A Stag in the Shadows

by S E Turner

  'I was in a cell next to Philipe Von Aiden, master of Aiden Hall. A few cells down from me was Sir Laus of Sturt Manor, next to him was Lord Eryk from Condor Vale; then Jak and Ike, the brothers who own the tree plantation by the River Dru. Then Nate who owns the trout lake, Tion the blacksmith, Will who runs the farm by the old croft, and Fyn who owns the cattle ranch on the east coast. They had all been imprisoned years before me—but we were all captives and slaves to king Hezekiah of Hezekiah Hall.'

  Lyall interrupted him. 'I've never heard of King Hezekiah, or Hezekiah Hall, but carry on.'

  He signalled for the guards to drop their weapons. He may not have heard of the king, but he had heard of most of the names. All of them lived down the east coast of Durundal; and all of them were respected gentleman within riding distance of Break Pass Ridge .

  He nodded to Cornelius.

  'Hezekiah had imprisoned Saskia Von Aiden,' he turned to the girl behind him. 'Daughter of my friend Philipe. Hezekiah had imprisoned her for two years, while he waited for her to come of age—to marry.'

  The two men looked at Saskia, then returned to grill Cornelius.

  'I had only been there for six months when Philipe asked for my assistance.'

  'What did he want you to do?' Namir was still pensive.

  'On the day of the wedding, there was only one guard on duty. I feigned an illness, knocked him out, took the keys, unlocked the cells, and set the captives free. One of the senior guards, the king's brother, had begun to help us all, fearful of what the king was doing; so he provided clothes for all of us when we escaped.' A trembling hand indicated his apparel. 'The king's brother, Coben, had left boats for the freed prisoners.'

  'So what did you do?' Lyall interrupted again.

  'I went to the hall to help Saskia escape. Though you must believe me when I say, I am not evil; Saskia killed the evil one.' He turned to look at Saskia again. The briefest of smiles was exchanged. Then he returned to his story. 'There was a battle, a huge fight; the king killed Coben, Saskia killed the king, we both slay the guards. I lit the gunpowder that Coben had left in a trail. I snatched the book and ran like hell out of the building. And then... we watched it blow up.'

  The two lords looked on aghast.

  'Then what?' 'I had been hit on the head during a fight, it was then that my memory returned—and with it came all the nightmares— and the evil that I had inflicted.'

  For a moment, those dark memories returned. Cornelius held his head in his hands and wept. Saskia went to move forward. The sword stopped her.

  A pause followed while he composed himself.

  'I do not know what happened to me back then Namir. I do not know what possessed me to turn on you the way I did.' His chin quivered. 'But I am a changed man. You must believe me.'

  He wiped his nose on a hooked finger and took in a few deep breaths.

  'I have been to hell and back. I lived in the darkness with my monsters. When I was asleep, I dreamt about a man chained up and dying. I thought it was me. But now I know that it was you Namir. These few words cannot express the enormity of my sorrow. But I am here to beg for your forgiveness.'

  Namir leaned back in his chair. He thought about the recent conversation that had recently taken place with his friends.

  '...goodness knows what happened to him in the cave; that's when he really changed. Towards the end I barely recognised him.' She let out a deep sigh. 'He would never talk to me during that time, and certainly not when he found out that I was a woman.'

  'Thought he had been possessed by something,' mumbled Macus remembering the sword fight all too vividly. He found Gya's hand and squeezed it.

  'There is only one person I hold responsible for his demise,' said Meric as all eyes turned on him. 'His father; if he hadn't have sent him away, then the outcome would have been very different.'

  'There are quite a few people that have to take responsibility,' said Lyall. 'Of course it was his own father for ousting him like he did, but as Gya has told us, it was the General who put the seed there in the first place.'

  Chay was deeply saddened and shook her head. 'His mother was sent away when he was so young, and he lost his beautiful sister at the same time. Without good role models, the poor boy didn't really stand a chance.'

  Lyall nodded to the guard who lowered his weapon and brought Saskia forward. She dipped into a curtsey. Lyall tugged at a smile and nodded his head.

