The Lord of the Lake (3)

A serialized dark romantic fantasy novella

Previously...Chapter 2

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Just a little reminder - this novella was actually only the second book I wrote in English, I haven’t touched it for a whole year. I have grown ever since. But come, see how I began…

Chapter 3: By the Green Lake

The grey Snakeling Lord paced back and forth through the hall, leaning on his spear.

“Fools! Scoundrels!” He shouted at his grandsons sitting nearby. The twins flinched at his every word. 

Both knew very well, they deserved it. Thymia was missing for six days already, because of their craving for Snakegrass.

 The little fool took a swim in the Water Glutton, they’d never warned her about! They went into the old lady Urshula’s house only for a moment; she sold decent Snakegrass. The short visit stretched into an hour, they had to try the ‘Grass, and the old lady would usually amuse them with stories of the old and Snakegrass-induced prophecies. This time those were gloomy ones, the old lady obviously suspected something bad was about to happen. After the brothers came out, they couldn’t find Thymia anywhere! The guards had lost their sense of time while chatting. Good thing madam Urshula stopped the twins before they jumped headfirst into the Water Glutton. They found the other lake, but there was no sign of Thymia, even when they searched all its surroundings. Both brothers feared the worst - Thymia may have drowned in the underground between both lakes. Of course, they had to send a messenger to New Autumna castle to inform the parents. Not knowing what else to do, the brothers returned to the Snakelings. Grandfather was more furious than a dozen dragons, but brothers endured his anger, understanding it was well deserved. 

Grandfather left them sitting in silence of the Snakeling castle dining hall.

“We are fools, brother!” Elian exclaimed in despair, “how could we lose Thymia? Our lives will not be enough to pay the cost for her suffering!”

“I fear she has drowned,” said Thomian.

“We mustn’t think so brother!”

“You’re right! We must do something!”

“I think you’ve done enough already!” A furious voice of the High King shouted, he and the High Queen had just arrived. “How could you?! Thomian, I trusted you!”

 Brothers noticed - both parents looked exhausted, mother’s eyes were swollen red from crying, father’s long, black hair had silvery threads they hadn’t seen before…

“Mother! We’ll do whatever it takes to find her! I’ll dig up the Water Glutton with my bare hands if she’s still down there!” Cried Elian.

“No need for that. We’ve received news from the Wolflings. They can see the dead. Thymia is not amongst the spirits. She’s still alive,” the High Queen said in a weary voice.

“But that’s good news, isn’t it?” Elian asked cautiously.

“The wilderness of Autumna is a dangerous place for a girl to wander around unguarded. We commanded the soldiers to search every road and path, every nearby village, all the taverns and brothels,” the High King said with great pain.

“If somebody touches my little sister, I’ll find him and cut his throat!” Shouted Thomian.

“All of our efforts to make Autumna a better kingdom have failed. It seems the Damned land shall never change, and now we must pay the price for our failure.” The High King hung his head.

“My poor girl!” The High Queen burst into tears. The High King embraced his wife and took her to rest after the journey. 

“I’m done with doing nothing!” Stated Thomian.

“But what can we do brother?”

“I’ll look for her myself,” Thomian said with a stubborn flame in his brown eyes. “Most of the damn soldiers have never even seen her. I’m going tonight!”

“But our parents will never let us!” Elian objected. He was always more conscientious than his brother. 

“I don’t give a damn! I’m going tonight! And you?” Thomian looked into his brother’s green eyes.

Elian frowned, but still nodded silently.

An hour before sunrise both crept out of the Snakeling village, wearing Autumnian soldiers’ uniforms they had snitched earlier. Heavy heartedly, the twins cut off their long, silky-black hair because soldiers had their hair short. The twins were careful, nobody noticed them sneaking out. They even managed to “borrow” two horses from their bodyguards. Now both looked like two young Autumnian soldiers on their way to search for the lost princess.

***

“And what do you want again?!” Madam Urshula was not at all happy, to see the brothers on her doorstep. She didn’t seem surprised either.

“Please madam! We need your help! Do you have any new prophecies about Thymia?”

“Nobody believes old Urshula! They say I’ve nothing but Snakegrass in my head! Your Grandfather cursed me!”

