The Lord of the Lake (1)

A serialized dark romantic fantasy novella

Although this is the third book of my Lake trilogy, I believe it can be read as a stand-alone as well. Strangely enough, it was the first of the three I wrote, and the second story I even wrote in English. It might not be as good as my other fantasy tales, but I love the characters and I hope it’s entertaining.

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Chapter 1: Pigeye’s loot

Pigeye drank up the ale, the watery liquid oozed from the floppy corners of his large mouth, it spilled down the stubble covered chin right to his large belly. A friend sitting next to him hurriedly chugged down a glass of booze.

“Why is ya’ messin’ round’ with the barley water? Have a real drink!”

“No-o! Later! ‘Ere - gotta do a new whore I found!” Pigeye gave a snorty chuckle, pulling the end of the heavy chain, making Thymia and the other women fall down. 

“Ooh! That’s one pretty whore!” his friend exclaimed, “you sellin’ ‘er?”

“Aye, sellin’!” Pigeye confirmed, “but first…” he described the shameful way he’s about to abuse the girl in the most obnoxious and vile manner. A man at the next table stood up with a loud noise.

“How much for her?”

“I’m not in a hurry to sell!” Pigeye mumbled, startled by the man’s sudden approach.

“Then hurry up!” The man threw five pieces of silver onto the sticky surface of the tavern’s table.

“Wanted to try ‘er out myself first,” Pigeye muttered in surprise, while scratching his hefty crotch.

The cloaked man added two pieces of gold to the silver. Pigeye let out a satisfied snort. Thymia stared at the coins disgusted - is this the worth of her flesh? Five pieces of silver and two pieces of gold must be a fortune around here. 

“I’m in good spirits today - ya’ can take her! ‘Ere - have plenty of them whores for me!” He pulled the chain again, making the four women fall to the dirty floor of the tavern. Pigeye released Thymia from the chain, all the while groping her body with his dirty hands, then rudely threw the poor girl at the cloaked man. He pushed her away yet grabbed her wrist in a painfully tight grip.

“Easy there, old man!” The man yelled at Pigeye, “you damage the merchandise, I’ll take my silver back!”

The dark-cloaked man quickly walked out of the tavern, dragging Thymia along. Pigeye grabbed the coins chuckling at the two.

“Like a grumpy ol’ hag, that one!” He told the fellow drinker and raised his mug of ale.

The man took Thymia down a muddy street of a small Autumnian village. She had already comprehended - the wilderness of Autumna was no place for a lonely young woman. Or any woman at all. Alas, much too late!

“Thank you!” Thymia gasped.

The man paced forward without even looking back at her.

“For what?”

“For saving me.”

“I’m not saving you!”

“But you bought me from that disgusting man…” Thymia was baffled - he clearly stopped Pigeye from bragging about the ugly things he’ll do to her.

“I bought you for myself.”

“I don’t understand…”

“Look here!” The stranger interrupted her, “I’ll use you myself, and then sell you to the first whorehouse in Hebeny. Old Pigeye’s too lazy to go that far. I’ll get good gold for you. Got it? Now will you shut up?!”

“But you stepped in to shut Pigeye up, and I thought…”

“I hate used merchandise, that’s why. I also hate whores who talk too much. So, shut up!” The man seemed extremely annoyed for some reason.

“But…”

“Shut up, or I’ll give you back to Pigeye!” The man yelled. He never stopped until they reached a small cart with a black horse in front of it. An enormous, grey, shaggy dog was sleeping next to the cart. 

“What a good guard you are, High King!” The man snickered. The dog got up, yawning, and stretching its limbs, then jumped inside the cart. 

“Get in!” the man commanded. Thymia stalled, he bluntly picked her up and threw her alongside the dog, the girl landed with the heaviness of a potato sack. 

“Please, sir! If you take me back to New Autumna, my parents will give you more gold than any whorehouse in Hebeny,” Thymia attempted to persuade him.

“Why should I believe you?”

“Because I’m the daughter of the High Queen Eliani,” she explained.

“Pleased to meet you! And I’m the damned son of that dead bastard High King Damian, you, stupid whore! Shut up already!” The man obviously didn’t believe her. He took a long piece of rope and tied it tightly around both of their wrists.

“Don’t even think about jumping out!” He threatened.

