“Vincent, I had that letter, stamp, and signature tested by more than half of dozen forgers and notaries. That rare form of wax and parchment can only be found in one place. Avia. Rodrick signature is unique as well. The way he writes his R with that loop that goes right through the legs is also the real thing. Vincent, those orders are real.”
“By order of Rodrick Maller, King of Avia, and first of his name, does hereby order the relocation of those with minuscule of wealth to Slavers Bay to be sold and all profits to be added to the treasury room to be cataloged and filed. P.S- The children are to be sold to the slave masters of Creos. They have cornered the child sex slave market and…”
Vincent couldn’t bring himself to read anymore. The words that are written on this parchment were making him sicker than the smell of decay ever could. “Why?” he muttered. “Why would he do this? Did he learn nothing from my father’s actions?”
“He learned one thing, Vincent. He learned how to get away with it. Everyone here is poor as dirt. People who in society chooses to ignore. A farmer who’s land has died cannot produce crops to sell so they soon become beggars. All these people here have a story, but they all have one thing in common. They are those who society chooses to ignore. Who don’t go notices when they are missing for months at a time.
Your father sold whoever he wanted into slavery. It didn’t matter if it was the richest noble or the poorest peasant. What Rodrick is doing is selling those who will go unnoticed.”
“That still doesn’t make sense. Why would he do this? Is Avia truly that desperate for money? Rodrick’s whole rebellion was founded because people were being sold into slavery. I can’t see him doing this.”
“That’s Avia’s problem right there. Slavery was such a gigantic part of the economy that without it the entire kingdom would’ve collapsed into an economic depression within two years. Something had to replace the capital that selling slaves brought in. Without a replacement…”
“You have no choice but to go back to what worked…”
In that moment of silence, a baby’s cry echoed throughout the dungeon. “Was that a baby?” he asked.
Vincent looked in each one of the cells until he found a baby. The child was covered in all manners of filth while next to him, presumably, the child’s mother was dead. The glazed overlooked in her eyes with the pungent odor of decay made that very clear.
“What have I done?” Vincent whispered to himself. “Avia traded one mad man for another and it’s all my fault.”
“None of this is your fault, Vincent. You couldn’t have known.”
“No. It is my fault, Emilia. In more ways than you know.”
As Emilia attempted the console Vincent the best way she could, their moment was cut short by the sound of a war horn shattered the silence of the night. “Oh what now?!” Vincent yelled.
The two of them raced back outside to see a glowing orange light radiating over the battlements. They went to see where the light source was coming from and they saw a battalion of soldiers standing just outside the gate. Leading them was none other than Zeke Maller.
“What the hell is the prince doing here?” Emilia asked.
“He’s here for me,” Vincent replied. “Long story short, I escaped from Avia where I’ve been held a prisoner for ten years. I’ll tell you the long version later.”
Zeke dismounted his horse and saw Vincent. He couldn’t quite make out who he was with. “I didn’t think you’d make it this far, fallen prince. Let us not continue this game of cat and mouse any longer. Lower the bridge, surrender, and I shall make your death quick and painless.”
“Wow, when you put it like that, how can anyone refuse such an offer? Oh, I know how——fuck no am I doing that! I have a better offer. Turn around and go home before I blow you and your men to hell.”
Zeke laughed. “An empty threat. You have until first light. After that, we will be taking you by force.”
“Vincent, don’t listen to him. You can run into Blackfire. There are thousand of places to hide there.”
“I have no intention of surrendering, Emilia. Nor was my threat empty. You see all those water barrels down below and around the battlements?”
“What about them?” she asked.
“Well, they aren’t filled with water. I ducked behind a couple early assuming that it was water. Only it was giving off a smell.”
Vincent walked around the battlements and grabbed a barrel. The wood was old so the lid was easy to crack open. Vincent reached inside and grabbed a handful of black power.
“Gunpowder?” Emilia said with a look of surprised. The gun power was old and broke apart in his hand like a solid clump of dirt.
“Emilia, get the people out of the cells and on the other side of the wall. I’ll join up with you shortly.”
“Okay, but what are you gonna do?”
Vincent smirked. “I’m about to make your ancestors very proud.”
The wall was always meant to keep people at bay. The walls are made of solid stone that has begun to crumble over time. Yet still they managed to hold invaders from entering Avia. The problem is it has one major flaw. The inside.
Vincent spent hours lining up barrels along both sides of the wall. He opened up one of the casks and spread a line of gunpowder that crisscrossed to each barrel. All the while, Emilia was evacuating the captives down bellow into Blackfire. As she held the baby in her arms, she looked at Vincent. “Don’t you die.” She whispered.
The first light soon arrive. When it seemed like Vincent was going to surrender, Zeke sounded the war horn and ordered his men to climb the wall. Unbenounced to him or his men, Vincent was waiting for the sound of that horn. He knew they would have to climb the wall to get him. That why he focused most of the gun powder around that area.
As Vincent stood on the bridge leading to Blackfire, he grabbed a torch and tossed it on top the lines of gunpowder. It didn’t take long for the flames to reach the barrel.
