The Mask Wearer by Bryan Perro

with a mirror in front of them, all the better to admire themselves, they would. In any case, thanks to this mirror, I managed to see the creatures clearly—to see their reflections—without becoming a statue. I realize today that I was lucky to come out alive!”
    “Now that we know what these beasts look like,” said Frilla,“I would like to know what they want and why they attack this realm and its inhabitants.”
    Amos yawned. “At least we know how to avoid becoming statues,” he said. “What’s more, it’s obvious that—”
    “Hush! Keep quiet!” Beorf whispered, grabbing his friend’s arm. “Look slowly at the beam above your head. Your blind cat is spying on us.”
    Every member of the family looked up toward the ceiling at the same time. The cat was perched on a beam directly over the table, where it seemed to be listening to the conversation.
    “You see, I was right,” Beorf said. “This animal has ears too big and eyes too round to be a mere domesticated cat. As soon as it comes down from the beam, I’ll take care of it! I’m sure that this dirty fleabag works for those monstrous creatures.”
    At that precise moment, Barthelemy walked in, accompanied by five other knights. He came over to the Daragons’ table.
    “By order of Yaune the Purifier, lord and master of Bratel-la-Grande,” he announced, “we are here to evict Amos Daragon and his friend Beorf Bromanson from the city. I am very sorry to have to do this, but I must obey orders. Fellow knights, take them away!”
    Urban rushed forward, trying to prevent the knights from taking his son. He received a powerful blow to the back of his head and lost consciousness. Begging for mercy, Frilla did her best to convince Barthelemy to spare her son. Amos would be easy prey for the creatures that had Bratel-la-Grande under siege if he was left outside the town walls at night. ButBarthelemy refused to hear the woman’s pleas. Beorf was about to take his bear form and fight for his life, but Amos gave him a reassuring nod, which convinced him to calm down. When the knights and their two prisoners left the inn, the cat jumped from the beam to the windowsill; as quick as lightning, it disappeared into the night through a broken window pane.
    The two huge wooden gates and the iron grate were opened. Once the knights pushed Amos and Beorf out of the city, the gates were closed again. Amos and Beorf were left to fend for themselves.
    “Let’s try to think, my friend,” Amos said. “We need a hiding place! I am only slightly familiar with the fields surrounding the city, and not at all with the forest. It’s up to you to get us out of here before the snake-haired creatures sink their claws into us.”
    “I know where to go,” Beorf said. “Climb onto my back and hold on tight!”
    As he said these words, the young humanimal morphed into a bear. Amos jumped on his back and gripped his fur tightly. In less than a second, they were on their way. Although it was dark, Beorf ran quickly. He knew the area well enough to avoid obstacles and easily found his way.
    After running through the forest for a good while, Beorf reached the foot of a gigantic tree, and once Amos slid off his back, he became human again. Perspiring, he lay down, his back against the ground and his plump stomach bulging. It took him a few minutes to catch his breath.
    “Let … us … go down … quickly!” he managed to say at last.
    Beorf dug at the ground with his hands until a trapdoor appeared. One after the other, the two friends climbed down a ladder that took them underground, directly beneath the tree. When they reached the bottom of the hole, they were enveloped in total darkness. Beorf groped around for a lamp, which he soon found.
    “Take a good look, Amos; I’m about to perform a magic trick!” Beorf said.
    He grunted softly, a sort of moan coming out of his chest. Amos looked up and saw many small lights entering through the open trapdoor. Above their