The man turned his horse toward West as the cart began moving. 

Thymia had a hard time finding a comfortable sitting spot - the giant dog took up most of the vacant space between sacks, trunks, and boxes. 

“Don’t. Touch. My. Things,” the man grunted, without even turning his head back. 

“I wasn’t going to!” She retorted quietly. 

“Did you say something?” 

“No!”

“Good!”

Poor Thymia crouched in a tiny pile of misery, embracing her own ankles. The girl pinched herself again and again, although it wasn’t necessary; her whole body was aching from the hardships she had endured for the last couple of hours. Sadly, it was not just a bad dream. 

How did she manage to get into this mess? But more important - how to get herself out of it safe and sound? The girl closed her eyes crying. Who would have thought - just this morning she was a High-born girl, but now she’s referred to as the “whore”…

***

“Good morning, your Highness! And what a beautiful, sunny morning it is!” Said the maid, drawing back the curtains. 

“Sunny morning?” Thymia opened her eyes and jumped right out of bed. 

“Quick! Help me with the dress! Where are my brothers?” She hurriedly pulled on a silk gown.

“The young masters set off to the seaside at sunrise,” replied the maid. She had barely finished buttoning up Thymia’s dress, when the young princess ran out of the room.

“But the hair! Highness, your hair!” the maid cried after her. The girl didn’t even let the poor maid brush her long, black hair, not to mention braiding it.

A hallway, one flight of stairs, another hallway, more stairs, why is the castle so damn huge?! Thymia hurried to find her parents in the High tower room, with large windows in every direction. The High King and High Queen were looking at the land of Autumna, as they had done every morning for the last twenty years. The late High King Damian the First died without leaving an heir. Quite a peculiar case it was - he died amidst the wedding with his fourth wife before their wedding night. The current High Queen Eliani, therefore, was his widow. She married again shortly after, had six children with her beloved husband and happily ruled over her land.

The land itself - Autumna, was not a happy place to live in. Not in the least! Even the late High King Damian, evil as he was, hated it. The Damned land, the Forever Autumn, the Swamp, the Old Autumn - that’s what the people called it. Old folks told tales about the Great Lake of Autumn, a giant lake cursed by a wizard in revenge. The lake became a vast swampland.

Autumna indeed appeared to be cursed; the weather was dreadful most of the time - rainy, damp and cold. It was the kingdom of eternal mourning, and the people living there were rough, dark-haired, dark-skinned, hefty, and crude.

The Foreverold took mercy on the folk of Autumna, he gave them a treasure inside the swamp - iron ore. There were no better blacksmiths than Autumnians. An Autumnian sword was the best there was; strong, yet lightweight. Swords found their way to war, and the late king was keen on warcraft with the nearby kingdoms. Luckily the reigning High Queen Eliani held peace in high esteem. 

“CanIgototheseaside?” Thymia gasped rushing into the High tower.

“May I go to the seaside, please!” the High Queen calmly corrected her.

“Oh, what’s the difference? Well? May I?” Thymia exclaimed.

“Dearest daughter! The waves are very high today. I cannot let you. See for yourself!” The High Queen looked east. The never-ending dark, blue sea was covered in white, lace-like foam of the waves.

“It’s not fair! You let my brothers go to the seaside!”

“Your brothers are older, and more experienced swimmers.”

“Well, but I’m sixteen now! By our Autumnian laws I’m an adult. You cannot stop me!” Thymia objected.

“Remind me to review that law, my dear!” The High King addressed his wife lovingly.

“And we hardly ever have sunny days here in summertime! Please, father! Please?” She smiled sweetly at the High King.

“Alright! You may go! After all - it’s rarely sunny in Autumna, indeed.” The High King looked at his wife apologetically.

Thymia ran out of the room cheerfully without even thanking her father for the permission.

“She always gets her way,” the High Queen sighed, “I doubt it’s doing her any good.”

***

“Oh, look who’s coming!” Prince Elian shouted walking out of the sea. His twin brother prince Thomian gasped in rage.

“Oh great! Our little bratling! We won’t have a moment’s peace. And she’ll smell it, for sure.” He laid down on the hot sand.

“Greetings, you two! Have you been swimming already? How’s the water? Is it warm?” Thymia asked, jumping off the horse and marching towards her brothers with her gown tangling in the sand. Thymia’s five bodyguards arrived shortly - they couldn’t keep up with their tomboy-princess.

