“Do your sisters know how to get to Dracengard?” he asked.
“Yes, Father. It will be alright,” Erec said as he wiped the King’s forehead.
“How will they go?”
“Down the river,” Erec said. “Do not worry about it. They are fine.” Erec was about to tell his Father to quit asking these questions when he heard a very loud bang followed by a scream. There were several shouts and then more screams. Erec turned to look at the door. “What is going on?” Erec asked no one.
Alexandeon sat up. “Do not worry about that!” he shouted at Erec. He then grabbed Erec by the shirt as Erec attempted to stand, forcing the Prince to remain seated on the floor. “Where is the Dracenstone?” he hissed at Erec as his face twisted into a gruesome sight. Erec’s eyes widened and he began to push his father away when the cell door suddenly slammed open and the room was filled with bright light.
Erec and Alexandeon both looked at the door and Erec saw the most beautiful woman he had ever seen standing in the doorway, her skin glowing brilliantly. Aura stepped into the room and looked at Erec and Alexandeon. Her eyes narrowed and her wings spread.
“Get away from him, draug!” she shouted at Alexandeon. Erec turned to look at his father who leapt up and quickly crossed the room screaming a terrifying shriek at Aura. With one smooth motion, the seraph raised her sword and sliced Alexandeon’s head off of his body. The head bounced off the floor and rolled over to rest near Erec while the lifeless body fell limply to the stones.
“Erec Valestead?” Aura asked Erec.
“You just killed my father!” he shouted at her.
“Are you or are you not Erec Valestead?”
“Yes!” Erec shouted. “And that was my father, King Alexandeon Valestead, whose head you just chopped off.”
“That was not your father, Erec. Not anymore. From the look of it your father has been dead for quite some time.”
Erec did not move, but simply stared at the head which lay beside him on the floor. Aura stepped over to him and lifted him up by his arm. “It is time to go, Erec,” she said and pulled him out of the cell. Once outside the cell she looked into his eyes. “Can you understand me?” she asked. He nodded. “Good, if you want to live, then follow me.” She turned and began walking out of the dungeon. Erec followed her.
They climbed numerous sets of stairs and every few feet Erec saw a dead guard, either human or drak. “Did you kill all of them?” he asked.
“Yes,” she replied without turning to look at him. Erec reached down and grabbed one of the fallen soldier’s short sword. Soon they reached the main floor and Aura took Erec by the hand to hurry him along. She began to run, slow for her, but a quick pace for Erec. She turned the corner and saw a row of windows. They could escape through them. She looked out and realized that she had come up from the dungeon one flight too far. They were on the second story. Pulling Erec along, she began to crawl out of the window. Suddenly she stopped and peered down the long corridor. Erec followed her gaze and realized that at the other end, lurking in the shadows, was the Black Knight.
Aura released Erec and drew her other sword. “Shedom!” she cried.
“Seraph!” Rayfen shrieked. Each charged toward the other with blinding speed, meeting in the middle, swords colliding with a sound like crashing thunder. Erec watched as the two fought fiercely, but his eyes were too slow to keep up with the action. Then he heard footsteps and turned to see a group of drakmere running toward him down a connecting corridor.
“We need to go!” Erec shouted as he dashed toward Aura, with the draks close on his heels. Aura glanced over at him for just a split second, but that was all Rayfen needed. He slashed downward, slicing her upper thigh and Aura fell to one knee. Rayfen raised his sword above his head to finish her, but before the sword fell Erec charged into him thrusting his sword into the Black Knight’s side through a chink in his armor. Rayfen threw his head back in a blood curdling scream. At that moment, Aura rose to her feet and brought her sword upward aiming to decapitate him. Rayfen dodged the blow just in time to save his life, but Aura’s sword caught the chin of his visor and knocked the helmet from his head. It flew into the air, bouncing along the stones and landing a few feet away. Erec stole a glance at Rayfen’s face before shoving Aura out of a nearby window causing the shutters to open, casting light on the shedom who hid his bare face from the sun as he screamed in agony and rushed back to find his helmet. Erec leapt out of the window with Aura just before the draks reached him. He landed on top of her and her body somewhat cushioned his fall.
