The Lord of the Lake (9)

A serialised dark romantic fantasy novella

Chapter 9: In the claws of Black Bear

Ulrich woke up from a nasty smell, he opened his eyes with a scream of terror - a monstrous creature was sniffing his face, its red eyes glared in the wolf-like muzzle, while slobber dripped down from the beasts bared teeth right onto the prince’s fine linen shirt. With all his senses sharpened, Ulrich knew - the beast was hungry. 

“Down, Speck! Down!” a low, roaring voice groaned. Somebody pulled the chain the beast was held by, the monster whined and crept back to its master. It moved crouching, on two legs like a human. Ulrich had never seen a wolverine, but he knew this was one.

The prince looked around - Autumnian twin brothers Elian and Thomian were tied to nearby trees just like him, but they seemed to be unconscious. Ulrich wiggled, trying to untie his hands. Slowly he remembered what exactly happened last night; they rode alongside the river, until a pack of wild hounds and, obviously, some wolverines with them attacked, driving their horses into the river. Ulrich’s horse fell, he was thrown into the water, he heard voices yelling, then somebody punched him, and it all got dark. 

Daylight crept among the trees, the fog retrieved, they were tied near a messy campsite. Crude voices spoke and laughed, a pack of dogs barked and howled tied to a tree on the other side of the camp. A man came to the dogs, throwing large chunks of meat and bones to them. Ulrich didn’t want to believe his eyes - it was human flesh the bloody dogs were fighting for.

The frightened prince wiggled frantically.

“Our bodyguards,” said Elian, “or what’s left of them.”

Ulrich turned his head away from the bloody sight and threw up.

Thomian still sat with his head hung, he seemed to be badly injured; his head was bleeding. 

“Who are those people?” Ulrich whispered.

“Robbers, looters, obviously,” said Elian, “they’re not completely dumb, the scumbags left us alive. They’ll probably want ransom for us.”

Ulrich heard river bubbling nearby, the chains clinked - the man holding them came nearer. He was the tallest man ever seen; crude and hefty, with black beard and a dull and cruel look in his eyes. The man held two wolverines chained, those were higher than Ulrich, when the beasts stood on two legs, but the man was even taller. 

“Please, sir! Let us go! We’re in a hurry!” the prince begged.

“Hurry? Black Bear never hurries. Black Bear goes whenever he wants, wherever he wants,” the man grunted in a low, bear-like voice. 

He laughed at Ulrich’s attempts to wiggle out of the ropes, while the two beasts by his side, roared and licked their teeth.

Thomian woke up moaning in pain.

“Water… water…”

“Give him some water! Please, help!” Elian exclaimed.

Another man came up to them, the front of his shirt was covered in blood from feeding the dogs.

“What ya’ yellin’ for, eh?”

“Please, sir! He’s not well! We need a Healer. I’m the King’s son, my father will reward you greatly, if you get us to him,” Ulrich pleaded.

“Oi! Black Bear! This ‘ere says he’s the King’s son,” the man shouted.

“Black Bear has no King,” his boss growled, “ride back to town! Ask around if there’s some Nobles missing.”

“Right, Black Bear! We’ll get good gold for ’em, I tell ya’,” the man went to get a horse. 

“Oi, lazy bones! Get packed! We lay low! Too much soldier folk running ‘round ‘ere,” Black Beat commanded his robbers.

Nobody gave Thomian water, the robbers quickly gathered all their belongings - several carts with tents, they tied the dogs and the wolverines to them, and did the same with their prisoners. Ulrich and Elian once untied, tried to run, but were badly beaten and tied to the cart anyway, with Thomian still barely conscious.

“He can’t run, don’t you see?” Elian cried at them with a bleeding lip.

The robbers laughed in return.

The horses began moving through the wood, Ulrich and Elian had a hard time trying to support Thomian, who barely dragged his feet. After some time that felt like forever, the robbers finally stopped by some wood covered cliffs. They revealed an entrance to a cave, hiding beneath fallen branches. 

The poor prisoners were tied to trees with chains around their necks - just like the dogs and wolverines.

Finally, the robbers threw them a half-empty flask of water and some bones with charred meat on them. 

Ulrich and Elian both looked at each other, then helped Thomian up and gave him all the water. 

Dark clouds gathered above the woods; a violent storm erupted, rain poured down for hours and hours. The robbers all ran into the cave, taking only the horses with them. 

The dogs sat shivering in the rain, with tails between their feet, the prisoners felt exactly the same - cold, wet, exhausted and miserable. Judging by the sounds and smells, the robbers were cooking meat and drinking. Even after the storm calmed down, nobody came outside the cave to attend to the prisoners. Thomian was laying lifeless in a puddle, Ulrich dozed off despite his wet clothes and hunger. He woke in the middle of a moonlit night. A woman stood leaning above Thomian; she was giving him a drink from the flask. Her long hair shone golden-red in the moonlight. Ulrich stared at the apparition; was it death? Lucky Thomian, what a beautiful death!