“Three times since sunrise, you sleepyhead!” replied Elian.

“Why must you always follow us? Could you start acting like a proper lady already?!” Thomian growled, stretching in the sand.

“Why are you so grumpy? And besides… wait a minute!” Thymia sniffed the air. “You’ve been smoking Snakegrass, haven’t you?!” She exclaimed with a sinister grin.

“Told you, she’ll smell it!” Thomian rolled his eyes. “So? You’ll tell mother and father?” 

Just before Thymia arrived, Thomian indeed had been smoking a small pipe of the intoxicating herb Snakegrass. It was forbidden by law in Autumna since the High Queen Eliani came to her reign, the punishments were severe. Brothers knew it well and getting caught by the parents was not an option. When Elian saw Thymia riding in the distance, Thomian hid his pipe in the sand.

“I won’t tell on you if you do whatever I want. And let me go with you to Snakeling village.”

“That too?!” Elian moaned.

“Why must you always tag along?” Thomian grunted.

“I want to practice Snakeling sword fighting,” the princess stated.

“What for? You’re already decent with the sword,” Elian wondered.

“Not with a Snakeling sword! And I haven’t seen Grandfather in ages. Now, come on! Pick your lazy bums up, let’s go swimming!” The savage princess took off her gown and dived into the waves wearing an airy, white petticoat dress.

Thomian’s grim premonition came true - Thymia didn’t let her brothers relax, not even for a minute. First, they had to accompany her swimming, then they kicked a lightweight cork-tree ball, parents brought them from overseas. Then swimming again, then playing the floating ball in the water. After the game, Thymia requested (more like demanded!) their bodyguards to give them three swords. The princess began practicing sword fighting with her brothers. She was quite good, but her frail feminine figure lacked the body strength of a boy.

“Not fair, Elian! You went easy on me purposely!” She yelled infuriated. 

“If I had fought full strength, could’ve broken your arm!” He objected. 

“Rubbish!”  

“Come on, Thym! We’re tired. Let us be!” Thomian dropped his sword, laying himself flat on the sand.

Thymia hated when brothers treated her like a little girl. She had always been looking up to the older twins.

Never mind! She’ll learn the cunning Snakeling sword fighting, which doesn’t require much body strength, just agility and wit. Then she’ll beat them! 

Later that day Thymia, properly attired and with her hair neatly braided and pinned up, was practicing the Autumnian wedding dance, which every decent, High-born Autumnian girl had to know by the age of sixteen. Her mother sat nearby in the Dance Hall of the New Autumna castle, observing her daughter’s dance lesson. It didn’t go well at all. As good as the girl was sword fighting, she did not understand the complicated steps. Her tutor kept correcting the girl’s every move.

“Must I do this, mother?” Thymia whined.

“Either this, or back to books,” the High Queen replied calmly.

Thymia imagined herself sitting alone in the dead-silent library with the portraits of all the deceased High Kings and Queens staring at her.

“Alright, I’ll do the stupid dance!”

It was utterly unfair! Brothers got to do whatever they wanted, while the poor girl had to learn the silly wedding dance, read tons of books and what not. And she wasn’t even engaged yet, what’s the point of learning the dance? 

“Mother, why must I learn all this?”

“Because you want to be a good wife for your future husband, don’t you?”

“But my brothers aren’t doing any of it!”

“Your brothers have already learnt it, to be good husbands to their future wives,” the High Queen smiled mysteriously, “you want prince Ulrich to like you, right?”

“No, I don’t!” Thymia exclaimed, but immediately added, “alright, I do! Maybe!”

Prince Ulrich was the heir of Hebeny, the kingdom bordering Autumna. A handsome, young, blue eyed, golden-haired man, who, sadly, saw only his beloved books and not Thymia, whenever her family visited Hebeny.

“He never looks at me. Always sticking his nose in a book.”

“Maybe if you read more books, you’d have something to talk about with the handsome prince, and then - who knows…?” Mother teased her.

Thymia growled and practiced a little longer before she gave up. Impossible! She had all the grace of a dancing bear. 

“I’m going along with my brothers to the Snakelings tomorrow,” she stated. 

“Oh, really? How kind of you to inform me! I have not permitted you to go anywhere.”