The sound of thunder echoed throughout the area. The wall that the men were climbing came down with ease in an explosion of fire and stone. As the fire spread, more and more cask began to explode. Walls fell, men burned, and now Avia and Blackfire no longer had a wall to divided them.
Vincent caught up with Emilia who was watching the fireworks from a nearby hilltop. She was feeding the baby she held with some honey. He seemed to be enjoying it.
“Very motherly of you,” Vincent said.
“Let’s just say I’ve had some practice over the last few months.”
The two of them sat down and watch the black smoke rise in the distance. “So, where are you going now?” she asked.
“Slavers Bay. And no, I’m not buying nor am I selling slaves. I’m looking for two girls who were sold there more a decade ago.”
“Who are they?”
“My sisters.”
“No seriously.”
“I am serious, Emilia. I’m looking for my twin sisters.”
Chapter 11
It was surprisingly a beautiful morning if you ignore the smell of gunpowder and the constant explosions echoing in the distant. It’ll take some time before Zeke and what remains of his men to follow. All the while, Vincent, and Emilia put a significant amount of distance between them and the border.
The two of them walked in awkward silence until Emilia finally said, “You smell.”
“Oh, I’m sorry princess, I left my marble bath in my other pants. Besides, you don’t smell like lilacs and daisies.”
Emilia paused. “What’s that suppose to mean?!” she yelled.
Her loud voice upset the baby. He began to cry. “See, now look what you did,” Vincent added.
“Hey, it’s okay, it’s okay. Why won’t he stop crying?”
“Probably because he needs to be changed. It what I meant when I said you smelled.”
“You aren't saying that he…”
Vincent chuckled. “Oh, yes, I am.” Vincent removed what remained of his shirt and gave i
t Emilia. “Here. Use this.”
Emilia grabbed the shirt. “I don’t know what smells worst. This shirt or the boy. What the hell have you been doing in this thing?”
“Are you seriously going to complain the entire time? Besides, I don’t see you ripping off your clothing to help this boy.”
“Oh you would so like that, wouldn’t you?”
“Not what I meant!” Vincent groaned. “Look, if I remember correctly there’s a lake just over the next hilltop. We can wash the boy there.”
They rounded the next hilltop and saw a rushing river. It was the perfect place to wash off the boy. Vincent took this time to get himself cleaned as well.
“There we are, one happy baby boy.”
The baby smiled at Emilia. There is nothing in this world more precious than when a baby smiles at you.
Soon after, Vincent finished his bird bath he approach Emilia. “So, how does Emilia Blackfire become a freedom fighter?” he asked.
She turned to him and pursed her lips. He could see that her eyes were beginning to water. “About a month ago my father was killed. This woman know as Levi Emberfold, my unofficial stepmother was behind it. Although I have no proof of her involvement what so ever. Then she shifted the blame all to me as if I had something to do with it. Do you know what it’s like to be chased out of your own kingdom?”
“Nope,” Vincent replied. “I know what it’s like to be locked in a cell and have rocks thrown at you, but being chased out would be new for me. That still doesn’t answer my question, though.”
“You know as well as I that my father was heavily against slavery and your father. He sometimes feared Blackfire would once again go to war with Avia. My father put so many laws into effect when it came to Slavers Bay that they couldn’t even breath without him knowing. He wanted to break down the foundation of Slavers Bay one stone at a time.
Then, one day, Levi arrives and my father switches on all the laws he passed. I don’t know what she did to him, but the way she manipulated him was frightening. So I decided to continue what he started. Yet, I cannot take down Slavers Bay alone. All I can do is free those who I can.”
“What about your mother. Is she…”
“She’s alive.” Emilia interrupted. “But she’s very sick. I can’t go to any healers for help because I’m a wanted woman. All I can do is hope for the best.”
Vincent knelt down until he was eye level with Emilia. He stared into her eyes for a moment then proceed to flick her on the forehead.
“What was that for?!” she yelled.
“For giving up. The Emilia I know doesn’t give up on anything. You didn’t give up trying to ride a horse, bake a cake, or even trying to grow a stock of corn. That’s you, Emilia. Don’t sound so defeated.”
“I am defeated, Vincent! If you recall correctly all I could do was watch that stock of corn wither and die! That’s what I’m doing now. I’m sorry I don’t have your upbeat attitude but I’m done. All I can do now is save the people I can and make sure my mother’s comfortable before…before…”
Emilia began to weep into her hands. Vincent embraced her. “I’m sorry.” He said. “I can’t imagine what you’ve been through these past few months.”
“…Vincent…?”
“Yeah?”
“You still stink.”
“Oh, goddammit!”
They traveled through the woods for hours until finally coming across a farm. Outside the house were two children playing with a dog. They immediately stopped playing when they saw Emilia coming, ran to her, and gave her a hug.
“Emilia!” the girl yelled. “You’re back. How was your trip? Did you bring us anything? Who’s baby is that? Is it yours? Is he the father?”
“Ha! She wishes!” Vincent said mockingly.
“Ha! No, I don’t! But I did bring you something.” Emilia reached into one of her pockets and pulled out some candy and some deer jerky. “Here you go.”
