Fractured Families (The Pearl of Wisdom Saga Book 2)

by Jason Paul Rice

  The next day Emilia sat outside the housing area on the side of the road. The western men from the other side of the Sea of Green helped with the planning of the war effort and lived in this section. The Histoman stayed at the bottom of the hill on a vast, flat green plain. Only a few natives came into this area. The former queen noticed the Histoman all had black hair and brown eyes with burnt umber skin. Emilia sat with Pariah and watched a small girl of four or five approach them. The cute girl with wide eyes smiled, exposing timeless youth with a missing front tooth.

  “Well, aren’t you pretty as a princess,” Emilia said to the girl and playfully touched her nose. Pariah smiled and spoke to the man across the street, “EP PUH AH NEM TO OH LAN.”

  The mammoth man known as Cobra sat on his knees with hands facing up on both thighs. He wore the leather pouch necklace and looked to be meditating. The completely still man with a shaved face wore only a white loin cloth exposing his muscular physique. Piercings of curved bone in the ears and eyebrows created an ivory contrast to his dark skin and hair. Cobra’s head was shaved clean above the ear but long, thick hair below the ear hung to his waist. Five braids tied together harnessed the matted mess and the man was covered in black X tattoos and white scars from head to toe. He responded without opening his eyes, surrounded by black ash, “TEH OOH LAU MAN HO EP PUH AH.”

  Pariah turned to Emilia, “You make for her name. Her princess now. Cobra say it is so. That how name in Histomanji.”

  Emilia smiled. She was glad to give the girl a pretty nickname saving her from being called Mud Face or Dirt Slug. The little girl seemed misplaced in this rough-and-tumble part of the world. Emilia hoped that Princess would come with them to Donegal. She felt a strange obligation to save the girl. Pariah took the former queen through the plains where the Histoman lived. It looked like an expansive battle campsite. Pavilions, tents and fires were scattered throughout the landscape. Pariah explained that the gigantic grassy field, with forests flanking both sides, snaked on for hundreds of miles. They only went a few miles inland and Emilia realized how many Histoman there were. She saw enough campsites for thousands, maybe tens of, and they’d barely scratched the surface. Pariah told her that the Histoman closest to the coast would be going to Donegal with them. Emilia carried the little girl on her back. Princess inquisitively played with Emilia’s stubby hair and she wondered what it would have been like to have a daughter.

  ELISA

  The terrified horses reared back and Elisa held tightly onto Telly. Luckily, the two Burkes did not fall off their frightened horse. Anderley remained seated, but the cargo had fallen from the third horse and Elisa covered her sister’s eyes. Sir Anderley hurried over to lift the rotting mess back onto the horse. After a minute of the knight struggling and the unrelenting stench almost making Elisa sick, they were once more on the way. The horses reared back again. “This is how I know I am close to home,” Anderley said.

  The horses continued to move slowly forward and another horrible smell attacked their noses. Telly screamed and Elisa almost fell off the animal as she saw flayed bodies on either side of the road. Some of the people were still alive and pleaded for help. They were nailed to wide square posts by their shoulders and hips while some skinless bodies were hung with ropes over branches of the trees. “This is how I know we are in Lightview,” Anderley said. Elisa tried to cover her sister’s eyes again but the teenager squirmed loose to look at the horrifying sights on either side of the path. The next hour of the trip was hellish with thousands of flayed bodies flanking the road along with innocuous looking apple trees. Elisa even saw a man wearing a golden apple surcoat peeling away another man’s skin. The man looked to be enjoying himself as he cut off a patch of skin from the captive’s thigh. The cries of the tortured men made Elisa want to cut off her ears. Anderley also tried to explain that his father liked to send messages to the citizens to keep them under control. It seemed to Elisa like Anderley was making excuses for his father.

  As they got closer to the heart of Lightview and the Ellsworth Castle, bodies were still displayed on the main road, but in a different manner. “Sometimes, he really likes to send a warning not to cross him,” Anderley said in embarrassment.

