‘You have done well’, the king said in an even tone. ‘So, tell me Beringer, what is it you hesitate to speak of?’
‘The truth is, my king, we are stripping the land of its wealth. We have enslaved many. There is not a prison cell with a healthy man left inside, yet the amount of free men and tradesmen employed have left the coffers of the south empty. We have raised taxes so high that in effect the gold we are paying out we take back, the rest of the pay that the blacksmiths, carpenters, shipbuilders and a dozen other craftsmen are paid, they hoard. In half of one year we have changed the entire dynamics of the economy of the southern lands and it is having dramatic effects.’ The king sat on his horse in silence as he listened to Beringer. He appeared calm and had a calculating aspect to his eyes. Beringer signalled to one of his guards and the guard brought forth a slave.
‘This man bears the mark of a rebel’, Beringer said. He pointed to the brand mark of a blistering and raw R, burned deep within the flesh upon his forehead. ‘There are nearly one hundred who likewise bear this mark. There have also been several small uprisings in protest against the increase in the price of grain, oats and ale.’ He dismissed the guard and slave with a wave of his hand and continued. ‘In normal circumstances I would have hung them from their village squares and cut the guts from them while they danced. They will labour to their deaths instead, for we need every able body. I have increased a network of informants amongst the rabble, and there is talk, my king…’ The great lord of the south paused, then swallowing hard, he continued… ‘of a peasant’s revolt.’ Beringer looked increasingly worried as he informed his king and master the problems he faced, and with reason, for King Kane the Cruel had undoubtedly earned his name and there was no man, woman or child beyond his reach or exempt from his wrath.
Yet King Kane the Cruel remained calm and had a look of contentment as he surveyed the work as the sun was setting. ‘There is ever a price to pay to achieve greatness, Beringer, my friend. I shall send gold to supplement your expenditures, and I shall gather more men from the north to work under your southern lashes.’ Kane’s expression then turned instantly in to one of cold fury as he took Beringer’s eyes into his own, holding the lord with his gaze as if he were locked in chains. ‘But know this, my Lord. If you fail to deliver my ships on time. If you lose control of even the remotest part of my kingdom. If you fail me in the responsibilities, I have bestowed upon you then you will have a long life.’ Beringer looked confused at the threat whilst Kane just smiled at his confusion then added in a cheerful tone. ‘A long life, watching me take apart everyone who you hold dear, piece by bloody piece.’ The evilness seeped from the king’s expression like smoke from a fire, and the horror of the king’s words washed over Beringer with the icy dread of certainty. And then the visage of evil dropped, and the king added in a cheerful tone, ‘Now let us retire to your keep and feast in celebration of our upcoming adventures.’
Chapter Twenty-four
Attack
Elysabeth placed her book down on the reading desk beside the window. Looking out, she sighed and thought of the change her life had taken. She felt guilt as she realised she had thought little of her mother of late but took solace in the fact that Father Robert had reassured her he would visit with news of Elysabeth’s happiness and good fortune. And also, with gifts of coin, and other items that would make her life easier and a little more hopeful. She wondered at the strange Father of the order who she had become so fond of, where he was and when he would return. But her idle time was mostly spent thinking of the prince who had taken her away from the wickedness of his uncle, only to place her in the same man’s home and in constant fear of his cruel desire. Her stomach soured and her mouth became as dry as sun-baked flour. She rose from the desk and walked to the dining table in the adjoining room. There she filled an expensive and rare glass cup with water from a pitcher and drained the contents. It was at the very moment she returned the glass to the table that the attack happened.
Strong arms grabbed her from behind in a bear hug. Holding her arms against her sides, her assailant lifted her with apparent ease from the ground and took her back into the other room, tossing her upon the bed with such force she bounced and struck her shoulder upon the headboard. Before she had time to recover the man was on top of her, pinning her arms to the bed and forcing her legs apart with his own. She wrenched her head to the side and sunk her teeth into his meaty forearm, with the quickness and force of a wolf striking a killing bite into a deer’s throat. She just as quickly released her bite as the man withdrew his arm, releasing his grip on her right hand. With a practised swiftness, she pulled the dagger sheathed upon her right hip. The man had pulled his body upright and pulled his injured arm back, ready to beat her into submission. She twisted to her left, giving her body enough space to draw back her knife, and struck. Her execution was perfect. The blade turned upright and its point striking just below the chest plate with enough force to skewer the heart within.
