Humming to himself softly Faln shifted again. Comfort had not been on his mind when having this costume created, though now it seemed that a little more thought for practicality would have been prudent. The wagon jolted again and he hit his head on the low ceiling of the wagon. Hunching over he peered through the tiny wooden window at the front and growled at the driver.
“Yhuni, you bloody well start avoiding those holes!�
It wasn’t her fault really, no one could drive smoothly on these roads, but it made him feel better to yell at her. His slave was driving only to maintain the illusion and mystery on which his act depended. He had arranged for ten wagons identical to this one to be brought to the palace and parked just outside the arena where the test was being held. They weren’t wagons really, but rather huge barrels on wheels pulled by a team of two horses. The other wagons were all full of water, but this one had been converted to hold him. Yhuni had been given livery, slashed in blue and white, and a white mask that covered the top half of her face, identical to the clothing worn by the other drivers. He carried the single shirt that she was normally allowed to wear.
‘There, there! By that window,� he barked. Not her fault, must remember it’s not her fault. She pulled the horses up at the end of a line of identical wagons, right in front of a little storage shack with a single, grimy window. Through that window shapes could be seen, men talking. Standing up as best he could Faln reached a clawed hand through the little hole to grab Yhuni by the shoulder, then teleported them inside with a puff of black dust. Straightening, Faln looked over the room quickly. Rakes and brooms stuck up out of barrels, most of them with cobwebs hanging off them. That was the main reason for picking this shed, no one used it anymore. Sitting on crates and upturned barrels around the room sat nine rough looking men, who all now watched Faln silently. They were good men. He had picked this new crew over the past week, taking names in various inns and sending any that weren’t up to snuff overboard. The result of which was just over fifty good men, some of which were helping today, the rest cleaning his ship, the Jagged Rose.
He had no idea who was who because of their masks â€" that of course was the point â€" but the number meant that one was still missing. Tapping his claws impatiently Faln waited.
Minutes later the last crewman, Stiles, came into the room. Burst, rather, the man didn’t seem to be capable of opening a door without seeming to bash it down with his huge shoulder. “All well Mr. Stiles?�
“Aye captain, I introduced you to tha’ herald like you said to do. ‘My liege Adorn Paendar sends me to announce his participation in the Test of Magic. He declares his power over water.’ Just like ya’ said captain, with no mistakes or nothin’.�
“Very good Stiles, very good.�
Stiles took a seat, wringing his hands and grinning at his achievement. Everything going to plan thus far. “Any other contestants spotted?� he asked over his shoulder at them.
“No cap’n,� Burkley, the thought that was, “Not yet. But they wouldn’t ‘ave seen us either eh?�
Faln didn’t answer, but instead shifted his robes irritably. He was covered in billowing blue robes that covered him from chin to the floor, billowing wide at the arms and falling lower than his hands. They formed billowing folds at the front, meant to imitate water. They hid his tail, which was pressed uncomfortably down, and his clawed hands and especially his feet. A white mask, larger and more elaborate than his crews, obscured his face. The thing covered the top half of his face, with a long beak coming out over his nose. Four finger like horns swept back around his skull, sticking out for a foot at the back. Beneath that was a bulb that held his very noticeable hair. It did its job very well, turning wanted criminal Faln Bathal into unknown magician Adorn Paendar.
He tossed Yhuni her shirt and said softly, “Yhuni, change back into you cloths now.�
