The Elder's Curse by Andrew Walbrown (ereader for textbooks TXT) 📕

hide his reaction behind the mask. Damn Wen, you’re playing with fire. You must either be really confident in our acting skills or you won far more money at cards than you let on.

Remo turned red, the muscles in his face twisting in rage. He bunched both hands into fists and began to say something, but then changed his mind. A shrewd smile then passed over his lips as his color turned back to normal, his anger vanishing just as quickly as it had appeared.

“Say, I have an idea,” there was a twinkle in Remo’s eye, glistening like silver. “Since you’ve always been a pain in my side, how about if you fail the three of you have to pack up and leave. If you succeed we scrap The Jester’s Court and you perform your show each evening,” Remo turned to Amantius and Ulam, “and you two will be compensated for the increase in responsibilities, of course.”

“I see,” Nilawen said as she looked around, “so either way you win.”

Remo smiled. “Precisely.”

“Very well, we accept.”

Thanks for speaking for us, Amantius thought as he watched Remo walk away, a greedy smile on his face. I guess I forfeited my right to options when I ran onstage. Hopefully, she knows what she is doing, or has some plan for this.

Nilawen walked over to Ulam and wedged a set of fake ears on top of his real ones. They were lighter in color and much more pointed, like hers, as she tried fashioning Ulam into an Elf. “You know, for a big ugly Orc, you don’t make a bad-looking Elf.”

Ulam grunted. “Thank…you?”

Nilawen giggled and then turned to Amantius. “Do either of you know the legend of the Princess and the Dragon? Surely Ulam does since he’s read so much.”

Ulam shrugged; Amantius thought his foster-brother even looked a little embarrassed. “No, I do not.”

“Oh really? Well, that’s not a problem. It is your typical damsel in distress story.” Nilawen rolled her eyes. “The princess gets captured, the hero fights the monster and saves the princess, and then they live happily ever after. But since you don’t know the ending, I will not spoil it for you.”

“How are we supposed to know what to say and when?” Amantius asked. He was living in a state of perpetual anxiety because he did not want to go onstage and stutter, especially now that his job depended on their collective performance.

“Well, you’re the villain, so just say menacing things from time to time. Also since you’re a dragon you can roar whenever you get stuck.” Nilawen then turned to Ulam. “And since you are playing Fervalor just say things heroes would say, and make sure to be overly dramatic about it. After a few lines, you will find your rhythm, and if either of you run out of things to say, I will save you.” She looked at both of them and smiled, genuine and warm. “Boys, don’t worry, this will be fun. I promise.”

Amantius and Ulam groaned in unison.

Nilawen signaled to the other side of the stage, where the Crimson Quintet, a group of musicians that composed and performed all the music for the company, was located. They began playing an enchanting melody from a previous play on various string and wind instruments, their notes causing some members of the audience to clap and cheer. The promise of a new show already erased the memory of the old one, so eager was everyone to banish The Jester’s Court to the abyss forever. The atmosphere had completely changed; now there was an excitement on everyone’s lips, an emotion that had been missing for a long time.

“You abduct me in this scene,” Nilawen explained to Amantius as she placed a tiara on her head, “wait for the music to change drastically and then jump on stage and sweep me up. I’ll hit you a couple of times like I am resisting, but don’t worry,” she smiled, “I promise not to hit you too hard.”

Nilawen then walked onstage to the sound of applause. Under one arm she carried a basket filled with paper flowers of various shades, while she hummed a pleasing tune. She kneeled and pretended to pick more flowers, placing the imaginary ones into her basket. It was a serene sight, one which caused a minor degree of homesickness in Amantius. How I miss the wildflowers in the fields surrounding Mount Meganthus. The southern side of the mountain was always covered in blue, purple, and gold. I should’ve picked more for Mother when I had the chance; she always loved having flowers in the house. Someday, perhaps, when we return…if we ever return.

“It sounds like they are playing the score to The Dark of Night,” a stagehand near Amantius said. “You remember, from when we were in Redgate? Get ready, if I’m right the music is about to change.”

As soon as the stagehand finished his sentence, the music turned far more sinister. Somehow the notes seemed to create the sensation of black clouds blanketing a clear sky, such was the skill of the musicians. Amantius was impressed with their level of expertise; he did not know that music had the power to generate such images and emotions from within his heart and mind. He was so entranced that he would have forgotten to join Nilawen onstage if a few people behind him had not pushed him forward.

Before he could stop his feet Amantius was in the audience’s view, receiving a few playful hisses from those who recognized his role as the villain. He froze for a moment as indecision plagued him, knowing he was supposed to kidnap Nilawen but unsure how. Do I sweep her up in my arms? Do I drag her behind me? How do I even walk like a dragon? He looked at the crowd and saw everyone eagerly waiting. Come on Amantius, you have to do something.

He held up his arms at an angle, crooking his elbows, and extended his fingers like claws. He then