The Blighted Fortress

by David E Dresner

  Throbb paused, the girl seemed relaxed and that was offsetting. Then he thought, She’s acting bold to throw me off my game. She has no idea of the men I have put down in battle as well as the wrestling table.

  He smiled back, “I would accept his apology if you accept my invitation for a good night’s dancing.” Then he added, “You don’t smell like a farm girl, more like nobility and I like noble women.”

  Continuing to look him in the eye as she replied, “Bad decision, sir, and tonight is definitely not a dance night, so lead on MacThrobb.” The innkeeper heard the weird Mac phrase attached to Throbb’s name and wondered what it meant. Possibly it’s a term of respect, he thought. But she is certainly not inclined to compliment Throbb. Very strange.

  As Throbb moved toward the seated Traveler, Hermann touched his arm. Throbb paused to note the innkeeper had a strange look on his face. “Throbb, neither of these youths are what they seem. I know you are a man easily roused, sometimes over small unintended slights, but I also know you as a man of courage and battlefield honor. I have seen you do notable good deeds for friends.

  “I strongly advise you to accept his apology. The boy is much stronger than he appears and the girl has a mysterious way about her. Leave him and the girl alone.”

  Throbb recognized this was the second warning in less than a minute, but pride overruled the warnings. He chose to believe the keeper was simply trying to protect his guests. Maybe they are visiting relatives and he has an obligation to protect them. His hesitation was gone as he strode to the table.

  The chair across from Traveler was now vacant as another soldier rose to make a place for Throbb. A confident Throbb sat down.

  The two standing veterans were beside each other holding their mugs. They congratulated themselves with smiles as they looked down at the seated contestants; they had secured the best seats in the house.

  As they studied the young man more closely, they suddenly thought the boy seemed a bit older than he had appeared back at his own table, he was also taller and broader. Not that it matters, they thought. In this contest speed and slyness don’t matter, only power does, and Throbb has great power.

  The seated soldiers were laughing and drinking. Life was giving them an unexpected night of entertainment. Normally they would be betting among themselves on a contest of strength but there was no bet to be had here, the outcome was a certainty. They banged the tables hard again for the keeper to bring fresh pitchers.

  Throbb was removing his layers of upper-body protection. He wanted to have unencumbered movement for his upper body as well as to display his massive arms. His forearm was larger than most men’s upper arms. His upper arm was the size of a grown man’s leg.

  Once Throbb was fully on display everyone became silent as they compared the two combatants. Several of the older soldiers began to feel sad for the boy. They understood how Throbb would permanently destroy the boy’s upper body and his right arm and hand. “He’ll never plow again,” one older veteran whispered to his table.

  “Let’s make this a little more interesting,” said Throbb. “Small daggers please,” and he pointed at the two seated soldiers beside him and Traveler. These were young men but they immediately understood the request. Grinning they took out their hand daggers and placed them on the table in front of Throbb and Traveler.

  Eying the daggers he said, “I suggest we have a dagger’s edge held in place at the spot where each wrist would hit the table. This just adds a little more risk to losing. Nobody wants a dagger slicing into their wrist, do they puppy? Of course you may slap the table with your left arm and the contest will immediately end but don’t delay the slap too long.”

  Traveler was watching Throbb play to the audience. Throbb looked like a larger version of Big Bob the football player. Traveler recalled his magic act in high school using Big Bob as his unknowing shill. Both Throbb and Bob were supremely confident in their physical skills. Neither saw the train coming straight at them.

  Traveler nodded his acceptance. “If you’re sure you want to go that way. It seems you’re making a very big deal out of a simple slip of the lip on my part. In any case let’s get this parade going, I’m tired and want to get to bed.”

  “Hospital bed,” a standing soldier offered to the crowd. More hoots and drunken laughs followed.

  “Is the right hand acceptable, puppy?”

  Traveler nodded, “Fine with me if that’s your weapon of choice.”