  These upright bodies had been impaled by long wooden spears. The spears went up the anus, through the midsection, and out the mouth. Some of the nude people still moved and cried in pain, begging for help. She couldn’t understand how they were still alive and talking. Elisa lowered her head and tried to ignore the disturbing scenes. She really began to doubt the Ellsworths would let them stay in Lightview. The new king might have a death warrant out for me for fleeing the Capitol. They wouldn’t want to take in a risk like that and I can’t blame them for it. About five miles from the castle, the grisly bodies petered out and street shops lined both sides of the road. The horses calmed down and so did Elisa as the grim ride became more enjoyable until she nervously reached their destination.

  Elisa, Anderley and Telly waited in a small stable outside the castle. A man and woman entered, both wearing all black. They each wore gloves and the woman sported a veil as well. The man looked formidable without being towering in size. The permanent scowl on his face extended from his iron-tight jowl to his pursed lips to the frown on his wrinkled forehead. Long silver-streaked hair hung down from his head, past his shoulders and looked to be brushed straight back. He shot a look at Anderley through steely, blue-gray eyes. It was a look only a father can give his child. A look that could make a grown man feel only two feet tall. It was a look of utter disappointment. Elisa had seen that look often during her childhood.

  “What is that stink?” the man demanded in a stern voice which fit his appearance. “It’s your son,” Anderley answered. The man turned his back upon the knight’s statement. Pain showing in his eyes, Anderley asked, “So my looks still blind you and my words strike silence upon your ears?”

  The woman spoke in a firm voice, “Turn and face your son. This nonsense has already caused us to lose one of our boys.”

  He turned and approached the trio. “High Lord Ichibod Elllsworth and Lady Victoriah,” Anderley unceremoniously announced. Ichibod went and pulled the cover from the third horse. The smell grew fiercer as Penrose Ellsworth’s decaying body came into view. “Is it true?” Ichibod asked.

  “Is what true?” Anderley needed to know. “Did he kill the King, like the people are saying?” the lord asked. “Mayhaps, but I don’t think it so,” Anderley responded. A look of disgust came over Lord Ichibod’s face again. “You got him killed, you know. Taking him off to Falconhurst with you,” his father said accusingly.

  “I couldn’t save him,” Anderley explained. “You could have told him to never go to that fox trap for one,” the lord sternly stated as he turned to leave.

  “Wait,” shouted Elisa. The high lord turned around with a cold look. Elisa continued, “I need to tell you what Sir Anderley said outside the House of Eternal Light. He said that we had to bring Penrose back to Lightview no matter the cost. He said he would rather have his head on a spike in front of the castle than let those bastard Wamhoffs desecrate an Ellsworth. He risked his life for family honor, your family honor. Something must be said for that.”

  Lord Ichibod turned and marched up to Elisa, scaring her a bit. “My apologies. In the unexpected chaos we have forgotten our manners. What are your names?” She replied, “I am Elisa and this is Telly Burke.” This seemed to pique the interest of the lord and raised his thick eyebrows.

  “Heard of you girls. Didn’t care much for your father is probably why we haven’t met. What are the late Duke Burke’s daughters doing in Lightview? You are still married to Ali-Varis, no?” Ichibod questioned.

  “I am,” Elisa quickly responded. “And you heard Ali-Ster forced out his brother for the throne and you fled the Capitol?”

  “Not exactly. I didn’t even know Ali-Ster did that,” a confused Elisa said. “Why would a possible queen come all the way to Lightview with my imbecile of a son?”
Ichibod rhetorically asked. The shell-shocked Lady Victoriah stepped in and said, “We can ask questions later. Let me get our guests to a proper room to get them cleaned and fed.” Before speaking, the distraught lady had done nothing except stare at the dead body of her son. With the veil covering her face, Elisa couldn’t tell if she was crying.

  Ironically, ambitious, cold-hearted and strong-willed defined Victoriah. The only emotional exception was her children. A see-through black veil disguised her facial reactions but curly golden locks spilled from the back of the headdress. She stood an eyelash shorter than Elisa but carried more weight and bigger curves.

  The lady walked them over the bridge of the surrounding moat, through the main gate, portcullis and into the castle. The seven-story castle with four sky-towers looked lavish from the ground floor. The interior was decorated with tapestries of golden apples and exotic animals. There were also preserved animals and pelts on the walls from the lord’s hunts. They had been crafted to appear like they were in motion and all looked really lifelike. Elisa was shocked to see a lion on its hind legs, ready to pounce, that came up to her chest.