Both regained their feet and Aura realized that they were in the courtyard of the castle. Human and drak soldiers alike began to move in from all sides. Aura looked around and realized she would not be able to fight them and protect Erec at the same time. She glanced over at Erec. “C’mon you bastards!” he shouted at them as he gripped his sword tightly. She smiled at his bravado, then looked up at the window from which they had fallen. Hiding back in the shadows, but still watching them was the shedom.
“The next time we meet, Shedom, I shall kill you!” she shouted at Rayfen. Aura fully extended her wings and those closing in on them took a step back in fear. She caught Sir Terrance’s eye. He still sat upon the wall. She reached out and grabbed Erec and pulled him close to her. And then with a single flap of her wings, she propelled them both into the sky, leaving a roll of thunder echoing across the courtyard.
Chapter 11
Lady Anne soaked in an iron tub in her quarters. She laid back in the tub relaxing with her eyes closed as a young servant girl rubbed a sponge across her chest cleansing her soft white skin. Another girl knelt behind Anne brushing out her long, reddish-gold hair and a third stood near the fireplace heating a pot of water for pouring into the tub to make sure the water remained warm for the Lady.
The bath felt good. Anne was weary from her travels and needed to relax. She glanced down at her arm. The red palm print remained on her skin where the Wizard had twisted her arm. He certainly had a temper, but Anne believed she could use it to her advantage by helping him focus it against her enemies instead of her. It would be alright. He did not mean to hurt her.
There was a timid knock at the door and the servant tending the fire crossed the room and opened it. Lady Sephene Greynault stood there. The servant stepped aside motioning for Sephene to enter. They had been expecting her. Sephene walked inside and stood before the tub. Anne soaked in the tub silently and ignored her. After a few moments Sephene spoke.
“You wanted to see me, Anne?” Sephene asked, but Anne cut her off by holding up a hand. Anne continued her bath as if Sephene were not there. She enjoyed making Sephene wait like a servant. After all Anne came from a royal bloodline, Sephene did not. So, in Anne’s view, she should have always held a position of dominance over Sephene. But now, Anne was the sister to the King and Sephene was nothing at all.
After about fifteen minutes, Anne opened her eyes. Sephene stood a few feet away looking everywhere in the room except at Anne. Anne smiled and then stood, water dripping from her naked body. The servants rushed to bring towels to wrap around her as she stepped out of the tub. They began to dry her, but Anne paid the servants no attention. She was focused on Sephene and reveled in the torment she was going to bring to the girl.
“Look at me,” Anne commanded and Sephene forced her eyes to look at Anne. “Do you think me beautiful?”
“Of course,” Sephene answered.
“My Lady,” Anne corrected her.
“Of course, My Lady,” Sephene said.
Anne smiled. The servants finished drying her and brought a robe which they held for her to place her arms through and then wrapped it around her body and tied it at the waist. Anne walked over to a chair and sat down regally and crossed her legs. She looked up at Sephene who still stood motionless.
“Kneel before me,” Anne said. Sephene paused for a moment, but then lowered herself to her knees with her head bowed. “That is better. You have heard that my brother, Morgan, is
now King of Avonvale?”
“Yes, My Lady.”
“Have you also heard that I am to wed his Imperial Majesty and become Empress of the Middle Realm?”
“The Wizard?”
Anne leapt to her feet stepped over to Sephene and slapped her across the face. “How dare you refer to him so informally!”
“I am sorry, My Lady,” Sephene cried as she raised her hand to her burning cheek. “I meant no disrespect.”
“He has graciously allowed you to live,” Anne said as she returned to her seat. “So I suggest you show a little more respect.”
“Yes, My Lady,” Sephene said.
“I convinced him to let you live. He thought you should be killed like your father and brother,” Anne said. At that, Sephene’s eyes jumped to Anne who was smiling down at her. “Did you not know that they had been killed?” Sephene shook her head as tears welled in her eyes.
