by R A Oakes
When it came to encouraging Chen’s violent rages, his sister was worse than Lord Daegal taking a perverse pleasure in her niece’s descent into madness. Ritalso had tried shielding his daughter from Glenitant’s wickedness, but later realized resisting his sister so openly was a mistake. All it did was land him in this dungeon, and being locked up wasn’t helping himself or his daughter.
Would Chen even recognize me at this point? he asked himself. But the door to his cell opened for the first time in years interrupting his thoughts and in walked the jailer.
“Pack up your things, you’re going for a ride,” the man said.
Getting ready to go for a ride hadn’t been easy. At first, Ritalso could barely walk but after eating properly for several days and being allowed to walk around the courtyard, he gradually improved.
Looking out over the castle’s battlements, Ritalso saw an incredibly barren, mountainous terrain. Later, he had learned the castle was so remote it was nicknamed the Monastery.
I’ve never seen a land as desolate as this, he thought.
However, Ritalso would later reconsider this idea for he was about to encounter a place even more desolate, his sister Glenitant’s heart. Filled with malignant evil, a darker, bleaker, more forbidding place did not exist and few encountering the old crone survived the experience.
Ritalso felt he knew his sister already, but he didn’t. During the years he’d been ravaged by imprisonment, Glenitant’s life had been even worse. Every moment of every day, Glenitant’s evil sword had poisoned her. Ritalso’s sister wasn’t the depraved woman he’d once known, she was far worse.
Glenitant used to enjoy her wickedness, but those days were far behind her. The malignant evil coursing through the old crone was destroying her. Glenitant’s body was wasting away, her mind was clouded, and her heart was darker than the deepest underground cavern.
And now Glenitant had summoned Ritalso back to her sisterly embrace. His only hope would come in the form of an old wizard, a horse, a teenage girl and her sword.
Chapter 13
After reaching Crystal Mountain’s summit, the captain of Chen’s personal guard was in for quite a shock. Looking at the valley floor, Gwendylln witnessed the grandeur of Glenitant’s fortress for the first time. Hardly able to believe her eyes, she found herself gazing upon a castle made completely of black crystal.
Catching up to Gwendylln, Chen joined her friend in gawking at the artistic masterpiece. With the noonday sun blazing in the sky overhead, light was penetrating deeply into the fortress walls making them glow. The entire castle appeared like a luminous, sparkling black jewel that had somehow grown into a breathtaking array of massive crystalline walls and towers.
“When I was here years ago, this castle didn’t even exist,” Chen said in amazement. “And something else has changed.”
“What?” Gwendylln asked.
“A small fortress with a tall watchtower guarded this access path protecting the western entrance to the valley. But it’s gone, completely gone. Why would anyone tear down such an important defensive position?”
“At times, appearing vulnerable is a way of displaying power,” Pensgraft said who’d ridden up right behind Chen. “Only when invincible can someone afford to appear weak. It’s a way of flaunting their strength, almost like daring someone to attack. Your Aunt Glenitant might be more formidable than we realize.”
“That or she’s just a crazy old lady,” Gwendylln pointed out.
“Aunt Glenitant’s both, she’s powerful and crazy,” Chen said aware that this visit could be more dangerous than riding down a mountain cloaked in darkness.
Falling silent and sweeping the ground with their eyes, the warriors noticed a few granite blocks and the remnants of a foundation.
“What do you suppose happened to the granite walls?” Chen asked.
“They could have been used for another building project. If Glenitant’s other castle still exists, maybe she used the blocks to reinforce its outer walls,” Pensgraft pointed out.
Riding to the edge of a cliff nearby, Gwendylln dismounted, looked over the side and shouted, “What a waste, there must be hundreds of granite blocks at the base of this ravine.”
“That’s a bold display of power, it has to be,” Pensgraft said after Gwendylln had ridden back to the group. “With a black crystal castle, she doesn’t need granite blocks anymore.”
“But who wouldn’t need granite blocks?” Gwendylln asked.
