RMW

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Hangman’s Haunt

~SV~

Hangman’s Haunt Wharf, Late Afternoon, 677, 28th, October

Seeing the Oracle’s sword, they stop; raising his hand, Eddirk says, “Whoa, we mean you no harm, we only seek your assistance.” Zara flips the hood of her cloak back, assuming the girl will be less frightened of a female. Instead, Zara sees that the young Oracle knows women can be just as dangerous. Zara tilts her head, her braided brown hair with blonde streaks, dangles at her side, as she wonders whom the female is, that caused this girl such mistrust.

Zara’s warm brown eyes twinkle, as she grins, “I am impressed. Hazel, one of our oracles, said you were running and afraid.” Smirking, Zara adds, “It is nice to see you are at least armed for a fight.” Sidonia frowns, so Zara clarifies, “I imagined you were incapable of defending yourself. I guess I just expected to see the typical frailness.” The Dark Princess nods, as the older female adds, “I am Zara. We had a vision of you here and came to ask your help in finding a lost, likely hurt, little boy. Will you come help us?”

Sidonia realizes this is why she had the dream-vision of Charles with Beatrix, yet knows she will put them at risk if she helps. Still, she did not see either of them in her vision, and cannot read their thoughts. Zara offers, “Our leader, Endora’s gift cannot guide us to him; mine only showed me you.” The Princess remains wary of danger. Zara sees her hesitancy, “Endora saw your gift can find him, is that true? I admit I did not expect you to be so young.”

The male says, “I am Eddirk, leader of the Satan’s Spit Ramblers Clan. Yes, it sounds ghoulish. The locals call it that because of the red colored dirt in the creek.” Sidonia sees evidence of it on their boots. Zara adds, “They let us buy the land as they are superstitious of it, so they stay away. We do not sense it is cursed, and prefer our solitude away from others, anyway.”

~*~

Kolo’s Throne Room, Late Afternoon, 677, 28th, October

Darciana’s blurry eyes go wide at his charred appearance, as Kolo peers down upon the Rambler in her crypt. She gasps, “You look ghoulish, oh wait- who are you?” Lifting her out, as he replies, “Actually, I prefer this terrifying look. It always gives me glee to see the horror I cause in others.” Darciana groans, “I do not understand.” Slowly he carries her toward his Craftroom, Kolo adds, “I only use the pretty ones when I am trying to get something from someone.”

He snorts, “Even men fall all over themselves to help an attractive one. Everyone favors a pleasing complexion; one who is nothing other than fortunate to be born beautiful. What did they do to earn it? Absolutely nothing! Tis pure luck of the draw!” Her mind hurts, keeping her from grasping much of what he means. Darciana blinks, trying to clear her healing eyes. Slowly, the Rambler starts to recognize him, gasping, “Oh. It is you! I once did a charm for you.”

Kolo groans at holding her slight weight, as he goes around the table. She recalls the details, “It was your jewelry, I spelled it so no one learned your thoughts, how and why are you here?” The Evil One moans as he sets her in her chair, which is nearest to his, as he scoffs, “Circumstances require that I be myself until healed, which would have been sooner if my sister was more skilled. I shall have to give Lola some practice raising all of you, the next few times.”

He places her right wrist on the arm of the heavy wooden chair, latching it in; Darciana cringes at the idea of Lola raising her. She hears him speak like Kolo, and of Lola, as if he is her brother too. The Evil One locks her other wrist, as the Rambler senses, “You were him, all this time?” He mocks, “Yes, I am Kolo.” He fastens a belt at her waist, behind the chair’s back. Her mind is racing, as she starts to understand, “How is it possible that I did not realize-?”

Darciana gasps, “You have another image!” Kolo kneels, “Now you know just how good your charms work, since they kept even you from knowing my thoughts.” He fastens her ankle against the leg of the chair; she gasps, “My charms? But how are you doing it?” Locking in the other ankle; he taunts, “Not a great clairvoyant, are you. Did you forget? Vampires earn powers.” Standing, Kolo says, “At least you do excellent hexes, charms, and curses.”