***

The guards dragged Erko into the courtyard, Thymia ran there as well; King Ulf had come to brag - he broke Damian’s curse! Now Erko was to take them where the royal offspring were hidden. 

The High King tried to hold his daughter from running to the scoundrel, but he did not expect she would push away her own beloved father to embrace Damian’s bastard. The tall, strong Autumnian nearly collapsed in her arms.

“What have they done to you?!” Thymia cried. She looked at his mangled hands.

“Unforgivable!” Thymia screamed hatefully, staring at King Ulf, who lowered his sight. Yet he would not take mercy on Erko. The horses were prepared for the road - Erko would lead them. Thymia demanded a horse as well. 

“No daughter! You shall stay here!” The High King shouted.

“I shall follow my husband wherever he goes!” Thymia retorted.

“Let the girl go along. What harm could there be?” Queen Ani suggested embracing King Ulf.

Erko could barely get up on the horse, Queen Ani secretly winked at him, then she whispered to Thymia, while passing by.

“Help him run the first chance you get. Crane will follow.”

As they rode outside the castle walls, the storm had stopped; a white crane bird flew through the clouds high above them.

Thymia saw Erko struggling in pain, he was badly beaten. 

“Why did you confess? You haven’t got a clue where they are!”

“Shush, you two! No whispering! How long must we ride?!” King Ulf shouted.

“Not… not long… here…” Erko stopped and got off the horse.

The crane bird flew down, the old sorceress turned up in front of him. Suddenly Thymia ran up and pushed Erko into the river.

“What’s the meaning of this?!” King Ulf cried.

“Make the river carry you! Run, Erko!” Thymia yelled.

“I will not run anymore! If I run - the King might as well call me guilty. That I am not,” he replied slowly and sternly, laying in the black stream.

“Fool!” Thymia exclaimed.

Soldiers pulled Erko out of the water.

“In bed recovering he should be, not riding around the woods,” Crane said, “my apprentice was tortured in Hebeny, what a disgrace!”

“Here… Here I found the ring. Closer to the other shore…” Erko pointed at the river.

“You heard him! Send out your soldiers, King! Your son needs help!” Thymia yelled.

The King looked at them hatefully.

“We ride back! Damian’s curse shall be kept imprisoned until he tells where my son is!”

Nevertheless, King Ulf still sent soldiers to search for any sign of prince Ulrich on the other shore; they reached the place at dawn, found remains of a recent campsite not far from the river, but the heavy rain had washed away all traces.

Erko felt somewhat better after the dip in the river. The water itself gave him strength, he managed to ride back to the castle, where the dark prison cell awaited for him. This time Thymia did not leave his side, no one dared to touch her with the Snakeling sword she held raised against anybody coming near her. 

“You cannot let my daughter be imprisoned! It’s a disgrace to Hebeny!” The High King shouted.

“You deal with your stubborn daughter - she threatens to stab anybody trying to pull her away from that bastard!” King Ulf shrugged.

Thymia went deeper and deeper underground, darkness and despair lurked from every corner of the prison walls. Erko was a fool, indeed, but Thymia knew his heart - he had been running from all responsibility, now he was willing to take it. She would stand by him.

Both were locked in the same cell with no windows, only a half-burned candle that soon went out leaving them in complete darkness. 

Lying on the cold stone floor Erko secretly thanked the Foreverold for every scar, bruise and burn, because Thymia kissed each and every one of those lovingly, and the cruel prison walls had never witnessed so much tender love made within them. 

***

An hour before dawn, Ulrich struggled for a breath, as Black Bear pulled him up by the chain around his neck. The giant dropped him to the ground, then dragged the prince along into the cave. 

The same happened with both twins - the robbers pulled them along Ulrich. 

“Let us go, you scum!” Ulrich yelled. Black Bear slightly punched the prince’s face, the giant’s strength was enough to knock out a couple of Ulrich’s teeth. 

Luckily, Thomian seemed to have recovered a bit from his weariness; at least he could walk on his own.

The inside of the cave stank of urine, booze, and dead meat. They were dragged along a passage, then through a large chamber, where the robbers obviously had their feast yesterday. They went on and on, and on, until finally stopped in another chamber. 

The prisoners fell to the ground. Robbers made a fire, it was time for lunch. This time they finally threw some charred pieces of meat to the three royals. Poor Ulrich was starving, he chewed on the bones without hesitation, even the possibility of those coming from a human didn’t stop him. All the while Black Bear chuckled, dark and low, watching the three, and calling them “good doggies”. 

