Marvolo POV
I took the champagne disdainfully when a servant offered me some from his tray. There was nothing about this evening that warranted celebration. If truth be told, we should all have been scrambling around out there in the dark to correct his mistake.
The waiter had been about to ask me a question when one venomous glance sent him scurrying quickly away like a rat fleeing a snake. How can such a powerful family employ such pathetic servants? In all fairness my eyes were usually enough to scare anyone off. I scanned the room to examine the multitude of wizards and witches gathered here beneath the palace. I could not have felt more out of place amidst the revelers.
Advisers and lesser household staff were all clinking crystal goblets, discussing this supposed victory. This was not the time to rejoice. These people would do little and less for me in the long run.
As I continued to scan the room I noticed that the only ones who persisted without indulging in the merriment were the emotionless Masked Ones. The firelight flickered across their masks, dancing wickedly like molten serpents. They were far from mere servants.
"Here's to success" Slither shot excitedly, raising his glass to toast what had been but the first move of an immeasurably more complex game. Several more wizards were about to commend the idiot when I interrupted. I felt sick enough without the farce in front of me.
"Your masters were really pleased enough by this murder to forgive your stupidity, worm?"
The whole room froze when I'd spoken. Each man seemed more frightened than the last. They all stared on, moving back and forth between the two of us. The singular exception were again the hooded figures. Each stood impassively by without so much as a whisper of movement. None of them would be the same after this.
"Need I remind you Marvolo, that you are but a hired hand? Your position here is precarious at best."
"My position was extended to me directly by your master. He wants my allegiance. Were it not for his need for discretion, he would have me upstairs with the rest of the nobles, not down here with you.This thing that stands before me would do well not to test the extent of my good will."
"Who do you think you are? This is our celebration, tonight is in honor of our success. A success you helped to achieve—"
"Success?" I laughed skeptically. "Ha! Your blunder tonight may have cost us this war before it was even begun. You forced a meeting with me when I counseled patience. I told you, TOLD you I would deliver my report once the school term had ended, yet you insisted I come tonight before the strike team made its move. If Albus and Scorpius survive their fall… which your master would require for the success of his plan, then they will still have witnessed our meeting in the forest. How much of this plot will be endangered if our two most important pawns suspect either of our involvement? Or their own? When news of tonight's assassination reaches the boys, they will implicate me, and by extension your masters. I assure you my early departure from school will not go unnoticed. If those two geniuses suspect, they will not hesitate to investigate. After tonight the boy's family will have untold power. His aunt is already head of the DoM, and his Uncle head Auror. One word of this to any of them and your quest will fail. This is hardly cause for celebration… unless of course you neglected to tell Augustin of your… misstep?"
The room darkened further, everyone turned back towards Slither. Not one of them had realized what had happened in the forest. None of them had realized the princes of magic had followed me into the depths of the darkness.
"So they weren't told… How stupid can you be? It was vital that we take the necessary steps to counter the results of your idiocy. We needed to act immediately. How could you not have told Ambroise or Augustin?"
The sniveling worm made to explain… but I had heard enough.
"The boys are most certainly dead, so it doesn't ma—."
"Stop speaking you imbecile. We need them to be alive. I am but a sixteen year old boy and even I understand the gravity of your mistake. I am going upstairs immediately to inform Acelin and his father."
As I made to leave through the servants stairwell, his hand darted out from beneath his robes as if to grab me. "You do not have the authority to—"
Before he could finish speaking, a masked wizard had raised his wand to the creature's face while two others had grabbed him by the arms. I knew they must have been powerful. Every member of the strike team had dawned those strange masks, never to remove them again. They had carried out the assault, swearing undying loyalty to their lord. No torture could extract from them information, no spell could discern their identities. Under their painted facades were faces, if you could even call them faces anymore. Each was a grotesque ocean of swirling features, ever changing, ever shifting. The visages would cycle rhythmically, freezing on one exaggerated expression after the next. From a weeping woman, to a laughing child, to a horrified crone. From malicious, to wrathful, to ecstatic.
"It would seem that I do now."
"If the master is to be told of my mistake, then I will be the one to tell him. You cannot yet be seen by the guests, they would grow too curious."
He tried to leave but could not. The masked ones had not released him.
How could this man serve a Family as powerful as the Valois? His ability to manage an enormous household was unquestionable. His organizational skills were said to be legendary, it was true. But the way he appeared to me… I saw him as nobody else had. He was but a worm.
Slither looked angrily at me for my decision. He was smart enough to realize how dangerous a position he was in. Not because of his mistake, but because he had not taken responsibility for it. These wizards had chosen to stand for me over their supervisor, and that action would be remembered. Vex was right, I would indeed find power here if I could learn to take it.
I expected sniveling, some pleading or feigned disdain on his part. Instead he surprised me. Slither actually managed to pull his wand from his robes and blast the wizard in front of him.
"I said I would do it. I am the Housekeeper! I am responsible for managing these affairs!" I understood why Ambroise Valois was put in charge of the more important matters of state. It had been his idea to plan the strike tonight. All of the Valois would be furious for this miscalculation. The Masked Ones released the creature, allowing him to disappear into the fake walls. When he'd gone, all eyes turned to me, waiting, expecting. A moment to be seized, I will rule like my father. I WILL have power.
"You would do well to remember this. Forever after you will answer to me over that silly little servant. Let him manage the children's tutors and how the staff conducts their palace duties. You will obey me in all matters of tactics. Am I understood?"
At that the Masked Ones drew their hands against their chests so that their wands were pointing upwards. These men might not be as strong as the Warlocks in service to Augustin… but they would prove useful. Biara and Calypso, Nala and Jitanni, even Amara and Amelia had all left their charges in the middle of the night to participate in the assassination. Six warlock class members of the Royal Guard had led these men tonight. They were the real artists. I had better not forget that the masked warriors owed their first allegiance to the Guard and them to the Valois. If I wanted my own power I would need to develop it by myself. Still it was a start.
"And so it begins"
I decided to raise my glass despite my earlier words. It was not a gesture of victory but a call to readiness.
"And so it begins!"
Sorry for the update gap, i've been planning out the plot for years later, its so intricate that i have to make sure every word and action is executed just right.
The summer will introduce all of the Valois, or at least all of the most important ones.
Also the story will progress from Louis's, Rori's, Draco's and James POVs, as well as a few others so you'll have a little break over the summer from the two boys.
Hope you enjoyed. A big thanks to Bart and Anon, as well as everyone else who reviewed. My rules still stand... part of my delay was due to lack of response from you guys... :/
Review more for faster updates. This chapter will be edited.
Next chapter will reveal what this "assault" really was and what happens to Al and Scor.
"And so the game begins"