  'So what do you make of all this Mistress Saskia?'

  She summoned a cough to clear her throat and moisten a dry mouth. 'When I heard this tale, only a few days ago, about what he had done to Namir, I thought it was the most monstrous thing I had ever heard. I could not believe that one human being could do that to another. That such evil lurks in the heart of men.' She looked at Cornelius. 'But he is different now, and shown such bravery and courage. Without him, my father, plus hundreds of other people, would still be slaves at Hezekiah Hall. Many would still be dying. And I would be married to a monster.'

  Namir looked straight at her. Lyall still had questions.

  'What makes you think he has changed?'

  'Because he is asking for your forgiveness. He knows that someone tried to kill him; but he does not seek vengeance for their crimes. He seeks redemption for his.' 'You are talking about Gya and Macus aren't you Mistress Saskia?' Namir started. 'But they would not have harmed him if he hadn't tried to kill me.'

  'I know, and you are right my lord. But an evil person will never admit they are wrong. Cornelius admits his failings and wants to make amends.'

  'What say you to that Cornelius?'

  'Yes I was wrong and I seek forgiveness. Not just from you and your brother, but also from Skyrah, from the queen of Durundal, from my sister Ajeya, and from my mother Eujena.'

  'What about Torré and Lace, what about Dainn, Siri, Hali, Hass, and Silva?' scathed Lyall

  'Yes, I seek forgiveness from all of them.'

  Saskia looked up. She had been thinking about Coben and how he had changed from a tyrant to man who sought forgiveness. She was thinking about his daughter and how proud she would be of her father.'

  'Excuse me, my lords—please pray forgiveness for the interruption—but did you say Lace?'

  Lyall looked into her eyes. 'Yes, I said Lace. She came with me to the palace in Ataxata to look for Namir—she's a formidable warrior and a woman with the strength of a lion. Why?'

  'Because she is Coben's daughter. I wear this brooch of a moth with pride.' She used her thumb to raise the jewel. 'Coben said I reminded him of his daughter, who loved moths. Without him, alongside Cornelius, none of us would be free. We all owe our lives to him, and I need to tell her that.'

  Chapter Forty-Five

  Sunlight was filtering through the leaded windows and throwing beams across the dark wooden floors. The portraits on the walls had gradually come to life, their eyes mistrustful and full of anguish, their lips sealed sullenly; no one wanted to smile in the Whispering Hall right now. His senses were heightened as the different sounds filtered through from the outside world.

  There was laughter as the villagers went about their business. Children shouting, dogs barking, a baby cried. The lavender in the Hall was sweet and restful, the day lay perfectly calm outside. He could see the workshops in the quarter opening now, and the labourers going off to work in the fields on their jaunty traps. He watched as long poles went up, and men shimmied up them, ready to start chiselling at the newly constructed masonry. He heard the sounds of hammers clanking on iron, the scrape and swish of metal on leather. While inside, the writhing flames of torches created huge disfigured shadows on the walls. Lyall and Namir never took their eyes off of him, watching his every move. He had to wonder if the castle was being made more secure because of his despicable crimes.

  A noise on the staircase disrupted his outdoor senses, and indicated that people were approaching from within. He heard the door opening to his right. He turned to look. The guards came in first, followed by a small group
of people. He noticed her straight away.

  Gya looked stunned when she saw him, her face revealed every shocked emotion within her capabilities; her mouth flew wide open, yet no words came out. Macus followed behind her, and then came Skyrah and Arneb. The room was aghast with what they perceived to be the ghost of a man.

  'This,' said Namir, 'is the person who tried to kill me eight months ago.'

  Skyrah hadn't imagined anyone quite so pleasant looking; but then again, one's looks never quite determined one's character she thought. She looked at the beautiful girl behind him. She couldn't be more than sixteen years old, and yet here she stood, flanked by a guard, with a weapon baying for blood at her neck, and ready to slay her if need be.

  'So you are Cornelius, the one who tried to kill my husband?' Her eyes narrowed suspiciously.

