Chap 46
Three silent souls exited the dark, secret tunnel; the endpoint of their escape route well beyond the walls of the castle, hidden in a glade. They had spent the last half hour making their way through the darkened tunnels within the stone walls at a rapid pace, the only words uttered were those necessary for direction. The choking, musty smells of the dank corridors finally gave way to fresh air, and Elaine was grateful. Elaine then cursed her poor choice of clothing as she looked down and saw how her light colored, dirt striped frock practically glowed in the low moon light. She tugged back on Erik's hand and he turned to her as she crouched in the bushes.
"I am way too visible." She whispered, pulling at the light fabric. Erik nodded and removed his cloak, after retrieving the small wind of rope from one of the many pockets. He pulled her up and wrapped it around her shoulders, his motions swift. She looked longingly into his eyes; they were cold and focused. His cloak soon covered her from head to ankle in darkness. Sedrick, whom had walked ahead, looked back at the couple with mild impatience, his angry, light eyes scanning the woods.
"I want no one else to see your shine," Erik whispered into Elaine's ear, the briefest expression of warmth forcing its way through his menacing demeanor. He pulled her close and brushed a quick kiss on her forehead as the tips of his fingers caressed her cheek. He then grasped her hand again and returned to pulling her along in the underbrush. Sedrick halted as they approached him. His gaze of stony shock had passed, the look of bitterness taking unwelcome residence on his handsome face.
"You should venture ahead of me, Erik. Your compatriots may mistake me for one of them," Sedrick said in a low whisper, moving behind Elaine in the train of escapees. They scurried silently through the thick woods, and then passed low over an open field on their way to a patch of trees. They knelt on the edge of the woods as Erik turned and signaled for quiet. He slithered into the woods alone. His tall, slender form clad in black disappeared from sight in seconds.
Elaine waited with Sedrick at the edge of the stand of trees for what seemed like eons. The bright half moon in the clear night gave off what would seem a pleasant light for most, but not for those who needed the cover of darkness. They heard a brief scuffle and stifled guttural sounds, followed by the low voices of men. Elaine cowered back into Sedrick, who instinctively wrapped his strong arm about her, pulling her cloak closed, his own hood falling off as his eyes hastily scanned the region. Erik appeared quietly before them, startling Elaine. Luckily, Sedrick's hand was quick and he clamped her mouth shut before she could scream out loud.
"Forgive me the roughness, my lady, but silence is if utmost importance," he whispered as he handed a shaking Elaine off to Erik. Elaine nodded and mouthed her thanks.
"They are this way," said Erik, in a loud whisper. They made their way to a small clearing within the patch of woods, passing a heap of a man, a victim of Erik's lasso. The darkness was disturbed only by the shady silhouettes of three men that froze as they approached them. Elaine recognized Nate and ran to him, burying her face in his shoulder sobbing silently, her tears wetting his neck. Nate gasped and gripped her close.
"Never have I been so happy to see you, child," Nate whispered to her with a tortured sigh. He looked behind her. "And where is the boy?"
"He is being held captive at the Keep at Useldange." Erik said, in a low voice, approaching Adolph and Bruno, motioning for them to convene. Sedrick maintained his distance, his back to the group, hunting eyes intent on the forest around them. "This man is Sedrick, he is a friend who aided in our escape. He is no longer welcome here, as you can imagine." The other men nodded towards the newest member of the group.
"There is a gypsy colony entrenched at Useldange, they have been there for many months now. I daresay I am not surprised that they would have been in league with Montague, that wretch," growled Nate.
"A wretch now impaled on his own ill-will," murmured Sedrick, in a near pleased, bitter tone. A hush fell across the group. The conversation began again slowly, urgently on the plans for Roland's rescue.
"Bruno and I both knew the way to Useldange," said Nate.
"One of you should take the Lady directly home and meet us at the Keep with as many of your men as will come," Sedrick suggested. "The rest of us should proceed to our entanglement with the gypsies. We do not know how long we have before those beasts keep true to their arrangement with Montague. Bloodshed there is imminent." His tone was dark, filled with wrath. He stood up abruptly, walking a few paces and turned away from the group, shaking visibly. Adolph and Nate shot questioning glances toward Erik.