Askia sat back, taking out the steel plate harnessed to his body as he inspected the mark left by Elysabeth’s blade. ‘Good, my Lady. Better than good. Had I been an actual enemy, I believe I would be dead.’ Elysabeth had returned her blade to its scabbard and now lay back panting for breath.
‘By the Gods, Askia!’ she exclaimed. ‘I only realised it was you after I had stabbed you and you had sat back. You will kill me with shock!’
‘It is the last time I shall test you in this way, my Lady, and I apologise for the roughness of treatment but it must be as close to the real thing as possible for it to prepare you. And although you survived the actual attack, you have still failed. You have windows in both your rooms, but you are aware they have been barred and made impossible to open. You have guards outside your single door, and yet you did not feel the presence of another in a room your mind knew to be empty. If I were an assassin rather than a rapist, you would be dead. If I were not alone, you would be dead. Your blade is gifted with power and your ability with it is also gifted, yet your ability to sense danger is far too muted. These are your next lessons, situation awareness and seeing without looking.’
‘Well, I have learnt a valuable lesson today, Askia. I shall be careful what I wish for’, Elysabeth said, her breathing returning to normal and a smile creeping onto her face.
‘I do not understand my Lady.’
‘I was bored and wishing for some excitement about four seconds before you pounced on me.’
Holak knocked on the door and announced that squire Jim was without seeking an audience with Elysabeth. As he stepped past Holak, he stopped in shock at seeing Askia sitting at the foot of the bed whilst Elysabeth was still lounging at the headboard. Askia jumped to his feet, knowing how the situation could be interpreted, while Elysabeth beamed with joy and likewise jumped off the bed.
‘Jim!’ she yelled in delight. ‘It has been days, where have you been hiding?’
Jim just stood in shocked silence, obviously believing he had just disturbed an intimate moment between the warrior and the lady.
Elysabeth looked back towards the bed and Askia and said, ‘Ah, my lesson for today.’ She pointed towards the steel chest plate that Askia had left discarded on the bed. ‘A lesson in defending myself from a hidden assailant. Askia, the brute lay in wait for me to be at my least prepared, then attacked me from behind. But he has trained me well, and I brought my sister to bear’, she said patting the sheathed blade at her hip.
‘My lady’, Jim said, bowing. ‘I am so dearly sorry for leaving you with only these beasts for company.’ He smiled at Askia friendlily, letting him know his jest was good humoured and offered an exaggerated bow. ‘Unfortunately, with the Prince away I have been given duties from the head squire and with Father Robert also away on some heavenly mission, there is no one with rank to excuse me from his endless tasks. I sneaked away for a few moments to see how you fare and was undoubtedly surprised at your condition.’
‘I thought Jacob let it be known to all the house
hold staff, including the head squire, that when he is away, you are to be squire to me, and me alone’, Elysabeth said with a petulant tone.
‘He did my lady, but the king let it be known that you have no rank. Forgive me for saying my Lady, but outside these rooms you would be treated with less accordance and respect as even the likes of me. The servants charged with seeing to your daily needs hold little or no attention of the head squire, and he would fear Jacob’s wrath should he not at least provide you with food and the means for cleanliness. Yet I am still a squire, and oath-bound, in short, my Lady, I must do as I am bid.’
Elysabeth flushed with anger, as she realised just how much of a prisoner she was. Without Jacob, she was nothing, and it enraged her. She looked to Askia, who looked at her with sympathy, which enraged her more. She briefly thought of leaving, but where would she go. No, she thought, she was trapped. She could no longer distinguish between the lavish rooms and food to a prison cell and gruel. She was trapped, and like an animal trapped, she panicked. Anxiety set her heart pounding, and she began to sweat. Jim’s lips were moving, but she heard no sound. And then it passed.
‘Elysabeth? Are you okay, my Lady?’
‘Yes, I’m quite fine Jim, I just felt a little overcome.’
‘I shall be free after the evening meal; might I join you for a while? I managed to sneak an exceptionally fine bottle of red last night and you look as if you could do with a glass and an ear to bend.’
