge never took place as the servant announced the last five minutes remaining to respite. Perhaps under different circumstances, the two may get along well as friends instead of foes.
The masked stranger walked away and left the King on his own. He gripped tighter to the goblet and stared intently at his own reflection of the drugged dark red juice. Nothing has gone according to his plan no matter what he did and time is slipping like sand between one's fingers. He'll try to take the goblet with him into the room to gain more time and hopefully a better attempt to make the stranger drink it. Grape juice can't be argued with, it makes many people drowsy when consumed in great amounts or not accustomed to wine. The tincture the King mixed will strengthen the effect. Sooner than expected both men took their seats to resume their game. The goblet sat at the centre of the table but not too close to the chessboard. After a few moves, things continued to favour the stranger and the King grew more on edge. He kept glancing at the goblet when pondering his next move and the soft ticking of a clock at the far end of the room made it all more unnerving. Drops of perspiration rolled from his forehead and cold hands while trying to maintain a calm air. If not the goblet, should the King really strike the stranger with his dagger at the belt? The dagger is only there for protection in case of getting attacked, is this an attack? Or a mere defence for the kingdom? The King sighed as he couldn't think properly. No matter where he turns there is doubt and horrible consequenses. He can't afford to lose-
Suddenly the stranger began cough and tried to clear his throat.
The King stared at him surprised but swiftly he recalled the goblet and handed it to him. "Here, drink this." The King bit his tongue to hold back his smirk of the opportunity. Especially as the stranger took the goblet and sipped on the drugged juice. The stranger's fate is now sealed and in the King's favour. Very soon the stranger will become drowsy so all the King must do now is stall time in the game.
After a few sips the coughing has ceased and the game continued. The King thought carefully of his moves and stalled as much time possible without arousing any suspicion. Even after an hour, the King noticed no effect of the drug on the stranger. Was it because of the mask? Soon unease began to creep up at the back of his neck while his hands grew sweaty. Is the stranger immune to such strong sleeping drug? The King eyes the masked stranger intensely when it wasn't the King's turn. Hoping the drug would take effect somehow soon.326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2sV6H22Du2
"Checkmate, your majesty" Spoke the masked man calmly.
The King blinked and glanced on the board before him. His doom was set no matter where he turned with his king, pawn and knight.
"It was an interesting game, after having it played once with you before many moons ago."
"What?" The King stared at the stranger wide-eyed.
"You have improved but was surprised to see you using a different trick. I was expecting you to distract me but handed to me a drugged beverage instead." He paused while the King fell speechless. "I took every pre-caution hence the mask has a filter for such liquids. My cough was just an act to see how you react. A very subtle you move but not the best."
The King blinked as he absorbed the information. "Who are you?" He shouted nearly bewildered.
The stranger reached up for his mask to unfasten it. Beneath it revealed a young face of a woman with dark wavey hair to the shoulders.
"You're a woman!"
"Yes, the mask is magical, giving me a man's voice besides the filter for drugs." She pauses with a warm smile. "Do you recognize me, Merasius?"
The moment she mentioned his name he recalled who she was. Fond memories revive in his mind as if they only happened yesterday. "Azura?"
She smiled at him. "I'm glad you remembered all this time."
"But you died in that fire! I buried your bones!"
She shook her. "I didn't. You buried my dearest servant and friend. I was lost and in shock, hence I couldn't recall my memories after about a year later but by then it was too late. The concil turned to you as next heir."
"Why this approach to reclaim the throne?" Asked Merasius.
Azura sighs deeply. "I wanted to know how you turned out to be. Will you be a fair King to its kingdom?" She pauses. "Actually I've found out the fire wasn't an accident and the true culprit is someone among your courts or concil."
Merasius stares at her speechless for moment. A feeling of shame crawls up at the back of his neck to have thought of killing her. It did pass his mind that she was someone he knew but got caught up in the game instead. He balled his hands to compose his emotions. "It seems I've failed as a king as well as an old friend." He looks down in shame.
A soft warm chuckle made Merasius look up to Azura. She shook her head as their glances met. "Because you stand to your mistakes and tried to protect and do what was best for the kingdom, you didn't fail." She held up his hand in hers. "But I'd appreciate the help to find the culprit who wanted me dead."
"So, I am still king? Although you have your rights."
"Yes, I want you to pretend we were stranger's in public. I want my enemy to keep thinking I'm gone for good hence I can catch them easier."
"That sounds complex enough."
Azura smiled. "Like I said, nothing's simple with me." She sets on her mask. "Tell them that you won. I'll gladly reward you what you want except this." She spoke through the mask with a man's voice and pointed to her mask.
Merasius sighed. "Fair enough." He squared his shoulders as he faced the doors and headed out. Azura followed silently.
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