The Lord of the Lake (8)

A serialised dark romantic fantasy novella

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Previously: Chapter 7

Chapter 8: Damian’s curse

Ulrich hovered around the candle-lit newlywed chamber like an overjoyed moth; the room was full of flowers, drunk from their intoxicating scent the prince danced and twirled, waiting for his bride. Nothing could stand in the way of his happiness. The wedding was perfect. 

His Autumnian bride was of passionate nature, that much he comprehended, and Ulrich couldn’t wait to immerse himself deeply into her flame. 

Not long now. Why wasn’t she coming? Thymia was not the kind of girl to stand in front of a mirror for hours. Patience! A Noble man is bound to be patient. Oh, patience, be damned! Ulrich couldn’t wait any longer - he slammed the door open and jumped into the hallway; just in time to receive a violent blow to the head. Something flew right into his forehead, turned big and heavy, pushing him down to the floor. 

Stunned from the impact, for a moment Ulrich thought he was lying with his beloved - everything had fallen into place, she was the one. The prince embraced the one laying on him tightly.

“Let go of me!” The girl shrieked.

“A thousand apologies!” Ulrich got back to his senses.

“Oh, your Highness!” The girl stood up and bowed nervously.

“And who are you?” He asked, awkwardly standing up straight.

“I’m Oriole. A nobody. Crane’s apprentice,” she chirped, turned into a bird, and flew away as the prince’s bodyguards rushed towards him; they had been delayed at the other side of the hall, receiving some terrible news from the guards outside the castle. Immediately the bodyguards informed Ulrich about his bride being kidnapped.

“No, it can’t be! But what about my wedding night?” The shocked prince asked with a childish despair. 

“I’m afraid it’s true!” King Ulf ran up to him.

“But… but I must find her! I need a horse, at once!” The prince exclaimed.

“No need for that; I’ve already sent two dozen soldiers to search both sides of the river - they couldn’t have gone far.”

“But I must go! It’s my wedding night!”

“I don’t think it’s worth it, Ulrich,” King Ulf shook his head.

“What do you mean?!”

“Oh, my dear son! You’re such a gullible soul! Your bride wasn’t happy at the wedding. I think her parents made Thymiani marry you. With her stolen virtue, this would be her only chance for a good marriage.”

“You’re thinking wrongly, Ulf!” The voice of High King echoed in the hallway. 

“It sounded worse than I meant it!” King Ulf attempted to justify himself.

“We did not make Thymia marry your son!” Said the High King coming nearer.

“Thymia is not a whore. She’s a widow. Her marriage with the Autumnian was lawful.” The High Queen stood by her husband.

“That’s what the girl told you. But who knows what really happened in the wilderness?” King Ulf objected.

“So, that’s what you think of my daughter?”

“And my wife!” Ulrich suddenly realised, “I need a horse! Where’s my horse?” The prince marched down the hall shouting. A small yellow bird secretly followed Ulrich into the courtyard. It hid in the saddle bag of the prince’s horse as he rode off accompanied by Thymia’s brothers and a couple of bodyguards. 

Oriole had been searching for Erko all evening. After she heard about the missing bride - it was clear who was responsible. Oh, Erko! Oriole tagged along with the searching party - that fool Erko will need somebody to save his behind after the prince finds him!

“Not again! How can this be happening again?” The High Queen cried going down the dark hall alongside her husband. 

“I don’t think it’s a coincidence,” he replied, frowning.

“How can you say such a thing! Do you mean - Thymia ran away willingly?”

“I know our daughter well enough; she was miserable at the wedding. Getting kidnapped would be a very convenient way to get out.”

“I don’t believe it! She would not dare... oh… my poor daughter! It seems a dark curse has followed her ever since she got lost in the wilderness!”

“A dark curse indeed - first her unfortunate adventures in the Old Autumn, then the Great fire, another fire in New Autumna. An unnamed malice is following her, we must find out what it is,” the High king picked up the pace - they hurried to the courtyard to see their sons off, twins were to join Ulrich in his quest to recover Thymia.

***

“Quite tasteless! Mine looked much better.”

Erko held Thymia’s hand against the firelight, watching the gemstones glitter on her wedding ring. He pressed her hand to his lips again and again, as they laid naked close to each other, covered with Erko’s cloak. 

Thymia could not even imagine this wedding night would turn out perfect – listening to Erko’s heartbeat in the silence of the forest, the fire roaring near them, the wind gently revealing the stars hidden by dark leaves above their heads. 

