RMW
Act Three
Evil Two
~*~
Chapter Nineteen
Betrayed
~SV~
Anthony’s Castle Den, Dark 4 AM, 677, 28th, October
Prince Viktor nods to Sidonia’s Guard, “I will beware of the compelled Human Guards and the ‘Evil Two’.” Donatello feels drained as he gets another blood drink and mumbles, “Good, I want you to be safe. I am unsure if I can avoid the coming danger when they threaten Sidonia. My duty is to stand in front of her.” Hearing footsteps coming toward the outer door, they look to each other.
Then there is a loud pounding on it; Grunt, a Human Guard yells, “Donatello!” Viktor asks, “What if he is still compelled?” Donatello replies, “I guess there is only one way to find out, if Tik lied.” The boy’s eyes go wide, as he worries, “It sounded like more than one guard, and they might be worse than Nusia, my Nanny.” Donatello whispers, “It might be nothing. However, you should go to your room and lock your door. Do not come out for anyone.”
Donatello adds, “Other than your sister, Grekan, or me.” Before dashing off with the letter, Viktor warns, “He is not just named Tik; he drains others with his bullying.” Sidonia’s Guard nods, “I agree.” Prince Viktor adds, “I say you should not trust Tik.” Again, the young Prince’s insight surprises him. Donatello hears the Prince’s door shut; then he sees a brief shining red glow above him.
Glancing up by the tall ceiling, Sidonia’s Guard sees a sword on the wall over the doorway leading out of the den, ‘Is this the weapon Viktor talked of?’ It is so impressive that it draws him to it, as he flies up toward the black sword. Donatello grabs it down, before thinking what Anthony might do if he touches his sword, let alone uses it. He runs his fingers across the dragonhead pummel.
Then, Donatello traces the dragon’s scaled body as its hilt, he sees the wings are also the hand guard. He looks at both sides of the black sword, admiring the way they made the dragon’s tail; molding it cleverly into the center of the black blade, as it continues half of the length. It has an otherworldly mystical feel and look.
The black sword has red flames heat-etched into the blade. The Dragon’s eyes on the pummel are embedded with red gemstones and diamond shaped black obsidian centers. Its magnificent craftsmanship and detail of its sharp teeth gives no doubt, the Dark Elf Dragon Lords made it, for Anthony.
~*~
Black Forest Village’s back wall, Dark 4 AM, 677, 28th, October
Maleva glares at Rorik, “You are cursed with bad blood in your father’s line; it causes a tendency to rush into dark situations. You have a higher likelihood of making the wrong conclusion, as evil is an easier way for you, than others. It has deadly consequences for your own family! Your mum is no better, blaming her child when facing evil. Standing at this crossroad, you have two paths.”
Her eyes glow with a beautiful medium shade of green, as she adds, “The right-hand path will bring you trust with your current family; pride, and love will be earned as your reward.” She spits in the dirt saying, “However, you lean to the left-hand path; you always have. I see that a Wolf and a Mullo will foreshadow you, as your consequence of the dark.” The Prince pulls his hand from her grasp.
Rorik gives her a stern look, tired of everyone saying his parents and he are not good enough. Maleva scoffs, “If you take the left path, you will be shunned by our kind. You will become a Werewolf, likely to be a Warg; it is a fouling of your Rambler’s Blood Pact. If you harm one of us, you will break that pact. We will mark you with a ‘B’ for banishment. You will be an outcast. Even your own family will not trust you. If you kill, we will hunt you.”
His head spins, the Prince prefers not to listen. Maleva hisses, “Which do you choose?” Rorik senses she is right, yet still insists, “You are wrong. My sister is in danger. Once I help her, she will assist me with freeing Mother, who was taken by the fiend! It is honorable and why I needed your Dark Door; I am not the left-hand path!” She sees his denial, believing he will not change his mind.
Refusing to have any part of his future, Maleva waves her wand at him and it sends a bright pink mystical rope, which binds him. The elderly woman waves it at her Dark Door, and it throws the Prince inside of it. Rorik’s horse takes off, as the Witch walks into her Dark Door and closes it. Maleva opens her Dark Door and tosses him out in a new location, Rorik shouts at her, “Where am I?”
