The King in White

Chapter: 2

The Harvest Moon

Another chapter up and we begin character interactions.

He looked out over the hills as the sun began to sink in the western sky. He sighed as he knew what was coming. Another show he would have to put on for the townsfolk. 'This time though I will have to act for Lina as well. I don't know if I can fool her...hopefully she won't do anything rash,' he thought as he pulled on the pure white gloves.

Zelgadis' normal outfit of gray was gone and replaced by a shirt and pants of pure white. His brown boots had been replace with white shoes as well. He finished pulling the short, white gloves onto his hands to hide his skin. After Zelgadis had finished with the gloves his attention was caught by Shaya's voice saying, "Now for the finishing touches."

Zelgadis held his left arm back as Shaya pulled his arm through the sleeve of his robe. After the first sleeve was on Shaya pulled Zelgadis' right arm through the right sleeve of the robe. After finishing Shaya came around to the front before she began to button up the robe. As Shaya worked her way down she felt that gloved hand make its way through her hair. She sighed as she looked back up at Zelgadis before saying, "Stop before you start something you regret."

Zelgadis looked down at Shaya before saying, "Sorry...old habit of mine."

Shaya stood back up and looked into Zelgadis' eyes before replying, "I know...but I'm no longer the little girl you took in all those years ago. I react differently to those little touches now."

Zelgadis looked at Shaya before turning his head and saying, "Shall we continue...my cloak please."

Shaya nodded before retrieving the cloak and standing behind Zelgadis. She stood on her toes to reach over his shoulders before Zelgadis grabbed the ties of the cloak. Zelgadis waited until Shaya brought him the ruby clasp that he used to hold the cloak in place. It was the only item from his old outfit that he continued to wear. He was not sure why; maybe as a reminder of his old life, or maybe a clue to anyone that could figure out his true identity. 'Either way it doesn't matter. Remembering the past is something I try not to do, and there was no one here that would've known of my true self,' Zelgadis thought as he pulled the hood of the cloak over his head.

"Now for the last item," Shaya replied as she brought a wooden box to Zelgadis.

Zelgadis opened the lid to be met with the pure, ivory mask that he wore when he made a trip outside of the tower. Zelgadis picked up the mask before turning in his hands and looking at the smooth interior of the mask. He moved the mask to his face before the magic on the mask took hold and stuck to his face. Zelgadis looked at Shaya through the eye holes and said in a deeper voice, "Well, our public is waiting."

Shaya nodded as she could not help but notice the change that would come over Zelgadis when he put on the mask. The mask had been enchanted to projects Zelgadis' voice though there was no hole for the mouth. Also, the mask changed Zelgadis' voice from the tenor that it normally was to a deeper baritone to complete his disguise. But, neither of these aspects where what Shaya noticed. It was the change in attitude that came over her master after the mask had been put in place. He seemed to become more social and accepted his role as a father figure for the village. 'As if there were two different people that only changed once the mask came into play,' Shaya thought before saying, "Then shall we go?"

Zelgadis, or as he was known now, the king in white nodded as he opened his hand and an ornate staff appeared. The staff was made of pure gold with a giant pearl set in the middle of a spider-like web at the top. It completed his look as everything on him was gold or white. The robe that he wore was pure white with gold thread beginning at the sleeves and coming up his shoulders before going down the center in two lines that twisted and curled like vines in nature. He began to walk forward with Shaya at his side as he thought, 'Now to true show begins...if Lina figures me out I just hope she waits until later to say my name.'

Lina sat at a outdoor cafe near the center of town as she waited for the main attraction to make his appearance. The harvest festival looked fun but she had seen her fair share of festivals and the idea itself was dwarfed by the idea of meeting the king in white. The idea of a magic user as old as she was made her want to know how they had achieved the feat of extended life, 'And, if they did it willingly or not,' she thought before taking a sip from her coffee that she had been nursing for over thirty minutes.

Lina set the mug down before looking at the people as they continued in their festival. There were booths lining the streets with different thing from produce to games that could be played to win prizes. The main thing that had caught Lina's eye were the same dolls of a man in pure white holding a staff. 'I would guess that would be him...kind of interesting that they have this much admiration for him,' Lina thought as she could remember that she would be admired and then hated all at the same time.

