Title: The Taste of Murder
Author: Rolletti
This story takes place during the Golden Age.
Ages: Peter 18. Susan: 17, Edmund 15, Lucy 13
No Slash What So Ever
Disclaimer: Yep, I do not own any part of C.S. Lewis' works, and I'm still regrettably poor.
The Taste of Murder Chapter 10
There was a hesitant knock at the door before it opened slowly. No one appeared or spoke. Edmund stood in front of his sisters rigid and cold, an ominous figure whose presence seemed to fill the room.
"It's me. It's Yori." The voice was barely heard as it shook in uncertainty.
Hopeful, Lucy looked up at Edmund taking her place beside him. He remained silent and ever watchful of the vacant door. "Ed?" she whispered.
He glanced at his youngest sister and back at the door without expression. Seconds ticked by without a word from Edmund, and the girls stood still in anticipation. The silence was deafening as they waited for Edmund to speak, unsure of what to expect from him. The night before he refused to speak of Yori or their situation, but Lucy could tell his mind was working, planning.
Both girls jumped when Edmund said, "Enter Yori." His voice rung loud and clear, but was neither threatening nor cordial. He continued to face the door, every muscle taught like a new bowstring.
The guards watched Yori lick his dry lips and wipe his clammy palms on his tunic. He couldn't move and they didn't blame him. In addition, the three men were genuinely relieved they didn't have to go in themselves. They watched as he inhaled a deep breath of confidence, and saw said confidence vanish when he exhaled.
The girls looked at each other in confusion when Yori didn't appear. Lucy tilted her head and began to walk towards the door, but gasped when Edmund grabbed her hand and brought her back to his side. One look from him silenced any protest. So they waited.
With extreme caution, the door opened enough to allow Yori to peak humbly through. He entered baring gifts…breakfast with a fresh pail of water. He was too afraid to take his eyes off Edmund, but at the same time he didn't want to remain in eye contact just in case he saw it as a challenge. Deciding the humble approach was best, Yori dropped his eyes and proceeded with care. The last thing he wanted was to literally lose his head.
"Hello, Yori!" said Lucy with her hand clutched in Edmund's. In addition to her greeting, she smiled extra bright for him in the way of encouragement. It was obvious he faced great difficulty approaching her brother.
It would seem Yori's voice abandoned him while the knot in his throat grew. Sweat began to pop out on his forehead at an alarming rate, almost as if someone was spraying a mist of water on him by the seconds.
"It's alright Yori, your safe," said Susan by Edmund's side. She hated to see him grip by fear, and wished she could approach him without hearing Edmund's death cry. Therefore, for Yori's safety, she decided to calm his fears from where she stood.
"I…I brought you supplies for today," he said, placing the bucket of water as close as he dared get, which wasn't very close at all…as a matter of fact, it was close to the door where he stood which prove he didn't get very far with his approach. "I," he swallowed thickly. "I've made my decision."
"About what?" Lucy asked curiously.
"About leaving before your eldest brother arrive. Like you said, I think my chances are greater if I stayed rather than in the forest," he glanced at Edmund. "I hope. That is if you will still remember me. Before you answer that, I would like to apologize for my actions yesterday. I was disrespectful, although unintentional, to Her Majesty, and I shall never make such a mistake again."
Only Edmund could accept the apology since he was the one who wanted to rip out Yori's throat. But the only thing he said was, "I thank you for the water and fruit, Yori. You should take the other two buckets that you left yesterday so you won't get into any trouble with Galenor."
Both girls silently breathed in relief, grateful for that much. They thanked Yori for everything, offering gentle smiles as he humbly, yet quickly walked out the door.
NnNnNnNn
The forest began to get steamy. Everyone kept the sweat from falling and stinging their eyes by mopping their faces the best way they could. That was unfortunate for the man who was on his knees with his hands tied behind his back. The High King was already out of sorts to put it mildly, but the heat was relentless which helped push him beyond his insanity. If he was home, he and his siblings would probably be at the beach playing water games with the Mermaids and Mermen. Or he and Edmund would be escaping a boring luncheon arranged by Susan for dignitary's mothers and their love sick daughters, to find a nice fishing hole that would eventually find them swimming and laughing.