  Lady Victoriah broke the awkward silence, “Have you girls ever played castle cards?” Both Burke’s responded with a yes. “Well this may seem rough right now, but what do you do when you have a bad draw in castle cards?” the lady asked. Telly quickly responded, “You do your best?”

  “Exactly. We will do our best to get past this draw. It’s only one hand of many to come. Remember, our hands will get better in the future and we will have better cards to play, I can feel it.” Lady Victoriah showed Telly into one room and took Elisa to the end of the hall in silence. Elisa knew it must have been hard to look at the dead body of her son and just nodded politely to the people passing by. She showed Elisa into the last room and said, “I will be back in a bit so we can fully talk. This has all been so…so…unexpected. I knew he was dead, but I just didn’t want to believe it.”

  “Of course, I am so sorry for your loss,” Elisa sympathized. “Thank you, and thank you for speaking up for Anderley. He needs his father’s approval in any way.” Victoriah left.

  Two handmaidens took Elisa for a bath and gave her clothes. Although they didn’t quite fit, the dress and underclothes were leagues better than what she had worn out from the trying trip.

  Ali-Ster took the throne? Did Ali-Samuel and the Queen return? Was I being used again? Brehan and I were supposed to rule this kingdom. Now I couldn’t be further from the throne and my love is dead.

  Elisa was filled with nervousness again. She hadn’t received the warm welcome she’d hoped for. Anderley had warned her that his parents were chiseled from ice. If they wouldn’t allow Telly and Elisa to stay, she didn’t know where to turn. Her mind twisted in many different directions until Lady Victoriah showed up. The lady took her to a plush sitting room with couches and chairs.

  Ichibod sat in a cushioned chair while Lady Victoriah and Elisa joined him on a padded bench. The room was decorated in a black and gold theme with stuffed birds on branches extending out of the walls. Painted walls of gold and silver apple trees gave the illusion that the birds stood on the silver branches of the trees. Elisa noticed a cardinal, eagle, red-bellied hawk, black falcon and three others she couldn’t identify. Most of the birds were in the essorant position, ready for flight with theirs wings extended.

  The Ellsworths only asked a few questions before Elisa let the floodgates loose. She cried and told the lord and lady almost every detail of the murder conspiracy. The stone-faced Ichibod could have been wearing a veil like his wife because Elisa couldn’t gauge his intentions or reactions. The only time he appeared to smirk was when Elisa told him that Anderley had offered to kill the King or when she talked about seeing the dead body.

  At the end of her blubbering, Lady Victoriah revealed her true looks. She set the veil on the table to expose a stunning, young-looking face despite being in her forties. High rosy cheekbones and inviting eyes didn’t match the hardened reputation of Lady Ice. Her beauty was as timeless as gold with platinum blond hair, baby blue eyes and a buxom bosom. That sexy combination had kept men panting like warthogs in breeding season since the days of the first families on earth.

  “Alright child, I believe we may have a plan for you yet. We must go to the funeral and mourn the loss of our son but on the morrow we shall speak further,” Ichibod pushed his hair back with his right hand. “Thank you so much for everything,” returned Elisa, wiping away the few remaining tears.

  She followed the Ellsworths down to a beach near one of the torch towers. Count Bidwell had taught her that Lightview obtained its name because of these light towers that guided the ships in at night. The top of the towers had huge fire signals which could be seen for many miles into the waters.

  A raised pyre of cross-hatched twigs held the body of Sir Penrose Ellsworth. His skin was now a dull blue streaked with a cloudy gray. He looked like a dreary, wasted summer sky. Anderley came over to Elisa with a young man. “Hello, Sir Anderley,” Elisa greeted. “Lady Elisa, allow me to introduce my younger brother, Darryg,” Anderley proudly stated.

  The dapper young man requested her hand and kissed it. Elisa smiled at the courtesy. Darryg Ellsworth had curly blond hair and looked like Penrose, but the youngest brother had a much tougher look on his face. He carried the tight jawline of his father and it made him look angry unless he smiled. Darryg stood a full head taller than Elisa and had broad shoulders. She thought about how much bigger he looked than his elder brother of ten years, Anderley.

