Episode 2: In the Castle of Venger
Disclaimer: Dungeons & Dragons, Venger, all characters and images therein, as well as story elements put forth in the role playing game are the property of the Walt Disney Company, Marvel and TSR. Several characters appearing in this story are my own creation. Any similarity with anyone living or dead is purely coincidental.
This Chaper is Rated PG
Authors note: Criticism and advice are always appreciated!
In the Castle of Venger
Sheila was amazed at the speed at which they traveled. Apparently Demon horses could traverse half the Realm in only an hour's time. The land blurred by beneath them, as did the clouds.
She should have been cold, she realized, but somehow she wasn't. Venger seemed to give off an unnatural warmth behind her or perhaps it was the result of some sort of shielding spell he used to keep the elements at bay. Considering how close she was to him, it seemed certain that she would be within its circle of influence.
Sooner than she ever would have expected, they descended, landing before the main entrance of Venger's Primary Castle. It was the largest and most heavily fortified of the structures he used as bases across the Realm and rumor had it that it had always belonged to his family.
Venger dismounted but it was a servant who handed her down from the Nightmare as the master of the house strode away. To her amazement he spread his wings before reaching the steps and flew up to one of the upper balconies.
"I didn't know he could actually fly," she breathed.
"He can indeed," grunted the man who had helped her down and was now unsaddling the demon horse. "Grab your things and come with me. I'll hand you off to the housekeepers after I've got this fellow settled."
With one last glance at the balcony where Venger had vanished, she turned and followed the stable hand.
From the throne room's balcony, Venger was able to stand in the shadows and observe the earth woman's surprised reaction. He had to admit that he'd greatly enjoyed her discomfort at his proximity during their travels, just as he'd enjoyed revealing that his wings were not simply for show.
No doubt, having her around would prove entertaining. And if not; well he had ways of charming women into entertaining him in other ways...
He watched as she followed his groom, enjoying the way her hips moved beneath the cloth of her dress. Then he shook his head and berated himself. She was beneath his notice and hardly worth the trouble of seducing, love spell or not.
It had been a lifetime at least since he'd last indulged in the pleasures of the flesh, having long since lost an interest such fornications. Too many lifetimes of such dalliances had left him bored with the act as well as the fallout.
He'd found his life so much less complicated since he'd stopped partaking in that mortal ritual!
Still... there was something about this woman that he found appealing; far too appealing! "Bah!" he growled. "In the end she will prove no different than the others; a weak toy good for only a moment's diversion!"
Yet, she had managed to awaken his libido and he wondered at why that should be so. Perhaps it had something to do with the way she'd looked at him on the stairs and at the funeral pyre; a demonstration of a strong will and spirit... Or perhaps it was that she seemed to challenge him directly?
"Shadow Demon!" he roared.
"Yes Master?" came the entity's voice as it slipped into the light.
"Once our new guest has slept, invite her to dine with me tomorrow evening," he commanded.
"And where shall that be, Great Venger?" the demon asked subserviently.
"Have the meal served upon my terrace," he answered. "Now leave me and see to it I am not disturbed except in the most dire of circumstances!"
The shadow demon vanished and Venger instantly teleported to his chambers, intent upon seeking his bed.
Sheila followed the groom to the stables, which were built into the base of the Castle and waited while he saw to the Nightmare. By the time he collected her and shepherded her to the head housekeeper, she was exhausted and barely functional, despite all the frightening guards she had seen along the way.
The housekeeper was a large, frightening woman, with a permanent scowl and a cruel disposition. The groom had introduced her as Mrs. Trundle before he went back to his chores.
Trundle looked her up and down, curling her lip in distaste. "So the Master brought home a guest; an actual guest rather than a prisoner," she huffed, her hands on her ample hips. "This is highly irregular; its never happened before in all the years I've served him! What are you to him, anyway?"
Sheila drew herself up then and stared down her nose at the woman. She'd learned the hard way over the years how to deal with such people. "Perhaps I should tell him that you wish an explanation," she said sweetly, yet dangerously. She knew her attitude and intimation of an actual connection to Venger would smooth things for her with the staff.
She wasn't disappointed; Tuttle instantly dropped the attitude and backed up a step. "Sorry, Missus," she said in a contrite tone. "Can't blame a person for being curious in the face of such a surprise..."
Sheila sniffed. "Very well, we shall forget it happened; this time. Now if you please, I'm weary and would like to see my room. I shall call for a tour of my new home in the morning."
This time Tuttle actually made a small curtsy. "If you'll follow me," she said.
She awoke late in the morning and stretched pleasurably in her luxurious bed. It was wider and longer than even king sized and the mattress was soft and springy; a miracle of sorts in a world where most beds were still made of bound straw. The sheets were silky feeling without being slippery and the blankets were thick, but light.
Her eyes wandered around the room, truly appreciating it now that daylight had illuminated it. Large, with light colored marble floors and columns complimenting the sandstone walls, it contained ornately carved wooden furniture and cozy area rugs. Wall sconces and lanterns were liberally placed throughout, something she had appreciated in the spooky gloom of her first night there.
