Out of the Keep
Chapter 3
Katherine's throat was parched and her body cried out for nourishment. Griswald leered at her through the bars. "The fine lady need only consent to a kiss for your thirst be slaked and hunger banished."
"I would go to my end before such lips as yours would ever touch mine," Katherine rejoined with more boldness than she felt.
The air shimmered, sparks forming a noose around the neck of the menacing guard as angry red marked the scorching skin. Griswald tried to scream as Richard took form. "Food and drink for the lady now!" Richard commanded. "She will receive the finest from the larder. Make haste, or my flames will engulf the whole of your useless hide!"
Terrified, Griswald ran for the upward leading stone steps. Richard's still shimmering shade passed through the bars to join Katherine in her cell. "Lady, would that I could have come to your aid sooner. Evil befell you while I was kept from your side."
"I'd no idea such power rests with your spirit. You have no need for pardon," Katherine argued. "You are my savior, sir."
"Hardly that," Richard disagreed, "but it cheers me that I can be of some service. Griswald should be returning soon to ease your hunger and thirst. If you wish it, when you are replete, I can continue to regale you with my tale of Rick and Kate."
"Would you commence now?" Katherine asked. "It will help fill the waiting."
"Whatever pleases you lady," Richard agreed, beginning. "Rick and Kate arose, discussing disasters in Ma Man's dealings in trade, found in the papers obtained from Cyber Rita, that might lead him to desperate and illegal measures. I averted my eyes as they performed their morning toilets together, and drew on their garments. After drinking their dark morning brew and partaking of cakes curiously called bear claws, Rick and Kate returned to the Ma Man abode. Ma Man and Chow Hound had taken their leave, giving the mistress charge of the house. Rick bid her give her blessing to a thorough search of all chambers for possible clues to the thief and she agreed. Rick and Kate went from chamber to chamber in search of hidden places. At the time, I kenned not why they sought such things, but observed Rick rapping his knuckles on walls and listing intently for what sound echoed back. It was in the chamber housing the shrine that Rick and Kate at length discovered the secret for which they searched. The pedestal from which the Buddha was snatched contained a secret latch. When Rick's fingers met the right spots, a door sprung open, revealing the Buddha, which had in truth, never been taken from the chamber. Rick used his phone device to capture an image, before concealing the Buddha again."
Richard paused in his recounting as Griswald returned fearfully, bearing meat, bread, and wine for Katherine. Griswald kept his eyes low, avoiding any meeting of Richard's gaze as he passed the provisions through the bars. "Take warn," Richard told him. "If the lady wants for anything again, you will want for all." Griswald bowed and scuttled away. "Shall I continue while you sup, Lady?" Richard asked.
Katherine smiled, finding her gaze drawn into the deep pools of blue. "That would please me greatly sir."
"Rick and Kate thanked the mistress for her patience and bade her farewell," Richard continued. "Making use of a car which from all appearances was driven by Kate, they went to the place of business of their commissioners, the insurance company. Meeting with the personage who appeared to have charge of the enterprise, a Mr. Posely, they informed him of their discovery, with the image on Rick's phone standing as proof. Posely pronounced that Ma Man had indeed perpetrated a fraud and declared his intention to summon the police, his word for the constabulary. It became apparent that to expose the misdeeds of Ma Man, warrants would need be obtained, a duty of the police. Agreeing that the exposure of their quarry would take place on the morrow, Rick and Kate sought amusement.
They journeyed to a building where Rick used currency to buy admittance. After further purchases of what Rick called popcorn, a grain of some kind, candy, a sweet, and hotdogs, akin to sausages, as well as the iced beverages with bubbles, Rick and Kate entered a dark and cavernous chamber. There were row upon row of seats sufficient for a multitude, all facing a screen such as Cyber Rita had, but many times larger. They seated themselves, Kate ensconced in the protective circle of Rick's arm. Sound poured from boxes on the walls and images, like a play, appeared on the screen. The story was marvelously strange with massive flying ships and swords of light. Heroes fought dark villains to the final triumph of righteousness. Rick and Kate consumed their provisions and watched, taking great joy in the tale and in each other.
When the story ended, Rick insisted on watching a flow of names down the screen accompanied by music. Kate watched with limited patience, but was surprised, even as Rick gently gloated, when more of the story appeared. At length the screen was dark and Rick and Kate left the chamber. Rick asked Kate if she desired something called a shake. She agreed with much verve and they took the car to a shake purveyor. A shake was revealed as a thick draught of milk and some very cold substance, mixed together by a loud machine. The substances were of different colors, Kate's choice being light red and Rick's being brown. Rather than just drinking from a cup, the shakes were sucked through tubes, also used when drinking the bubbly drinks. Slow as the consumption of the thick liquid was in this manner, they seemed to enjoy the time and effort, talking and occasionally laughing over the content of the play as they drank.
Returning to the loft, Rick kindled a fine and merry blaze in his fireplace, somehow requiring no addition of wood. Kate requested her special wine, which pleased Rick very much. He poured the draught, deep and red into chalices clearer than the clearest pond and they toasted to what they called a bust, on the morrow. Kate caressed Rick, her desire for him most apparent. He stroked her hair before sweeping her into his arms and carrying her to their chamber. Not wishing to spy on the marriage bed, I closed my eyes and awaited recall to this world. Now rest lady. I will keep you from Griswald or any other harm until the coming of the dawn."
Katherine lay on the floor. Despite the cold stone, slumber came easily in the reassuring presence of her ghostly guardian. Richard gazed at the sleeping form, silently cursing the evil magic that denied him even the most fleeting caress, such as Kate so easily bestowed on Rick. So cursed, Richard would have to content himself with the vision of Katherine's beauty.
A/N I'll be bugging you about Charity Water again this year. Blame Nathan for starting it. I posted my site on Twitter. My handle is the same as my pen name.