“May I?” Erko tried to take the Hebenian ring off. 

“Not yet!”

“You’re joking?”

Thymia sat up.

“No, not until I return to the castle and explain everything to Ulrich and my parents.”

“Since when have you become so responsible?” Erko smirked, sitting up and kissing her neck. 

“Since I saw my father’s hair gone grey, and my mother’s eyes grown old from crying, after I got lost in the wilderness,” she explained.  

“I must return alone. Give me some time, then meet me by the river in the morning, near the castle.”

“No, Thymia! We shouldn’t part!”

“Please! Hide in the river!”

Thymia saw distant torchlights glaring among the black trees. Voices called her name; the searching party was coming their way. 

“Quick!”

Thymia slipped into her dress, wrapped Erko’s cloak around herself, shoved his own clothes in Erko’s hands and pushed him toward the river. 

“I’m here!” She shouted. They rode closer to the fire.

“What a relief to find you alive, Highness! Are you alone?”

“I’m fine. The kidnapper is gone. Please, lend me a horse. I need to return to the castle at once!”

“Of course! At once!”

Erko sat in the black river, watching Thymia ride away without even looking back at him. He wondered if the girl had tricked him, to get away from her kidnapper, and had a bit of fun on the way… No, impossible! Her body, her eyes, her lips did not lie. 

Thymia could not present Erko to her parents as her lawful husband. Even worse - take him to the King’s castle, where Ulrich must be worried sick about her disappearance. She would explain everything to them and then leave to be with Erko. 

The girl thought of the most sensible way to clear things, but it didn’t sound good no matter how she’d put it. Her heart ached for Erko, of course, she would rather elope with him, but her poor parents did not deserve it, neither did Ulrich. 

She rode into the gates of the King’s castle at dawn. Both parents ran toward her across the courtyard.

“I’m alright. He didn’t hurt me. Just wanted to talk. Where’s Ulrich?”

“Did you not meet him in on your way back?” King Ulf and his Queen joined them.

“We didn’t meet him, nor did we see anybody on the other shore,” the soldiers replied.

“How strange!” King Ulf frowned at Thymia. “Where’s my son?”

“I don’t know!”

“And the kidnapper just let you go?” King Ulf squinted his eyes; his sight grew more and more suspicious.

“Leave the poor girl alone, dearest! I’m sure Ulich will return soon enough,” his wife, Queen Ani reassured him. 

“I demand to know what happened tonight!” King Ulf yelled impatiently.

“Not before my daughter has recovered from the horror!” The High Queen retorted and took Thymia inside the castle. She was, indeed, tired. 

After the girl had rested, taken a bath, and properly attired, both parents requested to tell all about what happened on the wedding night. 

“No, he didn’t hurt me. Listen I must tell you…” but she couldn’t go on, because a servant knocked and summoned all of them to a meeting with the King of Hebeny.

“Maybe Ulrich is back, he needs to hear this as well.” Thymia followed the servant.

The King and Queen of Hebeny, the Nobles, Crane and some other notable guests were present at the hall. 

“Where’s Ulrich?” Thymia asked, surprised not to see him.

“He is not here. Therefore, I ask you again - what happened tonight and where is my son?” Thymia could clearly hear the King barely bracing himself not to yell in her face.

“I don’t know! But whatever happened tonight, it has nothing to do with…”

She was interrupted yet again; a servant ran into the hall.

“Your Highness, an Autumnian man is here to see you. He claims to have found something you’ve lost.”

“Let him enter!”

Frightened, Thymia stared as the tall, handsome Autumnian slowly walking into the hall, his sight and posture appearing somewhat arrogant. Everybody stared at his face - of course, Thymia had taken his hooded cloak. Everybody knew whose face he bore, judging by the whispering. King Ulf even gasped, while his wife, Queen Ani, shrieked covering her mouth. 

“It can’t be - I saw your body burn in the funeral! I scattered your ashes above the marshes!” The High Queen of Autumna exclaimed, she remembered her deceased husband’s face very well. 

“What kind of monstrosity are you?” king Ulf shouted. 

Erko’s steps slowed down, Thymia saw fear in his eyes. No wonder he mostly hid his face in crowded places. Although fully dressed, exposed to many judgmental eyes, Erko seemed more bare than ever. 

“Why are you here? I told you to wait by the river,” she whispered as he approached. 

“I came to apologise to prince Ulrich, and to return his ring,” Erko opened his clenched fist - a gold and emerald ring shone in the light of the rising sun.