One wall had three very large windows, set together and far taller than they were wide. They had no glass and were quite open, for the weather in this part of the world was always warm and saw little rain and even fewer storms. Set before the window was a table with two chairs.
There was a sudden knock on the huge wooden door, which made her jump and then a female voice called out, "Lady, I've brought your breakfast; may I enter?"
"Yes," she called back.
A middle aged woman entered with a small cart and made for the table, which she set with a single place serving before covering the remainder of the table in covered dishes. Then she curtsied. "Will there be anything else?" she asked.
Sheila shook her head, overwhelmed by the royal treatment she was receiving and the woman left. Climbing from the bed and dressed only in her thin muslin shift, walked to the table and began looking under the lids.
They had served her a feast of almost anything she might like for her first meal of the day!
Staring out the window, she was surprised to see that it overlooked a huge courtyard garden filled with some of the most beautiful plants in the Realm.
She sank down into a chair and reflected that living in Venger's Castle would be more dangerous than she ever imagined, because she could quickly learn to like it too much.
Venger awoke quite late in the day, bathed and then dressed lightly in breeches, tunic and boots as he awaited the light snack he had called for. He typically remained awake for days on end and then slept a good span of time. It had been so almost since he'd first... changed. In truth he was surprised that this time he was awake before nightfall.
Walking over to his balcony as his meal arrived, he stood before the low railing and indulged himself in the garden view. It was his favorite place in all the Realm; a place where he and Kareena had spent untold hours as children, laughing and chasing each other. It was a place of calm and happy memories and he still retreated there when he needed to escape his problems. No expense had been spared in keeping it exactly as it once was.
The blind man, Stephos, who was his personal servant, finished setting the balcony table and asked if he required anything else.
"I should like my black leggings and fine silver accoutrements this evening," he replied. "See to it that they are dusted off and freshened."
The man bowed and left the room.
Before Venger could seat himself, he heard the sound of laughter coming from the garden and stared in shock as the little thief came into view and then dodged behind a large flowering dragonsheart plant. There came a loud snort and his Nightmare trotted into view.
The demon horse backed up and then silently swung around the far side of the main garden path. In the next instant, he'd leaped directly behind the plant where the woman was concealed.
She squealed with laughter as the two emerged, walking side by side back to the path.
He stared, agog at the sight. Was his steed playing tag with the thief? It could not be! Sudden memories of an eerily similar circumstance with the horse flashed through his mind, leaving him frozen in disbelief.
Sheila rubbed the Nightmare's nose and offered him a vegetable she'd hidden in her pocket. "To you go the spoils," she giggled, pleased beyond reasoning that this creature had approached her and indulged her in a game of hide-and-seek. "I didn't know that Nightmares like to play games," Then she sighed, "I wish I knew your name..."
Just then she happened to glance up and saw a man with long midnight black hair looking down at her from a balcony. It was only as her eyes adjusted to the glare of the sun that she realized that it was Venger and that he was looking at her with an expression of absolute shock upon his face!
She gasped as she stared back. Gone was his armor and skirt; he wore gray colored breeches, red boots and an orange tunic that covered him to the hips. His hair hung past his waist and was as thick, straight and glossy as an Asian's. He wore it without a part; it was brushed straight back from his forehead and tucked back of his ears, which turned out to be pointy. Of the single horn there was no sign, so thankfully it was indeed a part of his helmet and not of him.
Amazingly, from a distance he looked like an attractive man, rather than the fiend he was.
Somehow she managed to recover before he did and she made him a quick curtsy before heading out of the garden with her new four-legged friend.
Venger's mouth shut with an audible snap after his guest disappeared from sight.
"Shadow Demon!" he bellowed.
"Yes Master?" came the immediate answer from the dark shadows near his door.
"The earth woman; does she remind you of anyone?"
The demon thought a moment. "She only reminds me of the young girl she once was," he finally replied. "Is there something wrong, Master? Shall I watch her for you?"
Venger sat, a scowl appearing on his face. "No. It is nothing," he hissed. "And you may watch, but you are not to invade her private chambers, is that understood?"
The demon looked disappointed. "Yes Master."
Venger poured himself some tea and took a scone from the basket. "Did you deliver my invitation?"
"Yes master."
He looked up with interest. "And?"
"She said that she would be honored."
"Good. At the appointed time escort her here." He took a bite of the bread and sipped his tea then turned his attention back to his servant. "Aside from cavorting with my Nightmare, what else has she been up to today?"
The Demon bobbed before him, glad to be given the chance to prove his worth. "She has spent the day exploring the ground level of the castle and has already managed to win the respect of the cooks and housekeepers."
"How?" he asked sharply, as he finished off the scone.
"She has cultivated an air of authority, for they are uncertain of her status, but recognize that her presence is something quite out of the ordinary," the demon explained. "But she has also shown the kitchen staff that she possesses a knowledge of cooking and an appreciation for their efforts with her meal this morning. I daresay that she has become the only topic of their gossip today!"
Finishing his second cup of tea, Venger leaned back in his chair. "And how did she come to be with my Nightmare?"
"Master, your steed went to her, not she to it!"
"Explain."