“Please! We believe you. Can you see where Thymia is?” Elian wouldn’t give up.

“Alright! Let’s see…” The old woman took a smoke, closed her eyes, and spoke, breathing clouds of Snakegrass fumes all around her.

“Where the hungry lake would rise, then under the pig’s eyes…”

“The what?!” Thomian didn’t understand.

“Hush! Let her speak!” Elian whispered.

“With five pieces of silver and two pieces of gold, to an Autumnian, who hides his face, she was sold. Through lakes and flames she will ride to the Green, and the lake will take her death, on the hands she can lean,” Urshula stopped to smoke some more, then she shook her head, chuckling.

“What?! Something good?” Thomian asked nervously.

“To some good, and to some – not. The sunset shall wed her, and the lake shore shall bed her…” Urshula moaned in pain.

“What?!”

“But the bed in which they wed, shall become the bed for the dead…”

“Who? Tell us!” Thomian yelled.

Urshula began coughing loudly.

“Who knows?! Can’t see a damn thing anymore!” She shrugged. “Hurry younglings! Don’t waste time!”

Brothers thanked the old lady and went out.

“Where do we go?!” Thomian stood baffled.

“Where the hungry lake would rise… To the other lake!”

***

Erko’s laughter echoed loudly across the sunlit swamp. The tall, young man rolled around in the dry moss laughing. Thymia didn’t laugh, she looked down at him wondering, how did Erko manage to harvest the Snakegrass years before he met her, without any help? Of course, he usually did spend less time near the Green lake, but this year Erko wanted to pick much more ‘Grass, and it took twice as long. 

The first week of harvesting Snakegrass was great! The best summertime Thymia  had ever had! The weather stayed lovely and sunny, they would go to the shore of the Green lake at noon, when the lizardons hid from the hot sun.

Both covered their faces not to breathe in the intoxicating fumes directly. Then gathered the herbs for an hour or so, until Thymia began to feel dizzy, and Erko started acting strangely. The Snakegrass had a different effect on each one of them. Quickly they picked up the Snakegrass wrapped in blankets, tied the loads with ropes and rode back. Luckily the fumes didn’t affect animals. The horses and the dog remained the same. When they got back to the camp, both put the white blossoms of the Snakegrass on pieces of tent fabric to dry up in the sun. Rest of the time both were free to do whatever they wanted. Erko swam many times a day, he cooked simple, yet delicious meals for Thymia. He washed and mended all their clothes. He taught Thymia fishing. In return, she taught Erko the Snakeling sword fighting. The Snakegrass fumed air made them feel careless; they spent many hours talking or sitting in silence by the fire. Thymia even read some of Erko’s books!

Each day at sunset both would practice the art of Snakeling sword fight moving together gracefully as a pair of dancers. Every night Erko sat on guard, keeping the fire burning to scare away the wild lizardons. Their hissing got dangerously close, but the monsters never dared to move nearer to the fire.

Every evening they sat by the fire, looking into the flames. Thymia could not fall asleep easily because of the Snakegrass fumes, she lingered watching the sunset and the starlit skies long into the night.

“Where did you learn to cook this good? Did your mother teach you?” Thymia asked after a delicious meal of fish and frog chowder, which she initially frowned upon, but ended up asking for two helpings. 

“No,” Erko smiled. “My mother was a terrible cook, even worse than you.”

“Thank you kindly!”

“My mother was a High-born, she knew nothing. Our neighbour lady taught me. She was too old to work in a whorehouse, took care of me when my mother went there…” Erko paused, sighing heavily.

“How come you didn’t become a blacksmith? Your mother probably would not wish you to…”

“Become a Snakegrass smuggler? No, she would not. But I had to make a living after her death,” Erko looked at the lake. Tonight, a soft wind was stirring the waters.

 “It took me a whole year to find the right moment. He was laying there drunk, after beating one of the whores. She survived, unlike my mother. I had made a dagger, the same I still own. The women in the brothel let me in. I had one chance. I stabbed the man in the back,” Erko noticed Thymia staring at him, frightened by his unexpected confession.

“I was only fourteen, it happened six years ago. I’m not proud of myself. Never will be.” He looked at his hands.

