Monday 23 February 2009

Embrace of the Lycan - Chapter 5

Chapter 5
The days went by, and the summer solstice brought with it much warmer winds. Bartos and Kolos, two farming brothers who had been brought to Viktor’s only a few years ago, made no hesitation in getting to work on the fields. They spoke to Lucian and advised that for the village to become self sufficient in anyway, they would need seed for planting as soon as possible, and some livestock. Lucian said he would speak to Krisztina, and ask where he could find a merchant.

When Lucian entered the inn, there was no sign of her. He knocked gently on the door that lead to the kitchen area calling her name, but there was no reply, so he tentatively pushed it open.

Once in the kitchen area, he heard voices coming from the back yard. His hearing was superb, and he could distinctly make out a male voice, and it was being threatening. He rushed out the back and saw a tall slender man wearing a military outfit, with his gloved hand around Krisztina’s throat.

‘I suggest that you unhand the young lady sir, or explain to me why a trained military man is threatening a barmaid,’ Lucian growled. He smiled at the man, but it was clear there was no deference intended.

The man looked at Lucian, taking him in and assessing any potential threat with the keen eyes of a trained soldier. Lucian did not have his twin swords with him, but a rather mean dirk was hanging from his belt. The soldier assessed the situation correctly and reluctantly, it appeared, let go of Krisztina.

‘What business do you have here?’ He sneered at Lucian.

‘My business is with the mistress of this establishment, and of no concern of yours,’ Lucian responded with a smile. There was menace held in that smile. ‘Now, if you have finished your dealings, I bid you good day sir’.

The soldier marched up to him and stood inches away form him.

‘I suggest.... sir,’ spat the officer contemptuously, ‘That you watch your tongue around me less you say something you will later regret’. He turned on his heel and entered the door leading back to the kitchen. Lucian watched him until he went through into the main room. He heard the front door open, and then slam shut. He then relaxed a little, and looked over to Krisztina.

‘Are you alright?’ he asked, genuinely concerned as she was rubbing the red mark starting to appear around her neck.

‘I was just fine – until you arrived’, she snapped.

Lucian was a little taken aback by the remark, but followed her into the kitchen. She stopped suddenly, and turned around.

‘I’m sorry!’ she apologised, dropping her head. He put his hand under her chin, and lifted her face so he could look in her eyes.

‘There is nothing to apologise for,’ he said softly, and she gave a grateful smile in response while trying to ignore how warm and pleasant his fingers felt against her face. Lucian continued, ‘But can I ask what it was he wanted?’

‘It is a long story,’ she sighed. ‘Do you want to come for a walk? In the woods? I feel that it helps me calm down.’

‘Of course,’ he smiled, and offered her his arm, which she took with a bright smile.

It was a warm day, and even in the shade of the trees, it was still pleasant. They followed a small path, with Krisztina leading, and Lucian got the impression that this was a path she often walked.

After about 20 minutes of steadily climbing upwards through the trees, they reached a plateau of sorts, and nearby was a small cave. Krisztina made her way to the front of the cave, kicked off her shoes, and sat with her small bare feet hanging over the edge. Lucian sat next to her, and looked at her expectantly. She looked up at him briefly, smiled and pushed that errant lock of hair back behind her ear and then looked straight ahead.

She was slightly embarrassed sat there under his forceful gaze.

‘You can see most of the valley from up here,’ she said overly cheerful. She seemed to be delaying her story, and tying to compensate for her earlier upset. ‘I found this place soon after I came here, and it has always been a bit of a refuge.’

She was right, Lucian thought. You could see most of the valley from here, and it was an excellent strategic look out spot. He made a mental note to talk to Raze about this later. That cave would be an ideal place to hoard the weapons he was beginning to forge.

‘The man you ‘rescued’ me from, was Tibor. He is the Captain of the Duke’s household guards. He comes from a family that have in the last few generations, through scheming and swindling no doubt, made some money.’

She looked at him directly to emphasise, ‘A lot of money.’

‘He has a fair amount of power as Captain of the Guard, but what he lacks, and it is the thorn in his side, is nobility and breeding.’

Lucian wrinkled his brow quizzically, and so she continued.

‘I told you that my mother died in childbirth, and that I was raised by my grandmother, but what I did not tell you, is that my mother’s family were actually nobility.’ Lucian remembered hearing this from Old György, but he let her continue.

‘My mother was ostracised from her family the moment she involved herself with my father. For many generations, her family had lived on a great estate somewhere to the west of here. My great-great-grandfather was apparently a bit of gambler when he was a young man. According to the gossip I heard from the servants, one day long ago he was visited by 2 rather sinister characters. They offered to settle his debts, if he would hand over the fortress that was the family home, along with all the lands. The legend is that my ancestor was tricked by some glamour, as he swore for the rest of his life until the day he died, that he never would have parted with his family’s land willingly.’

She shrugged her shoulders. ‘Who knows what happened. All those involved are long dead now. Although the fortress is still occupied as far as I know by the mysterious ancestors of my great-great-grandfathers visitors. I do not even know where this place was.’

‘But what has that got to do with your visitor?’ he asked.

‘Tibor has asked... well actually, he is insisting... that I marry him. He has apparently done some research into my family’s history, and feels that marrying me will give him and his future generations, the nobility to go along with his wealth. As the last descendant of my family, I am entitled to use the title Baroness. Is that not the most ridiculous thing you have ever heard? Me... a Baroness! In these rags?’ She laughed when she said this, but there was a bitterness to it. ‘I have nobility, but no money – he has money, but no nobility.’

Lucian really felt for this young girl, and her family. Her mother and father’s story had echoes of his relationship with Sonja. Two people from different worlds, falling in love, yet kept apart by ridiculous concepts of class.

He placed a hand over hers where they were folded together in her lap. She looked at him, and saw the empathy there, and sadness.

‘Tell me Lucian,’ she said.

‘Tell you what?’ he replied slightly confused.

‘Tell me what it was that happened to you, that brings about that haunted look into your eyes when you think no one is watching.’

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