  'My dear lady, words cannot express how sorry I am and how wretched I feel.'

  'And you, young girl, why do you protect him?'

  Saskia curtseyed before the woman. 'He saved my life, along with nine other men, including my father. He is a changed man. I know he is.'

  'We shall see.' Skyrah turned, lifted her dress to her ankles, and took her seat next to Namir on the royal dais.

  Arneb then approached the young girl.

  'How old are you?' she said sweetly.

  'I have just turned sixteen years old ma'am.'

  'And you have been imprisoned in a tower for two years?'

  'I have. Two years ago, my family home was attacked. My brother Vlavos was killed. My father was imprisoned in the mines. That's where Cornelius was forcibly detained as well.'

  Arneb looked at Cornelius.

  'Have you paid for your crimes?'

  'I have ma'am. I am a different person now. I don't know what happened to me. But I only have my word to say how deeply sorry I am and that I beg your forgiveness.'

  She looked into his eyes, searching for the deception, then turned to sit with Lyall.

  Macus stepped forward.

  'I served you honourably and without question sir.'

  'I know you did Macus, and I let you down.'

  'I looked up to you. I felt so sorry for you, after what your father did.'

  Cornelius shook his head and wiped away the tear.

  'And here you are. I don't know how you survived the fall, but you are here.'

  Cornelius nodded his head and bit down on his bottom lip .

  Macus couldn't speak anymore, he took a long lingering look at Cornelius, then stepped back to his place behind Skyrah's throne.

  Now it was just Gya and Cornelius together. Facing each other. Neither knowing what to say. Tears ran down Cornelius' face. She walked right up to him and looked through his watery eyes.

  'What are you doing here Cornelius?'

  'I came to return the book Gya.'

  She nodded. 'Thank you for that. But why?'

  His throat ached with so many shed tears. He was trying desperately to hold it together. Behind him he heard Saskia sniffing back hers. Only she knew what he had really been through. The monsters that he had faced and the guards he had slain in pursuit of freedom. She had to take deep breaths to remain calm and stop herself from breaking down.

  'I have been to hell and back Gya. I have had nightmares everyday for the past six months. I lived in total darkness. I was chained up like an animal. I wasn't allowed to speak to anyone. I had voices in my head telling me what I had done, but it wasn't until I had broken free from my constraints, that I knew the real severity of my actions.'

  'You seek forgiveness then?'

  He nodded his head meekly and went down on one knee. He took her hand and held it to his face. He kissed it.'

  Saskia tried to swallow, but it was impossible.

  'Please forgive me Gya.'

  She wiped away a tear .

  'Stand up Cornelius.'

  He did as she requested. All eyes were on them.

  'I have known you since you were a boy. I took you under my wing and taught you everything you know.'

  Cornelius was nodding.

  'I loved you like a sister loves a brother. I only wanted you to be happy. To be a good person. To find yourself.'

  Cornelius nodded again.

  Gya felt the tears running down her face.

  'I know you better than anyone. I know you better than your own mother does.'

  'I know Gya, I know you do.'

  'Does it really take a trip to hell; to be chained up like an animal and be void of human contact—to see the darkness in one's heart? Do we all need that to understand humility?'

  Cornelius shook his head feebly.

  Namir was reliving his own miserable time in the tower. The fifty two days away from everyone he loved, made him value what was really important to him. The demons that he faced. The horrors that came into his mind every single day of that existence. He had faced his darkness and won.

  Lyall's nemesis was the tunnel. The unrelenting darkness that he faced as a fourteen year old boy had made him the man he was today. Alone, terrified, not knowing what was going to come through the walls in the pitch black. He had faced his darkness and seen the light at the end of the tunnel .

  And now Cornelius, parted from his mother at five years old, never knowing his sister. Hardly knowing his father. Then being exiled as an eighteen year old youth. What a miserable journey he had been on.

  'Look me in the eye and tell me you have changed?'

  Cornelius found the strength to continue. 'Gya, you are my oldest friend. We have been through so much together. You have seen me grow from a boy into youth, and from a vagrant into a tyrant. I only hope you can see the man in me now.'