Her head spins, as Kolo gets a drink, adding, “I might need another hex very soon.” Wondering how often she had helped him, since Kolo is able to change his appearance, he likely has more than two; he could have been many of her clients. Recalling the necklace she hexed for a Vampire, who had seemed familiar, she feels it was Kolo. Furious, Darciana says, “I should have guessed it was the foul mad woman’s fault when you entered with her!”

A voice comes from another open tomb, as she mocks the Rambler, “What have I to do with your capture, cousin?” It is the superior tone of Queen Samala. Kolo puts his cup down going to the Mad Queen’s tomb. Samala chokes in dismay at the sight of the Evil One, “Where is your red hair? What burned your hands and cheek?” Kolo growls down into her face, “Your foul husband’s barrier from Nifl, that is what happened!” Samala sneers, “It is your own fault.”

The Queen seethes, as Kolo caused Rorik’s curse, “You did this to yourself, by breaking your promise, to leave my children alone!” Kolo lifts her from the Greek tomb, slowly carrying her, as he bitterly lies, “I did not touch your boys. And did you keep your end of our bargain? No!” Samala hisses, “It is impossible to care for you.” He sneers, “Then accept that there are punishments!” Smugly, she sighs, “It appears you are the one who received a punishment!”

The Queen wisely says nothing of Rorik, “I am not as good at faking my feelings, the way others here, are.” Examining him, her sight is healing and blurred, she blinks and looks at him again. Samala now gasps in horror, “Who-? Oh, demon!” She admits in dismay, “I know you!” Kolo sits the Queen in the chair beside her cousin, begrudging that he had to reveal his true form and gift to them. Darciana mocks the Mad Queen, “You are slow to admit it!”

He straps in the stunned Samala’s waist, as she replies, “I have not seen his true image for likely a decade, prior to my being captured!” The Rambler replies, “Well, that makes two of us.” Queen Samala demands, “What do I have to do with Darciana’s capture?” Clasping her wrists in, Kolo smirks, “Quite a lot, my Queen. She charmed my jewelry so you would not read my thoughts. It is a happy coincidence that I was later directed to her again.”

Kolo gasps with effort to kneel, “I needed her to hex my necklace. It was a golden opportunity, as I tricked Sidonia into giving you that necklace.” The Queen seethes, “It stole my gift, so you were able to force yourself on me, in my garden, nearly killing Viktor!” Kolo giggles, “Oh, that was fun, having a taste right under Anthony’s nose, and him none the wiser.” The Evil One clamps Samala’s ankles in, as he smirks, “Darciana also hexed the bracelet.”

He gloats, “Which I convinced Sidonia into giving you as a gift. We had such a lovely drive into the countryside. The naive girl led me right to where Anthony had hidden you at the sanitarium. It is pointless to blame either of them, as your capture was inevitable, my Queen.” Darciana replies, “I agreed to keep others from knowing his thoughts. Being young, I never realized the harm it would cause me and others. He looked different when he wanted a necklace hexed.”

Groaning, he stands getting a drink, as the Rambler growls, “He wanted to block an Oracle’s gift. I declined.” Samala seethes, “Then how the Dark did he bite me in my garden? Dear, betraying, Rambler!” Darciana hisses, “My father saw the coin.” The Queen sniffs, as the Rambler adds reluctantly, “He hurt me until I gave in. I realized it was you he was trying to harm, after I touched your hair that he gave me. So, I refused, until Father threatened to sell me.”

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The Mad Queen blames Darciana, “You could not find a way around it? Or even think to warn me?” Samala then hisses at Kolo, “How did you get my hair?” Kolo gleefully replies for the reluctant Rambler, “Oh, she tried to save you!” Samala sneers, “If she tried, why am I here?” Kolo sits, pouring more blood, and mocks Samala, “You have yourself to blame. She actually got extremely close to ruining my plans.” Samala sneers, “I sincerely doubt she tried!”

He replies, “She was at the gates of Blackstone Castle. The poor girl informed them her message was important, a matter of life or death. Luckily, Nepathi warned me that Darciana was obligated to tell you. So, I was there to capture her! That is what you get for never admitting your Rambler past and denying all family.” Samala hisses, “My past has nothing to do with this!” Darciana vents at her, “Your guards did not care for the look of me, after father beat me.”