Susan's crushed, wilted flower gave off a hint of sweet scent as Peter twirled it between his fingers. He eyed the man who was caught and forced to his knees before him. The man's eyes were hard, hateful, but Peter saw through that. He had that same look of all those who participated in making his life as cold as the grave his murdered friends were buried in…fear. As well he should.
"Let's get to the point shall we? We both know I'm to kill you, but first I want to know where is my fam…" the man spit in Peter's face silencing him. The surrounding Animals began to move in as one when Peter halted their steps with an upraised hand. Never removing his eyes from the man, the king swiped the spittle from his face. He was purely terrifying when he rose from the log.
The kidnapper began to breathe deeper and faster as Peter began to circle him. He tried without success to stop trembling, feeling Peter's eyes on him like a bird of prey ready to strike. "I promise, you will beg me to kill you by the time I'm through."
"Please, you look like a nice boy. You don't want to do this."
"No, I don't, but since you can't give me my family it will be…gratifying," he smiled wickedly.
Stinging reality shook the stranger as sharp blue eyes burned into him. It was too late when he came to the realization the stories were true. The pale king cold, dead eyes seem to see right past him. He desperately wanted to turn around, just to satisfy himself that the king was not looking at anything behind him. He dared not to. Only a fool would turn his back on one such as him. The stranger thought it odd that the king didn't look like his siblings with that strange pale hair. However, he saw that same warrior disposition of the younger king, the protector of his sisters.
Without a second thought the man jumped up and ran. He will not die in agony like his counterparts. He ran as fast as he could, aware of the crazed king and his Animals hot on his heels. He ran and ran as if there were plenty of earth beneath his feet shouting the name, "Ariona," as he purposefully jumped off the sixty foot ravine. Those in pursuit stood on the edge of the chasm and watched his body break upon the rocks.
Who was Ariona? That is a question that will remain a mystery.
NnNnNnNn
Eoaner stood guard in the forest surrounding the hideout. He counted his treasure, basically spending it before he had time to gain it. The guard stretched from boredom, he couldn't wait for his period of patrolling to end. The only pleasure he'd gotten from standing there was to see that beautiful pale creature with the beautiful lips walk silently near him with bow and arrow in hand. He stood impossible still ogling her, assured she wasn't aware of his presence. However, he gasped when she turned her head and looked directly at him. What chilled his spine most was her eerie brother that stood behind her watching him as well.
That was days ago. Eoaner stood at attention when he saw three men carried out and buried. He wondered what that was all about when a crow came walking impossibly close. He looked around his feet for a heavy rock. Slowly, he didn't want to disturb the bird, he knelt and picked up a few rocks instead. He took aim and threw a rock while grinning, sending the crow away squawking as it took offense. Eoaner's grin disappeared when the irritating, black bird came back cawing, ruffling its wings. The guard fingered another rock, closed one eye to take better aim and bull's-eye! The crow flew away cawing its complaint for the unjust treatment. "That'll showem. Stupid bird."
As he displayed his rotten teeth in satisfaction, Eoaner turned around to carry on with his duty, deeply loyal to Galenor. Before he knew it he was confronted by two more crows, one squawked at him while the other pecked at the ground. "Come on. Come a little closer and I'll give you what I gave your dumb friend," he said as he picked up a heavier rock. He took aim as the two crows watched him in earnest. "Yeah, you messengers of death, you just stay right there…" He reared back and threw the stone with the intent to kill. Both birds flew just out of reach of the blow and flew back where they previously stood. That's when Eoaner noticed three more crows landed closer on the opposite side of the first two. Then four more landed on the branches over his head. "What's going on here," he said suspiciously, all humor gone. Ten more set of wings gleamed in the sunlight as they landed on the low branches of the trees surrounding the area. Eoaner couldn't help but feel as if the birds where surrounding him on purpose. Sweat began to pour down his sunken face as his eyes quickly switched from one bird to the next. More crows surrounded him. He turned around and around, feeling trapped, closed in as…"
"What are doing, idiot? Serve you right if that head hunter snuck up on you and slit your throat! You're supposed to be keepin' watch. You didn't even hear me coming up the path! What're doing anyhow?"
