LEGEND OF NEVETSECNUAC - ON THE WAY TO THE CAPITAL - SECTION 20

When Zunrogo returned to Room Ten Tizan, who had been seated complacently by the fire, sprang to attention at once.

"When did you get back?" Zunrogo asked as he closed the door behind him.

"I preceded you only by minutes, sir." Tizan smiled.

Sitting in the comfortable chair opposite Tizan, he signaled with his chin for the guard to sit down again then leaned back to get more comfortable.  "Well, let’s hear it."

01-TZAN JP

"In accordance with your orders, sir, I kept a close eye on Briac.  As anticipated, shortly after retiring to the room he shares with Frastos, I observed Briac sneaking back out again and followed him down the side alleys to the shop of the local barber on Kannicro Street.  When he entered these premises, I proceeded to climb to the roof and literally eavesdrop on their conspiracy.  It seems that we have not weeded out all the spies in the vicinity, sir. 

Despite Briac's intimidation, the barber still insisted on being paid more for the services of one of his messenger pigeons, yet that tightwad eventually gave up on his curses and met the barber halfway.  A short message was attached to the leg of the bird, and it was set free.  As you per your prior instructions, I did not intercept its flight."  He paused for affirmation.

"You were right in doing that."  Zunrogo was pleased.  "I knew that he would be sending out a message in one form or another soon after the briefing but this pigeon business, I confess, is somewhat precarious, though culpable.  Where did the barber keep them?  How was it, these courier pigeons escaped the now questionable, thorough inspection of the premise?"

"In the attic, sir, behind a false wall… The bleating of a goat kept in the room drowned out the pigeons ‘cooing."

"Keeping a goat in the attic?  And that did not warrant an investigation?"

"Frastos could hardly be blamed, sir.  The barber had concocted a plausible excuse; he said that his senile old mother, who slept in the same room, believed the goat to be her deceased husband returned to this life in another form.  In addition, an ingenious contraption had to be dismantled before the wall gave way.  Apparently, this was there to discourage the old woman from tampering with the pigeons."

"I assume, the situation was corrected then after Briac's departure?"

"Expediently, sir… The barber, his wife, his senile mother, and the remaining birds have all been dispatched, liberated from this world.  The well in the courtyard, however, will not be of much use for some time, I'm afraid."  He grinned coldly.

"I thought, Tizan, that you always liked to be thorough, but I see that I was wrong." Zunrogo smiled wryly at the guard's nonplused expression.

"The goat." he said and chuckled with good humor.

 Tizan grinned, catching the joke.

 "Now, to this business with Briac"

"Excuse me, sir." Tizan interrupted.  "I took liberty, knowing what little time we have, to initiate a solution."  He stalled, seeing the anger flame up in the captain's eyes.

Zunrogo checked his anger.  Tizan, he knew, was a competent underling and he tried not to discourage initiative.  "You have a plan, Tizan?" he asked sternly.  "Well then, let’s hear it."

"Well, sir, only part of it has been implemented.  If it meets with your censure, nothing much is lost.  I wanted to consult with you before carrying out the rest of it."

Zunrogo was intrigued. “All right, at least he's not being overly ambitious.”

Still, he had to confirm, "You, of course, did no harm to Briac?"

02 - BRIAC (2)

"No sir. That would be tantamount to disobeying your orders."

"Let’s hear it, then.  What is it, this great plan of yours?"

"Well, sir, it involves using this."  Tizan picked up a fair size pouch he had kept by the side of the chair until then and, rising, handed it over to the captain.

Zunrogo, with a certain curiosity, peered inside.  At once he apprehended the plan and he beamed, "Well done."

"You approve, then."

"Quite; it’s a fitting end for him, I say."  He handed the pouch back to Tizan.  "You must have been toying with this idea for some time."

"For a while now, sir; however, I had to be first assured of Briac's treachery."  His eyes fell on the pouch.  "Unfortunately, the previous owner was not obliging, and I had to resort to force." Tizan explained dispassionately.

Zunrogo’s heart winced.  He did not need to ask whether the victim was mercifully dispatched or had writhed (squirmed) in agony, for he knew Tizan only too well. In that remote fishing village where once Tizan had lived till about month or so before at the age of twelve, well, Tizan’s cruel stepfather Zianko had done a lot in shaping, unleashing Tizan’s sadistic nature.  (You may check back to: Book 1 – Fisherman’s Prize – Section 3).  

Tizan, since his recruitment, had been rather useful in accomplishing exceedingly difficult, most abhorred tasks; for his conscience never bothered him, in fact, he reveled in it.  His sadistic nature consistently craved, fed on the sufferings of others, even more so when he, himself, inflicted the pain.