“Nobody blamed me, no soldiers came after me. Still, I could not stay in New Autumna. My face became more like Damian’s every day. People stared at me… I hate when people stare at me!”

Thymia quickly turned to look at the fire.

“Not you, silly! You know me!” He laughed. She glanced back at Erko. He stopped laughing as their eyes met. Yet again Thymia saw the same dark flame flicker in his sight. Oh, he would love to reach out and grab her, it would be so easy! But he did not. Instead Erko took another smoke from his pipe, numbing his senses. 

“And then,” he exhaled a cloud of white smoke, “I met an old Snakegrass trader. He needed help, I needed to get away. He took me here, to the Green lake, and to many taverns and whorehouses and introduced me to all his buyers. The old man was happy to leave his legacy to someone.”

“Some legacy,” Thymia grunted.

“Without him I would not be alive and sitting here with you.” Erko smiled.

“What happened to the old man?”

“He drowned…” Erko took a smoke nervously, “in the Green lake.”

***

The second week was much harder. The weather became unbearably hot. The fumes got stronger. Thymia couldn’t sleep, Erko could barely stay awake. When they rode nearer the Green lake, he felt an unstoppable urge to dive into the emerald-green waters. Thymia tied a rope around him and the black horse. When he began walking to the lake, Thymia quickly took all the ‘Grass they’ve gathered and slowly rode back to the camp, dragging the intoxicated Erko behind her. 

Usually he ended up laughing wildly, before the effect would wear off, then Erko took a good long nap, and after a swim was sane again. 

The same had happened today. Thymia waited until the laughing seizure would end. Erko fell asleep. Then she dragged him into the shade - the midday sun burned hot like a flame. Thymia put her head on Erko’s chest; the heart was still beating. She laid listening for a long while. Snakegrass had a strange and unexpected effect on her; not only did it make the girl light-headed and unable to sleep, it also made her feel something she hadn’t known before - desire. She caught herself watching Erko swim naked again and again, and at night she began to wish he’d come to sleep in the tent. Thymia would never ever invite him to come, but the desire became stronger each night.

After laughing and sleeping, Erko woke up late in the evening, at sunset. He took off his clothes, went for a swim, Thymia sat on the shore, pretending to read. He noticed the girl’s efforts not to stare, got out of the water, and approached her smirking.

“What are you reading?” He asked, sitting down beside her. 

“Huh? Me?”

“No, High King! Of course, you!”

“Erm… I was just… this…” She could not control her eyes, so Thymia stuck her nose in the book.

“Read something!” He suggested.

Thymia picked a random line and read out loud.

“The moon arose out of the tide,

The gentle waves caressed the shore,

On cloudless nights no star can hide,

Behind the cloak of shame, it bore.”

“What?” Erko clearly didn’t understand what he just heard.

“It’s your book.”

“I never read it. Maybe I should. The cover was nice, that’s why I bought it,” Erko shrugged.

“I think it’s a poem about the sea,” Thymia thought out loud, looking at the cover of the book - it had silver wave-shaped ornaments on it.

“They should write poems about the sea; it’s the most beautiful place of all!” Erko spoke staring into the distance. Thymia could hardly contain herself - he sat too close, handsome, and naked, with a dreamy look in his eyes. Another minute and she would have touched his smooth skin, but, luckily, he got up to get his clothes. 

They had dinner, Erko told her how he had been by the sea many times, when he still lived in New Autumna, but they never met. Thymia was looking at his dark eyes, his lips moving, listening to his deep voice; tonight, he could’ve been saying complete nonsense, she’d still be thrilled. But even better - he spoke of the sea.

“…and when I swam it seemed there was no other shore to stop me. I could swim in the sea forever,” he said. One more word, and the girl would have kissed him. But Erko went quiet, put his head on the dog’s shaggy back and closed his eyes.