“But brothers are willing to take me with them, and I haven’t seen Grandfather for so long. Please! Please?” Thymia gave her mother the sweetest smile, but the High Queen was not as easy to persuade as the High King, so to him Thymia went right after the dance lesson, and, of course, was granted with the approval for the trip. 

“I’m sure it will be fine. Our sons shall look after her. And Grandfather has been waiting for their visit for many weeks,” the High King reassured his wife.

The journey took up several days. With the weather changing to the usual Autumnian rainy, mist-covered greyness, it was dull and unexciting. They rode ahead during daytime, stayed at good taverns every night, both brothers secretly hating Thymia for her presence alone; if it wasn’t for her tagging along, they wouldn’t hesitate to have a drink of booze in the halls of the taverns, but it would be extremely inappropriate to take a decent young lady for a drink of booze. High-born maidens did not attend tavern halls! Those who did were considered low-born or simply whores. 

***

The grey Snakeling Lord stood leaning on a spear greeting his grandchildren, as they rode into the Snakeling village. Built upon an island among the wetlands, the Snakeling village was surrounded by dangerous wildlife – giant lizards crept through the puddles around feeble tree trunks, terrifying howls of wolverines echoed at night. The village itself was well-guarded by the Snakeling warriors, with their narrow blades and sharp spears.

Only the royals were allowed inside - their Autumnian bodyguards had to camp outside the village grounds. Snakelings distrusted Autumnians, although their Lord’s son married an Autumnian High Queen. They differed from the usual Autumnians; Snakelings had pale skin, green eyes and, of course, very much resembled snakes in their appearance and nature. The Lord’s grandchildren, however, had inherited the best qualities from both sides - the good health and strength, beautiful facial features of their Autumnian mother, and the cunning nature, green eyes and slender, tall frame of their Snakeling father. 

“My brave, strong boys! And dear Thymiani! More beautiful than ever!” the Snakeling Lord embraced his grandchildren.

“Am I not brave and strong, Grandfather?” Thymia objected.

“Of course, of course you are, my dearest girl!” Grandfather said apologetically.

Thymia didn’t waste any time; soon after their arrival, she commanded Grandfather to teach her the art of Snakeling sword fighting. Brothers had to join her in the practice, with Thomian whining all the time about how tired he was from the road.

“Oh, the restless spirit!” Grandfather smiled and shook his grey head, but could not refuse the girl.

The several weeks she spent in the village, all Thymia did was eat, sleep and practise sword fighting every waking minute. 

At the end of their stay, Thymia challenged her brothers to a fight, and won them with ease.

“Well done, my dear girl!” Grandfather praised her.

“Did we not do well, Grandfather?” Elian asked.

“You two are idlers! Even worse than your father when he was younger. Thymiani here is diligent, and all her hard work paid off.”

“I don’t see the purpose for the hard work. She’ll probably marry a rich prince and spent her days sitting in a big castle with a bunch of whiny kinds, all for her husband’s delight. No need in sword fighting whatsoever,” Thomian retorted; he obviously took offense at Grandfather’s remarks.

Tears clouded up Thymia’s eyes, but she didn’t let them be seen.

“You’re wrong brother! My life shall be nothing like it!” She said firmly. 

The next day the West lands of Autumna, or Old Autumn, greeted them with a lovely sunlit day. The marshes bloomed in a lilac hue of the heather. Patches of bushes and feeble trees whispered in the warm summer breeze as they rode through the swamp heading home. All the little lakes, puddles and treacherous pools reflected the blue of the sky.

Suddenly Elian and Thomian, riding on the road in front of their column, made a turn to a narrower, rarely used path. 

“Why did we turn here? This path is lousy,” Thymia wondered, after her horse began to stumble upon the bumpy surface.

“We’re visiting an old friend,” Elian explained. Thymia shrugged; what was this friend she knew nothing about?

It was high noon when they reached a tiny wooden house near a turquoise-blue lake. The sun burned scorching hot. Thymia was determined to follow the twins as they walked to the house.

“Stop right there!” Thomian pulled Thymia back by her long, black braid.

“Auch! Quit it!” the girl shrieked.

“Thym, please wait here! We won’t be long,” said Elian when they opened the door. Thymia peeked inside; Snakegrass smoke rolled out of the gap, an old Snakeling woman stood in the doorway.