Lina looked back to her mug and was about to take another drink when she heard a child's voice shout, "There he is!"

Lina stood and turned quickly to see Shaya and a tall man coming down the road to the square. All of the townspeople stopped what they were doing and turned to watch as he made his way pass them. Each person would bow as the man passed and then watch as he continued on his way. He passed by and Lina was finally able to a good look at the man. He was dressed head to toe in white. His frame looked to be somewhat lanky and in general slender in build. As she was looking him over she looked up as she felt she was being watched. Lina's eyes locked onto his and she could not help but linger. Behind the ivory mask that blocked out all eyes where these sapphire gems that looked back at her. His eyes seemed to gleam in the setting sun as he looked her over before moving on down the line. Lina smirked as she watched his back. From the look in his eyes she could tell that he was watching her. 'So you can tell I'm different. I guess I should have expected that,' Lina thought as she began to follow him towards the center.

He made his way to the stage that had been set up for the festival before ascending the stairs at the side. He stopped in front of a middle aged man that smile at the king in white's arrival. It seemed that they talked for a moment before the king in white turned and spoke to the crowd, "Good evening, today on this day of celebration we give thanks for the bountiful harvest our farmers have brought in. We give thanks for a good year from the earth. And, on this night we rekindle the original deal struck between the founders and myself years ago. Let the celebration begin!"

The crowd cheered as the king in white lifted his staff in the air and white energy shot out in multiple directions. Each bit of energy lit a different street lamp before five shots launched into the sky and exploded into a shower of white light like a fireworks finale. Lina watched as the sparks came down and she could not help but smile like a little kid at the display. After a moment she looked back at the stage to see the middle-age step forward and say, "Now is the moment I'm sure you've all been waiting for. Gentlemen you have a chance to win a dance with Lady Shaya."

The men in the crowd whistled and applauded as Shaya smiled and waved. "And, ladies I'm sure you are all excited to see who gets a chance to dance with the king himself," the man continued.

To Lina's surprise the women out did the men in the noise they made at the idea of dancing with the man of mystery. Lina watched as both the king and Shaya brought there hands up and chanted something. Soon two small balls of light appeared in their hands before the balls began to circle their heads. Then the balls took off and began to circle over the crowd. Lina followed the balls until one stopped over the head of a young man that looked about twenty. The man smiled and somewhat blushed as he was approached by Shaya. Lina looked around for the other ball but could not find it. It was at this moment that she noticed a lot of people looking above her. Lina looked up to find the other ball over her own head. She looked back down to see the king in white coming towards her. Lina placed her hand over her mouth as if she was embarrassed or surprised but it was more to cover up the smile on her face as she thought, 'Sly one aren't you?"

The king in white stopped in front of her and asked, "May I have this dance?"

"Of course," Lina replied as she offered her hand to him.

Lina and the king in white walked side by side towards the dance floor. Once they arrived the king turned to Lina and said, "You do know how to dance don't you?"

"Of course," Lina replied and somewhat huffed before saying, "Do you think your dealing with a random school girl?"

She could feel the king smile before he said, "Of course not...I'm dealing with Lina Inverse."

Lina's eyes widened before they both assumed their positions for the dance. The music began and Lina followed the king's lead. "So I see you've heard of me," Lina replied as she continued to go with the dance.

"Of course. You made quite a name for yourself...though you have done a good job of keeping a low key for quite a while," the king replied.

After a few moments the dance ended and Lina looked up into the king's eyes. Those sapphires still looked into her own ruby eyes with an intensity she had not known for quite a while. "Is this our meeting or do you want to have a bit more of a private chat," Lina asked while not breaking contact with his eyes.

"I must put in a good appearance for the people but you are more then welcome to accompany Shaya and I back to the tower," The king replied.

"Were do you want to meet," Lina asked.

"At the cafe were you and Shaya met after the festival," the king replied before turning and moving towards a group of townspeople.

Lina nodded as she turned to go grab her stuff from her room and to meet the king once he was leaving, 'I'll learn how you've dealt with living for so long...and maybe if you have a way to allow me to grow old,' Lina thought as she looked back once more before leaving.

Disclaimer: Any characters or ideas from The Slayers do not belong to me. I am not selling this material, just writing for the heck of it as I go.

Feedback is requested, please send all comments to size=1 width=100% noshade>