She tells him, “Where you deserve to be. Pitsville, north of the Black Forest; the walk to the castle will give you time to make the right decision. You must seek to do right even when it is harder than doing wrong. I wish I could believe you will try.” Maleva removes the coins he gave her, tossing them at him, “I do not want your coin, and refuse to assist in your evil deeds!” Rorik begs, “You agreed, and cannot leave me here; it is over a day’s walk!”
She scoffs, “You are nearer than you were before you came to me; be grateful I chose not to return you to the Carpathian Mountains. I am still hopeful that you truly will help your sister.” Rorik shouts, “I do not have my horse and my mother is counting on me!” Maleva scolds, “Do not seek your crazed mother; she will only do further evil if you help her to be free. She has not earned it.”
Rorik quips, “You have earned our anger.” The elderly Witch replies, “If you are the fool, I think you are, go to that Witch’s shack. You can risk dealing with her, pay her with your coin and body.” The Prince hisses, “No! You cannot do this to me!” Maleva says darkly, “You underestimated me. I am just wicked enough to be a sharp thorn in your dark plan; hopefully long enough, for your sister to escape you.” Maleva closes her door, and it disappears.
~*~
Setting the sword down, Donatello flies up to take the scabbard too, as they pound against the door again, yelling, “Donatello! The Captain wants you, now!” Donatello sees the writing of the Dark Elf Dragon Lords on the belt. He knows their language enough to read it, ‘Blood Warrior.’ Her guard gasps in awe; believing this black sword is magical as well.
Donatello knows the legendary Dark Elf Dragon Lords of the Banned Continent in the Mystical Realm made this black sword and holder. He wonders if they presented it to High Lord Anthony Vlasac for all he did in the Demon Wars. Quickly, Donatello straps the belt around his waist, and speaks his plea, “Forgive me High Lord, King Anthony. I dare not go for my own sword. I hope you understand that I am using it in defense of your daughter.”
Lifting the Dragon Sword, he notices the perfect balance. Yet it is a bit big and heavy for him, still he is thankful for it; exclaiming, “Excellent.” He sheathes the grand sword, going to the outer door of the private rooms, and has a little more confidence that he might survive this night. Just then, Grunt, Hanis, Whitey, Furlif, Squat, Duckweed, and Dumworth the Human Guards pound at the same time, making it much louder. It gives him a chill of foreboding.
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Whitey shouts, “Donatello, Captain Tik wants you at the Front Gate, right now!” Sidonia’s Guard has an ominous feeling.
~*~
Sidonia’s Bedroom, dark, 4:30 AM, 677, 28th, October
The Oracle dreams of a memory from when she was six years old, as she plays with a red tablecloth wrapping it around herself like a dress. “Tsk!” Princess Sidonia’s hands freeze, as her head whips to the doorway at the sound of her mother’s disapproval, “We do not wear Ramblers’ colors!” Sidonia frowns, remembering she had said that before, when she asked for a black and red cloak.
Sidonia does not know what Ramblers means. She marvels at her Mother’s beauty, as she stands in her white tunic dress with its light green trim, matching cloak, and gold jewels. Yet, the brightness of all she wears does not disguise the Queen’s dark mood. There is something in her mother’s wild green eyes; it gives the girl a chill of fear. Samala senses it and grabs the cloth from her daughter.
The Princess watches her put it into the basket hanging from her arm. Samala mocks, “Are you going to act like Ramblers, or come with me for a picnic?” Not waiting for her reply, as Sidonia gives none, the Mad Queen grabs her little hand too tightly, causing her to flinch with pain. Even a small child has instincts that tell them when things are not right; the girl turns as they enter the hall.
Princess Sidonia, looks for the Nanny and her brothers, then she calls, “Dusk.” Samala impatiently yanks her forward, hurting Sidonia’s arm. The Mad Queen smirks, “You cannot bring your cat with us.” Again, the dark girl has the nagging thought that she should not be alone with her mother and asks timidly, “Where are Rorik and Viktor?” Her mother thinks, ‘They must not see this.’ Looking up, Sidonia innocently asks, “Why not?”