“What are you doing?” Thymia didn’t understand. 

“I’ve stopped running. It’s time to deal with the past,” Erko whispered.

He couldn’t have found a worse time to do so! Even Thymia for a second thought he might be connected with Ulrich’s absence.

King Ulf ran up to him, grabbing the ring.

“Where is my son? What did you do to him? You want ransom or is this revenge on your father’s behalf?” He yelled at Erko.

 “I do not know about your son. I found this ring in the river.”

Thymia heard his voice tremble, Erko was losing his usual confidence minute after minute. 

“What were you doing in the river?” King voice echoed in the hall.

Thymia stood by Erko, holding his hand. 

“I swam to my wife.”

“So, you’re the dead scoundrel who bought my daughter, dragged her through taverns and wilderness and stole her virtue?” Asked the High King, hatefully squinting his green snake eyes.

“Yes, sir! I mean, no sir! I didn’t die. And she asked me to take her virtue if it changes anything.”

Thymia blushed, Erko did not make things any better! Her father remained calm, unlike King Ulf, but Erko was more nervous than ever.

“Now I see. You’re the curse following Thymia ever since Old Autumn. Maybe even earlier? How long have you been stalking my daughter? What a clever plan - trick her to marry you, then get rid of the twin heirs of Autumna, and you’ll be the next High King as Thymia’s husband, and regain the throne deprived from you,” the High King spoke calmly walking around Erko, while the latter seemed to be stunned and could not object.

“You are Damian’s offspring, aren’t you?” the High King asked, stopping inches from Erko’s face.

“I am,” Erko’s voice was barely hearable.

“And did my son get in the way of your plan? Was that why you killed him?” King Ulf lost his temper, his loud, roaring yells reverberated across the hall.

“Not true! Both of you are wrong! Erko did not plan any of this!” Thymia stepped in, she could not bear Erko’s silent submission to their accusations.

“Thymia, stay out of this!” Father scolded her.

“Thymiani’s right!” Suddenly Crane stood by her. “Erko may be a fool, but an honest fool! He did not choose the face he’s forced to live with. Nor did he choose his fate - it seems the Foreverold himself is directing Erko toward power, no matter how I, or he, resisted it. Foreverold has already granted him with the power over waters, and he receives Prophecies as well. I believe the Foreverold has made Erko find Ulrich’s ring to summon him here. Erko must fulfil his fate.”

“What are you saying, Crane? Has the Foreverold taken away your wisdom, as a cost for your long life?”

Crane gave King Ulf a hateful stare but did not reply. Instead, she turned to Thymia and Erko.

“I apologise to both of you. Even the wisest lose their way, blindfolded by arrogance and prejudice. The prophecy, Thymia, was of you and Erko, not the prince, as I wished it to be. Erko is to undo the malice of his father, and maybe even his forefather, the Wizard of Autumna himself.”

“The one who cursed the land of Autumna,” the Nobles whispered to each other. 

“The wise Crane siding with Damian’s curse… Have you been seduced by power as well?” the High King said.

“Watch your snake’s tongue, High King of Autumna! Have you not heard what I just spoke of? Erko does not seek power. It seeks him.” Crane’s black eyes met the High King’s green ones.

“I cannot believe this! Your old mind has finally left you, Crane. Why are we wasting time? I will find out where my son is, even if I have to beat it out of him. Guards! Take him away! To the dungeon!” King Ulf commanded his soldiers to grab Erko.

“You shall not take my apprentice anywhere!” Crane stood in the way. 

“You have forgotten - this is Hebeny, not Avem, old Crane! I am the King of Hebeny, and this is my will,” King Ulf himself pushed the old sorceress aside, his soldiers held Erko, dragging him away.

“You are the King of fools!” Crane shouted, but he wouldn’t listen. 

The High King grabbed Thymia, not letting her get to Erko. He didn’t fight the soldiers. Silently the tall man went along.

“The time has come to pay off my father’s debts. Don’t come after me, Thymia, it must be done,” Erko said, looking back at her.

“No! No, you fool! Let go of me! What will you do to him?” Thymia cried.

A storm erupted over the King’s town. The wind and the rain howled over the castle like a wounded beast. 

Thymia paced back and forth, while her parents kept interrogating her, asking the same questions again and again.

“No, Erko did not kidnap or kill Ulrich and my brothers! No, he had not drowned them!”