"Well, I expect you still have a few more details to see (tend) too." Zunrogo, with a wave of his hand, abruptly dismissed Tizan.  But then, as the guard was headed towards the door, Zunrogo offhand voiced his query: "How will you do it, without waking him up?"

Tizan halting turned to explain, "I knew Briac would be visiting a lady friend of his before he returned to the Inn.  Oh, I've had her screened and she's no threat.  Anyway, after the business with the barber, I left a jug of fine wine on Briac's bed table, supposedly a gift from the Innkeeper to apologize for the incident in the dining hall.  As greedy and selfish as I know him to be, he's sure to consume the entire jug this very night.  I expect him to presently be passed out cold on his bed."

"Then he'll be getting two surprises tomorrow." Zunrogo smiled coldly.  "Do a complete job on him."

"Yes, sir, I most certainly will."  Tizan bowed and, turning smartly, left the room.

“He's too efficient.”  Zunrogo stared at the door with certain uneasiness.  “How much he reminds me of myself at that age.”

                                                                               ~

“Wake up, lazy bag of bones!  Wake up, I say.  It's nearly dawn."

"Oh, leave me alone, damn it!"  His lids half covered his eyes as he took a cursory look at the window.  "It’s still dark outside."  He buried his face back into the pillow.

"Get up this instant, that's an order!"  The commanding voice made him sit up with a start.  Rubbing his eyes into focus, Briac looked bewilderedly from one guard to the other until he saw the captain seated by the fireplace.  Instantly, he sprang out of bed to stand at attention, naked as the day he was born, “Yes sir… sorry, sir."

“At ease. " Captain Zunrogo grunted.

The speed of his movement meanwhile had made Briac’s head, ache, and Briac moved his hand up to rub his aching skull.  "What the…Aiyyegg!" Overnight he had mysteriously lost all his hair, gone completely bald.

“So, it wasn't a bad dream after all.”  His bewildered eyes caught the venomous grin on Tizan's sinister face and noted a certain satisfaction in the depths of his pupils.

 "Are you responsible for this outrage?"  Fists clenched, he turned furiously to Tizan.

"And how do you like your new look?" Tizan stared down at him belligerently.  Throwing his head back, Tizan laughed until a stern look from the captain abruptly silenced him.

With anger and incomprehension in his eyes, Briac looked at Frastos but Frastos stood at attention with his head lowered, attempting with all his might to stifle a laugh.

“You, spineless cur,” Briac inwardly cursed, disgusted by his friend's cowardice.  Turning to Zunrogo, with a pained look in his eyes, his voice anxiously protested, "Sir, what Tizan has done…this is an unmitigated outrage."

The captain did not answer; in his solid, unwavering, stone eyes, there was no emotion at all; he was indifferent, if not completely cold, to Briac's suffering.

03-- ZUNROGO TUGO - JP 26

“How could Captain Zunrogo Tugo have sanctioned this?  How could he have condoned it?  Wasn't it only last night that he had admonished Tizan and warned him to behave?  What could have gone wrong since then?”  Briac blanched.

 “No, that's inconceivable.”  Despite his fierce denial, his heart pounded through his chest as he was seized with inexplicable fear and his head ached even more.

"What are you waiting for?"  Tizan's sharp bark brought him back with a start.

"Put these on at once.  The captain wants to see how you look in them."  Tizan forcefully thrust a bundle into his hands.

Briac venomously glared at Tizan and inwardly cursed. “Despicable beast…This is all your doing; how long did it take you to construct this vile revenge and to beget this humiliation. You deserve to be torn apart, limb from limb, by the wild dogs.”

"But these are not my clothes." Briac outwardly, however, had protested, looking past Tizan to address the captain. 

"Are you dense?  Put them on at once!" Tizan bellowed, so close that his breath, heavy with loathing, beat on Briac's face furiously.

His heart pounded wildly with intense fear, making Briac's hands tremble as he begrudgingly donned the garments and stood before the captain.

"Oh; and put this on too."  Tizan robustly thrust, the scalp with long locks of blond hair, the same shade and color as Fradel Rurik Korvald's, into Briac's hand.  "It’s sure to improve your looks.  No need to thank me for it." He grinned maliciously.

Briac, knitting his brows, looked at the scalp and hair (pelt) with incomprehension.  Then, as understanding dawned onto him his eyes widened with horror and, with a visible shudder, he looked up questioningly at Tizan. “Just what kind of monster are you?”

"Come over here." the captain's stern voice commanded him into a seat.  His cold stare inspected Briac's disguise for the first time as the guard obediently sat down.

"You have been assigned to this most important task," Zunrogo explained with cool indifference. " Yes, you’ve’ been honored with this job, taking in due consideration, of your past extenuating service, your courage in line of duty and, once loyalty to me.”