It startles her mother and she glares at the girl’s ability to hear her thoughts already. Samala wonders, ‘How has she got the gift so soon? Can her Strigoi blood increase her power instead of weakening it? It goes against everything I was taught!’ Sidonia looks for her brothers, not realizing her mother had only thought these comments. She does not know she is reading her mind, as she looks up again, asking, “What is Strigoi blood?”
~*~
The Princess’s door opens as Donatello goes by it in the hall. Grekan whispers, “What are they here for?” Donatello replies, “They claim Tik wants me. Hopefully, Tik removed the Evil One’s control over the guards. If I refuse to go, they are more likely to try breaking down this door. It is heavy and should hold up; still, I think it is best if I go willingly.” Grekan says, “It is unwise. Stay here with us.”
Donatello only adds, “I just hope Tik is loyal to Anthony and does all he promised me he would do. Leave it bolted. Make certain you lock her door as well. If things go badly, just let me take the brunt of it.” Grekan urges, “Do not go. I have a very bad feeling about Tik, and I always have!” Donatello replies, “I must go. If it goes badly, I hope it keeps them from coming for Sidonia.”
Grekan argues, “It is very unwise, and more likely that the guards remain compelled by the Evil One!” Donatello gets a strange smile, “I see why the Princess calls you, her friend. It will be best if you keep yourself out of this mess. This door is your best defense, so do not open it.” Fearing capture Donatello pulls out two keys, giving Grekan the key to the outer door, and the key to Sidonia’s door.
Donatello gives him a grin. Grekan sees him mist under the outer door. The Clerk hears a guard demand, “Tik says I am to watch the Princess for you.” Donatello scoffs, “Guard this outer door then, I have no key to open it.” Grekan nods, and worries for Donatello as he hears them leave and is unsure if that guard stayed outside the door. He now understands what Sidonia’s Guard meant.
If the Human Guards break down that door to get to Donatello, he and Sidonia will have less fortification to keep her safe. Still, if they come for Sidonia, who will stop them now? Grekan is nearly sick with worry. He rushes inside the Princess’s room, shuts the door, and locks it; the Clerk wishes he had his letter opener, or some sort of weapon. He dares not go for it now.
The Librarian leans against the door and can see no purpose his death will serve, so he keeps his own counsel, not going out. He believes he can offer wise guidance, not a physical defense. Grekan looks at the Princess, knowing if it goes badly, it is up to him to get her away from here. He hopes Donatello will be unharmed. Grekan puts the keys in his robe pocket; and starts to make up his mind.
If her guard does not return by sun up, he will take Sidonia and run, as long as the Princess is up to running. He fears that he is all Sidonia has to keep her safe, yet knows he cannot carry her. Grekan goes to her window to find out, what he can hear happening, down in the courtyard. He sees the Human Guards are surrounding Donatello as they go with him toward the Front Gate.
The Librarian gets some hope, as he looks to the east. Grekan gasps, “Finally, something good. The black sky is becoming a dark navy. Dawn will come in a couple of hours, and with it the threat of Kolo coming back to life and returning here to kill us, shall be less!”
~*~
The Oracle is still stuck in her nightmare. The Six-year-old Princess has just confirmed Samala’s fears that touching her daughter’s hand allows the girl to read her mind. Samala pulls away saying, “Your hands are sweaty.” She brings gloves out of her cloak pocket and puts them on. Princess Sidonia backs away, because her hands are dry. The Queen finishes and grabs Sidonia’s hand again.
She hopes her daughter requires the touch to learn her mind. Sidonia pouts, confused at her mother’s reason for lying; she wants it to be the way it used to be, when her mother loved her. She does not understand what her mother sees in dreams that changed everything. She tries to be glad, as Samala hisses, “The Strigoi blood makes you weak, causing you to be a ‘Wicked Girl’, who wants me dead!”