The children’s eyes lit up with joy and excitement. “Thank, Emilia!” the girl and the dog ran off to play but the boy stayed behind. He was staring at Vincent.
“Why is you hair so white?” he asked.
Vincent looked at the boy and smirked. “I saw a demon.”
“Cool…” the boy muttered.
“Run along, boy. I need to speak with Emilia.”
“Okay. Thanks again, Emilia.” The boy ran back to his sister and began to play with the dog.
“You were referring to the Black Knight, weren’t you?” Emilia asked.
Vincent hung his head and smiled. “I wish I was, Emilia. I so wish I was.”
“Still doesn’t explain how your hair turned white. You said you would tell me the story later. Well, I’m waiting.”
Seeing that Emilia wasn’t going to back down, Vincent was left with very little choices. He of all people knows just how persistent she can be when she sets her mind to something. But just as Vincent was about to tell her, a frantic woman called out Emilia’s name.
“Emilia! Emilia!”
She turned to see who it was. “Eve, what's wrong?”
“It’s your mother she’s…”
Before she had a chance to finish, Emilia bolted to the house at top speed. Vincent followed just behind her. Laying in the living room convulsing for air was Queen Liana Blackfire. She was so pale and skinny. Black blood oozed from her mouth. Emilia tried to hold her down but she thrashing about wildly. Vincent went to help.
When Vincent put his hands on her, his right arm began to pain him much more than usual. It was as if thousand of flaming needles penetrated his skin all at once and began to drill into his bone.
Vincent collapsed to his knees, clenching his arm, and screaming out in pain. The children hid behind their mother out of fear. No one knew what was happening.
“Vincent, what’s wrong?” Emilia yelled.
“My arm…my arm…” he muttered.
Black lightning soon began to arc from Vincent’s arm. It began to act on its own, pulling Vincent towards Liana. He placed his hand on her chest as she now to began to crackle with black electricity.
Smoke began to ooze out of her mouth and formed around Vincent’s hand. Once it was all over, the hand clench down tightly, burning the smoke till there was nothing left. Vincent wasn’t able to maintain consciousness as he collapsed to the ground. It was if a maelstrom was raging inside his head.
How many times can someone relive the past without it driving the person completely insane? That is the definition of insanity after all. Doing the same thing over and over again and hoping for a different outcome. Well, there was no different outcome for Vincent. The past has been written and the ink has dried. No matter how much he scream. No matter how much he shouts. He can’t stop himself from killing his family. The blood around him begins to dry as he takes his sword and prepares to commit suicide. That was idea back then. But he couldn’t do it. Death scared him.
Vincent's eyes sprang open. He felt tears rolling down his face as he sat up trying to catch his breath. His head was still pounding. It was like an electrical storm was raging inside his skull.
“You know you talk in your sleep,” Emilia said.
Vincent looked over and saw Emilia sitting on a chair watching over him. “What the hell happened? How long was I asleep?”
“Five days. You were crying then entire time.”
“Five days!?” he yelled. “I’m starting to make a habit of falling into comas now.”
As Vincent tried to get to his feet, Emilia pushed him back onto the bed and climb on top of him. “You aren’t going anywhere.” She said.
“Emilia, I’m flattered, and maybe we can do this some other time, but these walls look very thin and there are children in the house soooo…”
“Stop fucking around!” she yelled. “Your hand! What’s wrong with it?”
Vincent blankly stared at Emilia. “Doesn’t matter.” He muttered.
“How can you sit there and say it doesn’t matter?”
“Well, technically I’m laying down.”
“Vincent! Would you take something serious for once in your life?”
“Hm, no.” He said as he pushed Emilia off him using his legs. “If I wanted to tell you then I would tell you, but the fact is this arm is nothing important. Just a burden.”
“You were all set on telling me days ago. What happened to you between now and then?”
Vincent hung his head. Tears began to run down his face. “Nothing. Nothing has changed. And that’s the point.”
Emilia’s inquiries didn’t stop there. She demanded to know just what was Vincent hiding. Vincent was in no mood to tell her and two of them soon erupted into a screaming match that woke the whole house.
Emilia’s mother, Liana, soon entered the room. She was still mighty frail and pale, but that did not stop her for scolding them both. “Do you two have no regard for others?!” she yelled. “My word your yelling is loud enough to wake the dead!”
“Mother I…”
“Enough!” she interrupted. “I raised you better than this. Though I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. Threw out your entire childhood you and Vincent always fought one another. I suppose it only makes sense for it to be the same when you both are adults. My god! I never thought I’d ever have to scold you both like this at your age.
Emilia, go cool off outside. I wish to speak with Vincent alone.”
“Yes, mother.” Emilia soon left the room quickly after that.
“She gets that from her father,” Liana said. “Bastion always had to know things. It’s a rather annoying trait but one that did prove useful as king. ‘Know thy enemies’ he’d often say.”
“He’s was a good man. I could never see why our families hated each other so much.”
“History. Our families have had so much bad blood between us. Assassination, poisoning, even one time, I believe it was your ancestor who gathered all the cows in Avia and launched them at our castle using catapults.”
The Blackest Knight Page 7