"There are reasons for his venom," Erik said softly in reply. Elaine grabbed onto Erik's arm and shook her head, protesting the plan. Erik led her away from the group, behind a tree in the darkness. He pulled her soft body tight against him, as her hands found their way around his muscular frame. He planted an urgent kiss on her lips in the darkness. She struggled to see his face, but could only see his green eyes shining faintly in the low light. He held her face and spoke with a voice horse with emotion.
"Elaine, I cannot survive losing you again. I refuse to put you in harms way by bringing you to Useldange. Please, try to understand." His arms surrounded her.
"I understand, Erik. I would be but a hindrance to you all." Elaine held his shirt and pressed in close, inhaling his musky, earthy scent, now mixed with the scents of sweat and blood. "Please, Erik, please be careful. My heart will be beyond repair if I were to lose either of you," she said, voice tremulous. She felt his lips on hers again.
"I promise, my Lady," was the quiet reply
In their brief absence, the men had decided that Bruno would take Elaine back to Capellen, and ride back to Useldange because he was the fastest horseman present knowing the way. The group now advanced quietly through the patch of trees towards the nearby wall, where the four horses were tied up in the forest beyond. Erik and Sedrick led the group.
They came upon an unfortunate group of Montague's mercinaries near the wall. Erik signaled the men behind for stillness and quiet and set out after Sedrick, who was walking up to the group without hesitation, weapons brandished.
Fear put a vice around Elaine's chest, the two of them seemingly outnumbered. For the next few moments, Elaine looked on in shock. She did not know what was more chilling to see: Sedrick's excessive vengeful rage lashing out on the unsuspecting men, or Erik's detached, calculated strikes. She witnessed the swift, deadly force of the Punjab garrote, as Erik practically tore a man's head from his body as he ran away in terror. The body slammed into the ground, lifeless before them. Sedrick panted in rage as he skewered the last of them, while Erik retrieved his lasso, not even winded. It was an unexpected victory, eight men beaten by two warriors within minutes.
"Good lord, they are killing machines. If they were not allies I would fear for my life," muttered Bruno, talking to Nate. Nate shushed him, noting Elaine's pale stare.
"We must go now with haste, no doubt that scuffle was heard," said Adolph.
The group advanced silently and scaled the wall, Elaine climbing over with little effort. They ran into the forest quickly, retrieving their horses that had remained silent and waiting.
Erik planted a kiss on Elaine's hand as she rode away with Bruno. Bruno nodded knowingly at Erik's serious glance. All knew it was difficult for Erik to relinquish her care and safety so quickly to the hands of another man, even one he trusted.
Adolph rode behind Erik astride Caesar, the most powerful horse. The stocky builds of both Sedrick and Nate necessitated single mounts for each of them. They rode along as fast as possible towards their goal.
"So, Erik, what is the story of our rather angry friend?" Adolph asked, quietly.
"His wife and child were murdered by Montague and his men," Erik muttered back. Adolph cursed under his breath. "There is nothing more deadly than a man who feels he has nothing left to live for." The silence that followed was broken by Adolph.
"Except, maybe, for a man who has everything to die for. Am I right Erik?" Erik simply grunted in reply and pushed the horse along faster.
The Keep at Useldange was the remnant of earlier times of war that plagued the beautiful lands of Luxembourg, a strategic point that stood guard over an important trading route that wound its way through that part of the small country. The Keep was a sturdy fortress built onto the top of a hill. The two grey towers stood as menacing soldiers, and could be seen for miles, the base of the structure relatively low. It had long since fell into ruin, the corridors and rooms within stripped of their contents, the walls beginning to crumble, the ceilings of several chambers caved in. The dungeons in the bases of the towers were relatively well preserved, however, and the shelter the remaining parts of the Keep offered was enough for this band of defensive gypsies that squatted on this land. There were tents erected, and the place was visited during the day by brave and curious villagers who were interested in seeing the acrobats and shows put on by the gypsies, and those interested in buying their wares, potions and talismans.
In the dead of the night, the place was quiet, save the noises of the animals in their confines and wicked laughs of those seeking pleasure in closed tents. Nothing seemed amiss to the young men on guard, who continued to play their games with each other.