After they had finished scrubbing every single bone, Ulrich grabbed his head in despair, horrified - he was not a Noble anymore, the prince had become an animal. 

Black Bear threw them the same old flask with just a mouthful of water in it.

“Give it, Thom!” Elian and Thomian began to fight for it, while the robbers laughed at the twins.

“Stop it, both of you! We are not beasts! Yes, we have a hard time now, but we shall not lose our dignity for them to enjoy!” The prince scolded the two in a voice he hadn’t heard before. It was a voice of a brave and a proud man, who would not kneel before evil, no matter what hardships he endured. 

They shared the water, even if it was only a few drops. 

After lunch, their dark journey continued in the blood-red torch light. Dinner was the same as lunch - burnt meat and some water. They still had chains around their necks, the robbers tied those to heavy rocks. Ulrich had no strength to go on, his mouth was dry, his head - weary. The prince laid down on the cold ground anticipating death to come. 

In the middle of the night, when the robbers were drunk and fast asleep, Ulrich felt somebody touching his dry, chapped lips. He woke up startled, expecting to see a wolverine’s muzzle in front of him. To his great surprise, it was a girl. Her hair shone golden in the light of the robbers’ fire. 

She showed him to be quiet, then gave a flask filled with pure, cool water. The prince drank, all the while staring at the miraculous apparition. 

Without saying a word, the girl turned into a bird, grabbed the flask, and flew away into the dark. The bird returned flapping its wings heavily; it could barely carry the refilled flask. 

“Who are you?!” Ulrich whispered, but the wolverines, tied further away, growled, sensing the girl’s presence. She flew away swiftly.

“Elian, Thomian, wake up! Drink! It’s pure water, don’t worry! We’re not alone!”

***

Early in the morning, High Queen Eliani of Autumna climbed down the stairs into the dungeon, to the darkest prison cell. She brought breakfast for her daughter. Thymia and Erko were fast asleep, even the lantern light did not wake them up.

Despite lying on the hard, cold floor, both appeared truly happy, holding each other tight.

The High Queen could not believe Erko’s likeness to his father. She shivered - this face she did not expect to see ever again.

“Mother?”

“I brought food. The King’s breakfast might be a bit better than prison food,” the High Queen smiled.

“Your father would not come. He cannot stand you being here with that man!” She continued.

“Erko is my husband. What did he expect?!”

“I am not the man your father would gladly expect you to marry!” Erko woke up.

“He didn’t think much of Ulrich either. No man would ever be good enough for his little girl,” the High Queen consoled him.

“Then I didn’t stand a chance!” Erko smiled.

“You look exactly like your father!” High Queen exclaimed, seeing his smirk.

Erko lowered his sight.

“Are there any news of the lost princes?” He asked.

“No, nothing,” the High Queen sighed, “as if they’ve fallen through the ground.”

“Can you talk some sense into my father? He must understand - Erko has nothing to do with their absence,” Thymia spoke to her mother.

“I think your father is slowly getting there. But… he is determined to trial Erko for causing the Great fire.”

“So, death sentence by beheading?” Erko frowned looking down.

“Why would father not hear me?! I explained - Erko was saving me.” Thymia wrapped her arms around him. 

“We had a very long meeting yesterday. Me and Crane stood up for Erko, but your father wouldn’t hear it. As soon as your brothers return, Erko will be taken to Autumna,” the High Queen paused, “it seems the princes are not the only ones lost -  Cranes apprentice is missing as well.”

“Oriole is gone?” Erko exclaimed, “no wonder! She would follow the prince anywhere!”

Suddenly Erkos sight froze as he stared at the wall blankly.

“Call Crane!” He said in an unfamiliar voice.

“What is it?! Are you unwell?” Thymia shook him.

“I had a Prophecy!”

“You?!”

“The yellow bird will save the golden son, a darkened stream they’ll overcome, through blood and fire of the bear on black, the Damned land’s lake forever shall be back.” Erko recited the Prophecy as soon as Crane had come.

“Well, it’s clear where Oriole has gone - the yellow bird - she obviously is with the prince - the golden son,” Crane concluded, “the King must send soldiers further, till the border of Autumna, the Damned land.”

“They couldn’t have gone that far without being seen. But my sons seem to have gone into thin air!” The High Queen exclaimed.

“Or a darkened stream…” Crane replied with her black eyes delving deep into the unseen.

***

Ulrich opened his eyes - yet another morning he could see nothing. All the torches and the fire had gone out. But soon enough the chains began to clank - wolverines woke up with the rest of the dogs, howling and whining. The beasts were hungry. If no ransom was 

offered - the three prisoners might end up as the monsters’ next meal. 