“I suppose we’re about to find out,” Pensgraft said with a shrug.
“Why would Aunt Glenitant build a marvelous, black crystal castle on the level floor of a valley? She’s giving up the high ground, and that doesn’t make sense,” Chen said as they began riding down the mountain path into the valley.
“That’s a serious concern,” Pensgraft agreed.
“You haven’t seen what’s really frightening,” she said laughing.
“What?”
“Aunt Glenitant herself.”
Laughing along with her, Pensgraft asked, “Will she put the evil eye on me?”
“She might put more on you than that.”
“Stop it, you’re scaring me and making me homesick for my old cell in your uncle’s dungeon,” Pensgraft said. “I have to say, you have some pretty strange relatives.”
“Tell me about it,” Chen sighed.
“Was your dad anything like your aunt and uncle?”
“No. In fact, he seemed like the only one with any common sense, which might be why he ran off.”
“What makes you think he ran off?”
“I don’t know, but he’s not here is he? And he hasn’t been around for years.”
“Do you miss him?”
“More than you can imagine. He would have killed Uncle Daegal long ago.”
“Why?”
“You know, I’ve told you,” Chen said abruptly.
The warriors slowly made their descent along the narrow pathway that wound down the mountain to the valley below. As they entered the fields surrounding the castle, Pensgraft was surprised that no one came out from the fortress to challenge them. He also hadn’t seen any soldiers posted on the mountain or anywhere down along the path either.
All he saw in front of him was a huge, dark, monolithic castle that looked like it was made from black marble, except that the sun penetrated its surface similar to how light can filter into the darkest water. It made the black crystal appear translucent giving it an eerie glow.
But most of all, Pensgraft noticed how quiet and still everything was. He also took note of how tightly Chen’s warriors surrounded her. Something didn’t feel right to them either, and the warrior women were taking no chances.
“I don’t see any cause for alarm, do you? All we’re doing is approaching an overgrown pile of black crystal that appears to have sprouted right out of the ground,” Pensgraft said wearing a mischievous grin. Although meaning it as a joke, the giant wasn’t far from the truth regarding the castle’s origin.
And why are Chen’s women and Lord Daegal’s men heading into troubled waters when they’re already filled with foreboding? Pensgraft wondered. But as for the giant himself, he wouldn’t have missed this for the world. There was uncertainty, danger, intrigue, and the odds were stacked against them. In short, it was Pensgraft’s idea of fun.
If curiosity could kill a cat, Pensgraft would have been dead many times over. His biggest character flaw was that he was easily bored. On the other hand, his greatest positive characteristic, the one thing that made his life an adventure, was that he was easily bored. He’d been a trial for his mother while growing up, and he wasn’t any better now.
Petulance in a child can be disguised as courage in adulthood. Also, Pensgraft rarely sat still except, that is, when in Lord Daegal’s dungeon. But it had taken bars to hold him, and even then he’d paced his cell like a caged animal.
As the band of warriors came closer to the crystal fortress, they noticed something unusual. Looking at
Pensgraft, Chen said, “There’s no moat.”
“And no drawbridge,” Pensgraft added.
Lord Daegal’s troops and Chen’s guards stopped and tried to grasp what they were now witnessing. Even the main gate was wide open with no soldiers around. This black crystal, architectural marvel appeared to be left unattended.
“Now I am worried,” Chen said.
“This makes no sense. It’s unexplainable, irrational and a bit frightening. And you know what?” Pensgraft asked.
“What?”
“I am going to beat you to the gate!”
Chen’s eyes brightened, and the warrior woman thought, Here’s someone else who’s reckless. Someone who enjoys danger and even needs it.
The truth is, Chen would rather be dead than bored, many times coming close to the first while seeking to avoid the latter.
Spurring their horses into a gallop, they quickly reached the entrance leading to an inner courtyard. Dismounting and walking over to the gate, or to the space where one would normally be, Pensgraft smiled and said, “You go first, and I’ll wait here.”
“I don’t think so.”