‘Thank you, Jim, that sounds wonderful. I am feeling a little in need of rest, I shall take to my bed for a nap’, she said, trying her best not to sound as feeble and afraid as she felt. Squire Jim and Askia bowed before her.
‘I shall return later, my Lady.’ Jim said as he left, followed by Askia who said. ‘I shall dismiss Holak and take guard, my lady.’ Before he left, he added. If there is anything you require?’ She merely shook her head.
Elysabeth, formally a peasant girl, presently a prisoner and if she believed the man, she loved a future queen, threw herself onto her bed and sobbed uncontrollably into her duck feathered pillows.
Jim poured the last of the bottle of an exceptionally fine red wine into Elysabeth’s exquisite and rare glass goblet and raised his own glass to make a toast.
‘Maybe I should refrain, Jim. My head is already groggy’, Elysabeth said sleepily.
‘Nonsense my Lady, tonight we shall drink, eat and be merry.’
‘For tomorrow we die?’ Elysabeth said, finishing the warriors’ proverb.
Jim smiled, ‘Everyone dies, that’s why we must seize the moments before that day. If we do not, then we are not worthy of the gift of life in the first place.’
‘That is very thought provoking for you, Jim.’ She looked at him for a long moment in silence. ‘You seem different this evening.’
‘I have had much to ponder of late, my lady.’ Jim raised his glass and with a hand gesture encouraged Elysabeth to do the same. ‘To perceptual servitude in luxurious surroundings.’ They both drank and Jim put a hand to the bottom of Elysabeth’s goblet and lifted, gently forcing her to drain the contents. She giggled as she finished and red wine ran down her chin.
‘Oh, I am feeling light-headed. I have been drinking wine since I remember. I thought I had more... what’s the word?’
‘Tolerance?’ Jim answered. ‘Maybe we should sit on the bed. You would feel more comfortable.’ Jim rose from the table and took Elysabeth gently by the arm. ‘Come on, my Lady.’ They sat on the bed together with their backs against the headboard and their legs outstretched.
‘Do you think Jacob will marry me?’ she asked suddenly, her head wobbled slightly as she spoke.
‘Why would he not my Lady? You are beautiful, intelligent and despite your humble beginnings you carry yourself with noble dignity. He would be a fool not to Beth. The question should be, what do you want? To live in confinement with luxury, or live free and be unsure of your circumstance?’
‘I really haven’t given what I want any thought. I was a peasant girl dreaming of some shining knight coming to rescue me from a life of hardship and poverty. Then he came and now I am here. Nobody ever asked me before, what it is I wanted I mean.’ She looked at Jim and felt emotions growing within her. Her eyes felt heavy. She felt relaxed, content.
‘Well, I shall tell you want I would like more than anything in this world, to make you happy Beth, to love you in the way you deserve. For your very nature instead of only for your beauty. To see your smile every morning as I wake and every night as you close your eyes to sleep.’
Elysabeth looked confused. She was torn between knowing that this situation was entirely wrong, yet also how right she felt and how reasonable Jim’s words sounded to her.
Jim took hold of Elysabeth’s chin and gently turned her towards him. He kissed her, and she did not resist. A bell was ringing alarm deep within her consciousness but was dulled by how relaxed she felt. It sounded distant, yet it called to her. He reached a hand behind her head and pulled her into his kiss, and still she made no effort to resist him or rebuke his outrageous behaviour. But neither did she feel passion or return his lustful desire. She felt powerless, caught between two acts, one of intimacy and one of anger. She knew that she should cry out, push back against Jim who was now lying on top of her. His hands were pulling her pert, soft breasts from her dress as he fondled and roughly caressed her body. She turned her head to the side, refusing his lips and tongue as she sought to disentangle herself from his embrace. She tried to move her arms but failed. They seemed to be devoid of life, as did her legs, yet she felt Jim’s touch as he moved from her breasts and slid his left hand beneath her dress. Pulling her undergarments with force enough to tear them in two, he leaned his mouth close to her ear.