The band of men from Capellen halted and dismounted under the cover of trees near the encampment. They crawled up to the top of a rise to survey the field.
"Gypsies. I hate gypsies and their godforsaken traveling shows," growled Erik bitterly. Adolph looked at him afterward and knew not to press the matter. Sedrick crawled close nearby.
"He said that the boy would be in the second tower, most likely the shorter one," Sedrick said, pointing towards the far tower.
"Most likely." Erik counted the number of tents, estimating the population. "I think there are at least 80 persons of this troop."
"This should be as covert an approach as possible, and we should be prepared to leave with great haste. We do not stand a chance against this whole tribe." said Adolph, his military experience showing. Erik smiled wickedly to himself.
"I have an idea that may give us an unearthly advantage," Erik said as he crawled back into the woods.
The boys who were playing instead of standing watch spun around as they heard soft voices echoing around them. Visibly frightened, their eyes looked around wildly. Unseen entities whispered words in Roma (Gypsy tongue) that made them cling to each other.
"Muly…Bibaxt…Muly..." the low voices chanted. (Ghost…bad luck…ghost)
They shook as they heard the hoofs of a horse approaching, but could not place from where. From out of nowhere a tall figure appeared on a dark horse before them, face twisted and grotesque, blood dripping from its mouth, a burst of light and flame flashing before them.
"Beng!" (Satan!) The creature growled as it charged them. The boys ran away in fright.
Erik watched them run off and rejoined the other men on the edge of the woods, a wicked grin on his face. He got off the horse.
"Brilliant, Erik," said Sedrick, looking towards the retreating boys. "That has left us a clear path to the second tower. By the time others come to investigate, we will be long gone."
"How did you flash that light?" asked Nate. Erik reached into a pouch around his waist and held out small paper pellets.
"Gunpowder mix." He laughed. "They were spooked by the tricks I learned as a prisoner of gypsies."
Erik knew that Gypsies were particularly superstitious, and had dressed in a dark cape, messing up his hair and biting his cheek to fill his mouth with blood. The men all loudly whispered curses at the wall of the Keep, causing echoes to surround the boys. They ran with the horses on either side as Erik rode up, cloaked until the last second. He let the deformed side of his face show through, coloring it with streaks of blood for good measure. He did look rather frightful at the moment.
Erik, Adolph and Sedrick worked their way on foot around the stone hulk, leaving Nate to lead the horses through the woods to a stand of trees closer to the second tower. They lurked in the shadows until the entrance came into view. A 'guard' was slumped over, sleeping near the door.
It took mere seconds for Erik to ensure the guard stayed quiet permanently. Sedrick dragged the body away, leaving it behind some barrels.
"I go in alone. I can scare the hell out of those I find and kill those who do not frighten easily," Erik said to Adolph, baring his blood stained teeth.
"Let me come with you," he insisted. Erik shook his head.
"You will be of greater use to me at this entrance." He did not give Adolph a chance to reply.
Erik crawled into the dark, narrow hall, grabbing a torch from a sconce nearby, putting out all others as he walked past them. He listened closely for some evidence of human life within these dark walls. He searched swiftly, quietly through the many halls, straining his senses to hear any little sound. Finally, he heard the faint sounds of whimpering and a soft voice gently hushing. Erik made his way slowly down a spiral staircase that he just passed.
The whimpering began again.
A loud clang of metal against followed. The unmistakable wail of a child followed, followed by the rattling of chains. Erik continued toward the sounds, seeming to come from beneath him. He crawed on his hands and knees.
"Shut your mouth or I will squeeze your throat until you cannot talk anymore, mange!" A heavily accented, low voice growled.
"Leave him alone, you animal! Can you not see the boy is scared?" A woman's irritated voice said in Luxembourgish. Another loud clang was followed by a woman's shriek.
"I will teach you once and for all to be silent! You are not afraid of harm to yourself…if you continue to mock me, wench, I will beat the children! Do you hear me?" the man's voice said.
Silence followed and Erik cursed, because he was unable to find a pathway to the voices.
"Please…let him come back into our cell, I will be able to quiet him so he does not bother you anymore." The woman's voice said.
