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The BloodVaine EpicChapter 2: The Demon Within
It was dinnertime at Drullen Bell Keep. Bjarn sat at the high table, flanked by Gladwheel, Kellenwyn, Radjar, Gerald Vos, Rosa, Shainya, and other Forestmen officials. The dinner was somewhat subdued, but not down-cast.
“How do you feel, my Lord?” asked Gladwheel, for Bjarn had not said anything.
“I feel fine, Gladwheel, just fine. I was just observing the way Radjar has been looking at Rosa for the last ten minutes…”
Gladwheel shrugged, not that interested. “How does he look at her?”
“He pretends not to look at her, and he always snatches glances when he thinks no one is looking…” mused Bjarn, a grin spreading across his face.
“What is so funny?”
“I have known Rosa for long enough that I know she knows Radjar is looking at her…and she doesn’t like it one bit.”
At that very moment, Rosa rose and stalked to where Radjar was sitting. Radjar looked surprised, but pleased. The grin was wiped off his face, however, when Rosa whipped out a lethal-looking blade and held it under his nose.
“You look at me again, and I’ll slit your throat!” she hissed in his face, “Too many megabloks like you who have leered at me have been found with their throat sliced open! You fate will be the same if you so much as turn in my direction in the future!”
Rosa slid the knife back into it’s sheath with a quick flick and left, the entire mass of people staring after her. Radjar Kath was to stunned to speak.
“She....ah...well.…” Bjarn struggled to find the right word to explain Rosa attitude toward men, “...she has had problems...before...with men…” he finish lamely.
Radjar’s face was totally blank and he could feel a sickening feeling in his gut.
Tyco my stupid skills, he almost thought aloud. I’m going to get myself killed these days...
Bjarn walked steadily over to Radjar.
“She’ll come around soon, I suppose, Radjar. You’d best stop the leering however.” he said.
Radjar was not comforted by Bjarn’s comment. He decided to go to Rosa’s room and apologize. As always, Drullen Bell was beautiful in the evening, and he enjoyed the walk, though his knees trembled under him. He was sweating and looked pale after the incident at dinner.
“Oh, hello, Radjar,” sighed Shainya, who was passing in the corridor. “Deeply sorry... Rosa can be like this…”
“It is no hindrance, ma’am,” Radjar assured her. “No need to worry.”
Radjar finally reached Rosa's room. She was sitting on her bed, a glum look on her face. Radjar didn’t know her story, but he could tell she’d been through a lot.
“I-I’m sorry, R-Rosa,” he stuttered.
Rosa looked up and faced him, her beautiful black locks falling back.
“What do you want?” she snapped.
“I just want your forgiveness,” Radjar said, head to the ground. “It's just... You’re just…”
“Just what?” she muttered.
“So...beautiful.” Radjar spat out, still trembling.
“Beautiful? I’ve been called that before. By liars.”
“I do not lie, milady. I do not lie.”
“You- a king, a warrior- choose me, a peasant girl?”
“I... Yes.” Radjar said.
“Well, remember this word, you’ll hear it a lot. No.” Rosa said haughtily.
Radjar bit back, and left the room. Rosa bowed down. She knew Radjar meant well...but she could not trust him. Rosa twirled the thin knife between here fingers. Many men had approached her, many had complimented her, and many had...abused her. No. She would never trust anyone like Radjar. Warrior brutes who smelled and swore and killed and strutted were all the same. They were never to be trusted.
Radjar did not sleep well, again. The whole night had been so unforgiving. Why did his past overshadow him? Why was he here? The answers he did not know.
The next morning brought only more pain as Radjar silently ate among Gladwheel and Bjarn. Not a word was spoken of the incident. Radjar retired to his quarters. What had come to this? He took out his dagger and pressed it to his wrist.
“No!” he screamed aloud, dropping the dagger. “I will not abandon my future!”