“Yes,” Anne continued, “I killed them. Both of them. I poisoned your father and slit Auguston’s throat and watched him bleed to death. And soon we will march on Castle Greynault where the drakmere are going to kill the rest of your family.”
“Why would you do that?” Sephene asked as she doubled over sobbing.
“Because I can,” Anne smiled. “But we have been friends for a long time and I am willing to keep you alive—to serve me of course.”
Sephene looked up at Anne. “How do you think I could possibly be your lady-in-waiting after you killed my family?”
Anne laughed aloud. “Oh Sephene. Who said anything about a lady-in-waiting? You no longer hold the rank of Lady.” Anne nodded to the door and one of the servants stepped over and opened it to reveal a large drakmere lurking in the hallway. He stepped inside and walked up behind Sephene. “You will serve as my footstool, Sephene.”
“What?” sobbed Sephene.
“As I sit upon my throne, I shall rest my feet upon you. It is really quite an honor and you should be grateful,” Anne smiled. Then her smile disappeared and her voice grew very stern. “But, I want to make sure you are truly grateful. I want to hear you beg.” Sephene began to sob louder and Anne was enjoying herself. “Lie down at my feet and beg to be my footstool,” Anne said. “Otherwise, you will become this drak’s dinner.”
Sephene turned and looked up at the drakmere standing behind her. She then turned back toward Anne and wiped her eyes, but instead of grovelling she pushed herself up to her feet and raised her head up high. She spat at Anne. “It’s fitting that you would find company with reptiles,” Sephene said. “You always were a cold-blooded little whore.”
Anne’s eyes flashed with anger. “Take her!” she shouted to the drak. “Eat her slowly! But do it away from the city. Take her to the wood near the river so that no one will see.”
“Yes, Lady,” the drak hissed as it snatched Sephene up and threw her over its shoulder.
Sephene shrieked as the drak walked out with her, but before the door closed behind them her eyes met Anne’s. “You will get your comeuppance, whore!” The door slammed shut. Anne stood and snapped her fingers indicating to her servant girls that she was ready to be dressed. As they removed her robe, Anne saw the shadow again. It appeared to be staring at her and she stared back.
***
Before taking her downstairs the drak gagged Sephene and pulled a sack over her head. It did not want any of its fellow draks to see who it had, otherwise they might want to join it in the feast. It wanted this one all to itself. Nobility made the best meals as they were clean, soft, and plump—especially the females. The beast’s mouth watered as it thought about the succulent girl it carried out of the gates. Sephene squirmed in the drak’s arms but was unable to scream.
People gawked at the drak as it walked down the hill through the city of Avonvale toward the river, but no one tried to save the girl. Even the city guard, sworn to protect the citizens of Avonvale, did not interfere. The drak soon made it safely beyond the city walls and down to the river. It walked along beside the river carrying its supper until it came to some woods a good distance from the city, as Lady Anne had instructed. It stepped into the woods so as to be out of sight from anyone passing by.
The drak slung Sephene from its shoulder and gently laid her on the ground. The monster did not wish to bruise its meat as it wanted to look upon her creamy white flesh before sinking its sharp fangs in. It removed the sack from Sephene’s head and saw the terrified look in the girl’s eyes. She trembled and the drak hissed at her hoping to frighten her even more—the taste of fear always enhanced the meal. It removed the gag from her mouth as it wanted to hear her screams as it ate her. Sure, others might hear her scream, but screams were common in Avonvale of late, especially at supper time. As it had hoped, once the gag was removed from her mouth Sephene screamed as loud as she could. The drak paused for a second to enjoy the screams. It licked her face with its cold, forked tongue and was just about to rip into her flesh when an arrow shot straight through its head. Green blood splattered all over Sephene’s face just before the full weight of the drak fell forward on top of her, crushing her. She struggled to breathe. As she gasped for air, she felt the beast begin to move as it was pushed off of her. Sephene saw Sir Terrance kneeling beside her.