As Princess Sidonia leaves the Castle with her mother, she looks for her father. Samala tilts her head up, saying with a stiff smile, “Viktor is not even one-years-old, I cannot hold him and carry our picnic basket. Nor can I quiet his fussing while playing hide and seek with you, now can I?” Sidonia shakes her head. Yet, she cannot imagine her mother caring about Viktor’s cries, as she always has the Nanny caring for him. Her mother glares, hearing her thoughts.
They turn toward the guard’s bunkhouse, as her mother says, “I do not wish to take time to look for Rorik. Since turning thirteen he prefers to practice his sword or his bow and arrows, to playing games with us.” Sidonia wonders why they are going this way if she does not plan to ask Rorik to come. As they pass the targets, her half-brother is not there. She sees that they are going to the North Gate, with the massive forest behind it, and stops walking.
Samala pulls her back into keeping up, as she scolds, “Are you going to be a cry-baby?” Young Sidonia shakes her head. They come to the North Gate and the dark girl gets a chill of foreboding; unable to believe she is going to have fun alone with her mother, in the frightening woods, where Father has forbidden them to play.
~*~
As Donatello walks willingly to the Captain, Hanis shoves him. While Grunt and Whitey keep grabbing hold of his arms. He is sick of it, as it feels that they are ‘forcing him to his doom’. Pulling away, Sidonia’s Guard becomes mist flowing off toward the Front Gate, leaving the Day Guards behind. Donatello becomes solid as he asks Captain Tik, “You sent for me sir?” It causes Tik to jump, as he did not see his mist arrive. Donatello tries not to smile.
Sidonia’s Guard gets a frown as he notices Captain Tik only has three power bars, which are usually hidden. All three of Tik’s bars are faded; it causes Donatello to wonder if Tik died recently. What little color outlining it is very dark, it means his vile thoughts and actions are causing it to darken. Tik sees where he is looking and covers his neck. Patch yells, “Look, it is Prince Rorik’s horse and he is not on it.” Night Captain Tik says, “Take it to the stable.”
Grumbling Tik adds, “Be sure to see to his horse, who knows how long it has been wandering without food and water.” Opening the gate, Patch asks, “Do we go look for Prince Rorik?” Patch brings the horse in, and Hanis closes the gate behind him. Thinking about it, has Tik groaning at Patch, “Take Andre and check in town, start at the Knotty Pub and it better not take you all night either!”
Tik turns and barks at Donatello, “There is someone here, talking about your fiend, who you are so keen to capture.” Sidonia’s Guard nods, as Tik huffs, “As you see, I cannot spare any men. If you are still interested you can handle it.” Hanis opens the gate at Tik’s nod and the Captain points, saying, “The old hag there says she can take you to him.” Donatello looks at the elderly lady. He tries to smile, as he says, “Lead the way.” She goes south toward the river.
Still, uneasy, Donatello looks around, as the lady anxiously tells him, “I was walking home and saw him left for dead on the river bank. I came to get help for the poor man.” She huffs excitedly, “And they told me you are looking for him. What did he do? Is he dangerous?” Donatello’s gut is telling him, ‘beware’ as he wonders how they could tell the man she saw was Kolo. He slows seeing shadows in the trees up ahead; Sidonia’s guard looks behind him.
Donatello now sees a group of Day Guards coming out of the shadows, a hundred yards at his back. Noting he has stopped; the woman turns to him. She says, in a cold tone, “Young man you kept me waiting and it is very late, I want to get home. He might leave, you need to come quick! He is down this way by your pier!” Donatello is about to reply, when he sees that a dark blue mist is starting to show around the woman. Sidonia’s Guard backs up.
Jillian finally gets control, she screams at Donatello, “It is a trap!” He goes west toward the Front Gate, hearing them bolt it. He turns north seeing day guards are blocking his way out of town. Looking east, he sees more blocking the road into the village. The only way left is south, to the river where the shadows wait for him. Donatello sees his captain is now at the gate. Captain Tik’s grin causes him to know… Tik has ‘Betrayed’ him!
~RMW~