"She had just exited the kitchens and was crossing the courtyard when the Nightmare broke free of its groom and flew to her. He landed in the courtyard and not even the groom, when he caught up could entice the horse to leave her. She promised that she would deliver him back to the stables after she spent a little time with him."
Venger stood suddenly, "Leave me."
After the Shadow Demon dissipated, he set to dressing. He had things to do before the evening meal and it would be counterproductive at the moment to keep puzzling over the mystery of the thief and demon horse.
Sheila walked the Nightmare all the way back to the stables as dozens of eyes watched with undisguised curiosity.
As the horse entered its stall without protest the groom appeared near her side. "I've never in all my years seen him do such a thing before," he said, scratching his head. "Although there is a tale of long ago when there lived in this place a woman much loved by this steed."
"What happened to her?" Sheila asked, instantly excited by the groom's words.
He shook his head. "It is said that she died at the hands of her lover and the Nightmare nearly pined away; for demon or not, it loved the lady." He threw the bolt on the stall's door even as the Nightmare threw its head over the top and nuzzled her affectionately.
"Wow..." she breathed.
"Indeed," he replied. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have chores to see to." With a bow he was gone.
She walked back down the corridor leading to the courtyard, wondering what to do with herself before she needed to get ready for dinner. "Dinner with Venger," she breathed. "Eww!"
Emerging in the courtyard, she looked upwards and spied the three Castle turrets and single, tall tower. Her eyes were drawn back to the tower. The climb wouldn't be pleasant, but the view of the coming sunset would make it well worth it.
With a shrug she decided that she would arrange to be there at sunset. In the meantime, she headed in the direction of the main staircase, intent upon exploring the second floor.
Venger leaned upon the tower stones and looked out over the Realm. He'd had a full day already, having spent several hours in the audience chamber hearing the news from his servants and toadies and then overseeing the torture of several new prisoners. After dinner he would be heading out to a rebellious town in the northern mountains; something that had only just become necessary based upon the news he'd received from one of his generals.
He sighed as he looked down at the courtyard far below. His life had become an never ending blur of battles interspersed with travel, planning sessions and occasionally, long periods of physical healing. Recently he'd grown tired of it; very tired... and depressed, was that what they called intense melancholia?
His master would not be pleased with him when next he returned, but somehow he couldn't find it in him to care much about it.
Recently it had occurred to him that everything he was doing was for nothing. Over the thousand years of his existence, he'd fought hard, yet gained little actual ground. For each area he claimed, another would be reclaimed by the forces of good. For each enemy he vanquished another would spring up to take their place.
The Realm was, for all intents and purposes, in a state of balance regardless of anything he did. He'd suffered and sacrificed greatly and all for nothing...
It would take something huge to create a shift n the balance, but what? The answer always seemed to elude him.
Just then his sharp eyes picked up motion in the darkness of an entranceway below and within seconds the earth woman emerged and to his surprise crossed the courtyard headed directly for the entrance to the very tower he stood atop.
Sheila.
He rubbed his chin. Having her here was proving diverting to say the least. His dinner should be quite entertaining, but in the meantime...
With a mischievous grin, he turned and began quickly, yet silently taking the tower steps downward. It wasn't long before the woman rounded the stairs into sight, moving quickly herself, her eyes trained on the steps immediately before her as she huffed and puffed her way upwards.
He never slowed his own pace and as he'd hoped, she ran right into him.
"Oof!" The breath knocked out of her, she bounced backwards and would have tumbled down the stairs to her death had he not reached out and snagged her arm.
"Careful little thief," he said with a sly smile, as he pulled her towards him. "This is hardly the way to go about breaking our dinner date!"
As he steadied her with both his hands, he noted that she blushed furiously, then quickly let go of his arms where she had gripped him in terror seconds prior.
"Uh... sorry..." she said sheepishly, looking down at her feet. "I guess I wasn't looking where I was going. I didn't expect someone else to be on the stairs. Thanks for the save."
He used a finger to raise her chin so that she would meet his gaze. "You are welcome; only be more careful. It would prove most embarrassing to have you die in a fall while under my protection!"
She actually laughed at that, although her blush intensified. "I will."
Venger dropped his hand. "Excellent. Now if you will excuse me, I shall see you at dinner." With a slight bow, he continued along his way, very pleased with himself.
He'd found her blush and her embarrassment very amusing, although he was quite certain that she blushed from disgust at his touch rather than from any attraction.
Her heart thumping wildly in her chest, Sheila took a few deep breaths and then continued her climb to the top of the tower. She arrived out of breath and still shaking from reaction in time to see Venger pause in the courtyard below and look up at her.
Then, flipping a wing as though rearranging a cape, he turned and stalked away.
She sighed and blushed as she remembered the feel of those large hands on her arms. But it hadn't been either that or the terror of falling that had truly disconcerted her; it was the Ring of the Heart, which had pulsed even more strongly than it had when she and Nate had touched. It had done so again, even more strongly when he'd lifted her chin.
"No! It's not possible," she convinced herself. After all, Venger wasn't a prisoner in his own castle. Besides, the ring had reacted for Nate as well...
Next time: Of Man and Fiend