  They put their right hands together with arms vertical to the table. One of the standing soldiers used a piece of rope to bind their hands together. Now neither could break the other’s grip.

  “Call it, keeper,” directed Throbb.

  Hermann stood at the end of the table and surveyed both combatants. He assured himself neither had a starting advantage. We have a fair contest, at least to start,” said the keeper, eliciting a round of hoots and claps from the guards.

  “I will count down from four to one then I’ll say ‘Push’.” Looking at Throbb he added, “Remember you must remain seated, no using body weight for an advantage.”

  The keeper then did the countdown. When he said “Push”, Throbb’s arm muscles bulged even further. Veins stood out from his shoulder down to his hand. His massive hand enclosed Traveler’s and appeared to be trying to crush the youth’s grip.

  The watching soldiers had seen this act numerous times. They knew Throbb would permit his opponent a moment of hope. The opponent’s arm would remain vertical for a few moments. Throbb always held back to savor the moment. He was the cat controlling the mouse and play time came first.

  The arms remained vertical longer than the cat normally permitted. The soldiers smiled at each other thinking this was a new wrinkle in Throbb’s act. To the surprise of all, except Glenda and possibly the keeper, their arms continued to stay vertical.

  Throbb was no longer playing with the mouse. He found he was pushing against a stone wall and the wall did not move. At the same time, the wall did not seem to be pushing back at him. Throbb’s strongest grip felt like he was simply shaking the young man’s hand. This was something he had never experienced.

  After half a minute Throbb took a deep breath then blew it out in a sudden exhale. The wall was now moving slightly away from him. Taking a quick second large breath, he again exhaled in an explosive grunt and the boy’s arm began a slow decline toward the dagger.

  Confidence had returned and he stared at the boy’s arm as it was slowly approaching the sharp edge of the dagger. One final burst and the boy’s energy would be exhausted and he would see the dagger biting into the boy’s wrist.

  He expected the boy’s left hand to hit the table at any moment. Maybe he would ease up and maybe not. The young only develop by receiving harsh setbacks from their betters, he thought.

  The soldiers were now leaning forward while holding their breath. They saw the mouse’s inevitable end was close. A few felt pity for the young man as the dagger was ready to slice into his wrist.

  Throbb took a final deep breath to end the contest but made a mistake. Just as he was ready to make the final strong, exhale push, he looked into the boy’s eyes. What he saw stopped his exhale. The boy was studying him similar to how Throbb had done against an opposing enemy on many battlefields. I’m being set up for an ambush, flashed through his mind.

  The boy’s eyes told him he had indeed walked into a trap and the trap was now sprung. He felt the stone wall return and the boy’s forearm move away from the dagger’s edge. The wall pushed him to a vertical position and stopped. He suddenly wanted to accept the boy’s apology. He wanted to apologize to the girl. He wanted his mother.

  The boy’s arm began a forward push. There was no strain on the boy’s face. His breathing was controlled but his eyes bored into Throbb’s. The soldiers were stunned. They were watching the impossible happen and it seemed to be happening in slow motion.

  Traveler now had Throbb’s forearm touching the dagger’s edge. He stared into Throbb’s eyes
and saw pure fear. He pushed down enough to start a trickle of blood flowing from the wrist.

  The soldier holding the dagger suddenly removed it. Throbb was his leader and he would not permit his leader to be crucified through his wrist. Traveler then pushed the hand flat against the table. “Yield?” was all he said. Throbb nodded.

  The keeper felt conflicting emotions running through the room. The soldiers were looking for direction from their leader Throbb. This was Throbb’s defeat but it was also theirs. Armies and soldiers are not created to make moral judgements during a battle, they are trained to support their leaders regardless of the circumstances.

  Throbb was now standing with a slow trickle of blood oozing from his wrist. Traveler had also risen and was calmly looking at Throbb waiting for his next possible challenge.

  Throbb had regained his composure and his challenge followed. He studied Traveler for a moment then declared, “He is not a man, he is a demon. No man could so easily defeat me in such a manner. I looked into his eyes and I saw the demon inside him laughing at me and each of us.

