For four nights, the king and Viktor took turns telling tales of heroism around the campfire. They enlightened their men with idealism and romance, told them that they would be heroes to their wives and mothers and sisters, whether they made it back alive or dead.
On that last night, Viktor told his version of the story of Orpheus and Eurydice, a story that he had read as a child. The men were familiar with the story.
“The gods wept the day Eurydice was bitten by the snake,” Viktor started, “And God’s rarely cry.”
“It is true that Eurydice was a nymph, but she was far more than that, men. She was the love and beauty that inhabits rivers, and woods, and dwellings, and the souls of our fellow countrymen. She is the beauty that dwells in a heart in love. She is that beauty that causes ones spirit to sing another’s name.”
Sena closed her eyes as she listened to Viktor tell his tale. It wasn’t so much the words he spoke, but the passion in his words … She now knew why Crimson loved this man. It was because Viktor understood that true love enraptured everything and he wasn’t afraid to live or die for it.
“She’s in every proud twinkling you honor your woman, or mother, or sister, or that unknown peasant woman in a field,” Viktor continued. “She’s in the song of your voice and in all of your thoughts that are heeded by Hades and Persephone. And just as Orpheus shouldn’t have, we shall never look back, men. We shall never look back. For beauty is always in front of you. It’s all around you and Eurydice is in every woman.”
“Here! Here!” the king shouted.
“Eurydice dwells in all things. She survives in all of you.”
Sena opened her eyes, walked to Viktor, and kissed him on the cheek. “Crimson will forever be a lucky woman,” she whispered in his ear.
“Luckier still, if she survives,” Viktor said.
“I suppose, but lucky, regardless.”
Later than morning, Sena led the king, Viktor, and their men to the back of Tor’s palace. “Wait here. I’ll slip in and see what we’re up against.”
“You think that’s wise?” Viktor questioned.
“Yes.” The king agreed with Sena. “We should be prepared. Let her sneak in and then report back to us.”
Sena leaped over the back wall and made her way past the stables to the entrance of the courtyard. Inside the courtyard, she saw three hunters. She eased to the far door that led to the main hallway and listened with an ear pressed to the wood. Inside were at least two more hunters.
She snuck back into the woods and reported. “There are at least five hunters. Three in the courtyard and two near the back exit. I’ll have to enter through one of the bedrooms on the east side. I need wooden stakes.”
The men collected several stakes and handed them to her. She smiled, and with her long fingernails, she sharpened each one to a fresh point. “Wait here.”
Sena made her way to Darya’s bedroom window and peeked inside. She saw Crimson and she almost screamed out with joy. She eased the window open and tiptoed over to her. Crimson didn’t wake when Sena touched her, and for a moment, Sena thought they were too late. Then she saw Crimson’s chest rise. She inched to the bedroom door and slowly opened it. A hunter was there and she had no choice but to react.
She grabbed him by the back of the hair and pulled him into the room. With a quick twist, she snapped his neck and quietly laid him on the floor. She pulled a stake from her belt and slowly pierced the horror’s chest.
The hallway to the servant’s quarters was empty and she snuck to her old bedchamber. It, as she expected, was empty, but it brought back memories that angered her. She opened Uric and Sergen’s quarters to find it empty and that surprised her.
Outside in the hallway, Sena heard the countess and Tor coming in her direction. She closed the door and hid in the darkness of the musky servant’s quarters while she eavesdropped on their conversation.
“It’s been nearly a week, Tor, and these men have found no one,” the countess said.
“I know, my love.”
“And this Kieran that you think so highly of, he has proven to be less than useful, has he not? Always moaning on about the loss of his brother. I want my daughter returned to me, Tor!” the countess yelled.
“Yes, my love. More men, even Gaten, are arriving after dusk.”
“And this Gaten. Is he better than Kieran?”
“He is.”
“I hope for your sake that he is, Tor.”
Sena waited until the footsteps of the two disappeared and snuck back into the hallway. She exited Darya’s room and made her way back to the king and Viktor.
“We have to act fast,” Sena told them. “Kieran is somewhere in the palace, but I am not sure where, and Gaten will be arriving after dusk with more men. Gaten and Kieran will be too much to handle.”
“Men,” the king ordered, “Prepare your stakes and pikes, we will move to the exit with the two hunters. Take them out and surprise those in the courtyard from the inside. If you’re injured, do not, no matter what, scream out and alert the others.”
“What about Crimson?” Viktor asked Sena.
“She’s in Darya’s bedroom.”
Viktor beamed at the news. He had traveled so far and now his love was only a short distance away. He felt like screaming her name to the top of his lungs and couldn’t hide his excitement.
