A Song for Winter: Summer's Eve Ball

A month ago the gilded invitation arrived mysteriously at William’s house. He had declared that he wasn’t going. Violet decided, however, that they would be attending the Summer’s Eve Ball and entering the dance competition. William growled and complained but in the end, he knew he wouldn’t win this argument and surrendered. Several shopping trips through different portals later and William had three new suits and Violet bought eight new dresses. None of these clothes, much to William’s dismay, had secret pockets to hold weapons as none were allowed at the Summer’s Eve Ball.

 

William stepped out of a portal a month later in a nice black suit with Violet on his arm dressed in a tight-fitting blue dress. Ahead of them, a massive palace sat on the mountains of Evor. Party goers passed in a line through a gilded gate where guards lazily checked invitations to ferret out party crashers. As William and Violet approached the gate the guards suddenly jumped to action leaping forward in a defensive formation and slamming a gem-encrusted portcullis shut behind them.

 

“Mister Drackonas-Wintersong,” a half-orc guard with a missing tusk addressed William, “we have been asked to remind you specifically that there will be no bloodshed at this ball.”

 

“First of all if you insist on using a title for me it's Warking or Witch King,” William spat back at the guard, “and secondly I promise not to start any trouble.” Slowly the portcullis lifted as William and the guard had a stare-off.

 

“Very well Warking you may proceed with your guest,” the guard relented as the other guards broke formation, “and don’t be surprised when you enter the palace as some prankster has ensorcelled everything inside to appear in black and white including the guests.” Violet elbowed William as they walked through the gate and reminded him to behave. Much as the guard had warned once they stepped into the palace everything and everyone appeared to be drained of color. Which was a shame because all the extravagant decorations and clothing were now less impressive.

 

After being shown to their room and dropping off their luggage William and Violet went to the meet and greet for the guests. Nobles and celebrities from all across the multiverse were in attendance which made William wonder why he got an invite. Violet took the opportunity to practice a little diplomacy and see if she could find some allies in the war against The Matriarch. Meanwhile, William munched on hors d'oeuvre and tried not to fall asleep while he listened to the boring diplomatic talk. Even with all the color drained William immediately recognized the Necromancer when he walked in with an unfamiliar muscled bond female badger. Before he could move Violet grabbed William’s arm and shook her head as if to silently remind him that violence wasn’t allowed.

 

Dinner that evening was served on a massive table that wrapped around the entirety of the ballroom. All the food probably looked wonderful but without any color it all kind of just looked bland. Despite appearances though it all tasted delicious and was quite filling. Throughout the rest of the evening, William didn’t let The Necromancer or his guest leave his sight. While he had sworn not to cause any trouble William wasn’t sure if the coyote lich could keep the same oath. After dinner William and Violet retired to their bedroom for the night.

 

William and Violet were awakened the next morning by a knock on their chamber door. Once they opened the door they found a set of servants with a breakfast tray for both of them. On the tray with the omelets, toast, mixed fruit, and various juices was a note that invited William and Violet to take place in a scavenger hunt throughout the castle and the grounds. William wasn’t too thrilled with the idea of traipsing around all day pointlessly looking for items on some list until he looked out the window and saw a hedge maze. He didn’t have any special love for hedge mazes but it would make a convenient ambush spot out of sight of most of the guards. 

 

The morning passed into afternoon as the various party guests searched high and low for the items to fill out their scavenger hunt lists. William found The Necromancer and his badger friend in the maze looking for an item on the list. As The Necromancer took a step forward a root leaped up and tripped the coyote at which point William ran forward, grabbed the coyote, and slammed him into a hedge. The monstrous badger growled as it tried to rush William but the hedges shifted around her. Violet ran passed the badger taunting her into chasing her through the maze as a distraction.

 

“Careful old man,” William warned holding tight to the coyote, “those roots will get you if you aren’t careful.”

 

“Rather bold of you to attack me like this but this does give us a chance to talk,” The Necromancer stated unfazed by this surprise assault. There was a roar from the monstrous badger from somewhere in the maze as Violet continued to distract the beast.

 

“This isn’t an attack,” William assured the undead coyote as he let him go, “I’ve come to ask you to betray The Matriarch.” There was a tense couple of moments before the coyote broke the silence. Motioning for William to walk with him the coyote explained that he would love nothing more than to betray her but she was holding his bloodline captive in a hidden plane most people in the portal network didn’t know about. 

 

    “She swore me to her service by promising I would have the freedom to continue my pursuit of true immortality but then she betrayed me by cursing my phylactery,” the coyote lich lamented as he continued to walk with William, “whenever I have to regenerate from being killed I come back weaker and with less of my memories in place. I don’t know who I am anymore or why I started any of this but I do know if you can save my descendants I’ll betray The Matriarch.” 

 

    Moments later Violet came running by with the giant badger close behind her. The Necromancer whispered a couple of words that caused the badger beast to stop its pursuit immediately before falling into pace behind the coyote lich. Before William could run off after Violet, The Necromancer whispered something to William that made him smile. William caught up with Violet and informed the lioness that since The Necromancer can sense even the faintest signs of life he would like to inform her that she was pregnant. With that revelation reveal William and Violet abandoned the scavenger hunt. They hugged and cried out of joy for now they were going to have a child together. 

 

    For the two of them, the rest of the Summer’s Eve Ball didn’t matter as much. Sure Violet managed to talk a few diplomats into joining the war against The Matriarch but the news of the pregnancy drowned that out. William and Violet did still enter the dance contest where the celestial being Jon Bon Jovi played music all night till the sun came back up. Despite all their practice William and Violet only placed fourth but it didn’t really matter. They were happy and once the ball was over they went home to break the news to everyone else.