Radjar walked out and passedstate of florida banking and finance by Rosa’s door. He sneered, and walked on. Gladwheel passed by.
“Radjar... about last night. Don’t let it get to you.”
“Oh, I won’t.” said Radjar angrily.
Gladwheel looked at him.
“I’m going into the swamps. I have things to do.” snapped Radjar.
Radjar walked out of the keep. He had nothing but his katana, a loose tunic, and a pair of pants. He waded into the emerald swamp, eyes half open, arms outstretched. Grunts reached his ears. He saw a band of mercenaries carrying a shackled merchant, and his eyes shot open. He raced for the mercenaries.
“What is this, mate?”
“What are you bloody-”
Radjar sliced down. A spray of warm blood showered him. The mercenaries had little time to react. One shot crossbow bolts at him. Radjar, leaping for him, was caught by a bolt.
“YAAAAAARGH!” he shouted, hands on his katana, he slung it forward, catching the crossbowman in the chest.
“Gggggrrgh…” the crossbowman fell over, and Radjar stood where he was.
“AAAAAA!” Another mercenary slashed him with his scimitar. The tunic ripped open and Radjar did not flinch, the shirt falling away to reveal his scar and his sinewy form.
“What the…” Radjar decapitated the man in the midst of his sentence. The head slid slowly off his neck, and he fell over.
The other mercenaries ran away in fear.
Radjar returned to Drullen Bell Keep and told Bjarn what had happened. Bjarn’s face paled, and then turned bright red.
“You son of tyco! What have you done??”
Radjar stepped back a pace, shocked. “Bjarn, wha-?”
“Those men were Forestmen masquerading as mercenaries as part of a training program, you thick-headed shifty-brick! You have just killed a dozen of my men!”
Bjarn was more mad than he had ever been in his life.
“Here I am, trying to promote peace whenever I can and you go out and slaughter MY OWN MEN in cold blood. You could have AT LEAST come back and alerted me BEFORE cutting them down! You come to Drullen Bell Keep right after the Fell War and can’t stand a WEEK without killing someone!”
Lord Bjarn’s shouting caught the attention of Kellenwyn, Gladwheel, and other Forestmen soldiers. The more they listened, the more angry they looked.
“Kath, it is evident to me that you have NO regard for human life WHAT SO EVER! I do hope, however, that Dark Forest as a nation is NOT like you!”
Bjarn turned to the Forestmen flanking him, “Take Kath and put him in our highest-security cell, and guard him with two score men. Alert the other Dark Forest men that their Lord is now in prison and any attempt to free him or harm our men will be considered an act of WAR!”
Bjarn turned back to Radjar, who had not said a word. “We will discuss this later!”
Bjarn turned about and exited. Gladwheel and Kellenwyn stripped Radjar of all his weapons and escorted him to the cell and locked the door. Radjar had not chance of escape, for his cell was windowless and exit-less except for the barred door, and it was guarded by forty men.
“Tyco him,” whispered Radjar. His vampire abilities were beginning to take over his mind...but how could he explain this? It was his demon inside, that drove him to slaughter that put him on a path to fulfill his father's bloody legacy. Now, in a dank cell, he lay on his cot. Gereld walked down the steps to the dungeons.
“Radjar,” he said warily.
“What? What is it?”
“Radjar, I have, awful news, your majesty.”
“W-what, is it, Gereld?” Radjar trembled.
The silence and stink of death permeated with the smell of fear, the heavy air enveloping the two soldiers, men who had departed their pasts for better days.
“The League of Forestmen, outraged by your act, have highly considered war against our people. They are putting you before military tribunal...and I am to represent you.”
“No…” Radjar said airily.
“Why did you do these things? Have you gone mad?”
“No, no, no, it was my shadow... The scar.”
“That is unbelievable!”
“BUT IT IS THE TRUTH!” Radjar yelled back. “Tell me Gereld...what happens if we lose the Tribunal?”
“Then...you are executed, my lord.”
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