‘Halt!' he commanded again. He walked over to the cart and stared at the boy. He could make out his ferret-faced features in the moonlight. ‘What was that noise?' he barked.
‘Just my tummy rumbling sir,' the stable boy replied.
The guard scowled at him and called to his companion who was on the other side. ‘Did you hear anything as the cart was passing?' He asked him. Then he heard it again.
‘There it is again, like a babe cooing!'
The younger guard dug his nose with spindly fingers. He was cold and tired. ‘I heard nothing,' he said.
The older guard glared at his companion, who he thought was the most useless human he had ever met. He removed his sword and walked to the back of the cart; it was full of straw.
‘Can I go sir…my master will be waiting.’
‘Silence!’ he shouted. ‘Anything underneath all this straw?’
The cart driver got down from his seat and sidled over.
‘Just straw sir…honest.’ The guard growled and poked in the straw with his sword. He was sure he heard a baby, he was just about to poke again when he heard a flutter and cawing. A black shadow swooped down and clawed him.
‘The hell!!’ he said waving his sword frantically in the air. The younger guard’s eyes bulged.
‘Goodness, a raven.’
The raven flew out of reach, circled and came back.
‘God’s teeth,’ the guard cursed. ‘I’ll cut you to pieces you vermin!’ he shouted and slashed at the raven. What ensued was a comical sight, as the enraged guard swung his sword in circles at the bird which would not give up but seemed intent on attacking the guard.
‘You best go. He is a pain in the arse,’ the younger guard said to the stable boy as he watched the scene disbelieving.
The stable boy hurriedly got on his cart and steered his horse through the gate, leaving the two guards chasing after a raven, which seemed to have gone mad. By the time the raven finally gave up they were panting and cursing, the stable boy all but forgotten.
Underneath the straw, the queen said a silent prayer and thanked the raven. For if not for it, she would have had to give herself up before the point of the sword went through her baby. ‘Are you okay Surleiy?’ She asked her lady in waiting, who lay by her side.
‘Yes,’ she said. ‘The sword just missed me.’
The Queen kissed her babe on its head. She lay on her back with the infant lying on her breast.
‘What a brave little boy you are for not crying,’ she said softly ‘You will make a great King.’
The cart jerked on the cobbled roads, and the three bounced up and down, scarcely daring to breathe. An hour ago she was in the library with the raven boy. He had told her husband was dead and she was to be little more than a prisoner unless she escaped.
‘I need to get my son,’ she had said to the raven.
‘Nay need milady. I have told Surleiy, and she will bring him.'
Like clockwork, someone knocked softly on the door.
‘Who is it?' She asked as the raven hopped into the shadows.
‘It’s Surleiy, ma'am.’ Surleiy came in, dressed in a robe. She looked frightened.
‘Milady a raven…’ she gasped as the raven hopped out of the shadows.
‘We have no time,’ Kenioon said.
Surleiy, her face white with fear pulled down her robe revealing the prince clutched to her chest. ‘
Forgive me,’ she said. I knew no other way of smuggling him out of the room. The queen was almost crying as she took her son from Surleiy.
‘I have this for you milady.’ There was a folded robe in her hand that she handed the queen.
‘Please wear it, my queen.' After she had put it on, she turned to the Raven. ‘Now what?'
‘There is a hidden passageway through the cupboard milady. It goes down underneath the castle grounds into the stables. There Crazus, the stable boy is waiting. He will smuggle you in a cart full of straw to a safe-house, but we must hurry. You,' he said to Surleiy, ‘open the cupboard.’
There was a cupboard by the shelves of books. Surleiy opened it.
‘There’s a latch on the right side,’ the raven said. The queen nodded to Surleiy who ran her hand up and down the side of the cupboard until she touched a latch. She unclasped it, and the back of the closet swung open to reveal a dark passage.
‘You must go through there.' The queen blanched. She had a fear of enclosed places and the passageway, seemed narrow and dark.
The Raven flew unto the table. ‘Please my lady, and it's the only way. I will meet you at the stable with the boy.'
The queen looked at Surleiy who seemed even more frightened. She steeled herself. ‘Surleiy, hold the prince and hand me the light…I will go first, then you follow.’ Without a word, she entered the cupboard and climbed into the passage. It was dark, damp and scary, but she summoned courage. She felt Surleiy behind her.
‘Be brave,’ she said, more to herself than Surleiy and her infant son. Once they had gone the raven pushed the cupboard door shut and flew out the window.
