Planet Palddon was alive with music and activity. Slaves scurried here and there putting the final touches on the elaborate decorations. The castle had been transformed from an elegant, but modest home to an extravagant fantasy land. The ruler of Palddon lived below his means so he could host the, now famous, event during the eclipse. He spared no expense on Karnyval and, the three days cost a small fortune. Red wine flowed from waterfalls and splashed in fountains. Everything was gilded in gold, and when the guests arrived they would walk on lush burgundy carpets. The guests could dance among the stars on top of the castle, watch dancing girls or play the many parlor games available. Entertainment was everywhere. There were exotic animals and birds with bright plumage that would walk among the guests as they viewed the elaborate tapestries in the main hall, or strolled in the night wind through the extensive gardens. There was even a labyrinth to solve if one chose. Crystals and other opiates were plentiful, and a person could gorge themselves to death on all the delectable refreshments available. Other fleshly appetites could be satiated as well in the countless bedrooms. Courtesans were at beck and call, but often the guests would choose to pair off with one another or with several others. The only limit during Karnyval was the extent of one's imagination.
The guests had started to arrive by the mid-afternoon, and were escorted quickly to their rooms to rest before the masquerade. Lotor and Ayli arrived in the late afternoon. Ayli had begged to look around, but Lotor refused her saying she needed to rest for it would be a long night. In truth, he had final preparations to make, and he thought she was too young and naive to wander with such depraved people alone. He could watch out for her at the ball, but on the castle grounds alone she might run into trouble. He had no desire to dispatch anyone right off before the party had even begun. She had relented and he worked
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
It was time for the masquerade, for the eclipse had finally begun. Most of the party-goers were already in the elaborate ballroom. Special attention had been paid to its decoration. The floor was a cream marble shined to a mirror quality. The columns and pillars around the room were carved with the faces of succubi and seraphs, from which ruby and diamond eyes shone. Large, ornate golden mirrors hung from the walls, and massive crystal chandeliers were suspended low by golden cords. There were oversized satin pillows hidden by painted silk screens for lounging or other purposes, and soft benches were scattered around the room to recline on when a break from dancing was desired.
The dancers were not to be outdone by the room's splendor. They were dressed in resplendent finery. The women's colorful ball gowns were made up of all sorts of velvets, satins, silks, and laces, and they shimmered in the low lights of the room. Their hair was coifed high or else fell in masses of curls. Their wrists, throats, fingers, and ears were bedecked with jewels and they all hid their made-up faces behind plumed half-masks held with intricately carved sticks. The men's outfits were more somber and uniform, but they looked smart and dashing, and they hid their faces behind half-masks embellished with horns. The room looked like a strange menagerie of exotic birds and dark demons.
Allura had arrived on Palddon wearing her coppery wig and claiming to be a princess from a distant galaxy. Everyone was welcome at Karnyval, and her presence was given little notice. She had been escorted, upon her arrival, to a lavish room where she could make ready. It had taken her quite a while to prepare herself for she was being especially attentive to detail. When she was done she looked in the full mirror and was pleased by what she saw. The princess had chosen a midnight blue dress of crushed velvet. The sleeves were off the shoulder, and tiny pearls were sewn along the edge of the plunging bodice. Diamond earrings hung from her lobes and caught the light when she turned her head. She lifted her full skirts to catch a glimpse of the matching dancing slippers. Her golden hair had been pinned up underneath the coppery one and the artificial hair was piled high and held by pins overlaid with luminescent pearls. Tendrils of the red hair were allow to fall around her pretty face. Allura finally felt she was ready, and she lifted her half-mask to her face. The mask was decorated with scarlet, plum, and indigo feathers. Allura took one last peek at herself in the mirror as she left the room and smiled.
Now she stood just inside a side door of the ballroom. She hadn't wanted to attract a lot of attention so she had chosen not to enter through the main door and down the grand staircase. She swiftly searched the room for signs of Prince Lotor, but he was nowhere to be seen. Allura leaned against a far column, and sipped a red drink someone had offered her, and watched the dancers. She hoped she had not been wrong about Lotor's attendance. She had just assumed he would come. Perhaps, he had been busy with other duties and had been unable to attend. Then her trip would be in vain and her lie to Keith all the more reprehensible to her. Allura's thoughts were interrupted when she caught a glimpse of movement at the top of the main staircase. It was Lotor! Even with the horned half-mask she knew him, as she suspected did everyone else. Even if he had chosen to disguise his mane of white hair, which he had not, there was no mistaking him. He was an impressive figure, and there was an aura of confidence about him that only a person with his magnitude of power could possess.
"My, he looks handsome in his formal attire," Allura thought. She had only ever seen him in his uniform. Now he wore a tight black waistcoat over a silken gray shirt, open at the throat. Silver cording ran up the sides of his black breeches and his hands were hidden by velvet gloves edged with the same cording. His heavy cape flowed out behind him when he moved and his boots made a sharp sound on the marble floor. Allura was not the only one who had noticed the prince. It seemed the whole room had stopped upon his arrival.
Allura was struck by a sharp pain of jealousy when she noticed a girl on his arm, but it eased when she realized it must be the sister she had seen in the visions Lydia had offered her. The girl could have been no older that 15 and was exceedingly lovely. She had flawless pale skin and luxurious silver hair that cascaded to the top of her thighs. Her hair was held back with a tiara which had been embellished with jewels that twinkled like tiny stars . The young girl's half-mask had been lowered, and as Allura moved closer to see her better, she could see that her wide eyes were a remarkable shade of violet and were fringed by lush, dark lashes. Allura thought she looked like the visions she had seen of the deceased Queen of Doom. Allura thought the young girl was precious and wanted to know her better. Just then, the little girl put her mask to her face and began to descend the stairs on her brother's arm. Allura retreated further into the room to wait for an opportunity to speak to the prince.