  “Keeper, there are no rules that protect a demon in your inn. This thing needs to be burned immediately.” Throbb saw that his men were nodding their heads in agreement. Whether the young man was simply strong enough to beat Throbb or was a demon they had an explanation they could accept. Their leader’s honor as well as their unit’s honor needed to be salvaged. They all nodded in agreement with Throbb’s verdict, this was a demon.

  The soldiers were now standing with hands on sword hilts and daggers when a cold wind blew in from the open door. Glenda had quietly slipped to the door, removed the blocking bar and opened it.

  She smiled at the standing soldiers, “This room needs a little cooling off before emotions take over. Throbb, I warned you my brother is much stronger than he appears and he’s younger than you. He’s no demon, he simply beat you. Act like a noble warrior, and accept the outcome to a fair contest.”

  As Glenda was challenging the group, Trajan the alpha male and his pack had quietly entered the open door. The inside heat and Glenda’s presence had called out to them. Trajan pressed against Glenda who gave a few tugs to his ears.

  Once inside the pack sensed the tension. They could smell the anger and fear coming off the soldiers. Their hackles all rose. Their instincts were to follow the pack leader who was clearly siding with the girl.

  Throbb studied the potential new adversaries. The room with heavy tables did not give his men room to fight efficiently and these were warrior dogs trained to attack and to kill. “Keeper, I have known you a long time. You are usually a sensible man. These two demons have fogged your mind. Be sure you do not join them in a demon’s fire pit.”

  Bolstered by his own voice Throbb continued, “We cannot spend the night in a place that protects demons and wild dogs. Keeper, the duke and the mage will find this story not to your liking. I suggest you rid the inn of these two before I return.”

  With that admonition Throbb went through the open door. As he passed the alpha male, he saw its shackles were fully raised and he felt a low vibration coming from the beast. His nearest hand automatically rose to avoid brushing the dog’s head and dripping jaws.

  As he passed the tense animal, he remembered that the alpha was the favorite of the duke. The duke used the alpha as his stud dog with his best females. If Throbb somehow managed to damage the alpha, the duke would have Throbb’s head on a pole outside the inn.

  Chapter 37

  Bedtime Reflections

  Once the soldiers were gone, the keeper came over to the door, shut it, removed the iron key, and placed the heavy locking bar in place. He turned to Glenda and Traveler with a sad smile. “He will carry his story to the duke and likely the mage. He will exaggerate and claim he was defeated by demons.

  “The duke knows him as a bully and liar but also as a brave and capable leader in a battle. Who knows if his story will be accepted, however Throbb’s men will certainly support him.

  “The duke does not believe in demons but the mage is reputedly a strange sort. The mage is a mystic so he may accept the demon story. It’s also to the mage’s advantage to keep us common folk believing in evil demons. Part of our taxes are justified to support the mage and his acolytes.”

  Suddenly laughing, Hermann added, “And his spells work! Nobody has seen a demon in these parts.” Glenda and Traveler laughed along with the keeper.

  “At the end of the day, regardless of what he personally believes, the duke will probably accept his demon story to show support for Throbb and his men.” Pointing at Traveler he said, “I expect they will return in a few days with more men and a charge to kill you by whatever means they can use. Sword or bow, the outcome will be the same.”

  He turned to Glenda and said, “You will be found guilty of something simply by association with your brother. Given your physical beauty and sharp mind, it’s likely the duke or mage will bring you to the castle to instruct you in acceptable behavior. You can imagine the instructions.”

  “For this evening the best thing each of you can do is to sleep. We’ll have time tomorrow morning to discuss the best escape plan.” Traveler and Glenda nodded in agreement.

  Once upstairs they bolted the door, removed their shoes, and collapsed on the bed. There was illumination coming through the louvered window and their eyes adjusted to the soft lighting. Glenda said, “Well, I guess this inn is no sanctuary for us. Do you think this duke person will harm the keeper?”