"If he does not remain quiet, there will be no food for any of you tomorrow. You will have to feast on the rats in your cell." The voice said, with a low, putrid laugh. The sounds of chains, metal gates opening and the soft cry of a child followed.
Erik found the entrance he was searching for. He looked around the corner and saw a tall gypsy man throwing a disheveled, barefoot boy into a cell. The boy was Roland. The woman, a thin and short with matted brown hair and pale blue eyes grabbed onto Roland and stroked his hair, shooting a look of anger to the tall gypsy who slammed the door of the cell behind him. A smaller, black haired boy with wide, aqua eyes looked on from the corner. The woman's face and arms bore several bruises in various stages of healing. Erik bristled with rage.
"Why do you care about this child? Why do you risk yourself for him when you have your own to worry about?" The gypsy said, leaning on the metal bars, taunting the smaller boy with a piece of bread. "Hungry aren't you, little imps?"
"It is too late this night to be torturing us, sir," the spirited woman said, sitting down on a filthy mat, pulling the two boys close to her. "Leave us be. The children need their rest." The smaller boy laid his head on the woman's lap. She kissed his dirty cheek with dry, cracked lips. She turned to Roland. "Now young man, rest. I will watch over you as you sleep." Roland looked at their keeper and snuggled close to the woman. She kept her eyes open, unmoving on their jailer.
During their heated interactions, Erik was making his way slowly into the room, in the shadows surveying the interior. He was plotting his next move. He was hoping the children would fall asleep before he needed to act. He looked with concern at the slightly curved ceiling. This chamber would soon cave in. Their idiot jailor did not realize it, he was sure.
The gypsy leaned back in his chair, wrapping himself with a warm blanket. He looked at the woman with lecherous eyes. She looked down nervously, pulling the boys closer to her.
"If I was not told to keep you untouched for the man who pays for your keep, you would have been punished for your insolence by my loins long ago, little woman." The gypsy stood up and walked over to the cage. "If you prove willing, I would grant you favors of food and blankets for your 'favors' and silence..." The woman shot him a look of pure hate.
"Never!" She spat. "Now please, leave us. The children need to sleep." She said. The gypsy was angered.
"You continue to resist yet you now have two mouths to feed. We will see if you will reconsider in time," their captor said with finality as he stood up. The man ate some dried meat in front of them, drinking deeply from a flask on the nearby low table, taunting them. He laughed with malice.
"Thank you, but why?" Roland asked the woman softly, through tears.
"Because somewhere your mother is worried sick about you, I am sure," She whispered, patting his head. Roland's eyes closed with exhaustion. That was Erik's signal. The place remained quiet for only a minute.
In one sweeping motion Erik landed his lasso on the thin neck of their captor, wrestling him to the ground in his throes of death. The silent deed was done within several moments. The woman's eyes widened in fear, but to her credit, she covered her mouth so as not to startle the children. He found the keys and peeled them from the man's death grasp. Erik rose from the now dead gypsy, rope in hand, facing the cell. He looked down as he approached not, wanting to startle the woman more.
The woman's eyes followed his every move. She shook with fear, yet approached the door of the cell, after lowering the children to the floor. Her hands were in fists. She intended to protect the children at all costs.
"What do you want from us?" She charged. Erik knew who this brave woman must be.
"Annabelle?" Erik said softly as he raised his head. Her shock at seeing his face was tempered by him calling her name. Confusion floated over her dirt-stained features.
"Yes? How did…?" She said softly, a glint of hope in her eyes.
"Do not fear me, I know your Sedrick," he said, opening the door. She burst into tears.
Roland's eyes opened with the sound of the keys in the lock and he shot up quickly. He walked up behind Annabelle and peeked around her shoulder.
"Erik!" Roland gasped and flew into Erik's arms. Erik held the boy against him, sighing with relief. "I knew you would come for me!" He said, then looked at Erik's face. "Are you hurt?"
"No, Roland, I am not hurt." Erik said, looking back at Annabelle, who's eyes were now shining with gratitude. "Sedrick was told you were dead, he will be overjoyed to see you," Erik looked at their feet, bare and sore. "Will you be able to walk, to run?" Annabelle lifted up her son, who stared at Erik with wide eyes. Annabelle hugged him.