She reluctantly adds, “For refusing to harm you. When I said, ‘I am her cousin’ they called me a liar, because you told all that you had no family! If you were just truthful, they might have let me in. Instead, Kolo arrives claiming I am his runaway slave, and they did nothing as he took me! I doubt your guards told you that I said your necklace was hexed.” Samala remains silent, as she recalls her past. Kolo smirks at the Rambler, “Imagine that, I did you a favor!”

Darciana frowns until he adds, “By killing your father.” She sneers with contempt, “Yes, thank you for saving me from him. As this is so much worse, than his temper and threats!” He giggles sinisterly. Samala mocks, “If innocent, then why did you hex my bracelet?” Darciana says, “I was already captured!” Kolo muses, “Oh Samala, you have been far more compliant than she.” This raises hairs on the back of Darciana’s neck, curious what he means.

Finishing his drink, Kolo goes for the last witch, as he adds, “In fact, I recall Darciana even held out for a few months. It was such fun, coming up with ways of torturing her, before she gave in.” Lifting the Egyptian from her tomb, Nepathi is unsurprised by his image. The Evil One says, “You know I always get what I want.” Samala has a dismissive sniff. He enters the Craftroom with the third captive; putting Nepathi across from the two angry Rambler cousins.

Kolo only cuffs one of Nepathi’s ankles, her shackle is linked to a long heavy chain, that is attached to the leg of the heavy wooden chair, which bolts into the stone floor. Wobbling, Nepathi stands to peer into the glass bowl, seeing the ash and dust. Hesitantly, Kolo gets each of the three a carafe of blood and a cup; putting them within reach of each of his victims. Reluctantly, he unlocks the left cuffs of the two cousins, putting the key back into his cloak pocket.

Fatigued, the Evil One slowly sits in his chair; glaring at the three. Kolo gives them a harsh threat, “Warning, I am in the darkest mood I have ever been in, so do not test me! Naughty ones get the agony of my newest tortures, so either delight me by helping, or you can give me some dark joy as I kill you again for misbehaving!”

~*~

Sidonia nods as she sees the intricate stitching of the two Rambler’s clothing, relaxing a bit; she knows it is common to the clans of this realm. Zara appears to be twenty-five and her clothing is more provocative than the dark girl has ever seen, it fits her well and this older girl wears it with confidence. Eddirk tells the Oracle, “My wife Endora, did a reading and told us, you are from the Witch Island Clan. She said we could find you here, to ask you to help-.”

The Princess cuts in, “Why are you blocking your thoughts?” They realize this is why she stayed reluctant. Both untie the leather straps from their necks to release their charms. Holding them so she can see the mark of the Ramblers, they let them drop. Sidonia gasps, “Oh dear, Charles is in dire need. Is Satan’s Spit Forest near here?” Eddirk replies, “An hour to the north, but we have a door nearby that we will use.” Sidonia nods, “I must warn you. If I come with you-.”

She hesitates to say, yet has to caution them, “It might lead the men and Vampire who are hunting me, to your camp. It will endanger all of you, for one child.” Eddirk replies in a serious tone, “It is worth the risk to us.” The Princess nods, “Very well, it is worth risking them catching me, to help you.” Her dragon blade turns back into a bracelet upon her arm. Zara takes off her cloak, handing it to Sidonia, who frowns. Zara smiles, “My vision showed I help you.”

The Rambler adds, “I will be your decoy.” The dark girl accepts it. They pick up their charms, putting them back around their necks. Seeing the rows of daggers around Zara’s waist reminds the Princess of her half-brother Prince Rorik. Sidonia removes her cloak, handing it to Zara. The dark girl wishes for Zara’s confidence, skill with knives, and muscle tone. She notices two scars on Zara’s face. One short scar on her lower lip. A longer scar is above her eye.

However, the Princess feels that neither distract from the Rambler’s beauty. Zara wears a sleeveless lace up vest over a blouse with slight sleeves hanging off her shoulders. It reveals a scar near her exposed cleavage, and more upon her hands and naked arms. Zara pulls the hood forward, hiding her face. The dark girl slightly laughs to herself at the idea of wearing Zara’s clothing too.