In a whispered voice made ragged by heavy breathing he said, ‘Do not worry Beth, the king consents to our union.’ He pushed two of his fingers inside her and thrust them in and out. Tears flowed down her cheeks, but if he took notice it did not show. After a few moments, he withdrew his fingers and inspected them. ‘Ah, so you are not the virgin the king has been made to believe you are! Good, the king will be pleased, and you will be mine.’ He climbed on top of her and removed her blade from its scabbard on her right thigh. He took it to her dress and cut it away, revealing her complete nakedness. He sat upright and admired her firm, lithe body. ‘You are everything I have dreamed of and more, my love.’ He tossed the blade on the floor next to the bed and unfastened the tying at his trousers, and after pulling them down, he lay back on top of her and edged his manhood towards her.
Askia stood watch outside Elysabeth’s door. His senses were attuned for danger as he scanned the corridor left, then right and back again, when he noticed the form of Father Robert hurrying down the corridor from Askia’s right.
‘Father’, he greeted the panting priest as he reached the door. ‘It is good to see you. Elysabeth has missed you dearly. You appear in some urgency, Father.’
‘That is because I have come here in urgency, Askia. Now open that damned door’, Robert replied between shallow breaths. Askia knocked upon the door and was met with silence, so knocked again much harder.
‘She is with the squire Jim; he has been absent a while and they were catching up over drink.’
Father Robert stood straighter, his breath became still and unforced. ‘Move Askia!’ He pushed Askia with surprising force and put his shoulder on the door, breaking it open with apparently little force. He stormed into the bedchambers of Elysabeth and became instantly enraged.
Jim had been so preoccupied with his actions he seemed not to notice the priest and the warrior’s presence until Rob had seized the back of his neck, and with surprising strength flung him clear across the room to land with a loud thud against the far wall. He barely glanced at the dazed form of Jim, in all his nakedness and fully erect, before he came to stand before Elysabeth. ‘He has drugged her heavily. Had we been but a moment later he would have been about his foul deflowering of the future queen.
’ He took hold of her face and turned it this way and that, looking intently beyond her physical features. ‘And the dose was intended to kill.’
Jim sat up slightly and was instantly greeted with Askia’s sword blade at his throat. ‘You are wrong, fat priest’, Jim spat with scorn. ‘It was only to make her more amenable; she deserves to be loved not imprisoned.’
Askia moved his sword’s point until it lay at Jim’s crotch. ‘I shall cut off your cock, before I take your eyes boy, I would hate for you to miss that sight.’
‘Stay your blade Askia, I would have words with him before his end.’ He closed his eyes after laying Elysabeth’s head down softly upon the pillow. He raised his right hand, arm extended, and moved it slowly to sketch in the air a circle as he spoke in a powerful yet quiet voice. ‘In the end there was the beginning and at the beginning the end. And at both, the creator stood alone. He who is Greatest of all. The bringer of light and life. I beseech you, my Lord. The one who stands above all others. Stand with me now and aid your servant. Grant unto me the strength to endure your gifts of power.’
The room slowly dimmed until they stood in complete and utter darkness, a darkness that was to midnight what midnight was to midday. They stood in a void for the briefest of moments, then a brilliant blinding light encompassed the room, emulating from the circle Robert had sketched with his hand.
Robert opened his eyes, and the light in the room faded to normality. He took a deep breath and stroked Elysabeth’s cheek, as a father would his child. Her body twitched and she could feel the paralysing effects of the drugs beginning to wear off. ‘Be still, my dear. All will be well, I promise.’
She offered a slight smile bravely and lay still upon the bed, gathering her composure after her ordeal. Father Robert turned towards Jim, his face a mask of primal power and hatred. He shot his right hand out towards the would-be rapist. His forefinger pointed with menace at the now silent young man. As Robert raised his arm so Jim raised also until he was lifted off the ground by Robert’s will alone. Robert clenched his hand as if it were gripped around the squire’s throat and applied pressure, and although Robert had no physical contact with him, the squire choked. Robert still stood twenty foot away from Jim yet controlled his body by powers neither Jim, Askia nor Elysabeth would have thought possible had they not been witnessing them for themselves. Robert pulled his hand back towards himself and with his movement Jim’s helpless form came as well. Robert then pushed his hand back violently, smashing Jim hard into the wall, causing the plaster to crack and Jim to moan in pain as the air was knocked out of his lungs.
The Banner of the Broken Orc: The Call of the Darkness Saga: Book One Page 24