“Past…. once loyalty…” Briac swallowed dryly, his stomach knotting itself tighter and tighter.

“But Sir,”

"You wish to object?"  The captain's glacial tone froze the blood in the guard's veins.

“Do they know?  Do they suspect that I’m...?  Is this to be only the most lenient part of my punishment?  How could that be, I've been so careful? How could they’ve have found out?” The outcome was too frightful for Briac to even imagine.

“No, that isn't it.”  Briac bit his lip and clenched his fists to control the trembling in his            hands.

 “It can’t be… I’m still safe.  Didn't the Captain just say that I'm being honored?”

 He swallowed fearfully and bowed his head abjectly, dropping his eyes to the ground.

 "No sir." Briac feebly assented.

"Then it's settled." Zunrogo glared.  "From now on you are forbidden to remove this disguise.  Those are your new orders."

"Very well, sir." Briac swallowed dryly and, as the captain got up to leave, he looked up to meet Tizan's eyes.

"What are you afraid of?" Tizan goaded Briac.  "Perhaps you're afraid to die?  You…"

The captain stopped mid-stride and half-turned to stare sharply back at Tizan, silencing him instantly with his look.  Tizan took a step back, cowed.

No sooner was Zunrogo gone than Tizan, a cruel half-smile on his lips, jovially clapped Briac on the shoulder.

"Don't worry, Briac, you'll be well protected.  Frastos and I will see to that.  Won't we, Frastos?"

04- FRASTOS - JP 07

Briac disdainfully jerked away from Tizan's hand and turned his back to him to turn his imploring eyes on Frastos.  "Why me?" the groan escaped his trembling lips.

Frastos avoided Briac's eyes.  Lowering his head, he mumbled softly. "It makes sense.”

But then inwardly, he added, “Better you than me.”

 

(END OF SECTION 20)

 

                                                                                          ~

 LEGEND OF NEVETSECNUAC - THE STATE OF THINGS - SECTION 6

Svein (Nevetsecnuac) and Fradel Rurik Korvald (riding on horseback) were still some distance away from any settlement or an Inn when dusk fell.  As if to multiply Fradel's misery, suddenly strong winds ushered a flotilla of dark, ominous clouds, which threatened to let loose a downpour at any time.

 Just then they sighted a thatched hut in the distance, and, in silent agreement, they both steered their horses towards it.  Obvious signs told them that the place had long been abandoned. Two lonely graves outside and a stench rising from the well attested to the tragic story of its residents.

Nevetsecnuac pushed the door open with an eerie creak and, lighting a torch quickly surveyed the dilapidated state of the interior.  The lit torch at once caused the infestation of rodents, lizards and insects to scurry away.

Nevetsecnuac brushed away the cobwebs then pushed the broken furniture and debris to one side to clear out a corner.  Inviting Fradel to rest there, he went back outside to secure the horses and meet their requirements for food and water.  When he returned Nevetsecnuac found that Fradel had made good use of this time to clear out the stove and start a small fire using kindling and charcoal chips that littered the floor.

So, he's not as helpless without servants as he claimed. Nevetsecnuac mused.  Good!

That night, sheltered from the wind and rain, for the roof leaked in only one or two places, they shared dry rations boiled over the fire to make a stew.  Fradel, more accustomed to wine and savory dishes, consumed a good share of this food without complaint, washing it down with water.  To Nevetsecnuac’s relief, the pampered scholar had proved adaptable and, more to the point, resilient.

After they retired Fradel found it impossible to sleep.  The excitement of that day, the eerie atmosphere of the room, the pelting rain on the roof, his hard makeshift (improvised) bedding and the coarse food had all conspired to keep him awake.  As the night progressed his distress became even more acute.

Now every shadow, every sound stretched his nerves taut.  Several ugly visages leered menacingly at him from the dark corners of the room but when he sat up and stubbornly fixed them with his stare they reverted back to ordinary objects.  Again, he shot occasional glances in Svein's direction and seeing him in deep slumber, suppressed an urge to grunt a would-be protest, “For Heaven’s sake, how can you sleep so soundly?”

Exhausted, Fradel reclined once more, then becoming aware of someone else's presence, he jumped up. This time, however, the apparition (ghost, phantom) was outside of the window.  As the window had no covering, he walked towards it and at the same time strained his eyes to see through the dark, the just then manifest, vacillating (fluctuating) iridescent specter.   The form drawn to closer proximity, become clearer, and he could now make out the tragic countenance of an elderly woman, which presently stretched out her arms in supplication and sobbed: “Save me, sir!  Save me!” 