"Are you blind man, look at all these crows!"
"You're daft, what crows? Go on, your shift is over!" said the man who relieved him. "Idiot," he called after Eoaner who ran quickly as he searched the skies.
An hour later Eoaner returned. "Peezom, I have some fruit I took from that imbecile whose always slobbering over the eldest wench. Peezom, where are you? Whose slacking now!" he called. "Peezom. Peezom where are…Oh no," stood Eoaner in shock. His friend's body lay dead on the ground bloodied with his eyes pecked out. He gasped and turned to run only to find a black cloud of shiny black wings rushing toward him. His scream was silenced with a rock he had thrown before; it was stuffed in his mouth. Eoaner suffered the same fate of Peezom.
"Eoaner, what's wrong? Eoaner was that you?" shouted the closest guard. "Eoan…" his throat was slit from ear to ear. Grasping his throat, he was convinced the High King had come and was invisible. There was no way to give warning.
NnNnNnNn
There was a loud knock at the door before Yori was pushed through. Galenor saw to that just in case Edmund or the girls were standing near ready kill anyone that stepped through. Yori kept plenty of distance between himself, Galenor and the children. He was not interested in being associated with his uncle nor did he want to get caught in the middle of a battle between the children and Galenor. He humbly kept to himself.
Edmund stood in front of the girls poised, ready to strike. The girls themselves looked gentle, calm, and innocent, but Galenor knew better. Manwen stood near the door ready to flee, not willing to die because of the stupidity of his friend.
"Well, I see you haven't managed to kill any more of my men," said Galenor, his voice bounced off the walls of the empty room.
"Not yet," said Edmund, deflating Galenor's pompous air.
"You, wretched, good for nothing…"
"What do you want, Galenor?" said Edmund dangerously.
Edmund and Susan took a defensive step forward when they saw Galenor glance at Lucy. "I promise, you will die this day if you or any of your men touch my sister," whispered Edmund. Galenor involuntarily shivered as he felt the words drip like ice into his veins.
Not as confident as he was when he stepped into the room, Galenor looked back at the door to find Manwen gone. "I, I'll get all of my men if I have to, but I mean to take that girl for bargaining," he said, gaining back his confidence as he spoke. After shouting out a few curses, Galenor thrust his finger towards Lucy. "I mean to have that girl, you hear me boy? You can't take us all on at once."
"No, but you, personally will die by my bare hands. I will first break your legs so you won't waste my time running after you. Next, I will choke you and watch the light slowly drain from your eyes, making sure the smile on my face is the last thing you see." The color drained from Galenor's face.
Instantly there was a rush of wings and caws that suddenly filled the air, rushing from the hole in the ceiling. All three children looked at Galenor and smiled. It was an eerie sight.
"My brother is here," said Edmund.
NnNnNnNn
A pair of squirrels chased each other down one tree and up another, raining leaves on the ground below. Habore watched them jump from limb to limb as they made their way closer to him. The line between his eyes deepened when their chatter began to make sense.
"You, man. Make your peace with Aslan, because you stole what is most precious to Narnia and the High King."
Habore was startled, especially when he saw the eldest king before him. "Tell me where is your hideout before my sword goes through your eye, out the back of your head pinning you to the tree behind you," said Peter. The information easily slipped from the man's tongue, just as Rhindon easily sliced him in half.
The king was getting closer.
NnNnNnNn
"What do you mean he's here? I don't have time for your games you despicable…" Before Galenor could finish he heard screams from the other side of the door. The sounds of bones crushing, screams cut short, and blood splattering caused Galenor breath to hitch in his throat. Yori backed himself against the wall farthest behind the children. He'd hoped against all that was good and decent that the young king would remember him to his brother. All those he knew on the other side of the door, some decent, some plain rotten, were either dead or about to die.
Manwen fell through the door bloodied. He was clawing at his missing throat. Galenor looked at his lifelong friend with his mouth gaped open in disbelief. He could not form one word before that magnificent nightmare walked in and demanded his complete attention.
TBC :)