  Traveler was on his back staring at the overhead beams and lost in his thoughts. “I think Hermann will be OK. His inn is protected for whatever reasons. Maybe it’s a reward for his past services. Maybe the Hermann name is still respected enough to give leeway against harsh judgements.”

  “I hope so. I find I like Hermann, he’s a gruff guy but underneath a good man. To change the subject, what was it like arm wrestling that huge guy?”

  Traveler laughed, “The toughest part was his breath. Every time he did a big exhale it was a wind of roadkill, raw onions, and rancid food in my face. They never brush their teeth, so add that into the mix.

  “The physical part was easy. He never knew what he was facing. What he saw was just an inexperienced young farm guy and he’s put farmers in their place many times. What he could not see was the power of the books.

  “I think he did have a revelation when he looked me in the eyes. He expected to see desperation coming before his final push and instead he saw something else. He certainly saw more than just my irises.

  “While I was toying with him, I had a flashback to a magic act I put on in a high school assembly before our Thanksgiving break. I was Mr Magic back then with a cape, hat, and wand.

  “On stage I challenged the biggest kid in school to join me and lift a weight. His name was Big Bob and he looked like a young version of tonight’s Throbb. Bob was a football player with huge arms and a bigger ego. As soon as I invited Bob to the stage to lift a barbell, he raced up to show off his arms and strength.

  “Like Throbb, Bob never had a chance. I rigged the barbell so it could not move until I did some magical hocus pocus. Of course I actually used science to control the barbell.”

  Glenda was enjoying the story and the parallel to Throbb’s humiliation and said, “Please continue Mr Magic, what science did you use on Big Bob?”

  “In a word, electromagnetism. The science teacher helped me rig a powerful electromagnet right under the barbell. I could turn the magnet on and off with my wand. It was really cool when Bob could not lift the weight until I did the magic wand movement. Unlike Throbb, Big Bob was a good loser. When he finally lifted the barbell, the school wildly applauded him like he had scored a touchdown, foot stomping and clapping shook the auditorium.”

  Traveler glanced over at Glenda saw she now had the pillow pressed against her ears and was breathing deeply. The rhythm of her breathing reminded him of the train’s wheels as they rolled over the steel tracks on the way to Chicago, he was asleep in
moments.

  Chapter 38

  A Cold Wakeup Call

  Glenda woke to a freezing room. Traveler was curled up on his side with a pillow over his head, he reminded her of a hibernating bear. She was facing the opposite way and realized they were unintentionally sharing a reversed hug of sorts. Pressed together their heat was shared and had helped them survive a night in the igloo.

  She sat up, stretched, then put her boots on. Iceberg shoes, feels like Norway in the winter. Once up she grabbed the blanket and whipped it down. “Rise and shine, cowboy. We need to ride out of Dodge before Throbb and the duke’s gunslingers come looking.”

  Traveler gave an annoyed grunt, then relented and sat up. Glenda watched as he put on his boots. “Cold, cold, cold,” he exclaimed.

  “In Norway we kept our shoes warm overnight by the hearth. Putting them on warmed the rest of our bodies once out of bed. It was a great way to get moving. I’m going down by the fire and warm up. See you there.”

  When he got to the kitchen Hermann gave a welcoming smile and said, “By the way, we offer the best not only in food but privacy visits. It’s a heated space with running water. We followed the Roman designs to maintain civilization out here. The only thing missing is their heated baths, but that’s not possible. Way too expensive for this simple innkeeper to build.”

  Then the keeper’s face lit up with a crafty look passing over it, “Unless I had a man with unusual strength to build the containment pit.”

  Traveler gave him a sad smile. “Yeah, I would love to help out, but you-know-who is coming. Nothing good will happen to you if we’re still here.”

  The keeper nodded. “I understand. And thinking about the bath I realize cleaning the water after filthy soldiers would be a fulltime job.”