Fradel was about to respond when, suddenly, out of the pitch darkness, three fearsome black wolves materializing (emerging), leapt upon her and sank their long fangs into her flesh; with such a voracious appetite, their prey (target) was instantaneously gone. Subsequently, crunching the last remanence of bones and lapping up the victim's blood, the trio of wolves licked their fur clean, thence, all three menacingly directed their attention on Fradel. They pivoted their blazing eyes on Fradel and began advancing towards him with deliberate slowness, with their tongues lolling, drooling at the mouth, as they panted.

Fradel, recoiling in terror, could not move a muscle, especially since one of the black wolves suddenly appeared inside and right beside him.

Fradel, resigned to his fate, held his breath and closed his eyes, expecting to be mauled, disemboweled and eaten to the last morsel by the rapacious wolves; unexpectedly however, the beasts simply vanished, when Sven just then stirred and, without turning to face him, asked: "What is it?”

"Nothing, nothing at all; it was just a bad dream (nightmare).  I'm sorry to have awakened you."

 Of course, Fradel's disclaimer was belied by the beads of perspiration on his forehead.  He tasted their salt as they dripped onto his lips; currently back on his hard bedding, he sullenly reclined and turned his back to Svein, as if to sleep.

 My strained nerves are playing tricks on me. Fradel consoled himself.  I'd best try to get some sleep.  With determination he closed his eyes tight but, just as he was about to drift off into the dream world, a rustling sound piqued his curiosity, and he once more lifted his eyelids to investigate.

This time his eyes beheld, in the center of the room, an enchanting, most beautiful fairy maiden’s apparition. Furthermore, smiling most alluringly at Fradel, she beckoned to him.  As he sat upright to acknowledge her, she suddenly turned into Cobarkek who, gritting his teeth, glowered at Fradel.

The scholar was seized with an inexplicable terror, recalling the bandit chief's last words to him, “I will deal with you later.”

He was about to call out to Svein when Cobarkek's head detached itself from his body, floated upwards and began to spin.  When it stopped, just in front of Fradel, the mouth opened wide and a reptilian, double-pointed tongue lashed out and coiled itself tightly around Fradel's neck, choking him.  Fradel struggled in vain to free himself, gasping for breath.

Again, Svein stirred, and Cobarkek's head simply vanished.

 Fradel found the culprit to be nothing more than the loosened strips of his head bandage that had fallen down around his neck.  Just as he was about to laugh at his own folly, Cobarkek's ghost reappeared.  Once more the scholar recoiled in terror as he watched the phantom metamorphosis into a frightful demon with grizzled red hair, blue face, glittering eyes, a saw-toothed razor-sharp grin and a blood red flickering tongue.  With green slime oozing from its four nostrils and its six arms flailing it advanced towards Fradel.  Paralyzed from the neck down, Fradel opened his mouth to cry for help, but no sound was issued forth.

As the scholar was struggling to scream, Svein suddenly sprang to his feet and hacked the demon into two halves with one blow.  Both halves toppled to the floor, motionless, giving off a dense bluish vapor that settled into a putrid mass which oozed under the floorboards.

Svein turned to smile reassuringly at Fradel, "It's all over now, go back to sleep."  Then, quite unruffled, he lay down once more, facing the wall, to fall asleep.

Fradel leaned over to ask, in amazement, "Aren't you afraid?"

"I used to be", Svein confessed.  "When I was younger, but now I know there is nothing to be afraid of."  He shrugged his shoulders under his blanket.

 "This is to be expected.  All abandoned places have their share of ghosts and demons, but they can only harm us if we let them."

Fradel nodded and also reclined in order to sleep once more.  He was very comforted by Svein's presence and, gradually, his heartbeat returned to normal.  Drawing closer, he whispered his thanks to Svein but the other just let out a disquieting laugh and, when Svein turned around to face Fradel, he wore Cobarkek's face.

With a start Fradel awoke and sat up, a crazy gleam playing in his eyes.  When he steadied his heart once more, he realized that all of it had been a dream.  But was it really?  He had an eerie feeling about it all.

At the far corner a huge rat was gnawing at an empty flour bag as it flashed its red eyes at him.  Standing up, Fradel strolled to the window and peered outside.  It was just before dawn and he saw Svein harnessing the horses, anxious to be on the road again.

Before they left, on Fradel's insistence, they dug a new grave and fished the corpse out of the well.  Despite the decayed condition of the body, Fradel at once recognized the old lady in his dream.  Giving her a proper burial next to the other two mounds, they allowed the poor woman to find lasting peace in the afterlife with her husband and daughter.

Svein then mounted his horse and urged Fradel Rurik Korvald to follow suit.

 Looking back on the three small mounds, another painful memory intruded into Fradel's thoughts.  In a deep silence he hung his head; his face was long and drawn as he reflected over this past, tragic episode.  Absentmindedly he pivoted his mount around and let it follow Fiery Comet onto the open road. 

(END OF SECTION 6)