Aubriet and Rian did not have a chance to enter their hotel rooms and freshen up. Upon checking-in, they promptly left their luggage with the concierge and hopped back right into their vehicle. The trip from the airport to the hotel took longer than expected and they were going to be late for their first meeting. Rian insisted they meet Thomas the good luck before doing anything else. He had sought the help of his long-time friend and college senior, a well read and well-travelled lady by the name of Shey-Yaran. Rian had revealed the overall plan to her, and Sheya, as she is fondly called by Rian, had agreed to help them strategize from back home. It was Sheya who had gotten hold of Thomas, an important resource person from way back when she was in the Far East a decade ago.
“Make sure you see Thomas before anyone else when you get there Rian. Trust no one from the company.” Sheya had texted Rian while he was en-route on the flight. The time and place of the meeting was unknown even to Aubriet. Sheya had chosen the hotel and the vehicle company for them. Aubriet had to politely turn down the company’s liaison officer’s transport and accommodation offers at the insistence of Rian.
“Aubriet will be watched closely, Rian. He is a threat to them.” Sheya warned. “Don’t let his naivety and innocence cause his downfall.”
Their first stop was along a street in the middle of town. Aubriet glanced about as he got down from the car. All he could see was a row of shops selling all sorts of food. A food street? Aubriet wondered. Why did Rian bring us here? Cars began honking as locals knew this was a ‘no-stopping’ road. As their vehicle sped away, Rian shoved Aubriet roughly into a shop selling Thai food. As they hurried in, Rian glanced back at the road. Another car had chosen to stop there as well, except it had no reason to. No one got out from that vehicle. The honking began almost instantaneously. Rian smiled as he pushed Aubriet towards the back of the shop, to the chagrin of the shop keeper and assistant.
We are being followed alright, Rian thought. Sheya, you are spot on. The car must have trailed them all the way from the airport!
As Aubriet and Rian exited from the back door of the shop, they found themselves in an alley. There was a foul stench of decay from somewhere from a clogged drain and they pinched their news and made a right turn. Then it was a left, followed by another left.
Here we are. Rian heaved. Aubriet was trying to catch his breath. Rian gave three sharp knocks on an unmarked grey door with no signage or house number. The door creaked open.
“Hello.” a strangely accented sound came from within. “You must be Rian. Bidding them to come in quickly, Thomas the good luck patted Aubriet on his back and muttered. “Dude, have I got news for you!”
* * *
Back at Sir Ector’s abode, the doppelganger’s sudden entrance startled everyone. Yet, he did not make any sudden moves, but coolly surveyed the room. Sensing there was no threat, his eyes locked on to Aubriet’s.
“I failed to stop you at the castle, young prince. But your fears and doubts to take on this quest provided me the needed negative energy to complete my evolution. It is time for me, to become you. Looks like today is as good as any for me to replace you, Aubriet Loron.” The hydra turned doppelganger sneered.
Hearing this, Sir Ector quickly got up and commanded Tosham and Riadok. “Keep him at bay, both of you. Aubriet, come here. We need to get away. Stand guard over me while I open a portal for us.”
The doppelganger laughed. “Looks like the old man is the only one who realizes the danger you are in. But I’m not letting you get away today Aubriet.” Without warning, he pulled out a dagger and slit his left arm!
What ensued was a chaos of battle frenzy. The spilt blood was used to summon two ghastly fiends from beyond the grave. The doppelganger also transformed himself as a Camelot knight and taunted his opponents by creating magical illusions to waylay Aubriet and Riadok. It was left to Tosham and Sir Ector to defend the confused duo.
Tosham used his twin-globed scepter and was able to hold off the fiends with the Art of Makidos, deflecting their magical ice attacks – and buying just enough time for Riadok to open a temporary portal and Sir Ector to stablise it – it would be an wobbly teleportation device, as it was created in a hurry. Aubriet tried to face off with his doppelganger, but the creature was too fast for him to deal any damage – so he decided to stand guard over Riadok who was drained after casting the magical teleportation spell. Riadok was feeling overwhelmed too, as he had never been in a real battle before.
When the doppelganger felt it had toyed with his prey long enough, it charged straight towards the trio with its two fiends. Just then, the portal opened and Sir Ector beckoned the three young men into it while he guarded the portal entrance. He foresaw this was what would be needed, and made the sacrifice. The pulsing portal sucked the trio in a rapid vortex just as the doppelganger plunged his dagger into Sir Ector’s abdomen. Furious that Aubriet had escaped, it burnt the whole place down and whooshed away using spatial magic.
As Aubriet got turned and tossed within the portal, his body seemingly being pulled apart in multiple directions, his thoughts were even more confused. His Hydra judge had perfectly created a doppelganger who had all his faculties and understood all his motivations. It not only has all his strengths but even more frightening, it knew all his weaknesses, fears and vulnerabilities. As he gradually passed out from effects of the teleportation spell, his last thought was… ‘what chance do I have against a stronger and more powerful version of myself?’
Workplace Coaching Inquiry by Coach Tom: You’ve uncovered your lifetime mission. Who would you choose and how will you persuade them to join you?
Follow Coach Tom on Linkedin at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomaslcl/
Follow us on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CovenantRhapsody
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/camelothobbies
Get the full medieval story right here: https://www.amazon.com/Camelot-Prophecies-Compendium-Vol-1-ebook/dp/B007F540H2