“Are you alright, My Lady?” he asked. Sephene did not speak, but shook her head ‘no’ as she began to weep. Sir Terrance helped her sit up and she wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his chest sobbing. Sir Terrance glanced around, nervous that someone might see them for many reasons, but not the least of which was he was not familiar enough with Lady Sephene or her family to be holding her like this. But seeing no one, he hugged her and patted her back. “It is alright. You are alright, child,” he said. “We need to get you out of here,” he reminded her. Sephene pulled her face out of his chest and nodded. She knew she had to pull herself together. She had been lucky enough to avoid a horrible fate, but she was not safe yet.
“Thank you, Sir Terrance,” she said.
“No need to thank me, My Lady,” the knight said. “I have stood by and watched enough of our people being killed by these filthy monsters. Their blood will forever be on my hands as if I had done the deed myself. But enough of that. Can you stand?”
“Yes,” Sephene replied nodding. Sir Terrance stood and then helped Sephene to her feet. Once she was standing, he reached down and picked his crossbow up off the ground. He straightened and held her arm as they walked out of the woods and to the road. There she saw a brown mare standing at the edge of the roadway eating grass.
“This is Foxtrot,” Sir Terrance said. “She is very gentle and will carry you safely away from here.”
“Thank you so much,” Sephene said and hugged the knight.
“There is food and water in her saddle bags,” the knight said. He then pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and unfolded it to reveal a map. There was an ‘X’ marked on the map approximately a day’s ride south of the city. “You will find your father’s men here.” Sephene nodded. “Let us get you into the saddle, My Lady.” Sephene put one foot in the stirrup and Sir Terrance helped lift her up onto the horse. “Please give this to your brother,” he instructed as he handed Sephene another folded piece of paper, but this one sealed. “It is very important that he read it. And tell him Prince Erec is alive.”
“I will,” Sephene said, but then tilted her head and looked at him. “This seems to have been well planned out for someone who just happened upon me and the drak,” she said.
“I did not just happen upon you, My Lady,” Sir Terrance said. “I was coming to sneak you out of the castle this very evening when I saw the drak taking you,” he said. “So yes, this was planned in advance.”
Sephene placed a hand on his shoulder. “Thank you again, Sir Terrance.”
He smiled up at her. “You must go quickly, My Lady. Do not trust anyone other than your brothers.” She nodded and he slapped the mare’s rear flank causing the horse to gallop away with Sephene hanging tightly to the reins.
***
Lady Anne sat on a stone bench in the gardens clothed in a red dress with long sleeves which came off of her shoulders and cut low over her cleavage. Her reddish-gold hair hung in loose waves past her shoulders. She watched as the butterflies danced around the multi-colored blooms. Two servant girls stood nearby awaiting a command from their mistress. Anne heard the crunch of boots on the pebbles and turned to see Sir Terrance approaching her. When he was a few feet from her, he dropped to one knee and bowed his head respectfully as if she were already an empress.
“Is it done?” Anne asked.
“Yes, My Lady,” the knight replied.
“Does she suspect?”
“No, My Lady. Your plan is brilliant.”
Anne smiled down at him. “Excellent, Sir Terrance,” she said. She then rose regally from the bench. “Come, Commander,” she said. “Escort me to supper.”
Sir Terrance stood and with a bow of his head he offered his arm to her. “It would be an honor, My Lady.”
Chapter 12
Dead leaves leapt into the air blown wildly by the impact of Aura’s landing. Erec clung tightly to her, his eyelids squeezed shut and his face pressed against her armor and hidden from view. His windblown hair stood straight up on his head and his skin was a ghostly white, the terror having drained all of the blood from his face.
Aura stood still for a moment, waiting as Erec still clung tightly to her. “We are on the ground,” she said softly.
Erec lifted his head and glanced around seeing nothing but trees and bushes. His heart was pounding so heavily that his entire body shook with each beat. He slowly let go of Aura, his foot finding the ground, and took a step backward. He still gripped a sword so tightly in his right hand that his knuckles had turned white. His breathing was accelerated and his mouth was as dry as a desert. The blood began to flow back into his head, perhaps a bit too quickly and Erec felt dizzy, then sick. He dropped the sword and fell to his knees, bent over, and wretched.
Dragon's Keep: The Complete Dracengard Series Page 24