“But Glenitant’s your aunt, and I wouldn’t want to intrude.”
“You’re such a gentleman.”
“Glad you noticed.”
Standing in front of the huge entrance, they both peered inside and Pensgraft said, “Well, it doesn’t look too bad.”
“Okay, go ahead, go inside.”
Looking back at the others, especially at Lord Daegal’s warriors, Pensgraft noticed they were all a bit edgy. Not frightened, mind you, but they weren’t in any great rush to come any closer either. The giant thought, I’m free of Lord Daegal, if I go inside.
Squaring his shoulders, he strode boldly into the inner courtyard. And it was incredible! Black crystal was everywhere glistening like polished glass. Standing in front of the main tower and seeing his own reflection, he chuckled and said, “Now there’s a handsome fellow.”
Glancing at Chen, who had followed him inside, Pensgraft noticed she was looking at her reflection and assessing not just her face but also her figure.
“Your leather outfit looks nice on you,” Pensgraft said truly admiring her sense of style. However, just then, a loud, clanking noise began reverberating throughout the courtyard. As the sound continued, the two warriors realized it was coming from inside the main tower, which also had no door or gate protecting it and was wide open.
“Clank, clank, clank!” came the sound. “Clank, clank, clank!”
Chen and Pensgraft looked at each other, and the giant said, “I entered the courtyard first, so maybe you’d like to be first going into the main tower.”
“No, let whatever it is come to us,” Chen said. And as they waited, neither moving, the noise got louder, “Clank! Clank! Clank!”
Being even more impatient than Chen, which was saying something, Pensgraft remained where he was for a while but finally disregarded the warrior woman’s advice and headed over to the tower’s entrance.
“Clank! Clank! Clank!” the noise continued reverberating throughout the courtyard as it got closer and louder.
As he walked past Chen, the giant looked at the warrior woman’s figure appreciatively and said, “Don’t you find it interesting that beauty and danger can coexist in the same moment?”
“Look inside the entrance if you want, but cut the philosophy,” she said abruptly trying to hide the fact that she enjoyed his taking an interest.
Stepping through the entrance, the room was pitch dark and the noise was even louder echoing off the walls and seeming to come at him from all directions. Peering into the gloom, Pensgraft said, “I can’t see a thing. Come over and sway a little in the doorway. That should get the attention of whoever’s inside.”
Chen strolled over to her friend smiling invitingly.
Taking a deep breath, Pensgraft said, “It’s probably not possible to make your leather outfit any tighter, but if you soak it in water and let it dry on you that might do it.”
“Already did it,” Chen said moving her hips in a languid motion.
“I’m not surprised, you don’t miss a trick.”
Back outside the castle walls, Gwendylln managed to stay put as long as she could see her leader, but when Chen disappeared from view while walking to the tower entrance, Gwendylln shouted, “Playtime’s over!”
The captain of Chen’s personal guard spurred her warhorse, and the powerful stallion responded bolting forward. All the warrior women followed in hot pursuit charging through the main entrance without hesitation. Upon reaching Chen, Gwendylln reined in her horse as she and the other warrior women formed a protective circle around their master.
Not being included in the human shield, Pensgraft was feeling a little left out but that didn’t last long. A powerful blast of energy shot out of the main tower lifting him off his feet and tossing him, as if launched from a catapult, across the courtyard where he slammed against the outer wall. Black crystal is pretty, but it’s also hard as rock, and Pensgraft dropped to the ground unconscious.
Realizing that Chen might be in danger, the warrior women almost went berserk. Gwendylln whirled her stallion around and faced the tower entrance ready to spur her horse once more and charge into the darkness. Had she done so, the 24 other women were ready to follow her in making a blind assault on the unseen enemy. Gwendylln didn’t mind a fight, and neither did the other warrior women, especially if it was in defense of their leader.
Years ago, Lord Daegal did one thing right. He’d found 100 athletic young women Chen’s age and had them live together with his niece from the age of 15. They were all from poor families, and Lord Daegal had given the parents farmland and enough funds to build barns and buy cattle. The warlord had also relocated the families, so the farms were all within a day’s ride of The Rock, which allowed the young women to maintain contact with their loved ones.