Sidonia is glad she does not need to trade that as well, for it would bring the sort of attention that the young Princess is not ready for. Sidonia is not envious of those experiences that she assumes Zara is having. Nor does the dark girl fault her. It appears that Zara is nearly five to ten years older than Sidonia is, so the Princess thinks that it is usual for females who are older, to have men. She looks at Eddirk to sense if she can trust him. He is likely in his early forties.

Nevertheless, she feels he is wise for his years. She senses he will be honest and keep her safe. Sidonia recalls her dream and her father’s warning; she removes her Panther Bracelet placing it in her bag. Handing the shoulder sack to Zara, the dark girl offers, “There is food in it.” Zara sits, as the Princess warns, “One of the Vampire’s men, semi-bald, thin, named Weasel, tried to grab me. They were at the previous wharf we stopped at. I was able to get away.”

She adds, “However, Weasel travels with a very large man, I would not want to meet.” Zara smirks, “Well, I might enjoy meeting them.” Sidonia gets a shiver of fear for her daring to seek a fight. Zara runs her hands across her rows of daggers, “I am capable of handling two or three men. Since it is not dark, I will not get to test my skill against the Vampire, as I hope you find Charles soon.” Zara looks at the sun adding, “Preferably, before the frost of nightfall.”

Sidonia nods, “I hope the Evil One does not find you nor me, risking others.” Eddirk leads her off the Ferry as he says, “My Dark Door is there behind that pub,” Looking up at the sign, as they near it, has Sidonia mumbling, “Oh, ‘Hangman’s Haunt’ that is a grim unusual name for a tavern. It has an unpleasant feel as well-.” She becomes silent, seeing the Ferryman and his passengers are coming out of the inn. Eddirk puts his arm around her, until they go by.

He had felt her stiffen at his touch, and frowned not knowing since her gift is stronger, all contact affects her. She is relieved when the Ferryman and his passengers go by without knowing her. The Princess follows Eddirk, as he walks through the trees toward the back, and now explains, “The pub is named for a local legend.” The leaders jaw tightens, “They hanged a man.” Sidonia senses it with a shiver. He motions, “Back there, five years ago, from the large tree.”

Sidonia looks where he points, and sees the dark aura around the place, she shudders. Eddirk says, “Some say the man was innocent of the murder. His wife died from a broken heart; she is the one who haunts this area, still.” The young Oracle senses that he knows the Shade. The Princess states, “You saw Beatrix here.” Eddirk gets a jolt at her saying the Ghost’s name. Gravely, he says, “It was three years ago, one dark night, with no moon.”

Eddirk admits, “I heard her crying first; then she asked me to clear her husband’s name.” The Rambler sighs with disappointment, “I was not able to find out anything useful.” Sidonia admits in a dark whisper, “I dreamt of Beatrix twice, now I know why.” Eddirk feels suspicious of the young Oracle. Sidonia knows his fear, it causes her to grin. He puts his power-stone against the back wall of the tavern, opening his Dark Door; she steps nearer, yet hesitates.

The Leader repeats, “Please, we need to hurry, so we can find Charles before it is too cold and dark.” They walk through Eddirk’s Dark Door, and exit out of a large tree trunk, coming into his camp. The Satan’s Spit Rambler Clan are waiting for their arrival and now stare at the Oracle who has been brought there to help. There are gasps at her age and striking looks. A few women feel a tinge of envy; while Robert whispers to a few others, of an opportunity.

Princess Sidonia does not waste time, as she rushes to their female leader, Endora, and tells her, “I will do what I can.” Seeing the supplies, she grabs a lantern. Endora says, “Thank you for coming. We will follow you.” Sidonia rushes to the boy’s wagon; her ethereal green mist comes to her eyes as she seeks a vision. Many in the clan gasp at the brilliant color of her mist. Endora nods at her skill as she already knows where to start.

The dark girl looks to see what Charles had seen; then she starts following him into the woods. Sidonia suddenly stops at the tree line, and gasps, shaking with fear. Princess Sidonia has just unintentionally re-lived a moment from her past. Eddirk sees her horror, he asks, “What is it Oracle? Is Charles dead?”

~RMW~