“You can’t know that,” the High Queen objected, “maybe he did not plan this, but saw an opportunity on his way here, and used it. He might have seen them searching for you near the river, and with his power to command water…”

“No!” Thymia interrupted her, “Erko would not do it. I trust him.”

“Damian’s curse is holding your mind imprisoned. I will make sure the curse is destroyed, so you can be free from it, my daughter.”

“No, father! Why don’t you believe me?”

King Ulf came into the chamber without knocking. It had been hours since he took Erko to the dungeons.

“The bastard isn’t easy to break. He would not confess what he’s done to our sons.”

“Because he hasn’t done anything to them!” Thymia yelled.

“Although, we did manage to get something out of him, that might be of use to you,” King Ulf spoke to Thymia’s father, “Damian’s bastard was the one who caused the Great fire in the Old Autumn last summer.”

“Thymia, did you know about it?”

The girl looked frightened at her father,

“I did,” she confessed, “Erko had the Live fire vessels, two of them. He had to use one to save me, after a whole pack of soldiers attacked me. Our own soldiers, father!”

“So, he deserves death by our Autumnian laws. Very good,” the High king said.

“Did you not hear me? Our own soldiers tried to take my virtue by force, ten of them! What other way was there to save me, but to burn them all at once?” Thymia shouted at her father, but it seemed he didn’t want to hear her.

“He will have a trial, and he’ll be executed in Autumna, as soon as we find my sons and prince Ulrich,” the High king stated.

“Then you’ll have to behead Ulrich as well. And, perhaps, me too. I was the one who carried the fire vessel into our castle, but Ulrich set the place on fire, by accident,” Thymia objected.

“You dare to slander my son?! You little Autumnian wh…!”

King Ulf was interrupted by a guard running into the chamber.

“Your Highness! The river is flowing backwards. It’ll flood the town. The stream is breaking the blackwood rafts!”

“Damian’s curse shall not break me!” King Ulf shouted. 

“Maybe not you, but what about your kingdom?” Crane stood in the doorway behind the guards, lighting flashed over her wrinkled face and reflected in the old sorceress’ black eyes.

“I do not know the limits of Erko’s powers, neither does he. But if he has inherited the power of his forefather - the Lord of the Lake, your kingdom is in danger.”

“Old witch’s fairy tales!” King Ulf retorted pacing away.

***

Erko was finally left alone, half-naked and lifeless on the cold stone floor of the prison cell. His whole body was covered in cuts, bruises, and burns. The cell had no windows, complete darkness surrounded him; Erko was unaware of the storm raging outside.

The key turned in the cell door, the one entering kneeled down, holding a lantern close to Erko’s face; it appeared as if the intruder attempted to torture his bloodshot eyes with the bright light. Erko recognized her - it was an Autumnian woman, King Ulf’s wife, Queen Ani.

“You’re a spitting image of Damian, aren’t you? The same face… Only the look in your eyes is different.”

Erko couldn’t answer; his mouth and throat had once again filled up with blood from his knocked-out teeth.

“Poor boy. Who would’ve thought I’ll ever feel sorry looking at Damian’s face?”

Queen Ani wiped the blood off his chin and gave Erko some water. 

“I’m Damian’s illegitimate sister, you know. A bastard, just like you. That makes me your auntie.”

Erko’s eyes posed a question.

“What do I want from you? I’m here to help. I love Ulf dearly, but he’s a stubborn old goat. While he’s busy interrogating you, nobody is searching for Ulrich. And your storm is destroying the town, did you know?”

Erko shook his head. 

“Why… you want to… help me?” He mumbled.

Queen Ani paused thinking.

“Maybe it’s guilt. I may have quickened Damian’s early death. I do not regret that he’s gone. But I believe the Foreverold has made our paths cross for a reason,” the Queen brushed the black strands of Erko’s hair from his face.

“Hebenians, like Ulf, think most Autumnians are stupid. Let’s prove them wrong. I know you wouldn’t have given in, had you really kidnapped my son.”

A cunning spark shone in her eyes, the kind of flame that often burned in Erko’s eyes. She indeed was of his kin.

“Lie to them. Tell them you know where Ulrich is, and you’ll lead them to him. When you get out of the dungeon, I’ll find a way to help you escape. Do it! Not just for yourself, for my son - he’s lost somewhere helpless, while Ulf is chasing the ghost of his own hatred.”

Erko nodded vaguely. 

He heard the woman talk to the guards as she went out of the cell.

“He is ready to confess. Damian’s curse will lead us to the prince.”