The prince started squalling when they came to a stop. The stable boy came around and said. ‘It’s alright Mi’lady, and you can come out now.'
The queen emerged from the hay clutching her crying baby. A shocked Surleiy dusting the hay of the babe, the queen and finally herself. It was pitch black, and they were on a deserted side street leading towards a crowded dirty part of the capital. The smells of the overflowing gutter and rubbish that littered the road threatened to overwhelm her.
‘Follow me,' the stable boy said. He led them down the alleyway into a back street. They walked for another 15 minutes, the boy keeping to alleys and side-streets flanked on both sides by dilapidated houses, mostly dark but a few lit by lamps and lanterns, until they came to a two-story building that served as an inn.
The stable boy knocked on the door and immediately a couple opened and ushered them into the warmth of the house.
‘Oh the poor baby,' the middle-aged woman said. She was short and plump with a kindly face. ‘My queen, you need a change of clothes and some food in you.'
The queen smiled, as the woman bustled off. The man, a big, fat, balding redhead led them upstairs to a small room with a single bed.
He turned to the queen his face reddening, scarcely believing that he had royalty in his house.
‘I’m sorry ma’am…it’s not much, but it is warm and safe.’
‘It's perfect,' the queen said with a smile. She removed a ring from her hand and held it out to the astonished man.
‘Your bravery and kindness will be duly rewarded, but as a token, please accept this.'
The man took it from the queen his eyes wide. It was a beautiful gold piece, worth a year's earning. The inn keeper's wife came bustling in with a jug of water and a tray with cold meat and cheese.
‘Now you must eat and then wash,' she said. The queen smiled as she warmed to the woman, who seemed not to realize she was talking to royalty.
‘Hereld…have you shown them the hiding place?’
Hereld, used to obeying the commands of his wife, Bree, snapped into action. He moved to the side of the room by the window and reached up until he touched the low wooden ceiling.
‘Whenever we give a warning you must go up there,' the woman said. ‘There's a small latch that releases a trap-door. On cue, a door in the ceiling swung open, and Hereld reached for a ladder which he brought down. ‘There’s enough room for two people,’ he said proudly.
‘Just until danger’s averted.’
The queen nodded. ‘You are too kind,' she said, and even the wife reddened at the praise.
The stable boy spoke. ‘You are to stay here until Ceriuz comes for you milady. A couple of days to a week he said.’
‘They will be looking for you,’ Hereld said, returning the ladder and closing the door. ‘But they won’t find you here. You and the prince will be safe.’
‘Okay, enough of that. Leave the ladies and the child to rest. They have been through a lot. I will bring warm water in a basin for you to wash.’
Bree chivvied the stable boy and her husband out of the room. The queen fed her child while Surleiy cut the bread and meat into morsels. They were finishing their meal when the Bree came back with a basin of water and two wash clothes. The queen cleaned herself, then the Prince before Surleiy did the same.
‘Thank you so much,' the queen said, turning to Bree. ‘It is my duty, your majesty,' she replied blushing. The queen turned her head but not quickly enough to hide her glistening eyes.
There was a moment of awkwardness, and then Bree, a woman of remarkable courage moved to squash the despair that threatened to overcome her visitors.
‘You are quite safe here your majesty,’ she said. ‘My husband and I have worked for Ceriuz before, and no harm will befall you, however, there will undoubtedly be soldiers looking for you soon. We will be vigilant.'
The queen wiped her eyes and smiled sadly.
‘Thank you.’ Bree returned the smile.
‘We are loyalists to Jaks and we have a network of spies of our own,’ she continued.
‘When we hear anything you will have to go into the loft until its safe.’
The queen nodded.
Bree got up. ‘I will leave you to rest,' she said. ‘If you need anything, get me. I will be downstairs and will not live the house until Ceriuz arrives.’
After she had gone Surlei laid the bed, and the queen, despite her troubles, was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. Surlei lay awake in the dark for a long time, frightened and confused before sleep finally and mercifully came.
The queen awakened in the dead of night confused as to where she was. Then she remembered and was filled with great sadness. Her husband was dead. Her husband who she loved dearly with all her heart, whom she left her home city in Eastern Westlavia to be with for life gone - just like that!