“Greetings madam Urshula! We’re back for some more of your lovely herbs,” Thymia heard Elian say, then the door slammed shut before her nose. Unbelievable! They cannot treat her this way! She shall not stand it any longer! They always made her miss out on all the fun, just because she’s a girl. Thymia hated the long hair she had to keep braided or pinned up, while the brothers’ long, black hair was free to sway with all the winds. She hated the stupid dress always getting in her way, and the girly shoes. No more! 

The bodyguards stared in shock as princess Thymiani took her razor-sharp sword to cut her own beautiful hair off. 

“I’m going for a swim. Do not follow!” She stated. They obeyed, knowing that the princess was a good swimmer. Thymia went to the nearby lake, took off her gown and shoes, and dived headfirst into the lake waters. The guards watched her head rise above the water. When she dived once more, they turned away for a chat.

The bodyguards didn’t notice the princess not coming up for a breath. A black hole appeared in the bottom of the lake, sucking in all the water along with everything in it. As much as Thymia struggled, she could not overcome the force of the lake. She got sucked into a dark underground tunnel filled with water, swirling and twirling amongst mud, seaweed, fish and pebbles. Nearly out of breath, she got spat out of the darkness into another lake. The princess gathered the remains of her sanity and strength, and swam up toward the light. 

Thymia reached the surface, coughing and spitting out mud; she gasped for air, thanking the Foreverold to be alive and breathing again. Somehow the girl got herself to the shore, rolled out of the water and laid in the mud breathing rapidly. What was that? After a while she remembered - mother always warned not to swim in unknown lakes of Autumna, for they kept dark secrets beneath their blue surfaces. Some of them were called the Water Gluttons, evil creatures appearing lake shaped. Water Gluttons swallowed their unsuspecting victims, hoping they’ll drown in the underground, then spat out all the remains in another place. Thymia was lucky enough to be a good swimmer. 

The princess got up - no sign of the tiny house, or her brothers, or guards… Even her dress and shoes were gone. Thymia stood by an unknown lake in a sheer, white petticoat dress, completely lost. She tried calling for help, but all the reply the girl got was the echo of her own voice. Thymia picked a random direction and went forward - she shouldn’t be far from the first lake.

It felt like hours and hours of walking, tripping, falling, and dragging through the muddy swamp, when Thymia finally saw a sign of a sensible creature in the distance. A lonely cart, pulled by four giant lizard-like beasts appeared on something barely resembling a path. Thymia knew the animals were called Varanus or lizardons, or simply lizzos, as the simple folk would say. Commonly used instead of horses in the most dangerous parts of the marshes. With teeth as sharp as daggers, containing deadly poison. Only Snakelings were immune to their venom, they even kept lizardons like cattle, and occasionally sold the animals to Autumnians. 

“Help! Sir! Please, stop! I got lost! Please, help me!” Thymia shouted, running after the cart.

The girl ran up to it but stopped immediately. In front of the cart sat an obese Autumnian, his dirty clothes smelled of booze; the man’s tiny pig-like eyes looked Thymia up and down, the sheer dress displayed her curves more openly than would be considered decent. For a High-born girl, at least. The man gave an unpleasant snorty chuckle.

“Look at ‘em treasures!” He said, licking his floppy lips. In his cart sat three, dirty, chained women staring blankly at Thymia. She pulled back and ran, but fell into a muddy pool; no wonder, the swamp was full of them. The pig-like man chased after her, grabbing the poor girl by the hair. He pulled her out of the pool, dragged to his cart, while Thymia screamed and fought in vain. The man hit her head against the cart, then chained her to the other women. 

“Pigeye’s lucky tonight! Got me a new whore!” He rejoiced, sitting in front of the rolling cart. 

After an hour or so he stopped the cart by a tavern in a small Autumnian village. Pigeye was always hungry, thirsty, and craving for carnal pleasures. He pulled all his slaves by the chain. The women got out of the cart, but just before they entered the tavern, Pigeye threatened Thymia with a dagger.

“Ya’ squeals and I’ll cut yer’ little finger off!” 

Thymia nodded silently, she had already noticed all the other women missing their little fingers… 

Pigeye dragged his whores inside the tavern, ordered himself a meal with a pint of ale, and sat down beside an old acquaintance.