“But she’s in a deep sleep, Viktor,” Sena said. “I couldn’t wake her.”
“What do you mean? She’s alive, isn’t she?”
“Yes. She’s alive.” Sena placed her hand on the king’s shoulder. “I can get Crimson without a fight. Just slip back in and take her out of the window.”
The king was shaking his head no before she even finished. “No, Sena. We will rescue Crimson and put an end to this trade today.”
Sena led the men toward the back door. From behind a wall, she stood, and when the two hunters rushed her, she slipped behind the wall. The hunters were far quicker than the king’s men had anticipated and before they knew it, one hunter had ripped the throat of one soldier and was making his way to a second. The king tracked one just enough to pin him to the wall with a non-lethal wound to the side. That gave Sena enough time to attack and grab the one horror that was still free while Viktor stabbed a stake into his heart.
“Don’t let the other one scream out,” the king ordered, and his commander, in a rush of brash bravery, sprinted to the trapped horror and placed his hand over the horror’s mouth. The horror bit down and it took every ounce of courage for the commander to not scream out. Sena rushed in with a stake and slammed it through its heart.
“He should stay behind,” Sena said as she looked at the commander’s hand. “They can smell blood.”
They stopped and bandaged the commander’s hand before making their way to the palace door. Sena slipped inside first, followed by the king, Viktor, and the remaining five men. They inched toward the courtyard exit and stealthy entered, but even as careful as they were, the hunters sensed them. Two hunters targeted Sena while the other went after the king.
Sena tumbled into the wall near the door, trying her best to hold off the two attackers. One ripped at her shoulder and took a hunk of flesh with a single swipe. The other had his hands around her throat. Viktor rushed one and buried his stake through its back, but Sena was losing her battle with the other one. Viktor saw no other choice. He rushed the horror and Sena. His pike went completely through the back of the horror, exited the other side, and pierced deep into the side of Sena.
The king was held to the ground by the last horror and his five men were easily thwarted. In an instant, the horror had bit the king’s neck. Viktor pulled his pike from Sena and ran in the king’s direction while Sena fell limp to the ground. Viktor only managed to inflict a slight injury, as the horror swiftly blocked the pike from penetrating his main body. Out of nowhere, the red headed commander with the injured hand appeared and tackled the horror while another soldier was finally able to apply the stake. It was too
late for the commander; the horror had taken his life in the quick scuffle.
The horrors were dead, but the king and Sena were gravely injured. The king sat up covering the wound on his neck with his hand. “Viktor,” he called. “I’ve been bitten.”
Viktor rushed to his side. “I know my king. I know.”
“Kill me, Viktor. Do not let me turn,” the king pleaded.
“Wait,” Sena said as she crawled toward them before she got to her feet. “Don’t kill him.” She knelt beside the king. “Let me bite you to complete the turn. Viktor and Crimson will need you and your blood will heal me.”
The king only nodded and Sena leaned in. She bit deep into the king’s flesh and took his blood. The king lay there and his men were horrified with the knowledge that their king would soon be a horror. The fresh blood began to heal Sena’s wounds.
“Viktor,” she said. “Go to that yew tree and bring me the mushrooms that grow underneath.”
Viktor motioned for a soldier to retrieve the mushrooms. He sat on the seat of his pants, looking at his dead king. “I fear, Sena, we will not rescue Crimson this day.”
“The day is not over yet,” Sena said through a smirk, as she examined her wounds.
The soldier returned with the mushrooms and Sena ate one. She gave one to Viktor and the remaining soldiers. “Eat it,” she said. “It will give you strength and courage.” They each ate the bitter mushroom and it colored their lips a chalky white.
“Now to find Kieran,” Sena said as she stood to her feet. Her wounds had stopped bleeding and were already beginning to heal.
The king’s men picked up the king’s body and placed him on the bench under the yew tree. One gave a quick blessing and they all joined Sena and Viktor at the doorway to the main hallway.
“Where do you think Kieran is?” Viktor asked.
“There’s only one place he would be. In Tor’s chamber.”
They entered Tor’s chamber to find Kieran waiting for them with his back turned to the door. “Ah, Sena. Should have known it was you. And who do you have with you?”
“My name is Viktor.”
Kieran turned and faced them. “And what? You and your scared little men want to take me on? I can smell their fear. Worse yet, young Viktor, I can smell yours.”
Viktor brought his pike alongside his body in his left hand and selected a wooden stake with his right. “Then you are confused, Kieran. I have no fear.”