"I will run until no flesh covers these bones. We are going home, Kevin." Kevin looked at her blankly. Annabelle's tears began again. "I am afraid this ordeal has left my poor son rather mute," she said softly, stroking his cheeks. Erik took the dumfounded boy from her arms.
"I will be able to carry him far better than you, good woman." He pressed a dagger into her hand. She held it as someone who knew how to use it. "Good. I see Sedrick has taught you well. Follow me."
They made their way silently through the darkened corridors and stairs, Annabelle holding Roland's hand, Erik holding the torch. Erik had memorized the path out. They neared the entrance. The sound of men fighting and metal clashing was heard.
"Damn. We have been found," Erik said, setting the boy down and turning to Annabelle. "As soon as it is clear, run like hell to the nearest stand of trees. A man called Nate will be there. You must leave quickly with him."
As they were talking, Kevin wandered away towards the entrance. Erik realized he had walked off, and ran behind him. He looked outside, the scene making him push the boy aside and reach for his sword.
Both Adolph and Sedrick were engaged. Adolph was threatening men with daggers mainly, gun withdrawn and sword in hand. Sedrick, on the other hand was slashing and maiming anyone who came within his reach, taunting all those around, angering them. Erik joined in the fray, beating off two attackers swiftly. Anabelle ran up to Kevin and pulled him roughly away, followed by Roland. Erik turned back to them and pointed towards the forest.
"That way!" As he turned back around, a dagger, thrown by one of the gypsies found its way into his side. Erik growled, pulled it out and threw it back at the man. The dagger buried itself in the man's eye. Annabelle looked on in horror, watching her husband besieged.
"Sedrick!" She screamed. Sedrick whipped around, his eyes and mouth opening wide in shock at seeing his beloved wife alive. A man went to grab Roland and Annabelle buried her dagger in his throat for his trouble.
"Behind you!" Screamed a young voice. It was Kevin, pointing behind a still-shocked Sedrick. Sedrick ducked and whipped his bloody sword around in time to slice open the man trying to land a blow. Sedrick transformed into the efficient warrior once again, and was no longer the vengeful killing machine bent on spilling blood. His will to live slammed into action, cutting down the men around him with purpose now, not blind rage. Soon, none were left standing around him.
Adolph and Eric encircled the two remaining men who dropped their weapons, clattering onto the ground. These men knew they stood no chance. Adolph pointed to a horse several yards away.
"I believe we could use another ride, seeing how we have more people now," Adolph said, face bright with the satisfaction of a job well done. He ran off after the horse while Erik stood guard as the family behind him reunited. Erik knew more gypsies would eventually come. He winced and pressed his hand to the wound bleeding on his side.
Sedrick dropped to his knees in disbelief as his boy reached him. The young boy wrapped his thin arms around his father's neck. Sedrick pulled his weeping wife against him, bursting into frustrated tears himself, burying his hands in their hair as they clung onto him, his frame shaking with emotion. Lifting them both off the ground as he stood up, he kissed them urgently, squeezing them tightly.
"We must go now, before reinforcements arrive," Adolf interrupted, bringing the recently acquired steed up to Sedrick. He nodded and swung his boy onto the horses his back, who clung on tightly. He lifted his tiny wife onto the horse with little effort, mounting behind her.
"We will meet you in the forest." Adolph said. Sedrick reached down and clasped arms with him.
"Please, make haste." Sedrick said, voice horse with emotion. He rode off.
Erik looked down as Roland hugged him. Roland backed up and saw the blood on his hands, the gash in Erik's side. Adolph approached, face filled with concern. The two men he was guarding scurried off.
"Erik, you are hurt!" Roland gasped.
"I will be fine once your mother stitches me up," he said with a smile to Roland, reassuring him. Adolph's face did not change as he tore a length of fabric from the lining of his cloak. He wrapped it around Erik's midsection to put pressure on the wound.
"Thank you," Erik muttered. He smashed a lamp into some straw near a wooden shed and threw in his gunpowder pellets. The fire flamed up. "There, that should keep them busy."
They set out running towards the cover of the trees.