Is he really going to sleep right now? Thymia felt strangely disappointed. Something had to be done. She went to the lake to bathe. Usually, she waited for Erko to fall asleep, but not tonight. She took off her clothes and slowly walked into the water, soaked for some minutes in the deep, then came out to lay in the shallow waters. The sun had set, Thymia watched the full moon rising, the air wasn’t hot anymore - gentle, fragrant summer breeze weaved through the evening air. She felt being watched and lingered in the shallow water just to tease him. As the mist began to rise above the lake, the air got cooler, the Snakegrass fumes became less intense. Thymia’s mind cleared; what was she doing, laying here like a cow? She was not a flirt! She has never been. Just some weeks ago those scumbag soldiers attacked her. Must she make Erko go completely mad? Rapidly Thymia got up and dressed herself on the shore. Poor Erko forgot to pretend, he wasn’t staring. That is, he remembered to close his mouth and look away only when Thymia put her clothes on.

She went to the tent without giving him a second glance. And yet, the girl could not fall asleep, all the while wishing he’d come. Why wasn’t he coming? Soon enough she found out, as Erko began a conversation with the snoring dog, obviously thinking Thymia to be fast asleep.

“I can’t stand it, High King! If I don’t sleep with her tonight, I’ll go mad! I must go!”

Thymia heard him nervously pacing around the fire. Still, he wouldn’t come to the tent.

“The way she laid there, in the lake, with moonlight shining on her skin… I must go!”

Thymia sat up hopefully, but he did not come.

“I don’t usually stay long without a woman, and it has been too long. That’s why I bought her in the first place.” He kept pacing back and forth.

“But she doesn’t want me, High King! And I’m not like those damn soldiers. Maybe she has changed her mind? Impossible! Thymia isn’t like that! She’s the High Queen’s daughter. She’s clean.”

Thymia felt like shouting out loud - tonight she is like that! What are you waiting for, you fool?!

“I can’t stand it, High King! It’s unbearable! I must go! I must do something!”

Finally, Thymia could hear his steps coming nearer, her heart raced with excitement, Erko opened the tent - only to put his dagger at her feet.

“If I try to come into the tent tonight - stab me!”  Then he ran off to swim in the lake. And he swam and swam, until he could swim no more.

The weather changed; the morning came grey and foggy, cool and wet. Thymia was restless all night - she would toss and turn, dreaming of Erko being near again and again, but each time she woke up disappointed. The girl crept out of the tent, finally the air was clear of Snakegrass fumes. Now she could feel the silly desire dissolve like the fog in the morning wind. She saw Erko fast asleep near the smoking fire. Pale and powerless he laid there, after drowning his lust in the lake. Thymia looked at the wounded side of his face - he will have scars. She couldn’t help but touch his face. 

“What?!” Erko sat up startled.

“Nothing! Your wounds are healing well!” She yelled in reply.

“Good thing you woke me up. Let’s make an early start today! Pick the ‘Grass one last time, and tomorrow we’ll be off. I’ve had enough of the Green lake,” he said while making breakfast. Thymia noticed him avoiding looking at her. 

Both covered their noses with rags and rode down the path through the milky-white fog. 

Indeed, the fumes were less intensive; they were able to pick much more herbs than the days before. Also, the hissing sounds of wild lizzardons came nearer. Erko began to lose his sanity, but Thymia had already tied him to the black horse. While she fastened the heavy sacks and loads of freshly picked plants to the horses, a strong breeze blew from the lake. Suddenly Erko pulled the horse; he ran to the Green lake! 

“Let me go! I want to swim forever!” He yelled insanely. Thymia saw the lake - emerald-green it was glaring with beautiful sparkling-white blossoms around it. Suddenly, all she wanted was to join Erko in the bright green waters… 

A burning sharp pain grabbed her left arm - a wild lizzardon attacked her, a dumb youngling the size of a large dog. Her horse ran off. Thymia screamed, the monster shook the girl, his teeth sinking into her flesh. Luckily, she had taken the dagger with her. Thymia gathered all her strength, pulled out the dagger and poked the monster’s eye. Lizzardon let her go but would not back up. It circled her, hissing angrily through its bloody mouth. Thymia was faster than the giant lizard, she managed to get behind the clumsy animal, quickly roll it over with her foot, and stab the monster’s belly - its skin was thinner there.  While it still shook in agony, Thymia ran after Erko. She caught him just before the mad man had dived. The girl jumped on the black horse, Erko was still tied to it by a long rope. She rode away, Erko throttled along, all the time yelling how he wants to stay in the lake.