It was an older warrior woman who’d actually orchestrated all this on Chen’s behalf, but she’d allowed Lord Daegal to take credit for it and chose to remain anonymous. Over the years, all the young women came to despise the warlord, but they’d never forgotten that their families were safe because of Chen’s devotion to them. It was she who’d made sure the farms received financial assistance through several hard years of drought, pestilence, crop failure and illness. The women were now, like Chen, in their early 20s and what they may have lacked in size, they made up for in sheer fanatical loyalty to their leader.
So when Gwendylln turned to face the unseen threat, the women under her command couldn’t imagine life without Chen and were prepared to die in her defense. Only one thing could stop them from making a headlong charge into the tower, a direct order from their master. And they got one.
“Hold!” Chen shouted, and all the women froze in their tracks. Then Chen led them over to Pensgraft’s crumpled body having them form a protective ring around him. Now, at her command, they were prepared to die in his defense.
“Clank! Clank! Clank!”
Chen’s guards turned to face the noise wondering what monstrous danger could be approaching them. Gradually, they saw someone emerging from the inner darkness, someone very small who was bent over, hunchbacked and shuffled, barely able to walk.
It looked like an old woman, a very old woman. One so ancient, Chen’s guards wondered what was keeping her alive. Feeling enormously relieved, the warrior women began to relax and made a collective sigh of relief.
Then they saw it. They saw the sword.
Aunt Glenitant, the old woman, was struggling along using a sword for a walking stick, which was the source of the noise as it struck the stone floor. The weapon was as black as midnight, as dark as the crystal castle, even as dark as Glenitant’s malignant spirit, and Chen smelled danger. Feeling cornered, Chen wanted to lash out at something, anything, as anger welled up inside of her, a deep, violent rage. The warrior woman’s mood turned black, which is probably what saved her.
Now cl
oaked in darkness like Glenitant and her sword, Chen changed tactics dismounting, walking directly up to her aunt and kneeling before her. Glenitant allowed Chen to approach because the old crone could sense the warrior woman’s dark mood. Glenitant liked it. So did the sword, which, though made of metal, was a sentient, evil creature.
“Auntie, I’m Chen, your niece.”
Auntie sensed that Chen was like a panther ready to strike. Though only weighing 120 pounds, Chen was impressive. Plus she had attitude, and Glenitant loved it.
“Was it you who attacked my friend, Pensgraft?” Chen asked.
“Yes, in a way, but more specifically, it was this sword. But I’m pleased that you haven’t lost your edge,” Glenitant said.
Auntie looked at her niece, felt Chen’s inner anger, and thought, Yes, she has the necessary hatred. The sword might well go to her when I die.
“What do you think, Crystal?” she asked the sentient, evil sword.
The sword liked Chen a lot, even more than Glenitant. And from that moment on, Crystal plotted her master’s death.
Glenitant sensed the sword’s treachery, and although Auntie had been considering Chen as her heir apparent, the old witch wasn’t quite ready to relinquish power just yet. Glenitant was suddenly swamped by jealousy over Chen’s youth and vitality and by her sword’s sudden switch in allegiance. From that moment on, Auntie plotted her niece’s death.
It seems the touching family reunion was short lived.
Gleefully anticipating the coming fight between the two women and the resulting hatred and violence, the sword smiled. Of the three of them, the old witch, the young warrior woman and the sword, Crystal was the worst of all.
Chapter 14
While Chen was at Crystal Castle, in the eastern part of the realm, Aerylln and her small group were encamped a bit to the west of Lord Daegal’s castle, The Rock. Aerylln and Marcheto were walking along a woodland path talking about recent events and getting more acquainted.
“When Corson cut down those horsemen, it was a real awakening for me. Walking through a field littered with dead bodies was certainly a new experience,” Aerylln said to Marcheto. “So much violence. Do things like that happen a lot in the outside world?”