  She looked at Saskia and moved closer to her. She looked at her strength, at her beauty, at the clothes that defined her as a formidable warrior.

  'Do you believe in my master?'

  'I do ma'am, I really do.'

  'Can you look after him better than I did.'

  Cornelius span around on his heels. He ignored the raised crossbows.

  'You did nothing wrong Gya, you did everything for me, and I was too stupid to see it. I love Saskia as a woman, and she loves me as a man. I have changed, but I can't move forward unless I have your blessing... please Gya, have I got your forgiveness?'

  Gya looked right through him, she stroked his cheek. 'I believe that you have learnt a hard lesson. I believe that you have shaken the demons from your soul, and that the real Cornelius has returned.'

  Cornelius dropped to his knees again.

  'Thank you Gya.'

  He looked to the kings.

  The two women at their sides looked on .

  Lyall spoke first.

  'We all have mountains to climb, we all have monsters to face. We all have to get past the darkness in our hearts. If my dear wife can accept you like Gya has, then you have my blessing.'

  Arneb nodded her head. 'I believe you mean it when you say you are sorry. I believe that parental guidance has been lacking in your life, and that you lost your way—briefly. I do believe that you have changed though. Therefore, you have my blessing.'

  Arneb put her hand on Lyall's shoulder, he reached round to plant a kiss.

  Cornelius looked at Namir.

  'I agree with Lyall, if my wife can see the good in you, then I will follow her decision.'

  Skyrah nodded. 'I can see the good in him Namir. Despite what he did to you. I can see that he is a changed man.'

  Namir reached round for her hand and squeezed it.

  Gya took his hands in both of hers.

  'Your father let you down miserably, forcing your mother and sister to leave you when you were so young. I will never forgive what your father did to you.' She stroked his hair. 'Your sister was here just a few days ago. She thinks you are dead. She is at the Giant's Claw, which is south west of here. She is with her husband, Dainn. I suggest you go and see her.'

  'I will Gya, I most certainly will.'

  'She is the Empress now. How do you fee
l about that?'

  Cornelius looked at Saskia and smiled .

  'I think we just want somewhere very quiet. Somewhere new where we can start again. Somewhere miles away if need be. Something near the water I think. '

  He saw her nodding.

  'We have both been imprisoned for a long time, and seek to be amongst nature now. So somewhere where we can see the ripples form, where we can see the moon and the stars every night, where we can hear the sound of birds every day and feel the sun on our faces. I have made a few friends along the way, so I might call on them for a favour or two, and maybe ask for a small dwelling.'

  Saskia found the biggest grin of the day, and nodded her head in agreement.

  Gya smiled like a cat in cream.

  'Your mother is at the Hill Fort, which is north of the Giant's Claw. You must go and see her.'

  He smiled a breathy laugh. 'My goodness, she won't recognise me Gya.'

  'Oh she will Cornelius, a mother will always recognise her own child. Besides, no one could forget those beautiful eyes and that handsome face.'

  He dipped his embarrassment.

  Saskia smiled.

  Skyrah and Arneb shared a glance.

  The kings stood up.

  'Lace is at the Marshland Tribe,' said Lyall. 'It's a long way north—but if you have news of her father, she will want to know.'

  Saskia curtseyed and dipped her head. 'Thank you King Lyall. We will go there after we have seen Cornelius' sister and his mother. '

  Namir stepped off the dais and stood in front of Cornelius. 'I never thought I would ever do this.'

  He held out his hand in friendship.

  'I am so sorry for everything Namir.' Cornelius raised his arm and shook his hand warmly. 'You are a great leader, and an even greater man. I have much to learn.'

  'I had an exemplary father who led by example. He taught me how to forgive and look out for my fellow man.'

  Cornelius nodded his head. 'I will be that man. I will be that father. I will instil that goodness into my child. I promise you Namir.'

  Lyall offered another gesture of friendship. 'I will send some homing pigeons to Aiden Hall this very day to say that you are both safe, but will be detained for a while longer as you have a few important duties to attend to first.'