“We shall see,” Kieran said. “We shall …” Suddenly, Kieran was gone, replaced with a puff of smoke. The soldier at the rear of the party screamed out in pain and collapsed to the floor. Even before Viktor could turn around, another soldier dropped.
Kieran reappeared next to the far wall in the room. “Your heart pounds, Viktor. It pounds like your lover’s did when I ran my hands up her leg in the auction house.”
Viktor looked to his left and Sena was gone, then he saw her slinking along the other wall. He waited and when she made her move, Viktor rushed Kieran, but he was too quick and once again disappeared in a puff of smoke.
“Fight like a man!” Viktor screamed, “If there is any left in you.”
Sena snuck near the large fireplace and scooped up a handful of ash. When Viktor rushed Kieran, she made a guess as to where Kieran would reappear and tossed the ash in that direction. But it floated and settled to the floor.
“Clever girl,” Kieran said as he reappeared right in front of Sena. He slapped her with such force that it knocked her across the room. “Normally,” Kieran chortled, “I’d kill you two without thinking. But I want revenge for my brother and you two will die slowly.”
Viktor motioned for the last remaining soldier to rush, but he didn’t. He only dropped his pike to the floor and fell to his knees. “Please don’t kill me,” the soldier began to plead and cry.
Kieran rushed the cowardly soldier and sliced him across the face. “Don’t beg,” Kieran chided. The soldier grabbed Kieran’s leg and would not let go while he begged for his life.
Sena saw the opportunity and ran towards them with all the speed she could muster, and before Kieran could pull loose to turn into smoke, he took the full brunt of her body. He barely budged and rapidly killed the soldier at his feet. Then he turned his focus on Sena. She gouged at his eyes as he lifted her toward the ceiling.
Viktor, once again, was in the position that required that he’d have to go through Sena to get to the horror. He hesitated until Sena screamed, “Now!” Viktor ran with his pike level to his chest. He fixed at full speed on Sena’s back. The pike continued through her where it centered on Kieran’s chest and pierced his heart. Kieran let out an ending scream and they both fell to the floor.
Viktor fell to his knees in despair. He crawled to Sena and kissed her on the forehead. “You were the bravest soul I’ve ever known,” he whispered to her. “I will forever tell your tale.”
Viktor entered Darya’s room and almost cried when he saw Crimson lying motionless on the bed. It all seemed surreal to him and he had to touch her to make sure she was real. The countess sat in the chair beside the bed, holding Darya’s nightgown.
“Are you here for her?” the countess asked.
“I am,” Viktor responded. He placed his hand in Crimson’s and sat on the bed next to her.
“Was she worth it?”
Viktor leaned over her and kissed her forehead. Then he kissed the bridge of her nose, and moved to her cheek. He closed his eyes and kissed her on the lips.
Crimson’s breathing changed from shallow breaths to heavy, deep inhales. She opened her eyes to see Viktor staring at her. “Viktor,” she said lovingly. “You’ve found me.”
Viktor kissed her again. When their lips parted, Viktor looked at the countess and said, “Yes, there is no price greater than love. So yes, she was worth it.” He then wrapped Crimson in his arms and whispered, “I never lost you.”
Chapter IX
~ Culmination and Relinquishment ~
Some say Viktor’s kiss contained an alkaloid from the mushroom and that it counteracted the toxin from the yew tree that coursed through Crimson’s blood.
Others say it was love and nothing more.
Crimson and Viktor went on to live happily ever after, completely unconcerned with what others said.
A year later, the countess received a letter from her Darya. It was postmarked from somewhere in France. In it, she learned she was a grandmother of a beautiful young granddaughter named Liberté.
King Charles did turn and he wreaked havoc on the foundations of Gaten’s dark world of slavery. Tales like the king’s and Viktor’s tale of rescue were the favorite subjects of gossip and it exploded on the tips of tongues and found its way to the far reaches of his kingdom. Idealism enraptured the hearts of young girls. They knew what to do with love even if their men did not. Liberation is often contagious and this one was no exception. It swept across the generations.
Sweden lost the war, but the realm of freedom had been won.
THE END
About the Author
C. B. Carter resides in the historic art community of Ocean Springs, Mississippi. He spent much of his youth with his grandparents, uncle, and aunt near Roanoke, Virginia, where he was exposed to classical music and the great writers of the 50s and 60s. He's a veteran of foreign wars, having served two operations with the Joint Task Force Southwest Asia after the Gulf War. Chaos Theorem is his first novel.
Website:
http://www.cbcarter.com
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/writer.cbcarter
Other works by Author
Chaos Theorem
Project Northwest
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