Her arm burned like fire. Erko yet again rolled in the moss laughing in his seizure, while Thymia cleaned her wound with booze and tied it with a clean cloth; she knew it’s pointless, the poison will probably kill her anyway, this time tomorrow she’ll be dead! 

Yet she put the fresh plants to dry out in the sun; the fog was gone, once again sun burned hot. Erko will need the Snakegrass to start a new life in Hebeny, even if Thymia dies, she pondered. 

After Erko stopped laughing and fell asleep, she pulled him into the shade. The lizzardon’s poison made Thymia weary. She put her head on Erko’s chest, listening to his heart just before everything disappeared into darkness.

***

“Stop it, High King! Quit it, you, old bitch!” Erko yelled with his eyes still shut. The dog had been licking his face for quite a while, to wake its master up. The sun had nearly set, wild lizzardons crept around close to the camp, because the fire wasn’t burning. Erko moved to get up but felt Thymia laying lifeless on him. Something was wrong – her skin burned hot like fire! Erko put her beside him, the girl had fever, he unwrapped her injured hand.

“Oh, no! Thymia, no! It’s all my fault! I left you to fight that monster on your own!”

He shook the girl, but she remained unconscious.

“Wake up! Please, wake up!”

Erko looked around for some kind of help, but he only saw the lake shining in the silver light of the rising moon. He picked the girl up, carried her to the lake and immersed her body into the cool, shallow waters.

“Foreverold! Can you hear me?!” Erko cried at the sky, “please, don’t mock me for once! Please, let her live!”

He soothed her feverish face with his cold, wet hands, while still holding the girl in the water. Nothing helped. Nothing could. He knew very well - wild lizzardons poison was deadly. Erko shook crying, he embraced her tightly.

“If you die, I will never be forgiven! I’ll end my life! Oh, Thymia, it’s my fault! My greed! We already had enough Snakegrass, but I wanted more! Damned poison! If you survive, I promise not to smoke it ever again!”

“Don’t promise…” she whispered quietly.

Erko held her, laughing with relief. Slowly the fever retreated. He carried the girl out of the water and took care of her all evening.

“I’m half Snakeling. Lizzardon’s poison isn’t dangerous to them. My father’s blood must’ve saved me,” she spoke, while Erko carried her to the tent. 

“Save your strength, don’t talk! Try to rest!” He lingered looking into Thymias eyes, then left her alone in the tent.

Next morning Thymia got out of the tent just to find out - Erko had already packed all their things and cooked breakfast.

“I’ll help you!” He ran up to carry her.

“I’m alright! I’ll go myself!”

Thymia wondered, where did he hide all the dry Snakegrass. It was still forbidden in Autumna. The punishments in Hebeny were less severe, still nobody bragged with the ‘Grass openly. Erko had a trick - all the Snakegrass packed in sacks, was tied to custom-made hooks under the cart. It was safely hidden from curious sights.

“Listen, I reckoned,” Erko said, “you saved me from the Green lake, and you worked just as hard as I did… so you’ve earned half of the money we’ll get for the ‘Grass. You’ll need it in Hebeny.”

“Thank you!” She looked into Erko’s eyes, but he turned away to prepare the cart for the journey.

The weather changed completely, they left the hot, sunny days behind, and drove into the rainy, foggy common weather of Autumna.

“There’s the Old Autumn I know! All that sunny weather was just a silly misunderstanding,” Erko said, sitting in front of the cart. He smiled looking back at Thymia and High King.

They finally left the surroundings of the Green lake, and Thymia felt the weariness from Snakegrass fumes disappear. 

It was the last evening they spent in Autumna, tomorrow they would drive into Hebeny or the Kingdom Under the Blackwoods. A beautiful land mostly covered with giant trees, black and tall, spreading their emerald leaves above its people’s heads. Land of big towns, valleys, lakes, and rivers. It was nothing like Autumna. The people were fair skinned, blue eyed, a lot of them rich and well educated. Hebenians did not possess any magical qualities. South from Hebeny laid the land of Avem, inhabited by magical folk of Birdlings. Erko planned to sell his Snakegrass in the first big town in their way - Tridum, the city on the border of three Kingdoms: Autumna, Hebeny and Avem.