  “Why don’t they just bury Penrose?” Elisa asked. “If you are trying to reach the heavens, why would you go underground with the demons? This will send his soul straight up and keep it from the reach of Travibero,” Darryg said in a gentle voice which sounded suited for singing. He smiled and handed a candle to Elisa.

  Lord Ichibod shouted over the crowd of hundreds, “We have lost a son of Lightview. My son tried to help the kingdom and his life was taken by the foxes. At only twenty, the Gods need Penrose more than us on earth. The Gods can be good and the Gods can be greedy. In this case it is both. Greedy for taking my son but still great and generous for the bounteous lifestyle we are afforded, guided by their hands. The Gods realize the purity of my son’s soul and stand ready to welcome Penrose Ellsworth into the heavens. His body shall burn, but his soul shall rise. As once we walk, to the heavens we fly. Fly to the heavens, fly my son.”

  Ichibod walked over to the pyre with a large torch in his left hand. Four round wood posts held the dead man’s altar seven feet high in the air. A large stack of kindling under Penrose flamed wildly as his father’s torch ignited the pile. Penrose began to fill the air of the windy beach with a foul odor much worse than the stench during the trip. Elisa ran a few feet away and threw up. She quickly wiped her mouth and hoped no one had noticed. She fought off the putrid smell which infested the star-filled sky. Suddenly, drums methodically pounded as everyone raised their candles high. Elisa couldn’t tell from where the rhythmic sounds originated. The mourners kicked off their boots and danced barefoot in the sand with candles above their heads. Elisa followed the beat of the drummers. She looked at Penrose’s body burning. Blue streaks shot high up in the air and faded into the stars. She understood how people could perceive this as a soul, searching for the heavens. A loud explosion sent a blue wave twice as high. The crowd danced and shouted, “Our son’s soul has made it to the heavens.”

  After another hour of dancing and celebrating the life of Penrose Ellsworth, the fire withered and died. Elisa found Telly with the younger children, sporting an unhappy face. Anderley invited the girls to a puppet show. Elisa thought he was joking at first. She had seen puppeteers in Burkeville but hadn’t expected a performance after a funeral ceremony. Anderley led the girls back to the castle and into the theatre. This was the first room in which Elisa didn’t see any stuffed animals. Raised, red cushioned benches faced the stage. The middle of the stage contained a six-foot tabl
e, skirted with powder blue linens and a white top. Three carved-out balconies, twelve feet high on the back wall, provided an aerial view of the performance.

  Elisa was shocked to see the lord and lady in attendance. The theatre looked to hold about one hundred, but the seating area was sparsely filled and the balconies were empty. Two puppets popped up from behind the table. They were the most meticulously decorated hand puppets she had ever seen. They were shaped like two men with oversized heads. The puppets wore red shirts with a golden fox on the chest. One looked fat, old and sported a crown. The other looked like an albino. Elisa recognized these characters and smiled.

  A voice came from behind the table, “Oh King Ali-Stanley, how clumsy can you be?”

  The puppet crafted like the former king fell on the table and everyone laughed. The puppeteers continued to run the Wamhoffs into each other and make them seem utterly foolish. Elisa noticed everyone laughed except Ichibod. The high lord peered at the stage with his head lowered and eyes raised. His face remained unchanged with a sick-looking stare. He moved his mouth slightly every once in a while but Elisa couldn’t tell if he was enjoying the performance or trying to feel better about the death of his son.

  At the end, while everyone cheered, Ichibod yelled, “Burn them.” He turned to the rest of the people, “Don’t you think we should burn those dirty foxes?”

  Of course, everyone shouted in agreement with the lord of the castle. The two puppeteers stood up and removed the puppets from their hands. One puppeteer grabbed a torch from the corner of the table and walked over to Lord Ichibod. He handed the lord a torch and allowed him to light the puppet. He ran it back to the stage, transferring the fireball from hand to hand until it became too hot and he dropped it. The puppeteer stamped out the flames on the stone floor and his partner repeated the process to the delight of the crowd.