She tried to make sense of what the Raven had told her. Her husband, betrayed, killed by his brother, Daarrk! A sadness so overwhelming enveloped her, and she began to sob softly. She allowed herself only a few minutes to grieve and then slowly gathered her resolve and all of her iron- will. She was of royal blood in Eastern Westlavia and the mother to the rightful king. She shook Surleiy where she lay on the floor.
‘Go downstairs,' she said. ‘Get me some bread, wine, and a sharp knife.' Surleiy, used to taking orders rushed downstairs. She was soon back with the items on a wooden tray.
‘Leave me so I can mourn in peace,’ the queen ordered. Surlei’s eyes widened, but she hurried out and joined a worried Bree in her living quarters.
The prince was awake, smiling and clutching at his toes with chubby fingers.
‘What a wonderfully brave man you will grow up to be,' she whispered her heart swelling with pride. She lifted him, a cool breeze came in from the open window, and her child cooed in delight.
She took the bread and shredded it into pieces.
‘This represents the earth. From the earth, we all arose. From the earth, God Januzai moulded the first woman and breathed life into her; at first, there were only women on the earth and with that peace. Then the other gods grew bored and gathered themselves to meet Januzai. What manner of creature is this? We watch her and her kind all day, and they do nothing but laugh and play and frolic. No sport, no war, no squabbles to amuse us.'
She lifted her face and chanted in an ancient language that even Ceriuz had forgotten. After-wards, her eyes dark and her face red she sprinkled some of the bread on the stone floor.
‘What do you want my fellow gods? Do you not like peace? Do you not enjoy the sisterhood we have? The tranquillity of spirit of these wonderful creatures?’ Januzai asked.
‘No!’ They all said in unison. Seria, the goddess of the Oceans, Merkat the God of the earth of whom the beings were created. Scept the lord of death and the underworld, Pinion who resided on the moon and ruled over the stars and finally Jupainan; the guardian of the crossroads between the physical and spiritual world.
Jupainan, who revealed himself in shadows, mists, and premonitions spoke. ‘Give them companions like you gave the others: a male companion so that they can love, laugh, fight and feel excitement…just like the cow who has the bull or the lioness who has the lion, like the bitch and the dog.
Januzai, who was perched on a golden throne in the clouds sighed heavily, and the earth trembled. ‘Let us wait to see how the females conduct themselves; perhaps they will start to squabble and fight and wage war in a few hundred years, and there will be no need for companions.’
A few hundred years later the gods gathered again; this time more determined and anxious. Again they pleaded, and again Januzai asked for another 100 years. In the 78th year Jupainan, out of his mind with boredom assumed a male form and crossed into the physical World. He revealed himself to the Queen of the world who was shocked having never seen a man.
‘What manner of creature art thou?' She said fearfully. It was midnight, and she was alone in her bed. Jupainan gazed upon her creamy white breasts and long slim legs. He was the perfect male: Tall, muscular with a face that could be both hard and soft, with eyes that could be so cruel and gentle. As he looked, he felt himself stir. The Queen Prechoria gazed down and could not look up again. She had never seen such a beautiful being. Her nipples hardened, and she licked her ruby red lips. Jupanian moved to her bed and propped himself over her so that her rock hard nipples brushed his manly chest. The queen was breathing heavily, petrified but utterly unable to move a muscle. Jupanian kissed her, and a passion she had never known existed took hold of her. Her long slim hands enveloped his neck, and she drew him down to her.
The next day Januzai sensed the blood of the queen and bellowed with rage. Thunder and lightning ensued, and it rained for seven straight days as he raged. Someone had taken the innocence of the queen, and the world would never be the same. Nine month later twin boys were born. They would be the first king of the Pits, her son, was the youngest and heir to the throne.
‘From Jupanian, the guardian of the crossroads, we came, and he has opened the doorway so my husband can see his ancestors.' She raised her son and poured wine into his small perfect mouth. Then she took a knife and made a small incision in his little thumb. Instantly the Prince started wailing, but she ignored him and let the droplets of blood fall into the wine cup. Again she raised her head to the heavens and began a chant in a language which she did not understand. A song that bade farewell to the King of Pits; a chant that sang his praises - speaking of his wisdom in peace times and bravery during war. A chant that had been used for thousands of years and which Ceriuz heard thousands of miles away, as clear as if he was in the room with the queen. For the first time since the king died, a weary smile creased his features. This was a queen that would not be easily cowed. Good thing, he thought, she will need all her courage for what lies ahead.
The Legend of Brigaard Page 13