The prisoners were weak, Thomian could not keep up the pace - dizzy and weary he dragged his feet. Black Bear knew no mercy; he found a new way to torture them, entertaining himself. The giant and his wolverines moved to the back of the column - whenever the prisoners began to stall, the wolverines would attempt to bite them in the behind.

By nightfall they reached another large chamber full of loot - everything from swords to old leather boots. 

Again, the three gnawed the charred bones, but Ulrich already knew - as soon as the robbers would fall asleep, she’llbring them water. 

She did. All three men looked at the girl with deep admiration. Ulrich held her hand while he drank the water, the girl was the only hope he had.

“Who are you?” He whispered.

“Oriole, Cranes apprentice.”

“I remember you,” Ulrich pressed her hand to his heart, “Oriole, please, fly to my father, the King! We need help!”

“I can’t! At first, I couldn’t leave you - I’m a Birdling Healer, we vow not to leave a wounded soul behind. And I thought the King’s soldiers would come for you soon. But they didn’t! Now I won’t find my way back through the darkness. I can barely reach the water source.”

All three sat in silence until the dogs growled at Oriole, she chirped and flew away.

If it wasn’t bad enough, the next day the robbers packed heavy bags of their loot, and tied the loads not only to the horses, but also unto the prisoners’ backs. 

“I can’t… I can’t… -Thomian cried, hobbling forward, while the wolverine nearly grabbed his thigh, “I can’t go on… I’ll end up in the belly of that son of a bitch!”  Tears rolled down his dirty cheeks.

They heard a noise ahead - suddenly the whole column found themselves on a bank of a fast-flowing river. The bubbling rapids flickered in the red torch light.

“Water’s high, Bear!” The ones in the front yelled. Indeed, the recent storm had raised the water level.

“Move along, you cowardly bitches!” Black Bear roared, he wasn’t bothered, of course, the water wouldn’t be too deep for him to cross.

Robbers held on to their horses and waded through the black stream. The dogs and wolverines swam fighting the current. Thomian didn’t stand a chance - weak as he was, with the heavy weight on his back, he couldn’t stand straight, the current pulled him away screaming. Ulrich and Elian looked at each other and stopped fighting the stream; both laid down and let the river take them away. Nobody was mad enough to follow. Ulrich heard another one of Black Bear’s roars, then the stream pulled him under. The three fought to get rid of the heavy sacks, Elian made it first, he then helped Thomian. Ulrich could not hold his breath any longer; by the time the brothers got to him and released him from the sack, he seemed lifeless. The stream washed them upon a sandbank, Ulrich wasn’t moving.

“Oriole! Can you hear me?! Help him!” Elian cried into the darkness. Luckily, she was following the three. The yellow bird landed near them. The twins did not understand what she was doing - the girl pressed her lips on Ulrich’s mouth, then pushed both her fists on his chest, then repeated her actions, until he coughed and took a breath. The frightened prince grabbed Oriole and held her tight, crying.

“You’re not drowning! It’s alright! You’re safe!” She whispered, while the prince kept weeping and shaking. “You can let go now.”

“A thousand apologies! Please, forgive me, Oriole! I’m not a Noble anymore! I’m an animal! I don’t know what I am…” Ulrich loosened his grip, sat up and tore his own hair.

“You’re the heir of Hebeny, nothing has changed,” Oriole looked him in the eyes, until he calmed down and nodded slowly. 

The four of them decided to follow the river. The ice-cold water and the sense of freedom gave them strength - they moved forward until the stream disappeared under a low cliff ridge. What was there to do? Sit around and wait? There was no way back. They dived into the dark stream holding their breaths, in hope they’ll breathe again on the other side.

***

“I cannot believe you’re not on my side!” The High King exclaimed. His wife stood near him, she had pulled him aside, amidst a meeting with King Ulf, Queen Ani, Crane, and the Nobles. 

“Dearest, please! Erko isn’t at all like his father. We must spare his life, in return for saving our daughter in the wilderness,” the High Queen spoke quietly. 

“He did not save her. He destroyed her life. I do not believe he’s not after the throne of Autumna. No! He’s a villain, who deserves death!”

“Dearest! I don’t recognize you anymore. You’re becoming like your father.”

The High King pulled his hand from her grip and went back to the meeting.

“If anybody - he’s a reflection of his father, not I. My daughter must be released from Damian’s curse, the sooner, the better!”

While the High Queen lingered, crushed by her husband’s response, Queen Ani approached her.

“I can’t believe Erko didn’t escape, when he had the chance.”

“Erko wants to be tried fairly. He said - he’s tired of running from the past,” the High Queen replied.

“He’s nothing like Damian, is he?” Queen Ani smiled.

“Sadly, not everybody wishes to see it,” the High Queen looked at her husband, who was quietly discussing something with King Ulf.